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.
स्वाध्यायवेदवेत्तृत्वं विष्णुपूजारतिः स्मृता
The knowledge of self-study and the Vedas, and devotion to the worship of Viṣṇu, are said to be such.
वेदनं नीतिशास्त्राणां हरभक्तिरुदाहृता
Understanding of the treatises on ethics and devotion to Hara are also cited.
स्वाध्यायं ब्रह्मविज्ञानं भक्तिर्द्वाभ्यामपि स्थिरा
Steadfastness in self-study and knowledge of Brahman is attained through both of these, as well as through devotion.
सरस्वत्यां स्थिरा भक्तिर्गान्धर्वो धर्म उच्यते
In Sarasvati, devotion is steadfast; the Gandharva path is said to be righteousness.
विद्याधराणां धर्मो ऽयं भवान्यां भक्तिरेव च
For the Vidyadharas, this is righteousness, and in Bhavani, it is solely devotion.
कौशल्यं सर्वशिल्पानां धर्मः किंपुरुषः स्मृतः
Skill in all crafts is considered the righteousness of the Kimpurushas.
सर्वत्र कामचारितवं धर्मो ऽयं पैतृकः स्मृतः
Everywhere, acting according to desire is regarded as the ancestral righteousness.
नियमाद्धर्मवेदित्वमार्थो धर्मः प्रचक्ष्यते
Through discipline, understanding of righteousness is attained; this is called the righteousness of Artha.
अकार्पण्यमनायासं दयाहिंसा क्षमा दमः
Non-miserliness, effortlessness, compassion, non-violence, forgiveness, and self-restraint—
शङ्करे भास्करे देव्यां धर्मो ऽयं मानवः स्मृतः
In Shankara, Bhaskara, and Devi, this is known as human righteousness.