अश्वैरश्वांश्च केचित्तु गदादण्डैरथार्द्दयन्
Some struck horses with horses, while others battered with maces and staffs.
समुक्त्रान्तासवः केचिद्विमानानि समाश्रिताः
Some, having drunk the nectar, took refuge in their aerial chariots.
ते देवभावमापन्ना दैतेयान्समुपाद्रवन्
Having assumed divine forms, they rushed upon the Daityas.
शस्त्रैर्बहुविधैर्द्देवान्निजध्नुरतिदारुणाः शक्रस्यैश्वर्यमिच्छन्ती दैत्यानां च पराजयम्
The gods, fierce in battle, slew the Daityas with many kinds of weapons, desiring Indra’s sovereignty and the defeat of their foes.
परिधैश्छुरिकाभिश्च कुन्तैश्चक्रैश्च शङ्कुभिः
With fire-barriers, knives, spears, wheels, and spikes,
शक्त्योपलैः शतघ्रीभिः पाशैश्च तलमुष्टिभिः
With javelins, stones, hundred-slayers, nooses, and palm-sized weapons,
रथाश्वनागपदगैः सङ्कुलो ववृधे रणः
The battle grew crowded with chariots, horses, elephants, and foot soldiers.
एवमष्टसहस्राणि युद्धमासीत्सुदारुणम्
Thus, eight thousand fought in a most terrible war.
सुरलोकं परित्यतज्य सर्वे भीताः प्रदुद्रुवुः
All, abandoning the realm of the gods, fled in fear.
वैरोचनिस्त्रिभुवनं नारायणपरायणः
Vairochani, devoted to Narayana, ruled over the three worlds.
इत्याज चाश्वमेघैः स विष्णुप्रीणनतत्परः
He performed horse sacrifices, intent on pleasing Vishnu.
देवानां प्रीणनार्थाय यैः क्रियन्ते द्विजैर्मखाः
For the sake of pleasing the gods, sacrifices are performed by twice-born men.
अदितिः स्वात्मजान्वीक्ष्य देवमातातिदुःखिता
Aditi, mother of the gods, seeing her own sons, was deeply distressed.
किञ्चित्कालं समासीना तिष्टन्ती च ततः परम्
For some time she remained seated, and then continued to stay.
कञ्चित्कालं फलाहारा ततः शीर्णदलाशना
For some time she subsisted on fruit, then on fallen leaves.
सञ्चिदानन्दसन्दोहं ध्यायत्यात्मानमत्मना
She meditated upon the essence of bliss, contemplating the Self by the Self.
दुरन्तं तत्तपः श्रुत्वा दैतेया मायिनो ऽदितिम्
Hearing of her relentless austerity, the deceitful Daityas approached Aditi.
किमर्थं तप्यते मातः शरीरपरिशोषणम्
Mother, for what purpose do you perform austerity, exhausting your body?
त्यजेदं दुःखबहुलं कायशोषणकारणम्
Abandon this, so full of suffering, which causes the wasting of the body.
शरीरं यन्ततो रक्ष्यं धर्मसाधनतत्परैः
The body must be protected by those intent on the pursuit of dharma.
सुखं त्वं तिष्ट सुभगे पुत्रानस्मान्न खेदय
Rest comfortably, O blessed one; do not distress us, your sons.
गावो वा पशवो वापियत्र गावो महीरुहाः
Whether cows or other animals, wherever there are cows or trees,
दरिद्रो वापि रोगी वा देशान्तरगतो ऽपि वा
Even if he is poor, or afflicted by disease, or has gone to a foreign land,
अन्ने वा सलिले वापि धनादौ वा प्रियासु च
Whether it is in food, or in water, or in wealth, or among loved ones,
साध्वी च स्त्री पतिप्राणा गन्तव्यं तेन वै वनम्
A virtuous woman whose life is bound to her husband must accompany him to the forest.
गृहं च मार्यातनयेर्विहीनं यथा तथा मातृविहीनमर्त्यः
A house deprived of children is just as a mortal deprived of his mother.
इत्युक्ताप्यदितिर्दैप्यैर्न चचाल समाधितः
Though thus addressed by the Daityas, Aditi did not waver, remaining absorbed in meditation.
निरीक्ष्य क्रोधसंयुक्ता हन्तुं चक्रुर्मनोरथम्
Seeing this, filled with anger, they resolved in their minds to kill her.
दंष्ट्रग्रैरसृजन्वह्निं सो ऽदहत्काननं क्षणात्
With their fangs they produced fire, and in a moment burned the forest.
तेनैव दग्धा दैतेया ये प्रधर्षयितुं गताः
By that same fire, the Daityas who had come to violate her were burned.