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.
ब्रह्मतेजोमयं तीव्रं दुःसहं सर्वदैवतैः । पुत्रैकं दीयतां कांत सुप्रियाहं यदा विभो
Grant me a son, O lord, radiant with Brahma's energy, fierce and unbearable even for the gods, so that I may be pleased.
कश्यप उवाच- निहतौ बलवृत्रौ च मम पुत्रौ महाबलौ । अघमाश्रित्य देवेन इंद्रेणापि दुरात्मना
Kaśyapa said: My mighty sons, Bala and Vṛtra, have been slain by Indra, the evil-minded god, relying on sin.
तस्यैव च वधार्थाय पुत्रमेकं ददाम्यहम् । वर्षाणां तु शतैकं त्वं शुचिर्भव यशस्विनि
For the purpose of his destruction, I will grant you a single son; but for one hundred years, O illustrious one, you must remain pure.
एवमुक्त्वा स योगींद्रो हस्तं शिरसि वै तदा । दत्त्वादित्या सहैवासौ गतो मेरुं तपोवनम्
Having spoken thus, the lord of yogis placed his hand on her head; then, together with Aditi, he went to the hermitage on Mount Meru.
तपस्तताप सा देवी तपोवननिवासिनी । शुचिष्मती सदा भूत्वा पुत्रार्था द्विजसत्तम
That goddess, dwelling in the hermitage, undertook austerities; always remaining pure, she performed penance for the sake of a son, O best of twice-born.
ततो देवः सहस्राक्षो ज्ञात्वा उद्यममेव च । दित्याश्चैव महाभाग अंतरप्रेक्षकोऽभवत्
Then the thousand-eyed god, knowing her effort, became an observer in secret, O greatly fortunate one.
पंचविंशाब्दिको भूत्वा देवराड्दैवतोपमः । ब्राह्मणस्य च रूपेण तस्याश्चांतिकमागतः
Having reached the age of twenty-five, the king of gods, equal to the deities, approached her in the form of a Brahmin.
स तां प्रणम्य धर्मात्मा मातरं तपसान्विताम् । तयोक्तस्तु सहस्राक्षो भवान्को द्विजसत्तम
He bowed to her, the mother endowed with austerity; then the thousand-eyed one was addressed by her: 'Who are you, O best of twice-born?'
तामुवाच सहस्राक्षः पुत्रोऽहं तव शोभने । ब्राह्मणो वेदविद्वांश्च धर्मं जानामि भामिनि
The thousand-eyed one said to her: 'O beautiful lady, I am your son, a Brahmin, learned in the Vedas, and I know righteousness, O radiant one.'
तपसस्तव साहाय्यं करिष्ये नात्र संशयः । शुश्रूषति स तां देवीं मातरं तपसान्विताम्
I will assist you in your austerities; there is no doubt about this. He served her, the mother endowed with austerity.