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—
केचिद्द्विधाकृताः खङ्गैर्मुद्गरैश्चापि पोथिताः ४.
Some were cut in two with swords, others were battered with clubs.
शूलैर्भिन्नाश्च शतशः केचिच्च शकलीकृताः ४.
Hundreds were pierced with spears, and some were shattered into pieces.
परस्परं परिष्वज्य गतास्तेपि त्रिविष्टपम् बृहस्पतिं पृच्छमानाः कुतोस्माकं जयो भवेत्॥ ४.
Embracing one another, they too went to heaven, asking Bṛhaspati, 'How can we achieve victory?'
बृहस्पतिरुवाचेदं सुरेंद्रं त्वरितस्तदा बृहस्पतिरुवाच ४.
Then Bṛhaspati quickly spoke these words to the lord of the gods.
अस्ति चेदीश्वरः कश्चित्फलरूप्यस्य कर्म्मणः ४.
There is indeed a Lord who is the giver of the fruits of action.
न मंत्रौषधयः सर्वे नाभिचारा न लौकिकाः ४.
Neither all the mantras and medicines, nor spells, nor worldly means—
ज्ञातुमीशाः संभवंति भक्त्याज्ञेयस्त्वनन्यया ४.
—are able to know Him; He is to be known only through unwavering devotion.
तेन सर्वं संभवंति सुखदुःझखात्मकं जगत् ४.
By Him, everything comes into being—the world of happiness and sorrow.
त्वमिंद्र बालिशो भूत्वा लोकपालैः सहाद्य वै ४.
You, Indra, have become childish today, along with the guardians of the worlds.
एते रुद्रसहायाश्च गणाः परमशोभनाः ४.
These are the most splendid hosts, allies of Rudra.