रक्षणीया मया देवा इति सञ्चिन्त्य शङ्करः । दुष्करं व्रतमत्युग्रं तमुवाच महेश्वरः
Thinking, 'I must protect the gods,' Śaṅkara, the great Lord, spoke to him of a most difficult and severe vow.
पूर्णं वर्षसहस्रं तु कणधूममवाक्छिराः । यदि पास्यसि भद्रं ते ततो मन्त्रानवाप्स्यसि
If, for a full thousand years, you drink only smoke, standing with your head downward, then you will obtain the mantras—may you fare well.
इत्युक्तोऽसौ प्रणम्येशं बाढमित्यब्रवीद्वचः । व्रतं चराम्यहं देव त्वयाज्ञप्तः सुरेश्वर
Thus addressed, he bowed to the Lord and said, 'So be it; I will observe the vow, O Lord of the gods, as you have commanded.'
व्यास उवाच इत्युक्त्वा शङ्करं काव्यश्चकार व्रतमुत्तमम् । धूमपानरतः शान्तो मन्त्रार्थं कृतनिश्चयः
Vyāsa said: Having spoken thus to Śaṅkara, Kāvya undertook the supreme vow, devoted to consuming smoke, tranquil, and firmly resolved to obtain the mantras.
ततो देवाः परिज्ञाय काव्यं व्रतरतं तदा । दैत्यान्दम्भरतांश्चैव बभूवुर्मन्त्रतत्पराः
Then the gods, perceiving that Kāvya was engaged in his vow and the demons were absorbed in hypocrisy, became intent on the mantras.
विचार्य मनसा सर्वे संग्रामायोद्यता नृप । ययुर्धृतायुधास्तत्र यत्र ते दानवोत्तमाः
Having considered in their minds, all prepared for battle, O King, and, taking up their weapons, went to where those foremost of the Dānavas were.
तानागतान्समीक्ष्याथ सायुधान्दंशितांस्तथा । आसंस्ते भयसंविग्ना दैत्या देवान्समन्ततः
Seeing them arrive, armed and fierce, the demons, surrounded on all sides by the gods, became filled with fear and anxiety.
उत्पेतुः सहसा ते वै सन्नद्धान्भयकर्शिताः । अब्रुवन्वचनं तथ्यं ते देवान्वलदर्पितान्
Suddenly, seized by fear, they sprang up, fully armed, and spoke these truthful words to the gods, proud of their strength.
न्यस्तशस्त्रे भयवति आचार्ये व्रतमास्थिते । दत्त्वाभयं पुरा देवाः सम्प्राप्ता नो जिघांसया
While our weapons are laid down, our teacher is engaged in a vow, and you gods, having previously granted us safety, have now come with the intent to kill us.
सत्यं वः क्व गतं देवा धर्मश्च श्रुतिनोदितः । न्यस्तशस्त्रा न हन्तव्या भीताश्च शरणं गताः
Where has your truth gone, O gods, and the righteousness spoken of in the scriptures? Those who have laid down their weapons and are fearful, having sought refuge, should not be slain.
देवा ऊचुः भवद्भिः प्रेषितः काव्यो मन्त्रार्थं कुहकेन च । तपो ज्ञातं हि युष्माकं तेन युध्याम एव हि
The gods said: Kāvya was sent by you, through deceit, to obtain the mantras; your austerity is known, and therefore we fight.
सज्जा भवन्तु युद्धाय संरब्धाः शस्त्रपाणयः । शत्रुश्छिद्रेण हन्तव्य एष धर्मः सनातनः
Let all be ready for battle, eager, with weapons in hand; the enemy must be struck at his vulnerable point—this is the eternal law.
व्यास उवाच तच्छ्रुत्वा वचनं दैत्या विचार्य च परस्परम् । पलायनपराः सर्वे निर्गता भयविह्वलाः
Vyāsa said: Hearing those words, the demons deliberated among themselves; then, overwhelmed by fear, they all fled.
शरणं दानवा जग्मुर्भीतास्ते काव्यमातरम् । दृष्ट्वा तानतिसन्तप्तानभयं च ददावथ
The terrified demons sought refuge with Kāvya's mother; seeing them so greatly distressed, she granted them safety.
काव्यमातोवाच न भेतव्यं न भेतव्यं भयं त्यजत दानवाः । मत्सन्निधौ वर्तमानान्न भीर्भवितुमर्हति
Kāvya's mother spoke: 'Do not fear, do not fear; abandon your terror, O demons. While you remain in my presence, you need not be afraid.'
तच्छ्रुत्वा वचनं दैत्याः स्थितास्तत्र गतव्यथाः । निरायुधा ह्यसंभ्रान्तास्तत्राश्रमवरेऽसुराः
Hearing her words, the demons stayed there, free from distress; unarmed and untroubled, they remained in that excellent hermitage.
देवास्तान्विद्रुतान्वीक्ष्य दानवास्ते पदानुगाः । अभिजग्मुः प्रसह्यैतानविचार्य बलाबलम्
The gods, seeing the demons fleeing and following their footsteps, pursued them, considering their own strength and weakness.
तत्रागताः सुराः सर्वे हन्तुं दैत्यान्समुद्यताः । वारिताः काव्यमात्रापि जघ्नुस्तानाश्रमस्थितान्
There, all the gods arrived, intent on killing the demons; though restrained by Kāvya's mother, they struck those who dwelled in the hermitage.
हन्यमानान्सुरैर्दृष्ट्वा काव्यमातातिवेपिता । उवाच सर्वान्सनिद्रांस्तपसा वै करोम्यहम्
Seeing the demons being slain by the gods, Kāvya's mother trembled greatly and said to all, 'I will make you sleep by my austerity.'
इत्युक्त्वा प्रेरिता निद्रा तानागत्य पपात च । सेन्द्रा निद्रावशं याता देवा मूकवदास्थिताः
Having spoken thus, she sent forth sleep, which descended upon them; with Indra, the gods fell under the sway of sleep and stood as if mute.
इन्द्रं निद्राजितं दृष्ट्वा दीनं विष्णुरभाषत । मां त्वं प्रविश भद्रं ते नये त्वां च सुरोत्तम
Seeing Indra conquered by sleep and dejected, Viṣṇu spoke: 'Enter me, may you be safe; I will guide you, O best of gods.'
एवमुक्तस्ततो विष्णुं प्रविवेश पुरन्दरः । निर्भयो गतनिद्रश्च बभूव हरिरक्षितः
Thus addressed, Purandara entered Viṣṇu; protected by Hari, he became fearless and free from sleep.
रक्षितं हरिणा दृष्ट्वा शक्रं तत्र गतव्यथम् । काव्यमाता ततः क्रुद्धा वचनं चेदमब्रवीत्
Seeing Indra protected by Hari and restored there, Kāvya's mother, enraged, spoke these words.
मघवंस्त्वां भक्षयामि सविष्णुं वै तपोबलात् । पश्यतां सर्वदेवानामीदृशं मे तपोबलम्
'Maghavan, I will devour you together with Viṣṇu by the power of my austerity; let all the gods witness the strength of my tapas.'
व्यास उवाच इत्युक्तौ तु तया देवौ विष्ण्विन्द्रौ योगविद्यया । अभिभूतौ महात्मानौ स्तब्धौ तौ सम्बभूवतुः
Vyāsa said: Thus spoken to by her, the two gods, Viṣṇu and Indra, were subdued by her yogic power; those great souls became motionless.
विस्मितास्तु तदा देवा दृष्ट्वा तावतिबाधितौ । चक्रुः किलकिलाशब्दं ततस्ते दीनमानसाः
The gods were astonished, seeing them so afflicted; they made murmuring sounds and became dispirited.
क्रोशमानान्सुरान्दृष्ट्वा विष्णुं प्राह शचीपतिः । विशेषेणाभिभूतोऽस्मि त्वत्तोऽहं मधुसूदन
Seeing the gods crying out, Śacī's husband spoke to Viṣṇu: 'I am especially overcome by you, O Madhusūdana.'
जह्येनां तरसा विष्णो यावन्नौ न दहेत्प्रभो । तपसा दर्पितां दुष्टां मा विचारय माधव
'Viṣṇu, destroy her swiftly before she burns us; she is wicked, intoxicated by austerity—do not hesitate, O Mādhava.'
इत्युक्तो भगवान्विष्णुः शक्रेण प्रथितेन च । चक्रं सस्मार तरसा घृणां त्यक्त्वाथ माधवः
Thus addressed by renowned Śakra, Bhagavān Viṣṇu remembered his discus with force, casting aside compassion, O Mādhava.
स्मृतमात्रं तु सम्प्राप्तं चक्रं विष्णुवशानुगम् । दधार च करे क्रुद्धो वधार्थं शक्रनोदितः
As soon as it was remembered, the discus, obedient to Viṣṇu's will, arrived; enraged, he took it in his hand for killing, urged by Śakra.