मृकण्डुजस्ते कुरुतां हि स्वस्ति स्वस्ति सदा सप्त महर्षयश्च
May Mṛkaṇḍu and his descendants, and always the seven great sages, bring you well-being.
यक्षाः पिशाचा वसवो ऽथ किन्नराः ते स्वस्ति कुर्वन्तु सदोद्यतास्त्वमी
May the Yakṣas, Piśācas, Vasus, and Kinnaras—these ever-vigilant beings—grant you well-being.
महाबला भूतगणा गणेन्द्राः ते स्वस्ति कुर्वन्तु सदा समुद्यताः
May the mighty hosts of spirits and their chiefs, ever ready, always grant you well-being.
स्वस्ति ते बहुपादेभ्यस्त्वपादेभ्यो ऽप्यनामयम्
Well-being to you from those with many feet, and also safety from those without feet.
पाशी प्रतीचीं रक्षतु लक्ष्मामशुः पातु चोत्तराम्
May Pāśī protect the west, Lakṣmāmaśu the north.
प्रतीचीमुत्तरां वायुः शिवः पूर्वोत्तरामपि
May Vāyu guard the northwest, and Śiva the northeast as well.
मुसती लाङ्गली चक्री धनुष्मानन्तरेषु च
May Musatī, the plough-bearer, the discus-bearer, and the bowman protect the intermediate directions.
सामवेदध्वनिः श्रीमान् सर्वलतः पातु माधवः
May Mādhava, resounding with the melody of the Sāma Veda and full of glory, protect from all sides.
प्रणिपत्य सुरान् सर्वान् समुत्पतत भूतलात्
Having bowed to all the gods, he rose up from the earth.
अनुजग्मुः कुमारं ते कामरूपा विहङ्गमाः
Those who could assume any form followed the youth, taking the shapes of birds.
समं स्कन्देन बलिना हन्तुकामा महासुरान्
Together with the mighty Skanda, eager to slay the great demons.
भूम्यां तूर्णं महावीर्याः कुरुध्वमवतारणम्
O heroes of great strength, quickly descend to the earth.
आरात् पतन्तस्तद्देशं नादं चक्रुर्भयङ्करम्
Flying swiftly toward that place, they made a terrifying sound.
विवेशार्णवरन्ध्रेण पातालं दानवालयम्
They entered Pātāla, the abode of the demons, through a chasm in the ocean.
विरोजनेन जम्भेन कुजम्भेनासुरेण च
With Virocana, Jambha, Kujambha, and the demon as well.
किमेतदिति संचिन्त्य तूर्णं जग्मुस्तदान्धकम्
Thinking, 'What is this?' they quickly went to Andhaka.
मन्त्रयामासुरुद्विग्नास्तं शब्दं प्रति नारद
Disturbed, the demons consulted together about that sound, O Nārada.
पातालकेतुर्दैत्येन्द्रः संप्राप्तो ऽथ रसातलम्
Then Pātālaketu, the lord of the demons, arrived in Rasātala.
अब्रवीद् वचनं दीनं समभ्येत्यान्धकासुरम्
Approaching Andhaka, he spoke words of distress.
तं विध्वंसयितुं यत्नं समारब्धं बलान्मया
I have made every effort, with force, to destroy him.
न जाने तं नरं राजन् येन मे प्रहितः शरः
O king, I do not know that man against whom I sent my arrow.
प्रणष्ट आश्रमात् तस्मात् स च मां पृष्ठतो ऽन्वगात्
He vanished from the hermitage, and then followed me from behind.
तद्भयादस्मि जलधिं संप्राप्तो दक्षिणार्णवम्
Out of fear of him, I reached the southern ocean.
केचिद् गर्जन्ति घनवत् प्रतिगर्जन्ति चापरे
Some roar like thunder, while others roar in reply.
तारकं घातयामो ऽद्य वदन्त्यन्ये सुतैजसः
Others, armed with weapons of gold, say, 'Let us kill Tāraka today.'
महार्णवं परित्यज्य पतितो ऽस्मि भयातुरः
Abandoning the great ocean, I have fallen, overwhelmed by fear.
तद्भयात् संपरित्यज्य हिरण्यपुरमात्मनः
Out of fear of that, he completely abandoned his own city of Hiranyapura.
तच्छ्रत्वा चान्धको वाक्यं प्राह मेघस्वनं वचः
Hearing those words, Andhaka addressed Meghasvana, speaking as follows:
महिषस्तारकश्चोभौ बाणश्च बलिनां वरः
Both Mahisha and Taraka, along with Bana, the foremost among the powerful,
स्वपरिग्रहसंयुक्ता भूमिं युद्धाय निर्ययुः
Together with their own followers, they went out to the battlefield, ready for war.