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,
वदंति कारणं चास्य त्रैलोक्यस्य जनार्द्दनः
Janardana is said to be the cause of this entire threefold world.
वरार्थिभिश्च प्रवरैः पूज्यसे गरुडध्वज
You, Garuda-bannered one, are worshipped by the best of those who seek boons.
कपिलस्य च विप्रस्य हराल्लब्धवरस्य च
And to Kapila, the sage, who had obtained a boon from Hara,
अवध्यत्वमनुप्राप्तो ह्यजेयत्वं च संयुगे ५.२.८३.
He attained invulnerability and unconquerability in battle.
ब्रह्म च ब्रह्मणो मूलं त्वयैव प्राक्प्रतिश्रुतम्
Even Brahma and the root of Brahma were formerly promised by you alone.
इत्थं निशम्य देवेशो वाक्यं ब्रह्ममुखाच्च्युतम्
Hearing thus the words that fell from the mouth of Brahma, the Lord of the gods,
जगाम परमं लोकं पूज्यमानस्त्रिविष्टपैः
He went to the supreme world, being worshipped by the dwellers of heaven.
युद्धं सुदारुणं श्रुत्वा कृष्णस्य कपिलस्य च कस्याहं शरणं यामि को मे त्राता भविष्यति
Hearing of the terrible battle between Krishna and Kapila, I wondered: To whom shall I turn for refuge? Who will be my protector?
न जितः कपिलो युद्धे विष्णुना प्रभविष्णुना
Kapila was not defeated in battle by Vishnu, the mighty lord.
अजेया ब्राह्मणा युद्धे शापानुग्रहकारकाः
Brahmins are unconquerable in battle, being the agents of both curse and blessing.