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.
एतच्छ्रुत्वा वचः सत्यं वृत्रस्य च महात्नः १७.
Hearing these true words of the great Vritra,
अपोवाह्य गजस्थं हि परिवार्य भयातुराः १७.
they, terrified, surrounded him and carried him away as he sat upon the elephant.
ततो गतेषु देवेषु ननर्त च महासुरः १७.
Then, when the gods had departed, the great asura began to dance.
चचाल च मही सर्वा सशैलवनकानना १७.
The entire earth trembled, with its mountains, forests, and groves.
श्रुत्वा प्रयातं देवेंद्रं ब्रह्मा लोकपितामहः अस्पृशल्लब्धसंज्ञोऽभूत्तत्क्षणाच्च पुरंदरः॥ १७.
Hearing that the lord of the gods had departed, Brahma, the grandsire of the worlds, touched him, and Purandara regained consciousness at that very moment.
दृष्ट्वा पितामहं चाग्रे व्रीडायुक्तोऽभवत्तदा १७.
Seeing the grandsire before him, he then became filled with shame.
वृत्रो हि तपसा युक्तो ब्रह्मचर्यव्रते स्थितः अजेयस्तपसोग्रेण तस्मात्त्वं तपसा जय॥ १७.
For Vritra, endowed with ascetic power and steadfast in the vow of celibacy, is invincible due to his fierce austerity; therefore, you must conquer him by austerity.
वृत्रासुरो दैत्यपतिश्च शक्र ते समाधिना परमेणैव जय्यः १७.
Vritra the asura, lord of the daityas, O Shakra, can only be conquered by you through supreme concentration.
स्तुत्या तदातं स्तवमानो महात्मा पुरंदरो गुरुणा नोदितो हि॥ १७.
Then Purandara, the great-souled one, praised him with hymns, having been urged by his teacher.
नमो भर्गाय देवाय देवानामतिदुर्गम १७.
Salutations to Bharga, the god, exceedingly difficult for even the gods to approach.