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.
गृहीत्वा तत्करे चक्रं शिरश्चिच्छेद रंहसा । हतां दृष्ट्वा तु तां शक्रो मुदितश्चाभवत्तदा
Seizing the discus in his hand, he swiftly cut off her head; seeing her slain, Indra then became joyful.
देवाश्चातीव सन्तुष्टा हरिं जय जयेति च । तुष्टुवुर्मुदिताः सर्वे सञ्जाता विगतज्वराः
The gods were exceedingly satisfied and, filled with delight and free from distress, they all praised Hari, crying, 'Victory! Victory!'
इन्द्रविष्णू तु सञ्जातौ तत्क्षणाद्धृदयव्यथौ । स्त्रीवधाच्छंकमानौ तु भृगोः शापं दुरत्ययम्
But at that very moment, Indra and Vishnu were both seized by anguish of heart, fearing the terrible curse of Bhrigu for the slaying of a woman.
जयन्त्या शुक्रसहवासवर्णनम् व्यास उवाच तं दृष्ट्वा तु वधं घोरं चुक्रोध भगवान्भृगुः । वेपमानोऽतिदुःखार्तः प्रोवाच मधुसूदनम्
Vyasa said: Seeing that dreadful killing, the venerable Bhrigu became enraged; trembling and deeply afflicted, he spoke to Madhusudana.
भृगुरुवाच अकृत्यं ते कृतं विष्णो जानन्पापं महामते । वधोऽयं विप्रजाताया मनसा कर्तुमक्षमः
Bhrigu said: O wise Vishnu, you have committed a forbidden act, knowingly doing evil; the slaying of a woman of the Brahmin class is an act unfit even to be conceived.
आख्यातस्त्वं सत्त्वगुणः स्मृतो ब्रह्मा च राजसः । तथासौ तामसः शम्भुर्विपरीतं कथं स्मृतम्
You are declared to be of the quality of sattva, Brahma is remembered as rajas, and Shiva as tamas; how then is this order reversed?
तामसस्त्वं कथं जातः कृतं कर्मातिनिन्दितम् । अवध्या स्त्री त्वया विष्णो हता कस्मान्निरागसा
How have you become tamasic, performing such a highly blameworthy deed? The woman, innocent and not to be slain, was killed by you, O Vishnu—why?
शपामि त्वां दुराचारं किमन्यत्प्रकरोमि ते । विधुरोऽहं कृतः पाप त्वयाहं शक्रकारणात्
I curse you, O evil-doer—what else should I do to you? Because of you, for Indra’s sake, I have been rendered miserable, O sinner.
न शपेऽहं तथा शक्रं शपे त्वां मधुसूदन । सदा छलपरोऽसि त्वं कीटयोनिर्दुराशयः
I do not curse Indra in the same way; I curse you, Madhusudana. You are ever deceitful, of vile intent, destined for birth among insects.
ये च त्वां सात्त्विकं प्राहुस्ते मूर्खा मुनयः किल । तामसस्त्वं दुराचारः प्रत्यक्षं मे जनार्दन
Those sages who call you sattvic are fools, indeed; you are tamasic, O evil-doer, this is evident to me, O Janardana.