त्वष्टा प्रजापतिर्ह्यासीद्देवश्रेष्ठो महातपाः । देवानां कार्यकर्ता च निपुणो ब्राह्मणप्रियः
Tvashta, the lord of creatures, was the foremost of the gods, possessed of great austerity, skillful in accomplishing the gods' tasks, and beloved of the Brahmanas.
स पुत्रं वै त्रिशिरसमिन्द्रद्वेषात्किलासृजत् । विश्वरूपेति विख्यातं नाम्ना रूपेण मोहनम्
He created a son named Trishiras out of enmity toward Indra, who became renowned as Vishvarupa, wondrous in both name and form.
त्रिभिः स वदनैः श्रेष्ठैर्व्यरोचत मनोहरैः । त्रिभिर्भिन्नानि कार्याणि मुखैः समकरोन्मुनिः
With his three beautiful and excellent faces, he shone brilliantly; with each face, the sage accomplished different tasks.
वेदानेकेन सोऽधीते सुरां चैकेन सोऽपिबत् । तृतीयेन दिशः सर्वा युगपच्च निरीक्षते
With one face he studied the Vedas, with another he drank soma, and with the third he simultaneously observed all directions.
त्रिशिरा भोगमुत्सृज्य तपश्चक्रे सुदुष्करम् । तपस्वी स मृदुर्दान्तो धर्ममेव समाश्रितः
Trishiras abandoned pleasures and undertook severe austerities; he was gentle, self-controlled, and devoted solely to righteousness.
पञ्चाग्निसाधनं काले पादपाग्रे निवेशनम् । जलमध्ये निवासं च हेमन्ते शिशिरे तथा
He practiced the five-fire austerity, dwelt at the foot of trees, lived in water, and endured cold in winter and frost.
निराहारो जितात्मासौ त्यक्तसर्वपरिग्रहः । तपश्चचार मेधावी दुष्करं मन्दबुद्धिभिः
He, wise and self-controlled, gave up all possessions and food, and performed austerities that are difficult for the dull-witted.
तं च दृष्ट्वा तपस्यन्तं खेदमाप शचीपतिः । विषादमगमत्तत्र शक्रोऽयं मास्मभूदिति
Seeing him engaged in austerities, the lord of Shachi (Indra) became distressed and fell into despair, thinking, 'May this not be my ruin.'
दृष्ट्वा तस्य तपो वीर्यं सत्यं चामिततेजसः । चिन्तां च महतीं प्राप ह्यनिशं पाकशासनः
Observing his power of austerity and truthfulness, and his immeasurable energy, Indra was seized by great anxiety day and night.
विवर्धमानस्त्रिशिरा मामयं शातयिष्यति । नोपेक्ष्यः सर्वथा शत्रुर्वर्धमानबलो बुधैः
'As Trishiras grows stronger, he will destroy me; a wise person should never ignore an enemy who is increasing in power.'
तस्मादुपायः कर्तव्यस्तपोनाशाय साम्प्रतम् । कामस्तु तपसां शत्रुः कामान्नश्यति वै तपः
Therefore, a means must now be devised to destroy his austerities; desire is the enemy of austerity, and through desires, austerity is indeed destroyed.
तथैवाद्य प्रकर्तव्यं भोगासक्तो भवेद्यथा । इति सञ्चिन्त्य मनसा बुद्धिमान्बलमर्दनः
Thus, today, something must be done so that he becomes attached to pleasures; having resolved this in his mind, the intelligent subduer of foes (Indra)...
आज्ञापयत्सोऽप्सरसस्त्वाष्ट्रपुत्रप्रलोभने । उर्वशीं मेनकां रम्भां घृताचीं च तिलोत्तमाम्
At his command, the Apsarases—Urvaśī, Menakā, Rambhā, Ghṛtācī, and Tilottamā—were summoned to entice the son of Tvaṣṭṛ.
समाहूयाब्रवीच्छक्रस्तास्तदा रूपगर्विताः । प्रियं कुरुध्वं मे सर्वाः कार्येऽद्य समुपस्थिते
Summoning them, Śakra then spoke to those women, proud of their beauty: "All of you, do my bidding in the task at hand today."
यत्तो मेऽद्य महाञ्छत्रुस्तपस्तपति दुर्जयः । कार्यं कुरुत गच्छध्वं प्रलोभयत माचिरम्
"Today, a great and formidable enemy of mine is engaged in severe austerities; go quickly and carry out the task—entice him without delay."
शृङ्गारवेषैर्विविधैर्हावैर्देहसमुद्भवैः । प्रलोभयत भद्रं वः शमयध्वं ज्वरं मम
"With various seductive garments and gestures arising from your bodies, allure him—may you be blessed—and relieve me of my distress."
अस्वस्थोऽहं महाभागास्तस्य ज्ञात्वा तपोबलम् । बलवानासनं मेऽद्य ग्रहीष्यत्यविलम्बितः
"I am troubled, O noble ones, knowing the power of his austerity; today, he will soon seize my position of strength."
भयं मे समुपायातं क्षिप्रं नाशयताबलाः । उपकुर्वन्तु सहिताः कार्येऽद्य समुपस्थिते
"Fear has come upon me—banish it quickly, O powerful ones; together, assist me in this urgent matter today."
तच्छ्रुत्वा वचनं नार्य ऊचुस्तं प्रणताः पुरः । मा भयं कुरु देवेश यतिष्यामः प्रलोभने
Hearing these words, the women bowed before him and said, "Do not fear, Lord of the gods; we will strive to seduce him."
यथा न स्याद्भयं तस्मात्तथा कार्यं महाद्युते । नृत्यगीतविहारैश्च मुनेस्तस्य प्रलोभने
"O illustrious one, we will act so that there is no danger from him, using dance, song, and amusements to entice the sage."
कटाक्षैरङ्गभेदैश्च मोहयित्वा मुनिं विभो । लोलुपं वशमस्माकं करिष्यामो नियन्त्रितम्
"With sidelong glances and bodily movements, we will bewilder the sage, O Lord, and make the passionate one subject to our control."
व्यास उवाच इत्याभाष्य हरिं नार्यो ययुस्त्रिशिरसोऽन्तिकम् । कुर्वन्त्यो विविधान्भावान्कामशास्त्रोचितानपि
Vyāsa said: Having spoken thus to Hari, the women went to Triśiras, displaying various moods as prescribed in the science of love.
गायन्त्यस्तालभेदैस्ता नृत्यन्त्यः पुरतो मुनेः । तं प्रलोभयितुं चक्रुर्नानाभावान्वराङ्गनाः
Singing with different rhythms and dancing before the sage, those excellent women employed many charms to seduce him.
नापश्यत्स तपोराशिरङ्गनानां विडम्बनम् । इन्द्रियाणि वशे कृत्वा मूकान्धबधिरः स्थितः
But the sage, a reservoir of austerity, did not notice the women's display; having subdued his senses, he stood as if mute, blind, and deaf.
दिनानि कतिचित्तस्थुर्नार्यस्तस्याश्रमे वरे । कुर्वन्त्यो गाननृत्यादिप्रपञ्चानतिमोहदान्
For several days, the women remained at the sage's hermitage, performing songs, dances, and various enchanting acts.
न चचाल यदा कामं ध्यानाच्च त्रिशिरा मुनिः । परावृत्य तदा देव्यः पुनः शक्रमुपस्थिताः
When Triśiras the sage was not moved by desire or distracted from his meditation, the goddesses turned back and returned to Śakra.
कृताञ्जलिपुटाः सर्वा देवराजमथाब्रुवन् । श्रान्ता दीना भयत्रस्ता विवर्णवदना भृशम्
With hands joined in reverence, all the women addressed the king of the gods, exhausted, dispirited, terrified, and their faces pale.
देवदेव महाराज यत्नश्च परमः कृतः । न स शक्यो दुराधर्षो धैर्याच्चालयितुं विभो
"O god of gods, great king, we have made every effort; but that unassailable one cannot be shaken from his resolve, O Lord."
उपायोऽन्यः प्रकर्तव्यः सर्वथा पाकशासन । नास्माकं बलमेतस्मिंस्तापसे विजितेन्द्रिये
"Another means must be devised in every way, O slayer of Vṛtra; our strength is of no use against this sage who has conquered his senses."
दिष्ट्या वयं न शप्ताः स्म यदनेन महात्मना । मुनिना वह्नितुल्येन तपसा द्योतितेन हि
"By good fortune, we were not cursed by that great soul, the sage, blazing with austerity and like fire itself."