इत्युक्त्वा च तदा त्वष्टा पुत्रशोकसमाकुलः । आयुधानि च दिव्यानि चकार विविधानि च
Having spoken thus, Tvaṣṭṛ, overwhelmed with grief for his son, fashioned various divine weapons.
ददावस्मै सहस्राक्षवधाय प्रबलानि च । खड्गशूलगदाशक्तितोमरप्रमुखानि वै
He gave him mighty weapons for the slaying of the thousand-eyed one: sword, spear, mace, dart, and foremost among tomaras.
शार्ङ्ग धनुस्तथा बाणं परिघं पट्टिशं तथा । चक्रं दिव्यं सहस्रारं सुदर्शनसमप्रभम्
He gave the Śārṅga bow, an arrow, a club, a pattiśa, and a divine discus with a thousand spokes, equal in brilliance to Sudarśana.
तूणीरौ चाक्षयौ दिव्यौ कवचं चातिसुन्दरम् । रथं मेघप्रतीकाशं दृढं भारसहं जवम्
He gave two inexhaustible quivers, a most beautiful armor, and a chariot resembling a cloud, strong, swift, and able to bear great weight.
युद्धोपकरणं सर्वं कृत्वा पुत्राय पार्थिव । दत्त्वासौ प्रेरयामास त्वष्टा क्रोधसमन्वितः
Having prepared all the weapons for battle, Tvaṣṭṛ, filled with anger, gave them to his son, O King, and sent him forth.
ब्रह्मणः समाराधनाय त्वष्ट्रा वृत्रोपदेशवर्णनम् व्यास उवाच कृतस्वस्त्ययनो वृत्रो ब्राह्मणैर्वेदपारगैः । निर्जगाम रथारूढो हन्तुं शक्रं महाबलः
To propitiate Brahmā, Tvaṣṭṛ instructed Vṛtra in the proper rites. Vyāsa said: Vṛtra, having performed the auspicious rites with learned Brāhmaṇas, mounted his chariot, mighty in strength, and set out to slay Indra.
तदैव राक्षसाः क्रूराः पुरा देवपराजिताः । समाजग्मुश्च सेवार्थं वृत्रं ज्ञात्वा महाबलम्
At that very moment, the fierce Rākṣasas, who had previously been defeated by the gods, came together, having learned of Vṛtra's great power, to serve him.
इन्द्रदूतास्तु तं दृष्ट्वा युद्धाय तु समागतम् । वेगादागत्य वृत्तान्तं शशंसुस्तस्य चेष्टितम्
When Indra's messengers saw him advancing for battle, they quickly went and reported all that had occurred and his actions.
दूता ऊचुः स्वामिञ्छीघ्रमिहायाति वृत्रो नाम रिपुस्तव । बलवान्स्यन्दने रूढस्त्वष्ट्रा चोत्पादितः किल
The messengers said: Lord, your enemy named Vṛtra is swiftly approaching here, powerful and mounted on a chariot, said to have been created by Tvaṣṭṛ.
अविचारेण नाशार्थं तव क्रोधान्वितेन वै । पुत्रघाताभितप्तेन दुःसहो राक्षसैर्युतः
Without reflection, and driven by anger for the sake of your destruction, tormented by the killing of his son, he comes, intolerable and surrounded by Rākṣasas.
यत्नं कुरु महाभाग शीघ्रमायाति साम्प्रतम् । मेरुमन्दरसंकाशो घोरशब्दोऽतिदारुणः
Take action, O greatly fortunate one! He is coming quickly now, resembling Meru or Mandara, with a terrible and dreadful roar.
एतस्मिन्नन्तरे तत्र भीता देवगणा भृशम् । आगत्योचुः सुरपतिं शृण्वन्तं दूतभाषितम्
Meanwhile, the hosts of gods, greatly afraid, came there and spoke to the lord of the gods, who was listening to the words of the messengers.
गणाः ऊचुः मघवन् दुर्निमित्तानि भवन्ति त्रिदशालये । बहूनि भयशंसीनि पक्षिणां विरुतानि च
The hosts said: O Maghavan, evil omens are appearing in the abode of the gods; many signs foretelling danger, and the cries of birds as well.
काकगृध्रास्तथा श्येनाः कङ्काद्या दारुणाः खगाः । रुदन्ति विकृतैः शब्दैरुत्कारैर्भवनोपरि
Crows, vultures, hawks, cranes, and other dreadful birds are crying out with harsh sounds and shrieks above the houses.
चीचीकूचीति निनदान् कुर्वन्ति विहगा भृशम् । वाहनानां च नेत्रेभ्यो जलधाराः पतन्त्यधः
The birds are making incessant cries like 'cīcī' and 'kūcī'; from the eyes of the animals, streams of water are falling downward.
श्रूयतेऽतिमहाञ्छब्दो रुदतीनां निशासु च । राक्षसीनां महाभाग भवनोपरि दारुणः
A very great and dreadful sound is heard at night, O greatly fortunate one, of Rākṣasīs weeping above the houses.
प्रपतन्ति ध्वजास्तूर्णं विना वातेन मानद । प्रभवन्ति महोत्पाता दिवि भूम्यन्तरिक्षजाः
Banners fall swiftly without wind, O giver of honor, and great portents arise in the sky, on earth, and in the atmosphere.
कृष्णाम्बरधरा नार्यो भ्रमन्ति च गृहे गृहे । यान्तु यान्तु गृहात्तूर्णं कुर्वन्त्यो विकृताननाः
Women dressed in black garments wander from house to house, making distorted faces and urging people to leave their homes at once.
रात्रौ स्वप्नेषु कान्तानां सुप्तानां निजमन्दिरे । केशाँल्लुनन्ति राक्षस्यो भीषयन्त्यो भृशातुराः
At night, in the dreams of beloved ones sleeping in their own houses, Rākṣasīs, terrifying and greatly agitated, pull out their hair.
एवंविधानि देवेश भूकम्पोल्कादयस्तथा । गोमायवो रुदन्ति स्म निशायां भवनाङ्गणे
Such are the signs, O lord of the gods; earthquakes and meteors as well. Jackals howl at night in the courtyards of houses.
सरटानां च जालानि प्रभवन्ति गृहे गृहे । अङ्गप्रस्फुरणादीनि दुर्निमित्तानि सर्वशः
Cobwebs appear in every house, and evil omens such as twitching of limbs are manifest everywhere.
व्यास उवाच इति तेषां वचः श्रुत्वा चिन्तामाप सुरेश्वरः । बृहस्पतिं समाहूय पप्रच्छ च मनोगतम्
Vyāsa said: Hearing these words, the lord of the gods became anxious; summoning Bṛhaspati, he asked what was on his mind.
इन्द्र उवाच ब्रह्मन् किमुत घोराणि निमित्तानि भवन्ति वै । वाताश्च दारुणा वान्ति प्रपतन्त्युलकाः खतः
Indra said: O Brahman, why are these terrible omens appearing? Fierce winds are blowing, and meteors are falling from the sky.
सर्वज्ञोऽसि महाभाग समर्थो विघ्ननाशने । बुद्धिमाञ्छास्त्रतत्त्वज्ञो देवतानां गुरुस्तथा
You are all-knowing, O highly fortunate one, capable of removing obstacles, wise, versed in the essence of scriptures, and the guru of the gods.
कुरु शान्तिं विधानज्ञ शत्रुक्षयविधायिनीम् । यथा मे न भवेद्दुःखं तथा कार्यं विधीयताम्
O knower of rites, perform a pacifying act that brings the destruction of enemies, so that I may not suffer—let such action be undertaken.
बृहस्पतिरुवाच किं करोमि सहस्राक्ष त्वयाद्य दुष्कृतं कृतम् । अनागसं मुनिं हत्वा किं फलं समुपार्जितम्
Bṛhaspati said: O thousand-eyed one, what can I do now? You have committed a wrongful act today. By killing an innocent sage, what result have you gained?
अत्युग्रं पुण्यपापानां फलं भवति सत्वरम् । विचार्य खलु कर्तव्यं कार्यं तद्भूतिमिच्छता
The result of good and evil deeds, whether intense or mild, comes swiftly. One must carefully consider before acting, if one desires well-being.
परोपतापनं कर्म न कर्तव्यं कदाचन । न सुखं विन्दते प्राणी परपीडापरायणः
One should never perform actions that harm others. A being devoted to causing pain to others does not find happiness.
मोहाल्लोभाद्ब्रह्महत्या कृता शक्र त्वयाधुना । तस्य पापस्य सहसा फलमेतदुपागतम्
Out of delusion and greed, you have now committed the killing of a Brāhmaṇa, O Śakra. The fruit of that sin has quickly come upon you.
अवध्यः सर्वदेवानां जातोऽसौ वृत्रसंज्ञकः । हन्तुं त्वां स समायाति दानवैर्बहुभिर्वृतः
He who is called Vṛtra has been born invulnerable to all the gods. Surrounded by many Dānavas, he is coming to slay you.