पर्यायैर्हन्यमानानामभिहंता न विद्यते २१.
For those who are killed in turn, there is no slayer.
ऋषींश्च देवांश्च महासुरांश्च त्रैविद्यवृद्धांश्च वने मुनींश्च २१.
The sages, the gods, the great demons, the elders versed in the three Vedas, and the ascetics in the forest,
न मंत्रबलवीर्येण प्रज्ञया पौरुषेण वा २१.
Not by the power of mantras, nor by strength, nor by wisdom, nor by valor,
न मातृपितृशुश्रूषा न च दैवतपूजनम् २१.
Not by service to mother and father, nor by worship of the deities,
न विद्या न तपो दानं न मित्राणि न वांधवाः २१.
Neither knowledge, nor austerity, nor charity, nor friends, nor relatives—
नागामिगमनार्थं हि प्रतिघातशतैरपि २१.
Even for the purpose of going to the next world, not by hundreds of obstacles—
देहवत्पुण्यकर्माणि जीववत्काल उच्यते २१.
Righteous deeds are bound to the body; time is said to be bound to the living.
अहो दैत्य त्वद्विशिष्टा दैत्यानां कोटयः पुरा २१.
Ah, demon! In the past, there were millions of demons superior to you.
इदं तु लब्ध्वा त्वं स्थानमात्मानं बहु मन्यसे २१.
Having obtained this position, you esteem yourself greatly.
न चेदमचलं स्थानमनंतं चापि कस्यचित् २१.
But this position is neither unshakable nor endless for anyone.
अविश्वास्ये विश्वसिषि मन्यसे चाऽध्रुवं ध्रुवम् २१.
You trust in what is untrustworthy, and consider what is impermanent as permanent.
नेयं तव न चास्माकं न चान्येषां स्थिरा मता २१.
This is not yours, nor ours, nor is it considered stable for others.
कंचित्कालमियं स्थित्वा त्वयि तारक चंचला २१.
For some time, this position remains with you, Tāraka, but it is fickle.
सरत्नौषदिसंपन्नं ससरित्पर्वताकरम् २१.
With gems, herbs, rivers, and mountains abounding—
हिरण्यकशिपुर्वीरो हिरण्याक्षश्च दुर्जयः २१.
Hiraṇyakaśipu, the mighty hero, and Hiraṇyākṣa, difficult to conquer—
कीर्तिः शूरश्च वीरश्च वातापिरिल्वलस्तथा २१.
Fame, valor, heroism, and also Vātāpi and Ilvala—
विश्वजित्प्रमुखाश्चान्ये दानवेंद्रा महाबलाः २१.
Others, headed by Viśvajit, powerful chiefs of the demons—
सर्वैर्वर्षायुतं तप्तं न त्वमेको महातपाः २१.
All performed austerities for ten thousand years; not you alone, O great ascetic.
सर्वे यथार्हदातारः सर्वे दाक्षायणीसुताः २१.
All were generous as deserved; all were sons of Dākṣāyaṇī.
मुंचेच्छां कामभोगेषु मुंचेमं श्रीभवं मदम् २१.
Let us abandon desire for sensual pleasures; let us abandon pride in prosperity.
शोककाले शुचो मात्वं हर्षकाले च मा हृषः २१.
In times of sorrow, do not grieve; in times of joy, do not exult.
इंद्रं चेदागतः कालः सदा युक्त मतंद्रितम् २१.
If the appointed time has come, O Indra, always be steadfast and undisturbed.
को हि स्थातुमलं लोके मम क्रुद्धस्य संयुगे २१.
For who in this world is truly able to stand against me in battle when I am enraged?
त्वमेव वेत्सि मां दैत्य योहं यादृक्पराक्रमः २१.
You alone, O demon, know me—what kind of power I possess.
येषां त्वं कोटिभागेऽपि परिपूर्णो न तारक २१.
Even in a fraction of your strength, O Tāraka, you are not complete.
इच्छन्संजीवयाम्येतदनिच्छन्नाशये क्षणात् २१.
If I wish, I restore life to this one; if I do not wish, I destroy him in an instant.
अंगुल्यग्रेण दैत्येंद्र पुनर्धर्मं नलोपये २१.
With just the tip of my finger, O lord of demons, I can again remove righteousness.
लोपयामि ततः कं च धर्मोऽयं शरणं व्रजेत् २१.
Then, whomever I remove, this righteousness will seek refuge elsewhere.
सोऽयं कालः पचेद्विश्वं वृक्षे फलमिवागतम् २१.
Now that time has come which cooks the universe, like a fruit ripening on a tree.
प्राप्नोति पुरुषो दैत्य पश्य कालस्य चित्रताम् २१.
A person attains, O demon, whatever is due—behold the variety of time.