तथापि तत्समुत्पत्तिं विस्तराद्गदतो मम शृणु व्यास महापुण्यां कथां पौराणिकीं शुभाम्
Nevertheless, Vyasa, listen as I recount in detail the origin of that event—a most auspicious and ancient tale, full of great merit.
पुरा महासुरो जातो हिरण्याक्षो महाबलः
Long ago, there was born a mighty asura named Hiranyaksha, of immense strength.
स चेमां सकलां पृथ्वीं वशीकृत्वा चकार ह
Having brought the entire earth under his control, he ruled over it.
जित्वा च सकलाँल्लोकान्सुरानिंद्रपुरोगमान्
And after conquering all the worlds, including the gods led by Indra,
स सर्वान्सर्वलोकेभ्यः स्वयमेवाधितिष्ठति
He himself assumed dominion over all beings in every world.
विचरंति यथा मर्त्या भ्रष्टराज्याः पराजिताः
The gods, deprived of their kingdoms and defeated, wandered like mortals cast down from power.
तत्र गत्वा नमस्कृत्य दैत्यकृत्यं न्यवेदयन्
Thereupon, they went and, after offering their respects, reported the deeds of the daitya.
येन देवगणाः सर्वे नष्टप्रायाश्च तत्क्षणात् 5.1.52.
By him, all the hosts of gods were nearly destroyed in that very instant.
यज्ञभागांश्च वै सर्वानुपाश्नाति पृथक्पृथक्
And he consumed all the shares of the sacrifices, each one separately.
इति विक्लवितं तेषां देवानां स पितामहः
Seeing the gods in such distress, their grandsire became troubled.
ब्रह्मोवाच शृणुध्वं भोः सुरश्रेष्ठा यूयं सर्वे समाहिताः
Brahma said: 'Hear me, O best of gods, all of you gathered here with focused minds.'
द्वावेव सचिवौ दांतौ विष्णुवेषधरावुभौ
There are only two attendants, both restrained, both bearing the form of Vishnu.
एकदा वै मुनिश्रेष्ठ ब्रह्मणो मानसात्मजाः
Once, O best of sages, the mind-born sons of Brahma—
सनकादयो महाभागा भगवद्दर्शनलालसाः
The greatly fortunate Sanaka and his brothers, eager for a vision of the Blessed Lord—
मुमुहुश्च तदा व्यास कुमारा भृशदुःखिताः
At that time, Vyasa, the young sages became bewildered and deeply distressed.
ददर्श सहसा विष्णुः कुमारान्भुवि दुःखितान्
Suddenly, Vishnu beheld the sorrowful sages upon the earth.
मूर्ध्नि चाघ्राय बाहुभ्यां परिष्वज्य ह्युवाच ह 5.1.52.
He smelled their heads, embraced them with his arms, and spoke to them.
सर्वं तत्कारणं बाला ब्रूत नो धर्मवित्तमाः
Children, most learned in righteousness, tell us the whole reason for this.
येन प्राप्ता वयं ब्रह्मन्दशामेतां शृणुष्व ह
Hear now how we came to this state of the cosmic egg.
आयाता भ्रातरो ह्येते चत्वारो लोकपर्यटाः
These four brothers, wanderers of the worlds, arrived.
निवारिताश्च सहसा ताभ्यां वै द्वारपालनात्
But they were suddenly prevented by those two from guarding the gate.
भगवानुवाच अतः प्रभृति स्थानेस्मिन्स्थितिर्नास्ति च शाश्वती
The Blessed Lord said: From that moment onward, there is no eternal stay in this place.
सद्यः प्राप्तौ तदा व्यास आसुरीं योनिमेव तौ
Then, Vyāsa, those two immediately obtained a demonic birth.
जन्मांतरसहस्रेण तपोदानसमाधिभिः
After a thousand cycles of birth, through austerity, charity, and meditation,
दुष्टभावेन सद्यो वै जन्मभिर्जायते त्रिभिः
But with evil intent, one is born in just three lifetimes.
जन्मजन्मांतरे जातौ तामसीं योनिमुद्धतौ
In each successive birth, they took on a dark, tamasic womb.
तथैव कुंभकर्णाख्यो रावणो लोकरावणः 5.1.52.
Thus, Kumbhakarṇa by name, and Rāvaṇa, the terror of the worlds,
योऽसौ महाबली दैत्यो हिरण्याक्ष इति स्मृतः
He who is known as the mighty demon Hiraṇyākṣa,
जित्वा च सकलान्देवान्स्वयमेवाधितिष्ठति
Having conquered all the gods, he himself took possession.
स्वर्गान्निराकृताः सर्वे भ्रष्टराज्याः पराजिताः
All were cast out from heaven, deprived of kingdoms, and defeated.