जगाम शिष्यसहितः पातालं दानवालयम्
He went, together with his disciples, to the netherworld, the abode of the demons.
महता ग्राववरषेण सप्तरात्रान्तरे तदा
Then, with a great shower of stones, after seven nights.
आलयं राक्षसानां तु कृतं देवेन शंभुना
The abode of the rakshasas was made by the god Shambhu.
भस्मभूतान् प्राकृतांस्तु महान्तं च पराभवम्
He reduced the ordinary ones to ashes and brought about a great defeat.
प्राकृतापि दहेन्नारी किमुताहोद्रिनन्दिनी
Even an ordinary woman can burn; how much more so the daughter of the mountain?
द्रष्टुमप्यमितौजस्कः किमु योधयितुं रणे
He is of immeasurable strength, difficult even to behold—how much more to fight in battle?
वाक्यमाह महातेजाः प्रह्लादं चान्धकासुरः
The mighty Andhaka demon spoke these words to Prahlada.
एकाकी धर्मरहितो भस्मारुणितविग्रहः
Alone, devoid of righteousness, his body reddened with ashes.
स कथं वृषपत्राक्षाद् बिभेति स्त्रीमुखेक्षकात्
How does he, with eyes like a bull's leaf, fear the gaze of a woman's face?
न सम्यगुक्तं भवता विरुद्धं धर्मतोर्ऽथतः
What you have said is not correct; it is contrary to dharma and meaning.
गजेन्द्रमशकाभ्यां च रुक्मपाषाणयोरिव
Like the elephant and the mosquito, or gold and stone.
तावदेवान्तरं चास्ति भवतो वा हरस्य च
Such is the difference between you and Hara.
शृणुष्व वाक्यं देवर्षेरसितस्य महात्मनः
Listen to the words of the great-souled devarṣi Asita.
स्वदारतुष्टः परदारवर्जो नतस्य लोके भयमस्ति किञ्चित्
He who delights in his own wife and avoids others' wives—such a person has nothing to fear in this world.
परार्थदारेष्सुरवर्णसंगमी सुखं न विन्देत परत्र चेह
But one who covets another's wife, even if he is of noble caste, finds no happiness here or hereafter.
धर्मान्वितो ऽभून्मनुरर्कपुत्रः स्वदारसंतुष्टमनास्त्वगस्त्यः
Manu, son of the Sun, was devoted to dharma; Agastya was content in mind with his own wife.
तेजोन्विताः शापवरक्षमाश्च जाताश्च सर्वे सुरसिद्धपूज्याः
All of them became endowed with brilliance, patient with curses and boons, and worthy of worship by gods and siddhas.
परोपतापी नमुचिर्दुरात्मा पराबलेप्सुर्नहुषश्च राजा
Namuci, the wicked one who harmed others, and King Nahusha, who coveted another's strength—
अवर्णसंगी यदुस्त्तमौजा एते विनष्टास्त्वनयात् पुरा हि
Yadu and Utkamaujā, who consorted with women of other castes—these were destroyed in ancient times by unrighteousness.
धर्महीना नरा यान्ति रौरवं नरकं महत्
Men devoid of dharma go to the great hell called Raurava.
पतनाय तथाधर्म इह लोके परत्र च
Such adharma leads to downfall in this world and the next.
सर्वेषामपि वर्णानामेष धर्मो ध्रुवो ऽन्धक
This is the firm dharma for all castes, O Andhaka.
स याति नरकं घोरं रौरवं बहुलाः समाः
He goes to the terrible hell Raurava for many ages.
प्राह धर्मव्यवस्थानं खगेन्द्रायारुणाय हि
He declared the law of dharma to Garuḍa and Aruṇa.
नयन्ति निकृतिप्रज्ञं परदाराः पराभवम्
Another's wife brings ruin to the deceitful and cunning.
भवान् धर्मपरस्त्वेको नाहं धर्म समाचरे
You alone are devoted to dharma; I do not practice dharma.
गच्छ शम्बर शैलेन्द्रं मन्दरं वद शङ्करम्
Go, Śambara, to the lord of mountains Mandara; speak to Śaṅkara.
परिभुञ्जसि केनाद्य तव दत्तो वदस्व माम
Tell me, by whom was this given to you, which you now enjoy?
तत् किमर्थं निवससे मामनादृत्य मन्दरे
Then why do you reside here, disregarding me, O Mandara?
येयं हि भवतः पत्नी सा मे शीघ्रं प्रदीयताम्
This woman who is your wife—let her be given to me at once.