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.
ततो देवाः प्रहृष्टास्ते गृहीत्वास्थीनि कृत्स्नशः
Then the delighted gods took all his bones.
अथ शक्रस्तदादाय नैमिषाभिमुखो ययौ
Then Śakra, taking them, set out towards Naimiṣa.
तत्र ध्यानस्थितं वृत्रं दूरस्थस्त्रिदशाधिपः ६.८.
There, the lord of the gods saw Vṛtra, absorbed in meditation, from a distance.
सोऽपि वजप्रहारेण भस्मसात्सम पद्यत
He too was reduced to ashes by the blow of the thunderbolt.
शक्रोऽपि भयसंत्रस्तो गत्वा सागरमध्यगम्
Śakra, terrified with fear, went to the middle of the ocean.
न जानाति हतं वृत्रं वज्रघातेन तेन तम्
He did not know that Vṛtra had been killed by that strike of the thunderbolt.
एतस्मिन्नंतरे देवाः संप्रहृष्टतनूरुहाः । सूत्रं विनिहतं दृष्ट्वा तुष्टुवुस्त्रिदशाधिपम्
Meanwhile, the gods, their bodies thrilled with joy, seeing the demon slain, praised the lord of the gods.
न जानंति भयान्नष्टं तस्मिन्सागरपर्वते । अन्विष्य चिरकालेन कृच्छ्रात्संप्राप्य तं ततः
Out of fear, they did not know he was lost on that ocean mountain; after searching for a long time with difficulty, they found him there.
वीक्षांचक्रुः समासीनं विषमे गिरिगह्वरे
They beheld him seated in a rugged mountain cave.
गात्रदुर्गंधितासंगैः पूरयन्तं दिशो दश
Filling the ten directions with the foul odor clinging to his body.