स चापि ददृशे गच्छन् पथि गोमातरं हरिः
And Hari, while traveling on the path, saw a cow-mother.
ददृशे दानवान् सर्वान् संहृष्टान् भोगसंयुतान्
He saw all the Dānavas, delighted and enjoying pleasures.
ते चाप्याययुरव्यग्रा विकिरन्तः शेरोत्करान्
They too approached, untroubled, scattering heaps of arrows.
छादयामास विप्रर्षे गिरीन् वृष्ट्या यथा घनः
O sage among the twice-born, he covered the mountains with rain as a cloud does.
पाकं जघान तीक्ष्णाग्रैर्मार्गणैः कङ्गवाससैः
He struck Pāka with sharp-tipped arrows, clad in feathers.
पाकशासनतां शक्रः सर्वामरपतिर्विभुः
Śakra, the lord of all the immortals, became the chastiser of Pāka.
सुपुङ्खैर्दारयामास ततो ऽभूत् स पुरन्दरः
With well-feathered arrows he tore him apart; thus he became Purandara.
तच्चापि विजितं ब्रह्मन् रसातलमुपागमत्
And that which was conquered, O Brāhman, went down to the netherworld.
त्र्यम्बकेन मुनिश्रेष्ठ किमन्यच्छ्रोतुमिच्छसि
O best of sages, what else do you wish to hear from me, told by Tryambaka?
एष मे संशयो ब्रह्मन् हृदि संपरिवर्तते
O Brāhman, this doubt turns again and again in my heart.
हते हिरण्यकशिपौ यच्चकारारिमर्दनः
What did the destroyer of enemies do after Hiraṇyakaśipu was slain?
विभो नाथो ऽसि मे देहि शक्रहन्तारमात्मजम्
O Lord, you are my master; grant me a son who will slay Indra.
शौचाचारसमायुक्ता स्थास्यसे दशतीर्दश
Endowed with purity and good conduct, you will remain for ten tens of years.
जनयिष्यसि पुत्रं त्वं शत्रुघ्नं नान्यथा प्रिये
You will bear a son, O beloved, who will be the slayer of enemies—no other way.
गर्भाधानं ऋषिः कृत्वा जगामोदयपर्वतम्
After performing the rite of conception, the sage went to Mount Udaya.
तमाश्रममुपागम्य दितिं वचनमब्रवीत्
Coming to that hermitage, he spoke to Diti.
बाञमित्यब्रवीद् देवी भाविकर्मप्रचोदिता
Prompted by destined deeds, the goddess said, 'Bāṇa.'
विनीतात्मा च कार्यार्था छिद्रान्वेषी भुजङ्गवत्
With a disciplined mind, intent on his purpose, he sought out flaws like a serpent.
दशवर्षशतान्ते तु शिरःस्नाता तपस्विनी
At the end of a hundred years, the ascetic, having bathed her head, was purified.
सुष्वाप केशप्रान्तैस्तु संश्लिष्टचरणाभवत्
She slept well, with her feet entwined at the ends of her hair.
विवेश मातुरुदरं नासारन्ध्रेण नारद
O Nārada, he entered his mother's womb through her nostril.
ददर्शोर्ध्वमुकं बालं कटिन्यस्तकरं महत्
He saw a great child lying with his hands placed firmly, his face turned upward.
शुद्धस्फटिकसंकाशां कराभ्यां जगृहे ऽथ ताम्
Then, with hands shining like pure crystal, he seized her.
कराभ्यं मर्दयामास ततः सा कठिनाभवत्
With his hands he began to press her, and then she became hard.
शतपर्वाथ कुलिशः संजातो मांसपेशितः
Then, O Nārada, a hundred-jointed thunderbolt, made of flesh, was produced.
चिच्छेद सप्तधा ब्रह्मन् स रुरोद च विस्वरम्
O Brāhman, with that he cut her into seven parts, and she cried out loudly.
शुश्राव वाचं पुत्रस्य रुदमानस्य नारद
O Nārada, he heard the voice of his son as he was crying.
इत्येवमुक्त्वा चैकैकं भूयश्चिच्छेद सप्तधा
Thus, having spoken so, he again cut each of them into seven parts.
दितिं कृताञ्जलिपुटः प्राह भीतस्तु शापतः
Then, with hands joined in reverence, he spoke to Diti, afraid because of the curse.
तवैवापनयाच्छस्तस्तन्मे न क्रोद्धमर्हसि
It was by your own request that I struck; therefore, you should not be angry with me.