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.
यस्य विष्णुः सहायश्च तपश्चैव बलं तथा । तस्यैव च जयो दृष्ट इति धर्मविदो विदुः
He whose ally is Viṣṇu, whose austerity and strength are present, victory is seen for him alone—so say the knowers of righteousness.
यूयं धर्मविहीनास्तु तपः सत्यविवर्जिताः । ऐंद्रं पदं बलेनैव प्राप्तवंतश्च पूर्वतः
You are devoid of righteousness, lacking austerity and truth; you attained the Indra's position previously only by strength.
तपो विना महाप्राज्ञा धर्मेण यशसा विना । बलदर्पगुणैः पुत्रा न प्राप्यमैन्द्रकं पदम्
Without austerity, O greatly wise ones, and without righteousness or fame, sons, the Indra's position cannot be attained by strength, pride, or qualities.
प्राप्याप्यैंद्रं पदं पुत्रास्ततो भ्रष्टा भवंति हि । तस्माद्यूयं प्रकुर्वंतु तपः पुत्राः समन्विताः
Even after attaining the Indra's position, sons, you become fallen from it; therefore, you should practice austerity, O sons, endowed with it.
अविरोधेन संयुक्ता ज्ञानध्यानसमन्विताः । वैरं चैव न कर्तव्यं केशवेन समं कदा
United without opposition, endowed with knowledge and meditation, you should never make enmity with Keśava at any time.
एवंविधा यदा पुत्रा यूयं धन्या भविष्यथ । परां सिद्धिं तदा सर्वे प्रयास्यथ न संशयः
When you sons are thus, you will become blessed; then all of you will attain supreme accomplishment, without doubt.
एवं संभाषितास्ते तु कश्यपेन महात्मना । समाकर्ण्य पितुर्वाक्यं दानवास्ते महौजसः
Thus addressed by the great-souled Kaśyapa, the powerful Dānavas listened attentively to their father's words.
प्रणम्य कश्यपं भक्त्या समुत्थाय त्वरान्विताः । सुमंत्रं चक्रिरे दैत्याः परस्परसमाहिताः
Having bowed to Kaśyapa with devotion, the Daityas quickly rose and, united in purpose, held a council among themselves.
हिरण्यकशिपू राजा तानुवाचाथ दानवान् । तपश्चैव करिष्यामो दुष्करं सर्वदायकम्
Then King Hiraṇyakaśipu spoke to the Dānavas: 'We shall undertake severe austerity, which is difficult and grants all desires.'
हिरण्याक्षस्तदोवाच करिष्ये दारुणं तपः । ततो बलेन त्रैलोक्यं ग्रहीष्ये नात्र संशयः
Hiraṇyākṣa then said: 'I will perform fierce penance; by its power, I shall seize the three worlds—there is no doubt of this.'