महिषस्य तु गोमायुः केतोर्हैमस्तदाभवत् ध्वाङ्क्षो ध्वजे तु शुम्भस्य कृष्णायोमयमुच्छ्रितम्
Mahisha's banner bore a golden jackal; Shumbha's banner was raised high with a black iron vulture.
अनेकाकारविन्यासाश् चान्येषां तु ध्वजास्तथा शतेन शीघ्रवेगाणां व्याघ्राणां हेममालिनाम्
The banners of the others were arranged in many forms; a hundred swift tigers adorned with gold garlands were also present.
ग्रसनस्य रथो युक्तां किङ्किणीजालमालिनाम् शतेनापि च सिंहानां रथो जम्भस्य दुर्जयः
Grasaṇa's chariot was yoked with a hundred lions adorned with jingling bells; Jambha's formidable chariot too was drawn by lions.
कुजम्भस्य रथो युक्तः पिशाचवदनैः खरैः रथस्तु महिषस्योष्ट्रैर् गजस्य तु तुरंगमैः
Kujambha's chariot was drawn by donkeys with demonic faces; Mahisha's chariot by camels, and Kunjara's by horses.
मेषस्य द्वीपिभिर्भीमैः कुञ्जरैः कालनेमिनः पर्वताभैः समारूढो निमिर्मत्तैर्महागजैः
Mesha's was drawn by fierce leopards; Kalanemi's by elephants like mountains; Nimi rode on intoxicated great elephants.
चतुर्दन्तैर्गन्धवद्भिः शिक्षितैर्मेघभैरवैः शतहस्तायतैः कृष्णैस् तुरंगैर्हेमभूषणैः
With four-tusked, fragrant, well-trained elephants of thunderous roar; with black, gold-adorned horses, each a hundred hands long.
सितचामरजालेन शोभिते दक्षिणां दिशम् सितचन्दनचार्वङ्गो नानापुष्पस्रजोज्ज्वलः
The southern quarter shone, adorned with white yak-tail fans; their bodies smeared with white sandal, radiant with garlands of many flowers.
मथनो नाम दैत्येन्द्रः पाशहस्तो व्यराजत जम्भकः किङ्किणीजालमालमुष्ट्रं समास्थितः
Mathana, the Daitya lord, holding a noose, shone forth; Jambhaka mounted a camel adorned with jingling bells.
कालशुक्लमहामेषम् आरूढः शुम्भदानवः अन्ये ऽपि दानवा वीरा नानावाहनगामिनः
Shumbha the demon mounted a great ram, black as time; other heroic Dānavas rode various mounts.
प्रचण्डचित्रकर्माणः कुण्डलोष्णीषभूषणाः नानाविधोत्तरासङ्गा नानामाल्यविभूषणाः
Fierce and wondrous in their deeds, adorned with earrings and turbans, wearing garments of many kinds, and decked with various garlands.
नानासुगन्धिगन्धाढ्या नानाबन्दिजनस्तुताः नानावाद्यपरिस्पन्दाश् चाग्रेसरमहारथाः
Rich with many fragrances, praised by various attendants, resounding with diverse musical instruments, the foremost great chariots advanced.
नानाशौर्यकथासक्तास् तस्मिन्सैन्ये महासुराः तद्बलं दैत्यसिंहस्य भीमरूपं व्यजायत
In that army, the mighty heroes were engaged in tales of valor; thus the force of the lion among Daityas appeared in a terrifying form.
प्रमत्तचण्डमातंगतुरंगरथसंकुलम् प्रतस्थे ऽमरयुद्धाय बहुपत्तिपताकि तत्
Filled with intoxicated, fierce elephants, horses, and chariots, that army, bearing many banners, set forth for battle with the gods.
एतस्मिन्नन्तरे वायुर् देवदूतो ऽम्बरालये दृष्ट्वा स दानवबलं जगामेन्द्रस्य शंसितुम्
Meanwhile, Vayu, the divine messenger, seeing that host of Danavas from the sky, went to inform Indra.
स गत्वा तु सभां दिव्यां महेन्द्रस्य महात्मनः शशंस मध्ये देवानां तत्कार्यं समुपस्थितम्
Having reached the splendid assembly of the great-souled Mahendra, he reported in the midst of the gods the matter that had arisen.
तच्छ्रुत्वा देवराजस्तु निमीलितविलोचनः बृहस्पतिमुवाचेदं वाक्यं काले महाभुजः
Hearing this, the king of the gods, eyes closed, spoke these timely words to Brihaspati, the mighty-armed.
सम्प्राप्तो ऽति विमर्दो ऽयं देवानां दानवैः सह कार्यं किमत्र तद्ब्रूहि नीत्युपायसमन्वितम्
A great conflict has now arisen between the gods and the Danavas; what should be done here? Tell me, with a policy full of proper means.
एतच्छ्रुत्वा तु वचनं महेन्द्रस्य गिरांपतिः इत्युवाच महाभागो बृहस्पतिरुदारधीः
Hearing these words of Mahendra, the lord of speech, the illustrious and noble-minded Brihaspati spoke thus:
सामपूर्वा स्मृता नीतिश् चतुरङ्गा पताकिनी जिगीषतां सुरश्रेष्ठ स्थितिरेषा सनातनी
The policy that begins with conciliation, and is fourfold with banners and all divisions, is the eternal stance for those who seek victory, O best of gods.
साम भेदस्तथा दानं दण्डश्चाङ्गचतुष्टयम् नीतौ क्रमाद्देशकालरिपुयोग्यक्रमादिदम्
Conciliation, division, gifts, and punishment—these are the four limbs of policy, to be applied in order according to place, time, enemy, and circumstance.
न शान्तिगोचरे लुब्धः क्रूरो लब्धसमाश्रयः संतापितः खलो याति साध्यतां भ्रष्टसंशयः
A greedy, cruel person who has found support, when agitated, cannot be pacified; the wicked, having lost doubt, cannot be subdued.
साम दैत्येषु नैवास्ति यतस्ते लब्धसंश्रयाः जातिधर्मेण वा भेद्या दानं प्राप्तश्रिये च किम्
Among the Daityas, conciliation is not possible, for they have secured their support; nor can they be divided by birth or duty, nor is giving effective for those who have already attained prosperity.
एको ऽभ्युपायो दण्डो ऽत्र भवतां यदि रोचते दुर्जनेषु कृतं साम महद्याति च वन्ध्यताम्
Here, only one means remains—punishment—if it pleases you; conciliation with the wicked becomes utterly fruitless.
भवादिति व्यवस्यन्ति क्रूराः साम महात्मनाम् ऋजुतामार्यबुद्धित्वं दयानीतिव्यतिक्रमम्
The cruel always think that conciliation by the great-hearted is weakness, straightness, noble-mindedness, or an excess of compassion.
मन्यन्ते दुर्जना नित्यं साम चापि भयोदयात् तस्माद् दुर्जनम् आक्रान्तुं श्रेयान्पौरुषसंश्रयः
The wicked always believe that conciliation arises from fear; therefore, to subdue the wicked, reliance on strength is better.
आक्रान्ते तु क्रिया युक्ता सतामेतन्महाव्रतम् दुर्जनः सुजनत्वाय कल्पते न कदाचन
When attacked, action is proper for the virtuous—this is their great vow; the wicked never become virtuous.
सुजनो ऽपि स्वभावस्य त्यागं वाञ्छेत्कदाचन एवं मे बुध्यते बुद्धिर् यूयमत्र व्यवस्यत
Even a good person may sometimes wish to abandon his nature; thus my mind understands—now you must decide here.
एवमुक्तः सहस्राक्ष एवमेवेत्युवाच तम् कर्तव्यतां स संचिन्त्य प्रोवाचामरसंसदि
Thus addressed, the thousand-eyed one replied, 'So be it,' and, having considered what should be done, spoke in the assembly of the gods.
सावधानेन मे वाचं शृणुध्वं नाकवासिनः भवन्तो यज्ञभोक्तारस् तुष्टात्मानो ऽतिसात्त्विकाः
Listen attentively to my words, O dwellers of heaven; you are the enjoyers of sacrifices, satisfied in soul, exceedingly pure in nature.
स्वे महिम्नि स्थिता नित्यं जगतः परिपालकाः भवतश्चानिमित्तेन बाधने दानवेश्वराः
Ever established in your own greatness, you are the protectors of the world; and, O lords of the gods, the Daitya chiefs oppose you without cause.