त एव लोकान्बाधन्ते नात्राश्वार्यं सुगेतमाः
Those very ones trouble the worlds; there is no hope for happiness here.
तं विद्यात्सर्वलोकेषु पापभोगरतं सुराः
Let the gods know him in all the worlds as one who delights in sinful enjoyments.
तं हन्ति दैवमेवाशु नात्र कार्या विचारणा
The divine must quickly destroy him; there should be no further deliberation here.
प्रणम्य तं यथान्यायं गता नाकं दिवौकसः
Having properly bowed to him, the gods went to heaven.
आरेभे हयमेधाख्यं यज्ञं कर्त्तुमनुत्तमम्
He undertook the supreme sacrifice known as the horse-sacrifice.
पाताले स्थापयामास कपिलो यत्र तिष्टति
Kapila placed him in the netherworld, where he himself abides.
अन्वेष्टुं बभ्रभुर्लोकान् भूरादींश्च सुविस्मिताः
Amazed, they searched the worlds, beginning with the earth.
चख्नुर्महीतलं सर्वमेकैको योजनं पृथक्
Each one separately dug up the entire surface of the earth, a yojana at a time.
तद्वारेण गताः सर्वे पातालं सगरात्मजाः
Through that opening, all the sons of Sagara entered the netherworld.
विचिन्वन्ति हयं तत्र मदोन्मत्ता विचेतसः
There, intoxicated and bewildered, they searched for the horse.
कपिलं ध्याननिरतं वाजिनं च तदन्तिके
Near Kapila, who was absorbed in meditation, they found the horse.
हन्तुमुद्युक्तमनसो विद्रवन्तः समासदन्
Intent on killing, they rushed forward with agitated minds.
गुह्यतां गृह्यतामाशु इत्यूचुस्ते परस्परम्
They said to each other, 'Let us quickly seize him and keep it secret.'
सन्ति चारो खला लोके कुर्वन्त्याडम्बरं महत्
There are spies and villains in the world who create great disturbance.
समस्तेन्द्रियसंदोहं नियम्यात्मानमात्मनि
Controlling all the senses, he established himself within himself.
आस्थितः कपिलस्तेषां तत्कर्म ज्ञातवान्नहि
Kapila, settled thus, was aware of their actions, indeed.
पद्भिः संताडयामासुर्बुहूं च जगृहुः परे
They struck him with their feet, and others seized the earth.
उवाच भावगम्भीरं लोकोपद्रवकारिणः
He spoke with profound emotion to those causing trouble in the world.
अहॄङ्कारविमूढानां विवेको नैव जायते
Discernment does not arise in those deluded by arrogance.
तदेव मानवा भुक्त्वा ज्वलन्तीति किमद्भुतम्
Having consumed that, humans burn—what is so astonishing about it?
महीरुहां श्चानुतटे पातयन्ति नदीरयाः
River currents also topple trees along their banks.
तत्राश्रीर्वृद्धता नित्यं मुर्खत्वं चापि जायते
There, prosperity always increases, and ignorance also arises.
नामसाम्यादहो चित्रं धत्तूरो ऽपिमदप्रदः
How strange, due to similarity of names, even the datura gives intoxication.
यथा सखाग्नेः पवनः पन्नगस्य यथा विषम्
Just as wind is friend to fire, and poison to the serpent.
यदि पश्यत्यामहितं स पश्यति न संशयः
If he sees what is harmful, he surely sees it—there is no doubt.
स वह्निः सागरान्सर्वान्भस्मसादकरोत्क्षणात्
That fire instantly reduced all the oceans to ashes.
अकालप्रलयं मत्वा चुक्रुशुः शोकलालसाः
Thinking that the end of the world had come prematurely, they cried out, overwhelmed by grief.
सागरं विविशुः शीघ्रं सतां कोपो हि दुःसहः
They quickly entered the ocean, for the wrath of the virtuous is truly unbearable.
देवदूत उवाचेदं सर्वं वृत्तं हि यक्षते
The divine messenger said this: 'All that has happened, the Yakṣas know.'
दैवेन शिक्षिता दुष्टा इत्युवाचाति हर्षितः
He said with great delight, 'The wicked have been disciplined by fate.'