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.
एवं परस्परं युद्धे सन्दीप्ते भयदे भृशम् । आकूतं देवताः प्रापुर्दैत्याश्च परमां मुदम्
Thus, as the battle blazed intensely and fearfully between them, the gods became anxious, while the Daityas felt supreme joy.
तोमरैर्भिन्दिपालैश्च खड्गैः परशुपट्टिशैः । जघ्नुः परस्परं देवदैत्या स्वस्ववरायुधैः
With spears, clubs, swords, axes, and pattiśas, the gods and Daityas struck each other, each with their own chosen weapons.
एवं युद्धे वर्तमाने दारुणे लोमहर्षणे । शक्रं जग्राह सहसा वृत्रः क्रोधसमन्वितः
As that dreadful, hair-raising battle continued, Vṛtra, filled with rage, suddenly seized Indra.
अपावृत्य मुखे क्षिप्त्वा स्थितो वृत्रः शतक्रतुम् । मुदितोऽभून्महाराज पूर्ववैरमनुस्मरन्
Opening his mouth wide, Vṛtra cast Śatakratu inside and stood there, O King, delighted, recalling his former enmity.
शक्रे ग्रस्तेऽथ वृत्रेण संभ्रान्ता निर्जरास्तदा । चुक्रुशः परमार्तास्ते हा शक्रेति मुहुर्मुहुः
When Indra was swallowed by Vritra, the immortals were seized with panic and, overwhelmed with distress, cried out again and again, 'Alas, Indra!'
अपावृतं मुखे शक्रं ज्ञात्वा सर्वे दिवौकसः । बृहस्पतिं प्रणम्योचुर्दीना व्यथितचेतसः
When all the dwellers of heaven saw Indra inside the open mouth, they bowed to Brihaspati and, their minds troubled and dejected, spoke to him.
किं कर्तव्यं द्विजश्रेष्ठ त्वमस्माकं गुरुः परः । शक्रो ग्रस्तस्तु वृत्रेण रक्षितो देवतान्तरैः
What should be done, O best of twice-born? You are our supreme teacher. Indra has been swallowed by Vritra, though protected by the other gods.
विना शक्रेण किं कुर्मः सर्वे हीनपराक्रमाः । अभिचारं कुरु विभो सत्वरः शक्रमुक्तये
Without Indra, what can we do? All of us are weakened in might. O lord, quickly perform a ritual for Indra’s release.
बृहस्पतिरुवाच किं कर्तव्यं सुराः क्षिप्तो मुखमध्येऽस्ति वासवः । वृत्रेणोत्सादितो जीवन्नस्ति कोष्ठान्तरे रिपोः
Brihaspati said: What is to be done, O gods? Vāsava is trapped inside the mouth, driven there alive by Vritra and now remains within the enemy’s belly.
व्यास उवाच देवाश्चिन्तातुराः सर्वे तुरासाहं तथाकृतम् । दृष्ट्वा विमृश्य तरसा चक्रुर्यत्नं विमुक्तये
Vyasa said: All the gods, tormented by anxiety, acted swiftly and, after seeing Turāsāha in such a state, deliberated and made every effort for Indra’s release.