देवारिर्दितिजो दृप्तो नृसिंहं समुपाद्रवत्। स तु तेन ततस्तीक्ष्णैर्मृगेंद्रेण महानखैः
The arrogant enemy of the gods, born of Diti, rushed upon Narasiṃha; but then, by the sharp claws of the lion-lord,
तदोंकारसहायेन विदार्य निहतो युधि। मही च कालश्च शशीनभश्च ग्रहास्स सूर्याश्च दिशश्च सर्वाः
Aided by the sound of Om, he was torn apart and slain in battle; and the earth, time, the moon, the planets, the sun, and all the directions,
नद्यश्च शैलाश्च महार्णवाश्च गताः प्रसादं दितिपुत्रनाशात्। ततः प्रमुदिता देवा ऋषयश्च तपोधनाः
The rivers, mountains, and great oceans found peace at the destruction of Diti's son; then the delighted gods and ascetic sages,
तुष्टुवुर्नामभिर्दिव्यैरादिदेवं सनातनम्। यत्त्वया विधृतं देव नारसिंहमिदं वपुः
Praised the primeval, eternal God with divine names: 'O God, this Narasiṃha form which you have assumed—'
एतदेवार्चयिष्यंति परापरविदो जनाः। ब्रह्मोवाच-। भवान्ब्रह्मा च रुद्रश्च महेंद्रो देवसत्तमः
'This alone will be worshipped by those who know the highest and the lowest.' Brahmā said: 'You are Brahmā, Rudra, and Mahendra, best of the gods.'
भवान्कर्त्ता विकर्त्ता च लोकानां प्रभवोऽव्ययः। परां च सिद्धिं च परं च सत्वं परं रहस्यं परमं हविश्च
'You are the creator and destroyer, the imperishable origin of the worlds; the supreme attainment, the highest essence, the supreme secret, the greatest offering.'
परं च धर्मं परमं यशश्च त्वामाहुरग्र्यं परमं पुराणम्। परं च सत्यं परमं तपश्च परं पवित्रं परमं च मार्गं
'The highest dharma, the greatest glory, you are called the foremost, the supreme, the ancient; the highest truth, the greatest austerity, the supreme purity, the highest path.'
परं च यज्ञं परमं च होत्रं त्वामाहुरग्य्रं परमं पुराणम्। परं शरीरं परमं च ब्रह्म परं च योगं परमां च वाणीम्
'The highest sacrifice, the greatest oblation, you are called the foremost, the supreme, the ancient; the highest body, the greatest Brahman, the supreme yoga, the highest speech.'
परं रहस्यं परमां गतिं च त्वामाहुरग्य्रं परमं पुराणम्। एवमुक्त्वा तु भगवान्सर्वलोकपितामहः
'The supreme secret, the highest goal, you are called the foremost, the supreme, the ancient.' Having spoken thus, the blessed grandsire of all worlds,
स्तुत्वा नारायणं देवं ब्रह्मलोकं गतः प्रभुः। ततो नदत्सु तूर्येषु नृत्यंतीष्वप्सरःसु च
Having praised the god Nārāyaṇa, the Lord went to Brahmā's world; then, as the drums resounded and the celestial nymphs danced,
क्षीरोदस्योत्तरं कूलं जगाम हरिरीश्वरः। नारसिंहं वपुर्देवः स्थापयित्वा सुदीप्तिमान्
Hari, the Lord, went to the northern shore of the Milk Ocean, having left behind the radiant Narasiṃha form.
पौराणं रूपमास्थाय प्रययौ गरडध्वजः। अष्टचक्रेण यानेन भूतियुक्तेन भास्वता
Assuming his ancient form, the one with the Garuḍa banner departed in a shining chariot with eight wheels, endowed with splendor.
अव्यक्तप्रकृतिर्देवः स्वस्थानं गतवान्प्रभुः
The Lord, of unmanifest nature, returned to his own abode.
श्री भीष्म उवाच-। नरसिंहस्य माहात्म्यं विस्तरेण त्वयेरितं। तथा भवस्य माहात्म्यं भैरवस्याभिधीयताम्
Śrī Bhīṣma said: 'You have described in detail the greatness of Narasiṃha; now speak of the greatness of Bhava, of Bhairava.'
पुलस्त्य उवाच। तस्यापि देवदेवस्य शृणु त्वं कर्म चोत्तमं। आसीद्दैत्योंधको नाम भिन्नांजनचयोपमः
Pulastya said: 'Listen also to the supreme deeds of that god of gods; there was a demon named Andhaka, dark as a mass of split collyrium.'
तपसा महता युक्तो ह्यवध्यस्त्रिदिवौकसाम्। स कदाचिन्महादेवं पार्वत्या सहितं विभुं
Endowed with great austerity, he was invulnerable to the gods of heaven; once, he saw the mighty Mahādeva together with Pārvatī.
क्रीडमानं तदा दृष्ट्वा हर्तुं देवीं प्रचक्रमे। एतां देवीं हराम्यद्य वियोगे मृत्युमेष्यति
Seeing her playing at that time, he resolved to seize the goddess: 'Today I will take this goddess; if separated from her, she will meet death.'
ततः स्थिरा भवित्री मे भार्यैषा लोकसुंदरी। बिबौष्ठं चारुवदनं चारुकांततरं मुखं
Therefore, this woman of steadfast beauty shall become my wife, the most lovely in the worlds; her lips and charming face surpass all others in beauty.
यद्येषा न भवेद्भार्या जीविते किं प्रयोजनम्। एतां मतिमथास्थाय मंत्रिभिः सह मंत्र्य च
If she does not become my wife, what purpose is there in living? Fixing his mind thus, he consulted with his ministers.
चक्रे योगं ससैन्यस्य सेनापतिमभाषत। आनयस्व रथं मह्यं जैत्रं देवनिपातनम्
He made preparations with his army and spoke to his general: 'Bring me my victorious chariot, the one that subdues the gods.'
जयिष्ये त्रिदशान्सर्वान्विष्णुरुद्रपुरोगमान्। हरिष्ये पर्वतसुतां तया मेऽपहृतं मनः
'I will conquer all the gods, with Vishnu and Rudra at their head; I will take the daughter of the mountain, for my heart has been stolen by her.'
मंत्रिणा तस्य चाख्यातः कनकस्य वधस्सुरैः। परभार्यानुरक्तस्य कृतो देवैः सवासवैः
His minister revealed to him that the gods, along with Indra, had plotted the death of Kanaka because he was enamored with another's wife.
ततः कोपपरीतात्मा हन्मि देवान्सशंकरान्। तं हत्वा दानवं शक्रो भयादंधासुरस्य च
Then, filled with wrath, he declared, 'I will slay the gods, including Shankara.' After killing the demon, Indra, fearing the blind asura, fled.
जगाम शरणान्वेषी कैलासं शंकरालयं। दृष्ट्वा प्रणम्य देवेशं चंद्रार्द्धकृतशेखरं
Seeking refuge, he went to Kailāsa, the abode of Shankara; seeing the Lord of the gods, crowned with the crescent moon, he bowed down.
भीतो विज्ञापयामास धृतसाहस्रलोचनः। अभयं देहि मे देव दानवादंधकादहं
Frightened, the thousand-eyed one humbly petitioned: 'O god, grant me safety from the demon Andhaka.'
बिभेमि तस्य पुत्रोद्य मया युधि निपातितः। तद्यावन्न स जानाति हतं पुत्रं महासुरः
'I fear him, for I have slain his son in battle; before that great asura learns his son is dead—'
तावत्तत्रस्थ एवाशु हन्यतां मद्भयावहः। स्त्रीलौल्याद्दानवः क्रूरः परभार्यापहारकः
'Let that fearsome one, who brings terror to me, be slain here at once; the cruel demon, driven by lust for women, who steals another's wife.'
सर्वथा घातनीयस्ते भवता सुरसत्तम। शक्रस्यैवं वचः श्रुत्वा शरण्यः शंकरस्तदा
'By all means, O best of gods, you must destroy him.' Hearing these words of Indra, Shankara, the refuge of all, then—
ददावभयमेवासौ मा भैरिति शतक्रतोः। दत्ताभयोथ कैलासादाजगाम कुशस्थलीम्
He granted him safety, saying, 'Do not fear, O Shatakratu.' Having given assurance, he departed from Kailāsa for Kuśasthalī.
वृतो भूतगणैरीशो वधार्थमंधकस्य तु। कृत्वा रूपं महाकायं विश्वरूपं सुभैरवं
Surrounded by hosts of spirits, the Lord took on a great and terrible universal form for the destruction of Andhaka.