निवारयित्वा कृतवांल्लोकनाथो मरुद्गणान्
Having restrained them, the lord of the worlds acted upon the hosts of Maruts.
शृणुष्व कीर्तयिष्यामि चाक्षुषस्यान्तरे मनोः
Listen, I shall recount to you what occurred in the interval of Cākṣuṣa Manu.
सप्तसारस्वते तीर्थे सो ऽतप्यत महत् तपः
At the holy place of the seven Sarasvatis, he performed great austerity.
सा चाभ्येत्य नदीतीरे क्षोभयामास भामिनी
She too, approaching the riverbank, began to disturb him, O beautiful one.
तां चैवाप्यशपन्मूढां मुनिर्मङ्कणको वपुम्
And the sage Maṅkaṇaka cursed that deluded woman.
विध्वंसयिष्यति हयो भवतीं यज्ञसंसदि
A horse will destroy you at the sacrificial assembly.
सरस्वतीभ्यः सप्तभयः सप्त वै मरुतो ऽभवन्
From the seven Sarasvatis, seven Maruts indeed were born.
येषां श्रुते जन्मनि पापहानिर्भवेच्च धर्माभ्युदयो महान् वै
Hearing of whose birth, sin is destroyed and great righteousness arises.
मन्त्रप्रदाता प्रह्लादः शुक्रश्चासीत् पुरोहितः
Prahāda was the giver of mantras, and Śukra was the family priest.
दिदृक्षवः समायाताः समयाः सर्व एव हि
All the assemblies indeed came together, desiring to see.
पप्रच्छ कुलजान् सर्वान् किंनु श्रेयस्करं मम
He asked all the noble-born elders, 'What indeed is most beneficial for me?'
यत् ते श्रेयस्करं कर्म यदस्माकं हितं तथा
Whatever action is most auspicious for you, and likewise for our welfare—
हिरण्यकशिपुर्वीरः स शक्रो ऽभूज्जगत्त्रये
That mighty Hiraṇyakaśipu became Indra among the three worlds.
प्रत्यक्षं दानवेन्द्राणां नखैस्तं हि व्यदारयत्
Before the eyes of the lords of the Dānavas, he was torn apart by the nails.
तेषामर्थे महाबाहो शङ्करेम त्रिशूलिना
For their sake, O mighty-armed one, we revere Śaṅkara, the wielder of the trident.
कुजम्भो विष्णुना चापि प्रत्यक्षं पशुवत् तव
And Kujambha too, by Viṣṇu, was struck down before your very eyes, like a beast.
विरोचनस्तव पिता निहतः कथयामि ते
Virocana, your father, was slain—I tell you this.
उद्योगं कारयामास सह सर्वैर्महासुरैः
He set about making preparations together with all the great Asuras.
पदातयस्तथैवान्ये जग्मुर्युद्धाय दैवतैः
Foot soldiers and others likewise went forth to battle with the gods.
सैन्यस्य मध्ये च बलिः कालनेमिश्च षृष्ठतः
In the midst of the army stood Bali and Kālanemi at the front.
प्रयाति दक्षिणं घोरं तारकाख्यो भयङ्करः
Tāraka, the dreadful and fearsome one, advanced to the southern (flank).
उवाच याम दैत्यांस्तान् योद्धुं सबलसंयुतान्
He spoke to those Daityas, commanding them to fight, accompanied by their forces.
समारुरोह भगवान् यतमातलिवाजिनम्
The Blessed One mounted the chariot of Mātali, ever ready.
स्वं स्वं वाहनमारुह्य निश्चेरुर्युद्धकाङ्क्षिमः
Each mounted their own vehicle, eager for battle, and set out.
विद्याधरा गुह्यकाश्च यक्षराक्षसपन्नगाः
The Vidyādharas, Guhyakas, Yakṣas, Rākṣasas, and serpents—
गजानन्ये रथानन्ये हयानन्ये समारुहन्
Some mounted elephants, others chariots, and others horses.
समारुह्याद्रवन् सर्वे यतो दैत्यबलं स्थितम्
Having mounted up, they all rushed to where the Daitya army was stationed.
एतस्मिन् विष्णुः सुरश्रेष्ठ अधिरुह्य समभ्यगात्
At that moment, Viṣṇu, best of the gods, mounted up and advanced.
ववन्द मूर्ध्नावनतः सह सर्वैः सुरोत्तमैः
He bowed with his head lowered, together with all the excellent gods.
पालयञ्जघनं विष्णुर्याति मध्ये सहस्रदृक्
Vishnu, the thousand-eyed, moved at the center, protecting the rear.