रणे विजेतुं देवांश्च न शक्ष्यामः कथंचन अयुद्धेन प्रपत्स्यामः शरणं काव्यमातरम्
We will not be able to defeat the gods in battle by any means; without fighting, let us seek refuge with Kāvyamātā.
यापयामः कृच्छ्रमिदं यावदभ्येति नो गुरुः निवृत्ते च तथा शुक्रे योत्स्यामो दंशितायुधाः
Let us endure this hardship until our teacher returns; and when Śukra has come back, we will fight, weapons in hand.
एवमुक्त्वा ततो ऽन्योन्यं शरणं काव्यमातरम् प्रापद्यन्त ततो भीतास् तेभ्यो ऽदादभयं तु सा
Having spoken thus, they all together sought refuge with Kāvyamātā; and she, seeing their fear, granted them safety.
न भेतव्यं न भेतव्यं भयं त्यजत दानवाः मत्संनिधौ वर्ततां वो न भीर् भवितुमर्हति
Do not fear, do not fear—abandon your terror, O Dānavas; while you remain in my presence, you have no reason to be afraid.
तया चाभ्युपपन्नांस्तान् दृष्ट्वा देवास्ततो ऽसुरान् अभिजग्मुः प्रसह्यैतान् अविचार्य बलाबलम्
But seeing that she had accepted them, the gods then attacked the Asuras by force, without considering strength or weakness.
ततस्तान्बाध्यमानांस्तु देवैर्दृष्ट्वासुरांस्तदा देवी क्रुद्धाब्रवीद्देवान् अनिन्द्रान्वः करोम्यहम्
Then, seeing the Asuras being oppressed by the gods, the goddess, angered, spoke to the gods: 'I will make you all without Indra.'
संभृत्य सर्वसम्भारान् इन्द्रं साभ्यचरत्तदा तस्तम्भ देवी बलवद् योगयुक्ता तपोधना
Gathering all her powers, she then approached Indra; the goddess, endowed with great asceticism and yoga, paralyzed him.
ततस्तं स्तम्भितं दृष्ट्वा इन्द्रं देवाश्च मूकवत् प्राद्रवन्त ततो भीता इन्द्रं दृष्ट्वा वशीकृतम्
Then, seeing Indra paralyzed, the gods, struck dumb, fled in fear, seeing Indra subdued.
गतेषु सुरसंघेषु शक्रं विष्णुरभाषत मां त्वं प्रविश भद्रं ते नयिष्ये त्वां सुरोत्तम
When the host of gods had fled, Viṣṇu spoke to Śakra: 'Enter me, and blessings to you; I will lead you, best of gods.'
एवमुक्तस्ततो विष्णुं प्रविवेश पुरंदरः विष्णुना रक्षितं दृष्ट्वा देवी क्रुद्धा वचो ऽब्रवीत्
Thus addressed, Purandara entered Viṣṇu; seeing Indra protected by Viṣṇu, the goddess, enraged, spoke these words.
एषा त्वां विष्णुना सार्धं दहामि मघवन्बलात् मिषतां सर्वभूतानां दृश्यतां मे तपोबलम्
'Now, together with Viṣṇu, I will burn you by force, O Maghavan, before the eyes of all beings—let my ascetic power be seen.'
तया ऽभिभूतौ तौ देवाव् इन्द्राविष्णू बभूवतुः कथं मुच्येव सहितौ विष्णुरिन्द्रम् अभाषत
Overpowered by her, those two gods, Indra and Viṣṇu, were bound; then Viṣṇu said to Indra, 'How shall we be freed together?'
इन्द्रो ऽब्रवीज्जहि ह्येनां यावन्नौ न दहेत्प्रभो विशेषणाभिभूतो ऽस्मि त्वत्तो ऽहं जहि मा चिरम्
Indra said, 'Strike her down before she burns us, Lord; I am overwhelmed by her special power—strike her quickly, do not delay.'
ततः समीक्ष्य विष्णुस्तां स्त्रीवधे कृच्छ्रम् आस्थितः अभिध्याय ततश्चक्रम् आपदुद्धरणे तु तत्
Then Viṣṇu, seeing the difficulty in slaying a woman, pondered, and took up his discus to remove the calamity.
ततस्तु त्वरया युक्तः शीघ्रकारी भयान्वितः ज्ञात्वा विष्णुस्ततस्तस्या क्रूरं देव्याश्चिकीर्षितम् क्रुद्धः स्वमस्त्रमादाय शिरश्चिच्छेद वै भिया
Then, urged by haste and filled with fear, Viṣṇu, knowing the cruel intent of the goddess, angrily took up his weapon and, out of fear, cut off her head.
तं दृष्ट्वा स्त्रीवधं घोरं चुक्रोध भृगुरीश्वरः ततो ऽभिशप्तो भृगुणा विष्णुर् भार्यावधे तदा
Seeing that terrible act of killing a woman, Bhṛgu, lord among sages, became angry; then Viṣṇu was cursed by Bhṛgu for the slaying of a wife.
यस्मात्ते जानतो धर्मप्रवध्या स्त्री निषूदिता तस्मात्त्वं सप्तकृत्वेह मानुषेषूपपत्स्जसे
Because, knowing righteousness, you killed a woman who should not be slain, therefore you shall be born seven times among men here.
ततस्तेनाभिशापेन नष्टे धर्मे पुनःपुनः लोकस्य च हितार्थाय जायते मानुयेष्विह
Thus, by that curse, when righteousness is lost again and again, for the sake of the world's welfare, he is born among men here.
अनुव्याहृत्य विष्णुं स तदादाय शिरस्त्वरन् समानीय ततः कायम् असौ गृह्येदमब्रवीत्
Having recited a formula to Viṣṇu, he quickly took the head, brought it to the body, and spoke these words.
एषा त्वं विष्पुना देवि हता संजीवयाम्यहम् ततस्तां योज्य शिरसा अभिजीवेति सो ऽब्रवीत्
O goddess, you were slain by Viṣṇu; I will revive you. Then, joining her head, he said, 'Let her live.'
यदि कृत्स्नो मया धर्मो ज्ञायते चरितो ऽपि वा तेन सत्येन जीवस्व यदि सत्यं वदाम्यहम्
If I have truly known or practiced righteousness in full, by that truth may you live; if I speak the truth.
ततस्तां प्रोक्ष्य शीताभिर् अद्भिर् जीवेति सो ऽब्रवीत् ततो ऽभिव्याहृते तस्य देवी संजीविता तदा
Then, sprinkling her with cool water, he said, 'Live!' And when he had spoken thus, the goddess was revived.
ततस्तां सर्वभूतानि दृष्ट्वा सुप्तोत्थितामिव साधु साध्विति चक्रुस्ते वचसा सर्वतोदिशम्
Then, seeing her as if awakened from sleep, all beings exclaimed 'Excellent, excellent!' in every direction.
एवं प्रत्याहृता तेन देवी सा भृगुणा तदा मिषतां देवतानां हि तदद्भुतम् इवाभवद्
Thus, at that time, the goddess was restored by Bhṛgu, and in the sight of the gods, it appeared as a marvel.
असंभ्रान्तेन भृगुणा पत्नी संजीविता पुनः दृष्ट्वा चेन्द्रो नालभत शर्म काव्यभयात्पुनः प्रजागरे ततश्चेन्द्रो जयन्तीमिदमब्रवीत्
By the unperturbed Bhṛgu, his wife was brought back to life; but seeing this, Indra found no peace, fearing Kāvya, and so, remaining awake, Indra then spoke to Jayantī.
संचिन्त्य मतिमान् वाक्यं स्वां कन्यां पाकशासनः एष काव्यो ह्यमित्राय व्रतं चरति दारुणम् तेनाहं व्याकुलः पुत्रि कृतो मतिमता भृशम्
Reflecting wisely, the lord of the gods addressed his daughter: 'Kāvya is performing a terrible vow against his enemies. Because of this, O daughter, I have been greatly disturbed by the wise Bhṛgu.'
गच्छ संसाधयस्वैनं श्रमापनयनैः शुभैः तैस्तैर्मनोनुकूलैश्च ह्य् उपचारैर् अतन्द्रिता
Go, accomplish your task with pleasant acts that remove his fatigue, and with various attentions that delight his mind, untiringly.
काव्यमाराधयस्वैनं यथा तुष्येत स द्विजः गच्छ त्वं तस्य दत्ताऽसि प्रयत्नं कुरु मत्कृते
Honor Kāvya in such a way that the twice-born is pleased. Go, for you have been given to him; make every effort for my sake.
एवमुक्ता जयन्ती सा वचः संगृह्य वै पितुः अगच्छद्यत्र घोरं स तप आरभ्य तिष्ठति
Thus addressed, Jayantī accepted her father's words and went to where he, engaged in fierce austerity, was standing.
तं दृष्ट्वा तु पिबन्तं सा कणधूमम् अवाङ्मुखम् यक्षेण पात्यमानं च कुण्डधारेण पातितम्
Seeing him drinking smoke, facing downward, and being struck by a yakṣa, and poured upon by a water vessel,