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.
पादौ प्रणम्य शिरसा प्रणयाद्विधातु- र्बद्धाञ्जलिः पुरत एव समाससाद । प्रोवाच तं सुवरदं तपसा प्रसन्नं प्रेम्णातिगद्गदगिरा विनयेन नम्रः
Bowing his head to the feet of the Creator, joining his palms in reverence, he approached and spoke to the gracious bestower of boons, his voice choked with love, humble in demeanor.
प्राप्तं मया सकलदेवपदं प्रभोऽद्य यद्दर्शनं तव सुदुर्लभमाशु जातम् । वाञ्छास्ति नाथ मनसि प्रवणे दुरापा तां प्रब्रवीमि कमलासन वेत्सि भावम्
'Today, O Lord, I have attained the status of all the gods, for your rare vision has quickly come to me. There is a wish in my devoted heart, O Lotus-seated One; I shall speak it, for you know my mind.'
मृत्युश्च मा भवतु मे किल लोहकाष्ठ- शुष्कार्द्रवंशनिचयैरपरैश्च शस्त्रैः । वृद्धि प्रयातु मम वीर्यमतीव युद्धे यस्माद्भवामि सबलैरमरैरजेयः
'Let death not come to me by iron, wood, dry or wet bamboo, or by any other weapon; let my strength greatly increase in battle, so that I may become invincible even to the gods with their armies.'
व्यास उवाच इत्थं सम्प्रार्थितो ब्रह्मा तमाह प्रहसन्निव । उत्तिष्ठ गच्छ भद्रं ते वाञ्छितं सफलं सदा
Vyāsa said: Thus entreated, Brahmā, smiling, said to him: 'Arise, go forth, blessed one; your desire shall always be fulfilled.'
न शुष्केण न चार्द्रेण न पाषाणेन दारुणा । भविष्यति च ते मृत्युरिति सत्यं ब्रवीम्यहम्
'Not by dry nor by wet, not by stone nor by wood shall your death occur—this I declare to you truly.'
इति दत्त्वा वरं ब्रह्मा जगाम भुवनं परम् । वृत्रस्तु तं वरं लब्धा मुदितः स्वगृहं ययौ
Having granted the boon, Brahmā returned to his supreme abode; Vṛtra, having obtained the boon, joyfully went to his own home.
शशंस पितुरग्रे तद्वरदानं महामतिः । त्वष्टा तु मुदितः प्राप्तं पुत्रं प्राप्तवरं तदा
That wise one reported the granting of the boon before his father; and Tvaṣṭṛ, delighted, then had a son who had obtained the boon.
स्वस्ति तेऽस्तु महाभाग जहि शक्रं रिपुं मम । हत्वागच्छ त्रिशिरसो हन्तारं पापसंयुतम्
Blessings upon you, O greatly fortunate one! Slay Indra, my enemy; after killing him, go and destroy Triśiras's killer, who is full of sin.
भव त्वं त्रिदशाधीशः सम्प्राप्य विजयं रणे । ममाधिं छिन्धि विपुलं पुत्रनाशसमुद्भवम्
Having gained victory in battle, become the lord of the gods; remove my great grief, which arose from the loss of my son.
जीवतो वाक्यकरणात्क्षयाहे भूरिभोजनात् । गयायां पिण्डदानाच्च त्रिभिः पुत्रस्य पुत्रता
By obeying the words of the living, by performing the annual śrāddha with abundant food, and by offering piṇḍa at Gayā—by these three, a son fulfills his duty as a son.
तस्मात्पुत्र ममात्यर्थं दुःखं नाशितुमर्हसि । त्रिशिरा मम चित्तात्तु नापसर्पति कर्हिचित्
Therefore, my son, you must utterly destroy my deep sorrow; Triśiras never departs from my mind at any time.
सुशीलः सत्यवादी च तापसो वेदवित्तमः । अपराधं विना तेन निहतः पापबुद्धिना
He was virtuous, truthful in speech, an ascetic, and most learned in the Vedas; yet, without any fault, he was slain by one of evil intent.
व्यास उवाच इति तस्य वचः श्रुत्वा वृत्रः परमदुर्जयः । रथमारुह्य तरसा निर्जगाम पितुर्गृहात्
Vyāsa said: Hearing these words, Vṛtra, exceedingly difficult to conquer, quickly mounted his chariot and departed from his father's house.
रणदुन्दुभिनिर्घोषं शङ्खनादं महाबलम् । कारयित्वा प्रयाणं स चकार मदगर्वितः
Having caused the mighty sound of battle drums and conches to be sounded, he set out on his campaign, intoxicated with pride.
निर्ययौ नयसंयुक्तः सेवकानिति संवदन् । हत्वा शक्रं ग्रहीष्यामि सुरराज्यमकण्टकम्
He departed, accompanied by wise counselors, addressing his attendants: 'Having slain Indra, I will seize the kingdom of the gods, free from obstacles.'
इत्युक्त्वा निर्जगामाशु स्वसैन्यपरिवारितः । महता सैन्यनादेन भीषयन्नमरावतीम्
Having spoken thus, he swiftly set out, surrounded by his great army, terrifying Amarāvatī with the mighty roar of his troops.
तमागच्छन्तमाज्ञाय तुराषाडपि सत्वरः । सेनोद्योगं भयत्रस्तः कारयामास भारत
Knowing that he was approaching, Turāṣāḍa, filled with fear, quickly made preparations for the army, O Bhārata.
सर्वानाहूय तरसा लोकपालानरिन्दमः । युद्धार्थं प्रेरयन्सर्वान्व्यरोचत महाद्युतिः
Having urgently summoned all the guardians of the worlds, the illustrious king sent them all to battle, shining brilliantly.
गृध्रन्व्यूहं ततः कृत्वा संस्थितः पाकशासनः । तत्राजगाम वेगात्तु वृत्रः परबलार्दनः
Then Pākaśāsana arranged the troops in the vulture formation and took his stand; there, Vṛtra, the destroyer of enemy forces, swiftly arrived.
देवदानवयोस्तावत्संग्रामस्तुमुलोऽभवत् । वृत्रवासवयोः संख्ये मनसा विजयैषिणोः
Then, a fierce battle arose between the gods and the Dānavas; in the contest between Vṛtra and Vāsava, both sought victory in their hearts.