नाश्चर्य दानवश्रेष्ठ हिरण्यकशिपोः कुले
O best of the Dānavas, it is no wonder, being born in the lineage of Hiraṇyakaśipu.
विशेषितस्त्वया राजन् दैतेयः प्रपितामहः
O king, even the great ancestor of the Daityas has been surpassed by you.
इत्येवमुक्त्वा वचनं दानवैन्द्रं तदा बलिम्
Having thus spoken these words to Bali, the lord of the Dānavas,
तस्यां चाथ प्रविष्टायां विधवा इव योषितः
And when she had entered there, the women were like widows.
प्रभा मतिः श्रमा भूतिर्विद्या नीतिर्दया तथा
Radiance, intelligence, effort, prosperity, knowledge, conduct, and compassion—
ताः सर्वा बलिमाश्रित्य व्यश्राम्यन्त यथासुखम्
All these, taking refuge in Bali, found rest as they wished.
यज्वा तपस्वी मृदुरेव सत्यवाक् दाता विभर्ता स्वजनाभिगोप्ता
He was a performer of sacrifices, an ascetic, gentle, truthful in speech, a giver, a supporter, and a protector of his own people.
सदोज्ज्वलो धर्मरतो ऽथ दान्तः कामोपभोक्ता मनुजो ऽपि जातः
He was ever illustrious, devoted to righteousness, self-controlled, and though a human, an enjoyer of desires.
जगाम ब्रह्मसदनं सह देवैः शचीपतिः
The lord of Śacī, together with the gods, went to the abode of Brahmā.
ऋषिभिः सार्धमासीनं पितरं स्वं च कश्यपम्
He saw his father Kaśyapa seated there with the sages.
ब्रह्माणं कश्यपं चैव तांश्च सर्वास्तपोधनान्
He saw Brahmā, Kaśyapa, and all those ascetics rich in austerity.
पितामह हृतं राज्यं बलिना बलिना मम
Grandfather, my kingdom has been taken by Bali, the mighty one.
शक्रः पप्रच्छ भो ब्रूहि किं मया दुष्कृतं कृतम्
Śakra asked, 'O lord, tell me, what wrong have I done?'
दित्युदरात् त्वया गर्भः कृत्तो वै बहुधा बलात्
From Diti’s womb, by you, the embryo was forcefully cut into many parts.
कृन्तनं प्राप्तवान् गर्भो यदशौचा हि सा भवत्
The embryo was cut because she was impure at that time.
गतस्ततो विनिहतो दासो ऽपि कुलिशेन भो
After that, even the servant was slain by the thunderbolt, O lord.
विनाशं पाप्मनो ब्रूहि प्रायश्चित्तं विभो मम
Tell me, O mighty one, the expiation for my sin and destruction.
हितं सर्वस्य जगतः शक्रस्यापि विशेषतः
What is beneficial for all the world, and especially for Śakra.
तं प्रपद्यस्व शरणं स ते श्रेयो विधास्यति
Take refuge in him; he will bestow welfare upon you.
तमूचुर्देवता मर्त्ये स्वल्पकाले महोदयः
The gods said to him, 'Among mortals, in a short time, there is great prosperity.'
तथैव मित्रावरुणात्मजेन वेगान्महीपृष्ठमवाप्य तस्थौ
In the same way, having swiftly reached the earth’s surface by the son of Mitra and Varuṇa, he stood firm.
सुशस्थलात् पूर्वत एव विश्रुतो वसोः पुरात् पिश्चिमतो ऽवतस्थे
From the east of the excellent place, renowned from old, he stood to the west of Vasu’s city.
मनुष्येमेधः शतकृत्सहस्रकृन्नरेन्द्रसूयश्च सहस्रकृद् वै
A man of intelligence, one who has performed a hundred and a thousand sacrifices, and a king who has performed a thousand horse sacrifices—
ख्यातिं जगामाथ गदाधरेति महाघवृक्षस्य शितः कुठारः
—all attained fame as 'the wielder of the mace,' like a sharp axe to the mighty tree of sin.
फलं महामेधमखस्य मानवा लभन्त्यनन्त्यं भगवत्प्रसादात्
By the grace of the Blessed Lord, people obtain the endless fruit of the great sacrificial rite.
चक्रे जगत्पापविनष्टिमग्र्यां संदर्शनप्राशनमञ्जनेन
He brought about the supreme destruction of the world's sins through the acts of seeing, tasting, and anointing.
आराधनाय देवस्य कृत्वाश्रममवस्थितः
Having established an ashram for the worship of the god, he remained there.
तपस्तेपे सहस्राक्षः स्तुवन् देवं गदाधरम्
Indra, the thousand-eyed, performed austerities, praising the god who wields the mace.
कामक्रोधविहीनस्य साग्रः संवत्सरो गतः
A year passed for him, free from desire and anger.
गच्छ प्रीतो ऽस्मि भवतो मुक्तपापो ऽसि साम्प्रतम्
Go now; I am pleased with you. You are now freed from sin.