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.
एवं बृहस्पतेर्वाक्यं श्रुत्वा तेऽपि दिवौकसः ४.
Hearing these words of Bṛhaspati, the gods too—
ततोऽब्रवीद्वीरभद्रो गणैः परिवृतो भृशम् ४.
Then Vīrabhadra, surrounded by the hosts, spoke forcefully.
अवदानानि दास्यामि तृप्त्यर्थं भवतां त्वरन् ४.
I will quickly give you heroic deeds for your satisfaction.
तैर्बाणैर्निहताः सर्वे जग्मुस्ते च दिशो दश॥ ४.
Struck by those arrows, all of them went to the ten directions.
गतेषु लोकपालेषु विद्रुतेषु सुरेषु च ४.
When the guardians of the worlds had departed and the gods had fled—
तदा त ऋषयः सर्वे सर्वमेवेश्वरेश्वरम् ४.
Then all the sages approached the Lord of all lords.
रक्ष यज्ञं हि दक्षस्य यज्ञोसि त्वं न संशयः ४.
Protect the sacrifice of Dakṣa, for you are indeed the sacrifice—there is no doubt.
योद्धुकामः स्थितो युद्धे विष्णुरध्यात्मदीपकः ४.
Viṣṇu, the illuminator of the inner self, stands ready in battle, desiring to fight.
अत्र त्वयागतं कस्माद्विष्णो वेत्त्रा महाबलम् ४.
Viṣṇu, why have you come here, O wielder of the mace, mighty in strength?
दाक्षायण्या कृतं यच्च न दृष्टं किं त्वयानघ अवदानं प्रयच्छामि तव चापि महाभूज॥ ४.
What was done by Dākṣāyaṇī that you did not see, O sinless one? I will grant you a heroic deed, O mighty-armed one.
एवमुक्त्वा प्रणम्यादौ विष्णुं सदृशरूपिणम् ४.
Having spoken thus, he first bowed to Viṣṇu, who appeared in a similar form.
यथा शंभुस्तथा त्वं हि मम नास्त्यत्र संशयः नेष्याम्यपुनरावृत्तिं यदि तिष्ठेस्त्वमात्मना॥ ४.
Just as Śambhu is, so are you indeed; I have no doubt about this. I shall grant you freedom from rebirth, if you remain steadfast in your own self.
तस्य तद्वचनं श्रुत्वा वीरभद्रस्य धीमतः ४.
Hearing these words of the wise Vīrabhadra,
रुद्रतेजःप्रसूतोसि पवित्रोऽसि महामते ४.
You are born from Rudra's energy; you are pure, O great-minded one.
अहं भक्तपराधीनस्तथा सोऽपि महेश्वरः ४.
I am bound by devotion to my devotees, and so too is Maheśvara.
आगतोऽहं वीरभद्र रुद्रकोपसमुद्भव ४.
I have come, O Vīrabhadra, born from Rudra's wrath.
इत्युक्तवति गोविंदे प्रहस्य स महाभुजः ४.
When Govinda had spoken thus, that mighty-armed one laughed.
यथा शिवस्तथा त्वं हि यथा त्वं च तथा शिवः ४.
Just as Śiva is, so are you; and as you are, so is Śiva.
तच्छ्रुत्वा वचनं तस्य सोऽच्युतः संप्रहस्य च ४.
Hearing his words, Acyuta also smiled.
योधयस्व महाबाहो मया सार्धमशंकितः ४.
Fight, O mighty-armed one, together with me, without hesitation.