अकृष्टपच्या पृथिवी सुसम्पन्ना महात्मनः । स राज्यं तादृशं भुङ्क्ते स्फीतमद्भुतदर्शनम् ।। ७.८४.
The earth, uncultivated, was prosperous for the great-souled one; he enjoyed such a kingdom, flourishing and wondrous to behold.
तस्य बुद्धिः समुप्तन्ना तपः कुर्यामनुत्तमम् । तपो हि परमं श्रेयः सम्मोहमितरत्सुखम् ।। ७.८४.
His mind then turned to performing supreme austerity; for austerity is the highest good, while other pleasures bring only delusion.
स निक्षिप्य सुतं ज्येष्ठं पौरेषु मधुरेश्वरम् । तप उग्रं समातिष्ठत्तापयन्सर्वदेवताः ।। ७.८४.
He installed his eldest son as ruler among the citizens, and undertook fierce austerity, causing distress to all the gods.
तपस्तप्यति वृत्रे तु वासवः परमार्तवत् । विष्णुं समुपसङ्क्रम्य वाक्यमेतदुवाच ह ।। ७.८४.
While Vritra performed austerity, Indra, in great distress, approached Vishnu and spoke these words.
तपस्यता महाबाहो लोकाः वृत्रेण निर्जिताः । बलवान्स हि धर्मात्मा नैनं शक्ष्यामि शासितुम् ।। ७.८४.
While Vritra was engaged in austerity, O mighty-armed one, the worlds were conquered by him; he is powerful and righteous, and I am unable to rule him.
यद्यसौ तप आतिष्ठेद्भूय एवासुरेश्वर । यावल्लोका धरिष्यन्ति तावदस्य वशानुगाः ।। ७.८४.
If that lord of the asuras should again undertake austerities, for as long as the worlds endure, they will remain subject to his control.
तं चैनं परमोदारमुपेक्षसि महाबलम् । क्षणं हि न भवेद्वृत्रः क्रुद्धे त्वयि सुरेश्वर ।। ७.८४.
And you, though you overlook that exceedingly generous and mighty one, O lord of the gods, Vṛtra would not survive even a moment if you were angered.
यदा हि प्रीतिसंयोगं त्वया विष्णो समागतः । तदाप्रभृति लोकानां नाथत्वमुपलब्धवान् ।। ७.८४.
Indeed, O Viṣṇu, from the moment you formed an alliance of affection, he attained lordship over the worlds.
स त्वं प्रसादं लोकानां कुरुष्व सुसमाहितः । त्वत्कृतेन हि सर्वं स्याप्रशान्तमरुजं जगत् ।। ७.८४.
Therefore, with firm resolve, grant your favor to the worlds; for by your doing, the entire restless universe would become peaceful.
इमे हि सर्वे विष्णो त्वां निरीक्षन्ते दिवौकसः । वृत्रघातेन महता तेषां साह्यं कुरुष्व ह ।। ७.८४.
All these dwellers of heaven, O Viṣṇu, look to you; assist them in the great task of slaying Vṛtra.
त्वया हि नित्यशः साह्यं कृतमेषां महात्मनाम् । असह्यमिदमन्येषामगतीनां गतिर्भवान् ।। ७.८४.
For you have always aided these great souls; this is unbearable for others, and you are the refuge for those without recourse.
इत्यार्षे श्रीमद्रामायणे वाल्मीकीये आदिकाव्ये श्रीमदुत्तरकाण्डे चतुरशीतितमः सर्गः
Thus ends the eighty-fourth sarga in the glorious Uttarakāṇḍa of the ancient and revered Rāmāyaṇa composed by Vālmīki.
लक्ष्मणस्य तु तद्वाक्यं श्रुत्वा शत्रुनिबर्हणः । वृत्रघातमशेषेण कथयेत्याह सुव्रत ।। ७.८५.
Hearing those words of Lakṣmaṇa, the destroyer of enemies, Suvrata said, 'Tell in full the story of Vṛtra's slaying.'
राघवेणैवमुक्तस्तु सुमित्रानन्दवर्धनः । भूय एव कथां दिव्यां कथयामास सुव्रतः ।। ७.८५.
Thus addressed by Rāghava, the joy of Sumitrā, Suvrata again began to narrate the divine tale.
सहस्राक्षवचः श्रुत्वा सर्वेषां च दिवौकसाम् । विष्णुर्देवानुवाचेदं सर्वानिन्द्रपुरोगमान् ।। ७.८५.
Having heard the words of the thousand-eyed one and all the gods, Viṣṇu spoke these words to all the gods, with Indra at their head.
पूर्वं सौहृदबद्धो ऽस्मि वृत्रस्य ह महात्मनः । तेन युष्मत्प्रियार्थं हि नाहं हन्मि महासुरम् ।। ७.८५.
Formerly, I was bound by friendship with the great-souled Vṛtra; therefore, for your sake, I do not slay the great asura.
अवश्यं करणीयं च भवतां सुखमुत्तमम् । तस्मादुपायमाख्यास्ये येन वृत्रो निहन्यते ।। ७.८५.
But your supreme happiness must certainly be accomplished; therefore, I will declare a means by which Vṛtra will be slain.
त्रिधाभूतं करिष्यामि ह्यात्मानं सुरसत्तमाः । तेन वृत्रं सहस्राक्षो वधिष्यति न संशयः ।। ७.८५.
I shall divide myself into three parts, O best of gods; by that, the thousand-eyed one will slay Vṛtra, without doubt.
एकांशो वासवं यातु द्वितीयो वज्रमेव तु । तृतीयो भूतलं शक्रस्तदा वृत्रं वधिष्यति ।। ७.८५.
One part will enter Vāsava, the second will become the thunderbolt, and the third the earth; then Śakra will slay Vṛtra.
तथा ब्रुवति देवेशे देवा वाक्यमथाब्रुवन् । एवमेतन्न सन्देहो यथा वदसि दैत्यहन् ।। ७.८५.
As the lord of gods spoke thus, the gods replied, 'So it shall be, there is no doubt, just as you say, O slayer of demons.'
भद्रं ते ऽस्तु गमिष्यामो वृत्रासुरवधैषिणः । भजस्व परमोदार वासवं स्वेन तेजसा ।। ७.८५.
'May good fortune be yours! We shall go, desiring the slaying of Vṛtra the asura. O exceedingly generous one, impart your own energy to Vāsava.'
ततः सर्वे महात्मानः सहस्राक्षपुरोगमाः । तदारण्यमुपाक्रामन्यत्र वृत्रो महासुरः ।। ७.८५.
Then all the great-souled ones, led by the thousand-eyed one, proceeded to the forest where the great asura Vṛtra was.
ते पश्यंस्तेजसा भूतं तप्यन्तमसुरोत्तमम् । पिबन्तमिव लोकांस्त्रीन्निर्दहन्तमिवाम्बरम् ।। ७.८५.
There they saw the foremost of asuras, blazing with energy, as if consuming the three worlds and burning up the sky.
दृष्ट्वैव चासुरश्रेष्ठं देवास्त्रासमुपागमन् । कथमेनं वधिष्यामः कथं न स्यात्पराजयः ।। ७.८५.
Upon seeing that foremost of asuras, the gods were seized with fear: 'How shall we slay him? How shall we avoid defeat?'
तेषां चिन्तयतां तत्र सहस्राक्षः पुरन्दरः । वज्रं प्रगृह्य पाणिभ्यां प्राहिणोद्वृत्रमूर्धनि ।। ७.८५.
As they pondered thus, Indra, the thousand-eyed lord, grasped his thunderbolt in both hands and hurled it at Vṛtra's head.
कालाग्निनेव घोरेण तप्तेनैव महार्चिषा । पतता वृत्रशिरसा जगत्ऺत्रासमुपागमत् ।। ७.८५.
As that blazing, dreadful, and red-hot thunderbolt fell upon Vṛtra's head, it was like the fire of destruction, and the world was overcome with terror.
असम्भाव्यं वधं तस्य वृत्रस्य विबुधाधिपः । चिन्तयानो जगामाशु लोकस्यान्तं महायशाः ।। ७.८५.
Considering the slaying of Vṛtra impossible, the illustrious lord of the gods swiftly departed, contemplating the end of the world.
तमिन्द्रं ब्रह्महत्या ऽ ऽशु गच्छन्तमनुगच्छति । अपतच्चास्य गात्रेषु तमिन्द्रं दुःखमाविशत् ।। ७.८५.
As Indra, afflicted by the sin of killing a brahmin, hastened away, that sin followed him and fell upon his body, plunging Indra into suffering.
हतारयः प्रनष्टेन्द्रा देवाः साग्निपुरोगमाः । विष्णुं त्रिभुवनेशानं मुहुर्मुहुरपूजयन् ।। ७.८५.
With their enemy slain and Indra vanished, the gods, led by Agni, repeatedly worshipped Viṣṇu, the lord of the three worlds.
त्वं गतिः परमेशान पूर्वजो जगतः पिता । रक्षार्थं सर्वभूतानां विष्णुत्वमुपजग्मिवान् ।। ७.८५.
You are the refuge, O Supreme Lord, the progenitor and father of the world; for the protection of all beings, you have assumed the form of Viṣṇu.