इत्येते सप्त विज्ञेया वासिष्ठा ब्रह्मवादिनः विश्वामित्रश्च गाधेयो देवरातस्तथा बलः
These seven are to be known as Vasishtas, Brahmavādins; Vishvamitra, son of Gadhi, Devarata, and Bala.
तथा विद्वान्मधुच्छन्दा ऋषिश्चान्यो ऽघमर्षणः अष्टको लोहितश्चैव भृतकीलश्च माम्बुधिः
Also the learned Madhuchhanda, another sage, Aghamarshana, Ashtaka, Lohita, Bhratakila, and Mambudhi.
देवश्रवा देवरातः पुराणश्च धनंजयः शिशिरश्च महातेजाः शालङ्कायन एव च
Devaśrava, Devarata, Purana, Dhananjaya, Shishira of great brilliance, and Shalankayana.
त्रयोदशैते विज्ञेया ब्रह्मिष्ठाः कौशिका वराः अगस्त्यो ऽथ दृढद्युम्न इन्द्रबाहुस्तथैव च
These thirteen are to be known as the foremost Brahmishthas among the Kaushikas; Agastya, Dridhadyumna, and Indrabahu.
ब्रह्मिष्ठागस्तयो ह्येते त्रयः परमकीर्तयः मनुर्वैवस्वतश्चैव ऐलो राजा पुरूरवाः
These three, Agastya, are renowned Brahmishthas; Manu Vaivasvata, and King Pururavas, son of Ila.
क्षत्रियाणां वरा ह्येते विज्ञेया मन्त्रवादिनः भलन्दकश्च वासाश्वः संकीलश्चैव ते त्रयः
These are the distinguished mantra-knowers among the Kshatriyas; Bhalandaka, Vasashva, and Sankila—these three.
एते मन्त्रकृतो ज्ञेया वैश्यानां प्रवराः सदा इति द्विनवतिः प्रोक्ता मन्त्रायैश्च बहिष्कृताः
These are to be known as the foremost creators of mantras among the Vaishyas; thus ninety-two are named, excluded from the mantras.
ब्राह्मणाः क्षत्रिया वैश्या ऋषिपुत्रान्निबोधत ऋषीकाणां सुता ह्येते ऋषिपुत्राः श्रुतर्षयः
Brahmanas, Kshatriyas, Vaishyas—hear of the sons of sages; these are the sons of the Rishikas, renowned as learned sages.
कथं मत्स्येन कथितस् तारकस्य वधो महान् कस्मिन्काले विनिर्वृत्ता कथेयं सूतनन्दन
O son of Sūta, how was the great slaying of Tāraka told by Matsya? At what time did this story take place?
त्वन्मुखक्षीरसिन्धूत्था कथेयममृतात्मिका कर्णाभ्यां पिबतां तृप्तिर् अस्माकं न प्रजायते इदं मुने समाख्याहि महाबुद्धे मनोगतम्
This tale, like nectar arising from the ocean of your mouth, does not bring us satisfaction even when drunk in by our ears. O sage of great wisdom, please recount what is in your mind.
पृष्टस्तु मनुना देवो मत्स्यरूपी जनार्दनः कथं शरवणे जातो देवः षड्वदनो विभो
Thus questioned by Manu, the god Janārdana in the form of a fish was asked: How was the six-faced god born in Śaravaṇa, O mighty one?
एतत्तु वचनं श्रुत्वा पार्थिवस्यामितौजसः उवाच भगवान्प्रीतो ब्रह्मसूनुर्महामतिम्
Hearing these words of the king of great energy, the blessed son of Brahmā, pleased, spoke with great wisdom.
वज्राङ्गो नाम दैत्यो ऽभूत् तस्य पुत्रस्तु तारकः सुरानुद्वासयामास पुरेभ्यः स महाबलः
There was a demon named Vajrāṅga, and his son was Tāraka. That mighty one drove the gods out from their cities.
ततस्ते ब्रह्मणो ऽभ्याशं जग्मुर्भयनिपीडिताः भीतांश्च त्रिदशान्दृष्ट्वा ब्रह्मा तेषामुवाच ह
Then, afflicted by fear, they went to Brahmā. Seeing the gods terrified, Brahmā spoke to them.
संत्यजध्वं भयं देवाः शंकरस्यात्मजः शिशुः तुहिनाचलदौहित्रस् तं हनिष्यति दानवम्
Abandon your fear, O gods. The son of Śaṅkara, a child, the grandson of the snowy mountain, will slay that demon.
ततः काले तु कस्मिंश्चिद् दृष्ट्वा वै शैलजां शिवः स्वरेतो वह्निवदने व्यसृजत्कारणान्तरे
Then, at a certain time, seeing the daughter of the mountain, Śiva emitted his seed into the mouth of Agni for another purpose.
तत्प्राप्तं वह्निवदने रेतो देवानतर्पयत् विदार्य जठराण्येषाम् अजीर्णं निर्गतं मुने
That seed, received by Agni, burned the gods; splitting their bellies, it emerged undigested, O sage.
पतितं तत्सरिद्वरां ततस्तु शरकानने तस्मात्तु स समुद्भूतो गुहो दिनकरप्रभः
That which fell entered the sacred river, then into the reed forest; from there, Guha, radiant as the sun, was born.
स सप्तदिवसो बालो निजघ्ने तारकासुरम् एवं श्रुत्वा ततो वाक्यं तम् ऊचुर् ऋषिसत्तमाः
That boy, seven days old, slew the demon Tāraka. Hearing this, the best of sages spoke these words.
अत्याश्चर्यवती रम्या कथेयं पापनाशिनी विस्तरेण हि नो ब्रूहि याथातथ्येन शृण्वताम्
This tale is most wondrous and delightful, a destroyer of sin. Tell it to us in detail and truthfully as we listen.
वज्राङ्गो नाम दैत्येन्द्रः कस्य वंशोद्भवः पुरा यस्याभूत्तारकः पुत्रः सुरप्रमथनो बली
Who was the progenitor of the demon king Vajrāṅga of old, from whose line was he born, and whose son was Tāraka, the mighty oppressor of the gods?
निर्मितः को वधे चाभूत् तस्य दैत्येश्वरस्य तु गुहजन्म तु कार्त्स्न्येन अस्माकं ब्रूहि मानद
Who created him, and for what reason was that lord of demons slain? Tell us in full, O bestower of honor, the story of Guha's birth.
मानसो ब्रह्मणः पुत्रो दक्षो नाम प्रजापतिः षष्टिं सो ऽजनयत्कन्या वैरिण्यामेव नः श्रुतम्
The mind-born son of Brahmā was Dakṣa, the lord of creatures. He begot sixty daughters, as we have heard from Vairiṇī.
ददौ स दश धर्माय कश्यपाय त्रयोदश सप्तविंशतिं सोमाय चतस्रो ऽरिष्टनेमये
He gave ten to Dharma, thirteen to Kaśyapa, twenty-seven to Soma, and four to Ariṣṭanemi.
द्वे वै बाहुकपुत्राय द्वे वै चाङ्गिरसे तथा द्वे कृशाश्वाय विदुषे प्रजापतिसुतः प्रभुः
Two he gave to Bāhuka's son, two likewise to Aṅgiras, and two to the wise Kṛśāśva, O mighty son of the lord of creatures.
अदितिर्दितिर्दनुर्विश्वा ह्य् अरिष्टा सुरसा तथा सुरभिर्विनता चैव ताम्रा क्रोधवशा इरा
Aditi, Diti, Danu, Viśvā, Ariṣṭā, Surasā, Surabhi, Vinatā, Tāmrā, Krodhavaśā, and Irā.
कद्रूर्मुनिश्च लोकस्य मातरो गोषु मातरः तासां सकाशाल्लोकानां जङ्गमस्थावरात्मनाम्
Kadru and the sage Kadrū are mothers of the world; among cows, the mothers are also so. From them arise all beings, both moving and unmoving.
जन्म नानाप्रकाराणां ताभ्यो ऽन्ये देहिनः स्मृताः देवेन्द्रोपेन्द्रपूषाद्याः सर्वे ते दितिजा मताः
From them are born beings of various kinds; other embodied ones are said to be from them. All such as the gods, Indra, Upendra, Pūṣan, and others are considered children of Diti.
दितेः सकाशाल्लोकास्तु हिरण्यकशिपादयः दानवाश्च दनोः पुत्रा गावश्च सुरभीसुताः
From Diti came beings like Hiraṇyakaśipu and others; the Dānavas are known as the sons of Danu, and cows are the offspring of Surabhi.
पक्षिणो विनतापुत्रा गरुडप्रमुखाः स्मृताः नागाः कद्रूसुता ज्ञेयाः शेषाश्चान्ये ऽपि जन्तवः
Birds are known as the sons of Vinatā, with Garuḍa at their head; serpents are to be understood as the children of Kadru, and there are also many other creatures.