मेरुमूर्ध्नि पुरा पृथ्वी समवेतान्दिवौकसः
Once, atop Mount Meru, the earth gathered with the celestial beings.
ततो ब्रह्मा प्राह विष्णुं भगवंस्त्वमिदं शृणु
Then Brahmā spoke to Viṣṇu, 'O Lord, listen to this.'
ततस्तथेति तन्मेने वचनं विष्णुरव्ययः
Viṣṇu, the imperishable, replied, 'So be it,' and accepted his words.
सूर्यवर्चेति यक्षेंद्रश्चतुराशीतिकोटिपः
Yakṣendra, called Sūryavarca, possessed eighty-four crore followers.
मयि तिष्ठति दोषाणामनेकानां महास्पदे 1.2.66.
While I remain, the abode of countless faults is vast.
अहमेकोऽवतीर्यैतान्हनिष्यामि भुवो भरान्
I alone will descend and destroy these burdens of the earth.
इत्युक्तवचने ब्रह्मा क्रुद्धस्तं समभाषत
When these words were spoken, Brahmā, angered, addressed him.
स्वसाध्यं ब्रूषे मोहात्त्वं शापयोग्योऽसि बालिश
You speak your own accomplishment out of delusion; you are fit to be cursed, O foolish one.
अविचार्यैव प्रभुषु वक्ति सोऽर्हति दंडनम्
He who speaks rashly to the mighty deserves punishment.
शरीरनाशं कृष्णात्त्वमवाप्स्यसि न संशयः
You will obtain destruction of your body from Kṛṣṇa, without doubt.
यद्येवं भविता नाशस्तदेकं देव प्रार्थये
If thus destruction is destined, O Lord, I request but one thing from you.
ततस्तथेति तं प्राह केशवो देवसंसदि
Then, in the assembly of the gods, Keśava said to him, 'So be it.'
इत्युक्त्वा चावतीर्णोऽसौ सह देवैर्हरिस्तदा
Having spoken thus, Hari descended together with the gods at that time.
सूर्यवर्चाः स चायं हि निहतो भैमिपुत्रकः तस्माद्दोषो न कृष्णेऽस्मिन्द्रष्टव्यः सर्वभू मिपैः
This son of Bhima, radiant like the sun, has been slain; therefore, no fault should be found in Krishna by all beings, O Indra.
यद्येनमधुना नैव हन्यां ब्रह्मवचोऽन्यथा
If I do not kill him now, the word of Brahma would be rendered false.
गुप्तक्षेत्रे मयैवाऽसौ नियुक्तो देव्यनुस्मृतौ
He was appointed by me in a hidden place, remembered by the goddess.
इत्युक्ते चंडिका देवी तदा भक्तशिरस्त्विदम्
When these words were spoken, the goddess Caṇḍikā then addressed the devoted head thus.
यथा राहुशिरस्तद्वत्तच्छिरः प्रणनाम तान्
Just as the head of Rāhu, so that head bowed to them.
ततः कृष्णो वचः प्राह मेघगंभीरवाक्प्रभुः
Then Krishna, the lord with a voice deep as thunderclouds, spoke these words.
तावत्त्वं सर्वलोकानां वत्स पूज्यो भविष्यसि
From now on, child, you will be worshipped by all the worlds.
स्वभक्तानां च लोकेषु देवीनां दास्यसे स्थितिम् पिटकास्ताः सुखेनैव शामयिष्यसि पूजनात्
Among the people, you will grant stability to the devotees of the goddesses; those altars you will pacify with ease through worship.
इदं च शृंगमारुह्य पश्य युद्धं यथा भवेत्
Now, ascend this peak and witness how the battle unfolds.
धावंतः कौरवास्त्वस्मान्वयं यामस्त्वमूनिति
The Kauravas are fleeing from us; we are pursuing them, and you are watching them.
बर्बरीकशिरश्चैव गिरिशृंगमवाप्य तत् ततो युद्धं महदभूत्कुरुपांडवसेनयोः ।।1.2.66.
Barbarika's head, having reached the mountain peak, then witnessed the great battle between the armies of the Kurus and the Pandavas.
अष्टादशाहेन हता ये च द्रोणवृषादयः
Within eighteen days, those like Droṇa and Vṛṣa were slain.
युधिष्ठिरो ज्ञातिमध्ये गोविंदं समभाषत
Yudhiṣṭhira, among his kin, addressed Govinda.
त्वयैव नाथेन हरे नमस्ते पुरुषोत्तम
O Hari, O supreme person, salutations to you, our protector.
येन ध्वस्ता धार्तराष्ट्रास्तं निराकृत्य मां नृप
By whom the Dhārtarāṣṭras were destroyed, having dismissed me, O king.
धृष्टद्युम्नं फाल्गुनं च सात्यकिं मां च पांडव
Dhṛṣṭadyumna, Phālguna, Sātyaki, and myself, O Pāṇḍava,
न मया न त्वया पार्थ नान्येनाप्यरयो हताः
Neither by me nor by you, Pārtha, nor by anyone else were the enemies slain.