काव्यं मां वो विजानीध्वं तोषितो गिरिशो विभुः वञ्चिता बत यूयं वै सर्वे शृणुत दानवाः
'Know me as Kāvya; the mighty Lord of the Mountain is pleased. Alas, you have all been deceived! Listen, O Dānavas.'
श्रुत्वा तथा ब्रुवाणं तं संभ्रान्तास्ते तदाभवन् प्रेक्षन्तस् ताव् उभौ तत्र स्थितासीनौ सुविस्मिताः
Hearing him speak thus, they became agitated, gazing in amazement at the two seated there.
सम्प्रमूढास् ततः सर्वे न प्राबुध्यन्त किंचन अब्रवीत् सम्प्रमूढेषु काव्यस्तानसुरांस्तदा
Then all of them were utterly bewildered and could not comprehend anything. As they were thus confused, Kāvya addressed the Asuras.
आचार्यो वो ह्य् अहं काव्यो देवाचार्यो ऽयमङ्गिराः अनुगच्छत मां दैत्यास् त्यजतैनं बृहस्पतिम्
'I am your teacher Kāvya; this is Aṅgirā, the teacher of the gods. Follow me, O Daityas, and abandon this Bṛhaspati.'
इत्युक्ता ह्य् असुरास्तेन ताव् उभौ समवेक्ष्य च यदासुरा विशेषं तु न जानन्त्युभयोस्तयोः
Thus addressed by him, the Asuras looked at both, but could not discern any difference between the two.
बृहस्पतिर् उवाचैनान् असम्भ्रान्तस्तपोधनः काव्यो वो ऽहं गुरुर्दैत्या मद्रूपो ऽयं बृहस्पतिः
Bṛhaspati, undisturbed and rich in austerity, said to them: 'I am Kāvya, your teacher, O Daityas; this is Bṛhaspati in my form.'
संमोहयति रूपेण मामकेनैष वो ऽसुराः श्रुत्वा तस्य ततस्ते वै समेत्य तु ततो ऽब्रुवन्
'He is deluding you, O Asuras, by taking my form.' Hearing this, they gathered and said:
अयं नो दश वर्षाणि सततं शास्ति वै प्रभुः एष वै गुरुरस्माकम् अन्तरेप्सुरयं द्विजः
'This lord has been instructing us constantly for ten years; he is truly our teacher. This twice-born seeks to intrude among us.'
ततस्ते दानवाः सर्वे प्रणिपत्याभिनन्द्य च वचनं जगृहुस्तस्य चिराभ्यासे न मोहिताः
Then all the Dānavas, having bowed and greeted him, accepted his words; through long practice, they were not deceived.
ऊचुस् तमसुराः सर्वे क्रोधसंरक्तलोचनाः अयं गुरुर् हितो ऽस्माकं गच्छ त्वं नासि नो गुरुः
All the Asuras, their eyes reddened with anger, said: 'He is our teacher and benefactor; you go, you are not our guru.'
भार्गवो वाङ्गिरा वापि भगवानेष नो गुरुः स्थिता वयं निदेशे ऽस्य साधु त्वं गच्छ माचिरम्
Whether Bhārgava or Vāṅgirā, this revered one is our guru; we remain under his command. You depart, do not delay.
एवमुक्त्वासुराः सर्वे प्रापद्यन्त बृहस्पतिम् यदा न प्रत्यपद्यन्त काव्येनोक्तं महद्धितम्
Having spoken thus, all the Asuras approached Bṛhaspati; when they did not accept the great benefit spoken by Kāvyā.
चुकोप भार्गवस्तेषाम् अवलेपेन तेन तु बोधिता हि मया यस्मान् न मां भजथ दानवाः
Bhārgava became angry with them because of their arrogance; since I have instructed them and the Dānavas do not honor me.
तस्मात्प्रनष्टसंज्ञा वै पराभवमवाप्स्यथ इति व्याहृत्य तान्काव्यो जगामाथ यथागतम्
Therefore, you will lose your awareness and suffer defeat—having spoken thus, Kāvyā departed as he had come.
शप्तांस्तानसुराञ्ज्ञात्वा काव्येन स बृहस्पतिः कृतार्थः स तदा हृष्टः स्वरूपं प्रत्यपद्यत
Knowing that Kāvyā had cursed those Asuras, Bṛhaspati, having accomplished his purpose, joyfully resumed his own form.
बुद्ध्यासुरान् हताञ्ज्ञात्वा कृतार्थो ऽन्तरधीयत ततः प्रनष्टे तस्मिंस्तु विभ्रान्ता दानवाभवन्
Having understood that the Asuras were defeated by wisdom, he, having fulfilled his aim, vanished; then, with his disappearance, the Dānavas became confused.
अहो विवञ्चिताः स्मेति परस्परमथाब्रुवन् पृष्ठतो ऽभिमुखाश्चैव ताडिताङ्गिरसेन तु
Alas, we have been deceived!—thus they spoke to one another, turning from behind to face each other, struck by Āṅgirasa.
वञ्चिताः सोपधानेन स्वे स्वे वस्तुनि मायया ततस्त्वपरितुष्टास्ते तमेव त्वरिता ययुः प्रह्लादमग्रतः कृत्वा काव्यस्यानुपदं पुनः
Deceived by trickery, each in their own matter by illusion, then dissatisfied, they quickly went to Kāvyā, with Prahlāda at their head, following after Kāvyā.
ततः काव्यं समासाद्य उपतस्थुरवाङ्मुखाः समागतान्पुनर्दृष्ट्वा काव्यो याज्यानुवाच ह
Then, approaching Kāvyā, they stood before him with faces turned downward; seeing them gathered again, Kāvyā addressed the sacrificers.
मया संबोधिताः सर्वे यस्मान्मा नाभिनन्दथ ततस्तेनावमानेन गता यूयं पराभवम्
Since you all, having been instructed by me, did not honor me, therefore, through that disrespect, you have met with defeat.
एवं ब्रुवाणं शुक्रं तु बाष्पसंदिग्धया गिरा प्रह्लादस्तं तदोवाच मा नस्त्वं त्यज भार्गव
As Śukra spoke thus, Prahlāda, his voice choked with tears, said: 'Do not abandon us, Bhārgava.'
स्वाश्रयान् भजमानांश्च भक्तांस्त्वं भज भार्गव त्वय्यदृष्टे वयं तेन देवाचार्येण मोहिताः भक्तानर्हसि वै ज्ञातुं तपोदीर्घेण चक्षुषा
Bhārgava, honor those who seek their own refuge and your devotees; when you are unseen, we are deceived by that divine teacher. You ought to recognize your devotees with your long-ascetic vision.
यदि नस्त्वं न कुरुषे प्रसादं भृगुनन्दन अपध्यातास् त्वया ह्य् अद्य प्रविशामो रसातलम्
If you do not show us favor, O son of Bhṛgu, then, condemned by you, we shall enter the netherworld today.
ज्ञात्वा काव्यो यथातत्त्वं कारुण्यादनुकम्पया एवं प्रत्यनुनीतो वै ततः कोपं नियम्य सः उवाचैतान्न भेतव्यं न गन्तव्यं रसातलम्
Kāvyā, understanding the truth out of compassion and mercy, thus being earnestly entreated, restrained his anger and said: 'Do not fear, do not go to the netherworld.'
अवश्यं भाविनो ह्य् अर्थाः प्राप्तव्या मयि जाग्रति न शक्यमन्यथा कर्तुं दिष्टं हि बलवत्तरम्
The destined events must indeed occur while I am vigilant; it cannot be otherwise, for fate is most powerful.
संज्ञा प्रनष्टा या वो ऽद्य तामेतां प्रतिपत्स्यथ देवाञ्जित्वा सकृच्चापि पातालं प्रतिपत्स्यथ
The awareness you lost today, you will regain; after defeating the gods even once, you will attain the netherworld.
प्राप्ते पर्यायकाले च हीति ब्रह्माभ्यभाषत मत्प्रसादाच्च त्रैलोक्यं भुक्तं युष्माभिरूर्जितम्
When the appointed time arrived, Brahmā spoke thus: 'By my grace, you have enjoyed the three worlds with great power.'
युगाख्या दश सम्पूर्णा देवानाक्रम्य मूर्धनि एतावन्तं च कालं वै ब्रह्मा राज्यमभाषत
Ten complete cycles called yugas have passed, and having surpassed the gods, Brahmā ruled for this entire period.
राज्यं सावर्णिके तुभ्यं पुनः किल भविष्यति लोकानामीश्वरो भाव्यस् तव पौत्रः पुनर्बलिः
In the era of Sāvarṇi, kingship will again be yours; your grandson Bali will once more become lord of the worlds.
एवं किल मिथः प्रोक्तः पौत्रस्ते विष्णुना स्वयम् वाचा हृतेषु लोकेषु तास्तास्तस्याभवन्किल
Thus, it is said, your grandson was addressed by Viṣṇu himself; when the worlds were taken away, those boons became his.