ततः स गजमास्थाय इंद्रस्तत्र समागतः । वज्रोद्यतकरस्तत्र शक्रस्तं दैत्यमासदत्
Then Indra arrived there, mounted on his elephant; with his hand raised holding the thunderbolt, Śakra approached that demon.
अमानुषमथो नादं स मुमोच सुरेश्वरः । वृत्रासुरस्य यततः शक्रो वज्रमपातयत्
Then the Lord of the gods released an inhuman roar; as Vṛtrāsura was striving, Śakra hurled the thunderbolt.
स वज्रः सुमहातेजाः कालाग्निसदृशो महान् । समुद्रस्य तटे वृत्रं शक्रो दैत्यमपातयत्
That thunderbolt, of immense brilliance and like the fire of destruction, was hurled by Śakra at Vṛtra the demon on the shore of the ocean.
ततो नादः समभवत्पुनरेव समंततः । वृत्रं विनिहतं दृष्ट्वा सर्वदेवभयंकरम्
Then a great sound arose again on all sides, seeing Vṛtra slain, terrifying to all the gods.
पुष्पवृष्टिस्तु महती इंद्र मूर्ध्नि पपात ह । वृत्रं हत्वा स भगवान्दानवेशं भयंकरम्
A great shower of flowers fell upon Indra's head; having slain Vṛtra, the blessed one, destroyer of the fearsome lord of the Dānavas—
स्तूयमानोऽमरैः सार्द्धं देवदानीं तमाविशत् । अथ वृत्रशरीरात्तु निर्गतं तेज उत्तमम्
—being praised together with the immortals, he entered the divine city; then from Vṛtra's body emerged supreme energy.
ब्रह्महत्यामहाघोरा रौद्र लोकभयंकरी । करालवदना सा च विकृता कृष्णपिंगला
The terrible Brahmanicide, fierce and terrifying to the worlds, with a monstrous face, deformed, dark and tawny—
कपालमालिनी चैव सुकृशा नगनंदिनि । रुधिराक्ता च पापिष्ठा मीनगंधातिभीषणा
—adorned with a garland of skulls, emaciated, O daughter of the mountain, stained with blood, most sinful, and dreadful with a fishy stench—
सानिष्क्रम्य महादेवि तादृग्रूपा भयावहा । इंद्रमन्वेषयामास तदा वै सुरसत्तमे
That great goddess, emerging in such a fearsome form, began to seek out Indra, the best of the gods.
निर्धावती ततः सा तु दृष्ट्वा शक्रं महौजसम् । कंठे जग्राह देवेंद्रं सुलग्ना साभवत्तदा
Then, seeing mighty Śakra, she rushed forward and seized the lord of the gods by the throat, holding him fast.
स च तस्मिन्समुद्भ्रांतो ब्रह्महत्याकृते भये । निलिल्य बिसमध्येऽसौ स्थितो वर्षगणान्बहून्
Disturbed by the fear of Brahmanicide, he hid himself in the midst of a lotus, remaining there for many years.
तया गृहीतो भो देवि निश्चेष्टः समपद्यत । तस्या व्यपोहने शक्रः प्रयत्नं च चकार ह
Seized by her, O goddess, he became motionless; Śakra made every effort to free himself from her.
न शक्तोऽभून्महादेवि ब्रह्महत्यां व्यपोहितुम् । तया गृहीतमात्रस्तु देवेंद्रो निष्ठरूपधृक्
But, O great goddess, he was unable to dispel Brahmanicide; seized by her, the lord of the gods remained fixed in form.
पितामहमुपागम्य शिरसा प्रत्यपूजयत् । ज्ञात्वा गृहीतं शक्रं तु द्विजप्रवरहत्यया
He approached the Grandsire and bowed his head in reverence, having realized that Śakra had been seized by the slayer of a foremost Brahmin.
ब्रह्मा संचिंतयामास तदा वै सुरसत्तमे । सा चिंत्यमाना ब्रह्माणमुपगम्याब्रवीद्वचः
Then Brahmā considered the matter regarding the best of the gods; as he pondered, she approached Brahmā and spoke these words:
प्राप्तास्मि भगवन्देव त्वत्सकाशं हि मानद । यत्कर्त्तव्यं मया देव तद्भवान्वक्तुमर्हति
"O Lord, I have come into your presence, O bestower of honor; whatever I must do, O god, you should declare to me."
तामुवाच महाभागे ब्रह्महत्यां पितामहः । स्वरेण मधुरेणाथ संक्षेपेण यथातथम्
To her, O noble lady, the grandsire spoke regarding the sin of killing a Brahmin, with a sweet voice, briefly and truthfully.
मुच्यतां देवराजोऽयं मत्प्रियं कुरु भामिनि । ब्रूहि किं ते करोम्यद्य कामं त्वं किमिहेच्छसि
Let the king of the gods be released; do this for me, O beautiful one. Tell me, what shall I do for you today? What is your desire?
हत्योवाच। शक्रादपगमिष्यामि वचनात्ते नरोत्तम । देवदेव नमस्तेस्तु निवासं च ददस्व मे
The sin of killing replied: I will depart from Śakra at your word, O best of men. O Lord of gods, salutations to you; grant me a dwelling place.
महादेव उवाच। तथेति तां प्रतिज्ञाय हत्यां चापि पितामहः । उपायमथ शक्रस्य ब्रह्महत्यापनोदने
Mahādeva spoke: 'So be it,' and thus pledged to her, and the grandsire also. Then, he sought a means for Śakra's removal of the Brahmin-killing sin.
ततो वह्निं समाहूय ब्रह्मा वचनमब्रवीत् । शक्रहत्या चतुर्थांशं जातवेदो गृहाण भो
Then, summoning fire, Brahmā spoke: 'O Jātavedas, accept a fourth part of Śakra's Brahmin-killing sin.'
अग्निरुवाच। मम मोक्षस्य को हेतुर्ब्रह्महत्याकृते प्रभो । एतदिच्छामि विज्ञातुं तत्त्वतो लोकपूजित
Agni spoke: 'What is the reason for my liberation, O Lord, in regard to the Brahmin-killing sin? I wish to know this truly, O honored one.'
ब्रह्मोवाच। यस्त्वां ज्वलंतमासाद्य न होष्यति नरः क्वचित् । बीजौषधितिलानग्रे फलमूलसमित्कुशान्
Brahmā spoke: 'Whoever approaches you while you are blazing will never use you in any way for seeds, herbs, sesame, fruits, roots, sacrificial sticks, or kuśa grass.'
तदैव त्यक्षति त्वां च तत्रैव च निवत्स्यति । ब्रह्महत्या हव्यवाह व्येतु ते मनसो ज्वरः
At that moment, he will abandon you and remain there; O carrier of offerings, let the fever of your mind caused by Brahmin-killing depart.
ततः स परिजग्राह तद्वचो हव्यकव्यभुक् । पितामहश्च भगवान्तथा तदलभत्प्रियम्
Then, the eater of offerings accepted that command, and the blessed grandsire thus obtained his desire.
ततो वृक्षौषधितृणान्याहूय स पितामहः । इममर्थं महाभागे वक्तुं समुपचक्रमे 6.168.
Then, summoning trees, herbs, and grasses, the grandsire began to speak this matter to the noble lady.
ततो वृक्षौषधितृणैस्तथैवोक्तं यथातथम् । व्यथितान्यग्निवद्देवि ब्रह्माणं वाक्यमब्रुवन्
Then, the trees, herbs, and grasses spoke as instructed, O goddess, afflicted like Agni, and addressed Brahmā.
अस्माकं ब्रह्महत्यायाः कथयंतः पितामह । स्वभाव निहिता तस्मान्न पुनर्हंतुमर्हसि
For us, O grandsire, the Brahmin-killing sin is inherent by nature; therefore, you should not kill us again.
वयमग्निं तथा शीतं वर्षं च पवनेरितम् । सहामः सततं देव तथा छेदनभेदनम्
We endure fire, cold, rain driven by wind, O god, and also cutting and splitting, always.
ब्रह्मोवाच। अकारणं नरो यस्तु युष्मच्छेदनभेदनम् । करिष्यति महामोहात्तमेषानु प्रयास्यति
Brahmā spoke: 'If any man, out of great delusion, cuts or splits you without cause, this sin will go to him.'