त्वमागतोसि देवेंद्र किमर्थं तन्न वेद्मयहम्॥ ९.
O Lord of the gods, you have come—yet I do not know for what purpose.
शक्रस्तद्वचनं श्रुत्वा ह्यश्रुपूर्णाकुलेक्षणः ९.
Hearing these words, Śakra’s eyes filled with tears and his expression became troubled.
बले त्वं किं न जानासि कार्याकार्यविचारणाम् ९.
Bali, do you not know how to discern what should and should not be done?
शरणागतं च विप्रं च रोगिणं वृद्धमेव च ९.
One who seeks refuge, a brāhmaṇa, the sick, and the elderly—
शरणागतशब्देन आगतस्तव सन्निधौ एवमुक्तो नारदेन तदा दैत्यपतिः स्वयम्॥ ९.
By the word ‘one who seeks refuge,’ it is meant that he has come into your presence; thus was the lord of the Daityas addressed by Nārada at that time.
विमृश्य परया बुद्ध्या कार्याकार्यविचारणाम् लोकपालैः समेतं च तथा सुरगणैः सह॥ ९.
Having carefully considered, with the highest wisdom, the discernment of right and wrong, together with the guardians of the worlds and the hosts of gods—
प्रत्ययार्थं च सत्त्वानि ह्यनेकानि व्रतानि वै ९.
For the sake of assurance, indeed, many vows and observances were undertaken.
एवं स समयं कृत्वा शक्रः स्वार्थपरायणः ९.
Thus, having made this agreement, Śakra, intent on his own purpose—
एवं निवसतस्तस्य सुतलेऽपि शतक्रतोः संस्मृत्य वचनं विष्णोर्विमृश्य च पुनःपुनः॥ ९.
While Śatakratu was residing there in Sutala, he kept recalling Viṣṇu’s words and reflecting on them again and again.
एकदा तु सभामध्य आसीनो देवराट्स्वयम् ९.
Once, as the king of the gods himself was seated in the midst of the assembly—
प्राप्तव्यानि त्वया वीर अस्माकं च त्वया बले ९.
O hero, what is to be attained by you, and by us through you, O Bali—
गतानि तत्क्षणादेव सागरे पतितानि वै ९.
At that very moment, they fell into the ocean and were lost.
तेषां चोद्धरणे दैत्य रत्नानामिह सागरात् ९.
And for the retrieval of those jewels from the ocean, O Daitya—
बलिः प्रवर्तितस्तेन शक्रेण सुरसूदनः ९.
By Śakra, the destroyer of the gods, Bali was thus set in motion.
तदा नभोगता वाणी मेघगंभीरनिःस्वना ९.
Then a voice arose in the sky, deep as thunderclouds.
भवतां बलवृद्धिश्च भविष्यति न संशयः॥ ९.
There will surely be an increase of strength for you all—of this there is no doubt.
मंदरं चैव मंथानं रज्जुं कुरुत वासुकिम् ९.
Make Mount Mandara the churning rod, and use Vāsuki as the rope.
नभोगतां च तां वाणीं निशम्याथ तदाःसुराः ९.
Then, having heard that voice in the sky, the gods—
पातालान्निर्गताः सर्वे तदा तेऽथ सुरासुराः ९.
Then all the gods and demons emerged from the netherworld.
दैत्याश्च कोटिसंख्याकास्तथा देवा न संशयः ९.
The Daityas numbered in the tens of millions, and so did the gods, without doubt.
सरत्नं वर्तुलाकारं स्थूलं चैव महाप्रभम् ९.
A great, circular, jewel-encrusted, and radiant mountain was there.
चंदनैः पारिजातैश्च नागपुन्नागचंपकैः ९.
It was adorned with sandalwood, parijata, naga, punnaga, and campaka trees.
महाशैलं दृष्ट्वा ते सुरसत्तमाः ९.
Seeing that great mountain, the foremost among the gods,
अद्रे सुरा वयं सर्वे विज्ञप्तुमिह चागताः ९.
said, 'O mountain, we gods have all come here to make a request.'
एवमुक्तस्तदा शैलो दवैर्दैत्यैः स मंदरः ९.
Thus addressed by the gods and demons, that Mandara mountain replied.
तेन रूपेण रूपी स पर्वतो मंदराचलः ९.
Assuming that very form, the mountain Mandara appeared.
तदा बलिरुवाचेदं प्रस्तावसदृशं वचः ९.
Then Bali spoke these words, appropriate to the occasion.
अस्माभिः सह कार्यार्थे भव त्वं मंदराचल ९.
'Mandara mountain, join with us in this task.'
तथेति मत्वा तद्वाक्यं देवानां कार्यसिद्धये ९.
Thinking thus, and accepting their words for the accomplishment of the gods' purpose,
छेदितौ च त्वया पक्षौ वज्रेण शतपर्वणा ९.
'Your wings were cut off by the thunderbolt with a hundred edges.'