03.100
Lomaśa said.
The Kāleyas, having resorted to your ocean—the abode of Varuṇa, the treasure of waters—engaged in the destruction of the three worlds. (03-100-1)
At night, they, utterly enraged, always devour sages who are in hermitages and in holy places. (03-100-2)
In Vasiṣṭha's hermitage, Brāhmaṇas were eaten by those wicked beings—eight hundred and eighty, eight, and nine other ascetics. (03-100-3)
Having gone to the sacred hermitage of Cyavana, attended by the twice-born, a hundred sages who subsisted on fruits and roots were indeed eaten. (03-100-4)
In this way, they acted at night and entered the ocean by day. In the hermitage of Bharadvāja, twenty self-controlled celibate ascetics, living on air or water, had gathered. (03-100-5)
Thus, one after another, the dānavas at that time ran around all those hermitages at night, intoxicated with the power of their arms. The Kāleyas, driven by time, killed many groups of brāhmaṇas. (03-100-6)
And humans did not recognize these Daityas, O best of men; thus, those Daityas, engaged among ascetics practicing austerities. (03-100-7)
In the morning, the sages, emaciated by regulated food, with bodies from which life had departed, were clearly seen standing on the earth. (03-100-8)
The ground, strewn with bodies having diminished flesh, exposed intestines, flowed-out blood, and disjointed joints, was heaped up like piles of conch-shells. (03-100-9)
The earth became covered with scattered pots, broken ladles, and agnihotra implements strewn about. (03-100-10)
The world was without enthusiasm, bereft of study of the sacred texts and ritual exclamations, with all sacrifice, festival, and worship activities lost, afflicted by fear of the Kāleyas. (03-100-11)
Thus, O lord of men, as they were being destroyed, the humans, intent on saving themselves and terrified, fled in all directions out of fear. (03-100-12)
Some entered caves, others took shelter at waterfalls, and others, frightened of death, gave up their lives out of fear. (03-100-13)
Some great archers here, heroes who were extremely proud, made the utmost effort in seeking out the demons. (03-100-14)
They did not attain those who had reached the ocean; instead, they experienced fatigue, and they indeed met with ultimate destruction. (03-100-15)
O king of men, when on earth the rituals and festivals of sacrifice had ceased and been destroyed, the gods came in utmost distress. (03-100-16)
Having assembled, the divine Indras and others, out of fear, held counsel, placing the unconquered Nārāyaṇa Vaikuṇṭha at the forefront. (03-100-17)
Then the assembled gods spoke to Madhusūdana: "You are our creator, protector, and sustainer, O Lord of the world. By you, all this has been created, both what moves and what does not move." (03-100-18)
O lotus-eyed one, in former times, you, assuming the form of a boar, lifted up the earth, which was lost in the ocean, for the sake of the world. (03-100-19)
O best of men, the primeval Daitya of great power, Hiraṇyakaśipu, was slain by you after assuming the form of the Man-Lion. (03-100-20)
Bali, the great asura, who was invincible to all beings, was deprived of the three worlds by you after you assumed the form of Vāmana. (03-100-21)
And the demon called Jambha, who was a great archer, notorious as a cruel disturber of sacrifices, was indeed slain by you. (03-100-22)
O Madhusūdana, for those whose actions like these cannot be enumerated, you are the refuge for us who are terrified. (03-100-23)
Therefore, O god, O lord of gods, we inform you for the sake of the worlds. Protect the worlds, the gods, and Indra from great fear. (03-100-24)
