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.
कथं गतिर्भवेत्तत्र मम ब्रूहि यथातथम्
Tell me truly, how can I attain that goal?
येन शक्रं विरंचिं च सूदयिष्ये तथाखिलम्
By which I will destroy Śakra, Brahmā, and all the rest.
तस्मात्त्रैलोक्यराज्येन संतोषं कर्तुम र्हसि
Therefore, you ought to be content with the sovereignty of the three worlds.
तस्मान्निष्कंटकार्थाय यतिष्येऽहं द्विजोत्तम ॥ ६.८.
Therefore, O best of twice-born, I will strive for a purpose free from thorns.
कथं शक्रस्य संजाता गतिस्तत्र भृगूद्वह
How did that state arise for Śakra there, O best of Bhṛgus?
यावद्वर्षसहस्रांतं ध्यायमानेन शंकरम्
By meditating on Śaṅkara until a thousand years had passed,
तत्प्रभावाद्गतिस्तस्य तत्र जाता सदैव हि
By that power, his state was indeed always established there.
योऽन्योऽपि नैमिषारण्ये तद्रूपं कुरुते तपः
Whoever else performs such austerity in Naimiṣāraṇya,
तपश्चक्रे ततस्तीव्रं ध्यायमानो महेश्वरम्
He performed intense austerity, meditating on Maheśvara.
त्रैलोक्यरक्षणार्थाय संनिरूप्य दनूत्त मान्
Having considered the best of the Dānavas for the protection of the three worlds,
वर्षास्वाकाशस्थायी स हेमन्ते सलिलाश्रयः
In the rains, he remained in the open sky; in winter, he resorted to water.
एवं तस्य व्रतस्थस्य जग्मुर्वर्षशतानि च
Thus, for him who observed the vow, hundreds of years passed by.
चक्रुश्च सततं मंत्रं तद्विनाशाय केवलम्
And they constantly recited a mantra solely for his destruction.
अथाब्रवीत्स्वयं विष्णुश्चिरं निश्चित्य चेतसा ॥ वधोपायं समालोक्य वृत्रस्य प्रमुदान्वितः । ६.८.
Then Viṣṇu himself spoke, having long deliberated in his mind, joyfully discerning the means for Vṛtra's death:
तच्छ्रुत्वा कुरु शीघ्रं त्वमुपायो नास्ति कश्चन
Hearing this, act quickly; there is no other means at all.
अवध्यः सर्वशस्त्राणां स कृतः शूलपाणिना
He has been made invulnerable to all weapons by the trident-wielder.
गजस्य शरभस्याथ किं वान्यस्य वदस्व मे
Tell me, is it from an elephant, a śarabha, or something else?
मध्ये क्षामं तु पार्श्वाभ्यां स्थूलं रौद्रसमाकृति
In the middle thin, but thick at the sides, of a fierce appearance,
यस्यास्थिभिर्विधीयेत वजमेवंविधाकृति
From whose bones alone a thunderbolt of such form could be fashioned.
द्विगुणं च तथा दीर्घः सरस्वत्यां कृताश्रमः
Twice as long, and so tall, he performed austerity on the Sarasvatī.