प्राह योत्स्ये कथं युद्धे संयमिष्ये कथं हयान्
He said, 'How shall I fight in battle? How shall I restrain the horses?'
ततो ऽहं घातये शत्रून् नान्यथेति कथञ्चन
Then I will destroy the enemies—there is no other way, by any means.
विद्यते स्वयमेवाश्वांस्त्वं संयन्तुमिहार्हसि
There are horses here already; you must yourself restrain them.
क्षमातलं निपपातैव परिभ्रष्टस्रगम्बरः
He fell to the ground, his garland and garments slipping away.
पतमानं सहस्राक्षं दृष्ट्वा भूः समकम्पत
Seeing Indra falling, the earth trembled.
भार्याब्रवीत् प्रभो बालं बहिः कुरु यथासुखम्
His wife said, 'Lord, take the child outside as you wish.'
सा चाह श्रूयतां नाथ दैवज्ञपरिभाषितम्
She also said, 'Listen, lord, to what the astrologer has declared.'
यद्बाह्यतो मुनिश्रेष्ठ तद् भवेद् द्विगुणं मुने
Whatever is outside, O best of sages, will become double, O sage.
निराशङ्को बहिः शीघ्रं प्राक्षिपत् क्ष्मातले द्विजः
Without hesitation, the Brahmin quickly cast the child outside onto the ground.
निवारितो गता वेला अर्द्धूहानिर्भविष्यति
The appointed time has passed; only half the harm will occur.
ददर्श बालद्वितयं समरूपमवस्थितम्
He saw two children, both appearing identical.
प्राह तत्त्वं न विन्दामि यत् पृच्छामि वदस्व तत्
He said, 'I do not know the truth of what I am asking; tell me that.'
भाग्यानि चास्य यच्चोक्तं कर्मतत् कथयाधुना
'And now tell me about his fortunes and the deeds that have been spoken of.'
सो ऽब्रवीद् वद मे ऽद्यैव नोचेन्नाश्नामि भोजनम्
He said, 'Tell me today itself, or else I will not eat food.'
कातरेणाद्य यत्पृष्टं भाव्यः कारुरयं कि
'What you have anxiously asked today—what will this child become?'
जगाम साह्यं शक्रस्य कर्तुं सौत्यविशारदः
The expert charioteer went to assist Indra.
ज्ञात्वेन्द्रस्यैव साहाय्ये तेजसा समवर्धयन्
Knowing that he was aiding Indra, he increased his own brilliance.
प्रोवाचैह्येहि देवेश प्रियो यन्ता भवामि ते
He said, 'Come here, O Lord of the gods; I will gladly be your charioteer.'
संयन्तासि कथं चाश्वान् संशयः प्रतिभाति मे
'How will you control the horses?' he asked, 'A doubt arises in my mind.'
गन्धर्वतेजसा युक्तं वाजियानवनिशारदम्
Endowed with the brilliance of the Gandharvas, he was skilled in driving horses.
स चापि विप्रतनयो मातलिर्नामविश्रुतः
And that illustrious son of a Brahmin was named Mātali.
रश्मीन् शमीकतनयो मातलिः प्रगृहीतवान्
Mātali, son of Śamīka, took hold of the reins.
प्रविशन् ददृशे श्रीमान् पतितं कार्सुकं महत्
Entering, the glorious one saw a great, fallen ploughman.
पाण्डुच्छायं सुरश्रेष्ठस्तं जग्राह समार्गणम्
He took up a straight arrow, pale as the moon, from the hand of the best of gods.
नमस्कृत्य शरं चापे साधिज्ये विनियोजयत्
After bowing, he set the arrow, with its string, upon the bow.
ब्रह्मेशथविष्णुनामाङ्काः सूदयन्तो ऽसुरान् रणे
Bearing the names of Brahmā, Śiva, and Viṣṇu, they destroyed the asuras in battle.
सहस्राक्षो ऽतिपटुभिश्छादयामास नारद
O Nārada, the thousand-eyed one covered them with exceedingly sharp weapons.
महामात्रो धरां प्राप्तः सद्यः सीदञ्छरातुरः
The mighty one, struck by an arrow, immediately fell to the earth, overcome.
हतप्रधानभूयिष्ठं बलं तदभवद् रिपोः
The enemy's army, now mostly deprived of its leaders, was thus defeated.
जम्भासुरश्चापि सुरेशमव्ययं प्रजगमतुर्गृह्य गदे सुघोरे
Jambhāsura, seizing his terrible mace, advanced against the imperishable Lord of the gods.