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.
उत्पथान्मार्गमागच्छेन् मार्गाच्चेव विमार्गताम् विनाशस्तस्य निर्देश्य इति वेदविदो विदुः
If one leaves the path and enters a wrong way, or deviates from the path, destruction is declared for him—so say those who know the Vedas.
त्वमधर्मरथारूढः सहैभिर्मत्तदानवैः अपकारिषु देवानां कुरुषे त्वं सहायताम्
You, mounted on the chariot of adharma, along with these intoxicated Dānavas, act against the gods, aiding those who harm them.
तदेतान्येवमादीनि उत्पातावेदितानि च वैनाशिकानि दृश्यन्ते दानवानां तथैव च
Thus, these and other omens are seen, portending destruction for the Dānavas.
एष रुद्रः समास्थाय महालोकमयं रथम् आयाति त्रिपुरं हन्तुं मय त्वामसुरानपि
Rudra, having mounted a chariot made of the great worlds, is coming to destroy Tripura, Maya, and you asuras as well.
स त्वं महौजसं नित्यं प्रपद्यस्व महेश्वरम् यास्यसे सह पुत्रेण दानवैः सह मानद
Therefore, always seek refuge in the mighty Lord; you will depart together with your son and the Dānavas, O Mānada.
इत्येवमावेद्य भयं दानवोपस्थितं महत् दानवानां पुनर्देवो देवेशपदमागतः
Thus, having announced the great fear approaching the Dānavas, the god returned again to the abode of the lord of gods.
नारदे तु मुनौ याते मयो दानवनायकः शूरसंमतमित्येवं दानवानाह दानवः
When the sage Nārada departed, Maya, leader of the Dānavas, addressed the Dānavas as follows, considering them valiant.
शूराः स्थ जातपुत्राः स्थ कृतकृत्याः स्थ दानवाः युध्यध्वं दैवतैः सार्धं कर्तव्यं चापि नो भयम्
You are heroes, you have sons, you have fulfilled your duties, O Dānavas; fight together with the gods, and for us there is no fear.
जित्वा वयं भविष्यामः सर्वे ऽमरसभासदः देवांश्च सेन्द्रकान्हत्वा लोकान्भोक्ष्यामहे ऽसुराः
Having conquered, we shall all become members of the assembly of immortals; and having slain the gods along with Indra, we as asuras shall enjoy the worlds.
अट्टालकेषु च तथा तिष्ठध्वं शस्त्रपाणयः दंशिता युद्धसज्जाश्च तिष्ठध्वं प्रोद्यतायुधाः
Therefore, stand firm in the watchtowers, weapons in hand; remain vigilant, ready for battle, with your weapons raised.
पुराणि त्रीणि चैतानि यथास्थानेषु दानवाः तिष्ठध्वं लङ्घनीयानि भविष्यन्ति पुराणि च
And you Dānavas, stand at your assigned places in these three cities; the cities must not be breached.
नमोगतास्तथा शूरा देवता विदिता हि वः ताः प्रयत्नेन वार्याश्च विदार्याश्चैव सायकैः
The valiant gods who have come here are known to you; those must be repelled with effort, and pierced with arrows.
इति दनुतनयान्मयस्तथोक्त्वा सुरगणवारणवारणे वचांसि युवतिजनविषण्णमानसं तत् त्रिपुरपुरं सहसा विवेश राजा
Thus having spoken to the sons of Danu, Maya, the restrainer of the hosts of gods, with words that troubled the hearts of the young women, swiftly entered the city of Tripura, O King.
अथ रजतविशुद्धभावभावो भवमभिपूज्य दिगम्बरं सुगीर्भिः शरणमुपजगाम देवदेवं मदनार्यन्धकयज्ञदेहघातम्
Then, with a mind pure as silver, having worshipped Bhava, the sky-clad one, with sweet words, he sought refuge in the god of gods, the destroyer of Madana, Ari, Andhaka, and the sacrificial bodies.
मयमभयपदैषिणं प्रपन्नं न किल बुबोध तृतीयदीप्तनेत्रः तदभिमतमदात्ततः शशाङ्की स च किल निर्भय एव दानवो ऽभूत्
The three-eyed blazing one did not perceive Maya, who had come seeking safety and refuge; yet he granted him his desired boon, and so that Dānava, marked with the moon, truly became fearless.
ततो रणे देवबलं नारदो ऽभ्यगमत्पुनः आगत्य चैव त्रिपुरात् सभायामास्थितः स्वयम्
Then, in the battle, Nārada again approached the army of the gods; having come from Tripura, he himself took a seat in the assembly.
इलावृतमिति ख्यातं तद्वर्षं विस्तृतायतम् यत्र यज्ञो बलेर्वृत्तो बलिर्यत्र च संयतः
That region, vast and renowned, is known as Ilāvṛta, where the sacrifice of Bali was performed, and where Bali himself was restrained.
देवानां जन्मभूमिर्या त्रिषु लोकेषु विश्रुता विवाहाः क्रतवश्चैव जातकर्मादिकाः क्रियाः
It is the birthplace of the gods, famed in the three worlds, where marriages, sacrifices, and rites such as birth ceremonies are performed.
देवानां यत्र वृत्तानि कन्यादानानि यानि च रेमे नित्यं भवो यत्र सहायैः पार्षदैर्गणैः
There, the giving of maidens and other deeds of the gods took place; there, Bhava ever delighted with his attendants and hosts.
लोकपालाः सदा यत्र तस्थुर्मेरुगिरौ यथा मधुपिङ्गलनेत्रस्तु चन्द्रावयवभूषणः देवानामधिपं प्राह गणपांश्च महेश्वरः
There, as on Mount Meru, the guardians of the worlds always stood; and the one with honey-colored eyes, adorned with the crescent moon, addressed the lord of the gods and the attendants, Maheshvara.