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.
दैत्या ऊचुः। न्यस्तशस्त्रा वयं देवा आचार्ये व्रतमास्थिते। दत्वा भवंतस्त्वभयं संप्राप्ता नो जिघांसया
The Daityas said: O gods, we have laid down our weapons, while our teacher is engaged in his vow. Having received your promise of safety, you have now come to us with the intention to kill.
अनमर्षा वयं सर्वे त्यक्तशस्त्राश्च संस्थिताः। चीरकृष्णाजिनधरा निष्क्रिया निष्परिग्रहाः
We are all unable to endure this, standing here having abandoned our weapons, clad in bark and black antelope skin, inactive and possessing nothing.
रणे विजेतुं देवांश्च न शक्ष्यामः कथंचन। अयुद्धेन प्रपत्स्यामः शरणं काव्यमातरम्
We will not be able to defeat the gods in battle by any means; without fighting, we will seek refuge with Kavi’s mother.
ज्ञापयामः कृच्छ्रमिदं यावन्नाभ्येति नो गुरुः। निवृत्ते च तथा शुक्रे योत्स्यामो दंशितायुधाः
Let us inform her of our distress until our teacher returns; and when Shukra has come back, we will fight again, weapons in hand.
एवमुक्त्वा च तेन्योन्यं शरणं काव्यमातरम्। प्रापद्यंत ततो भीतास्तेभ्योऽदादभयं तु सा
Having spoken thus, they all together sought refuge with Kavi’s mother; then, frightened, they approached her, and she granted them protection.
न भेतव्यं न भेतव्यं भयं त्यजत दानवाः। मत्सन्निधौ वर्त्ततां वो न भीर्भवितुर्महति
She said: 'Do not fear, do not fear; abandon your terror, O Dānavas. Remain in my presence—let there be no great fear for you.'
तयाभिरक्षितांस्तांश्च दृष्ट्वा देवास्तदाऽसुरान्। अभिजग्मुः प्रसह्यैतानविचार्य बलाबलम्
Seeing those Asuras protected by her, the gods then attacked them forcefully, considering their own strength and weakness.
ततस्तान्बध्यमानांस्तु देवैर्दृष्ट्वासुरांस्तदा। देवी क्रुद्धाब्रवीद्देवान्निद्रया मोहयाम्यहम्
Then, seeing the Asuras being bound by the gods, the goddess, enraged, said to the gods: 'I will bewilder you with sleep.'
संभृत्य सर्वसंभारान्निद्रां सा व्यसृजत्तदा। तस्तंभ देवी च बलाद्योगयुक्ता तपोधना
Gathering all her powers, she then released sleep; empowered by asceticism and yoga, the goddess paralyzed them by force.
ततस्तं स्तभितं दृष्ट्वा इन्द्रं देवाश्च मूढवत्। प्राद्रवंत ततो भीता इन्द्रं दृष्ट्वा वशीकृतम्
Then, seeing Indra thus paralyzed, the gods became confused; frightened at seeing Indra subdued, they fled.