03.101
devā ūcuḥ॥
The gods said.
itaḥ pradānād vartante prajāḥ sarvāś caturvidhāḥ. tā bhāvitā bhāvayanti havyakavyair divaukasaḥ ॥03-101-1॥
From this act of giving, all four kinds of creatures arise; and, when nourished, they in turn nourish the dwellers of heaven through offerings to gods and ancestors. (03-101-1)
lokā hyevaṃ vartayanti anyonyaṃ samupāśritāḥ। tvatprasādānnirudvignāstvayaiva parirakṣitāḥ॥03-101-2॥
People indeed live in this way, mutually dependent on each other; by your favor they are free from anxiety, and protected by you alone. (03-101-2)
idaṃ ca samanuprāptaṃ lokānāṃ bhayam uttamam. na ca jānīma kene me rātrau vadhyanti brāhmaṇāḥ ॥03-101-3॥
And this supreme fear has now come upon the worlds, and we do not know by whom these brāhmaṇas are being killed at night. (03-101-3)
kṣīṇeṣu ca brāhmaṇeṣu pṛthivī kṣayameṣyati। tataḥ pṛthivyāṃ kṣīṇāyāṃ tridivaṃ kṣayameṣyati ॥03-101-4॥
When virtue among Brāhmaṇas declines, the earth will suffer destruction; then, when the earth is destroyed, heaven itself will suffer decay. (03-101-4)
tvatprasādān mahābāho lokāḥ sarve jagatpate. vināśaṃ nādhigaccheyuḥ tvayā vai parirakṣitāḥ ॥03-101-5॥
O mighty-armed, by your favor, O lord of the universe, all the worlds, being protected by you, would indeed not meet destruction. (03-101-5)
viṣṇuruvāca॥
Viṣṇu said.
viditaṃ me surāḥ sarvaṃ prajānāṃ kṣayakāraṇam। bhavatāṃ cāpi vakṣyāmi śṛṇudhvaṃ vigatajvarāḥ ॥03-101-6॥
O gods, I know all the causes of destruction of beings; I will tell you, too. Listen, free from anxiety. (03-101-6)
kāleya iti vikhyāto gaṇaḥ paramadāruṇaḥ. taiś ca vṛtraṃ samāśritya jagat sarvaṃ prabādhitam ॥03-101-7॥
The group known as Kāleya, exceedingly fierce, sought refuge with Vṛtra and, by them, the entire world was afflicted. (03-101-7)
te vṛtraṃ nihataṃ dṛṣṭvā sahasrākṣeṇa dhīmatā। jīvitaṃ parirakṣantaḥ praviṣṭā varuṇālayam ॥03-101-8॥
Having seen Vṛtra slain by the wise, thousand-eyed Indra, they protected their lives and entered the abode of Varuṇa. (03-101-8)
te praviśyodadhiṃ ghoraṃ nakragrāhasamākulam। utsādanārthaṃ lokānāṃ rātrau ghnanti munīn iha ॥03-101-9॥
They enter the terrible ocean filled with crocodiles and aquatic monsters, and at night, for the destruction of the worlds, they kill sages here. (03-101-9)
na tu śakyāḥ kṣayaṃ netuṃ samudrāśrayagā hi te। samudrasya kṣaye buddhir bhavadbhiḥ sampradhāryatām॥ agastyena vinā ko hi śakto'nyo'rṇavaśoṣaṇe॥03-101-10॥
But those residing in the ocean cannot be destroyed; your wisdom should consider the destruction of the ocean. Except for Agastya, who else indeed is capable of drying up the ocean? (03-101-10)
etat śrutvā vaco devā viṣṇunā samudāhṛtam। parameṣṭhinam ājñāpya agastyasya āśramam yayuḥ॥03-101-11॥
Having heard these words spoken by Viṣṇu, and having been instructed by the lord of creation, the gods went to the hermitage of Agastya. (03-101-11)
tatrāpaśyanmahātmānaṁ vāruṇiṁ dīptatejasam। upāsyamānamṛṣibhirdevairiva pitāmaham॥03-101-12॥
There he saw the great-souled son of Varuṇa, radiant in his splendor, being worshipped by sages and gods, like the grandsire (Brahmā). (03-101-12)
te'bhigamya mahātmānaṃ maitrāvaruṇim acyutam। āśramasthaṃ taborāśiṃ karmabhiḥ svair abhiṣṭuvan ॥03-101-13॥
They, having approached the great-souled descendant of Mitra and Varuṇa, the infallible sage residing in the hermitage and a treasure of austerity, praised him with their own deeds. (03-101-13)
devā ūcuḥ॥
The gods said.
nahuṣeṇābhitaptānāṃ tvaṃ lokānāṃ gatiḥ purā। bhraṃśitaś ca suraiśvaryāl lokārthaṃ loka-kaṇṭakaḥ ॥03-101-14॥
You were once the refuge of all the worlds afflicted by Nahusha; and, for the sake of the worlds, you fell from divine sovereignty, becoming the tormentor of the worlds. (03-101-14)
krodhātpravṛddhaḥ sahasā bhāskarasya nagottamaḥ। vacastavānatikrāmanvindhyaḥ śailo na vardhate॥03-101-15॥
The great Vindhya mountain, having grown out of anger and suddenly, at the word of Bhāskara (the Sun), not transgressing your command, does not grow. (03-101-15)
tamasā cāvṛte loke mṛtyunābhyarditāḥ prajāḥ। tvām eva nātham āsādya nirvṛtiṃ paramāṃ gatāḥ॥03-101-16॥
In a world enveloped by darkness and afflicted by death, the beings, having approached you alone as protector, attained supreme peace. (03-101-16)
asmākaṃ bhayabhītānāṃ nityaśo bhagavān gatiḥ। tataḥ tvām ārtāḥ prayācāmaḥ tvām varaṃ varadaḥ hi asi ॥03-101-17॥
O Lord, you are always the refuge of us who are terrified by fear. Therefore, we who are distressed request a boon from you, for you are indeed the bestower of boons (03-101-17).
