गायते सुस्वरं गीतं सर्वविश्वप्रमोहनम् । तत्र वृत्रः समायातः कामाकुलितमानसः
She sang a melodious song, enchanting the whole world; there Vṛtra arrived, his mind overcome with desire.
दोलारूढां समालोक्य रंभां चारुसुलोचनाम्
Seeing Rambha, beautiful of lovely eyes, seated on the swing.
सूत उवाच- इयं हि का गायति चारुलोचना विलासभावैः परिविश्वमेव । अतीव बाला शुशुभे मनोहरा संपूर्णभावैः परिमोहयेज्जनम्
Sūta said: Who is this charming-eyed one, singing with playful gestures, captivating all around? Extremely youthful, she shone enchantingly, her fullness of form enough to bewilder anyone.
दृष्ट्वा स रंभां कमलायताक्षीं पीनस्तनीं चर्चितकुंकुमांगीम् । पद्माननां कामगृहं ममैषा नो वा रतिश्चारुमनोहरेयम्
Seeing Rambha, lotus-eyed, full-breasted, her limbs adorned with saffron, lotus-faced, a house of desire—does she belong to me, or is she not? This lovely one is truly delightful.
संपूर्णभावां परिरूपयुक्तां कामांगशीलामतिशीलभावाम् । यास्याम्यहं वश्यमिहैव अस्या मनोभवेनाद्य इहैव प्रेषितः
Today, compelled by desire, I shall go to her, who is perfect in form, endowed with beauty, skilled in the arts of love, and of most excellent character, drawn here by the force of her mind.
इतीव दैत्यः सुविचिंतयान्वितः कामेन मुग्धो बहुकालनोदितः । समातुरस्तत्र जगाम सत्वरमुवाच तां दीनमनाः सुलोचनाम्
Thus, the demon, deeply pondering and overcome by passion long awakened, became restless and quickly approached her, speaking to the beautiful, wide-eyed maiden with a troubled heart.
कस्यासि वा सुंदरि केन प्रेषिता किं नाम ते पुण्यतमं वदस्व मे । तवैव रूपेण महातितेजसा मुग्धोस्मि बाले मम वश्यतां व्रज
Whose are you, O lovely one? By whom have you been sent? Tell me, what is your most virtuous name? I am enchanted by your beauty and great radiance, O maiden—come under my sway.
एवमुक्ता विशालाक्षी वृत्रं कामाकुलं प्रति । अहं रंभा महाभाग क्रीडार्थं वनमुत्तमम्
Thus addressed, the wide-eyed maiden replied to Vṛtra, who was overwhelmed by desire: 'I am Rambhā, O fortunate one, come to this excellent forest for sport.'
सखीसार्धं समायाता नंदनं वनमुत्तमम् । त्वं तु को वा किमर्थं हि मम पार्श्वं समागतः
'I have arrived at this splendid Nandana forest with my companions. But who are you, and for what reason have you come to my side?'
वृत्र उवाच- श्रूयतामभिधास्यामि योहं बाले समागतः । हुताशनात्समुत्पन्नः कश्यपस्य सुतः शुभे
Vṛtra said: 'Listen, O maiden, I shall tell you who I am and why I have come. I was born from the fire, O auspicious one, the son of Kaśyapa.'
सखाहं देवदेवस्य इंद्र स्यापि वरानने । ऐंद्रं पदं वरारोहे अर्धं मे भुक्तिमागतम्
'I am a friend of Indra, lord of the gods, O beautiful-faced one. I have enjoyed half of Indra’s position, O fair-hipped lady.'
अहं वृत्रः कथं देवि मामेवं न तु विंदसि । त्रैलोक्यं वशमायातं यस्यैव वरवर्णिनि
'I am Vṛtra—how is it, O goddess, that you do not recognize me? The three worlds have come under my control, O one of lovely complexion.'
अहं शरणमायातः कामाद्रक्ष वरानने । भजस्व मां विशालाक्षि कामेनाकुलितं प्रिये
'I have come to you, O beautiful-faced one, seeking refuge out of desire. Accept me, O wide-eyed one, for I am overwhelmed by passion, dear lady.'
रंभोवाच- वशगा हं तवैवाद्य भविष्यामि न संशयः । यं यं वदाम्यहं वीर तं तं कार्यं त्वयैव हि
Rambhā said: 'Today I shall indeed be under your power, without doubt. Whatever I command, O hero, that you must do.'
एवमस्तु महाभागे तं तं सर्वं करोम्यहम् । एवं संबंधकं कृत्वा तया सह महाबलः
'So be it, O fortunate one, I shall do all that you ask.' Thus, having made this agreement, the mighty one remained with her.
तस्मिन्वने महापुण्ये रेमे दानवसत्तमः । तस्या गीतेन नृत्येन हास्येन ललितेन च
In that most sacred forest, the best of the Dānavas delighted, enchanted by her singing, dancing, laughter, and graceful play.
अतिमुग्धो महादैत्यः स तस्याः सुरतेन च । तमुवाच महाभागं वृत्रं दानवसत्तमम्
The great demon, utterly captivated by her and by their lovemaking, was then addressed by the blessed Rambhā, the best among the Dānavas.
सुरापानं कुरुष्वेह पिबस्व मधुमाधवीम् । तामुवाच विशालाक्षीं रंभां शशिनिभाननाम्
'Drink wine here, enjoy the sweet honeyed liquor,' she said to wide-eyed Rambhā, whose face was like the moon.
पुत्रोहं ब्राह्मणस्यापि वेदवेदांगपारगः । सुरापानं कथं भद्रे करिष्यमि विनिंदितम्
'I am the son of a Brāhmaṇa and well-versed in the Vedas and their branches. How could I, O good lady, commit the condemned act of drinking wine?'
तया तु रंभया देव्या प्रीत्या दत्ता सुरा हठात् । तस्या दाक्षिण्यभावेन सुरापानं कृतं तदा
But Rambhā, the goddess, out of affection, forcibly gave him wine; and because of her kindness, he then drank the liquor.
अतीवमुग्धं सुरया ज्ञानभ्रष्टो यदाभवत् । तदंतरे सुरेंद्रेण वज्रेण निहतस्तदा
When he became utterly intoxicated by the wine and lost his senses, at that moment Indra struck him down with the thunderbolt.
ब्रह्महत्यादिकैः पापैः स लिप्तो वृत्रहा ततः । ब्राह्मणास्तु ततः प्रोचुरिंद्र पापं कृतं त्वया
Then Vṛtra’s slayer was tainted by the sin of Brahminicide and other crimes; and the Brāhmaṇas said to Indra, 'You have committed a sin.'
अस्माद्वाक्यात्तु विश्वस्तो वृत्रो नाम महाबलः । हतो विश्वासभावेन एवं पापं त्वया कृतम्
Because of this statement, Vṛtra, the mighty one, trusted you; he was killed due to that trust, and thus you have committed this sin.
इंद्र उवाच- येन केनाप्युपायेन हंतव्योरिः सदैव हि । देवब्राह्मणहंतारं यज्ञानां धर्मकंटकम्
Indra said: By whatever means necessary, the slayer of gods and Brahmins, the thorn in the path of sacrifice and righteousness, must always be killed.
निहतं दानवं दुष्टं त्रैलोक्यस्यापि नायकम् । तदर्थं कुपिता यूयमेतन्न्यायस्य लक्षणम्
The wicked demon, leader even of the three worlds, has been slain; for this reason you are angry, but this is the mark of justice.
विचारमेवं कर्त्तव्यं भवद्भिर्द्विजसत्तमाः । पश्चात्कोपं प्रकर्त्तव्यमन्यायं मम चिंत्यताम्
O best of twice-born, you must deliberate in this way; afterwards, if there is injustice, then anger may be directed at me.
एवं संबोधिता विप्रा इंद्रेणापि महात्मना । ब्रह्मादिभिः सुरैः सर्वैर्बोधितास्ते च सत्तमाः
Thus addressed by the great-souled Indra, and instructed by Brahma and all the other gods, those excellent ones were enlightened.
जग्मुः स्वस्थानमेवं हि निहते धर्मकंटके
With the destroyer of righteousness removed, they departed to their own abodes.
सूत उवाच- तं पुत्रं निहतं श्रुत्वा सा दितिर्दुःखपीडिता । पुत्रशोकेन तेनैव संदग्धा द्विजसत्तमाः
Sūta said: Hearing of her son's death, Diti was overwhelmed with sorrow; afflicted by grief for her son, she was burned within, O best of twice-born.
पुनरूचे महात्मानं कश्यपं मुनिपुंगवम् । इंद्रस्यापि सुदुष्टस्य वधार्थं द्विजसत्तम
She again spoke to the great-souled Kaśyapa, foremost among sages, seeking the death of the exceedingly wicked Indra, O best of twice-born.