ब्रह्मलोके च त्रिदशाः संस्थिता दुःखसंयुताः
Even in the world of Brahma, the gods remain, afflicted with suffering.
ब्रजाम दैत्य वयमग्रजस्य सदो विजेतुं त्रिदशान् सशक्रान्
Let us go, O Daityas, to our elder brother’s assembly, to conquer the gods along with Indra.
गतिर्यया याम पितामहाजिरं सुदुर्गमो ऽयं परतो हि मार्गः
By which path shall we reach the ancient seat of the Grandfather? This way is extremely difficult and the path beyond is hard to traverse.
येषां हि दृष्ट्यार्ऽपणचोदितेन दह्यन्ति दैत्याः सहसेक्षितेन
By the mere glance and direction of those whose sight is powerful, the Daityas are burned, together with their allies.
गोमातरो ऽस्मासु विनाशकारि यासां रजो ऽपीह महासुरेन्द्र
O lord of great Asuras, among us are the cow-mothers, whose very dust brings destruction here.
तिष्ठन्ति यत्रासुर साध्यवर्या येषां हि नश्वासमरुत् त्वसह्यः
Where the foremost Sādhyas stand, O Asura, whose breath and wind are unbearable for us.
सत्याभिधानो भगवन्निवासो वरप्रदो ऽभुद् भवतो हि यो ऽसौ
He whose abode is truthfully named, O blessed one, who grants boons—he indeed is your dwelling.
संकोचमसुरा यान्ति ये च तेषां सधर्मिणः
Those Asuras who are your equals in nature become diminished.
वैराजभुवनं धुन्धो दुरारोहं सदा नृभिः
The realm of Virāj, called Dhundhu, is always difficult for men to ascend.
गन्तुकामः स सदनं ब्रह्मणो जेतुमीश्वरान्
Desiring to go to the abode of Brahmā, he wished to conquer the lords.
कथं तत्र सहस्राक्षः संप्राप्तः सह दैवतैः
How did thousand-eyed Indra arrive there together with the gods?
कर्म तन्न वयं विद्मः शुक्रस्तद् वेत्त्यसंशयम्
We do not know that deed; surely Śukra knows it without doubt.
पप्रच्छ शुक्रं किं कर्म कृत्वा ब्रह्मसदोगतिः
They asked Śukra: 'By what act does one attain the seat of Brahmā?'
शक्रस्य चरितं श्रीमान् पुरा वृत्ररिपोः किल
The glorious deeds of Śakra, the slayer of Vṛtra, are indeed ancient.
दैत्येन्द्र वाजिमेधानां तेन ब्रह्मसदो गतः
O lord of Daityas, by means of horse sacrifices, he attained the seat of Brahmā.
अथामन्त्र्यासुरगुरुं दानवांश्चाप्यनुत्तमान्
Then, having summoned the preceptor of the Asuras and also the foremost Dānavas,
तदागच्छध्वमवनीं गच्छामो वसुधाधिपान्
At that time, come to the earth; let us approach the lords of the earth.
आहूयन्तां च निधयस्त्वाज्ञाप्यनातां च गुह्यकाः
Let the treasures be summoned, and let the Yakṣas be informed as well.
स्थानं प्राचीनमासाद्य वाजिसेधान् यजामहे
Having reached the eastern place, let us perform the Aśvamedha sacrifice.
बाढमित्यब्रवीद् हृष्टो निधयः संदिदेश सः
He gladly said, 'So be it,' and the treasurers gave their command.
भार्गवेन्द्रेण शुक्रेण वाजिमेधाय दीक्षितः
He was initiated for the Aśvamedha by Śukra, the lord of the Bhṛgus.
शुक्रस्यानुमते ब्रह्मन् शुक्रशिष्याश्च पण्यिताः
With Śukra's approval, O Brahman, and with learned disciples of Śukra.
कृताश्चासुरनाथेन शुक्रस्यानुमते ऽसुराः
And with Śukra's consent, the lord of the Asuras had the Asuras perform the rites.
हयस्यानु ययौ श्रीमानसिलोमा महासुरः
Following the horse went the illustrious, iron-haired great Asura.
तेनोग्रगन्धेन दिवस्पृसेन मरुद् ववौ ब्रह्मलोके महर्षे
By him, with a fierce scent reaching the sky, the wind blew in Brahmā's world, O great sage.
ततः शरण्यं शरणं जनार्धनं जग्मुः सशक्रा जगातः परयणम्
Then, seeking refuge, the hosts with Indra went to Janārdana, the shelter and supreme goal.
प्रोचुः सर्वे सुरगणा भयगद्गदया गिरा
All the hosts of gods spoke with voices choked by fear.
विज्ञप्तिः श्रूयतां विष्णो सुराणामार्तिनाशन
Let our petition be heard, O Viṣṇu, destroyer of the gods' distress.
सर्वान् सुरान् विनिर्जित्य त्रैलोक्यमहारद् बलिः
Having conquered all the gods, Bali, lord of the three worlds, has become mighty.
अतो विवृद्धिमगमद् यथा व्याधिरुपेक्षितः
Thus he grew in power, just as a disease increases when neglected.