अवश्यं भगवन्तो मे माननीयास्तपस्विनः । भवन्तो मुनयः क्वापि न मिथ्यावादिनो भृशम्
Certainly, venerable ones, you ascetics are to be honored by me; you sages are never, anywhere, speakers of falsehood.
सदाचाराः सुशान्ताश्च न विदुश्छलकारणम् । कृतवैरे शठे स्तब्धे कामुके च गतत्विषि
You are of good conduct and peaceful, and do not know deceit; but with one who is hostile, deceitful, arrogant, lustful, and has lost his splendor,
निर्लज्जे नैव कर्तव्यं सख्यं मतिमता सदा । निर्लज्जोऽयं दुराचारो ब्रह्महा लम्पटः शठः
with a shameless one, friendship should never be made by the wise; this one is shameless, of bad conduct, a Brahmin-killer, lecherous, and deceitful.
न विश्वासस्तु कर्तव्यः सर्वथैवेदृशे जने । भवन्तो निपुणाः सर्वे न द्रोहमतयः सदा
One should never place trust in such a person under any circumstances; you are all skilled and never inclined to betrayal.
अनभिज्ञास्तु शान्तत्वाच्चित्तानामतिवादिनाम् । मुनय ऊचुः जन्तुः कृतस्य भोक्ता वै शुभस्य त्वशुभस्य च
But, due to their peacefulness, you are unaware of the minds of those who speak excessively; the sages said: A being is the enjoyer of what he has done, whether good or bad.
द्रोहं कृत्वा कुतः शान्तिमाप्नुयान्नष्टचेतनः । विश्वासघातकर्तारो नरकं यान्ति निश्चयम्
How could one who has committed betrayal ever attain peace, having lost his senses? Those who betray trust certainly go to hell.
दुःखं च समवाप्नोति नूनं विश्वासघातकः । निष्कृतिर्ब्रह्महन्तॄणां सुरापानां च निष्कृतिः
Indeed, the betrayer of trust surely attains suffering; there is atonement for Brahmin-killers and for drinkers of wine,
विश्वासघातिनां नैव मित्रद्रोहकृतामपि । समयं ब्रूहि सर्वज्ञ यथा ते चेतसि ध्रुवम्
but for betrayers of trust and those who betray friends, there is none; O all-knowing one, state the agreement that is firmly in your mind.
तेनैव समयेनाद्य सन्धिः स्यादुभयोः किल । वृत्र उवाच न शुष्केण न चार्द्रेण नाश्मना न च दारुणा
By that very agreement, today, let there be a treaty between you both; Vritra said: Not by something dry, nor by something wet, nor by stone, nor by wood,
न वज्रेण महाभाग न दिवा निशि नैव च । वध्यो भवेयं विप्रेन्द्राः शक्रस्य सह दैवतैः
nor by thunderbolt, O most fortunate ones, nor by day, nor by night, may I be slain by Indra together with the gods.
एवं मे रोचते सन्धिः शक्रेण सह नान्यथा । व्यास उवाच ऋषयस्तं तदा प्राहुर्बाढमित्येव चादृताः
Thus, this alliance with Śakra pleases me; not otherwise. Vyāsa said: The sages then respectfully replied to him, 'So be it.'
समयं श्रावयामासुस्तत्रानीय सुरेश्वरम् । इन्द्रोऽपि शपथांस्तत्र चकार विगतज्वरः
They summoned the lord of the gods there and made him hear the agreement. Indra too, now free of anxiety, took the oaths there.
साक्षिणं पावकं कृत्वा मुनीनां सन्निधौ किल । वृत्रस्तु वचनैस्तस्य विश्वासमगमत्तदा
Making Fire the witness, indeed, in the presence of the sages, Vṛtra then gained trust in his words.
बभूव मित्रवच्छक्रे सहचर्यापरायणः । कदाचिन्नन्दने चोभौ कदाचिद्गन्धमादने
He became friendly with Śakra, devoted to companionship; sometimes both wandered in Nandana, sometimes in Gandhamādana.
कदाचिदुदधेस्तीरे मोदमानौ विचेरतुः । एवं कृते च सन्धाने वृत्रः प्रमुदितोऽभवत्
Sometimes, rejoicing, they roamed along the ocean's shore. Thus, with the alliance made, Vṛtra became delighted.
शक्रोऽपि वधकामस्तु तदुपायानचिन्तयत् । रन्ध्रान्वेषी समुद्विग्नस्तदासीन्मघवा भृशम्
But Śakra, desiring to kill, began to consider means for that; Maghavan, searching for a loophole, was greatly disturbed at that time.
एवं चिन्तयतस्तस्य कालः समभिवर्तत । विश्वासं परमं प्राप वृत्रः शक्रेऽतिदारुणे
As he was thinking thus, time passed. Vṛtra placed utmost trust in the exceedingly harsh Śakra.
एवं कतिचिदब्दानि गतानि समये कृते । वृत्रस्य मरणोपायान्मनसीन्द्रोऽप्यचिन्तयत्
Thus, several years passed after the agreement was made. Indra too pondered in his mind the means for Vṛtra's death.
त्वष्टैकदा सुतं प्राह विश्वस्तं पाकशासने । पुत्र वृत्र महाभाग शृणु मे वचनं हितम्
Once, Tvaṣṭṛ spoke to his son, who trusted the lord of the gods: 'Son Vṛtra, greatly fortunate, listen to my beneficial words.'
न विश्वासस्तु कर्तव्यः कृतवैरे कथञ्चन । मघवा कृतवैरस्ते सदासूयापरः परैः
'One should never place trust in an enemy, in any way. Maghavan, having enmity, is always jealous of others.'
लोभान्मत्तो द्वेषरतः परदुःखोत्सवान्वितः । परदारलम्पटः स पापबुद्धिः प्रतारकः
'Out of greed, intoxicated, delighting in hatred, rejoicing in others' suffering, lustful for others' wives, he is wicked-minded and a deceiver.'
रन्ध्रान्वेषी द्रोहपरो मायावी मदगर्वितः । यः प्रविश्योदरे मातुर्गर्भच्छेदं चकार ह
'Seeking a weakness, intent on betrayal, cunning, proud of his intoxication—he who, entering his mother's womb, committed the act of cutting the embryo.'
सप्तकृत्वः सप्तकृत्वः क्रन्दमानमनातुरः । तस्मात्पुत्र न कर्तव्यो विश्वासस्तु कथञ्चन
'Seven times, seven times, he cried out though not in pain. Therefore, son, one should never place trust, in any way.'
कृतपापस्य का लज्जा पुनः पुत्र प्रकुर्वतः । व्यास उवाच एवं प्रबोधितः पित्रा वचनैर्हेतुसंयुतैः
'What shame is there for one who has committed sin, when he does it again, son?' Vyāsa said: Thus instructed by his father with words full of reasoning—
न बुबोध तदा वृत्र आसन्नमरणः किल । स कदाचित्समुद्रान्ते तमपश्यन्महासुरम्
Vṛtra did not understand then, for his death was near. Once, at the ocean's edge, he saw that great asura.
सन्ध्याकाल उपावृत्ते मुहूर्तेऽतीव दारुणे । ततः सञ्चिन्त्य मघवा वरदानं महात्मनाम्
When evening approached, at a most dreadful moment, then Maghavan, recalling the boon given to the great-souled one, considered—
सन्ध्येयं वर्तते रौद्रा न रात्रिर्दिवसो न च । हन्तव्योऽयं मया चाद्य बलेनैव न संशयः
'Now this fierce twilight is present; it is neither night nor day. Today, I must slay him by force—there is no doubt.'
एकाकी विजने चात्र सम्प्राप्तः समयोचितः । एवं विचार्य मनसा सस्मार हरिमव्ययम्
'He has come here alone, in a deserted place, at the proper time.' Thus reflecting in his mind, he remembered the imperishable Hari.
तत्राजगाम भगवानदृश्यः पुरुषोत्तमः । वज्रमध्ये प्रविश्यासौ संस्थितो भगवान्हरिः
There, the Blessed Lord, the Supreme Person, appeared unseen; entering into the thunderbolt, the Lord Hari took his place within it.
इन्द्रो बुद्धिं चकाराशु तदा वृत्रवधं प्रति । इति सञ्चिन्त्य मनसा कथं हन्यां रिपुं रणे
Then Indra quickly turned his mind to the slaying of Vṛtra, thinking within himself: 'How might I kill my enemy in battle?'