इति सञ्चिन्त्य मे सर्वे बृहस्पतिपुरोगमाः । नहुषं सहिता जग्मुरिन्द्रपत्न्या दिवौकसः
Having thus resolved, all the gods, led by Brihaspati, went together with Indra's wife to Nahusha.
तानागतान्ममीक्ष्याह तदा कृत्रिमवासवः । जहर्ष च मुदायुक्तस्तां वीक्ष्य मुदितोऽब्रवीत्
Seeing them arrive, the false Indra rejoiced, filled with delight, and, beholding her, spoke joyfully.
अद्यास्मि वासवः कान्ते भज मां चारुलोचने । पतित्वे सर्वलोकस्य पूज्योऽहं विहितः सुरैः
"Today I am Indra, O beautiful-eyed one; unite with me. I have been appointed by the gods as the lord of all worlds, worthy of worship."
इत्युक्ता सा नृपं प्राह वेपमाना त्रपायुता । वरमिच्छाम्यहं राजंस्त्वत्तः प्राप्तं सुरेश्वर
Thus addressed, she, trembling and filled with shame, said to the king: "O lord of the gods, I desire a boon from you, granted by you."
किञ्चित्कालं प्रतीक्षस्व यावत्कुर्वे विनिर्णयम् । इन्द्रोऽस्तीति न वास्तीति सन्देहो मे हृदि स्थितः
"Wait a little while until I make a decision, for there is doubt in my heart whether Indra is alive or not."
ततस्त्वां समुपस्थास्ये कृत्वा निश्चयमात्मनि । तावत्क्षमस्व राजेन्द्र सत्यमेतद्ब्रवीमि ते
"After I have resolved this in my mind, I will come to you. Until then, O king of kings, please be patient—this I truly tell you."
न हि विज्ञायते शक्रो नष्टः किं वा क्व वा गतः । एवमुक्तः स चेन्द्राण्या नहुषः प्रीतिमानभूत्
Indeed, no one knows where Indra has gone or what has happened to him. Hearing this from Indrani, Nahusha became pleased.
व्यसर्जयत्स तां देवीं तथेत्युक्त्वा मुदान्वितः । सा विसृष्टा नृपेणाशु गत्वा प्राह सुरान्सती
He dismissed that goddess, saying 'So be it,' with delight. Released by the king, she quickly went and addressed the gods.
इन्द्रस्यागमने यत्नं कुरुताद्य कृतोद्यमाः । श्रुत्वा तद्वचनं देवा इन्द्राण्या रसवच्छुचि
Make every effort today for Indra's return, striving with determination. Hearing these words from Indrani, the gods, pure and attentive, listened.
मन्त्रयामासुरेकाग्राः शक्रार्थं नृपसत्तम । ते गत्वा वैष्णवं धाम तुष्टुवुः परमेश्वरम्
With focused minds, they deliberated for Indra's sake, O best of kings. They went to the abode of Vishnu and praised the Supreme Lord.
आदिदेवं जगन्नाथं शरणागतवत्सलम् । ऊचुश्चैनं समुद्विग्ना वाक्यं वाक्यविशारदाः
They addressed the Primal Deity, Lord of the Universe, who is compassionate to those who seek refuge. Distressed, they spoke to Him, skilled in speech.
देवदेव सुरपतिर्ब्रह्महत्याप्रपीडितः । अदृश्यः सर्वभूतानां क्वापि तिष्ठति वासवः
O God of gods, the lord of the celestials is afflicted by the sin of killing a Brahmin. Indra is invisible to all beings, residing somewhere unknown.
त्वद्धिया निहते विप्रे ब्रह्महत्या कुतः प्रभो । त्वं गतिस्तस्य भगवन्नस्माकं च तथैव हि
By your will, the Brahmin was slain—how then can there be the sin of Brahmin-killing, O Lord? You are the refuge for him, O Blessed One, and for us as well.
त्राहि नः परमापन्नान्मोक्षं तस्य विनिर्दिश । देवानां वचनं श्रुत्वा कातरं विष्णुरब्रवीत्
Rescue us, who are in great distress, and show him the path to liberation. Hearing the gods' anxious words, Vishnu spoke.
यजतामश्वमेधेन शक्रपापनिवृत्तये । पुण्येन हयमेधेन पावितः पाकशासनः
Let an Ashvamedha sacrifice be performed to remove Indra's sin. By the merit of the horse sacrifice, Indra will be purified.
पुनरेष्यति देवानामिन्द्रत्वमकुतोभयः । हयमेधेन सन्तुष्टा देवी श्रीजगदम्बिका
He will again attain the position of king of the gods, free from all fear. The goddess Jagadambika will be pleased by the Ashvamedha.
ब्रह्महत्यादिपापानि नाशयिष्यत्यसंशयम् । यस्याः स्मरणमात्रेण पापजालं विनश्यति
She will surely destroy sins such as Brahmin-killing, without doubt. By merely remembering her, the web of sin is destroyed.
किं पुनर्वाजिमेधेन तत्प्रीत्यर्थं कृतेन च । इन्द्राणी कुरुतान्नित्यं भगवत्याः प्रपूजनम्
What then, if the Ashvamedha is performed for her pleasure? Indrani, always worship the Blessed Goddess.
आराधनं शिवायास्तु सुखकारि भविष्यति । नहुषोऽपि जगन्मातुर्मायया मोहितः किल
The worship of Shiva will bring happiness. Even Nahusha was deluded by the power of the Mother of the Universe.
विनाशं स्वकृतेनाशु गमिष्यत्येनसा सुराः । पावितश्चाश्वमेधेन तुराषाडपि वैभवम्
He will quickly meet his destruction by his own misdeed, O gods. Turashad will also be purified by the Ashvamedha and attain glory.
प्राप्स्यत्यचिरकालेन स्वमासनमनुत्तमम् । ते तु श्रुत्वा शुभां वाणीं विष्णोरमिततेजसः
He will soon obtain his own excellent seat. Hearing Vishnu's auspicious words, radiant as they were,
जग्मुस्तं देशमनिशं यत्रास्ते पाकशासनः । तमाश्वास्य सुराः शक्रं बृहस्पतिपुरोगमाः
They went day and night to the place where Indra was staying. The gods, led by Brihaspati, comforted Indra.
कारयामासुरखिलं हयमेधं महाक्रतुम् । विभज्य ब्रह्महत्यां तु वृक्षेषु च नदीषु च
They performed the entire Ashvamedha, the great sacrifice. They divided the sin of Brahmin-killing among the trees and rivers.
पर्वतेषु पृथिव्यां च स्त्रीषु चैवाक्षिपद्विभुः । तां विसृज्य च भूतेषु विपापः पाकशासनः
Among the mountains, on the earth, and in women, the Lord cast it. Having released it among the beings, Indra became free from sin.
विज्वरः समभूद्भूयः कालाकाङ्क्षी स्थितो जले । अदृश्यः सर्वभूतानां पद्मनाले व्यतिष्ठत
He became free from fever, yet remained in the water, longing for the appointed time; invisible to all beings, he stayed within the stalk of a lotus.
देवास्तु निर्गताः स्थाने कृत्वा कार्यं तदद्भुतम् । पौलोमी तु गुरुं प्राह दुःखिता विरहाकुला
The gods departed after accomplishing that wondrous task; but Paulomi, distressed and overwhelmed by separation, spoke to her teacher.
कृतयज्ञोऽपि मे भर्ता किमदृश्यः पुरन्दरः । कथं द्रक्ष्ये प्रियं स्वामिंस्तमुपायं वदस्व मे
"Though my husband, Purandara, has performed sacrifices, why is he unseen? O lord, tell me the means by which I may see my beloved husband."
बृहस्पतिरुवाच त्वमाराधय पौलोमि देवीं भगवतीं शिवाम् । दर्शयिष्यति ते नाथं देवी विगतकल्मषम्
Bṛhaspati said: "O Paulomi, worship the goddess, the blessed Śivā; the goddess, free from all stain, will reveal your lord to you."
आराधिता जगद्धात्री नहुषं वारयिष्यति । मोहयित्वा नृपं स्थानात्पातयिष्यति चाम्बिका
"When worshipped, the Mother of the Universe will restrain Nahuṣa; Ambikā will delude the king and cast him down from his position."
इत्युक्ता सा तदा तेन पुलोमतनया नृप । जग्राह मन्त्रं विधिवद्गुरोर्देव्याः ससाधनम्
Thus addressed by him, the daughter of Puloma then duly received from her teacher the mantra and the proper means for worshipping the goddess.