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.
गन्धमादनमासाद्य पुण्यां देवधुनीं शुभाम् । स्नात्वा कुशासनं कृत्वा संस्थितश्च स्थिरासनः
Reaching Gandhamādana and the sacred, auspicious Devadhunī, he bathed, made a seat of kuśa grass, and sat firmly in posture.
त्यक्त्वान्नं वारिपानं च योगाभ्यासपरायणः । ध्यायन्विश्वसृजं चित्ते सोपविष्टः स्थिरासने
Abandoning food and drinking only water, devoted to the practice of yoga, he sat in steady posture, meditating in his mind on the Creator of the universe.
मघवा तं तपस्यन्तं ज्ञात्वा चिन्तातुरो ह्यभूत् । गन्धर्वान्प्रेषयामास विघ्नार्थं पाकशासनः
Maghavan, knowing him to be engaged in austerity, became troubled with anxiety; the subduer of Pāka sent the Gandharvas to cause obstacles.
यक्षांश्च पन्नगान्सर्पान्किन्नरानमितौजसः । विद्याधरानप्सरसो देवदूताननेकशः
He also sent Yakṣas, serpents, Kinnaras of great might, Vidyādharas, Apsarases, and many divine messengers.
उपायास्तैः कृताः सम्यक् तपोविघ्नाय मायिभिः । न चचाल ततो ध्यानात्त्वाष्ट्रः परमतापसः
Those masters of illusion employed every means to hinder his austerity, but the great ascetic, Tvaṣṭṛ's son, did not waver from his meditation.
ब्रह्मनेतृत्वे सेन्द्रैः सुरैर्विष्णोः शरणगमनवर्णनम् व्यास उवाच निर्गतास्ते परावृत्तास्तपोविघ्नकराः सुराः । निराशाः कार्यसंसिद्ध्यै तं दृष्ट्वा दृढचेतसम्
Vyāsa said: Those gods, led by Brahmā and Indra, who had come to hinder his austerity, departed in disappointment, seeing him firm in resolve.
जाते वर्षशते पूर्णे ब्रह्मा लोकपितामहः । तत्राजगाम तरसा हंसारूढश्चतुर्मुखः
When a hundred years had passed, Brahmā, the grandsire of the worlds, swiftly arrived there, mounted on a swan, four-faced.
आगत्य तमुवाचेदं त्वष्ट्टपुत्र सुखी भव । त्यक्त्वा ध्यानं वरं ब्रूहि ददामि तव वाञ्छितम्
Coming near, he spoke to him: 'O son of Tvaṣṭṛ, be happy! Abandon your meditation and ask for a boon; I shall grant your desire.'
तपसा तेऽद्य तुष्टोऽस्मि त्वां दृष्ट्वा चातिकर्शितम् । वरं वरय भद्रं ते मनोऽभिलषितं तव
'By your austerity I am pleased today, seeing you so emaciated. Choose a boon, O blessed one, whatever your heart desires.'
व्यास उवाच वृत्रस्तदातिविशदां पुरतो निशम्य वाचं सुधासमरसां जगदेककर्तुः । सन्त्यज्य योगकलनां सहसोदतिष्ठ- त्सञ्जातहर्षनयनाश्रुकलाकलापः
Vyāsa said: Hearing the clear, nectar-like words of the sole creator of the world, Vṛtra at once rose up, abandoning his yogic absorption, his eyes brimming with tears of joy.