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.
गतेषु सुरसंघेषु विष्णुरिंद्रमभाषत। विष्णुरुवाच। मां त्वं प्रविश भद्रं ते रक्षिष्ये त्वां सुरोत्तम
When the host of gods had departed, Vishnu spoke to Indra: 'Vishnu said: Enter into me, may good befall you; I will protect you, O best of gods.'
एवमुक्तस्ततो विष्णुं प्रविवेश पुरंदरः। विष्णुसंरक्षितं दृष्ट्वा देवी क्रुद्धा वचोऽब्रवीत्
Thus addressed, Purandara entered into Vishnu; seeing Indra protected by Vishnu, the goddess, enraged, spoke these words:
एष त्वां विष्णुना सार्धं दहामि मघवन्बलात्। मिषतां सर्वभूतानां दृश्यतां मे तपोबलम्
'I will burn you together with Vishnu by force, O Maghavan, before the eyes of all beings; let my ascetic power be seen.'
तयाभिभूतौ तौ देवाविंद्रविष्णू बभूवतुः। कथं मुच्येय सहितो विष्णुरिंद्रमभाषत
Overpowered by her, those two gods, Indra and Vishnu, were subdued; Vishnu said to Indra, 'How can I be freed together with you?'
इंद्रोब्रवीज्जहि ह्येनां यावन्नौ न दहेत्प्रभो। विशेषेणाभिभूतोस्मि जहीमां जहि मा चिरम्
Indra said: 'Strike her down before she burns us, O Lord; I am especially overpowered—strike her, strike her without delay.'
ततः समीक्ष्य विष्णुस्तांस्त्रीवधे कृच्छ्रमास्थितः। अभिध्याय ततः शक्रमापन्नं सत्वरं प्रभुः
Then, observing her, Vishnu found it difficult to kill a woman; but reflecting, the Lord swiftly entered into Shakra, who was in danger.
ततः स त्वरयायुक्तः शीघ्रकारी भयान्वितः। ज्ञात्वा विष्णुस्ततस्तस्याः क्रूरं देव्याश्चिकीर्षितम्
Then, filled with urgency, acting quickly and in fear, Vishnu realized the cruel intent of the goddess.
क्रुद्धश्च चक्रमादाय शिरश्चिच्छेद वै भयात्। तं दृष्ट्वा स्त्रीवधं घोरं चुक्रोध भृगुरीश्वरः
Angry, he seized his discus and, out of fear, cut off her head; seeing that terrible act of killing a woman, Bhrigu, the lord, became enraged.
ततो हि शप्तो भृगुणा विष्णुर्भार्यावधे कृते। भृगुरुवाच। यत्त्वया जानता धर्ममवध्या स्त्री निषूदिता
Then, when Vishnu had killed his wife and was cursed by Bhrigu, Bhrigu said: 'Though you knew the law, you killed a woman who should not be slain.'
तस्मात्त्वं सप्तकृत्वो हि मानुषेषूपयास्यसि। ततस्तेनाभिशापेन नष्टे धर्मे पुनःपुनः
Therefore, by this curse, you shall be born among humans seven times; and whenever righteousness is lost, you will return again and again.