कुबेरः पुष्पकारूढः पाशी मकरमेव च ३.
Kubera rode the Pushpaka chariot, holding a noose, and also a makara.
तथान्ये सुरसंघाश्च यक्षचारणगुह्यकाः ३.
Likewise, other hosts of gods, along with yakshas, charanas, and guhyakas, assembled.
स्वेषामुद्योगमालोक्य दक्षश्चाश्रुमुखस्ततः ३.
Seeing the preparations of his own, Daksha then became tearful.
युष्मद्बलेनैव मया यज्ञः प्रारंभितो महान् ३.
It is by your strength alone that I have begun this great sacrifice.
विष्णो त्वं कर्मणः साक्षाद्यज्ञानां परिपालकः ३.
O Vishnu, you are directly the protector of actions and of sacrifices.
तस्माद्रक्षा विधातव्या यज्ञस्याऽस्य महाप्रभो ३.
Therefore, O great lord, protection of this sacrifice must be ensured.
मया रक्षा विधातव्या धर्मस्य परिपालने ३.
It is I who must ensure the protection of dharma.
यातस्त्वद्यैव यज्ञस्य यत्त्वयोक्तं सदाशिवम् ३.
Today you have come for the sake of the sacrifice, as you yourself have said, O Sadashiva.
योऽयं रुद्रो महातेजा यज्ञरूपः सदाशिवः ३.
This Rudra, of great brilliance, is Sadashiva in the form of sacrifice.
रुद्रकोपाच्च को ह्यत्र समर्थो रक्षणे तव ३.
Who here is capable of protecting you against Rudra's wrath?
किं कर्म्म किमकर्म्मेति तन्न पश्यसि दुर्म्मते ३.
What is action, what is inaction—you do not see this, O misguided one.
सेश्वरं कर्म विद्ध्योतत्समर्थत्वेन जायते ३.
Know that action, when endowed with the Lord, arises with manifest power.
ईश्वरस्य च ये भक्ताः शांतास्तद्गतमानसाः ३.
Those who are devoted to the Lord, peaceful, with minds absorbed in Him,
केवलं कर्म चाश्रित्य निरीश्वरपरा जनाः ३.
But those people who rely solely on action, intent on what is not of the Lord,
पुनः कर्ममयैः पाशैर्बद्धा जन्मनिजन्मनि ३.
Again, bound by the fetters of karma, they are born life after life.
विष्णुनोक्तं वचः श्रुत्वा दक्षो वचनमब्रवीत् ४.
Hearing the words spoken by Viṣṇu, Dakṣa replied.
वैदिकं कर्म चोत्सृज्य कथं सेश्वरतां व्रजेत् ४.
How can one attain union with the Lord by abandoning Vedic ritual action?
दक्षेणोक्तो महाविष्णुरुवाच परिसांत्वयन् ४.
Addressed by Dakṣa, the great Viṣṇu spoke, consoling him.
वेदोदितानि कर्माणि ईश्वरेण विना कथम् ४.
How can the actions enjoined by the Vedas be performed without the Lord?
तस्मात्सर्वप्रयत्नेन ईश्वरं शरणं व्रऐजा वीरभद्रेण सदृशो ददृशुस्तं तदा सुराः॥ ४.
Therefore, with all effort, seek refuge in the Lord; at that time, the gods saw one resembling Vīrabhadra.
इंद्रोपि प्रहसन्विष्णुमात्मवादरतं तदा ४.
Then even Indra, smiling, saw Viṣṇu intent on self-praise.
भृगुणाचारितः शीघ्रमुच्चाटनपरेण हि ४.
Bṛgu, intent on expulsion, quickly performed the rite.
शरतोमरनागचैर्जघ्नुस्ते च परस्परम् ४.
They struck each other with arrows, spears, and maces.
तथा दुन्दुभयो नेदुः पटहा डिंडिमादयः लोकपालैश्च सहिता जघ्नुस्ताञ्छिवकिंकरान्॥ ४.
Thus, kettledrums, war drums, and ḍiṇḍimas resounded; together with the guardians of the worlds, they struck Śiva’s attendants.
खड्गैश्चापि हताः केचिद्गदाभिश्च विपोथिताः ४.
Some were slain with swords, others were battered with maces.
इंद्राद्यौर्लोकपालैश्च गणास्ते च पराङ्गमुखाः ४.
By Indra and the other guardians of the worlds, those hosts turned their faces away.
उच्चाटनं कृतं तेषां भृगुणा यज्विना तदा ४.
At that time, Bṛgu the sacrificer performed expulsion upon them.
तेनैव देवा जयिनो जातास्तत्क्षणमेव हि ४.
By that very act, the gods became victorious at that very moment.
भूतान्प्रेतान्पिशाचांश्च कृत्वा तानेव पृष्ठतः तीक्ष्णं त्रिशूलमादाय पातयामास तान्रणे॥ ४.
Having placed spirits, ghosts, and fiends behind him, he took up his sharp trident and struck them down in battle.
देवान्यक्षान्पिशाचांश्च गुह्यकान्राक्षसां स्तथा ४.
The gods, yakṣas, piśācas, guhyakas, and likewise the rākṣasas—