हूयंतामग्नयो विप्रैर्वेददृष्टेन कर्मणा। देवाश्च बलिहोमेन स्वाध्यायेन महर्षयः
Let the fires be invoked by the Brāhmaṇas through actions prescribed by the Vedas; the gods with oblations, and the great sages with recitation.
श्राद्धेन पितरश्चैव तुष्टिं यांतु यथासुखम्। वायुश्चरतु मार्गस्थस्त्रिधा दीप्यतु पावकः
Let the ancestors be satisfied by śrāddha, each according to their pleasure; let Vāyu move along his path, and Pāvaka shine in threefold form.
त्रयोवर्णाश्च लोकांस्त्रीस्तपर्पयंत्वात्मजैर्गुणैः। क्रतवः संप्रवर्तंतां दीक्षणीयैर्द्विजातिभिः
Let the three classes purify the three worlds with their own offspring and qualities; let the sacrifices be performed by the twice-born who are fit for initiation.
दक्षिणाश्चोपपद्यंतां याज्ञिकैश्च पृथक्पृथक्। गाश्च सूर्यो रसान्सोमो वायुः प्राणांश्च प्राणिषु
Let the gifts be presented separately by those engaged in sacrifice; let the Sun nourish the cows, Soma the juices, and Vāyu the breaths in living beings.
तर्पयन्तः प्रवर्तंतामेते सोम्यैः स्वकर्मभिः। यथावदनुपूर्वेण महेंद्रमलयोद्भवाः
Let these, offering satisfaction with their own actions related to Soma, proceed in proper order, those born of Mahendra and Malaya.
त्रैलोक्यमातरः सर्वाः समुद्रं यांतु सिंधवः। दैत्येभ्यस्त्यज्यतां भीश्च शांतिं व्रजत देवताः
Let all the mothers of the three worlds go to the ocean, the rivers; let fear be abandoned by the Daityas, and let the gods attain peace.
स्वस्ति वोऽस्तु गमिष्यामि ब्रह्मलोकं सनातनं। स्वगृहे स्वर्गलोके वा संग्रामे वा विशेषतः
May welfare be yours; I shall go to the eternal realm of Brahma—whether in my own house, in heaven, or especially in battle.
विश्वस्तैश्च न गंतव्यं नित्यं क्षुद्रा हि दानवाः। छिद्रेषु प्रहरंत्येते न तेषां संस्थितिर्ध्रुवा
Never trust them; the Dānavas are always petty. They strike at weaknesses and have no firm stability.
सौम्यानां निजभावानां भवतामार्जवे मनः। एवमुक्त्वा सुरगणान्विष्णुस्सत्यपराक्रमः
Let your minds be gentle, true to your own natures. Having spoken thus to the hosts of gods, Viṣṇu, of unfailing valor,
जगाम ब्रह्मणा सार्द्धं ब्रह्मलोकं महायशाः। देवानां महतीं प्रीतिमुत्पाद्य भगवान्प्रभुः
Departed with Brahmā to the realm of Brahma, the illustrious one, having generated great joy among the gods, the blessed Lord.
एतदाश्चर्यमभवत्संग्रामे तारकामये। दानवानां च विष्णोश्च यन्मां त्वं परिपृच्छसि
This was the marvel that occurred in the battle of Tārakāmaya—concerning the Dānavas and Viṣṇu, which you have asked me about.
भीष्म उवाच। श्रुतः पद्मोद्भवो ब्रह्मन्विस्तरेण त्वयेरितः। समासाद्भवमाहात्म्यमुत्पत्तिं च गुहस्य च
Bhīṣma said: 'O Brāhmaṇa, the account of the lotus-born has been heard, narrated by you in detail; also the greatness and origin of Guha.'
श्रोतुमिच्छामि ते ब्रह्मन्यथाभूतः कृतं च यत्। तारकश्च कथं भूतो दानवो बलवत्तरः
O Brahman, I wish to hear from you the true account of what happened, and how Tāraka became such a powerful Dānava.
कार्त्तिकेयेन स ब्रह्मन्कथं ध्वस्तो महासुरः। कथं रुद्रेण मुनयः प्रेषिता मंदरं गिरिम्
How was that great Asura destroyed by Kārttikeya, O Brahman? And how were the sages sent by Rudra to Mount Mandara?
कथं लब्धा उमा तत्र रुद्रेण परमेष्ठिना। एतदाख्याहि मे सर्वं यथाभूतं महामुने
How did Rudra, the supreme lord, obtain Umā there? O great sage, tell me all this as it truly happened.
पुलस्त्य उवाच। कश्यपेन पुरा प्रोक्ता दितिर्दैत्यारणिः शुभा। वज्रसारमयैश्चांगैः पुत्रो देवि भविष्यति
Pulastya said: Once, Kaśyapa spoke to Diti, the auspicious mother of the Daityas: 'O goddess, you will have a son with limbs as hard as thunderbolts.'
वज्रांगो नाम पुत्रस्तु भविता धर्मवत्सलः। सा च लब्धवरा देवी सुषुवे वज्रदुश्छिदम्
That son will be named Vajrāṅga, devoted to righteousness; and the goddess, having obtained a boon, gave birth to Vajrāṅga, whose body could not be pierced by thunderbolts.
स जातमात्र एवाभूत्सर्वशास्त्रार्थपारगः। उवाच मातरं भक्त्या मातः किं करवाण्यहम्
As soon as he was born, he mastered the meaning of all the scriptures, and with devotion said to his mother: 'Mother, what shall I do?'
तस्योवाच ततो हृष्टा दितिर्दैत्याधिपस्य तु। बहवो मे हताः पुत्राः सहस्राक्षेण पुत्रक
Then Diti, delighted, spoke to her son, the lord of the Daityas: 'Many of my sons, dear child, have been slain by the thousand-eyed one.'
तेषामपचितिं कर्तुं गच्छ शक्रवधाय तु। बाढमित्येव तां चोक्त्वा जगाम त्रिदिवं बलात्
'Go, therefore, to slay Indra, and perform the funeral rites for them.' Saying 'So be it,' he forcefully went to the realm of the gods.
बध्वा ततः सहस्राक्षं पाशेनामोघवर्चसा। मातुरंतिकमागच्छद्व्याधः क्षुद्रमृगं यथा
Then, binding the thousand-eyed one with a noose of unfailing brilliance, he brought him to his mother, like a hunter bringing a small animal.
एतस्मिन्नंतरे ब्रह्मा कश्यपश्च महातपाः। आगतौ तत्र यत्रास्तां मातापुत्रावभीतकौ
Meanwhile, Brahmā and the great ascetic Kaśyapa arrived there, where mother and son stood without fear.
दृष्ट्वा तु तावुवाचेदं ब्रह्मा कश्यप एव च। मुंचैनं पुत्र देवेंद्रं किमनेन प्रयोजनम्
Seeing them, Brahmā and Kaśyapa said: 'Release this Indra, my son; what purpose does he serve for you?'
अवमानो वधः प्रोक्तः पुत्र संभावितस्य तु। अस्मद्वाक्येन यो मुक्तस्त्वद्धस्तान्मृत एव सः
'Disrespect is said to be the death of an honored person, my son; one who is released from your hand at our word is as good as dead.'
परस्य गौरवान्मुक्तः शत्रूणां शत्रुराहवे। सजीवन्नेव हि मृतो दिवसे दिवसे पुनः
'An enemy released out of respect for another, though alive, is as if dead in battle, day after day.'
एतच्छ्रुत्वा तु वज्रांगः प्रणतो वाक्यमब्रवीत्। न मे कृत्यमनेनास्ति मातुराज्ञा कृता हि मे
Hearing this, Vajrāṅga bowed and said: 'I have nothing more to do with him; my mother's command has been fulfilled.'
त्वं सुरासुरनाथो वै मान्यश्च प्रपितामहः। करिष्ये त्वद्वचो देव एष मुक्तः शतक्रतुः
'You are the lord of gods and asuras, and worthy of honor, O great grandsire; I will do as you say, O god—let Śatakratu be released.'
तपसेमेरतिर्देवनिर्विघ्नंतच्चमेभवेत्। त्वत्प्रसादेन भगवन्नित्युक्त्वा विरराम ह
'May my ascetic practice proceed without obstacle, O god; by your grace, let this be so.' Having said this, he became silent.
तस्मिंस्तूष्णीं स्थिते दैत्ये प्रोवाचेदं पितामहः। ब्रह्मोवाच। तपस्त्वं कुरु मापन्नः सोस्मच्छासनसंस्थितः
As the Daitya stood silent, the grandsire spoke these words: Brahmā said: 'Perform ascetic practice, do not despair, remain steadfast in my command.'
अनया चित्तशुद्ध्या हि पर्याप्तं जन्मनः फलम्। इत्युक्त्वा पद्मजः कन्यां ससर्जायतलोचनाम्
'With this purity of mind, the fruit of birth is fully attained.' Having said this, the lotus-born one created a maiden with wide eyes.