क्रोधश्चांडालरूपो वै त्यक्तव्यः सर्वथा बुधैः
Anger, which takes the form of a chāṇḍāla, must be entirely abandoned by the wise.
यदि न त्यजसि क्रोधं त्यजस्यस्मान्सुदुःखितान्
If you do not abandon anger, you abandon us, who are greatly afflicted.
व्यास उवाच विलोक्य सुमना भूत्वा तानुवाच हसन्निव
Vyāsa said: Seeing them, he became cheerful and spoke to them, as if smiling.
न भेतव्यं न गंतव्यं दानवा वा रसातलम् 4.14.
Do not be afraid, do not go to the netherworld, O Dānavas.
हितं सत्यं ब्रवीम्यद्य शृणुध्वं तत्तु निश्चयम्
I speak what is beneficial and true today; listen to this definite statement.
अवश्यंभाविनो भावाः प्रभवंति शुभाऽशुभाः
Events destined to happen, whether auspicious or inauspicious, inevitably occur.
अद्य मंदबला यूयं कालयोगादसंशयम्
Today you are weak in strength, without doubt, due to the influence of time.
प्राप्तः पर्यायकालो वै इति ब्रह्माऽभ्यभाषत
The time of change has indeed arrived, so spoke Brahmā.
युगानि दश पूर्णानि देवानाक्रम्य मूर्धनि
Ten complete ages have passed, with the gods ruling at the summit.
सावर्णिके मनौ राज्यं पुनस्तत्तु भविष्यति
In the era of Sāvarṇi Manu, that kingdom will again be yours.
यदा वामनरूपेण हृतं देवेन विष्णुना
When, in the form of Vāmana, the kingdom was taken by the god Viṣṇu,
हृतं येन बले राज्यं देववांछार्थ सिद्धये
The kingdom was seized from Bali, to fulfill the gods' desire.
भार्गव उवाच अदृश्यः सर्वभूतानां गुप्तश्चरति भीतवत्
Bhārgava said: Invisible to all beings, he moves about in hiding, as if fearful.
एकदा वासवेनासौ बलिर्गर्दभरूपभाक् 4.14.
Once, by Vāsava, Bali took the form of a donkey.
पृष्टश्च बहुधा तेन वासवेन बलिस्तदा
Bali was questioned in many ways by Vāsava at that time.
भोक्ता त्वं सर्वलोकस्य दैत्यानां च प्रशासिता तस्य तद्वचनं श्रुत्वा दैत्यराजो बलिस्तदा
You will be the enjoyer of all worlds and the ruler of the Daityas; hearing these words, King Bali,
प्रोवाच वचनं शक्रं कोऽत्र शोकः शतक्रतो
Spoke to Śakra: What sorrow is there here, O Śatakratu?
तथाऽहं खररूपेण संस्थितः कालयोगतः
Thus, I am established in the form of a donkey, due to the influence of time.
पीडितश्च तथा ह्यद्य स्थितोऽहं खररूपधृक्
And so, afflicted today, I remain bearing the form of a donkey.
कालः करोति वै नूनं यदिच्छति यथा तथा इति तौ बलिदेवेशौ कृत्वा संविदमुत्तमाम्
Time indeed acts as it wishes, in whatever way; thus, having made a noble agreement, Bali and the lord of the gods.
प्रबोधं प्रापतुः कामं यथास्थानं च जग्मतुः
They regained consciousness as they wished and returned to their proper places.
दैवाधीनं जगत्सर्वं सदेवासुरमानुषम्
All the worlds, with gods, demons, and humans, are under the control of destiny.
देवीकथनेन दानवानां रसातलं प्रति गमनम् व्यास उवाच इति तस्य वचः श्रुत्वा भार्गवस्य महात्मनः । प्रह्लादस्तु सुसंहृष्टो बभूव नृपनन्दनः
The journey of the demons to the netherworld upon the narration of the Goddess. Vyāsa said: Hearing the words of the great-souled Bhārgava, Prahlāda, the delight of kings, became very pleased.
ज्ञात्वा दैवं बलिष्ठञ्च प्रह्लादस्तानुवाच ह । कृतेऽपि युद्धे न जयो भविष्यति कदाचन
Knowing destiny to be powerful, Prahlāda then said to them: Even if battle is waged, victory will never come.
तदा ते जयिनः प्रोचुर्दानवा मदगर्विताः । संग्रामस्तु प्रकर्तव्यो दैवं किं न विदामहे
Then those demons, proud of their strength, replied: A battle must be fought—do we not know what destiny is?
निरुद्यमानां दैवं हि प्रधानमसुराधिप । केन दृष्टं क्व वा दृष्टं कीदृशं केन निर्मितम्
O lord of the demons, destiny is said to be supreme, but who has seen it, where has it been seen, what is it like, and by whom was it created?
तस्माद्युद्धं करिष्यामो बलमास्थाय साम्प्रतम् । भवाग्रे दैत्यवर्य त्वं सर्वज्ञोऽसि महामते
Therefore, we will fight now, relying on our own strength. O best of Daityas, you are wise and all-knowing.
इत्युक्तस्तैस्तदा राजन् प्रह्लादः प्रबलारिहा । सेनानीश्च तदा भूत्वा देवान्युद्धे समाह्वयत्
Thus addressed by them, O King, Prahlāda, the destroyer of mighty foes, became their general and challenged the gods to battle.
तेऽपि तत्रासुरान्दृष्ट्वा संग्रामे समुपस्थितान् । सर्वे सम्भृतसम्भारा देवास्तान्समयोधयन्
When the gods saw the demons assembled there for battle, all the gods, fully equipped, engaged them in combat.
संग्रामस्तु तदा घोरः शक्रप्रह्लादयोरभूत् । पूर्णं वर्षशतं तत्र मुनीनां विस्मयावहः
Then a terrible battle took place between Śakra and Prahlāda, lasting a full hundred years, astonishing the sages.