यदा हि ते दैत्यवराः सुरेशैर्निहन्यमानाश्च विदुद्रुवुर्दिशः १७.
When those foremost Daityas were being struck down by the lords of the gods, they fled in all directions.
वृत्रेण कोपिना चैवं धिक्कृता दैत्यपुंगवाः १७.
Thus, the leading Daityas were reproached by the angry Vṛtra.
हे धूम्राक्ष महाकाल महादैत्य वृकासुर १७.
O Dhūmrākṣa, Mahākāla, great Daitya, Vṛkāsura,
स्वर्गद्वारं विहायैव क्षत्रियाणां मनस्विनाम् १७.
Abandoning the gateway to heaven, O noble-minded kṣatriyas,
संगरे मरणं येषां ते यांति परमं पदम् १७.
Those for whom death occurs in battle attain the highest state.
त्यजन्ति संगरं ये वै ते यांति निरयं ध्रुवम्॥ १७.
But those who abandon the fight certainly go to hell.
ये ब्राह्मणार्थे भृत्यार्थे स्वार्थे वै शस्त्रपाणयः १७.
Those who, for the sake of a brāhmaṇa, a servant, or themselves, take up arms,
शस्त्रघातहता ये वै मृता वा संगरे तथा १७.
Those who are struck down by weapons or die in battle,
शस्त्रैर्विच्छिन्नदेहा ये गवार्थे स्वामिकारणात् १७.
Those whose bodies are cut apart by weapons for the sake of cows or their master,
तस्माद्रणेऽपि ये शूराः पापिनो निहताः पुरः १७.
Therefore, even those sinful ones who are slain in battle, if they are brave,
अथवा तीर्थगमनं वेदाध्ययनमेव च १७.
Alternatively, pilgrimage to sacred places and the study of the Vedas—
ऐकपद्येन तान्येव कलां नार्हंति षोडशीम् १७.
Even all these together do not equal a sixteenth part of it.
तस्माद्युद्धावदानं च कर्तव्यमविशंकितैः १७.
Therefore, acts of valor in battle should be performed without hesitation.
यूयं सर्वे शौरवृत्त्या समेताः कुलेन शीलेन महानुभावाः १७.
All of you, united by courage, noble lineage, and virtue, are truly great souls.
त एव सर्वे खलु पापलोकान्गच्छंति नूनं वचनात्स्मृतेश्च॥ १७.
Indeed, all those very ones surely go to evil worlds, as declared by scripture and tradition.
ये पापिष्ठास्त्वधर्म्मस्था ब्रह्मघ्ना गुरुतल्पगाः १७.
Those who are most sinful, unrighteous, slayers of Brahmins, or violators of their teacher's bed—
तस्माद्भवद्भिर्योद्धव्यं स्वामिकार्यभरक्षमैः १७.
Therefore, you must fight, bearing your master's cause with steadfastness.
चक्रुस्ते वचंनं तस्य असुराश्च सुरान्प्रति १७.
The Asuras accepted his words and advanced against the Devas.
तस्मिन्प्रवृत्ते तुमुले विगाढे वृत्रो महादैत्यपतिः स एकः १७.
As that fierce and deep battle began, Vṛtra, the mighty lord of the Daityas, stood alone.
श्रृणु वाक्यं मया चोक्तं धर्म्मार्थसहितं हितम् १७.
Hear the words I have spoken, which are righteous, beneficial, and just.
किंबलार्थपरो भूत्वा विश्वरूपो हतस्त्वया १७.
Why, having become intent on trivial gain, did you slay Viśvarūpa?
ये दीर्घदर्शिनो मंदा मूढा धर्मबहिष्कृताः तत्सर्वं विद्धि देवेंद्र मनसा संप्रधार्यताम्॥ १७.
Those who are shortsighted, foolish, deluded, and cast out from righteousness—know all this, O lord of the gods, and consider it in your mind.
तस्माद्धर्म्मपरो भूत्वा युध्यस्व गतकल्मषः १७.
Therefore, being devoted to righteousness, fight, freed from all sin.
मा प्रयाहि स्थिरो भूत्वा देवैश्च परिवारितः ऐरावतं समारुह्य ययौ वृत्रजिघांसया॥ १७.
Do not depart; stand firm, surrounded by the gods. Mounting Airāvata, he went forth, intent on slaying Vṛtra.
इंद्रमायांतमालोक्य वृत्रो बलवतां वरः १७.
Seeing Indra approaching, Vṛtra, the foremost among the mighty,
आदौ मां प्रहरस्वेति तस्मात्त्वां घातयाम्यहम्॥ १७.
Said, 'Strike me first; therefore, I shall kill you.'
इत्येवमुक्तो देवेंद्रो जघान गदया भृशम् १७.
Thus addressed, Indra struck him fiercely with his mace.
तामापतंतिं जग्राह करेणैकेन लीलया १७.
As it came hurtling toward him, he caught it effortlessly with one hand.
सा गदा पातयामास सवज्रं च पुरंदरम् १७.
She struck down Purandara, along with his thunderbolt, with that mace.
नयध्वं स्वामिनं देवाः स्वपुरीममरावतीम्॥ १७.
Gods, take your lord to your own city, Amaravati.