स्वबन्धुहन्ता भविता कथं त्वहं संचिन्तयन्नेव ततः स्थितो ऽभूत्
Thinking, 'How shall I become a slayer of my own kin?' he stood there, reflecting.
अभ्येत्य चोचुर्महिषं सशैलं भिन्दस्व शक्त्या कुरु देवकार्यम्
Approaching, they said, 'Strike Mahiṣa and the mountain with your spear; accomplish the gods’ purpose.'
कथं हि मातामहनप्तृकं वधे स्वभ्रातरं भ्रातृसुतं च मातुः
How can a mother’s grandson, a nephew, a brother, or a brother’s son be slain?
कृत्वा च यस्या मतमुत्तमायाः स्वर्गं व्रजन्ति त्वतिपापिनो ऽपि
Yet, by following the will of the supreme mother, even the most sinful attain heaven.
कृतापराधा अपि नैव वध्या आचार्यमुख्या गुरवस्तथैव
Even those who have committed offenses must not be slain, especially revered teachers and elders.
यदा दैत्यो निर्गामिष्यद् गुहान्तः तदा शक्त्या घातायिष्यामि शत्रुम्
When the demon comes out from the cave, then I will slay the enemy with my spear.
मत्तो भवान् न मतिमान् वदसे किमर्थं वाक्यं शृणुष्व हरिणा गदितं हि पूर्वम्
You are not wiser than I; why do you speak so? Listen to the words once spoken by Hari.
निहतो नमुचिः पूर्वं सोदरो ऽपि ममानुजः
Namuci, my own younger brother, was slain before.
घातयस्व पराक्रम्य शक्त्या पावकदत्तया
Strike him down with the spear given by Pāvaka, showing your valor.
कुमारः प्राह वचनं कम्पमानः शतक्रतुम्
The youth, trembling, spoke these words to Śatakratu.
येनाधिक्षिपसे मां त्वं ध्रुवं न मतिमानसि
Because you reproach me, it is certain that you are not wise.
तं गृहः प्राह एह्येहि युद्ध्यस्व बलवान् यदि
Then the house said, 'Come, come! If you are strong, fight!'
प्रदक्षिणं शीघ्रतरं यः कुर्यात् क्रौञ्चमेव हि
Whoever makes a circumambulation of the Krauncha mountain more swiftly—
प्रदक्षिणं पादचारी कर्त्तु तूर्णतरो ऽब्यगात्
He who went on foot made the circumambulation even more quickly.
कृत्वा तस्थौगुहो ऽभ्येत्य मूढङ्किं संस्थितो भवान्
Having done so, Guha stood there and said, 'Fool, why are you standing still?'
कृतो ऽस्य न त्वया पूर्वं कुमारः शक्रमब्रवीत्
This was not done by you before—so the boy spoke to Śakra.
प्राप्योचतुर्महेशाय ब्रह्मणे माधवाय च
Having obtained it, they spoke to Maheśa, to Brahmā, and to Mādhava.
पप्रच्छाद्रिमिदं केन कृतं पूर्वं प्रदक्षिणम्
He asked the mountain, 'By whom was this circumambulation done before?'
पप्रच्छाद्रिमिदं केन कृतं पूर्वं प्रदक्षिणम्
He asked the mountain, 'By whom was this circumambulation done before?'
चकार गोत्रभित् पश्चात्त्वाया कृतमथो गुह
After you had done it, Guha did it later, O Gotrabhit.
बिभेद शक्त्या कौटिल्यो महिषेण समं तदा
Then the crooked one struck with his spear, together with the buffalo.
ब्रह्मेन्द्ररुद्रश्विवसुप्रधाना जग्मुर्दिवं महिषमीक्ष्य हतं गुहेन
Seeing the buffalo slain by Guha, Brahmā, Indra, Rudra, the Aśvins, and the chief Vasus went to heaven.
निवारितश्चक्रधरेण वेगादालिङ्ग्य दोर्भ्या गुरुरित्युदीर्य
Stopped by the wielder of the discus, swiftly embraced with his arms, he uttered, 'Guru!'
हरिः कुमारं सशिखण्डिनं नयद्वेगाद्दिवं पन्नगशत्रुपत्रः
Hari, the enemy of the serpent-race, swiftly took Kumāra, along with Śikhaṇḍin, to heaven.
भ्राता मया मातुलजो निरस्तस्तस्मात् करिष्ये स्वशरीरशोषम्
My brother, my maternal uncle's son, has been defeated by me; therefore, I will cause my own body to waste away.
स्नात्वौघवत्यां हरमीक्ष्य भक्त्या भविष्यसे सूर्यसमप्रभावः
By bathing in the river Aghavatī and beholding Hara with devotion, you will become equal in splendor to the sun.
स्नात्वार्च्य देवान् स रविप्रकाशो जगाम शैलं सदनं हरस्य
Having bathed and worshipped the gods, shining like the sun, he went to the mountain, the abode of Hara.
आराधयानो वृषभध्वजं तदा हरो ऽस्य तुष्टो वरदो बभूव
Then, as he worshipped the Bull-bannered One, Hara became pleased with him and granted him a boon.
छिन्द्याद्यथा त्वप्रतिमं करेण बाणस्य तन्मे भगवान् ददातु
Just as one would sever an image with the hand, may the Lord grant me the same power over Bāṇa.
बाणस्य तद्बाहुबलं प्रवृद्धं संछेत्स्यते नात्र विचारणास्ति
The might of Bāṇa’s arms, now grown formidable, shall be cut down—of this there is no doubt.