गरुडो वासुदेवस्य यमस्य महिषस्तथा । वृषभः शङ्करस्यापि ब्रह्मणो वरटापतिः
Garuda is the vehicle of Vasudeva, the buffalo for Yama, the bull for Shankara, and the swan for Brahma.
मयूरः कार्तिकेयस्य गजास्यस्य तु मूषकः । इच्छाम्यहमपूर्वं वै वाहनं ते सुराधिप
The peacock is Kartikeya’s mount, and the mouse for the one with the elephant head; I desire for you, O lord of the gods, a vehicle never before seen.
यन्न विष्णोर्न रुद्रस्य नासुराणां न रक्षसाम् । वहन्तु त्वां महाराज मुनयः संशितव्रताः
That which belongs neither to Vishnu nor to Rudra, nor to the asuras nor to the rakshasas—let the great sages, steadfast in their vows, carry you, O great king.
सर्वे शिबिकया राजन्नेतद्धि मम वाञ्छितम् । सर्वदेवाधिकं त्वां वै जानामि वसुधाधिप
Let all of them bear you in a palanquin, O king; this is my wish. I know you to be superior to all the gods, O lord of the earth.
तेन ते तेजसो वृद्धिं वाञ्छाम्यहमतन्द्रिता । व्यास उवाच तस्यास्तद्वचनं श्रुत्वा प्रहस्य ज्ञानदुर्बलः
Therefore, I earnestly desire the increase of your splendor. Vyasa said: Hearing her words, he laughed, his wisdom clouded,
मोहितस्तु महादेव्या कृतमोहेन तत्क्षणम् । उवाच वचनं भूपः संस्तुवन्वासवप्रियाम्
Deluded at that moment by the great goddess’s enchantment, the king, praising the beloved of Vasava, spoke these words:
नहुष उवाच सत्यमुक्तं त्वया तन्वि वाहनं रुचिरं मम । करिष्यामि सुकेशान्ते वचनं तव सर्वथा
Nahusha said: What you have spoken is true, slender-waisted one; such a splendid vehicle is fitting for me. I will certainly fulfill your command, O lovely-haired one.
न ह्यल्पवीर्यो भवति यो वाहान्कुरुते मुनीन् । अहमारुह्य यानेन त्वामेष्यामि शुचिस्मिते
For he who makes sages his vehicle is not of little power. Mounting the conveyance, I shall come to you, O pure-smiling one.
सप्तर्षयो मां वक्ष्यन्ति सर्वे देवर्षयस्तथा । समर्थं त्रिषु लोकेषु ज्ञात्वा मां तपसाधिकम्
The seven sages will carry me, and all the divine seers as well, knowing me to be supreme in austerity and capable in all the three worlds.
व्यास उवाच इत्युक्त्वा तां सुसन्तुष्टो विससर्ज हरिप्रियाम् । मुनीनाहूय सर्वास्तानित्युवाच स्मरान्वितः
Vyasa said: Having spoken thus, well pleased, he dismissed the beloved of Hari, and, summoning all the sages, spoke to them, his mind filled with desire.
नहुष उवाच अहमिन्द्रोऽद्य भो विप्राः सर्वशक्तिसमन्वितः । कार्यमत्र प्रकुर्वन्तु भवन्तो विगतस्मयाः
Nahusha said: I am Indra today, O brahmins, endowed with all power. Let your honors, free from pride, accomplish this task here.
इन्द्रासनं मया प्राप्तं नेन्द्राणी मामुपैति च । आकारिता च मां सूते प्रेमपूर्वमिदं वचः
I have obtained the throne of Indra, and Indrani comes to me. She has summoned me with these words, spoken with affection.
मुनियानेन देवेन्द्र मामुपैहि सुराधिप । देवदेव महाराज मत्प्रियं कुरु मानद
O king of the gods, O lord of lords, come to me, O Indra, with the sages’ conveyance. O bestower of honor, do what pleases me.
एतत्कार्यं मुनिश्रेष्ठा ममात्यन्तं दुरासदम् । भवद्भिस्तु प्रकर्तव्यं सर्वथैव दयालुभिः
This task, O best of sages, is exceedingly difficult for me to attain. Yet it must be accomplished by you all, who are compassionate, in every way.
मनो दहति मे कामः शक्रपत्न्यां प्रवर्तितम् । भवन्तः शरणं मेऽद्य कुरुध्वं कार्यमद्भुतम्
My mind burns with desire for Shachi, the wife of Shakra. Today, you are my refuge; perform this wondrous deed.
अगस्तिप्रमुखास्तस्य श्रुत्वा वाक्यमसत्करम् । अङ्गीचक्रुश्च भावित्वात्कृपया परमर्षयः
Hearing his improper words, the great sages, led by Agastya, consented out of compassion and reflection.
अङ्गीकृतेऽथ तद्वाक्ये मुनिभिस्तत्त्वदर्शिभिः । मुदं प्राप नृपः कामं पौलोमीकृतमानसः
Then, when the words were accepted by the sages who perceive the truth, the king, whose mind was captivated by Paulomi, attained joy as he wished.
आरुह्य शिबिकां रम्यां संस्थितस्त्वरयान्वितः । वाहान्कृत्वा मुनीन्दिव्यान्सर्प सर्पेति चाब्रवीत्
Ascending a beautiful palanquin, he settled in it, filled with urgency, and commanded the eminent sages to serve as bearers, saying, 'Go quickly, go!'
कामार्तः सोऽस्पृशन्मूढः पादेन मुनिमस्तकम् । अगस्तिं तापसश्रेष्ठं लोपामुद्रापतिं तदा
Overcome by desire and bewildered, he touched with his foot the head of the sage Agastya, the foremost ascetic and husband of Lopamudra.
वातापिभक्षकर्तारं समुद्रस्यापि शोषकम् । कशया ताडयामास पञ्चबाणशराहतः
He struck with a whip the one who consumed Vātāpi and dried up the ocean, wounded as if pierced by the arrows of the god of love.
इन्द्राणीहृतचित्तोऽसौ सर्पेति प्रब्रुवन्मुनिम् । तं शशाप मुनिः क्रुद्धः कशाघातमनुस्मरन्
His mind stolen by Indrani, he kept urging the sage to go quickly; recalling the blow of the whip, the sage angrily cursed him.
सर्पो भव दुराचार वने घोरवपुर्महान् । बहुवर्षसहस्राणि यत्र क्लेशो महान्भवेत्
Become a serpent, O wicked one, in the forest, with a terrible and immense form; for many thousands of years you shall endure great suffering there.
विचरिष्यसि वीर्येण पुनः स्वर्गमवाप्स्यसि । दृष्ट्वा युधिष्ठिरं नाम तव मोक्षो भविष्यति
You will wander by your strength, and then attain heaven again; when you see Yudhishthira by name, your liberation will occur.
प्रश्नानामुत्तरं श्रुत्वा धर्मपुत्रमुखात्ततः । व्यास उवाच एवं शप्तः स राजर्षिः स्तुत्वा तं मुनिसत्तमम्
Hearing the answer to his questions from the mouth of the son of Dharma, Vyasa said: Thus cursed, the royal sage praised the eminent sage.
स्वर्गात्पपात सहसा सर्परूपधरोऽभवत् । बृहस्पतिस्ततो गत्वा तरसा मानसं प्रति
He fell suddenly from heaven, assuming the form of a serpent; then Brihaspati swiftly went to Manasa.
इन्द्राय सर्ववृत्तान्तं कथयामास विस्तरात् । तच्छ्रुत्वा मघवा राज्ञः स्वर्गात्प्रच्यवनादिकम्
He narrated in detail to Indra all the events; hearing of the king's expulsion from heaven and related matters,
मुदितोऽभून्महाराज स्थितस्तत्रैव वासवः । देवाश्च मुनयो दृष्ट्वा नहुषं पतितं भुवि
The great king Vasava became joyful and remained there; the gods and sages, seeing Nahusha fallen to earth,
जग्मुः सर्वेऽपि तत्रैव यत्रेन्द्रः सरसि स्थितः । तमाश्वास्य सुराः सर्वे मुनिभिः सहितास्तदा
All went there to the place where Indra was standing by the lake; then, together with the sages, all the gods comforted him.
स्वर्गे समानयामासुर्मानपूर्वं शचीपतिम् । समागतं ततः शक्रं सर्वे ते मुनयः सुराः
With honor, they brought the lord of Shachi back to heaven; then all the sages and gods assembled around Shakra.
स्थापयित्वाऽऽसने पश्चादभिषेकं दधुः शिवम् । इन्द्रोऽपि स्वासनं प्राप्य शच्या सह सुरालये
After seating him on the throne, they performed the auspicious consecration; Indra, having regained his seat, dwelt with Shachi in the abode of the gods.