अथाऽभूत्पापनिर्मुक्तस्तत्क्षणात्तस्य दर्शनात्
then, freed from sin at that very moment by seeing him,
स दृष्ट्वा तत्प्रभावं तल्लिंगं देवस्य शूलिनः
he, having seen that power, that liṅga of the god with the trident,
यदि कश्चित्पुमानत्र त्रिशंकुरिव भूपतिः
If any man here, like King Triśaṅku,
यापयिष्यति तन्नूनं मामस्मात्त्रिदशालयात् ६.८.
should send me from this abode of the gods,
ततश्च त्वरया युक्तो रक्तशृंगं नगोत्तमम्
then, filled with urgency, to the great mountain Raktaśṛṅga,
कस्मिन्काले च सर्वं नो विस्तरात्सूत कीर्तय
At what time did all this happen? Tell us in detail, Sūta.
रक्तशृंगो गिरिः कोऽयं संक्षिप्तस्तत्र तेन यः
What is this mountain Raktaśṛṅga, which was thus mentioned there?
विवाहिता रमानाम श्रेष्ठरूपगुणान्विता
He married a woman named Ramā, endowed with the best beauty and qualities.
अथ तस्या ययौ कालः सुप्रभूतः सुतं विना
Then, for her, time passed without a son being born.
ध्यायमाना सुराधीशं देवदेवं महेश्वरम्
Meditating on the lord of the gods, the great god Maheśvara,
नियता नियताहारा स्नानजप्यपरायणा
Disciplined, moderate in food, devoted to bathing and recitation,
ततो वर्षसहस्रांते तस्यास्तुष्टो महेश्वरः
Then, at the end of a thousand years, Maheśvara was pleased with her.
सा वव्रे मम पुत्रोऽस्तु भगवंस्त्वत्प्रसादतः
She chose: 'Let me have a son, O Lord, by your grace.'
वेदाध्ययन संपन्नो यज्ञकर्मसमुद्यतः ६.८.
Endowed with Vedic study, intent on sacrificial rites,
अवध्यः सर्वशस्त्राणां महातेजोभिरन्वितः
He was invulnerable to all weapons, endowed with immense brilliance.
यज्वा दानपतिः शूरो वेदवेदांगपारगः अजेयः संगरे चैव कृत्स्नैरपि सुरासुरैः
A performer of sacrifices, a lord of gifts, a hero, accomplished in the Vedas and their branches, unconquerable in battle even by all the gods and demons together.
एवमुक्त्वा स देवेशस्ततश्चादर्शनं गतः
Having spoken thus, the lord of the gods then became invisible.
ततश्च सुषुवे पुत्रं दशमे मासि शोभनम्
Then, in the tenth month, she gave birth to a splendid son.
तस्य चक्रे पिता नाम प्राप्ते द्वादशमे दिने ॥। प्रसिद्धं वृत्र इत्येव पूजयित्वा द्विजोत्तमान्
On the twelfth day after his birth, his father gave him a name—famed as Vṛtra—after honoring the foremost twice-born.
अथासौ ववृधे बालः शुक्लपक्षे यथोडुराट्
Then that boy grew, like the waxing moon in the bright fortnight.
ततोऽस्य प्रददौ काले व्रतं विप्रजनोचितम्
At the proper time, he was given a vow appropriate for the community of Brahmins.
स चापि चतुरो वेदान्ब्रह्मचारिव्रते स्थितः
And he, steadfast in the vow of a student, mastered the four Vedas.
ततो यौवनमासाद्य भूमिपालानशेषतः
Then, upon reaching youth, he subdued all the rulers of the earth.
ततश्चेंद्रजयाकांक्षी समासाय सुरालयम् ६.८.
Desiring victory over Indra, he then set out for the abode of the gods.
अथ तेन समं वज्री चक्रेऽष्टादश संयुगान्
Thereupon, together with him, the wielder of the thunderbolt fought eighteen battles.
हतशेषैः सुरैः सार्धं सर्वांगक्षतविक्षतैः
With the gods, wounded and battered in every limb, the survivors joined the fight.
वृत्रोऽपि बुभुजे कृत्स्नं त्रैलोक्यं सचराचरम्
Vṛtra also enjoyed dominion over the entire three worlds, with all their moving and unmoving beings.
यज्ञभागभुजश्चक्रे दानवान्बल गर्वितान्
He made the proud Dānavas partake of the shares of sacrifice.
एवं त्रैलोक्यराज्येऽपि लब्धे तस्य द्विजोत्तमाः
Thus, even after obtaining sovereignty over the three worlds, O best of twice-born,
ततः शुक्रं समाहूय प्रोवाच मधुरं वचः
Then he summoned Śukra and spoke sweet words.