प्रेषिते चेन्मया दूते न दास्यति मदाकुलः । ततो युद्धं करिष्यामि देवसैन्यैः समावृतः
'If, when I send my messenger, that arrogant one does not give her back, then I will wage war, surrounded by the armies of the gods.'
इत्याश्वास्य गुरुं शक्रो दूतं वक्तृविचक्षणम् । प्रेषयामास सोमाय वार्ताशंसिनमद्भुतम्
Thus consoling his teacher, Shakra sent a most eloquent messenger to Soma, one who would deliver the message.
स गत्वा शशिलोकं तु त्वरितः सुविचक्षणः । उवाच वचनेनैव वचनं रोहिणीपतिम्
He, swift and discerning, went to the realm of the Moon and spoke these words to the lord of Rohiṇī.
प्रेषितोऽहं महाभाग शक्रेण त्वां विवक्षया । कथितं प्रभुणा यच्च तद्ब्रवीमि महामते
O greatly fortunate one, I have been sent by Indra with a message for you; I will tell you exactly what the lord has said, O wise one.
धर्मज्ञोऽसि महाभाग नीतिं जानासि सुव्रत । अत्रिः पिता ते धर्मात्मा न निद्यं कर्तुमर्हसि
You are righteous, O illustrious one, and you know proper conduct, steadfast in your vows; your father Atri is virtuous—do not act in a way that should be censured.
भार्या रक्ष्या सर्वभूतैर्यथाशक्ति ह्यतन्द्रितैः । तदर्थे कलहः कामं भविता नात्र संशयः
A wife must be protected by all beings, each according to their ability and without negligence; for this reason, conflict may indeed arise—there is no doubt of this.
यथा तव तथा तस्य यत्नः स्याद्दाररक्षणे । आत्मवत्सर्वभूतानि चिन्तय त्वं सुधानिधे
As you would protect your own, so should he strive to protect his wife; consider all beings as yourself, O treasure of nectar.
अष्टाविंशतिसंख्यास्ते कामिन्यो दक्षजाः शुभाः । गुरुपत्नीं कथं भोक्तुं त्वमिच्छसि सुधानिधे
You have twenty-eight beautiful daughters of Dakṣa as your consorts; O nectar-born, how can you desire to enjoy your teacher’s wife?
स्वर्गे सदा वसन्त्येता मेनकाद्या मनोरमाः । भुंक्ष्व ताः स्वेच्छया कामं मुञ्च पत्नीं गुरोरपि
These charming ones like Menakā always dwell in heaven; enjoy them as you wish, but release even your teacher’s wife.
ईश्वरा यदि कुर्वन्ति जुगुप्सितमहन्तया । अज्ञास्तदनुवर्तन्ते तदा धर्मक्षयो भवेत्
If the great ones act in ways that are reprehensible, the ignorant will follow them, and then righteousness will decline.
तस्मान्मुञ्च महाभाग गुरोः पत्नीं मनोरमाम् । कलहस्त्वन्निमित्तोऽद्य सुराणां न भवेद्यथा
Therefore, O illustrious one, release your teacher’s lovely wife, so that today there will not be conflict among the gods because of you.
सूत उवाच सोमः शक्रवचः श्रुत्वा किञ्चित्क्रोधसमाकुलः । भङ्ग्या प्रतिवचः प्राह शक्रदूतं तदा शशी
Sūta said: Hearing Indra’s words, Soma became somewhat agitated with anger and, with a crooked smile, replied to Indra’s messenger.
इन्दुरावाच धर्मज्ञोऽसि महाबाहो देवानामधिपः स्वयम् । पुरोधापि च ते तादृग्युवयोः सदृशी मतिः
The Moon said: You are righteous, O mighty-armed one, and the lord of the gods yourself; your priest is also of such a kind, and your minds are alike.
परोपदेशे कुशला भवन्ति बहवो जनाः । दुर्लभस्तु स्वयं कर्ता प्राप्ते कर्मणि सर्वदा
Many people are skilled in giving advice to others, but it is rare to find one who acts himself when the time for action comes.
बार्हस्पत्यप्रणीतं च शास्त्रं गृह्णन्ति मानवाः । को विरोधोऽत्र देवेश कामयानां भजन्स्त्रियम्
People accept the treatises composed by Bṛhaspati; O lord of gods, what fault is there in enjoying a woman whom one desires?
स्वकीयं बलिनां सर्वं दुर्बलानां न किञ्चन । स्वीया च परकीया च भ्रमोऽयं मन्दचेतसाम्
For the strong, everything is their own; for the weak, nothing is theirs. The distinction between one’s own and another’s is a delusion of the dull-minded.
तारा मय्यनुरक्ता च यथा न तु तथा गुरौ । अनुरक्ता कथं त्याज्या धर्मतो न्यायतस्तथा
Tārā is attached to me, not so to her teacher; how can one who is devoted be abandoned, either by righteousness or by justice?
गृहारम्भस्तु रक्तायां विरक्तायां कथं भवेत् । विरक्तेयं यदा जाता चकमेऽनुजकामिनीम्
How can a household begin with one who is indifferent, whether she is attached or not? When she became indifferent, I desired another woman.
न दास्येऽहं वरारोहां गच्छ दूत वद स्वयम् । ईश्वरोऽसि सहस्राक्ष यदिच्छसि कुरुष्व तत्
I will not give up the beautiful one; go, messenger, and tell him yourself. You are the lord, O thousand-eyed one—do as you wish.
सूत उवाच इत्युक्तः शशिना दूतः प्रययौ शक्रसन्निधिम् । इन्द्रायाचष्ट तत्सर्वं यदुक्तं शीतरश्मिना
Sūta said: Thus addressed by the Moon, the messenger went to Indra’s presence and reported everything that had been said by the cool-rayed one.
तुराषाडपि तच्छ्रुत्वा क्रोधयुक्तो बभूव ह । सेनोद्योगं तथा चक्रे साहाय्यार्थं गुरोर्विभुः
Hearing this, Turāṣāḍ became filled with anger and prepared for war, seeking to aid his teacher.
शुक्रस्तु विग्रहं श्रुत्वा गुरुद्वेषात्ततो ययौ । मा ददस्वेति तं वाक्यमुवाच शशिनं प्रति
Śukra, upon hearing of the conflict and out of enmity toward the teacher, went and spoke to the moon, saying, 'Do not give.'
साहाय्यं ते करिष्यामि मन्त्रशक्त्या महामते । भविता यदि संग्रामस्तव चेन्द्रेण मारिष
I will assist you with the power of mantra, O wise one, if a battle arises between you and Indra, O Moon.
शङ्करस्तु तदाकर्ण्य गुरुदाराभिमर्शनम् । गुरुशत्रुं भृगुं मत्वा साहाय्यमकरोत्तदा
Śaṅkara, hearing of the violation against the teacher's wife, considered Bhṛgu an enemy of the teacher and then offered his support.
संग्रामस्तु तदा वृत्तो देवदानवयोर्द्रुतम् । बहूनि तत्र वर्षाणि तारकासुरवत्किल
A battle swiftly broke out then between the gods and the demons, lasting many years, just as in the case of Tārakāsura.
देवासुरकृतं युद्धं दृष्ट्वा तत्र पितामहः । हंसारूढो जगामाशु तं देशं क्लेशशान्तये
Seeing the war between gods and demons, Pitāmaha mounted his swan and quickly went to that place to bring an end to the suffering.
राकापतिं तदा प्राह मुञ्च भार्यां गुरोरिति । नोचेद्विष्णुं समाहूय करिष्यामि तु संक्षयम्
He then said to the lord of the moon, 'Release the teacher's wife; otherwise, I will summon Viṣṇu and bring about destruction.'
भृगुं निवारयामास ब्रह्मा लोकपितामहः । किमन्यायमतिर्जाता सङ्गदोषान्महामते
Brahmā, the grandsire of the worlds, restrained Bhṛgu, saying, 'Why has this unjust intention arisen, O wise one, from the fault of association?'
निषेधयामास ततो भृगुस्तं चौषधीपतिम् । मुञ्च भार्यां गुरोरद्य पित्राहं प्रेषितस्तव
Then Bhṛgu forbade the lord of herbs, saying, 'Release the teacher's wife today; I have been sent to you by the father.'
सूत उवाच द्विजराजस्तु तच्छ्रुत्वा भृगोर्वचनमद्भुतम् । ददौ च तत्प्रियां भार्यां गुरोर्गर्भवतीं शुभाम्
Sūta said: Hearing Bhṛgu's wondrous words, the king of twice-born gave the beloved, auspicious, pregnant wife of the teacher.