तां शापाभिमुखीं दृष्ट्वा शैलः पुरुषविग्रहः। उवाच तां वरारोहां वरांगीं भीतलोचनः
Seeing her ready to curse, the mountain, taking human form, spoke to that beautiful, high-hipped woman with fearful eyes.
शैल उवाच। नाहं महाव्रते दुष्टः सेव्योहं सर्वदेहिनाम्। विप्रियं ते करोत्येष रुषितः पाकशासनः
The mountain said: 'O great-vowed one, I am not wicked; I am to be served by all embodied beings. It is Pākaśāsana, angered, who does you harm.'
एतस्मिन्नंतरे जातः कालो वर्षसहस्रकः। तस्मिन्ज्ञात्वा तु भगवान्काले कमलसंभवः
Meanwhile, a thousand years passed; knowing this, the blessed one born from the lotus came at that time.
तुष्टः प्रोवाच वज्रांगं तदागत्य जलाशयम्। ब्रह्मोवाच। ददामि सर्वकामं त उत्तिष्ठ दितिनंदन
Pleased, Brahmā came to Vajrāṅga at the water's edge and said: 'I grant you every desire; arise, son of Diti.'
एवमुक्तस्तदोत्थाय स दैत्येंद्रस्तपोनिधिः। उवाच प्रांजलिर्वाक्यं सर्वलोकपितामहम्
Thus addressed, the lord of the Daityas, a treasure of penance, rose and, with joined palms, spoke to the grandsire of all worlds.
वज्रांग उवाच। आसुरो मास्तु मे भावः संतु लोका ममाक्षयाः। तपस्यभिरतिर्मेऽस्तु शरीरस्यास्य वर्तनम्
Vajrāṅga said: 'Let there be no demonic nature in me; may my worlds be imperishable; may I have delight in austerity and the continuance of this body.'
एवमस्त्विति तं देवो जगाम स्वकमालयम्। वज्रांगोपि समाप्ते तु तपसि स्थिरसंयमः
'So be it,' said the god, and returned to his own abode; Vajrāṅga, his penance complete and his discipline firm—
संगंतुमिच्छन्स्वां भार्यां न ददर्शाश्रमे स्वके। क्षुधाविष्टः स शैलस्य गहनं प्रविवेश ह
Desiring to meet his wife, he did not see her in his hermitage; afflicted by hunger, he entered the mountain's thicket.
आदातुं फलमूलानि स च तस्मिन्व्यलोकयत्। रुदन्तीं स्वां प्रियां दीनां तरुप्रच्छादिताननाम्
As he went to gather fruits and roots, he saw his beloved, distressed and weeping, her face hidden by the trees.
तां विलोक्य ततो दैत्यः प्रोवाच परिसांत्वयन्। वज्रांग उवाच। केन तेऽपकृतं भद्रे यमलोकं यियासुना
Seeing her, the demon spoke to comfort her: Vajranga said, 'By whom has harm been done to you, O gentle one, who desires to go to the realm of Yama?'
कं वा कामं प्रयच्छामि शीघ्रं प्रब्रूहि मानिनि। वरांग्युवाच। त्रासितास्म्यपविद्धास्मि ताडिता पीडितास्मि च
'What wish shall I grant you? Speak quickly, proud lady.' Varangi said, 'I am frightened, cast aside, beaten, and tormented.'
रौद्रेण देवराजेन नष्टनाथेव भूरिशः। दुःखस्यांतमपश्यंती प्राणांस्त्यक्तुं व्यवस्थिता
'By the fierce king of the gods, I have been deprived of my husband many times; unable to see an end to my suffering, I am resolved to give up my life.'
पुत्रं मे तारकं देहि तस्माद्दुःखमहार्णवात्। एवमुक्तस्तु दैत्येंद्रः कोपव्याकुललोचनः
'Give me my son Taraka, so that I may escape this vast ocean of sorrow.' Thus addressed, the lord of demons, his eyes filled with anger,
शक्तोपि देवराजस्य प्रतिकर्तुं महासुरः। तप एव पुनश्चर्तुं व्यवस्यत महाबलः
Though able to oppose the king of the gods, the mighty demon resolved to perform austerities again.
ज्ञात्वा तस्य तु संकल्पं ब्रह्मा क्रूरतरं पुनः। आजगाम त्वरायुक्तो यत्रासौ दितिनंदनः
Knowing his intention, Brahma, more severe than before, came swiftly to where the son of Diti was.
ब्रह्मोवाच। किमर्थं पुत्र भूयस्त्वं कर्तुं नियममुद्यतः। तदहं ते पुनर्दद्मि कांक्षितं पुत्रमोजसा
Brahma said, 'Why, my son, are you again intent on undertaking austerities? I shall once more grant you the desired son by my power.'
वज्रांग उवाच। उत्थितेन मया दृष्टा समाधानात्त्वदाज्ञया। त्रासितेंद्रेण मामाह सा वरांगी सुतार्थिनी
Vajranga said, 'When I rose from meditation at your command, I saw her, frightened by Indra, and she asked me for a son.'
पुत्रं मे तारकं देहि तुष्टो मे त्वं पितामह। ब्रह्मोवाच। अलं ते तपसा वीर मा क्लेशे दुस्तरे विश
'Give me my son Taraka; be pleased with me, O grandsire.' Brahma said, 'Enough of austerity, hero; do not enter this difficult hardship.'
पुत्रस्तु तारको नाम भविष्यति महाबलः। देवसीमंतिनीनां तु धम्मिल्लक विमोक्षकः
'Your son will be named Taraka, mighty in strength; he will be the liberator of the damsels among the gods.'
इत्युक्तो दैत्यनाथस्तु प्रणम्य प्रपितामहम्। गत्वा तां नंदयामास महिषीं कर्शितांतराम्
Thus addressed, the lord of demons, bowing to the grandsire, went and cheered his emaciated queen.
तौ दंपती कृतार्थौ तु जग्मतुः स्वाश्रमं तदा। आहितं तु तदा गर्भं वरांगी वरवर्णिनी1.42.
The couple, having achieved their desire, then returned to their hermitage; Varangi, of excellent complexion, conceived at that time.
पूर्णं वर्षसहस्रं तु दधारोदर एव हि। ततो वर्षसहस्रांते वरांगी सा प्रसूयत
For a full thousand years she carried the child in her womb; then, at the end of a thousand years, Varangi gave birth.
जायमाने तु दैत्ये तु तस्मिन्लोकभयंकरे। चचाल सर्वा पृथिवी प्रोद्भूताश्च महार्णवाः
As the demon, terrifying to the worlds, was being born, the whole earth trembled and great oceans surged forth.
चेलुर्धराधराश्चापि ववुर्वाताश्च भीषणाः। जेपुर्जप्यं मुनिवरा नेदुर्व्यालमृगा अपि
Mountains shook, fierce winds blew, the great sages recited sacred chants, and wild beasts roared.
जहौ कांतिश्चंद्रसूर्यौ नीहारच्छादिता दिशः। जाते महासुरे तस्मिन्सर्वे चापि महासुराः
The moon and sun lost their radiance, the directions were covered in mist; when the great demon was born, all the mighty demons
आजग्मुर्हर्षितास्तत्र तथा चासुरयोषितः। जगुर्हर्षसमाविष्टा ननृतुश्चाप्सरोगणाः
Arrived there joyfully, as did the demon women; filled with delight, they sang, and the hosts of apsaras danced.
ततो महोत्सवे जाते दानवानां महाद्युते। विषण्णमनसो देवाः सहेंद्रा अभवंस्तदा
Then, when a great festival arose among the demons in their grand contest, the gods, along with Indra, became despondent in spirit.
वरांगी तु सुतं दृष्ट्वा हर्षेणापूरिता तदा। बहुमेने च दैत्येंद्रो विजातं तं तदा तया
Varangi, upon seeing her son, was filled with joy at that time; and the lord of the demons, by her, regarded that newborn as highly significant.
जातमात्रस्तु दैत्येंद्रस्तारकश्चोग्रविक्रमः। अभिषिक्तो सुरैर्मुख्यैः कुजंभमहिषादिभिः
As soon as he was born, the demon lord Taraka, fierce in prowess, was anointed by the foremost gods—Kujamba, Mahisha, and others.
सर्वासुरमहाराज्ये पृथिवीतुलनक्षमे। स तु प्राप्तमहाराज्यस्तारको नृपसत्तम
In the entire great kingdom of the asuras, vast as the earth, Taraka, O best of kings, attained supreme sovereignty.