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.
शुक्रस्य मतमास्ताय सो ऽश्वमेधाय दीक्षितः
With Śukra's approval, he was initiated for the Aśvamedha sacrifice.
अरोढुमिच्छति वशी विजेतुं त्रिदशानपि
He wishes to perform the rite and to conquer even the gods.
उवायं मखविध्वंसे येन स्याम सुनिर्वृताः
May that by which we would be well-contented destroy this sacrifice.
विसृज्य देवताः सर्वा ज्ञात्वाजेयं महासुरम्
Having abandoned all the deities, knowing this great Asura to be unconquerable.
ततः कृत्वा स भगवान् वामनं रूपमीश्वरः
Then the blessed Lord assumed the form of Vāmana.
क्षणान्मज्जंस्तथोन्मज्जन्मुक्तकेशो यदृच्छया
In a moment, he plunged and rose up again, his hair loosened, by his own will.
ततः कर्म परित्यज्य यज्ञियं ब्राह्मणोत्तमाः
Then, O foremost Brahmins, they abandoned the ritual actions pertaining to the sacrifice.
सदस्या यजमानश्च ऋत्विजो ऽथ महौजसः
The officiating priests, the sacrificer, and the powerful ritual experts,
किमर्थं पतितो ऽसीह केनाक्षिप्तो ऽसि नो वद
For what reason have you fallen here? By whom have you been cast down? Tell us.
प्राह धुन्धुपुरोगांस्ताञ् छ्रूयतामत्र कारणम्
He, Dhundhu, along with his followers, replied: Listen here to the reason.