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.
स्वकर्मपरिपाकस्य फलदं वै विदुर्बुधाः २१.
The wise know that the fruits of one's actions ripen accordingly.
पुण्येन तत्र सोख्यं स्याद्दृःखं पापेन निश्चितम् मदुक्तं वचनं सर्वं यदि मंतुमिहार्हसि॥ २१.
Through virtue there is happiness there; through sin, surely suffering. If you are to consider all my words here.
मामत्र संस्थितं दृष्ट्वा कालनेमिमुखैर्युतम्॥ २१.
Seeing me standing here, surrounded by the faces of Kālanemi and others—
कस्येह न व्यथेद्बुर्मृत्योरपि जिवांसतः २१.
Who here would not be shaken, even among the living, by the face of death?
ब्रवीषि यद्यत्त्वं वाक्यं ततथैव न संशयः २१.
Whatever you say, let it be so—there is no doubt.
कर्तुमुत्सहते लोके दृष्ट्वा संप्रस्थितं जगत् २१.
Who in this world is able to act, seeing the world itself setting forth?
कालाग्नावाहितं घोरे गुह्ये सततगत्वरे २१.
Cast into the dreadful fire of time, always hidden in the secret passage—
कालो हरति संप्राप्ते नदीवेग इवोन्मुखान् २१.
When time arrives, it sweeps away those who are eager, like a river's current.
कालेन ह्रियमाणानां प्रलापः श्रूयते नृणाम् २१.
As people are carried off by time, their lamentations are heard.
स्पृहामोहातिवादेषु लोकः सक्तो न बुध्यते २१.
Absorbed in longing, delusion, and excessive talk, the world does not awaken.