पुण्यं चाथाक्षयं लब्ध्वा पुनर्याताः सुरालयम्
Having obtained merit and imperishable reward, the gods returned again to their abode.
येऽस्यां कुर्युर्महाभागाः स्नानं दानं तथार्चनम् 5.1.42.
Those fortunate ones who perform bathing, giving, and worship in this city,
तस्मात्सर्वप्रयत्नेन एतत्कार्यं सदा बुधैः
Therefore, with all effort, this should always be done by the wise.
कल्पेकल्पे च यस्यां वै तेनावंती पुरी स्मृता
In every age, this city is remembered as Avanti.
इत्युक्त्वा वै तदा देवाः स्वधाम परमं गताः
Having thus spoken, the gods then went to their supreme abode.
य एतां सुकथां दिव्यां पुण्यां च पापहारिणीम्
Whoever recites this auspicious, divine, and meritorious tale, which removes sin,
अपुत्रो लभते पुत्रमधनो धनमाप्नुयात्
A man without a son obtains a son; a poor man acquires wealth.
पुण्यं लब्ध्वा नरो नित्यं शिवलोके महीयते
Having gained merit, a person is always honored in the realm of Shiva.
तथाहं संप्रवक्ष्यामि शृणुष्व त्वं समाहितः
Thus I shall now explain; listen attentively with concentration.
त्रिपुराख्यो महादैत्यः सर्वदैत्यजनेश्वरः
Tripura, the great demon, was always the lord of all the demon clans.
आतपे चाग्निसेवां वै प्रावृषि मेघडंबरम्
In the heat, he served fire; in the rainy season, he endured the tumult of clouds.
शीर्णपत्र जलाहारो वायुभक्षी निराश्रयः
He ate fallen leaves and drank water, consumed air, and lived without shelter.
एवं वर्षसहस्रं तु तपस्तप्तं सुदुश्चरम्
In this way, for a thousand years, he performed austerities that were extremely difficult.
व्रियतां भोऽसुरश्रेष्ठ वरं मत्तोभिवांछितम्
Choose, O best of demons, a boon you desire from me.
एवमुक्तः स विधिना दैत्यस्त्रिपुरसंज्ञितः त्रिपुर उवाच देवदानगंधर्वपिशाचोरगराक्षसैः
Thus addressed by the Creator, the demon named Tripura spoke: 'With gods, celestial beings, gandharvas, spirits, serpents, and rakshasas...'
इत्युक्त्वा सहसा ब्रह्मा तत्रैवांतरधीयत
Having said this, Brahma suddenly vanished from that place.
तदारभ्य महादैत्यो देवानां कदनं महत् 5.1.43.
From that time, the great demon began a vast slaughter of the gods.
वासयित्वा यत्र तत्र त्रिपुराणि चराणि च
He settled Tripura and other moving cities wherever he wished.
तेषां वै कदनं चक्रे नानोपायेन पापधीः
He committed slaughter among them by various means, his mind corrupted.
न जुहुयुश्चाग्निहोत्रं सोमपानं न कर्हिचित्
They never performed fire sacrifices nor drank soma at any time.
स्वाहाकारस्वधाकारवषट्कारविवर्जिताः
They were devoid of the utterances 'svāhā', 'svadhā', and 'vaṣaṭ'.
देवतायतनं नास्ति तथा नो शिवपूजनम्
There were no temples for the gods, nor any worship of Shiva.
सदाचारजनो नास्ति दया मानविवर्जिता
There were no people of good conduct; compassion and respect for humanity were absent.
एवं व्यास पुरे तस्मिन्नष्टप्रायमिदं जगत्
Thus, Vyasa, in that city, this world was nearly destroyed.
तेन देवगणाः सर्वे हतप्राया हतौजसः
Because of him, all the hosts of gods were nearly destroyed, their strength overcome.
अन्योन्यकृतसंधाना मंत्रं कृत्वा समा हिताः 5.1.43.
Having formed an alliance with one another, they consulted together and took counsel.
त्रिदशाः कथयामासुरात्मव्यसनकारणम्
The gods began to speak about the cause of their own distress.
जगाम त्रिदशैः सार्धं महाकालवनोतमम्
He went together with the gods to the most excellent Mahakala forest.
यत्रावंती पुरी दिव्या सर्वतीर्थनिषेविता
There is the divine city of Avanti, honored by all sacred waters.
स्नानं दानं जपं होमं कृत्वा रुद्रसरे तदा
There, after performing bathing, giving, recitation, and offering in the lake of Rudra,