प्रतस्थेऽमरयुद्धाय बहुपत्तिपताकिकम्। एतस्मिन्नंतरे वायुर्देवदूतोऽसुरालये
It set forth for battle with the immortals, bearing many infantry and banners; at that moment, Vāyu, the divine messenger, entered the abode of the Asuras.
दृष्ट्वा तद्दानवबलं जगामेंद्रस्य शंसितुं। स गत्वा तु सभां दिव्यां महेंद्रस्य महात्मनः
Seeing that host of Dānavas, he went to inform Indra; reaching the divine assembly of the great-souled Mahendra,
शशंस मध्ये देवानां तत्कार्यं समुपस्थितम्। तच्छ्रुत्वा देवराजस्तु निमीलितविलोचनः
He announced in the midst of the gods the matter that had arisen; hearing this, the king of the gods closed his eyes.
बृहस्पतिमुवाचेदं वाक्यं काले महाभुजः। इंद्र उवाच। संप्राप्नोति विमर्दोयं देवानां दानवैः सह
The mighty-armed Indra then spoke these words to Bṛhaspati at the proper time: Indra said: Now a clash between the gods and Dānavas is approaching.
कार्यं किमत्र तद्ब्रूहि नीत्युपायोपबृंहितम्। एतच्छ्रुत्वा तु वचनं महेंद्रस्य गिरां पतिः
What should be done in this matter? Tell me, supported by policy and strategy; hearing these words of Mahendra,
इत्युवाच महाभागो बृहस्पतिरुदारधीः। बृहस्पतिरुवाच। सामपूर्वा श्रुता नीतिश्चतुरंगा पताकिनी
The greatly wise Bṛhaspati spoke thus: Bṛhaspati said: The policy, as heard, begins with conciliation; the fourfold army, with banners,
जिगीषतां सुरश्रेष्ठ स्थितिरेषा सनातनी। सामभेदस्तथा दानं दंडश्चांगचतुष्टयम्
This is the eternal stance for those who seek victory, O best of gods: conciliation, division, gifts, and force—the four means.
न सांत्वगोचरे लुब्धानभेद्यास्त्वेकधर्मिणः। न दानमत्त्र संसिद्ध्यै प्रसह्यैवापहारिणाम्
But those who are greedy and united in purpose are not susceptible to conciliation or division; nor will gifts succeed with those who seize by force.
एकोभ्युपायो दंडोऽत्र भवतां यदि रोचते। एवमुक्तः सहस्राक्ष एवमेतदुवाच ह
Here, force alone is the means, if it pleases you; thus addressed, the thousand-eyed one spoke as follows:
कर्त्तव्यतां च संचिंत्य प्रोवाचामरसंसदि। इंद्र उवाच। अवधानेन मे वाचं शृणुध्वं नाकवासिनः
Having considered what must be done, he spoke in the assembly of the immortals: Indra said: Listen attentively to my words, O dwellers of heaven.
भवंतो यज्ञभोक्तारो दिव्यात्मानो हि सान्वयाः। स्वे महिम्नि स्थिता नित्यं जगतः पालने रताः
You are the enjoyers of sacrifice, divine in nature with your descendants; ever established in your own greatness, devoted to the protection of the world.
क्रियतां समरोद्योगः सैन्यं संयोज्यतां मम। आह्रियंतां च शस्त्राणि पूज्यंतां शस्त्रदेवताः
Let preparations for battle be made; assemble my army; let weapons be brought forth and the deities of weapons be worshipped.
वाहनानि विमानानि योजयद्ध्वं ममेश्वराः। यमं सेनापतिं कृत्वा शीघ्रमेव दिवौकसः
O lords, prepare the vehicles and aerial chariots for me; appoint Yama as the commander, and let the celestial hosts assemble swiftly.
इत्युक्तास्समनह्यंत देवानां ये प्रधानतः। वाजिनामयुतेनाजौ हेमघंटा परिष्कृतम्
Thus addressed, those chief gods harnessed a ten-thousand-horse chariot, adorned with golden bells, for battle.
नानाश्चर्यगुणोपेतं संप्राप्तं देवदानवैः। रथं मातलिना युक्तं देवराजस्य दुर्जयम्
Endowed with wondrous qualities, that chariot, assembled by Matali for the king of the gods, was unconquerable by gods and demons alike.
यमो महिषमास्थाय सेनाग्रे समवर्त्तत। चंडकिंकरवृंदेन सर्वतः परिवारितः
Yama, mounting a buffalo, advanced at the head of the army, surrounded on all sides by a host of fierce attendants.
कल्पकालोद्गतज्वाला पूरितोम्बरगोचरः। हुताशनस्त्वजारूढः शक्तिहस्तो व्यवस्थितः
Agni, blazing with flames born of the time of dissolution, filled the sky; mounted on a goat, he stood ready, holding a spear.
पवनोऽङकुशहस्तश्च विस्तारित महाजवः। भुजगेंद्रसमारूढो जलेशो भगवान्स्वयम्
The wind god, holding a goad and displaying great speed, was mounted upon the king of serpents; the lord of waters himself was present.
नरयुक्ते रथे देवो राक्षसेशो वियच्चरः। तीक्ष्णखड्गयुतो भीमः समरे समवस्थितः
The lord of the rakshasas, moving through the sky, stood ready for battle, fierce and armed with a sharp sword, on a chariot drawn by men.
महासिंहरथे देवो धनाध्यक्षो गदायुधः। चंद्रादित्यावश्विनौ च चतुरंगबलान्विताः
The god of wealth, armed with a mace, was on a lion-drawn chariot; the Moon, Sun, and Ashvins were accompanied by fourfold armies.
सेनान्यो देवराजस्य दुर्जया भुवनत्रये। कोटयस्तास्त्रयस्त्रिंशद्देवदेवनिकायिनाम्1.42.
The army of the king of the gods, unconquerable in the three worlds, numbered thirty-three crores of divine hosts.
हिमाचलाभे सितचारुचामरे सुवर्णपद्मामलसुंदरस्रजि। कृताभिरामो ज्वलकुंकुमांकुरे कपोललीलालिकदंबसंकुले
Adorned with snowy, beautiful fans, a garland of golden lotuses, radiant with blazing saffron marks, and cheeks playfully clustered with pearls, he appeared delightful.
स्थितस्तदैरावणनाम कुंजरे महामनाश्चित्रविभूषणांबरः। विशालवज्रः सुवितानभूषितः प्रकीर्णकेयूरभुजंगमंडलः
He stood upon the great elephant named Airavata, noble-minded, wearing wondrous ornaments and garments, broad as a thunderbolt, splendidly decorated, his arms encircled with scattered bracelets and serpents.
सहस्रदृग्वंदितपादपल्लवस्त्रिविष्टपे शोभत पाकशासनः। तुरंग मातंग कुलौघसंकुला सितातपत्त्रद्ध्वजशालिनी च
Indra shone in heaven, his feet praised by thousands of eyes, amidst crowds of horses and elephants, bearing white parasols and banners.
बभूव सा दुर्जयपत्तिसंतता विभाति नानायुधयोधदुस्तरा। ततोश्विनौ च मरुतः ससाध्याः सपुरंदराः
That army, arrayed with unconquerable spears, gleamed, difficult to overcome with its diverse weapons and warriors; then the Ashvins, Maruts, Sadhyas, and Purandara joined.
यक्षराक्षसगंधर्वा दिव्य नानास्त्रपाणयः। जघ्नुर्दैत्येश्वरं सर्वे संभूय तु महाबलाः
Yakshas, rakshasas, and gandharvas, wielding various divine weapons, all assembled with great strength and attacked the lord of the daityas.
न चैवास्त्राण्यसज्जंत गात्रे वज्राचलोपमे। अथो रथादवप्लुत्य तारको दानवाधिपः
Yet their weapons could not pierce his body, which was like a mountain of thunderbolts; then Taraka, lord of the demons, leapt down from his chariot.
जघान कोटिशो देवान्करपार्ष्णिभिरेव च। हतशेषाणि सैन्यानि देवानां विप्र दुद्रुवुः
He slew the gods by the millions with his hands and feet; the remaining armies of the gods, O sage, fled.
दिशो भीतानि संत्यज्य रणोपकरणानि च। दृष्ट्वा तान्विद्रुतान्देवांस्तारको वाक्यमब्रवीत्
Abandoning their weapons and directions in fear, the gods scattered; seeing them fleeing, Taraka spoke these words.
मा वधिष्ठ सुरान्दैत्या वज्रांगाय च मंदिरे। शीघ्रमानीय दर्श्यंतां बद्धान्पश्यत्वयं सुरान्
Do not kill the gods, O daityas; bring Vajranga to my palace quickly, so that he may see the gods bound before him.