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.
तेभिगम्य महात्मानं मैत्रावरुणिमुत्तमम्। अप्रमत्तं तपोराशिं कर्मभिः स्वैरनुष्ठितैः
Approaching that great-souled, illustrious son of Mitra and Varuṇa, steadfast and a treasury of austerity, engaged in his own rites,
देवा ऊचुः। नहुषेणाभितप्तानां लोकानां त्वं गतिः पुरा। भ्रंशितश्च सुरैश्वर्याल्लोकार्थं लोककंटकः
The gods said: In former times, when the worlds were afflicted by Nahusha, you were their refuge; and for the sake of the worlds, you relinquished the sovereignty of the gods, O remover of the world’s affliction.
क्रोधात्प्रवृद्धः स महान्भास्करस्य नगोत्तमः। वचस्तवानतिक्रामन्विन्ध्यः शैलो न वर्धते
That great mountain Vindhya, swelled with anger, ceased to grow, having transgressed your command, O radiant one, and defied the sun.
तमसाच्छादिते लोके मृत्युनाभ्यर्दिताः प्रजाः। त्वामेव नाथमागम्य निर्वृतिं परमां गताः
When the world was shrouded in darkness and beings were oppressed by death, they came to you as their protector and attained supreme peace.
अस्माकं भयभीतानां नित्यमेव भवान्गतिः। ततस्त्वद्य प्रयाचामस्त्वां वरं वरदो ह्यसि
For us, who are always fearful, you are ever the refuge; therefore, today we beg you for a boon, for you are indeed the granter of boons.
भीष्म उवाच। किमर्थं सहसा विंध्यः प्रवृद्धः क्रोधमूर्च्छितः। एतदिच्छाम्यहं श्रोतुं विस्तरेण महामुने
Bhīṣma said: For what reason did Vindhya suddenly swell, overcome by wrath? This I wish to hear in detail, O great sage.
पुलस्त्य उवाच। अद्रिराजं महाशैलं मेरुं कनकपर्वतम्। उदयेऽस्तमये भानुः प्रदक्षिणमवर्तत
Pulastya said: The sun circled Meru, the great mountain, the king of peaks, the golden mountain, at its rising and setting.
तं दृष्ट्वा तु तदा विंध्यः शैलः सूर्यमथाब्रवीत्। यथा हि मेरुर्भवता नित्यशः परिगम्यते
Then, seeing this, Vindhya, the mountain, spoke to the sun: 'Just as Meru is always encircled by you—'
प्रदक्षिणं च क्रियते मामेवं कुरु भास्कर। एवमुक्तस्ततः सूर्यः शैलेंद्रं प्रत्यभाषत
'—and you perform circumambulation, do the same for me, O Bhāskara.' Thus addressed, the sun replied to the lord of mountains.
नाहमात्मेच्छया शैलं करोम्येनं प्रदक्षिणम्। एष मार्गः प्रदिष्टो मे येनेदं निर्मितं जगत्
'I do not circumambulate this mountain by my own will. This path has been assigned to me, by which this world is created.'
एवमुक्तस्तदा क्रोधात्प्रवृद्धः सहसाचलः। सूर्याचंद्रमसोर्मार्गं रोद्धुमिच्छन्परंतप
Thus spoken to, the mountain, suddenly growing furious, sought to block the path of the sun and moon, scorcher of foes.
ततो हि देवाः सहितास्तु सर्वे सेंद्राः समागम्य महाद्रिराजम्। निवारयामासुरथोत्पतंतं न वै स तेषां वचनं चकार
Then all the gods, together with Indra, assembled and tried to restrain the great mountain king as he rose up; but he did not heed their words.
ततो हि जग्मुर्मुनिमाश्रमस्थं तपस्विनां धर्मवतां वरिष्ठम्। अगस्त्यमत्यद्भुतदीप्तवीर्यं तं चार्यमूचुः सहिताः सुरास्ते
Then they went to the hermitage of the sage, the foremost among ascetics and righteous men, Agastya, of wondrous and blazing power; and the gods together addressed him.
देवा ऊचुः। सूर्याचंद्रमसोर्मार्गं नक्षत्राणां गतिं तथा। शैलराडावृणोत्येष विंध्यः क्रोधवशानुगः१५० 1.19.
The gods said: 'Vindhya, overcome by anger, obstructs the path of the sun and moon, and likewise the movement of the stars.'
तं निवारयितुं शक्तो नान्यः कश्चिन्मुनीश्वर। तच्छ्रुत्वा वचनं विप्रः सुराणां शैलमभ्यगात्
'No one else, O lord of sages, is able to restrain him.' Hearing the words of the gods, the sage approached the mountain.
सोभिगम्याब्रवीद्विंध्यं सादरं समुपस्थितम्। मार्गमिच्छाम्यहं दत्तं भवता पर्वतोत्तम
He came near and spoke respectfully to Vindhya, who was present: 'I desire the path granted by you, O supreme mountain.'
दक्षिणामभिगंतास्मि दिशं कार्येण केनचित्। यावदागमनं मे स्यात्तावत्त्वं प्रतिपालय
'I must go south for some purpose. Until my return, you must wait.'
निवृत्ते मयि शैलेंद्र ततो वर्धस्व कामतः। पुलस्त्य उवाच। अद्यापि दक्षिणाद्देशाद्वारुणिर्न निवर्तते
'When I have returned, O lord of mountains, then grow as you wish.' Pulastya said: Even today, the southern region is not left by Vāruṇi.
एतत्ते सर्वमाख्यातं यथा विन्ध्यो न वर्धते। अगस्त्यस्य प्रभावेण यन्मां त्वं परिपृच्छसि
All this has been told to you—how Vindhya does not grow, by the power of Agastya, as you have asked me.
कालेयास्तु यथा राजन्सुरैः सर्वैर्निषूदिताः। अगस्त्यद्वारमासाद्य तन्मे निगदतः शृणु
Just as the Kāleyas were destroyed by all the gods, O king, after reaching Agastya's abode—hear this from me as I recount it.