पर्वतस्य समंतात्तु तिष्ठंत्यमरकंटके । ब्रह्मचारी शुचिर्भूत्वा जितक्रोधो जितेंद्रियः
Around the mountain Amarakāṇṭaka, they stand; being a celibate, pure, with anger subdued and senses controlled,
सर्वहिंसानिवृत्तश्च सर्वभूतहिते रतः । एवं सर्वसमाचारः क्षेत्रपालान्परिव्रजेत्
Having renounced all violence and devoted to the welfare of all beings, thus conducting himself in every way, he should approach the guardians of the sacred place.
तस्य पुण्यफलं राजन्शृणुष्वावहितो हि मे । शतं वर्षसहस्राणां स्वर्गे मोदेत पांडव
Hear from me, O king, with attention, the fruit of his merit: for a hundred thousand years, O Pāṇḍava, he rejoices in heaven.
अप्सरोगणसंकीर्णे दिव्यस्त्रीपरिचारिते । दिव्यगंधानुलिप्तश्च दिव्यालंकारभूषितः
Surrounded by hosts of apsarās and attended by celestial women, anointed with divine fragrances and adorned with celestial ornaments,
क्रीडते देवलोके तु दैवतैः सह मोदते । ततः स्वर्गात्परिभ्रष्टो राजा भवति वीर्यवान्
He sports in the world of the gods and delights with the deities; then, after falling from heaven, he becomes a king endowed with valor.
नारद उवाच- नर्मदा तु नदीश्रेष्ठा पुण्या पुण्यतमा त्रिषु । मुनिभिस्तु महाभागैर्विभक्ता धर्मकांक्षिभिः
Nārada said: The Narmadā is the best of rivers, most holy among the three; it has been divided by the great and blessed sages, desirous of righteousness.
यज्ञोपवीतमात्राणि प्रविभक्तानि पांडव । तेषु स्नात्वा तु राजेंद्र सर्वपापैः प्रमुच्यते
The divisions are as many as the sacred threads, O Pāṇḍava; by bathing in them, O king, one is freed from all sins.
जलेश्वरं च यत्तीर्थं त्रिषु लोकेषु विश्रुतम् । तस्योत्पत्तिं कथयतः शृणु पांडवनंदन
And the holy place called Jaleśvara, renowned in the three worlds—hear, O delight of the Pāṇḍavas, the account of its origin as I relate it.
पुरा मुनिगणाः सर्वे सेन्द्राश्चैव मरुद्गणाः । स्तुवंति ते महात्मानं देवदेवं महेश्वरम्
Once, all the hosts of sages, along with Indra and the Maruts, praised that great-souled Lord of gods, Maheśvara.
स्तुवमानास्तु संप्राप्ता यत्र देवो महेश्वरः । विज्ञापयंति देवेशं सेंद्राश्चैव मरुद्गणाः । भयोद्विग्नान्विरूपाक्ष परित्रायस्व नः प्रभो
While praising, they arrived where the god Maheśvara was; Indra and the Maruts made their supplication to the Lord of gods: 'O three-eyed one, we are troubled by fear—protect us, O Lord.'
ईश्वर उवाच-। स्वागतं तु मुनिश्रेष्ठाः किमर्थमिह चागताः । किं दुःखं कोऽनुसंतापः कुतो वा भयमागतम्
The Lord said: 'Welcome, O best of sages! For what purpose have you come here? What sorrow, what distress, or from where has fear arisen?
कथयध्वं महाभागा एतदिच्छामि वेदितुम् । एवमुक्तास्तु रुद्रेणाकथयन्नमितव्रताः
Tell me, O blessed ones, I wish to know this.' Thus addressed by Rudra, those of firm vows spoke.
ऋषय ऊचुः-। अपि घोरो महावीर्यो दानवो बलदर्पितः । बाणो नामेति विख्यातो यस्य वै त्रिपुरं पुरम्
The sages said: Is it true that the fierce and mighty demon, renowned as Bāṇa, whose strength is excessive, is the one for whom Tripura is the city?
गगने तु वसद्दिव्यं भ्रमते तस्य तेजसा । तस्माद्भीता विरूपाक्ष त्वामेव शरणं गताः
His radiance moves through the sky, dwelling divinely; because of this, O Virūpākṣa, we are afraid and have come to you for refuge.
त्रायस्व महतो दुःखाद्देवत्वं हि परा गतिः । एवं प्रसादं देवेश सर्वेषां कर्तुमर्हसि
Rescue us from this great suffering, for divinity is the highest path; O Lord of the gods, you ought to grant such favor to all.
येन देवाः सुप्रसन्नाः सुखमेधंति शंकर । परां निर्वृतिमायांति तत्प्रभो कर्तुमर्हसि
By whom the gods are well-pleased and enjoy happiness, O Śaṃkara, they attain supreme bliss; O master, you ought to accomplish that.
देव उवाच-। एतत्सर्वं करिष्यामि मा विषादं करिष्यथ । अचिरेणैव कालेन कुर्यां युष्मत्सुखावहम्
The god said: I will do all this; do not be distressed. In a short time, I shall bring you happiness.
आश्वासयित्वा तान्सर्वान्नर्मदातटमास्थितः । चिंतयामास सर्वेशस्तद्वधं प्रति पांडव
Having reassured them all, he took his place on the bank of the Narmadā; the Lord of all pondered the killing, O Pāṇḍava.
कथं केन प्रकारेण हंतव्यस्त्रिपुरो मया । एवं संचिंत्य भगवान्नारदं स्मरते तदा । स्मरणादेव संप्राप्तो नारदः समुपस्थितः
How, by what means, and in what manner should I slay Tripura? Thus reflecting, the blessed one remembered Nārada; by remembrance alone, Nārada arrived and stood before him.
नारद उवाच-। आज्ञापय महादेव किमर्थं संस्मृतो ह्यहम् । किं कार्यं तु मया देव कर्तव्यं कथयस्व मे
Nārada said: Command me, O great god; for what purpose have I been remembered? What task should I perform, O god? Tell me.
ईश्वर उवाच-। गच्छ नारद तत्रैव यत्र तत्त्रिपुरं पुरम् । बाणस्य दानवेन्द्रस्य शीघ्रं गच्छाथ तत्कुरु
Īśvara said: Go, Nārada, right there where that city of Tripura is; quickly go and do that for Bāṇa, the king of demons.
भर्तारो देवताभाश्च स्त्रियश्चाप्सरसोपमाः । तासां वै तेजसा विप्र भ्रमते त्रिपुरं दिवि
The husbands are like gods, and the women are like apsarases; O sage, by their radiance, Tripura moves in the sky.
तत्र गत्वा तु विप्रेंद्र मंत्रमन्यं प्रचोदय । देवस्य वचनं श्रुत्वा मुनिस्त्वरितविक्रमः
Go there, O best of sages, and inspire another mantra; hearing the god's words, the sage acted swiftly.
स्त्रीणां हृदयनाशाय प्रविष्टस्तं पुरं प्रति । शोभते तत्पुरं दिव्यं नानारत्नोपशोभितम्
Entering that city for the destruction of the women's hearts, he beheld that divine city, adorned with various jewels.
शतयोजनविस्तीर्णं ततो द्विगुणमायतम् । ततः पश्यति तत्रैव बाणं तु बलदर्पितम्
It was a hundred yojanas wide and twice as long; there, he saw Bāṇa, proud of his strength.
मालाकुंडलकेयूरैर्मुकुटेन विराजितम् । हाररत्नैश्च संछन्नं चंद्रकांतिविभूषितम्
Adorned with garlands, earrings, armlets, and a crown, covered with necklaces of gems, and embellished with the radiance of the moon.
ललनास्तस्य रत्नाढ्याः नराः कनकमंडिताः । उत्थितो नारदं दृष्ट्वा दानवेंद्रो महाबलः
His women were rich in jewels, and his men were adorned with gold; seeing Nārada, the mighty king of demons arose.
बाण उवाच-। स देवर्षिः स्वयं प्राप्तो मद्गृहं प्रति संप्रति । अर्घं पाद्यं यथान्यायं क्रियतां द्विजसत्तम
Bāṇa said: The divine sage himself has now arrived at my house; let the proper offerings and foot-washing be performed, O best of twice-born.
चिरात्समागतो विप्र स्थीयतामिदमासनम् । एवं संभावयित्वा तु नारदं समुपस्थितम्
You have come after a long time, O sage; let this seat be prepared. Thus, having honored Nārada, he welcomed him.
तस्य भार्या महादेवी अनौपम्या तु नामतः
His wife, the great goddess, was named Anaupamyā.