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.
असृजन्त महासत्त्वां जृम्भिकां रिपुनाशिनीम् । ततो विजृम्भमाणः स व्यावृतास्यो बभूव ह
They created a mighty being, the yawn, destroyer of enemies; then, as Vritra yawned, his mouth opened wide.
विजृम्भमाणस्य ततो वृत्रस्यास्यादवापतत् । स्वान्यङ्गान्यपि संक्षिप्य निष्क्रान्तो बलसूदनः
As Vritra yawned, the slayer of Bala contracted his own limbs and escaped from the enemy’s mouth.
ततः प्रभृति लोकेषु जृम्भिका प्राणिसंस्थिता । जहृषुश्च सुराः सर्वे शक्रं दृष्ट्वा विनिर्गतम्
From that time onward, yawning has remained among living beings in the worlds; and all the gods rejoiced upon seeing Indra emerge.
ततः प्रववृते युद्धं तयोर्लोकभयप्रदम् । वर्षाणामयुतं यावद्दारुणं लोमहर्षणम्
Then a battle began between the two, terrifying the worlds, fierce and hair-raising, lasting for ten thousand years.
एकतश्च सुराः सर्वे युद्धाय समुपस्थिताः । एकतो बलवांस्त्वाष्ट्रः संग्रामे समवर्तत
On one side all the gods assembled for battle; on the other, the mighty son of Tvaṣṭṛ stood ready for war.
यदा व्यवर्धत रणे वृत्रो वरमदावृतः । पराजितस्तदा शक्रस्तेजसा तस्य धर्षितः
When Vritra, protected by a boon, grew stronger in battle, Indra was defeated, his brilliance subdued by Vritra’s power.
विव्यथे मघवा युद्धे ततः प्राप्य पराजयम् । विषादमगमन्देवा दृष्ट्वा शक्रं पराजितम्
Maghavan was distressed in battle, having suffered defeat; seeing Indra vanquished, the gods fell into despair.
जग्मुस्त्यक्त्वा रणं सर्वे देवा इन्द्रपुरोगमाः । गृहीतं देवसदनं वृत्रेणागत्य रंहसा
All the gods, led by Indra, abandoned the battle and departed; Vritra swiftly seized the abode of the gods.
देवोद्यानानिसर्वाणि भुङ्क्तेऽसौ दानवो बलात् । ऐरावतोऽपि दैत्येन गृहीतोऽसौ गजोत्तमः
That powerful demon forcibly enjoyed all the divine gardens; even Airavata, the best of elephants, was seized by the demon.
विमानानि च सर्वाणि गृहीतानि विशाम्पते । उच्चैःश्रवा हयवरो जातस्तस्य वशे तदा
All the celestial palaces were taken, O lord of men; Ucchaihśravas, the best of horses, also came under his control.