पादेन वृत्रं तरसा कुजम्भं निपातयामास बलं च मुष्ट्या
With his foot he forcefully struck down Vritra, Kujambha, and with his fist, Bala.
ततो ऽन्धकः सत्वरितो ऽभ्युपेयाद् रणाय योद्धुं जलनायकेन
Then Andhaka, hastening, approached to do battle with the Lord of Waters.
तं पाशमाविध्य गदां प्रगृह्य चिक्षेप दैत्यः स च जलेश्वराय
He cast a noose and, seizing his mace, hurled it at the Lord of Waters.
विवेश वेगात् पयसां निधानं ततो ऽन्धको देवबलं ममर्द
With great speed he entered the ocean’s depths, and then Andhaka crushed the army of the gods.
तमभ्ययाद् दानवविश्वकर्मा मयो महाबाहुरुदग्रवीर्यः
Then Maya, the great-armed and mighty Dānava craftsman, approached him.
शक्त्या मयं शम्बरमेत्य कण्ठे संताड्य जग्राह बलान्महर्षे
With his spear, Śambara struck Maya at the throat and seized him by force, O great sage.
मयः प्रजज्वाल च शम्वरो ऽपि कण्ठावलग्ने ज्वलने प्रदीप्ते
Maya blazed, and Śambara too, as fire flared at his throat where the spear was lodged.
सिंहाभिपन्नो विपिने यथैव मत्तो गजः क्रन्दति वेदनार्त्तः
Just as a maddened elephant attacked by a lion in the forest bellows in pain,
आः किं किमेतन्ननु केन युद्धे जितो मयः शम्बरदानवश्च
‘Ah! What is this? By whom in battle have Maya and the Dānava Śambara been defeated?’
रक्षस्व चाभ्येत्य न शक्यते ऽन्यैर्हुताशनो वारयितुं रणाग्रे
‘Protect yourself! No one else can withstand the fire god at the forefront of battle.’
उद्यम्य वेगात् परिघं हुताशं समाद्रवत् तिष्ठ तिष्ठ ब्रुवन् हि
Raising his iron club with force, he charged at the fire god, shouting, ‘Stop! Stop!’
उत्पाट्य भूम्यां च विनिष्पिपेष ततो ऽन्धकः पावकमाससाद
He tore it from the earth and smashed it down; then Andhaka approached the fire god.
समाहतो ऽग्निः परिमुच्य शम्बरं तथान्धकं स त्वरितो ऽभ्यधावत्
Struck, Agni released Śambara and then swiftly rushed at Andhaka.
स ताडितो ऽग्निर्दितिजेश्वरेण भयात् प्रदुद्राव रणाजिराद्वि
Struck by the lord of the Daityas, Agni fled in fear from the field of battle.
यान् याञ्शरेण स्पृशते पराक्रमी पराङ्मुखांस्तान्कृतवान् रणाजिरात्
The valiant one struck down with his arrows all those who turned their backs on the battlefield.
संपूज्यमानो दनुपुङ्गवैस्तु तदान्धको भूमिमुपाजगाम
Then Andhaka, honored by the foremost among the Daityas, approached the earth.
सहाप्सरोभिः परिचारणाय पातालमभ्येत्य समावसन्त
Together with the Apsarases, they came to the netherworld to serve, and there they dwelled.
पातितो भुवि सूर्योण तत्कदा कुत्र कुत्र च
When the sun was cast down to the earth, at that time, where and in what places did it happen?
किमर्थं पातितो भूम्यामाकाशाद् भास्करेण हि
For what reason was the sun cast down to the earth from the sky by Bhāskara?
यथोक्तवान् स्वयंभूर्मां कथ्यमानां मयानघ
As Svayambhū himself has spoken, O sinless one, I shall recount it as I have heard.
तस्य पुत्रो गुणज्येष्ठः सुकेशिरभवत्ततः
His son, greatest in virtue, was then born as Sukeśa.
प्रादादजेयत्वमपि शत्रुभिश्चाप्यवध्यताम्
He granted him invincibility and immunity from being slain even by enemies.
रेमे निशाचरैः सार्द्धू सदा धर्मपथि स्थितः
He delighted always with the night-dwellers, steadfast on the path of righteousness.
तत्राश्रमांस्तु ददृशो ऋषीणां भावितात्मनाम्
There he beheld the hermitages of sages whose souls were purified.
कथयन्तु भवन्तो मे न चौवाज्ञापयाम्यहम्
Let your honors tell me; I do not command you.
केन पूज्यस्तथा सत्सु केनासौ सुखमेधते
By what is one honored among the virtuous, and by what does he attain happiness?
प्रोचुर्विमृस्य श्रेयोर्ऽथमिह लोके परत्र च
They spoke, having considered what is best, both in this world and the next.
यद्धि श्रेयो भवेद् वीर इह चामुत्र चाव्ययम्
Whatever brings the highest good, O hero, both here and hereafter, and is imperishable—
तस्मिन् समाश्रितः सत्सु पूज्यस्तेन सुखी भवेत्
Whoever relies on that among the virtuous is honored by it and becomes happy.
यमाश्रित्य न सीदन्ति देवाद्यास्तु तदुच्यताम्
That by which even the gods and others do not fall—let that be declared.