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?'
योग्योऽयमिति संकल्प्य दक्षिणं भुजमर्पयत्। तद्बिभेदातितीक्ष्णेन शूलेन शशिशेखरः
Concluding, 'He is worthy,' he offered his right arm; and the moon-crested one pierced it with his exceedingly sharp trident.
प्रावर्तत ततो धारा शोणितस्य विभोर्भुजात्। जांबूनदरसाकारा वह्निज्वालेव निर्मिता
Then a stream of blood began to flow from the Lord's arm, golden as jambūnada gold, appearing like a line of fire.
निपपात कपालांतश्शम्भुना सा प्रभिक्षिता। ऋज्वी वेगवती तीव्रा स्पृशंती त्वांबरं जवात्
That stream, received by Śambhu in the skull, fell swiftly, straight, and forceful, touching the sky as it rushed.
पंचाशद्योजना दैर्घ्याद्विस्ताराद्दशयोजना। दिव्यवर्षसहस्रं सा समुवाह हरेर्भुजात्
Fifty yojanas in length and ten yojanas in breadth, for a thousand divine years it flowed from Hari's arm.
इयंतं कालमीशोसौ भिक्षां जग्राह भिक्षुकः। दत्ता नारायणेनाथ कापाले पात्र उत्तमे
For that length of time, the Lord, as a mendicant, received alms; Nārāyaṇa gave it into the excellent skull-bowl.
ततो नारायणः प्राह शंभुं परमिदं वचः। संपूर्णं वा न वा पात्रं ततो वै परमीश्वरः
Then Nārāyaṇa spoke these supreme words to Śambhu: 'Is the bowl filled or not, O Supreme Lord?'
सतोयांबुदनिर्घोषं श्रुत्वा वाक्यं हरेर्हरः। शशिसूर्याग्निनयनः शशिशेखरशोभितः
Hearing Hari's words, resounding like thunderclouds with water, Hara, whose eyes are the moon, sun, and fire, adorned with the crescent moon,
कपाले दृष्टिमावेश्य त्रिभिर्नेत्रैर्जनार्दनम्। अंगुल्या घटयन्प्राह कपालं परिपूरितम्
Fixing his gaze with his three eyes upon Janārdana in the skull, he tapped the bowl with his finger and said, 'The skull is filled.'
श्रुत्वा शिवस्य तां वाणीं विष्णुर्धारां समाहरत्। पश्तोऽथ हरेरीशः स्वांगुल्या रुधिरं तदा
Hearing Śiva's words, Viṣṇu stopped the flow; then the Lord pressed the blood with his own finger.
दिव्यवर्षसहस्रं च दृष्टिपातैर्ममंथ सः। मथ्यमाने ततो रक्ते कलिलं बुद्बुदं क्रमात्
For a thousand divine years, he churned it with his glances; as the blood was churned, gradually a mass of bubbles arose.