च्यवनस्याश्रमं गत्वा पुण्यं द्विजनिषेवितम्। फलमूलाशनानां हि मुनीनां भक्षितं शतं
Having gone to the hermitage of Cyavana, sacred and frequented by twice-born sages, the demons consumed a hundred of the ascetics who lived on fruits and roots.
एवं रात्रौ स्म कुर्वंतो विविशुश्चार्णवं दिवा। भरद्वाजाश्रमं गत्वा नियता ब्रह्मचारिणः
Thus, acting by night, they entered the forest by day; reaching the hermitage of Bharadvāja, where disciplined celibate sages resided.
वाताहारांबुभक्षाश्च विंशतिश्च निषूदिताः। एवं क्रमेण भक्षार्थं मुनीनां दानवास्तदा
There, twenty ascetics who lived on air and water were slain; in this way, the demons, step by step, devoured the sages for food.
निशायां पर्यधावंत शक्ता भुजबलाश्रयात्। कालेन महता ते वै जघ्नुर्मुनिगणान्बहून्
At night, relying on the strength of their arms, they roamed about; in due course, they killed many groups of sages.
न चैतानवबुध्यंत मनुजा मनुजाधिप। निस्वाध्यायवषट्कारं नष्टयज्ञोत्सवक्रियम्
But, O king of men, the people did not realize this; there was no recitation of the Vedas, no ritual exclamations, and the festivals of sacrifice had ceased.
जगदासीन्निरुत्साहं कालेयभयपीडितं। एवं प्रक्षीयमाणास्ते मानवा मनुजेश्वर
The world became dispirited, afflicted by the terror of the Kāleyas; thus, O lord of men, the people were being destroyed.
आत्मत्राणपरा भीताः प्राद्रवंस्तु दिशो दश। केचिद्गुहां प्रविविशुर्विकीर्णाश्चापरे द्विजाः
Frightened and intent on saving themselves, they fled in all ten directions; some entered caves, while others, scattered, were twice-born sages.
अपरे च भयोद्विग्ना भयात्प्राणान्समत्यजन्। केचित्तत्र महेष्वासाः शूराः परमदर्पिताः
Others, overwhelmed by fear, abandoned their lives out of terror; some, great archers, heroic and supremely proud, remained there.
मार्गमाणाः परं यत्नंदानवानांप्रचक्रिरे। नचैताननुजग्मुस्ते समुद्रं समुपाश्रितान्
They made every effort to pursue the demons, but did not follow them to the ocean where they had taken refuge.
शमं न जग्मुः परममाजग्मुः क्षयमेव च। जगत्प्रशमने जाते नष्टयज्ञोत्सवक्रिये
They did not attain peace, but only destruction; with the cessation of sacrifices and festivals, the world fell into disorder.
आजग्मुः परमोद्विग्नास्त्रिदशा मनुजेश्वर। समेत्य समहेंद्रास्तु भयान्मंत्रं प्रचक्रिरे
Then, O king of men, the gods, greatly distressed, assembled together with Indra and, out of fear, held a council.
नारायणं पुरस्कृत्य वैकुंठमपराजितम्। ततो देवास्समेतास्ते तदोचुर्मधुसूदनम्
Placing Nārāyaṇa, the unconquered one of Vaikuṇṭha, at the forefront, the assembled gods then addressed Madhusūdana.
त्वं नः स्रष्टा च गोप्ता च भर्ता च जगतः प्रभो। त्वया सृष्टं जगत्सर्वं यच्चेंगं यच्च नेङ्गति
You are our creator, protector, and sustainer, O Lord of the world; all that moves and does not move has been created by you.
त्वया भूमिः पुरा नष्टा समुद्रात्पुष्करेक्षण। वाराहं रूपमास्थाय जगदर्थे समुद्धृता
Once, O lotus-eyed one, when the earth was lost in the ocean, you assumed the form of a boar and raised her up for the sake of the world.
आदिदैत्यो महावीर्यो हिरण्यकशिपुः पुरा। नारसिंहं वपुः कृत्वा सूदितः पुरुषोत्तम
Long ago, the first and mighty demon Hiraṇyakaśipu was slain by you, O Supreme Person, after you took the form of Narasiṃha.
अवध्यः सर्वभूतानां बलिश्चापि महासुरः। वामनं वपुरास्थाय त्रैलोक्याद्भ्रंशितस्त्वया
Bali, the great asura, invincible to all beings, was cast down from the three worlds by you, assuming the form of Vāmana.
असुरः सुमहेष्वासो जंभ इत्यभिविश्रुतः। यज्ञक्षोभकरः क्रूरस्त्वमरैर्विनिपातितः
The asura Jambha, famed as a mighty archer and cruel disturber of sacrifices, was struck down by you, O enemy of Madhu, together with the gods.
एवमादीनि कर्माणि येषां संख्या न विद्यते। अस्माकं भयभीतानां त्वं गतिर्मधुसूदन
Such deeds of yours are countless; for us, who are terrified, you are the refuge, O slayer of Madhu.
तस्मात्त्वां देवदेवेश लोकार्थं ज्ञापयामहे। रक्ष लोकांश्च देवांश्च शक्रं च महतो भयात्
Therefore, O Lord of gods, we entreat you for the sake of the worlds: protect the worlds, the gods, and Indra from this great danger.
भवत्प्रसादाद्वर्तंते प्रजास्सर्वाश्चतुर्विधाः। स्वस्था भवंति मनुजा हव्यकव्यैर्दिवौकसः
By your grace, all four kinds of beings flourish; humans remain well, and the celestials are satisfied with offerings of oblations and ancestral rites.
लोका ह्येवं प्रवर्तंते अन्योन्यं च समाश्रिताः। त्वत्प्रभावान्निरुद्विग्नास्त्वयैव परिरक्षिताः
Indeed, the worlds function in this way, mutually dependent; by your power, they are free from distress and are protected by you alone.
इदं च समनुप्राप्तं लोकानां भयमुत्तम्। जानीमो न च केनैते वध्यंते ब्राह्मणा निशि
Now, this supreme fear has come upon the worlds; we know not by whom these Brāhmaṇas are slain at night.
ब्राह्मणेषु च क्षीणेषु पृथिवी क्षयमेष्यति। त्वत्प्रसादान्महाबाहो लोकास्सर्वे जगत्पते
If the Brāhmaṇas are destroyed, the earth will come to ruin; by your favor, O mighty-armed Lord of the world, all beings are preserved.
विनाशं नाधिगच्छेयुस्त्वया वै परिरक्षिताः। विष्णु उवाच। विदितं मे सुरास्सर्वं प्रजायाः क्षयकारणम्
Protected by you, they will not meet destruction; but if not, they will perish. Viṣṇu said: O gods, I know well the cause of the destruction of beings.
भवतां चापि वक्ष्यामि शृणुध्वं विगतज्वराः। कालकेया इति ख्याता गणाः परमदारुणाः
I will tell you also; listen without anxiety. There are fierce groups known as Kālakeyas.
ते वृत्रं निहतं दृष्ट्वा सहस्राक्षेण धीमता। जीवितं परिरक्षन्तः प्रविष्टा वरुणालयम्
When they saw Vṛtra slain by the wise thousand-eyed one, they preserved their lives and entered Varuṇa’s abode.
ते प्रविश्योदधिं घोरं नानाग्राहसमाकुलम्। उत्सादनार्थं लोकस्य रात्रौ घ्नंति मुनीनिह
Entering the dreadful ocean, teeming with many sea-creatures, they kill sages here at night to destroy the world.
न तु शक्याः क्षयं नेतुं समुद्रांतर्हिता हि ते। समुद्रस्य क्षये बुद्धिर्भवद्भिः परिचिंत्यताम्
But they cannot be destroyed, for they are hidden within the ocean; consider carefully, among yourselves, how the ocean might be dried up.
एतच्छ्रुत्वा वचो देवा विष्णुना समुदाहृतम्। परमेष्ठिनमासाद्य अगस्त्यस्याश्रमं ययुः
Hearing these words spoken by Viṣṇu, the gods approached the supreme Brahmā and went to Agastya’s hermitage.
तत्रापश्यन्महात्मानं वारुणं दीप्ततेजसम्। उपास्यमानमृषिभिर्द्देवैरिव पितामहम्
There they saw the great-souled son of Varuṇa, blazing with splendor, being revered by sages as the gods revere the Grandsire.