ततस्तरीतु कामास्ते क्लिश्यमाना इतस्ततः
Then, those desires, tormented here and there,
गच्छता तेन मार्गेण मखे दक्षप्रजापतेः जगामाथ समुल्लंघ्य ऐश्वर्यमदगर्वितः॥६.७९.
while he was going along that path to the sacrifice of Daksha Prajapati, he proceeded, crossing over, intoxicated with the pride of power.
निवृत्य स्वाश्रमं गत्वा चक्रुर्मंत्रं सनिश्चयम्
Turning back, they went to their own hermitage and made a firm decision with a mantra.
शाक्रं पदं समासाद्य यस्मादेतेन पाप्मना
Having reached the seat of Indra, from which, by this sinner,
अन्यः शक्रः प्रकर्तव्यो मंत्रवीर्यसमुद्भवः
another Indra must be created, arising from the power of mantra.
येन व्यापाद्यते तेन शक्रोऽयं मदगर्वितः
By whom this Indra, intoxicated with pride, will be destroyed.
ततस्ते शुचयो भूत्वा स्कंदसूक्तेन पावकम्
Then, having become pure, they invoked Fire with the Skanda hymn.
गर्भोपनिषदेनैव नीलरुद्रैर्द्विजोत्तमाः
With the Garbhopanishad and by the blue Rudras, O best of twice-born,
निधाय कलशं मध्ये मंडलस्योदकावृतम्
placing a water-filled pot in the center of the altar,
एतस्मिन्नंतरे शक्रः प्रपश्यति सुदारुणान्
Meanwhile, Indra beheld extremely dreadful omens.
वामो बाहुश्च नेत्रं च मुहुः स्फुरति चास्य वै
His left arm and eye kept twitching repeatedly.
शिरोहीनां तथा छायां गगने भास्करद्वयम् ६.७९.
He saw a headless shadow and two suns in the sky.
न च मंदं न चाकाशे संस्थितां स्वर्धुनीं हरिः
Nor did Hari see the slow-flowing heavenly river established in the sky.
मुक्तकेशीं विवस्त्रां च कृष्णदंतां भयानकाम्
He saw a woman with loose hair, unclothed, with black teeth, terrifying.
पप्रच्छ भयसंत्रस्तः किमेतदिति मे गुरो
Frightened with fear, he asked, 'What is this, O my teacher?'
किं मे भविष्यति प्राज्ञ विनाशः सांप्रतं वद
'What will happen to me, O wise one? Tell me now if destruction awaits.'
उल्लंघिताः स्थिता मार्गे गोष्पदं तर्त्तुमिच्छवः
Those who have crossed over and stand on the path, wishing to cross a cow's hoofprint,
तैरेवाथर्वणैर्मंत्रैस्त्वकृतेऽस्ति शचीपते
By those Atharvan mantras alone, O lord of Shachi, it is not for your sake.
युष्माकं सुविनाशाय सर्वदेवाधिनायकः
The lord of all the gods seeks your utter destruction.
तस्य तद्वचनं श्रुत्वा सहस्राक्षो भयान्वितः
Hearing those words, Indra, the thousand-eyed, was seized with fear.
अस्मन्नाशाय मुनिभिर्वालखिल्यैः प्रजापते
O Lord of Creatures, the sages known as the Vālakhilyas are working for our ruin.
तान्वारय स्वयं गत्वा यावन्नो जायते परः ६.७९.
Go yourself and restrain them before another is born.
अथ दक्षो द्रुतं गत्वा शक्राद्यैरमरैर्वृतः
Then Daksha quickly went, surrounded by Indra and the other immortals.
किमेतत्क्रियते विप्राः कर्म रौद्रतमं महत्
"What is this great and most terrible act you are performing, O sages?"
अथ ते दक्षमालोक्य समायातं स्वमाश्रयम्
Seeing Daksha, their own patron, arrive,
अर्घ्यं दत्त्वा यथान्यायं पूजां कृत्वाथ भक्तितः
they offered him water for welcome, performed worship as was proper, and showed devotion.
आदेशो दीयतां शीघ्रं यदर्थमिह चागतः
"Let the purpose for which you have come be stated at once."
दक्ष उवाच एतद्रौद्रतमं कर्म सर्वदेवभयावहम्
Daksha said: "This is a most terrible act, causing fear to all the gods."
उल्लंघिता मदोद्रेकात्कृत्वा हास्यं मुहुर्मुहुः
"He has repeatedly mocked me, overstepping in his arrogance."
शक्रोच्छेदाय चास्माभिः शकोऽन्यो वीर्यमंत्रतः
"To destroy Indra, we have empowered another by the strength of mantras."