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.
संपूर्णे त्वपि काले वै या शौचत्वमुपागता
Even when the time was complete, she had attained purity.
देवाराज्ञा सहैतांस्तु प्रेषयामास भामिनि
O beautiful one, with the king of the gods, he sent them forth.
बिभेद वज्रेण ततः स गोत्रभित् ख्यातो महर्षे भगवान् महेन्द्रः
Then, O great sage, the blessed Mahendra, known as the slayer of Vṛtra, split her with the thunderbolt.
तत् केन पूर्वमासन् वै मरुन्मार्गेण कथ्यताम्
Now tell me, by whom did they first exist along the path of the wind?
के त्वासन् वायुमार्गस्थास्तन्मे व्याख्यातुमर्हसि
Who were those who dwelt in the path of the wind? Please explain that to me.
स्वायंभुवं समारभ्य यावन्मन्वन्तरं त्विदम्
Beginning from the era of Svāyambhuva, up to this present Manvantara—
तस्यासीत् सवनो नाम पुत्रस्त्रैलोक्यपूजितः
He had a son named Savana, honored by the three worlds.
ततो ऽरुदत् तस्य पत्नी सुदेवा शोकविह्वला
Then his wife Sudevā, overwhelmed by grief, began to weep.
नाथ नातेति बहुशो विलपन्ती त्वनाथवत्
She lamented repeatedly, crying 'Lord, Lord,' as though she were bereft of a protector.
यद्यस्ति ते सत्यमनुत्तमं तदा भवत्वयं ते पतिना सहाग्निः
If your truth is indeed supreme, then let this fire become your companion along with your husband.