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.
कामधेनुः पारिजातो गणश्चाप्सरसां तथा । गृहीतं रत्नमात्रं तु तेन त्वष्ट्टसुतेन ह
Kāmadhenu, the Pārijāta tree, and the host of Apsarases—all the precious treasures were seized by the son of Tvaṣṭṛ.
स्थानभ्रष्टाः सुराः सर्वे गिरिदुर्गेषु संस्थिताः । दुःखमापुः परिभ्रष्टा यज्ञभागात्सुरालयात्
All the gods, cast from their stations, took refuge in mountain strongholds; deprived of their share of sacrifices and their celestial abode, they suffered greatly.
वृत्रः सुरपदं प्राप्य बभूव मदगर्वितः । त्वष्टातीव सुखं प्राप्य मुमोद सुतसंयुतः
Vṛtra, having attained the position of the gods, became intoxicated with pride; having received great happiness from Tvaṣṭṛ, he rejoiced together with his son.
अमन्त्रयन्हितं देवा मुनिभिः सह भारत । किं कर्तव्यमिति प्राप्ते विचिन्त्य भयमोहिताः
The gods, together with the sages, consulted among themselves, O Bhārata, bewildered by fear, pondering what should be done at this juncture.
जग्मुः कैलासमचलं सुराः शक्रसमन्विताः । महादेवं प्रणम्योचुः प्रह्वाः प्राञ्जलयो भृशम्
The gods, accompanied by Śakra, went to Mount Kailāsa; bowing deeply with joined palms, they addressed Mahādeva.
देवदेव महादेव कृपासिन्धो महेश्वर । रक्षास्मान्भयभीतांस्तु वृत्रेणातिपराजितान्
"O God of gods, great Lord, ocean of compassion, Maheśvara, protect us who are terrified and defeated by Vṛtra."
गृहीतं देवसदनं तेन देव बलीयसा । किं कर्तव्यमतः शम्भो ब्रूहि सत्यं शिवाद्य नः
"That powerful being has seized the abode of the gods; O Śambhu, tell us truly today, O auspicious one, what should be done now."
किं कुर्मः क्व च गच्छामः स्थानभ्रष्टा महेश्वर । दुःखस्य नाधिगच्छामो विनाशोपायमीश्वर
"What shall we do, where shall we go, O great Lord, now that we have lost our place? O Lord, we do not see any means of ending this suffering except destruction."
साहाय्यं कुरु भूतेश व्यथिताः स्म कृपानिधे । वृत्रं जहि मदोत्सिक्तं वरदानबलाद्विभो
"Help us, Lord of beings, we are distressed, O ocean of mercy; destroy Vṛtra, who is swollen with pride by the power of boons, O mighty one."
शिव उवाच ब्रह्माणं पुरतः कृत्वा वयं सर्वे हरेः क्षयम् । गत्वा समेत्य तं विष्णुं चिन्तयामो वधोद्यमम्
Śiva said: "Let us all, with Brahmā at the forefront, go to the abode of Hari; there, meeting Viṣṇu, we shall deliberate on the means of slaying him."