अधर्मेणापि पापेन वर्तिताः पापचेतसः । सूदिता वासुदेवेन समरे चक्रपाणिना
Even through unrighteousness and sin, those with wicked minds acted; they were slain by Vāsudeva, wielder of the discus, in battle.
योसावात्मा मयोक्तः पूर्वमेव तवाग्रतः । सोयं विष्णुर्न संदेहो धर्मात्मा सर्वपालकः
That very self, which I previously described to you, is indeed Viṣṇu—there is no doubt; he is righteous and protector of all.
दैत्यकायेषु यः स्वस्थः पापमेव समास्थितः । जघ्निवान्दानवान्देवि स च क्रुद्धो महामतिः
He who dwells calmly within the bodies of the demons, embracing only sin, struck down the Dānavas, O goddess, being wrathful and of great wisdom.
स बाह्याभ्यंतरे भूत्वा तव पुत्रा निपातिताः । येन चोत्पादिता देवि तेनैव विनिपातिताः
He became both outside and inside, and your sons were cast down by him; by the very one who brought them forth, O goddess, they were destroyed.
नैषां मोहस्तु कर्तव्यो भवत्या वचनं शृणु । पापेन वर्तते योसौ स एव निधनं व्रजेत्
You must not be deluded by them; listen to my words: whoever acts in sin, that very one meets destruction.
तस्मान्मोहं परित्यज्य सदाधर्मं समाश्रय । दितिरुवाच- एवमस्तु महाभाग करिष्ये वचनं तव
Therefore, abandoning delusion, always embrace righteousness.
कश्यपं च मुनिश्रेष्ठमेवमाभाष्य दुःखिता । संबोधिता सा मुनिना दुःखं संत्यज्य संस्थिता
Diti said: So be it, O illustrious one; I will do as you have spoken.
ऋषय ऊचुः- ततस्ते दानवाः सर्वे हिरण्यकशिपूत्तराः । युद्धाद्भग्नास्तु किं कुर्युर्व्यवसायं महामते
The sages said: Then, O wise one, what did all the Dānavas, sons of Hiraṇyakaśipu, do after being defeated in battle?
विस्तरेणापि नो ब्रूहि तेषां वृत्तमनुत्तमम् । श्रोतुमिच्छामहे सर्वे त्वत्तो वै सांप्रतं द्विज
Tell us in detail their excellent conduct; we all wish to hear it from you now, O twice-born.
सूत उवाच- भग्ना रणात्तु ते सर्वे बलहीनास्तु वै तदा । गतदर्पाः सुदुःखार्ता दैत्यास्ते पितरं गताः
Sūta said: All of them, weakened and bereft of pride, greatly afflicted by sorrow, went to their father after being defeated in battle.
भक्त्या प्रणम्य ते सर्वे समूचुः कश्यपं तदा । दानवा ऊचुः- भवद्वीर्यात्समुत्पत्तिरस्माकं द्विजसत्तम
With devotion, all of them bowed and spoke to Kaśyapa at that time.
देवतानां महाभाग दानवानां तथैव च । वयं च दानवाः सर्वे बलवीर्यपराक्रमाः
The Dānavas said: From your strength, O best of the twice-born, our origin has arisen; O illustrious one, for both the gods and the Dānavas.
उपायज्ञाः सुधीराश्च उद्यमेन समन्विताः । वयं तु बहवस्तात देवास्त्वल्पास्तथैव च
We Dānavas, all of us, are endowed with strength, valor, and prowess; wise in strategies, resolute, and diligent; we are many, O father, while the gods are few.
कथं जयंति ते सर्वे वयं भग्ना महाहवात् । तत्किं वै कारणं तात बलतेजः समन्विताः
How do all those gods win, while we are defeated in the great battle? What is the cause, O father, though we possess strength and brilliance?
मत्तनागसहस्राणामेकैकस्य महामते । बलमस्ति च दैत्यस्य नास्ति देवेषु तादृशम्
Each Daitya, O wise one, has the strength of a thousand intoxicated elephants; such strength is not found among the gods.
जयश्च दृश्यते तात देवेष्वेव महाहवे । तत्सर्वं कथयस्वैव संशयंछेत्तुमर्हसि
Yet, victory is seen among the gods alone in the great battle; tell us everything, you should resolve our doubt.
कश्यप उवाच- शृणुध्वं पुत्रकाः सर्वे जयस्यापि च कारणम् । यस्माद्धि देवताः सर्वे समरे जयिनोऽभवन्
Kaśyapa said: Listen, all my sons, to the reason for victory, because of which the gods prevailed in battle.
वीर्यनिर्वापकस्तातो माताक्षेत्रमिदं सदा । धारणे पालने चैव पोषणे च यथैव हि
O father, the mother's field always diminishes valor; in sustaining, protecting, and nourishing, it is so.
किं कुर्याद्विषमार्थे तु पिता पुत्रे च वै तथा । अत्र प्रधानं कर्मैव मामेवं बुद्धिराश्रिता
What should a father do regarding poison, and likewise a son? Here, action alone is foremost; thus my understanding is established.
द्वैविध्यं कर्मसंबंधं पापपुण्यसमुद्भवम् । सत्यमेव समाश्रित्य क्रियते धर्म उत्तमः
The connection to action is twofold, arising from sin and merit; relying solely on truth, the highest righteousness is performed.
तपोध्यानसमायुक्तं तारणाय हि तं सुताः । पतनाय पातकं प्रोक्तं सर्वदैव न संशयः
That which is joined with austerity and meditation is for deliverance, O sons; that which is declared as sinful leads to downfall, always without doubt.
बलेन परिवारेण आभिजात्येन पुत्रकाः । पुण्यहीनस्य पुंसो वै तद्बलं विकलायते
By strength, by retinue, and by noble birth, O sons; for a man devoid of merit, that strength becomes deficient.
उन्नता गिरिदुर्गेषु वृक्षाः संति सुपुत्रकाः । पतंति वातवेगेन समूलास्तु घनास्तथा
Tall trees stand in mountain fortresses, O good sons; yet they fall, roots and all, by the force of the wind, just as clouds do.
सत्यधर्मविहीनास्ते तथायांति यमक्षयम् । साधारणः प्राणिनां च धर्म एष सुपुत्रकाः
Those lacking truth and righteousness likewise go to Yama's abode; this is the general law for living beings, O good sons.
येन संतरते जंतुरिह चैव परत्र च । तद्युष्माभिः परित्यक्तं सत्यं धर्मसमन्वितम्
By which a creature crosses over here and in the hereafter, that—endowed with truth and righteousness—has been abandoned by you.
अधर्ममास्थितं पुत्रा युष्माभिः सत्यवर्जितैः । सत्यधर्मतपोभ्रष्टाः पतिता दुःखसागरे
You sons have embraced unrighteousness, devoid of truth; fallen from truth, righteousness, and austerity, you are plunged into the ocean of suffering.
देवाश्च सत्यसंपन्नाः श्रेयसा च समन्विताः । तपः शांतिदमोपेताः सुपुण्या पापवर्जिताः
The gods are endowed with truth and blessedness; possessing austerity, peace, and self-control, they are highly virtuous and free from sin.
यत्र सत्यं च धर्मश्च तपः पुण्यं तथैव च । यत्र विष्णुर्हृषीकेशो जयस्तत्र प्रदृश्यते
Where truth, righteousness, austerity, and merit are found, where Viṣṇu, Hṛṣīkeśa, is present, there victory is seen.
तेषां सहायः संभूतो वासुदेवः सनातनः । तस्माज्जयंति ते देवाः सत्यधर्मसमन्विताः
Vāsudeva, the eternal, has become their ally; therefore those gods, endowed with truth and righteousness, are victorious.
सहायेन बलेनैव पौरुषेण तथैव च । भवंतः किल वै पुत्रास्तपः सत्यविवर्जिताः
By ally, by strength, and likewise by effort, you sons are indeed devoid of austerity and truth.