अथ दुःखपरीतात्मा हरिणा हतदानवे । प्रह्लादश् चिन्तयाम् आस मौनी पातालकोटरे
Then Prahlada, his heart afflicted by sorrow, his demons slain by Hari, sat in silence in a cavern of the netherworld and began to reflect.
को ऽन्व् अस्माकम् उपायस् स्याद् य एवेहासुराङ्कुरः । तीक्ष्णाग्रो जायते तं तं भुङ्क्ते शाखामृगो हरिः
What means is there for us, when here, any sprout of the demons that arises is devoured by the lion, the branch-eater, as soon as it grows sharp?
न कदाचन पाताले दैत्या दोर्दण्डशालिनः । स्थिरा बभूवुर् उद्भिन्नाः पद्मा इव हिमाचले
Never in the netherworld have the mighty-armed demons, though they arise, remained firm—like lotuses on a snowy mountain.
उत्पत्योत्पत्य नश्यन्ति भासुराकारघर्घराः । क्षणप्रस्फुरितारम्भास् तरङ्गा इव वारिधेः
Brilliant forms, roaring forth and vanishing again and again, arise and perish in an instant, like waves upon the ocean.
सबाह्याभ्यन्तरं कष्टं समग्रालोकहारिणः । रिपवः प्रौढिम् आयाता अपूर्वतिमिरभ्रमाः
Enemies, both external and internal, have grown powerful, bringing unprecedented clouds of darkness that rob all light.
तमःप्रपूर्णहृदयास् सङ्कुचत्पत्त्रसम्पदः । सुहृदः खेदम् आयाता निशीव कमलाकराः
Friends, their hearts filled with darkness and their splendor diminished, have become weary, like lotus ponds at night with their petals withdrawn.
तातस्य मलिनव्यूहपादपीठापमार्जकैः । सुरैर् विषय आक्रान्तो मृगैर् इव महावनम्
The realm of the senses has been overrun by gods, who sweep away the filth of confusion, just as wild animals invade a great forest.
निरुद्यमा गतश्रीका दीनाः प्रकटिताशयाः । बान्धवा न विराजन्ते पद्माः प्लुष्टदला इव
Relatives, dispirited, destitute of effort and fortune, with their intentions laid bare, do not shine—like lotuses with scorched petals.
स्फुरन्त्य् असुरवीराणां गृहेष्व् अविरतानिलैः । धूसरा भस्मनीहारा धूपधूमभरा इव
In the houses of demon warriors, clouds of ash swirl ceaselessly on restless winds, like the thick smoke of incense.
हृतद्वारकवाटासु दैत्यान्तःपुरभित्तिषु । प्रभा मरकतस्येव जाता नवयवाङ्कुराः
Within the inner chambers of the demons, whose doors have been broken open, a new radiance has arisen, like the tender shoots of barley or the glow of emerald.
त्रिलोकीनाभिनलिनीमत्तेभा दानवा अपि । देववद् दैन्यम् आयाताः किम् असाध्यम् अहो विधेः
Even the mighty demons, intoxicated like elephants in the lotus pond of the three worlds, have fallen into dejection like the gods—ah, what is impossible for fate!
मनाक् चलति पर्णे ऽपि दृष्टारिभयभीरवः । वध्वस् त्रस्यन्ति विध्वस्ता मृग्यो ग्रामगता इव
Even the slightest movement of a leaf causes those who have seen the terror of enemies to tremble; the brides, scattered and fearful, are like wild creatures that have entered a village.
असुरीकर्णपूरार्थं फुल्लरत्नगुलुच्छकाः । नरसिंहकरालूनास् स्थाणुताम् आगता द्रुमाः
The trees, whose blossoming jewels and clusters were once ornaments for the ears of demons, now stand motionless, their fierce lion-like forms subdued.
दिव्याम्बरलतापत्त्रा रत्नस्तबकदन्तुराः । पुनर् आरोपितास् तत्र नन्दने कल्पपादपाः
The wish-fulfilling trees in Nandana, adorned with divine garments of leaves and jeweled clusters as teeth, have again been restored there.
पुरेहामरबन्दीनां दैत्यैर् आलोकितं मुखम् । अद्य त्व् असुरबन्दीनां सुरैर् आलोक्यते मुखम्
Once, the faces of celestial captives were gazed upon by demons in the city; now, today, the faces of demon captives are gazed upon by the gods.
मन्ये दानमहानद्यस् सुरेभकटभित्तिषु । प्रवृत्तास् ता भविष्यन्ति शैलसानुष्व् इवापगाः
I think the great rivers of charity, flowing along the ramparts of the gods, will now become streams upon the mountain slopes, like rivers.
अस्माकम् इभगण्डेषु दावदाहविभूतयः । लसन्ति मरुषण्डेषु संशुष्केष्व् इव धूलयः
On our elephant cheeks, the ashes of forest fires shine, just as dust glimmers on the dry sands of the desert.
विकासिसितमन्दारमकरन्दारुणानिलाः । ता मेरुशिखरस्थल्यो दैत्यदुर्लभतां गताः
The gentle breezes, redolent with the pollen of blossoming mandara flowers, have now become rare upon the peaks of Meru, inaccessible to demons.
सुरगन्धर्वसुन्दर्यो दानवान्तःपुरोषिताः । पुनर् मेरौ स्थितिं याता मञ्जर्य इव पादपे
The beautiful celestial women, who had been confined within the inner chambers of the demons, have now returned to dwell on Meru, like creepers upon trees.
कष्टं तातपुरन्ध्रीणां शुष्काम्बुरुहनीरसाः । विलासास् सुरनारीभिर् हस्यन्ते हास्यलीलया
Alas, the pleasures of the celestial women, now devoid of vitality and delight, are ridiculed in jest by the heavenly nymphs.
पूर्वं यैर् एव मत्तातश् चामरैर् उपवीजितः । सहस्रनयनस् स्वर्गे कष्टं तैर् एव वीज्यते
Those very fans with which the intoxicated Indra was once fanned are now used to fan him in distress, even in heaven.
इयम् अस्माकम् अन्यापद् आगता दैन्यदायिनी । तस्यैकस्य प्रसादेन दुष्पौरुषवतो हरेः
This misfortune, bringing only misery, has come upon us because of the favor shown to that one, the weak and powerless Hari.
तद्दोर्वनघनच्छायालब्धविश्रान्तयस् सुराः । न कदाचन तप्यन्ते हिमाद्रेर् इव सानवः
The gods, who once found rest in the shade of his mighty arms, now never experience comfort, like the slopes of the Himalayas exposed to the sun.
शौरिशौर्योग्रशिखरसंश्रयेणाश्रितश्रियः । अस्मान् समुपतप्यन्ति मुनीञ् शाखामृगा इव
Those who once sought refuge in the fierce valor of the heroic Shouri, now oppress us, like wild monkeys tormenting sages.
तेनासुरपुरन्ध्रीणां नित्यमण्डनमङ्गले । मुखपद्मे ऽर्पितं बाष्पम् अब्जिनीनां हिमं यथा
Because of him, the tears placed upon the lotus faces of the demon women, always adorned and auspicious, are like dew upon lotuses.
शीर्णभिन्नलुठद्भित्तिर् जगज्जर्जरमण्डपः । अयं नीलमणिस्तम्भैस् तद्भुजैर् एव धार्यते
This world, a crumbling pavilion with broken, scattered walls, is now supported only by his sapphire-like arms, as by pillars.
स धर्ता सुरसैन्यस्य मज्जतो विपदर्णवे । क्षीरोदोदरमग्नस्य मन्दरस्येव कच्छपः
He is the supporter of the army of the gods, sinking in the ocean of calamity, like the tortoise supporting Mount Mandara submerged in the ocean of milk.
एते तातादयस् सर्वे तेनैवासुरसत्तमाः । पातिताः क्षुब्धकल्पान्तवातेनेव कुलाचलाः
All these, beginning with Tāṭa and others, were struck down by that very chief of the demons, as mountain ranges are toppled by the storm at the end of an age.
स एष एवं संहारकर्मक्षमभुजावलिः । सुरसार्थसुहृच् छ्रीमान् विषमो मधुसूदनः
He, whose arms are fit for the work of destruction, is the illustrious Madhusūdana, friend of the hosts of gods, yet formidable and uneven.
दैत्यदोर्दण्डपरशोस् तस्य वीर्येण वीर्यवान् । दानवान् बाधते शक्रो बालकान् इव मर्कटः
By the strength of his weapon, the demon's mighty club, Indra, strong in valor, harasses the demons as a monkey would torment children.