अवतीर्णं प्रजग्राह नागः केकरलोहितः
A serpent named Kekaralohita seized him as he descended.
संस्मृते पुण्डरीकाक्षे निर्विषो ऽभून्महोरगः
When he remembered the lotus-eyed one, the great serpent became free of poison.
निर्विषश्चापि तत्याज च्यवनं भुजगोत्तमः
Freed from poison, the foremost of serpents released Cyavana.
चचार नागकन्याभिः पूज्यचमानः समन्ततः
He moved about, honored on all sides by the serpent maidens.
संपूज्यमानो दैत्येन्द्रः प्रह्लादो ऽथ ददर्श तम्
While being worshipped, the lord of the Daityas, Prahlāda, saw him.
संपूजितोपविष्टश्च पृष्टश्चागमनं प्रति
He was honored, seated, and questioned about his arrival.
स्नातुमेवागतो ऽस्म्यद्य द्रष्टुञ्चैवाकुलीश्वरम्
I have come today only to bathe and to see Akulīśvara.
समानीतो ऽस्मि पाताले दृष्टश्चात्र भवानपि
I was brought to Pātāla, and here I have also seen you.
प्रोवाच धर्मसंयुक्तं स वाक्यं वाक्यकोविदः
He, skilled in speech, spoke words filled with righteousness.
रसातले च कानि स्युरेतद् वक्तुं ममार्हसि
You ought to tell me what places there are in Rasātala.
चक्रतीर्थं महाबाहो रसातलतले विदुः
O mighty-armed one, they know that Cakratīrtha is in the depths of Rasātala.
नेमिषै गन्तुकामस्तु दानवानितदब्रवीत्
He told the Dānavas who wished to go to Nemiṣa.
द्रक्ष्यामः पुण्डरीकाक्षं पीतवाससमच्युतम्
We shall see the lotus-eyed one, the infallible one clad in yellow garments.
चक्रुरुद्योगमतुलं निर्जग्मुश्च रसातलात्
They made great preparations and departed from Rasātala.
नेमिषारण्यमागत्य स्नानं चक्रुर्मुदान्विताः
Arriving at the Nemiṣa forest, they bathed joyfully.
चरन् सरस्वतीं पुण्यां ददर्श विमलोदकाम्
While wandering, he saw the sacred Sarasvatī, with her pure waters.
ददर्श बाणानपरान् मुखे लग्नान् परस्परम्
He saw arrows of others lodged in mouths, entangled with one another.
दृष्ट्वातुलं तदा चक्रे क्रोधं दैत्येश्वरः किल
Upon seeing that, the lord of the demons became exceedingly angry.
समुन्नतजटाभारौ तपस्यासक्तमानसौ
With lofty matted hair and minds absorbed in austerity,
शार्ङ्गमागवं चैव अक्ष्य्यौ च महेषुधी
They possessed the Śārṅga bow and the mighty cow, and also two inexhaustible quivers.
ततः प्रोवाच वचनं तावुभौ पुरुषोत्तमौ
Then he spoke words to both those supreme men.
क्व तपः क्व जटाभारः क्व चेमौ प्रवरायुधौ
Where is austerity, where is the burden of matted hair, and where are these two excellent weapons?
सामर्थ्ये सति यः कुर्यात् तत्संपद्येत तस्य हि
Whatever one does, if capable, that indeed is accomplished by him.
मयि तिष्ठति दैत्येन्द्रे धर्मसेतुप्रवर्तके
While I stand here, O lord of the demons, as the establisher of the bridge of dharma,
न कश्चिच्छक्नुयाद् योद्धुं नरनारायणौ युधि
No one is able to fight against Nara and Nārāyaṇa in battle.
यथा कथञ्चिज्जेष्यामि नरनारायणौ रणे
By any means, I will defeat Nara and Nārāyaṇa in combat.
वितत्य चापं गुणमाविकृष्य तलध्वनिं घोरतरं चकार
Stringing the bow and drawing the cord, he made a most terrible sound with his palm.
मुमोच तानप्रतिमैः पृषत्कैश्चिच्छेद दैत्यस्तपनीयपुङ्खैः
He released arrows equal to those, and the demon cut them with arrows tipped with gold.
क्रुद्धः समानम्य महाधनुस्ततो मुमोच चान्यान् विविधान् पृषत्कान्
Angry, he bent the great bow and then released various other arrows.
नरस्तु बाणान् प्रमुमोच पञ्च षड् द्रत्यनाथो निशितान् पृषत्कान्
Nara released five, then six sharp arrows, protected by his bow.