प्राह देवं चतुर्वक्त्रं भवान्वेत्ति चराचरं। पुरहूतमुखाः सबला निमिषा विजिताः प्रसभं किल दैत्यशतैः
He spoke to the four-faced god: 'You know all that moves and does not move. Indra and his hosts, in a moment, were forcibly defeated by hundreds of Daityas.'
क्रतवो विहिता भवता स्थितये जगतां च महाद्भुतचित्रगुणाः। अपि यज्ञकृतः श्रुतकामफला विहिता ॠषयस्तत एव पुरः
The sacrifices you established, O wondrous one of marvelous qualities, were for the stability of the worlds; and the sages, desiring the fruits heard of in the Vedas, performed sacrifices as you ordained.
अपि नाकमभूत्किल यज्ञभुजां भवतो विनियोगवशात्सततम्। अपहृत्यविमानगणं सकृतो दनुजेन महाकरभूमिसमः
Indeed, the heaven of the enjoyers of sacrifice was always under your control; yet, once, the mighty Daitya, as vast as the earth, seized the hosts of aerial beings in a single act.
कृतवानसि सर्वगुणातिशयं यमशेषमहीधरराजतया। मखभूषितमंशुमतामवधिं सुरधामगिरिं गगनेपि सदा
You have accomplished supreme excellence in all virtues, making the king of mountains, crowned with sacrificial offerings and radiant, the abode of the gods, ever shining in the sky.
अधिवासविहारविधानुचितो दनुजेन परिष्कृतशृंगतटः। प्रविलम्बितरत्नगुहानिवहो बहुदैत्यसमाश्रयतां गमितः
The mountain, adorned with peaks and suitable for the gods' pastimes, was overrun by the Daitya; its caves filled with jewels hung low, and it became the refuge of many demons.
असुरस्य च तस्य भयेन गतं सविषाद शरीरनिमित्ततया। उपभोग्यतयाधिकृतं सुचिरं विमलद्युतिपूरितदिग्वदनं
Out of fear of that Asura, the gods, their bodies dispirited, departed; for a long time, the mountain, its directions filled with pure radiance, was possessed and enjoyed by him.
भवतैव विनिर्मितमादियुगे सुरहेतिसमूहवरं कुलिशं। दितिजस्य शरीरमवाप्यगतं शतधा मतिभेदमिवाल्पविदः
The mighty thunderbolt, foremost among divine weapons, was fashioned by you in the first age; it struck the body of the demon and shattered it into a hundred pieces, as if splitting the mind of one with little understanding.
बाणैश्च युधि विद्धांगा द्वारि द्वास्थैर्निदर्शिताः। लब्धप्रवेशाः कृच्छ्रेण वयं तस्यामरद्विषः
In battle, we were wounded by arrows, and at the gates, the doorkeepers pointed us out; we gained entry to the enemy of the immortals only with great difficulty.
सभायाममरादेव प्रकृष्योपनिवेशिताः। वेत्रहस्तैरजल्पंतस्तथोपहसिताः परैः
Dragged into the assembly of the demon, we were seated there; those holding staffs mocked us without speaking, and others laughed at us.
महार्थाः सिद्धसर्वार्था भवंतः स्वल्पभाषिणः। शास्त्रयुक्तमथ ब्रूत मामरा बहुभाषिणः
You are great and accomplished in all matters, yet speak little; now speak according to the scriptures, O immortals, for the demons are verbose.
सभेयं दैत्यसिंहस्य न शक्रस्य विशृंखला। वदद्भिरिति दैत्यस्य प्रेष्यैर्विहसिता बहु
This is the assembly of the lion among demons, not of Indra, and is unrestrained; thus, at the words of the demon, his servants laughed at us repeatedly.
ॠतवो मूर्तिमंतश्चाप्यहर्निशमुपासते। कृतापराधं सत्रासं न त्यजंति कथंचन
The seasons, taking form, worship him day and night; though guilty and fearful, they never abandon him in any way.
तंत्रीलयनयोपेतं सिद्धगंधर्वकिन्नरैः। सरागमुपधाविष्टं गीयते तस्य वेश्मसु
Accompanied by musicians, Gandharvas, and Kinnaras skilled in melody and rhythm, songs are sung in his palaces, filled with harmony.
कृताकृतोपकरणैर्मित्रादि गुरुलाघवः। शरणागतसंत्यागी त्यक्तसत्यप्रतिश्रयः
With both proper and improper means, he treats friends and others with superiority or inferiority; he abandons those who seek refuge, and forsakes truth and promises.
इति निश्शेषमथवा निश्शेषं केन शक्यते। तस्याविनयमाख्यातुं स्रष्टा तत्र परायणम्
Thus, or even completely, who can fully describe his lack of discipline? Only the creator is the ultimate authority there.
इत्युक्त्वा व्यरमद्वायुः शनैर्देवविचेष्टितं। सुरानुवाच भगवांस्ततः स्मितमुखांबुजः
Having spoken thus, Vayu ceased, quietly recounting the deeds of the gods; then the blessed one, his face radiant with a smile, addressed the gods.
ब्रह्मोवाच। अवध्यस्तारको दैत्यः सर्वैरपि सुरासुरैः। यस्य वध्यस्स नाद्यापि जातस्त्रिभुवने पुमान्
Brahma said: 'Tāraka, the demon, cannot be slain by any gods or demons; no man has yet been born in the three worlds who can kill him.'
मया स वरदानेन छंदयित्वा निवारितः। तपसः सांप्रतं राजा त्रैलोक्यदहनात्मकः
By granting him a boon, I restrained him after persuading him; now, as a result of his austerity, he is a king whose nature is to burn the three worlds.
स तु वव्रे वधं दैत्यश्शिशुतः सप्तवासरात्। स तु सप्तदिनो बालः शंकराद्यो भविष्यति
But the demon asked for his death to come from a child after seven days; thus, a boy will be born in seven days, and he will be the first from Śaṅkara.
तारकस्य निहंता स भास्कराभो भविष्यति। सांप्रतं चाप्यपत्नीकः शंकरो भगवान्प्रभुः
He will be the slayer of Tāraka, shining like the sun; at present, Śaṅkara, the blessed lord, is without a wife.
हिमाचलस्य दुहिता या च देवी भविष्यति। तस्याः सकाशाद्यः सूनुररण्याः पावको यथा
The daughter of Himācalā will become a goddess; from her, a son will be born, like fire from the forest.
जनयिष्यति तं प्राप्य तारको न भविष्यति। मयाऽभ्युपायः कथितो यथैष हि भविष्यति1.43.
She will give birth to him, and upon his arrival, Tāraka will cease to exist; I have explained the means by which this will happen.
शेषं चाप्यस्य विभवं विभजध्वमनंतरं। स्तोककालं प्रतीक्षध्वं निर्विशंकेन चेतसा
Now divide the remaining wealth of his power among yourselves; wait a little while with undisturbed minds.
इत्युक्तास्त्रिदशास्तेन साक्षात्कमलयोनिना। जग्मुस्ते प्रणिपत्येशं यथायोगं दिवौकसः
Thus addressed by the lotus-born one, the gods departed after bowing to the lord, each according to their rank.
ततो यातेषु देवेषु ब्रह्मा लोकपितामहः। निशां सस्मार भगवांस्तां देवीं पूर्वसंभवां
When the gods had departed, Brahmā, the Grandfather of the worlds, remembered that goddess of the night, who had existed from the beginning.
ततो भगवती रात्रिरुपतस्थे पितामहं। तां विविक्ते समालोक्य ब्रह्मोवाच विभावरीम्
Then the blessed Night herself approached the Grandfather; seeing her alone, Brahmā addressed the radiant goddess.
ब्रह्मोवाच-। विभावरि महत्कार्यं देवानां समुपस्थितं। तत्कर्तव्यं त्वया देवि शृणु कार्यस्य निश्चयं
Brahmā said: O radiant one, a great task has arisen for the gods; you must accomplish it, O goddess. Listen to the determination regarding this task.
तारकोनाम दैत्येंद्रः सुरशत्रुरनिर्जितः। तस्या भवाय भगवान्जनयिष्यति चेश्वरः
There is a demon king named Tāraka, unconquered enemy of the gods; for his destruction, the blessed Lord will beget a son.
सुतं स भविता तस्य तारकस्यांतकः किल। शंकरस्याभवत्पत्नी सती दक्षसुता तु या
That son will indeed become the slayer of Tāraka; Śaṅkara’s wife, who was Satī, daughter of Dakṣa,
सा पितुः कुपिता देवी कस्मिंश्चित्कारणांतरे। भवित्री हिमशैलस्य दुहिता लोकभाविनी
That goddess, angered at her father for some other reason, will be born as the daughter of Himavat, destined for the world’s welfare.