ऐन्द्रं पदं तदा तेन गृहीतं बलवत्तया । कल्पपादपसंयुक्तं कामधेनुसमन्वितम्
At that time, he seized Indra's throne with great force, along with the wish-fulfilling tree and the cow of plenty.
त्रैलोक्यं यज्ञभागाश्च हृतास्तेन महात्मना । नन्दनं च वनं प्राप्य मुदितोऽभून्महासुरः
The great-souled asura took away the three worlds and their sacrificial shares, and, having obtained the Nandana grove, became delighted.
सुधायाश्चैव पानेन सुखमाप महासुरः । कुबेरं स च निर्जित्य तस्य राज्यं चकार ह
By drinking nectar, the great asura attained happiness; he conquered Kubera and ruled his kingdom.
अधिकारं तथा भानोः शशिनश्च चकार ह । यमञ्चैव विनिर्जित्य जग्राह तत्पदं तथा
He assumed authority over the sun and the moon; having defeated Yama, he took his position as well.
वरुणस्य तथा राज्यं चकार वह्निकर्म च । वायोः कार्यं निशुम्भश्च चकार स्वबलान्वितः
He ruled the kingdom of Varuna and performed the duties of Agni; Niśumbha, empowered by his own strength, carried out the tasks of Vayu.
ततो देवा विनिर्धूता हृतराज्या हृतश्रियः । सन्त्यज्य नन्दनं सर्वे निर्ययुर्गिरिगह्वरे
Then the gods, deprived of their kingdoms and glory, abandoned Nandana and all departed into the mountain caves.
हृताधिकारास्ते सर्वे बभ्रमुर्विजने वने । निरालम्बा निराधारा निस्तेजस्का निरायुधाः
All of them, stripped of authority, wandered in the desolate forest, without support, without refuge, powerless and weaponless.
विचेरुरमराः सर्वे पर्वतानां गुहासु च । उद्यानेषु च शून्येषु नदीनां गह्वरेषु च
All the immortals roamed among the caves of the mountains, in deserted gardens, and in the depths of rivers.
न प्रापुस्ते सुखं वापि स्थानभ्रष्टा विचेतसः । लोकपाला महाराज दैवाधीनं सुखं किल
They did not attain happiness, having lost their positions and confused in mind; O great king, the happiness of the guardians of the worlds is truly dependent on fate.
बलवन्तो महाभागा बहुज्ञा धनसंयुताः । काले दुःखं तथा दैन्यमाप्नुवन्ति नराधिप
Even those who are strong, greatly fortunate, wise, and wealthy, O ruler of men, at times experience suffering and misery.
चित्रमेतन्महाराज कालस्यैव विचेष्टितम् । यः करोति नरं तावद्राजानं भिक्षुकं ततः
This is a wonder, O great king, the activity of Time alone; it makes a man a king for a while, then a beggar thereafter.
दातारं याचकं चैव बलवन्तं तथाबलम् । पण्डितं विकलं कामं शूरं चातीव कातरम्
It turns a giver into a supplicant, the strong into the weak, the learned into the helpless, the passionate into the timid.
मखानाञ्च शतं कृत्वा प्राप्येन्द्रासनमुत्तमम् । पुनर्दुःखं परं प्राप्तं कालस्य गतिरीदृशी
Having performed a hundred sacrifices and attained the supreme throne of Indra, one again meets with great suffering; such is the course of Time.
कालः करोति धर्मिष्ठं पुरुषं ज्ञानसंयुतम् । तमेवातीव पापिष्ठं ज्ञानलेशविवर्जितम्
Time makes a virtuous and wise man exceedingly wicked and devoid of even a trace of wisdom.
न विस्मयोऽत्र कर्तव्यः सर्वथा कालचेष्टिते । ब्रह्मविष्णुहरादीनामपीदृक्कष्टचेष्टितम्
No wonder should be felt at all regarding the actions of Time; even Brahma, Vishnu, Shiva, and others have experienced such hardships.
विष्णुर्जननमाप्नोति सूकरादिषु योनिषु । हरः कपाली सञ्जातः कालेनैव बलीयसा
Vishnu undergoes birth in the wombs of boars and other creatures; Hara, the skull-bearer, is born by the power of Time alone.
देवकृतदेव्याराधनवर्णनम् व्यास उवाच पराजिताः सुराः सर्वे राज्यं शुम्भः शशास ह । एवं वर्षसहस्रं तु जगाम नृपसत्तम
Vyasa said: All the gods were defeated, and Shumbha ruled the kingdom; thus, O best of kings, a thousand years passed.
भ्रष्टराज्यास्ततो देवाश्चिन्तामापुः सुदुस्तराम् । गुरुं दुःखातुरास्ते तु पप्रच्छुरिदमादृताः
Deprived of their kingdoms, the gods then fell into deep distress; afflicted by sorrow, they respectfully questioned their guru.
किं कर्तव्यं गुरो ब्रूहि सर्वज्ञस्त्वं महामुनिः । उपायोऽस्ति महाभाग दुःखस्य विनिवृत्तये
"Tell us, O guru, what should be done; you are omniscient, O great sage. Is there a way, O greatly fortunate one, to end this suffering?"
उपचारपरा नूनं वेदमन्त्राः सहस्रशः । वाच्छितार्थकरा नूनं सूत्रैः संलक्षिताः किल
Surely, the Vedic mantras, accompanied by countless rituals, are indeed capable of fulfilling desired aims, being marked by their formulas.
इष्टयो विविधाः प्रोक्ताः सर्वकामफलप्रदाः । ताः कुरुष्व मुने नूनं त्वं जानासि च तत्क्रियाः
Various sacrifices have been described, which grant all desired results; O sage, you certainly know the procedures—perform them now.
विधिः शत्रुविनाशाय यथोद्दिष्टः सदागमे । तं कुरुष्वाद्य विधिवद्यथा नो दुःखसंक्षयः
A rite for the destruction of enemies has been prescribed in the scriptures; perform that today, properly, so that our suffering may come to an end.
भवेदांगिरसाद्यैव तथा त्वं कर्तुमर्हसि । दानवानां विनाशाय अभिचारं यथामति
Just as Angiras once did, so too should you act now; for the destruction of the demons, perform a ritual of enchantment as you see fit.
बृहस्पतिरुवाच सर्वे मन्त्राश्च वेदोक्ता दैवाधीनफलाश्च ते । न स्वतन्त्राः सुराधीश तथैकान्तफलप्रदाः
Bṛhaspati said: All the mantras spoken of in the Vedas yield results only by divine will; they are not independent, O lord of the gods, nor do they grant results on their own.
मन्त्राणां देवता यूयं ते तु दुःखैकभाजनम् । जाताः स्म कालयोगेन किं करोमि प्रसाधनम्
You are the deities of the mantras, but by the force of time you have become the sole recipients of suffering; what means of favor can I employ?
इन्द्राग्निवरुणादीनां यजनं यज्ञकर्मसु । ते यूयं विपदं प्राप्ताः करिष्यन्ति किमिष्टयः
The worship of Indra, Agni, Varuṇa, and others is done through sacrificial rites; but now that you have fallen into misfortune, what benefit will these sacrifices bring?
अवश्यम्भाविभावानां प्रतीकारो न विद्यते । उपायस्त्वथ कर्तव्य इति शिष्टानुशासनम्
There is no remedy for what must inevitably occur; yet, one must still seek a means, as the tradition of the wise instructs.
दैवं हि बलवत्केचित्प्रवदन्ति मनीषिणः । उपायवादिनो दैवं प्रवदन्ति निरर्थकम्
Some wise men say that destiny is powerful; those who advocate for effort declare destiny to be meaningless.
दैवं चैवाप्युपायश्च द्वावेवाभिमतौ नृणाम् । केवलं दैवमाश्रित्य न स्थातव्यं कदाचन
Both destiny and effort are accepted among people; one should never rely solely on destiny.
उपायः सर्वथा कार्यो विचार्य स्वधिया पुनः । तस्माद् ब्रवीमि वः सर्वान्संविचार्य पुनः पुनः
Effort must always be made, carefully considered with one's own understanding; therefore, I tell you all, having reflected again and again.