ग्रसमाना इवाकाशं मुष्णन्त इव मेदिनीम् मुखेभ्यः ससृजुः श्वासान् उच्छ्वसन्त इवोरगाः
As if devouring the sky, as if plundering the earth, the serpents exhaled breaths from their mouths, breathing out forcefully.
स्वयम्भुवा चोद्यमानाश् चोदितेन कपर्दिना व्रजन्ति ते ऽश्वा जवनाः क्षयकाल इवानिलाः
Driven by the Self-born and by Kapardin, those swift horses advanced like the winds at the time of destruction.
ध्वजोच्छ्रयविनिर्माणे ध्वजयष्टिमनुत्तमाम् आक्रम्य नन्दी वृषभस् तस्थौ तस्मिञ्छिवेच्छया
Upon the construction of the lofty banner, Nandi the bull took his place upon that excellent banner-staff, by the will of Shiva.
भार्गवाङ्गिरसौ देवौ दण्डहस्तौ रविप्रभौ रथचक्रे तु रक्षेते रुद्रस्य प्रियकाङ्क्षिणौ
The divine Bhargava and Angiras, radiant as the sun and bearing staffs, guarded the chariot wheels, desiring the favor of Rudra.
शेषश्च भगवान्नागो ऽनन्तो ऽनन्तकरो ऽरिणाम् शरहस्तो रथं पाति शयनं ब्रह्मणस्तदा
The blessed serpent Shesha, endless and destroyer of enemies, holding a dart, protected the chariot and the couch of Brahma at that time.
यमस्तूर्णं समास्थाय महिषं चातिदारुणम् द्रविणाधिपतिर्व्यालं सुराणामधिपो द्विपम्
Yama swiftly mounted his fierce buffalo; the lord of wealth his serpent; and the lord of the gods his elephant.
मयूरं शतचन्द्रं च कूजन्तं किंनरं यथा गुह आस्थाय वरदो युगोपमरथं पितुः
Guha, bestower of boons, mounted a peacock shining like a hundred moons and singing like a kinnara, and took his place on his father’s chariot, equal to the yoke.
नन्दीश्वरश्च भगवाञ् छूलमादाय दीप्तिमान् पृष्ठतश्चापि पार्श्वाभ्यां लोकस्य क्षयकृद्यथा
The blessed Nandishvara, radiant and bearing a trident, stood behind and at the sides, like the destroyer of the worlds.
प्रमथाश्चाग्निवर्णाभाः साग्निज्वाला इवाचलाः अनुजग्मू रथं शार्वं नक्रा इव महार्णवम्
The Pramathas, glowing with the color of fire and unmoving like blazing flames, followed Sharva’s chariot like crocodiles in the great ocean.
भृगुर्भरद्वाजवसिष्ठगौतमाः क्रतुः पुलस्त्यः पुलहस्तपोधनाः मरीचिरत्रिर्भगवानथाङ्गिराः पराशरागस्त्यमुखा महर्षयः
Bhrigu, Bharadvaja, Vasishta, Gautama, Kratu, Pulastya, Pulaha, Tapodhana, Marichi, Atri, the blessed Angiras, Parashara, Agastya, and other great sages were present.
हरमजितमजं प्रतुष्टुवुर् वचनविशेषैर् विचित्रभूषणैः रथस्त्रिपुरे सकाञ्चनाचलो व्रजति सपक्ष इवाद्रिरम्बरे
They praised Hara, the unconquered and unborn, with special words and wondrous ornaments; the chariot at Tripura, adorned with gold like a mountain, moved like a winged mountain in the sky.
मकरतिमितिमिङ्गिलावृतः प्रलय इवातिसमुद्धतो ऽर्णवः व्रजति रथवरो ऽतिभास्वरो ह्य् अशनिनिपातपयोदनिःस्वनः
Surrounded by makaras, whales, and great fish, the splendid chariot advanced, shining exceedingly, like the ocean rising at dissolution, with the roar of thunderclouds struck by lightning.
पूज्यमाने रथे तस्मिंल् लोकैर्देवे रथे स्थिते प्रमथेषु नदत्सूग्रं प्रवदत्सु च साध्विति
As that chariot was worshipped by the worlds, with the god standing upon it, the Pramathas roared fiercely and the people proclaimed, 'Well done!'
ईश्वरस्वरघोषेण नर्दमाने महावृषे जयत्सु विप्रेषु तथा गर्जत्सु तुरगेषु च
With the lord’s voice resounding, the great bull bellowing, the brahmins victorious, and the horses neighing, the sound filled the air.
रणाङ्गणात्समुत्पत्य देवर्षिर्नारदः प्रभुः कान्त्या चन्द्रोपमस्तूर्णं त्रिपुरं पुरमागतः
Then, rising from the battlefield, the divine sage Narada, radiant as the moon, swiftly arrived at the city of Tripura.
औत्पातिकं तु दैत्यानां त्रिपुरे वर्तते ध्रुवम् नारदश्चात्र भगवान् प्रादुर्भूतस्तपोधनः
Surely, an ominous sign appeared among the Daityas in Tripura, and there the blessed, ascetic Narada manifested.
आगतं जलदाभासं समेताः सर्वदानवाः उत्तस्थुर्नारदं दृष्ट्वा अभिवादनवादिनः
All the Danavas, assembled and cloud-like in appearance, rose up when they saw Narada arrive, greeting him with words of respect.
तमर्घ्येण च पाद्येन मधुपर्केण चेश्वराः नारदं पूजयामासुर् ब्रह्माणमिव वासवः
The lords honored Narada with arghya, water for the feet, and a honey-mixture, as Indra would honor Brahma.
तेषां स पूजां पूजार्हः प्रतिगृह्य तपोधनः नारदः सुखमासीनः काञ्चने परमासने
Narada, worthy of worship, accepted their homage and, ascetic as he was, sat comfortably upon a splendid golden seat.
मयस्तु सुखमासीने नारदे नारदोद्भवे यथार्हं दानवैः सार्धम् आसीनो दानवाधिपः
While Narada, born of Narada, sat comfortably, Maya, the lord of the Danavas, sat with the Danavas as was proper.
आसीनं नारदं प्रेक्ष्य मयस्त्वथ महासुरः अब्रवीद्वचनं तुष्टो हृष्टरोमाननेक्षणः
Seeing Nārada seated, Maya, the great asura, then spoke words, pleased, his hair standing on end, gazing intently.
औत्पातिकं पुरे ऽस्माकं यथा नान्यत्र कुत्रचित् वर्तते वर्तमानज्ञ वद त्वं हि च नारद
O Nārada, tell us why these omens appear in our city, as they do not occur elsewhere at any time; you know what is happening.
दृश्यन्ते भयदाः स्वप्ना भज्यन्ते च ध्वजाः परम् विना च वायुना केतुः पतते च तथा भुवि
Fearful dreams are seen, banners are broken, and without any wind, the pennant falls to the ground.
अट्टालकाश्च नृत्यन्ते सपताकाः सगोपुराः हिंस हिंसेति श्रूयन्ते गिरश्च भयदाः पुरे
Towers with flags and gateways dance, and voices utter 'violence, violence'—such fearful sounds are heard in the city.
नाहं बिभेमि देवानां सेन्द्राणामपि नारद मुक्त्वैकं वरदं स्थाणुं भक्ताभयकरं हरम्
O Nārada, I do not fear even the gods with Indra, except for the one boon-giver, Sthāṇu, Hara, who grants safety to devotees.
भगवन्नास्त्यविदितम् उत्पातेषु तवानघ अनागतमतीतं च भवाञ्जानाति तत्त्वतः
O blessed one, nothing is unknown to you regarding omens; you know the past and the future in truth.
तदेतन्नो भयस्थानम् उत्पाताभिनिवेदितम् कथयस्व मुनिश्रेष्ठ प्रपन्नस्य तु नारद
Therefore, tell us, O foremost sage, the cause of this fear arising from omens, for I have taken refuge in you, Nārada.
इत्युक्तो नारदस्तेन मयेनामयवर्जितः
Thus addressed by Maya, Nārada, free from deceit, replied.
शृणु दानव तत्त्वेन भवन्त्यौत्पातिका यथा धर्मेति धारणे धातुर् माहात्म्ये चैव पठ्यते धारणाच्च महत्त्वेन धर्म एष निरुच्यते
Listen, O Dānava, to the truth of how omens arise; the root 'dhṛ' means 'to hold', and in greatness it is called 'dharma'; from its greatness, dharma is thus defined.
स इष्टप्रापको धर्म आचार्यैरुपदिश्यते इतरश्चानिष्टफल आचार्यैर्नोपदिश्यते
That dharma, which brings desired results, is taught by teachers; the other, which brings undesired results, is not taught by teachers.