जिगीषया ततो देवा वव्रुराङ्गिरसं मुनिम् पौरोहित्ये च यज्ञार्थे काव्यं तूशनसं परे
Desiring victory, the gods chose the sage of the Aṅgiras lineage as their priest for sacrifice, while the others chose Kāvya Uśanas.
ब्राह्मणौ ताव् उभौ नित्यम् अन्योन्यं स्पर्धिनौ भृशम् तत्र देवा निजघ्नुर्यान् दानवान् युधि संगतान्
Those two Brāhmaṇas, constantly and fiercely rivaling each other, were present there. In that battle, the gods slew the assembled Dānavas.
तान्पुनर् जीवयामास काव्यो विद्याबलाश्रयात् ततस्ते पुनरुत्थाय योधयांचक्रिरे सुरान्
But Kāvya, relying on the power of his knowledge, revived them again. Then, rising up once more, they fought the gods.
असुरास्तु निजघ्नुर्यान् सुरान्समरमूर्धनि न तान्संजीवयामास बृहस्पतिरुदारधीः
But when the asuras killed the gods in the midst of battle, Bṛhaspati, of noble mind, did not revive them.
न हि वेद स तां विद्यां यां काव्यो वेद वीर्यवान् संजीवनीं ततो देवा विषादमगमन्परम्
Indeed, he did not know that knowledge which the mighty Kāvya knew—the science of reviving. Therefore, the gods fell into deep despair.
अथ देवा भयोद्विग्नाः काव्यादुशनसस्तदा ऊचुः कचमुपागम्य ज्येष्ठं पुत्रं बृहस्पतेः
Then, the gods, distressed by fear of Kāvya Uśanas, approached Kaca, the eldest son of Bṛhaspati, and spoke to him.
भजमानान्भजस्वास्मान् कुरु साहाय्यमुत्तमम् यासौ विद्या निवसति ब्राह्मणे ऽमिततेजसि
"Join with us, support us, and render the highest assistance. That knowledge resides in the Brāhmaṇa of immeasurable brilliance."
शुक्रे तामाहर क्षिप्रं भागभाङ्नो भविष्यसि वृषपर्वणः समीपे ऽसौ शक्यो द्रष्टुं त्वया द्विजः
"Quickly obtain it from Śukra. You shall receive a share of the offerings. That Brāhmaṇa dwells near Vṛṣaparvan; you, O twice-born, are able to see him."
रक्षते दानवांस्तत्र न स रक्षत्यदानवान् तम् आराधयितुं शक्तो नान्यः कश्चिदृते त्वया
"He protects the Dānavas there, but does not protect the non-Dānavas. No one but you is able to propitiate him."
देवयानी च दयिता सुता तस्य महात्मनः ताम् आराधयितुं शक्तो नान्यः कश्चन विद्यते
"Devayānī, the beloved daughter of that great soul, is there. No one but you is able to win her favor."
शीलदाक्षिण्यमाधुर्यैर् आचारेण दमेन च देवयान्यां तु तुष्टायां विद्यां तां प्राप्स्यसि ध्रुवम्
"By virtue, generosity, sweetness, good conduct, and self-control, when Devayānī is pleased, you will surely obtain that knowledge."
तदा हि प्रेषितो देवैः समीपे वृषपर्वणः तथेत्युक्त्वा तु स प्रायाद् बृहस्पतिसुतः कचः
Then, sent by the gods, Kaca, son of Bṛhaspati, said, 'So be it,' and set out to the presence of Vṛṣaparvan.
स गत्वा त्वरितो राजन् देवैः सम्पूजितः कचः असुरेन्द्रपुरे शुक्रं प्रणम्येदमुवाच ह
Having gone swiftly, honored by the gods, Kaca bowed to Śukra in the city of the lord of the asuras and spoke these words.
ऋषेर् अङ्गिरसः पौत्रं पुत्रं साक्षाद्बृहस्पतेः नाम्ना कचेति विख्यातं शिष्यं गृह्णातु मां भवान्
"O revered one, I am the grandson of the sage Aṅgiras, the direct son of Bṛhaspati, and known by the name Kaca. Please accept me as your disciple."
ब्रह्मचर्यं चरिष्यामि त्वय्यहं परमं गुरो अनुमन्यस्व मां ब्रह्मन् सहस्रपरिवत्सरान्
O supreme teacher, I wish to practice the highest celibacy under you; please permit me, O Brahman, for a thousand years.
कच सुस्वागतं ते ऽस्तु प्रतिगृह्णामि ते वचः अर्चयिष्ये ऽहमर्च्यं त्वाम् अर्चितो ऽस्तु बृहस्पतिः
Kaca, you are most welcome; I accept your words. I shall honor you, the worthy one, and may Bṛhaspati be honored as well.
कचस्तु तं तथेत्युक्त्वा प्रतिजग्राह तद्व्रतम् आदिष्टं कविपुत्रेण शुक्रेणोशनसा स्वयम्
Kaca, having replied, 'So be it,' accepted that vow, as instructed by Śukra, son of Kavi, himself.
व्रतं च व्रतकालं च यथोक्तं प्रत्यगृह्णत आराधयन्नुपाध्यायं देवयानीं च भारत
He accepted the vow and its period as stated, and served his preceptor and Devayānī, O Bhārata.
नित्यमाराधयिष्यंस्तां युवा यौवनगोचराम् गायन्नृत्यन्वादयंश्च देवयानीमतोषयत्
He constantly served her, a young woman in the bloom of youth, by singing, dancing, and playing music, thus pleasing Devayānī.
संशीलयन्देवयानीं कन्यां सम्प्राप्तयौवनाम् पुष्पैः फलैः प्रेषणैश्च तोषयामास भार्गवीम्
Attending to Devayānī, the maiden who had reached youth, he pleased the Bhārgava girl with flowers, fruits, and errands.
देवयान्यपि तं विप्रं नियमव्रतचारिणम् अनुगायन्ती ललना रहः पर्यचरत्तदा
Devayānī too, pleased with the self-restrained and vow-observing Brahmin, sang along and attended to him in private.
पञ्च वर्षशतान्येवं कचस्य चरतो भृशम् तत्तत्तीव्रं व्रतं बुद्ध्वा दानवास्तं ततः कचम्
Thus, as Kaca diligently observed his vow for five hundred years, the Dānavas, perceiving his severe austerity, then targeted him.
गा रक्षन्तं वने दृष्ट्वा रहस्येनममर्षिताः जघ्नुर् बृहस्पतेर् द्वेषान् निजरक्षार्थम् एव च
Seeing him guarding the cows in the forest, the Dānavas, enraged and secretly, killed him out of hatred for Bṛhaspati and for their own protection.
हत्वा सालावृकेभ्यश्च प्रायच्छंस्तिलशः कृतम् ततो गावो निवृत्तास्ता अगोपाः स्वनिवेशनम्
Having killed him, they fed his remains, ground to bits, to the wolves and jackals; then the cowherds returned home without the cows.
ता दृष्ट्वा रहिता गास्तु कचेनाभ्यागता वनात् उवाच वचनं काले देवयान्यथ भार्गवम्
When the cows returned from the forest without Kaca, Devayānī spoke at the proper time to Bhārgava.
हुतं चैवाग्निहोत्रं ते सूर्यश्चास्तं गतः प्रभो अगोपाश्चागता गावः कचस्तात न दृश्यते
Your fire-offering has been made, the sun has set, master; the cowherds have returned, but Kaca, father, is not to be seen.
व्यक्तं हतो धृतो वापि कचस्तात भविष्यति तं विना नैव जीवामि वचः सत्यं ब्रवीम्यहम्
Surely, father, Kaca has either been killed or captured; without him, I cannot live—I speak the truth.
अथेह्येहीति शब्देन मृतं संजीवयाम्यहम् ततः संजीवनीं विद्यां प्रयुक्त्वा कचमाह्वयत्
Then, with the words 'Come, come,' I shall revive the dead; thus, applying the knowledge of resurrection, he called for Kaca.
आहूतः प्रादुरभवत् कचः शुक्रं ननाम स हतो ऽहमिति चाचख्यौ राक्षसैर् धिषणात्मजः
Summoned, Kaca appeared and bowed to Śukra, saying, 'I was killed by the Rākṣasas, O son of Dhiṣaṇa.'
स पुनर्देवयान्युक्तः पुष्पाहारे यदृच्छया वनं ययौ कचो विप्रः पठन्ब्रह्म च शाश्वतम्
Again, at Devayānī's request to gather flowers, Kaca, the Brahmin, went to the forest, reciting the eternal Veda.