इति संचिंत्य हृदये सस्मार बलसूदनम् 5.2.44.
Thinking thus in his heart, he remembered the slayer of Bala.
प्रोवाच वचनं श्रुत्वा नम स्कृत्य पितामहम्
Having heard these words, he bowed to the grandsire and spoke.
ब्रह्मणोक्तस्तदा शक्रः किमर्थं प्लाविता मही
Then, as instructed by Brahmā, Indra asked, 'For what reason was the earth flooded?'
ततः सर्वे समाहूता मेघाः शक्रेण पार्वति
Then all the clouds were summoned by Indra, O Pārvatī.
पितामहेन शक्रेण मर्यादा च कृता तदा
At that time, the grandsire and Indra established boundaries.
गजाकारैस्ततो मेघैः सहस्रैर्दशभिर्वृतः
Then, surrounded by ten thousand clouds shaped like elephants—
शरभः पश्चिमामाशां सहस्राधिपतिः कृतः
Śarabha was made the lord of the western direction, ruling over a thousand.
उत्तरस्यां दिशि तदा प्रभुत्वे संप्रतिष्ठितः
At that time, he was established in authority over the northern quarter.
प्रावृट्काले च वर्षध्वं नक्षत्रैर्जलजैद्रुतम्
In the rainy season, the downpour is driven by the constellations and the movement of water-bearing clouds.
ब्रह्मशक्रवचः श्रुत्वा तथेति कृतनिश्चयाः
Having heard the words of Brahmā and Indra, they resolved, 'So be it.'
एवं व्यवस्थिते लोके मर्यादायां स्थिता घनाः 5.2.44.
Thus, when the world was established in this order, the clouds remained within their bounds.
क्रूरग्रहैरथो रुद्धास्ते मेघा वृष्टिकारकाः
Then, those rain-bringing clouds were obstructed by cruel planets.
पीडिताः शरणं जग्मुर्वासवं भयविह्वलाः
Afflicted and overwhelmed by fear, they sought refuge with Vāsava.
मेघानां वचनं श्रुत्वा संत्र स्तो वासवस्तदा ग्रहाणामसमर्थोऽहं सर्वदैव पयोधराः
Hearing the words of the clouds, Vāsava was troubled and said, 'I am always powerless against the planets, O rain-bearers.'
अहं राज्यात्परिभ्रष्टः कृतः क्रूरग्रहैः पुरा
'I was once deprived of my kingdom by those cruel planets.'
मम मान्याश्च पूज्याश्च ग्रहा एव यतोधिकाः
'Those planets alone are to be honored and worshipped by me, for they are superior.'
एतस्मिन्नंतरे भूमौ संजाता शतवार्षिकी
Meanwhile, on earth, a famine lasting a hundred years arose.
अस्थिकंकालशकला श्वेतपर्वतसन्निभा
Bones, skulls, and fragments, white as snowy mountains, appeared.
देवाः सर्वे पुनर्भीता ब्रह्माणं शरणं गताः
All the gods, once again afraid, sought refuge with Brahmā.
अनावृष्ट्या जगत्सर्वं पीडितं च पितामह
O Grandfather, the whole world has been afflicted by drought.
त्वया च वासवेनैव नियुक्ता ये पयोधराः 5.2.44.
'It is by you, O Vāsava, that the rain-bearing clouds were appointed.'
देवानां वचनं श्रुत्वा ब्रह्मा लोकपितामहः
Hearing the words of the gods, Brahmā, the Grandfather of the worlds,
सर्वं जानामि माहात्म्यं ग्रहाणां क्रूरचेतसाम्
'I know entirely the power of those planets with cruel minds.'
वरुणो यादसां नाथो मंगलेन प्रपीडितः
'Varuṇa, lord of the aquatic beings, was afflicted by Maṅgala.'
शिरश्छेदो मया प्राप्तो वक्रेण रविणा पुरा तस्मात्सर्वे महादेवं गच्छामः शरणं वयम्
'Long ago, I myself suffered beheading by Vakra and Ravi; therefore, let us all go to Mahādeva for refuge.'
ब्रह्मणो वचनं श्रुत्वा सर्वे देवाः सवासवाः।. ब्रह्माणं च पुरस्कृत्य मामव शरणं गताः
Hearing Brahmā's words, all the gods, along with Vāsava, placing Brahmā at their head, sought refuge with me.
उक्तोऽहं त्रिदशैः सर्वैः पाहि नः शरणागतान्
I was addressed by all the gods: Protect us, who have come to you for refuge.
क्रूरग्रहैर्महादेव रुद्धा मेघाः समंततः सर्वप्राणिविनाशाय संजाता शतवार्षिकी क्रूरग्रहाणां सामर्थ्यं यथा च विदितं मम
O Mahadeva, fierce planets have blocked the clouds everywhere; a hundred-year drought has arisen for the destruction of all living beings. The power of these cruel planets is known to me.
इति ज्ञात्वा महादेवि उपायश्चिंतितो मया आहूतस्तत्क्षणात्प्राप्तः किं करोमीत्युवाच ह
Knowing this, O great goddess, I considered a means; summoned, he arrived instantly and said, 'What shall I do?'
मया प्रोक्तो ममादेशाद्गच्छ त्वं घनसंयुतः 5.2.44.
I instructed him: By my command, go, accompanied by clouds.