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.
वासवैतद् अरीणां ते त्रिपुरं परिदृश्यते विमानैश्च पताकाभिर् ध्वजैश्च समलंकृतम्
O Vāsava, there is seen the city of your enemies, Tripura, adorned with flying palaces, banners, and flags.
इदं वृत्तमिदं ख्यातं वह्निवद्भृशतापनम् एते जना गिरिप्रख्याः सकुण्डलकिरीटिनः
This event, well-known and intensely burning like fire, has occurred; these people, mountain-like, are adorned with earrings and crowns.
प्राकारगोपुराट्टेषु कक्षान्ते दानवाः स्थिताः इमे च तोयदाभासा दनुजा विकृताननाः
Within the ramparts, gateways, and watchtowers, the Dānavas are stationed; and these Dānavas, with cloud-like forms and deformed faces, are present.
निर्गच्छन्ति पुरो दैत्याः सायुधा विजयैषिणः
The Daityas, armed and seeking victory, are coming forth in front.
स त्वं सुरशतैः सार्धं ससहायो वरायुधः सहद्भिर्मामकैर्भृत्यैर् व्यापादय महासुरान्
Therefore, you, together with hundreds of gods, with your chosen weapon and allies, destroy the great asuras along with my servants.
अहं च रथवर्येण निश्चलाचलवत्स्थितः पुरः पुरस्य रन्ध्रार्थी स्थास्यामि विजयाय वः
And I, standing firm in the best of chariots like an immovable mountain, shall remain before the city, seeking an opening for your victory.
यदा तु पुष्ययोगेण एकत्वं स्थास्यते पुरम् तदेतन्निर्दहिष्यामि शरेणैकेन वासव
But when, under the conjunction with Puṣya, the three cities become one, then I shall burn them down with a single arrow, O Indra.
इत्युक्तो वै भगवता रुद्रेणेह सुरेश्वरः ययौ तत्त्रिपुरं जेतुं तेन सैन्येन संवृतः
Thus addressed by the blessed Rudra, the lord of the gods departed, surrounded by his army, to conquer Tripura.
प्रक्रान्तरथभीमैस्तैः सदेवैः पार्षदां गणैः कृतसिंहरवोपेतैर् उद्गच्छद्भिरिवाम्बुदैः
With terrifying chariots advancing, along with the gods and hosts of attendants, roaring like lions, they surged forth like rising clouds.
तेन नादेन त्रिपुराद् दानवा युद्धलालसाः उत्पत्य दुद्रुवुश्चेलुः सायुधाः खे गणेश्वरान्
At that sound, the Daityas of Tripura, eager for battle, sprang up, rushed forth armed, and moved through the sky toward the lords of the hosts.
अन्ये पयोधरारावाः पयोधरसमा बभुः ससिंहनादं वादित्रं वादयामासुरुद्धताः
Others, with thunderous roars like clouds, became as mighty as clouds themselves, and, emboldened, sounded their instruments with lion-like cries.
देवानां सिंहनादश्च सर्वतूर्यरवो महान् ग्रस्तो ऽभूद्दैत्यनादैश्च चन्द्रस्तोयधरैरिव
The lion-roar of the gods, and the great blare of all their instruments, was swallowed up by the cries of the Daityas, like the moon by rainclouds.
चन्द्रोदयात्समुद्भूतः पौर्णमास इवार्णवः त्रिपुरं प्रभवत्तद्वद् भीमरूपमहासुरैः
From the rising of the moon, the ocean swells at the full moon; so too did Tripura, filled with fierce, mighty Asuras, surge forth.
प्राकारेषु पुरे तत्र गोपुरेष्वपि चापरे अट्टालकान्समारुह्य केचिच् चलितवादिनः
There, some stood upon the ramparts of the city, others on the gateways; some climbed the watchtowers, their words agitated and uncertain.
स्वर्णमालाधराः शूराः प्रभासितकराम्बराः केचिन् नदन्ति दनुजास् तोयमत्ता इवाम्बुदाः
Some Danavas, valiant and adorned with golden garlands, their garments shining, roared like water-laden clouds.
इतश्चेतश्च धावन्तः केचिदुद्भूतवाससः किमेतदिति पप्रच्छुर् अन्योन्यं गृहमाश्रिताः
Some, running here and there in strange attire, asked one another within their houses, 'What is this?'
किमेतन्नैव जानामि ज्ञानमन्तर्हितं हि मे ज्ञास्यसे ऽनन्तरेणेति कालो विस्तारतो महान्
'What is this? I do not know; my knowledge is hidden within. You will know soon enough—time is vast and ever-expanding.'
सो ऽप्यसौ पृथ्वीसारं च सिंहश्च रथमास्थितः तिष्ठते त्रिपुरं पीड्य देहं व्याधिरिवोच्छ्रितः
There too stands that lord of the earth, like a lion mounted on his chariot, pressing upon Tripura, towering like a disease upon the body.
य एषो ऽस्ति स एषो ऽस्तु का चिन्ता सम्भ्रमे सति एहि आयुधम् आदाय क्व मे पृच्छा भविष्यति
'Whoever he is, let him be; what worry is there in confusion? Come, take up your weapon—where will my question remain?'
इति ते ऽन्योन्यमाविद्धा उत्तरोत्तरभाषिणः आसाद्य पृच्छन्ति तदा दानवास्त्रिपुरालयाः
Thus, striking at each other with words, the Daityas of Tripura approached and questioned one another.