ततस्ते दानवा भीष्मा ऊचुः सर्वे गुरुं वचः। दीक्षस्व नो महाभाग भ्रूणकानग्रतः स्थितान्
Then all those mighty Dānavas spoke to their teacher: 'Initiate us, O blessed one, who stand here as embryos.'
तथा कृत्वा स तानाह समयेन पुरोहितः। प्रणामो नान्यदेवेषु कर्तव्यो वः कदाचन
Having done so, the priest addressed them according to the rule: 'You must never offer obeisance to any other gods at any time.'
एकस्थाने यदा भक्तं भोक्तव्यं करसंपुटे। तत्रस्थाने स्थितं तोयं केशकीटविवर्जितम्
When food is to be eaten, it should be taken in one place, with cupped hands; and the water there should be free from hair and insects.
तुल्यं प्रियाप्रियं कार्यं नान्यदृष्टिहतं क्वचित्। भोक्तव्यमेतेन विभो आचारेण तथा कुरु४०० 1.13.
One should act equally toward what is dear and not dear, never acting out of partiality; food should be taken in this manner, O lord, so practice accordingly.
भवध्वं सहिता यूयं ते तथा मोक्षभागिनः। एवमुक्त्वा स नियमान्कृत्वा तान्दनुपुंगवान्
Remain together, all of you, and thus you will partake of liberation; having spoken thus and establishing these rules, he instructed those foremost among men.
जगाम धिषणो राजन्देवलोकं दिवौकसाम्। आचचक्षे स तत्सर्वं दानवानां च कारितम्
Then Dhiṣaṇa, O king, went to the world of the gods; he reported all that had been done by the Dānavas.
ततस्ते त्वसुरा जग्मुर्नर्मदामभितो वसन्। दृष्ट्वा तान्दानवांस्तत्र प्रह्लादेन विना कृतान्
Then those Asuras went to the vicinity of the Narmadā, dwelling there; seeing those Dānavas there, except for Prahlāda.
देवराजस्ततो हृष्टो नमुचिं प्राह वै वचः। हिरण्याक्षं यज्ञहनं धर्मघ्नं वेदनिंदकम्
Then the king of the gods, delighted, spoke to Namuci these words: 'Hiraṇyākṣa, the destroyer of sacrifice, the slayer of dharma, the reviler of the Vedas—'
राक्षसं क्रूरकर्माणं प्रघसं विघसं तथा। मुचिं चैव तथा बाणं विरोचनमथापि वा
'The Rākṣasa of cruel deeds, the devourer, the glutton as well, Muci, and likewise Bāṇa, and also Virocana—'
महिषाक्षं बाष्कलं च प्रचंडं चंडकं तथा। रोचमानं तथात्युग्रं सुषेणं दानवोत्तमम्
'Mahiṣākṣa, Bāṣkala, Pracaṇḍa, Caṇḍaka, Rocamāna, the exceedingly fierce, and Suṣeṇa, the foremost of the Dānavas.'
एतान्दृष्ट्वा तथा चान्यान्दानवेंद्रानथाब्रवीत्। इन्द्र उवाच। दानवेंद्राः पुरा जाताः कृतं राज्यं त्रिविष्टपे
Seeing these and other lords of the Daityas, he then spoke: Indra said: O lords of the Daityas, you were born long ago and ruled the realm of the gods.
इदानीं कथमेवेदं व्रतं वेदविलोपकम्। भवद्भिः कर्तुमारब्धं नग्नमुंडिकमंडलु
How is it now that you have begun this vow, which destroys the Vedas—naked, shaven-headed, and carrying water pots?
मयूरध्वजधारित्वं कथं चैवेह तिष्ठथ। दानवा ऊचुः। त्यक्तः सर्वासुरभाव ऋषिधर्मे वयं स्थिताः
How is it that you stand here bearing peacock-feather banners? The Daityas said: We have abandoned all demonic nature and abide in the dharma of sages.
धर्मवृद्धिकरं कर्म चरामः सर्वजंतुषु। त्रैलोक्यराज्यमखिलं भुंक्ष्व शक्र व्रजस्व च
We perform deeds that increase righteousness among all beings. Enjoy the entire sovereignty of the three worlds, O Śakra, and depart.
तथेति चोक्त्वा मघवा पुनर्यातस्त्रिविष्टपम्। एवं ते मोहिताः सर्वे भीष्म देवपुरोधसा
Saying 'So be it,' Maghavan returned again to the realm of the gods. Thus, O Bhīṣma, all of them were deluded by the priest of the gods.
नर्मदा सरितं प्राप्य स्थिता दानवसत्तमाः। ज्ञात्वा शुक्रेण ते सर्वे वृत्तांतमनुबोधिताः
Having reached the river Narmadā, the foremost of the Daityas stood there. Informed of all that had happened by Śukra, they were made aware.
तदा त्रैलोक्यहरणे चक्रुः क्रूरां पुनर्मतिम्
Then, intent on seizing the three worlds, they again formed a cruel resolve.
भीष्म उवाच। कथं त्रिपुरुषाज्जातो ह्यर्जुनः परवीरहा। कथं कर्णस्तु कानीनः सूतजः परिकीर्त्यते
Bhīṣma said: How was Arjuna, the slayer of enemy heroes, born from Tripura? And why is Karṇa, though called a sūta's son, said to be born out of wedlock?
वरं तयोः कथं भूतं निसर्गादेव तद्वद। बृहत्कौतूहलं मह्यं तद्भवान्वक्तुमर्हति
How did the boon come to those two by nature? Tell me that, for I have great curiosity; you are worthy to speak of it.
पुलस्त्य उवाच। छिन्ने वक्त्रे पुरा ब्रह्मा क्रोधेन महता वृतः। ललाटे स्वेदमुत्पन्नं गृहीत्वा ताडयद्भुवि
Pulastya said: Once, when his mouth was cut, Brahmā was seized by great anger. Sweat arose on his forehead, which he took and struck upon the earth.
स्वेदतः कुंडली जज्ञे सधनुष्को महेषुधिः। सहस्रकवची वीरः किंकरोमीत्युवाच ह
From that sweat was born Kuṇḍalī, armed with bow and great arrows, a hero with a thousand armors, who said, 'What shall I do?'
तमुवाच विरिंचस्तु दर्शयन्रुद्रमोजसा। हन्यतामेष दुर्बुद्धिर्जायते न यथा पुनः
Then the Creator said to him, showing Rudra in his might: 'Let this evil-minded one be slain, so that he may not be born again.'
ब्रह्मणो वचनं श्रुत्वा धनुरुद्यम्य पृष्ठतः। संप्रतस्थे महेशस्य बाणहस्तोतिरौद्रदृक्
Hearing Brahmā's words, he took up his bow and, with arrows in hand and a fierce gaze, set out behind Maheśa.
दृष्ट्वा पुरुषमत्युग्रं भीतस्तस्य त्रिलोचनः। अपक्रांतस्ततो वेगाद्विष्णोराश्रममभ्यगात्
Seeing that exceedingly terrible man, the three-eyed one was afraid; fleeing swiftly, he went to Viṣṇu's hermitage.
त्राहित्राहीति मां विष्णो नरादस्माच्च शत्रुहन्। ब्रह्मणा निर्मितः पापो म्लेच्छरूपो भयंकरः
'Save me, save me, O Viṣṇu, slayer of foes, from this man! Created by Brahmā, he is sinful, of mleccha form, and terrifying.'
यथा हन्यान्न मां क्रुद्धस्तथा कुरु जगत्पते। हुंकारध्वनिना विष्णुर्मोहयित्वा तु तं नरम्
'O Lord of the world, act so that, in his anger, he does not kill me.' Then Viṣṇu, with a roar, bewildered that man.
अदृश्यः सर्वभूतानां योगात्मा विश्वदृक्प्रभुः। तत्र प्राप्तं विरूपाक्षं सांत्वयामास केशवः
Invisible to all beings, the master of yoga, the all-seeing Lord, Keśava then soothed the one with deformed eyes who had arrived there.
ततस्स प्रणतो भूमौ दृष्टो देवेन विष्णुना। विष्णुरुवाच। पौत्रो हि मे भवान्रुद्र कं ते कामं करोम्यहम्
Then, bowing on the ground, he was seen by the god Viṣṇu. Viṣṇu said: 'You are indeed my grandson, O Rudra. What boon shall I grant you?'
दृष्ट्वा नारायणं देवं भिक्षां देहीत्युवाच ह। कपालं दर्शयित्वाग्रे प्रज्वलंस्तेजसोत्कटम्
Seeing the god Nārāyaṇa, he said, 'Give me alms,' showing before him a skull, blazing with fierce radiance.
कपालपाणिं संप्रेक्ष्य रुद्रं विष्णुरचिन्तयत्। कोन्यो योग्यो भवेद्भिक्षुर्भिक्षादानस्य सांप्रतम्
Beholding Rudra with a skull in his hand, Viṣṇu thought, 'Who else would be worthy now to receive alms from me?'