विसृज्याप्सरसः शक्रश्चिन्तयामास मन्दधीः । तस्यैव च वधोपायं पापबुद्धिरसाम्प्रतम्
Having dismissed the celestial nymphs, Indra, of dull mind, began to ponder; and with wicked intent, he considered means for his destruction.
विसृज्य लोकलज्जां स तथा पापभयं भृशम् । चकार पापबुद्धिं तु तद्वधाय महीपते
Casting aside concern for public shame and a great fear of sin, he, with evil purpose, undertook to kill him, O King.
त्रिशिरवधानन्तरं वृत्रोत्पत्तिवर्णनम् व्यास उवाच अथ स लोभमुपेत्य सुराधिपः समधिगम्य गजासनसंस्थितः । त्रिशिरसं प्रति दुष्टमतिस्तदा मुनिमपश्यदमेयपराक्रमम्
Vyāsa said: Then, seized by greed, the lord of the gods, seated upon his elephant throne, approached Triśiras with wicked intent, and beheld the sage of immeasurable valor.
तमभिवीक्ष्य दृढासनसंस्थितं जितगिरं सुसमाधिवशं गतम् । रविविभावसुसन्निभमोजसा सुरपतिः परमापदमभ्यगात्
Seeing him firmly seated, victorious in speech, absorbed in deep meditation, and radiant with the brilliance of the sun and fire, the lord of the gods was struck by great distress.
कथमसौ विनिहन्तुमहो मया मुनिरपापमतिः किल सम्मतः । रिपुरयं सुसमिद्धतपोबलः कथमुपेक्ष्य इहासनकामुकः
How can I kill this sage, who is innocent and esteemed? He is my enemy, blazing with the power of austerity—how can I ignore him, who covets my seat?
इति विचिन्त्य पविं परमायुधं प्रति मुमोच मुनिं तपसि स्थितम् । शशिदिवाकरसन्निभमाशुगं त्रिशिरसं सुरसङ्घपतिः स्वयम्
Thus pondering, the lord of the gods himself hurled his thunderbolt, the supreme weapon, at the sage absorbed in austerity, swift and shining like the moon and sun, at Triśiras.
तदभिघातहतः स धरातले किल पपात ममार च तापसः । शिखरिणः शिखरं कुलिशार्दितं निपतितं भुवि चाद्भुतदर्शनम्
Struck down by that blow, the ascetic fell to the ground and died; like a mountain peak struck by the thunderbolt, he lay fallen upon the earth, a wondrous sight.
तं निहत्य मुदमाप सुरेश- श्चुक्रुशुश्च मुनयस्तु संस्थिताः । हा हतेति भृशमार्तनिःस्वनाः किं कृतं शतमखेन पापिना
Having slain him, the lord of the gods rejoiced, but the assembled sages cried out in distress, 'Alas, he is slain! What has this sinful Indra done?'
विनापराधं तपसां निधिर्हतः शचीपतिः पापमतिर्दुरात्मा । फलं किलायं तरसा कृतस्य प्राप्नोतु पापी हननोद्भवस्य
'Without fault, the treasure of austerity has been slain; the lord of Śacī, evil-minded and wicked, has done this. Surely, may he swiftly reap the fruit of this sinful deed, born of killing.'
तं निहत्य तरसा सुरराजो निर्जगाम निजमन्दिरमाशु । स हतोऽपि विरराज महात्मा जीवमान इव तेजसां निधिः
Having swiftly slain him, the king of the gods returned to his own abode; yet, though slain, the great soul shone as if alive, a treasury of brilliance.
तं दृष्ट्वा पतितं भूमौ जीवन्तमिव वृत्रहा । चिन्तामापातिखिन्नाङ्गः किं वा जीवेदयं पुनः
Seeing him fallen on the ground, yet appearing alive, the slayer of Vṛtra was troubled and thought, 'Could he live again?'
विमृश्य मनसातीव तक्षाणं पुरतः स्थितम् । मघवा वीक्ष्य तं प्राह स्वकार्यसदृशं वचः
Reflecting deeply, Indra saw the carpenter standing before him and spoke words suited to his purpose.
तक्षंश्छिन्धि शिरांस्यस्य कुरुष्व वचनं मम । मा जीवतु महातेजा भाति जीवन्निव स्वयम्
'Cut off his heads, carpenter, do as I command; let not this great-souled one live, for even in death he shines as if alive.'
इत्याकर्ण्य वचस्तस्य तक्षोवाच विगर्हयन् । तक्षोवाच महास्कन्धो भृशं भाति परशुर्न तरिष्यति
Hearing these words, the carpenter replied with reproach: 'His mighty shoulders shine greatly; the axe will not prevail.'
ततो नाहं करिष्यामि कार्यमेतद्विगर्हितम् । त्वया वै निन्दितं कर्म कृतं सद्भिर्विगर्हितम्
'Therefore, I will not do this blameworthy deed; you have already committed an act condemned by the virtuous.'
अहं बिभेमि पापाद्वै मृतस्यैव च मारणे । मृतोऽयं मुनिरस्त्येव शिरसः कृन्तनेन किम्
'I fear sin, indeed, in killing one already dead; this sage is dead—what is the point of cutting off his heads?'
भयं किं तेऽत्र सञ्जातं पाकशासन कथ्यताम् । इन्द्र उवाच सजीव इव देहोऽयमाभाति विशदाकृतिः
'What fear has arisen for you here, O slayer of Pāka? Speak.' Indra said: 'His body appears as if alive, with a clear form.'
तस्माद्बिभेमि मा जीवेन्मुनिः शत्रुरयं मम । तक्षोवाच नात्र किं त्रपसे विद्वन् क्रूरेणानेन कर्मणा
'Therefore I am afraid—lest this sage, my enemy, live again.' The carpenter said: 'O wise one, do you feel no shame for this cruel act?'
ऋषिपुत्रमिमं हत्वा ब्रह्महत्याभयं न किम् । इन्द्र उवाच प्रायश्चित्तं करिष्यामि पश्चात्पापक्षयाय वै
Is there not the danger of the sin of brahminicide in killing this son of a sage? Indra said: I will perform atonement later, indeed, for the destruction of the sin.
शत्रुस्तु सर्वथा वध्यश्छलेनापि महामते । तक्षोवाच त्वं लोभाभिहतः पापं करोषि मघवन्निह
The enemy must certainly be slain, even by stratagem, O wise one. Taksha said: You, Maghavan, driven by greed, are committing a sin here.
तं विनाहं कथं पापं करोमि वद मे विभो । इन्द्र उवाच मखेषु खलु भागं ते करिष्यामि सदैव हि
How can I commit this sin without you? Tell me, O lord. Indra said: In the sacrifices, I will always grant you a share, indeed.
शिरः पशोस्तु ते भागं यज्ञे दास्यन्ति मानवाः । शुल्केनानेन छिन्धि त्वं शिरांस्यस्य कुरु प्रियम्
People will give you the head of the sacrificial animal as your share in the sacrifice. With this fee, cut off his heads; do what pleases me.
व्यास उवाच एतच्छ्रुत्वा महेन्द्रस्य वचस्तक्षा मुदान्वितः । कुठारेण शिरांस्यस्य चकर्त सुदृढेन हि
Vyasa said: Hearing these words of Mahendra, Taksha, filled with joy, with a strong axe, cut off his heads.
छिन्नानि त्रीणि शीर्षाणि पतितानि यदा भुवि । तेभ्यस्तु पक्षिणः क्षिप्रं विनिष्पेतुः सहस्रशः
When the three heads were severed and fell to the ground, from them, thousands of birds quickly emerged.
कलविङ्कास्तित्तिरयस्तथैव च कपिञ्जलाः । पृथक्पृथग्विनिष्पेतुर्मुखतस्तरसा तदा
Kalavinkas, partridges, and also francolins—each of them swiftly came forth separately from the mouths.
येन वेदानधीते स्म सोमं च पिबते तथा । तस्माद्वक्त्रात्किलोत्पेतुः सद्य एव कपिञ्जलाः
From the mouth by which he studied the Vedas and drank Soma, it is said that francolins immediately sprang forth.
येन सर्वा दिशः कामं पिबन्निव निरीक्षते । तस्मात्तु तित्तिरास्तत्र निःसृतास्तिग्मतेजसः
From the one by which he looked in all directions as if drinking them in, from that, partridges of sharp energy emerged there.
यत्सुरापं तु तद्वक्त्रं तस्मात्तु चटकाः किल । विनिष्पेतुस्त्रिशिरस एवं ते विहगा नृप
From the mouth that drank wine, it is said, caṭaka birds came forth. Thus, O king, from the three heads, those birds emerged.
एवंविनिःसृतान्दृष्ट्वा तेभ्यः शक्रस्तदाण्डजान् । मुमोद मनसा राजन् जगाम त्रिदिवं पुनः
Seeing them thus emerged, Shakra then rejoiced in his heart at those egg-born beings, O king, and returned again to heaven.
गते शक्रे तु तक्षापि स्वगृहं तरसा ययौ । यज्ञभागं परं लब्ध्वा मुदमाप महीपते
When Shakra had gone, Taksha too quickly went to his own house, having obtained the supreme share of the sacrifice, and felt joy, O king.