तस्थुः पातालनिलये मुदितेनांतरात्मना। ततः कालांत रेभूते पुनरेवं व्यचिंतयन्
They stayed in the abode of Pātāla, inwardly content. Then, as time passed, they again reflected thus:
भविता भरतो राजा पांडवेयो महायशाः। अस्माकं तु क्षयकरो दैवयोगेन केनचित्
A king named Bharata, of the Pāṇḍava line and great fame, will arise; by some divine arrangement, he will bring about our destruction.
कथं त्रिभुवने नाथः सर्वेषां च पितामहः। सृष्टिकर्ता जगद्वंद्यः शापमस्मासु दत्तवान्
How is it that the Lord of the three worlds, the Grandsire of all, the creator of beings, worshipped by the universe, has placed a curse upon us?
देवं विरंचिनं त्यक्त्वा गतिरन्या न विद्यते। वैराजे भवनश्रेष्ठे तत्र देवः स तिष्ठति
Apart from the god Viśvacina, there is no other refuge. In the splendid mansion of Vairāja, that god resides.
स देवः पुष्करस्थो वै यज्ञं यजति सांप्रतम्। गत्वा प्रसादयामस्तं वरं तुष्टः प्रदास्यति1.31.
That god, now dwelling at Puṣkara, is performing a sacrifice. Let us go and propitiate him; if pleased, he will grant us a boon.
एवं विचिंत्य ते सर्वे नागा गत्वा च पुष्करम्। यज्ञपर्वतमासाद्य शैलभित्तिमुपाश्रिताः
Having thus resolved, all the Nāgas went to Puṣkara. Reaching the mountain of sacrifice, they took shelter at the rocky slope.
दृष्ट्वा नागांस्तथा श्रान्तान्वारिधाराश्च शीतलाः। उदङ्मुखा वै निष्क्रांतास्सर्वेषां तु सुखप्रदाः
Seeing the Nāgas thus exhausted, cool streams of water flowed forth, emerging northward, bringing comfort to all.
नागतीर्थं ततो जातं पृथिव्यां भरतर्षभ। नागकुंडं च वै केचित्सरितं चापरेऽब्रुवन्
From that, O best of the Bharatas, the Nāga-tīrtha arose on earth. Some called it Nāga-kuṇḍa, and others spoke of it as a river.
पुण्यं तत्सर्वतीर्थानां सर्पाणां विषनाशनम्। मज्जन्ति तत्र ये मर्त्या अधिश्रावण पंचमि
That holy place of all the sacred waters destroys the poison of serpents; those mortals who bathe there on the fifth day of the bright fortnight,
न तेषां तु कुले सर्पाः पीडां कुर्वन्ति कर्हिचित्। श्राद्धं पितॄणां ये तत्र करिष्यंति नरा भुवि
In their lineage, serpents never cause suffering at any time; those men who perform the ancestral rites for their forefathers there on earth,
ब्रह्मा तेषां परं स्थानं दास्यते नात्र संशयः। नागानां तु भयं ज्ञात्वा ब्रह्मा लोकपितामहः
For them, Brahmā will grant the highest abode—of this there is no doubt; knowing the fear of the serpents, Brahmā, the grandsire of the worlds,
पूर्वोक्तं तु पुनर्वाक्यं नागानश्रावयत्तदा। पंचमी सा तिथिर्धन्या सर्वपापहरा शुभा
Again spoke the previously mentioned words to the serpents at that time: 'That fifth lunar day is blessed, auspicious, and removes all sins.'
यतोऽस्यामेव सुतिथौ नागानां कार्यमुद्धृतम्। एतस्यां सर्वतो यस्तु कट्वम्लं परिवर्जयेत्
Because on that very sacred day, the task concerning the serpents was accomplished; on that day, whoever avoids pungent and sour foods in every way,
क्षीरेण स्नापयेन्नागांस्तस्य ते यांति मित्रताम्। भीष्म उवाच। शिवदूती यथा जाता येन चैव निवेशिता
And bathes the serpents with milk, those serpents become friendly to him. Bhīṣma said: 'How did Śivadūtī arise, and by whom was she established?'
तन्मे सर्वं यथातत्त्वं भवान्शंसितुर्महति। पुलस्त्य उवाच। शिवा नीलगिरिं प्राप्ता तपसे धृतमानसा
'Tell me all of this in its true nature, O great one.' Pulastya said: 'Śivā, with her mind set on austerity, reached the blue mountain.'
रौद्री जटोद्भवा शक्तिस्तस्याः शृणु नृप व्रतम्। तपः कृत्वा चिरं कालं ग्रसिष्याम्यखिलं जगत्
'The fierce one, born from matted locks, is her power; hear, O king, her vow: Having performed austerity for a long time, I will consume the entire world.'
एवमुद्दिश्य पंचाग्निं साधयामास भामिनी। तस्याः कालांतरे देव्यास्तपंत्यास्तप उत्तमम्
With this resolve, the radiant goddess undertook the five-fire austerity; at another time, while that goddess was performing supreme penance,
रुरुर्नाममहातेजा ब्रह्मदत्तवरोऽसुरः। समुद्रमध्ये रत्नाख्यं पुरमस्ति महाधनम्
There was an asura named Ruru, of great splendor, who had received a boon from Brahmā; in the midst of the ocean is a city called Ratna, exceedingly wealthy.
तत्रातिष्ठत्स दैत्येंद्रस्सर्वदेवभयंकरः। अनेक शतसाहस्र कोटिकोटिशतोत्तमैः
There that lord of the Daityas resided, terrifying to all the gods, attended by countless hundreds of thousands and crores of the best asuras.
असुरैरर्चितः श्रीमान्द्वितीयो नमुचिर्यथा। कालेन महता सोऽथ लोकपालपुरं ययौ
Honored by the asuras, glorious like a second Namuci; after a long time, he went to the city of the guardians of the worlds.
जिगीषुः सैन्यसंवीतो देवैर्वैरमरोचयत्। उत्तिष्ठतस्तस्य महासुरस्य समुद्रतोयं ववृधेति वेगात्
Desiring victory, surrounded by his army, he provoked enmity with the gods; as that great asura rose up, the ocean's water surged swiftly.
अनेक नाग ग्रह मीनजुष्टमाप्लावयत्पर्वतसानुदेशान्। अंतःस्थितानेकसुरारिसंघं विचित्रवर्मायुधचित्रशोभम्
Flooding the slopes of the mountains, teeming with many serpents, crocodiles, and fish, within it were many hosts of enemies of the gods, adorned with wondrous armor and weapons.
भीमं बलं चलितं चारुयोधं विनिर्ययौ सिंधुजलाद्विशालम्। तत्र द्विपा दैत्यभठाभ्युपेताः सयानघंटाश्च समृद्धियुक्ताः
A terrible and mighty force, skilled in battle, emerged vast from the ocean's waters; there, elephants with daitya warriors mounted, and chariots with bells, all endowed with great prosperity.
विनिर्ययुः स्वाकृतिभिर्झषाणां समत्वमुच्चैः खलु दर्शयंतः। अश्वास्तथा कांचनसूत्रनद्धा रोहीतमत्स्या इव ते जलांते
They came forth, displaying forms like those of great fish, showing their might; horses, bound with golden cords, appeared at the edge of the waters like red Rohita fish.
व्यवस्थितास्तैः सममेव तूर्णं विनिर्ययुर्लक्षशः कोटिशश्च। तथा रविस्यंदनतुल्यवेगाः सचक्रदंडाक्षतवेणुयुक्ताः
Arranged together with them, swiftly they emerged in hundreds of thousands and crores; their speed was like the chariot of the sun, equipped with Indra's staff and unbroken bamboo poles.
रथाश्च यंत्रोपरिपीडितांगाश्चलत्पताकाः स्वनितं विचक्रुः। तथैव योधाः स्थगितास्तरीभिस्तितीर्षवस्ते प्रवरास्त्रपाणयः
Chariots, their bodies pressed by machines, with fluttering banners, made a resounding noise; likewise, the warriors, stationed on boats, eager to cross, held excellent weapons in their hands.
रणेरणे लब्धजयाः प्रहारिणो विरेजुरुच्चैरसुरानुगा भृशं। देवेषु वै रणे तेषु विद्रुतेषु विशेषतः
Victorious in battle after battle, the fierce followers of the asuras shone greatly, especially as the gods were routed in that fight.
असुरास्सर्वदेवानामन्वधावंस्ततस्ततः। ततो देवगणाः सर्वे द्रवंतो भयविह्वलाः
The asuras pursued all the gods here and there; then all the hosts of gods, overcome by fear, fled.
नीलं गिरिवरं जग्मुर्यत्र देवी स्वयं स्थिता। रौद्री तपोन्विता धन्या शांभवी शक्तिरुत्तमा
They went to the great blue mountain, where the goddess herself stood—terrible, endowed with ascetic power, blessed, the supreme energy of Shiva.
संहारकारिणी देवी कालरात्रीति यां विदुः। सा तु दृष्ट्वा तदा देवान्भयत्रस्तान्विचेतसः
The goddess, known as Kālarātrī, the bringer of destruction, saw the gods then, terrified and bewildered.