आदाविंद्रं हि देवेंद्रं द्रुतं सूदय पुत्रक । पश्चाद्देवा निपात्यंतां ततो गरुडवाहनः
'First, swiftly destroy Indra, the lord of the gods, my son; afterwards, let the other gods be struck down, and then the one who rides Garuḍa.'
तयोराकर्ण्य सा देवी अदितिः पतिदेवता । दुःखेन महताविष्टा पुत्रमिंद्रमभाषत
Hearing this, the goddess Aditi, devoted to her husband, was seized by great sorrow and spoke to her son Indra.
दितिपुत्रो महाकायो वर्द्धते ब्रह्मतेजसा । देवानां हि वधार्थाय तपस्तेपे निरंजने
'The son of Diti, of great stature, grows in the radiance of Brahman; he has performed pure austerity for the destruction of the gods.'
एवं जानीहि देवेश यदि क्षेममिहेच्छसि । एवमाकर्ण्य तद्वाक्यं स मातुः पाकशासनः
'Know this, lord of the gods, if you desire safety here.' Hearing these words of his mother, the wielder of the thunderbolt—Indra—
चिंतामवाप दुःखेन महतीं देवराट्तदा । महाभयेन संत्रस्तश्चिंतयामास वै ततः
The king of the gods then fell into deep anxiety and great distress, and, terrified by immense fear, began to ponder.
कथमेनं हनिष्यामि देवधर्मविदूषकम् । इति निश्चित्य देवेशो बलस्य निधनं प्रति
'How shall I slay him, who transgresses the law of the gods?' Thus resolved, the lord of the gods considered the destruction of Bala.
एकदा हि बलः सोपि संध्यार्थं सिंधुमाश्रितः । कृष्णाजिनेन दिव्येन दंडकाष्ठेन राजितः
Once, Bala too, for the purpose of twilight rites, went to the ocean, adorned with a divine black antelope skin and a staff of sacred wood.
अमलेनापि पुण्येन ब्रह्मचर्येण तेन सः । सागरस्योपकंठे तं संध्यासनमुपागतम्
With pure and meritorious brahmacharya, he approached his seat for twilight prayers on the shore of the ocean.
जपमानं सुशांतं तं ददृशे पाकशासनः । वज्रेण तेन दिव्येन ताडितो दितिनंदनः
Indra saw him, tranquil and engaged in recitation; then, with his divine thunderbolt, struck down Diti's son.
बलं निपतितं दृष्ट्वा गतसत्वं गतं भुवि । हर्षेण महताविष्टो देवराण्मुमुदे तदा
Seeing Bala fallen, his life departed and lying on the ground, the king of the gods was filled with great joy and rejoiced.
एवं निपात्य तं दैत्यं दितिनंदनमेव च । राज्यं चकार धर्मात्मा सुखेन पाकशासनः
Thus, having struck down that demon and the son of Diti, the righteous Pakaśāsana happily established his rule.
सूत उवाच- हतं श्रुत्वा दितिः पुत्रं सुबलं बलमेव च । रुदितं करुणं कृत्वा हा हा कष्टं भृशं मम
Sūta said: Hearing that her son Subala and his strength were slain, Diti cried out in anguish, lamenting, 'Alas! How terrible this is for me!'
एवं सुकरुणं कृत्वा बहुकालं तपस्विनी । सा गता कश्यपं कांतं तमुवाच यशस्विनी
Having mourned so deeply for a long time, that ascetic woman went to her beloved Kaśyapa and spoke to him, renowned as she was.
तव पुत्रो महापाप इंद्रः सुरगणेश्वरः । सागरोपगतं दृष्ट्वा बलं मे ब्रह्मलक्षणम्
Your son Indra, lord of the gods, committed a great sin; seeing my son Bala, marked by Brahma, near the ocean,
वज्रेण घातयामास संध्यामास्यंतमेव हि । एवं श्रुत्वा ततः क्रुद्धो मरीचितनयस्तदा
He killed him with the thunderbolt at twilight, right at the end; hearing this, Marīci's son became enraged.
क्रोधेन महताविष्टः प्रजज्वालेव वह्निना । अवलुंच्य जटामेकां शुच्यग्नौ स द्विजोत्तमः
Filled with intense anger, blazing like fire, that foremost of twice-born men tore out a single lock of hair and cast it into the pure fire.
इंद्रस्यैव वधार्थाय पुत्रमुत्पादयाम्यहम् । तस्मात्कुंडात्समुत्पन्नो हुताशनमुखादपि
For the purpose of killing Indra, I will produce a son; thus, from that altar, he was born from the mouth of the sacrificial fire.
कृष्णांजनचयोपेतः पिंगाक्षो भीषणाकृतिः । दंष्ट्राकरालवक्त्रांतो जगतां भयदायकः
He was dark as black ointment, with tawny eyes and a fearsome form; his mouth was terrible with fangs, causing fear among all beings.
महाचर्वरिको घोरः खड्गचर्मधरस्तथा । सर्वांगतेजसा दीप्तो महामेघोपमो बली
A dreadful, great eater, bearing sword and shield, he shone with power throughout his body, mighty as a great cloud.
उवाच कश्यपं विप्रमादेशो मम दीयताम् । कस्मादुत्पादितो विप्र भवता कारणं वद
He spoke to Kaśyapa, the sage: 'Give me your command; why have you created me, O sage? Tell me the reason.'
तमहं साधयिष्यामि प्रसादात्तव सुव्रत । कश्यप उवाच- अस्या मनोरथं पुत्र पूरयस्व ममैव हि
'I will accomplish this for you, O steadfast one, by your grace,' he said. Kaśyapa replied: 'Fulfill her wish, my son, for my sake.'
अदित्यास्त्वं महाप्राज्ञ जहि इंद्रं दुरात्मकम् । निहते देवराजे हि ऐंद्रं पदं प्रभुंक्ष्व च
'Born of Aditi, O wise one, slay wicked Indra; when the king of the gods is killed, enjoy the position of Indra.'
एवं तेन समादिष्टः कश्यपेन महात्मना । वृत्रस्तु उद्यमं चक्रे तस्येंद्रस्य वधाय च
Thus, instructed by the great-souled Kaśyapa, Vṛtra undertook the effort to kill Indra.
धनुर्वेदस्य चाभ्यासं स चक्रे पौरुषान्वितः । बलं वीर्यं तथा क्षात्रं तेजो धैर्यसमन्वितम्
He practiced the science of archery, endowed with manliness; strength, valor, royal prowess, brilliance, and courage were his.
दृष्ट्वा हि तस्य दैत्यस्य सहस्राक्षो भयातुरः । उपायं चिंतितं तस्य वृत्रस्यापि दुरात्मनः
Seeing that demon's power, Indra, the thousand-eyed, was seized with fear; he devised a strategy against Vṛtra, the evil-minded.
वधार्थं देवदेवेन समाहूय महामुनीन् । सप्तर्षीन्प्रेषयामास वृत्रं दैत्येश्वरं प्रति
For the purpose of killing him, the lord of the gods summoned great sages; he sent the seven sages to approach Vṛtra, lord of the demons.
भवंतस्तत्र गच्छंतु यत्र वृत्रः स तिष्ठति । संधिं कुर्वंतु वै तेन सार्द्धं मम मुनीश्वराः
'Go there, where Vṛtra stands; make peace with him, O revered sages, together with me.'
एवं तेन समादिष्टा मुनयः सप्त ते तदा । वृत्रासुरं ततः प्रोचुः सहस्राक्ष प्रचालिताः
Thus instructed by him, the seven sages then approached Vṛtrāsura and spoke, prompted by Indra.
सख्यं कर्तुं प्रयच्छेत्स क्रियतां दैत्यसत्तम । ऋषयः सप्ततत्त्वज्ञा ऊचुर्वृत्रं महाबलम्
O best of the Daityas, grant permission for friendship to be made; the seven sages, who know the truth, spoke thus to mighty Vṛtra.
सहस्राक्षो महाप्राज्ञो भवता सह सत्तम । मैत्रमिच्छति वै कर्तुं तत्कथं न करोषि किम्
The thousand-eyed, greatly wise Indra desires to make friendship with you, O noble one; why do you not do so?