05.013
शल्य उवाच॥
Śalya spoke:
अथ तामब्रवीद्दृष्ट्वा नहुषो देवराट्तदा। त्रयाणामपि लोकानामहमिन्द्रः शुचिस्मिते ॥ भजस्व मां वरारोहे पतित्वे वरवर्णिनि ॥५-१३-१॥
Then Nahuṣa, the king of gods, upon seeing her, declared: "O pure-smiled one, I am the Indra of all three worlds. O beautiful lady, accept me as your husband, O lady of excellent complexion."
एवमुक्ता तु सा देवी नहुषेण पतिव्रता। प्रावेपत भयोद्विग्ना प्रवाते कदली यथा ॥५-१३-२॥
Thus addressed by Nahusha, the devoted goddess trembled with fear, like a banana plant swaying in the wind.
नमस्य सा तु ब्रह्माणं कृत्वा शिरसि चाञ्जलिम्। देवराजमथोवाच नहुषं घोरदर्शनम् ॥५-१३-३॥
She respectfully saluted Brahma, made a gesture of reverence with folded hands on her head, and then addressed Nahusha, the king of gods, who appeared terrifying.
कालमिच्छाम्यहं लब्धुं किञ्चित्त्वत्तः सुरेश्वर। न हि विज्ञायते शक्रः प्राप्तः किं वा क्व वा गतः ॥५-१३-४॥
I seek to gain some time from you, O lord of gods, as it is unclear whether Śakra has arrived or where he might have gone.
तत्त्वमेतत्तु विज्ञाय यदि न ज्ञायते प्रभो। ततोऽहं त्वामुपस्थास्ये सत्यमेतद्ब्रवीमि ते ॥ एवमुक्तः स इन्द्राण्या नहुषः प्रीतिमानभूत् ॥५-१३-५॥
O lord, if this truth is not known after knowing it, then I will indeed approach you. I truly say this to you. Hearing these words from Indrani, Nahusha was pleased.
नहुष उवाच॥
Nahusha spoke:
एवं भवतु सुश्रोणि यथा मामभिभाषसे। ज्ञात्वा चागमनं कार्यं सत्यमेतदनुस्मरेः ॥५-१३-६॥
Let it be so, O beautiful-hipped one, as you have spoken to me. Remember this truth, knowing the arrival and duty.
शल्य उवाच॥
Śalya spoke:
नहुषेण विसृष्टा च निश्चक्राम ततः शुभा। बृहस्पतिनिकेतं सा जगाम च तपस्विनी ॥५-१३-७॥
Released by Nahusha, the auspicious ascetic then departed and went to Brihaspati's abode.
तस्याः संश्रुत्य च वचो देवाः साग्निपुरोगमाः। मन्त्रयामासुरेकाग्राः शक्रार्थं राजसत्तम ॥५-१३-८॥
Upon hearing her words, the gods, with Agni at the forefront, gathered with focused minds to deliberate on behalf of Indra, O noble king.
देवदेवेन सङ्गम्य विष्णुना प्रभविष्णुना। ऊचुश्चैनं समुद्विग्ना वाक्यं वाक्यविशारदाः ॥५-१३-९॥
The experts in speech, having met with the mighty Vishnu, the god of gods, spoke to him in distress.
ब्रह्महत्याभिभूतो वै शक्रः सुरगणेश्वरः। गतिश्च नस्त्वं देवेश पूर्वजो जगतः प्रभुः ॥ रक्षार्थं सर्वभूतानां विष्णुत्वमुपजग्मिवान् ॥५-१३-१०॥
Indra, the lord of the gods, was indeed overcome by the sin of killing a Brahmin. You, O lord of the gods and elder of the world, are our refuge. To protect all beings, you took on the form of Vishnu.
त्वद्वीर्यान्निहते वृत्रे वासवो ब्रह्महत्यया। वृतः सुरगणश्रेष्ठ मोक्षं तस्य विनिर्दिश ॥५-१३-११॥
O best of the celestial hosts, please guide Indra, who is afflicted by the sin of killing a Brahmin, to liberation after Vritra was slain by your power.
तेषां तद्वचनं श्रुत्वा देवानां विष्णुरब्रवीत्। मामेव यजतां शक्रः पावयिष्यामि वज्रिणम् ॥५-१३-१२॥
Upon hearing those words from the gods, Vishnu declared: "Let Indra worship me alone; I shall purify the one who wields the thunderbolt."
पुण्येन हयमेधेन मामिष्ट्वा पाकशासनः। पुनरेष्यति देवानामिन्द्रत्वमकुतोभयः ॥५-१३-१३॥
By performing the horse-sacrifice and worshipping me, Indra, the ruler of the gods, will regain his position as the king of the gods, free from any fear.
स्वकर्मभिश्च नहुषो नाशं यास्यति दुर्मतिः। कञ्चित्कालमिमं देवा मर्षयध्वमतन्द्रिताः ॥५-१३-१४॥
Nahusha, due to his own actions and evil nature, will eventually face destruction. O gods, please endure this situation for a while without growing weary.
श्रुत्वा विष्णोः शुभां सत्यां तां वाणीममृतोपमाम्। ततः सर्वे सुरगणाः सोपाध्यायाः सहर्षिभिः ॥ यत्र शक्रो भयोद्विग्नस्तं देशमुपचक्रमुः ॥५-१३-१५॥
Upon hearing the auspicious and truthful speech of Viṣṇu, which was like nectar, all the gods, along with their teachers and sages, went to the place where Indra was troubled by fear.
तत्राश्वमेधः सुमहान्महेन्द्रस्य महात्मनः। ववृते पावनार्थं वै ब्रह्महत्यापहो नृप ॥५-१३-१६॥
There, a grand Ashvamedha (horse sacrifice) was conducted by the great Mahendra for the purpose of purification, serving as a means to absolve the sin of Brahminicide, O king.
विभज्य ब्रह्महत्यां तु वृक्षेषु च नदीषु च। पर्वतेषु पृथिव्यां च स्त्रीषु चैव युधिष्ठिर ॥५-१३-१७॥
O Yudhishthira, the sin of killing a Brahmin is distributed among trees, rivers, mountains, the earth, and women.
संविभज्य च भूतेषु विसृज्य च सुरेश्वरः। विज्वरः पूतपाप्मा च वासवोऽभवदात्मवान् ॥५-१३-१८॥
After distributing and releasing among the beings, the lord of gods, Indra, became free from fever and sin, and was self-possessed.
अकम्प्यं नहुषं स्थानाद्दृष्ट्वा च बलसूदनः। तेजोघ्नं सर्वभूतानां वरदानाच्च दुःसहम् ॥५-१३-१९॥
The destroyer of strength, having seen Nahusha, who was unshakeable and removed from his position, and who was unbearable due to the boon, and a destroyer of the energy of all beings.
ततः शचीपतिर्वीरः पुनरेव व्यनश्यत। अदृश्यः सर्वभूतानां कालाकाङ्क्षी चचार ह ॥५-१३-२०॥
Then the heroic lord of Shachi vanished once more. He became invisible to all beings and wandered, yearning for the right time.
प्रनष्टे तु ततः शक्रे शची शोकसमन्विता। हा शक्रेति तदा देवी विललाप सुदुःखिता ॥५-१३-२१॥
When Śakra was destroyed, Śacī, overwhelmed with grief, cried out in deep sorrow, "Alas, O Śakra."
यदि दत्तं यदि हुतं गुरवस्तोषिता यदि। एकभर्तृत्वमेवास्तु सत्यं यद्यस्ति वा मयि ॥५-१३-२२॥
If what has been given and offered has pleased the teachers, then let there be indeed the truth of having one husband, if that truth exists in me or not.
पुण्यां चेमामहं दिव्यां प्रवृत्तामुत्तरायणे। देवीं रात्रिं नमस्यामि सिध्यतां मे मनोरथः ॥५-१३-२३॥
I offer my respects to this sacred and divine night that has commenced in the northern course; may my wishes come true.
प्रयता च निशां देवीमुपातिष्ठत तत्र सा। पतिव्रतात्वात्सत्येन सोपश्रुतिमथाकरोत् ॥५-१३-२४॥
The prepared goddess approached the night there. Because of her chastity and truthfulness, she then listened.
यत्रास्ते देवराजोऽसौ तं देशं दर्शयस्व मे। इत्याहोपश्रुतिं देवी सत्यं सत्येन दृश्यताम् ॥५-१३-२५॥
The goddess requested, "Show me the place where the king of gods resides." She declared to the hearing, "Let the truth be revealed by truth."
