जयार्थमेते विज्ञेया असुराणां महौजसः। त्रैलोक्यमिदमव्यग्रं महेंद्रेणानुपाल्यते
These mighty asuras are to be understood as striving for victory; meanwhile, Mahendra governs the three worlds without disturbance.
असम्पन्नमिदं सर्वं यावद्वर्षायुतं पुनः। पर्यायेणैव सम्प्राप्ते त्रैलोक्यं पाकशासने
All this remains incomplete until another ten thousand years pass, when, in turn, the three worlds come under the rule of Paka (Indra).
ततोऽसुरान्परित्यज्य यज्ञो देवानगच्छत। यज्ञे देवानथ गते दितिजाः काव्यमब्रुवन्
Then, abandoning the asuras, the sacrifice went to the gods; when the sacrifice reached the gods, the children of Diti spoke to Kavi.
दैत्या ऊचुः-। हृतं मघवता राज्यं त्यक्त्वा यज्ञः सुरान्गतः। स्थातुं न शुक्नुमो ह्यत्र प्रविशामो रसातलम्२०० 1.13.
The Daityas said: 'Our kingdom has been taken by Maghavan, and the sacrifice has gone to the gods; we are unable to remain here, let us enter the netherworld.'
एवमुक्तोब्रवीदेतान्विषण्णान्सांत्वयन्गिरा। मा भैष्ट धारयिष्यामि तेजसा स्वेन वोऽसुराः
Thus addressed, Kavi comforted the dejected ones with words: 'Do not fear, O asuras, I will sustain you with my own power.'
मंत्राश्चौषधयश्चैव धरायां यत्तु वर्तते। मयि तिष्ठति तत्सर्वं पादमात्रं सुरेषु वै
All the mantras, herbs, and whatever exists upon the earth, reside in me; only a fraction remains with the gods.
तत्सर्वं च प्रदास्यामि युष्मदर्थे धृतं मया। ततो देवास्तुतान्दृष्ट्वा धृतान्काव्येन धीमता
All that I have held for your sake, I will give to you; then, seeing the asuras protected by the wise Kavi, the gods praised him.
अमंत्रयंत देवा वै संविग्नास्तज्जिघृक्षया। काव्यो ह्येष इदं सर्वं व्यावर्तयति नो बलात्
The gods, anxious and desiring to recover it, consulted together: 'This Kavi is diverting all of this from us by force.'
साधु गच्छामहे तूर्णं यावन्न च्यावयेत वै। प्रसह्य जित्वा शिष्टांस्तु पातालं प्रापयामहे
'Let us go swiftly, before he displaces us; having conquered the remaining ones by force, let us send them to the netherworld.'
ततो देवास्तु संरब्धा दानवानुपसृत्य ह। ततस्ते वध्यमानास्तैः काव्यमेवाभिदुद्रुवुः
Then the gods, enraged, approached the Danavas; as they were being slain by the gods, they rushed to Kavi for protection.
ततः काव्यस्तु तान्दृष्ट्वा तूर्णं देवैरभिद्रुतान्। रक्षाकार्येण संहृत्य देवेभ्यस्तान्सुरार्दितान्
Seeing them quickly pursued by the gods, Kavi gathered the asuras afflicted by the gods for the purpose of protection, and withdrew them from the gods.
काव्यं दृष्ट्वा स्थितं देवा निर्विशंकास्तु ते जहुः। ततः काव्योनुचिंत्याथ ब्रह्मणो वचनं हितम्
Seeing Kavi standing firm, the gods, now free from anxiety, withdrew; then Kavi, reflecting, considered the beneficial words of Brahma.
तानुवाच ततः काव्यः पूर्ववृत्तमनुस्मरन्। त्रैलोक्यं वो हृतं सर्वं वामनेन त्रिभिः क्रमैः
Then Kāvya spoke to them, recalling what had happened before: 'The entire three worlds have been taken from you by Vāmana in three strides.'
बलिर्बद्धो हतो जंभो निहतश्च विरोचनः। महासुरा द्वादशसु संग्रामेषु सुरैर्हताः
Bali has been bound, Jambha slain, and Virocana killed; twelve great asuras have been defeated by the gods in battle.
तैस्तैरुपायैर्भूयिष्ठा निहतास्तु प्रधानतः। केचिच्छिष्टाश्च यूयं वै युद्धं नास्तीति मे मतम्
Most of the leaders have been destroyed by various means; only a few of you remain. In my view, there is no longer any war.
नीतयो वो विधातव्या उपासे कालपर्ययात्। यास्याम्यहं महादेवं मंत्रार्थं विजयावहम्
You must now rely on strategies and wait for the right time. I will go to Mahādeva to obtain mantras that bring victory.
अप्रतीपांस्ततो देवान्मंत्रान्प्राप्य महेश्वरात्। योत्स्यामहे पुनर्देवैस्ततः प्राप्स्यथ वै जयम्
After receiving unfailing mantras from Maheśvara, we will fight the gods again; then you will surely attain victory.
ततस्ते कृतसंवादा देवानूचुस्तदासुराः। न्यस्तशस्त्रा वयं सर्वे निःस्सन्नाहा रथैर्विना
Having agreed, the asuras then said to the gods: 'We have all laid down our weapons, exhausted and without chariots.'
वयं तपश्चरिष्यामः संवृता वल्कलैस्तथा। देवास्तेषां वचः श्रुत्वा सत्याभिव्याहृतं ततः
'We will undertake austerities, clothed in bark garments.' Hearing their truthful words, the gods accepted them.
ततोन्यवर्तयन्सर्वे विज्वरा मुदिताश्च ते। न्यस्तशस्त्रेषु दैत्येषु विनिवृत्तास्तदा सुराः
Then all of them, free from distress and joyful, turned away; as the daityas laid down their weapons, the gods withdrew.
ततस्तानब्रवीत्काव्य उपाध्वं तपसि स्थिताः। निरुत्सिक्तास्तपोयुक्ताः कालं कार्यार्थसाधकम्
Then Kāvya said to them: 'Now, remain steadfast in your austerities, devoted and undistracted, until the time for accomplishing your purpose arrives.'
पितुराश्रमसंस्था वै मां प्रतीक्षथ दानवाः। तानुद्दिश्यासुरान्काव्यो महादेवं प्रपद्यत
'Wait for me, O Dānavas, at my father's hermitage.' With this instruction to the asuras, Kāvya approached Mahādeva.
शुक्र उवाच। मंत्रानिच्छाम्यहं देव येन सन्ति बृहस्पतौ। पराभवाय देवानामसुराणां जयाय च
Śukra said: 'O god, I desire those mantras that are with Bṛhaspati, for the defeat of the gods and the victory of the asuras.'
एवमुक्तोब्रवीद्देवो व्रतं त्वं चर भार्गव। पूर्णं वर्षसहस्रं तु कणधूममधः शिराः
Thus addressed, the god said: 'O Bhārgava, undertake a vow for a full thousand years, standing with your head downward, inhaling only smoke.'
यदि पास्यसि भद्रं ते ततो मंत्रानवाप्स्यसि। तथेति समनुज्ञाप्य शुक्रस्तु भृगुनंदनः
'If you endure this, you will obtain the mantras.' Śukra, son of Bhṛgu, consented to this.
पादौ संस्पृश्य देवस्य बाढमित्यब्रवीद्वचः। व्रतं चराम्यहं देव त्वयादिष्टोद्य वै प्रभो
Touching the god's feet, he said, 'So be it. I will perform the vow you have commanded, O Lord, starting today.'
आदिष्टो देवदेवेन कृतवान्भार्गवो मुनिः। तदा तस्मिन्गते शुक्रे असुराणां हिताय वै
Thus instructed by the Lord of gods, the sage Bhārgava undertook the vow. When Śukra departed for the welfare of the asuras—
मंत्रार्थे तनुते काव्यो ब्रह्मचर्यं महेश्वरात्। तद्बुद्ध्वा नीतिपूर्वं वै राजन्यास्तु तदा सुखं
Kāvya began his celibacy for the sake of obtaining mantras from Maheśvara. Knowing this, the kings then lived happily, following proper conduct.
अस्मिंश्छिद्रे तदामर्षाद्देवास्तानभिदुद्रुवुः। दंशिताः सायुधाः सर्वे बृहस्पतिपुरःसराः
At that vulnerable moment, out of anger, the gods attacked them, all armed and led by Bṛhaspati.
दृष्ट्वा सुरगणा देवान्प्रगृहीतायुधान्पुनः। उत्पेतुस्सहसा सर्वे संत्रस्तास्तान्वचोब्रुवत्
Seeing the hosts of gods advancing with weapons once more, all the asuras suddenly rose up in fear and spoke these words to them.