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,
ब्रह्मोवाच देवदेव महादेव भक्तानामभयंकर
Brahma said: O God of gods, great Lord, remover of fear for your devotees,
त्रिपुरोनाम दैत्येंद्रो देवानां कदनं महत्
Tripura, the lord of the demons, has become a great destroyer of the gods.
वासयित्वा पुरस्तिस्रो विस्तीर्णा विचरत्यथ
After establishing three vast cities before him, he now moves about freely.
एवं कृत्वा प्रजाः सर्वाः क्षयं नीताश्चराचराः
Having done so, he has brought all beings, moving and unmoving, to ruin.
ऋषीणामाश्रमाः सर्वे यतीनामायतनानि च ।। एवं कृत्वा सुराः सर्वे भ्रष्टराज्याः पराजिताः ।ऽ
All the hermitages of the sages and the dwellings of ascetics have been destroyed; thus, all the gods, deprived of their kingdoms, have been defeated.
विचरंति यथा मर्त्यास्त्रिपुरेण दुरात्मना ।। 5.1.43.
Now, because of the wicked Tripura, the gods wander as mortals do.
तस्मात्सर्वप्रयत्नेन वधस्तस्य विचिंत्यताम्
Therefore, by every possible effort, let the destruction of that one be considered.
इति श्रुत्वा वचस्तस्य ब्रह्मणः संशितात्मनः
Hearing these words of Brahma, whose mind was resolute,
जयोपायं करिष्यामि दैत्यस्यास्य दुरात्मनः
I will devise a means of victory over this wicked demon.
तपश्चरत यूयं वा आत्मनो जयकांक्षिणः
You all should undertake austerities, desiring your own victory.