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.
विष्णुः कुजम्भं निजघान वेगात् स स्यन्दनाद् गामगमद् गतासुः
Viṣṇu struck down Kujambha with force; he fell lifeless from his chariot to the ground.
क्रोधान्वितः शक्रमुपाद्रवद् रणे सिंहं यतैणो ऽतिविपन्नबुद्धिः
Filled with rage, he rushed at Śakra in battle, like a lion at an elephant, his mind utterly deranged.
जग्राह शक्तिं यमदण्डकल्पां तामग्निदत्तां रिपवे ससर्ज
He seized a spear, like Yama's rod, given by Agni, and hurled it at his foe.
गदां च कृत्वा सहसैव भस्मसाद् बिभेद जम्भं हृदये च तूर्णम्
And swiftly, making his mace into ashes, he pierced Jambha in the heart.
तं वीक्ष्य भूमौ पतितं विसंज्ञं दैत्यास्तु भीता विमुखा बभूवुः
Seeing him fallen to the ground, unconscious, the Daityas became afraid and turned away.
वीर्यं प्रशंसन्ति शतक्रतोश्च स गोत्रभिच्छर्वमुपेत्य तस्थौ
They praised the might of Indra, and that son of Gotrabhit stood by Shiva.
एह्येहि वीराद्य गृहं महासुर योत्स्याम भूयो हरमेत्य शैलम्
Come, come, hero, to the house, great Asura; let us again fight, having come to the mountain.
रणान्नैवापयास्यामि कुलं व्यपदिशन् स्वयम्
I will not leave the battlefield, declaring my lineage myself.
देवदानवगन्धर्वान् जेष्ये सेन्द्रमहेश्वरम्
I will conquer the gods, Dānavas, Gandharvas, along with Indra and Maheshvara.
समाश्वास्याब्रवीच्छंभुं सारिथं सारिथिं मधुराक्षरम्
He comforted and spoke to Shambhu, the charioteer, sweet words.