कपिल उवाच प्रवर्त्तंते क्रिया वेदाद्वेदमूलमिदं जगत्
Kapila said: All rites proceed from the Veda; this world has the Veda as its root.
बिल्व उवाच संसारे पार्थिवाः श्रेष्ठाः समर्था लोकपालने
Bilva said: In the world, kings are the foremost, capable of protecting the people.
पितरः पार्थिवानां तु किं त्वं बिल्व न मन्यसे
Are not the ancestors of kings important to you, O Bilva?
एवं कौतूहले जाते कपिलो द्विजसत्तमः ५.२.८३.
When such curiosity arose, Kapila, the best of Brahmins—
वज्रेण स द्विधा छिन्नः कपिलो ब्रह्मविद्यया
Kapila, with the knowledge of Brahman, was split in two by the thunderbolt.
स्तुतोऽहं विविधैः स्तोत्रैः सम्यगाराधितो ह्यहम्
I have been praised with various hymns and have been properly worshipped.
द्विजः समागतो बिल्वं पुनः सख्यमभूत्तयोः
The twice-born arrived; Bilva and he became friends once more.
वामपादेन चाप्येनं बिल्वो विप्रमताडयत्
Then Bilva struck the Brahmin with his left foot.
न मृतिं न व्यथां तस्य तद्वज्रमकरोत्पुनः
That blow, like a thunderbolt, caused him neither death nor pain.
नारायणमथासाद्य प्रार्थयामास चेप्सितम् प्रोवाच प्रणतो विष्णुमिदं देवि महामनाः
Then, approaching Nārāyaṇa, he earnestly sought his desire, and, bowing, the noble goddess spoke these words to Viṣṇu:
सखा मम हृषीकेश स च मामाह नित्यशः
"O Hṛṣīkeśa, he is my friend, and he always says the same to me."
पिशाचस्यापि यक्षस्य न चैवान्यस्य कस्यचित्
"Not even a piśāca, a yakṣa, nor anyone else at all—"
एवमुक्तस्तु बिल्वेन स देवः पुरुषोत्तमः
Thus addressed by Bilva, that supreme god—Puruṣottama—
स प्रविश्याश्रमं देवं कपिलेन प्रपूजितः ।। ५.२.८३.
He entered the hermitage and was honored by Kapila.
भगवन्ब्राह्मणश्रेष्ठ वेदवेदांगपारग
"O venerable one, best of Brahmins, master of the Vedas and their branches—"
प्रसादितोऽहं बिल्वेन नृपेंद्रेण पुनःपुनः
"I have been repeatedly gratified by Bilva, the foremost of kings."
त्वया प्रोक्तं बिभेमीति ब्रूहि तस्मादनुग्रहात्
"You have said, 'I am afraid.' Speak this, by your favor."
कपिलस्त्वेवमुक्तो वै विष्णुना मधुरं वचः
Thus addressed by Viṣṇu, Kapila spoke sweet words:
नाहं वक्ष्ये बिभेमीति तेनोक्तं नोच्यते मया उवाच चक्रमुद्यम्य भयं विप्रस्य दर्शयन्
"I will not say, 'I am afraid.' Therefore, I do not utter it." So saying, he raised his discus, showing fear to the Brahmin.
न चेद्वक्ष्यसि भीतोऽहं चक्रं ते प्रहरामि वै
"If you do not say it, I, being afraid, will strike you with my discus!"
कपिल उवाच किं वृथा प्रियचक्रस्य विष्णो क्लेशमिहेच्छसि
Kapila said: "Viṣṇu, why do you wish to bring trouble here in vain for your beloved discus?"
ततः स मुष्टिमादाय कुशानां कपिलस्तदा
Then Kapila took a handful of kuśa grass.
अद्य गर्वं च दर्पं च बलं यच्च तवाद्भुतम्
"Today, your pride, arrogance, and that wondrous strength of yours—"
ततो युद्धं समभवत्तुमुलं लोमहर्षणम् ५.२.८३.
Then there arose a fierce and hair-raising battle.
दिव्यास्त्राणां कुशानां च युद्धं समभवद्दृढम्
A fierce battle took place between the divine weapons and the blades of sacred grass.
एतस्मिन्नंतरे ब्रह्मा सुरैः परिवृतस्तदा
At that moment, Brahma, surrounded by the gods, appeared there.
भगवन्भूतभव्येश भवबंधभयापह
O Lord, Master of past and future, Remover of the fear of worldly bondage,
समाराध्य जगन्नाथ शक्रा द्यास्त्रिदिवौकसः
Having duly worshipped you, O Lord of the universe, Indra and the other gods of heaven,
आब्रह्मस्तंबपर्यंतं त्रैलोक्यं सचराचरम्
From Brahma down to the smallest blade of grass, the three worlds, with all their moving and unmoving beings,
तेनैकेन विशुद्धेन सर्वगेन महात्मना
By that one, pure, all-pervading, great soul,