05.015
शल्य उवाच॥
Śalya spoke:
एवमुक्तः स भगवाञ्शच्या पुनरथाब्रवीत्। विक्रमस्य न कालोऽयं नहुषो बलवत्तरः ॥५-१५-१॥
Having been addressed thus by Śacī, the revered one spoke again, saying that this is not the time for valor as Nahuṣa is stronger.
विवर्धितश्च ऋषिभिर्हव्यैः कव्यैश्च भामिनि। नीतिमत्र विधास्यामि देवि तां कर्तुमर्हसि ॥५-१५-२॥
O splendid one, nourished by sages with oblations and offerings, I will establish the policy here, O goddess, you should carry it out.
गुह्यं चैतत्त्वया कार्यं नाख्यातव्यं शुभे क्वचित्। गत्वा नहुषमेकान्ते ब्रवीहि तनुमध्यमे ॥५-१५-३॥
O auspicious one, you must not disclose this secret anywhere. Go to Nahusha in private and speak, O slender-waisted one.
ऋषियानेन दिव्येन मामुपैहि जगत्पते। एवं तव वशे प्रीता भविष्यामीति तं वद ॥५-१५-४॥
She requested the lord of the world to approach her by the divine chariot, promising that she would be pleased and under his control.
इत्युक्ता देवराजेन पत्नी सा कमलेक्षणा। एवमस्त्वित्यथोक्त्वा तु जगाम नहुषं प्रति ॥५-१५-५॥
The lotus-eyed wife, having been addressed by the king of gods, agreed and proceeded towards Nahusha.
नहुषस्तां ततो दृष्ट्वा विस्मितो वाक्यमब्रवीत्। स्वागतं ते वरारोहे किं करोमि शुचिस्मिते ॥५-१५-६॥
Nahusha, upon seeing her, was astonished and said: "Welcome, O beautiful lady, what can I do for you, O one with a pure smile?"
भक्तं मां भज कल्याणि किमिच्छसि मनस्विनि। तव कल्याणि यत्कार्यं तत्करिष्ये सुमध्यमे ॥५-१५-७॥
O auspicious one, worship me. What do you desire, O noble-minded one? Whatever your task is, O auspicious one, I shall accomplish it, O slender-waisted one.
न च व्रीडा त्वया कार्या सुश्रोणि मयि विश्वस। सत्येन वै शपे देवि कर्तास्मि वचनं तव ॥५-१५-८॥
Do not be ashamed, O lady with beautiful hips, trust me. I swear by truth, O goddess, I will fulfill your promise.
इन्द्राण्युवाच॥
Indrani spoke:
यो मे त्वया कृतः कालस्तमाकाङ्क्षे जगत्पते। ततस्त्वमेव भर्ता मे भविष्यसि सुराधिप ॥५-१५-९॥
I long for the time you have set, O lord of the world. Then you alone will be my husband, O lord of the gods.
कार्यं च हृदि मे यत्तद्देवराजावधारय। वक्ष्यामि यदि मे राजन्प्रियमेतत्करिष्यसि ॥ वाक्यं प्रणयसंयुक्तं ततः स्यां वशगा तव ॥५-१५-१०॥
Understand the task that is in my heart, O king of gods. If you, O king, will do this dear thing of mine, I will speak. Then, with affection, I will be under your control.
इन्द्रस्य वाजिनो वाहा हस्तिनोऽथ रथास्तथा। इच्छाम्यहमिहापूर्वं वाहनं ते सुराधिप ॥ यन्न विष्णोर्न रुद्रस्य नासुराणां न रक्षसाम् ॥५-१५-११॥
Indra has horses, elephants, and chariots as his vehicles. I wish to have an unprecedented vehicle for you here, O lord of gods, which neither Vishnu, nor Rudra, nor the demons, nor the fiends possess.
वहन्तु त्वां महाराज ऋषयः सङ्गता विभो। सर्वे शिबिकया राजन्नेतद्धि मम रोचते ॥५-१५-१२॥
O great king, may the assembled sages carry you by palanquin, O lord; this indeed pleases me, O king.
नासुरेषु न देवेषु तुल्यो भवितुमर्हसि। सर्वेषां तेज आदत्स्व स्वेन वीर्येण दर्शनात् ॥ न ते प्रमुखतः स्थातुं कश्चिदिच्छति वीर्यवान् ॥५-१५-१३॥
You are unparalleled among demons and gods. Absorb the splendor of all with your own strength by mere sight. No strong person dares to stand before you.
शल्य उवाच॥
Śalya said:
एवमुक्तस्तु नहुषः प्राहृष्यत तदा किल। उवाच वचनं चापि सुरेन्द्रस्तामनिन्दिताम् ॥५-१५-१४॥
Upon being addressed in this manner, Nahusha was indeed delighted at that time. The lord of gods also spoke to her, the blameless one.
अपूर्वं वाहनमिदं त्वयोक्तं वरवर्णिनि। दृढं मे रुचितं देवि त्वद्वशोऽस्मि वरानने ॥५-१५-१५॥
O beautiful one, this unique vehicle you mentioned is indeed firm and pleasing to me, O goddess. I am under your command, O lovely-faced one.
न ह्यल्पवीर्यो भवति यो वाहान्कुरुते मुनीन्। अहं तपस्वी बलवान्भूतभव्यभवत्प्रभुः ॥५-१५-१६॥
Indeed, one who makes sages his vehicles is not of little strength. I am a powerful ascetic, the lord of past, present, and future.
मयि क्रुद्धे जगन्न स्यान्मयि सर्वं प्रतिष्ठितम्। देवदानवगन्धर्वाः किंनरोरगराक्षसाः ॥५-१५-१७॥
If I become angry, the entire universe would cease to exist, as everything is established in me. This includes gods, demons, celestial musicians, kinnaras, serpents, and demons.
न मे क्रुद्धस्य पर्याप्ताः सर्वे लोकाः शुचिस्मिते। चक्षुषा यं प्रपश्यामि तस्य तेजो हराम्यहम् ॥५-१५-१८॥
O pure-smiled one, none of the worlds are enough to contain my anger. With my gaze, I diminish the brilliance of anyone I look upon.
तस्मात्ते वचनं देवि करिष्यामि न संशयः। सप्तर्षयो मां वक्ष्यन्ति सर्वे ब्रह्मर्षयस्तथा ॥ पश्य माहात्म्यमस्माकमृद्धिं च वरवर्णिनि ॥५-१५-१९॥
Therefore, O goddess, I will certainly do as you say, without any doubt. The seven sages and all the Brahma sages will also inform me. Behold our greatness and prosperity, O beautiful one.
एवमुक्त्वा तु तां देवीं विसृज्य च वराननाम्। विमाने योजयित्वा स ऋषीन्नियममास्थितान् ॥५-१५-२०॥
After speaking thus to the goddess and granting her boons, he placed the disciplined sages in the chariot.
अब्रह्मण्यो बलोपेतो मत्तो वरमदेन च। कामवृत्तः स दुष्टात्मा वाहयामास तानृषीन् ॥५-१५-२१॥
The wicked-minded one, not devoted to Brahman and filled with strength and intoxication from excessive pride and lust, caused those sages to be carried away.
नहुषेण विसृष्टा च बृहस्पतिमुवाच सा। समयोऽल्पावशेषो मे नहुषेणेह यः कृतः ॥ शक्रं मृगय शीघ्रं त्वं भक्तायाः कुरु मे दयाम् ॥५-१५-२२॥
Sent by Nahusha, she spoke to Brihaspati, "The time I have left here, given by Nahusha, is short. Quickly find Indra and show mercy to my devotee."
बाढमित्येव भगवान्बृहस्पतिरुवाच ताम्। न भेतव्यं त्वया देवि नहुषाद्दुष्टचेतसः ॥५-१५-२३॥
Bṛhaspati, the revered sage, assured her, saying, "Certainly, do not fear, O goddess, the wicked-minded Nahusha."
न ह्येष स्थास्यति चिरं गत एष नराधमः। अधर्मज्ञो महर्षीणां वाहनाच्च हतः शुभे ॥५-१५-२४॥
This worst of men, who is ignorant of righteousness, will not stay for long. He has been killed and is gone from the vehicle of the great sages, O auspicious one.
इष्टिं चाहं करिष्यामि विनाशायास्य दुर्मतेः। शक्रं चाधिगमिष्यामि मा भैस्त्वं भद्रमस्तु ते ॥५-१५-२५॥
I will perform a sacrifice to destroy this evil-minded person and will gain the favor of Indra. Do not fear, may you be safe and well.
ततः प्रज्वाल्य विधिवज्जुहाव परमं हविः। बृहस्पतिर्महातेजा देवराजोपलब्धये ॥५-१५-२६॥
Then, Bṛhaspati, the one with great splendor, kindled the supreme oblation according to the rules for the attainment of the king of gods.
तस्माच्च भगवान्देवः स्वयमेव हुताशनः। स्त्रीवेषमद्भुतं कृत्वा सहसान्तरधीयत ॥५-१५-२७॥
Therefore, the revered god Agni himself took on a marvelous female form and vanished suddenly.
स दिशः प्रदिशश्चैव पर्वतांश्च वनानि च। पृथिवीं चान्तरिक्षं च विचीयातिमनोगतिः ॥ निमेषान्तरमात्रेण बृहस्पतिमुपागमत् ॥५-१५-२८॥
With the speed of thought, he searched all directions, mountains, forests, the earth, and the sky, and reached Bṛhaspati in the blink of an eye.
अग्निरुवाच॥
Agni spoke:
बृहस्पते न पश्यामि देवराजमहं क्वचित्। आपः शेषाः सदा चापः प्रवेष्टुं नोत्सहाम्यहम् ॥५-१५-२९॥
O Brihaspati, I cannot see the king of gods anywhere. I am unable to enter the remaining waters at any time.
न मे तत्र गतिर्ब्रह्मन्किमन्यत्करवाणि ते ॥५-१५-२९॥
O Brahman, I have no other way there; what else can I do for you?
शल्य उवाच॥
Śalya spoke:
तमब्रवीद्देवगुरुरपो विश महाद्युते। अग्निरुवाच॥
The teacher of the gods instructed him, "Enter the water, O brilliant one." Agni responded:
नापः प्रवेष्टुं शक्ष्यामि क्षयो मेऽत्र भविष्यति। शरणं त्वां प्रपन्नोऽस्मि स्वस्ति तेऽस्तु महाद्युते ॥५-१५-३१॥
I cannot enter the water; my end will come here. I have sought refuge in you. May you be well, O great radiant one.
अद्भ्योऽग्निर्ब्रह्मतः क्षत्रमश्मनो लोहमुत्थितम्। तेषां सर्वत्रगं तेजः स्वासु योनिषु शाम्यति ॥५-१५-३२॥
Fire arose from water, the warrior class from Brahman, and metal from stone. Their pervasive energy returns to their respective origins.
