आयुधानि च सर्वाणि वज्रतुल्यानि वासव । त्वष्ट्रा दत्तानि दिव्यानि गृहीत्वा समुपस्थितः
O Vāsava, having received all divine weapons from Tvaṣṭṛ, equal to the thunderbolt, he has now arrived, bearing them.
समागच्छति दुर्धर्षो रथारूढः प्रतापवान् । देवेन्द्र प्रलयं कुर्वन्नास्य मृत्युर्भविष्यति
That formidable and mighty one, mounted on a chariot, is advancing. O king of the gods, he will bring destruction, and death will not touch him.
कोलाहलस्तदा जातस्तथा ब्रुवति वाक्पतौ । गन्धर्वाः किन्नरा यक्षा मुनयश्च तपोधनाः
Then, as the lord of speech spoke thus, a great uproar arose. Gandharvas, Kinnaras, Yakṣas, and ascetic sages—
सदनानि विहायैवामराः सर्वे पलायिताः । तद्दृष्ट्वा महदाश्चर्यं शक्रश्चिन्तापरायणः
—all the immortals abandoned their abodes and fled. Seeing that great wonder, Śakra was overcome by anxiety.
आज्ञापयामास तदा सेनोद्योगाय सेवकान् । आनयध्वं वसून् रुद्रानश्विनौ च दिवाकरान्
At that time, he ordered his attendants to prepare for war: 'Bring the Vasus, Rudras, Aśvins, and the Ādityas.'
पूषणं च भगं वायुं कुबेरं वरुणं यमम् । विमानेषु समारुह्य सायुधाः सुरसत्तमाः
'Also bring Pūṣan, Bhaga, Vāyu, Kubera, Varuṇa, and Yama. Let the best of the gods, armed, mount their aerial chariots.'
समागच्छन्तु तरसा शत्रुरायाति साम्प्रतम् । इत्याज्ञाप्य सुरपतिः समारुह्य गजोत्तमम्
'Let them all come swiftly, for the enemy is now approaching.' Thus commanded, the lord of the gods mounted his noble elephant.
बृहस्पतिं पुरोधाय निर्गतो निजमन्दिरात् । तथैव त्रिदशाः सर्वे स्वं स्वं वाहनमास्थिताः
Appointing Bṛhaspati as priest, he departed from his own palace; likewise, all the gods mounted their respective vehicles.
युद्धाय कृतसंकल्पा निर्ययुः शस्त्रपाणयः । वृत्रोऽथ दानवैर्युक्तः सम्प्राप्तो मानसोत्तरम्
Resolved to fight, they set out with weapons in hand. Then Vṛtra, accompanied by Dānavas, arrived at Lake Mānasa.
पर्वतं देवतावासं रम्यं पादपशोभितम् । इन्द्रोऽप्यागत्य संग्रामं चकार मानसोत्तरे
That mountain, the beautiful abode of the gods, adorned with trees—Indra too arrived there and engaged in battle at Lake Mānasa.
पर्वते देवतायुक्तो वाचस्पतिपुरःसरः । तत्राभूद्दारुणं युद्धं वृत्रवासवयोस्तदा
On the mountain, accompanied by the gods and led by Brihaspati, there arose then a fierce battle between Vritra and Indra.
गदासिपरिघैः पाशैर्बाणैः शक्तिपरश्वधैः । मानुषेण प्रमाणेन संग्रामः शरदां शतम्
With maces, swords, iron clubs, nooses, arrows, spears, and axes—using weapons of human size—the battle continued for a hundred autumns.
बभूव भयदो नॄणामृषीणां भावितात्मनाम् । वरुणः प्रथमं भग्नस्ततो वायुगणः किल
That battle, terrifying to men and to sages of purified minds, saw Varuna defeated first, then indeed the host of Vayu.
यमो विभावसुः शक्रः सर्वे ते निर्गता रणात् । पलायनपरान् दृष्ट्वा देवानिन्द्रपुरोगमान्
Yama, Agni, and Indra—all of them left the battlefield; seeing the gods led by Indra fleeing, intent only on escape,
वृत्रोऽपि पितरं प्रागादाश्रमस्थं मुदान्वितम् । प्रणम्य प्राह त्वष्टारं पितः कार्यं मया कृतम्
Vritra too went to his father, who was dwelling in his hermitage, filled with joy; bowing, he said to Tvashta, 'Father, I have accomplished the task.'
देवा विनिर्जिताः सर्वे सेन्द्राः समरसंस्थिताः । विद्रुतास्ते गताः स्थानं यथा सिंहान्मृगा गजाः
'All the gods, along with Indra, who stood firm in battle, have been defeated; they have fled to their abodes like deer and elephants from a lion.'
इन्द्रः पदातिरगमन्मयानीतो गजोत्तमः । ऐरावतोऽयं भगवन् गृहाण द्विरदोत्तमम्
'Indra has fled on foot, and I have brought this excellent elephant; this is Airavata, O blessed one, accept this best of elephants.'
न हतास्ते मया यस्मादयुक्तं भीतमारणम् । आज्ञापय पुनस्तात किं करोमि तवेप्सितम्
'Because I did not kill them, the battlefield was not filled with corpses; command me again, father—what do you wish me to do?
निर्जरा निर्गताः सर्वे भयभीता श्रमातुराः । इन्द्रोऽप्यैरावतं त्यक्त्वा भयभीतः पलायितः
All the immortals have departed, terrified and exhausted; even Indra, abandoning Airavata, has fled in fear.'
व्यास उवाच इति पुत्रवचः श्रुत्वा त्वष्टा प्राह मुदान्वितः । पुत्रवानद्य जातोऽस्मि सफलं मम जीवितम्
Vyasa said: Hearing these words of his son, Tvashta, filled with joy, replied, 'Today I am truly a father; my life has borne fruit.'
त्वयाहं पावितः पुत्र गतो मे मानसो ज्वरः । निश्चलं मे मनो जातं दृष्ट्वा वीर्यं तवाद्भुतम्
'I am purified by you, my son; my mental anguish is gone. My mind has become steady, having seen your wondrous valor.'
शृणु वक्ष्याम्यहं पुत्र हितं तेऽद्य निशामय । तपः कुरु महाभाग सावधानः स्थिरासनः
'Listen, my son, I will now tell you what is beneficial for you; undertake austerity, O great one, with attention and firm posture.'
विश्वासो नैव कर्तव्यः केषाञ्चित्पाकशासनः । शत्रुस्ते छलकर्तास्ति नानाभेदविशारदः
'Never place trust in certain people, O subduer of foes; the enemy is skilled in deception and expert in many kinds of division.'
तपसा प्राप्यते लक्ष्मीस्तपसा राज्यमुत्तमम् । तपसा बलवृद्धिः स्यात्संग्रामे विजयस्तथा
'By austerity, prosperity is attained; by austerity, the highest kingdom; by austerity, strength increases, and victory in battle as well.'
आराध्य द्रुहिणं देवं लब्ध्वा वरमनुत्तमम् । जहि शक्रं दुराचारं ब्रह्महत्यासमावृतम्
'Having worshipped the god Brahma and obtained an incomparable boon, slay Indra, who is wicked and stained with the sin of killing a Brahmin.'
सावधानः स्थिरो भूत्वा दातारं भज शङ्करम् । वाञ्छितं स वरं दद्यात्सन्तुष्टश्चतुराननः
'Be attentive and steadfast; worship Shankara, the bestower; if satisfied, the four-faced one will grant the boon you desire.'
तोषयित्वा विश्वयोनिं ब्रह्माणममितौजसम् । अविनाशित्वमासाद्य जहि शक्रं कृतागसम्
'Having pleased Brahma, the source of the universe and of immeasurable power, and having attained immortality, slay Indra, who has committed a crime.'
वैरं मनसि मे पुत्र वर्तते सुतघातजम् । न शान्तिमनुगच्छामि न स्वपामि सुखेन ह
'Enmity born from the killing of my son remains in my heart, my son; I do not find peace, nor can I sleep happily.'
तापसो मे हतः पुत्रो निरागाः पाप्मना यतः । न विन्दामि सुखं वृत्र त्वं मामुद्धर दुःखितम्
My ascetic son has been slain by a sinless one through evil; I find no happiness, O Vṛtra—lift me up, for I am afflicted with sorrow.
व्यास उवाच तदाकर्ण्य पितुर्वाक्यं वृत्रः क्रोधयुतस्तदा । आज्ञामादाय च पितुर्जगाम तपसे मुदा
Vyāsa said: Hearing his father's words, Vṛtra, filled with anger, gladly accepted his father's command and departed to undertake austerities.