पातुकामः समुद्रं च अगस्त्य ऋषिसत्तमः। एष लोकहितार्थाय पिबामि वरुणालयम्
Desiring to protect the ocean, the eminent sage Agastya said: 'For the welfare of the worlds, I shall drink the abode of Varuna.'
भवतां यदनुष्ठेयं तच्छीघ्रं संविधीयताम्। एतावदुक्त्वा वचनं मैत्रावरुणिरग्रतः
Whatever is to be done by you, let it be arranged quickly; having spoken thus, Maitrāvaruṇi proceeded ahead.
समुद्रमपिबत्क्रुद्धस्सर्वलोकस्य पश्यतः। पीयमानं समुद्रं तु दृष्ट्वा देवाः सवासवाः
Angry, he drank the ocean as all the worlds watched; seeing the ocean being drunk, the gods along with Indra,
विस्मयं परमं जग्मुस्स्तुतिभिश्चाप्यपूजयन्। त्वं नस्त्राता विधाता च लोकानां लोकभावनः। त्वत्प्रसादात्समुत्सेधमुपगच्छेत्समं जगत्
Were struck with utmost wonder and honored him with praises: 'You are our protector and creator, the sustainer of the worlds; by your grace, the universe attains its highest state.'
संपूज्यमानस्त्रिदशैर्महात्मा गंधर्वमुख्येषु नदत्सु चैव। दिव्यैश्च पुष्पैरवकीर्यमाणो महार्णवं निःसलिलं चकार
Honored by the gods, the great-souled one, amidst the singing of the chief gandharvas, and showered with divine flowers, made the great ocean devoid of water.
दृष्ट्वा कृतं निःसलिलं महार्णवं सुराः समस्ताः परमप्रहृष्टाः। प्रगृह्य दिव्यानि वरायुधानि तान्दानवान्जघ्नुरदीनसत्त्वाः
Seeing the great ocean made dry, all the gods were exceedingly delighted; seizing their divine, excellent weapons, they slew the danavas, their spirits undaunted.
ते वध्यमानास्त्रिदशैर्महात्मभिर्महाबलैर्वेगयुतैर्नदद्भिः। न सेहिरे वेगवतां महात्मनां वेगं तदा धारयितुं दिवौकसाम्
Those danavas, being slain by the gods—great-souled, mighty, swift, and roaring—could not withstand the force of those powerful celestials.
ते वध्यमानास्त्रिदशैर्दानवा भीमनिःस्वनाः। चक्रुः सुतुमुलं युद्धं मुहूर्त्तमिव भारत
Those danavas, being slain by the gods, with terrifying cries, fought a tumultuous battle for a moment, O Bharata.
ते पूर्वं तपसा दग्धा मुनिभिर्भावितात्मभिः। यतमानाः परं शक्त्या त्रिदशैर्विनिषूदिताः
Previously burned by the austerities of sages with purified minds, though striving with utmost power, they were destroyed by the gods.
ते हेमनिष्काभरणाः कुंडलांगदधारिणः। निहता बह्वशोभंत पुष्पिता इव किंशुकाः
Adorned with golden ornaments, wearing earrings and armlets, the slain ones lay resplendent, like blossoming kimshuka trees.
हतशिष्टास्ततः केचित्कालेयदनुजोत्तमाः। विदार्य वसुधां देवीं पातालतलमाश्रिताः
Some of the surviving danavas, the foremost among the sons of Kālaya, tore open the earth goddess and took refuge in the realm beneath the earth.
निहतान्दानवान्दृष्ट्वा त्रिदशा मुनिपुंगवम्। तुष्टुवुर्विविधैर्वाक्यैरिदं चैवाब्रुवन्वचः
Seeing the danavas slain, the gods praised the foremost among sages with various words, and spoke these words as well.
त्वत्प्रसादान्महाभाग लोकैः प्राप्तं महत्सुखम्। त्वत्तेजसा च निहताः कालेया भीमविक्रमाः
By your grace, O highly fortunate one, the worlds have attained great happiness; and by your power, the mighty and terrible Kālīyas have been destroyed.
पूरयस्व महाविप्र समुद्रं लोकभावनम्। यत्त्वया सलिलं पीतं तदस्मिन्पुनरुत्सृज
O great sage, replenisher of the worlds, restore the ocean; release again into it the water that you drank.
एवमुक्तः प्रत्युवाच भगवान्मुनिपुंगवः। जीर्णं तद्धि मया तोयमुपायोन्यः प्रचिंत्यताम्
Thus addressed, the venerable sage among sages replied: That water has already been digested by me; let another means be considered.
पूरणार्थं समुद्रस्य भवद्भिर्यत्नमास्थितैः। एवं श्रुत्वा तु वचनं महर्षेर्भावितात्मनः
For the purpose of filling the ocean, let effort be undertaken by all of you; thus, having heard the words of the great seer, whose mind is steadfast,
विस्मिताश्च विषण्णाश्च बभूवुः सहितास्सुराः। परस्परमनुज्ञाप्य प्रणम्य मुनिपुंगवम्
the gods, together, became astonished and disheartened; after mutually taking leave and bowing to the eminent sage,
प्रजाः सर्वा महाराज विप्रा जग्मुर्यथागतम्। त्रिदशा विष्णुना सार्द्धमनुजग्मुः पितामहम्
all the people, O great king, and the brahmins departed as they had come; the gods, along with Viṣṇu, followed the Grandfather (Brahmā).
पूरणार्थं समुद्रस्य मंत्रयंतः परस्परम्। ऊचुः प्रांजलयः सर्वे सागरस्य हि पूरणम्
For the purpose of filling the ocean, they deliberated among themselves; with joined palms, they all spoke about the replenishment of the sea.
तानुवाच समेतांस्तु ब्रह्मा लोकपितामहः। गच्छध्वं विबुधास्सर्वे यथाकामं यथेप्सितम्
Then Brahmā, the Grandfather of the worlds, addressed them as they were assembled: Go, all you gods, as you wish, as you desire.
महता कालयोगेन प्रकृतिं यास्यतेऽर्णवः। ज्ञातींस्तु कारणं कृत्वा महाराजो भगीरथः
In due course of time, the ocean will return to its natural state; but King Bhagiratha, making his ancestors the cause,
गंगौघेन समुद्रं च पुनः संपूरयिष्यति। एवं ते ब्रह्मणा देवाः प्रेषिता ऋषिसत्तमाः
will again fill the ocean with the stream of the Ganges; thus, at Brahmā’s command, the gods and the best of sages departed.
उवाच भगवांस्तुष्टस्त्वगस्त्यमृषिसत्तमम्। देवकार्यं तु भवता दानवानां विनाशनम्
Then the blessed one, pleased, spoke to Agastya, the eminent sage: By you, the task of the gods—the destruction of the Dānavas—has been accomplished.
यतस्संतारिता देवास्तेन तुष्टोस्मि वै मुने। अभिप्रेतो वरो यस्ते याचयस्व ददामि तम्
Because the gods have been delivered by you, O sage, I am indeed pleased; ask for whatever boon you desire, I shall grant it.
एवमुक्तस्तदागस्त्यः प्रणिपातपुरःसरम्। इहस्थेन मया देव देवकार्यमिदं कृतम्
Thus addressed, Agastya then, with deep reverence, said: O god, this task for the gods has been accomplished by me while residing here.
सर्वाश्रमाणां प्रवरो भवत्वेष ममाश्रमः। त्वया चोक्तस्तु भगवन्भविता नात्र संशयः
May my hermitage become the foremost of all hermitages; and as you have declared, O Lord, so shall it be—of this there is no doubt.
ब्रह्मोवाच। यात्रां तु पुष्करे कृत्वा इहागत्य नरास्तु ये। इह कुंडेषु ये स्नानं तर्पणं पितृदेवयोः
Brahmā said: Those men who, after making pilgrimage to Puṣkara, come here; and those who bathe in these pools and offer libations to the ancestors and gods,
अर्चनं चैव देवेषु सर्वमक्षयकारकम्। अर्घ्यं चोच्चावचं गृह्य शष्कुलापूपकांस्ततः
and also perform worship of the gods here—all these acts yield inexhaustible merit; and those who offer arghya, whether great or small, and cakes of rice and barley,
दास्यंति द्विजमुख्येभ्यस्तेषां वासस्त्रिविष्टपे। श्राद्धेन पितरस्तृप्ता यावदाभूतसंप्लवम्
will give them to the foremost brahmins; their dwelling will be in heaven; by their śrāddha, the ancestors will be satisfied until the cosmic dissolution.
कंदमूलफलैर्वापि तर्पयिष्यति यो मुनिम्। सप्तर्षिस्थानमासाद्य मोदते शास्वतीः समाः
Whoever, even with roots, fruits, or tubers, satisfies a sage, reaching the abode of the Seven Sages, will rejoice for countless ages.