ततश्च श्रपयामास सुसमिद्धे हुताशने ६.९०.
Then, on a well-kindled fire, he began to cook it.
समादाय पितॄंस्तर्प्य यावदग्नौ जुहोति सः
Taking it, he offered it in the fire, satisfying the ancestors as he made the oblation.
गतश्चादर्शनं सद्यः सर्वेषां क्षितिवासिनाम्
He immediately became invisible to all the inhabitants of the earth.
एतस्मिन्नंतरे वह्नौ मर्त्यलोकाद्विनिर्गते
Meanwhile, as the fire departed from the realm of mortals,
एतस्मिन्नंतरे देवा ब्रह्मविष्णुपुरः सराः
At that moment, the gods, led by Brahma and Vishnu,
अथ तैर्भ्रममाणैश्च प्रदृष्टोऽभूद्गजो महान्
Then, as they wandered, they saw a great elephant.
अथ देवा गजं दृष्ट्वा पप्रच्छुस्त्वरयाऽन्विताः
The gods, seeing the elephant, questioned it with urgency.
वंशस्तंबेऽत्र संकीर्णे संप्रविष्टो हुताशनः
The fire entered into a dense bamboo clump there.
अथ तैर्वेष्टितस्तस्मिन्वंशस्तंबे हुताशनः
Then, surrounded by them, the fire was within the bamboo clump.
यस्मात्त्वयाहमादिष्टो देवानां वारणाधम
Because you commanded me, O lowest among elephants of the gods,
एवं शप्त्वा गजं शीघ्रं नष्टो वैश्वानरः पुनः ६.९०.
Thus cursing the elephant, the fire vanished swiftly once again.
अथ दृष्टः शुकस्तैश्च भ्रममाणैर्महावने
Then, as they wandered in the great forest, they saw a parrot.
शुक उवाच एतस्मिंस्तिष्ठते वह्निरश्वत्थे सुरसत्तमाः
The parrot said: 'O best of gods, the fire remains here in the ashvattha tree.'
अत्रस्थो यः कुलायो म आसीच्छिशुसमन्वितः
Here was a nest, accompanied by young ones.
तच्छ्रुत्वा तैः सुरैः सर्वैः शमीगर्भः स तत्क्षणात्
Hearing this, all the gods immediately entered the womb of the shami tree.
अहं यस्मात्त्वया पाप देवानां संनिवेदितः
Because you, O sinner, informed the gods about me,
एवमुक्त्वा जातवेदा देवादर्शनवांछया
Having spoken thus, Jataveda, desiring to be seen by the gods,
जलाशयं सुगम्भीरं पूर्वोत्तरदिक्संस्थितम्
He entered a deep lake situated in the northeast direction.
एतस्मिन्नंतरे तत्र मत्स्यकच्छपदर्दुराः
Meanwhile, there were fish, turtles, and frogs there.
अथ चैकोऽर्धनिर्दग्ध आयुःशेषेण दर्दुरः
Then, one frog, half-burned and with only a remnant of life,
पृष्टश्च ब्रूहि चेद्भेक त्वया दृष्टो हुताशनः ६.९०.
If you have been asked, O frog, then tell us: have you seen the Fire-god?
अस्मिञ्जलाशये वह्निः सांप्रतं पर्यवस्थितः
At this very moment, the fire is present in this reservoir of water.
अस्माकं निधनं प्राप्तं कुटुम्बं सुरसत्तमाः
Our destruction has come, O best of the gods, along with our families.
तच्छ्रुत्वा ते सुराः सर्वे सर्वतस्तं जलाशयम्
Hearing this, all the gods surrounded that reservoir from every side.
यस्माद्भेक त्वया मूढ देवेभ्योऽहं निवेदितः
Because of you, O foolish frog, I have been reported to the gods.
एवमुक्त्वा ततः स्थानात्ततो वह्निर्विनिर्गतः
Having spoken thus, the fire then departed from that place.
भोभो वह्ने किमर्थं त्वं देवान्दृष्ट्वा प्रगच्छसि
O Fire, why do you go away upon seeing the gods?
त्वय्याहुतिर्हुता सम्यगादित्यमुपतिष्ठते
When an offering is properly made to you, it reaches the Sun.
तस्माद्धाता विधाता च त्वमेव जगतः स्थितः
Therefore, you alone are the creator and the ordainer, the sustainer of the world.
अग्निष्टोमादिका यज्ञास्त्वयि सर्वे प्रतिष्ठिताः
All sacrifices, beginning with Agniṣṭoma, are established in you.