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.
तं गत्वा प्रार्थयाशु त्वं स्वान्यस्थीनि प्रदास्यति
Go quickly to him and ask; he will give you his own bones.
ततः शक्रः सुरैः सार्धं गत्वा तस्य तदाश्रमम्
Then Śakra, together with the gods, went to his hermitage.
स प्रणम्य सहस्राक्षं तथान्यानपि सन्मुनिः ६.८.
That great sage, having bowed to the thousand-eyed one and the others as well,
ततः प्रोवाच हृष्टात्मा विनयावनतः स्थितः
Then, standing there with a joyful heart and humble demeanor, he spoke.
दधीचिरुवाच किमर्थमागता देवाः कृत्यं चाशु निवेद्यताम्
Dadhīci said: For what purpose have the gods come? Quickly tell me what must be done.
स वध्यो नहि शस्त्राणां सर्वेषां वरपुष्टितः
He cannot be slain by any weapons, for he is protected by a boon.
सोऽस्थिसंभववज्रस्य वध्यः स्यादब्रवीद्धरिः
But Hari said: He can be killed by a thunderbolt made from bone.
त्वां मुक्त्वा ब्राह्मणश्रेष्ठ तस्मादस्थीनि यच्छ नः
O best of Brāhmaṇas, except for you, therefore give us your bones.
कुरु कृत्यं द्विजश्रेष्ठ देवानामार्तिनाशनम्
O foremost of twice-born, do this deed that will remove the gods’ distress.
तच्छ्रुत्वा संप्रहृष्टात्मा दधीचिर्भगवान्मुनिः
Hearing this, the venerable sage Dadhīci was filled with joy.