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.
षट्त्रीणि चैकं च दितीश्वरेण मुक्तानि बाणानि नराय विप्र
Six, three, and one arrows were released by the lord of the Daityas, O sage, at Nara.
षट् सप्त चाष्टौ नव षण्नरेण द्विसप्ततिं दैत्यपतिः ससर्ज्ज
Six, seven, eight, nine, and six by Nara; the lord of the demons released seventy-two.
ततो ऽप्यसंख्येयतरान् हि बाणान् मुमोचतुस्तौ सुभृशं हि कोपात्
Then both, out of intense anger, released countless arrows.
स चापि दैत्यप्रवरः पृषत्कैश्चिच्छेद वेगात् तपनीयपुङ्खैः
And that foremost demon, with arrows tipped with gold, swiftly cut them down.
युद्धे वरास्त्रैर्युध्येतां घोररूपैः परस्परम्
In battle, they fought each other with mighty weapons of terrifying form.
महेश्वरास्त्रं पुरुषोत्तमेव समं समाहत्य निपेततुस्तौ
The Maheshvara missile and the Supreme Person’s weapon collided equally and fell together.
गदां प्रगृह्य तरसा प्रचस्कन्द रथोत्तमात्
Seizing his mace with force, he swiftly leapt down from his excellent chariot.
दृष्ट्वाथ पृष्ठतश्चक्रे नरं योद्धूमनाः स्वयम्
Seeing this, he himself, eager for combat, turned to face the man from behind.
ख्यातं पुराणर्षिमुदारविक्रमं नारायणं नारद लोकपालम्
That renowned ancient sage of noble valor, Narada, the protector of the worlds, known as Narayana—
परिभ्राम्य गदां वेगात् मूर्ध्नि साध्यमताडयत्
Whirling his mace with speed, he struck Sadhya forcefully on the head.