स च वव्रे वरं दैत्यो वरमेनं पितामहात्
And that demon asked the Grandsire for a boon.
स स मद्धस्तसंस्पृष्टस्त्वमरो ऽपि मरत्वतः
Touched by my hand, even an immortal would become mortal.
ततो ऽभ्यागान्महातेजा मुरः सुरगिरिं बली
Then the mighty Mura, full of great energy, went to the mountain of the gods.
न कश्चिद् युयुधे तेन समं दैत्येन नारद
O Nārada, no one fought on equal terms with that demon.
न चास्य सह योद्धुं वै मतिं चक्रे पुरन्दरः
And even Purandara did not resolve to fight with him.
प्रविशन्तं न तं कश्चिन्निवारयितुमुत्सहेत्
No one was able to stop him as he entered.
देहि युद्धं सहस्राक्ष नो चेत् स्वर्गं परित्यज
'Give battle, O thousand-eyed one, or else abandon heaven.'
स्वर्गराज्यं परित्यज्य भूचरः समजायत
Abandoning the kingdom of heaven, he became one who roamed the earth.
सकलत्रो महातेजाः सह देवैः सुतेन च
With all his kin, the mighty one of great splendor, together with the gods and his son,
मुरुश्चापि महाभोगान् बुभुजे स्वर्गसंस्थितः
Mura too, abiding in heaven, enjoyed immense pleasures.
मुरमासाद्य मोदन्ते स्वर्गे सुकुतिनो यथा
Those who are virtuous rejoice in heaven upon meeting Mura, just as they ought.
एकाकी कुञ्जरारूढं सरयूं निम्नगां प्रति
Alone, mounted on an elephant, he went towards the river Sarayu.
ददृशो रघुनामानं दीक्षितं यज्ञकर्मणि
He saw the one named Raghu, consecrated for the sacrificial rite.
नो चेन्निवर्ततां यज्ञो नेष्टव्या देवतास्त्वया
Unless the sacrifice is stopped, the deities should not be worshipped by you.
प्रोवाच बुद्धिमान् ब्रह्मन् वसिष्ठस्तपतां वरः
Then the wise Brahmin Vasiṣṭha, foremost among ascetics, spoke.
प्रहर्तुमिच्छसि यदि तं निवारय चान्तकम्
If you wish to strike him, then also restrain Antaka (Death).
तस्मिञ्जिते हि विजितं सर्वं मन्यस्व भूतलम्
If he is conquered, consider the entire earth as conquered.
जगाम धर्मराजानं विजेतुं दण्डपाणिनम्
He went to conquer Dharmarāja, the wielder of the staff.
स समारुह्य महिषं केशवान्तिकमागमत्
Mounting his buffalo, he approached Keśava.
स चाह गच्छ मामद्य प्रेपयस्व महासुरम्
And he said, 'Go now; send forth the great asura to me.'
एतस्मिन्नन्तरे दैत्यः संप्राप्तो नगरीं मुरः
Meanwhile, the demon Mura arrived at the city.
वदस्व वचनं कर्त्ता त्वदीयं दानवेश्वर
Speak the word—what action will you take, lord of the Dānavas?
नो चेत् तवाद्य छित्त्वाहं मूर्धानं पातये भुवि
Otherwise, today I will cut off your head and cast it to the ground.
अहमेन पराजित्य वारयामि न संशयः
Having defeated him, I will restrain (him); there is no doubt.
श्वेतद्वीपनिवासी यः स मां संयमते ऽव्ययः
He who dwells in Śvetadvīpa, the imperishable one, restrains me.
स्वयं तत्र गमिष्यामि तस्य संयमनोद्यतः
I myself will go there, prepared to restrain him.
तत्रास्ते भगवान् विष्णुर्लोकनाथो जगन्मयः
There abides the blessed Lord Viṣṇu, the master of the worlds, who is the very essence of the universe.
किं तु त्वया न तावद्धि संयम्या धर्म मानवाः
However, you must not yet restrain those men who follow dharma.
संयन्तुर्वा यथा स्याद्धि ततो युद्धं समाचर
But when restraint is indeed appropriate, then engage in battle.
यत्रास्ते शेषपर्यङ्के चतुर्मूर्तिर्जनार्दनः
Where Janārdana, the four-formed one, rests upon the couch of Śeṣa—