12.160
vaiśampāyana uvāca॥
Vaiśampāyana said.
kathāntaram atha āsādya khaḍgayuddhaviśāradaḥ। nakulaḥ śaratalpastham idam āha pitāmaham ॥12-160-1॥
Then Nakula, the expert in sword-fighting, approached the grandsire lying on the bed of arrows and said this.
dhanuḥ praharaṇaṃ śreṣṭham iti vādaḥ pitāmaha। matas tu mama dharmajña khaḍga eva susaṃśitaḥ ॥12-160-2॥
O grandsire, the argument is that the bow is the best weapon. But in my opinion, O knower of dharma, the well-sharpened sword alone is indeed superior.
viśīrṇe kārmuke rājan prakṣīṇeṣu ca vājiṣu| khaḍgena śakyate yuddhe sādhv ātmā parirakṣitum ॥12-160-3॥
O king, when the bow is broken and the horses are exhausted, it is still possible to defend oneself well in battle with a sword.
śarāsanadharāṃścaiva gadāśaktidharāṃstathā। ekaḥ khaḍgadharo vīraḥ samarthaḥ pratibādhitum ॥12-160-4॥
There were warriors bearing bows, as well as those with maces and spears; there was one heroic swordsman, capable of resisting.
atra me saṃśayaś caiva kautūhalam atīva ca। kiṃ svit praharaṇaṃ śreṣṭhaṃ sarva-yuddheṣu pārthiva ॥12-160-5॥
Here, I am filled with doubt and great curiosity; O king, what truly is the best weapon in all battles?
kathaṁ cotpāditaḥ khaḍgaḥ kasyārthāya ca kena vā। pūrvācāryaṁ ca khaḍgasya prabrūhi prapitāmaha ॥12-160-6॥
Great-grandfather, tell me how the sword was produced, by whom, and for what purpose, and also about the former teacher of the sword.
tasya tadvacanaṃ śrutvā mādrīputrasya dhīmataḥ। sarvakauśalasaṃyuktaṃ sūkṣmacitrārthavacchubham ॥12-160-7॥
Having listened to that speech of the wise son of Mādrī, which was endowed with all skill, subtlety, variety, meaning, and auspiciousness.
tatas tasyottaraṃ vākyaṃ svaravarṇopapāditam। śikṣānyāyopasampannaṃ droṇaśiṣyāya pṛcchate ॥12-160-8॥
Then he gave his reply, composed with proper accent and sound, and endowed with the principles of phonetics and logic, to Droṇa's disciple who was asking.
uvāca sarvadharmajño dhanurvedasya pāragaḥ। śaratalpagato bhīṣmo nakulāya mahātmane ॥12-160-9॥
Bhishma, the master of all dharmas and the science of archery, lying on his bed of arrows, spoke to Nakula, the noble-hearted one.
tattvaṃ śṛṇuṣva mādreya yad etat paripṛcchasi। prabodhito'smi bhavatā dhātumān iva parvataḥ ॥12-160-10॥
O son of Madri, listen to the truth which you ask. I have been awakened by you, like a mountain full of ores.
salilaikārṇavaṃ tāta purā sarvamabhūdidam। niṣprakampamanākāśamanirdeśyamahītalam ॥12-160-11॥
O dear, in ancient times, all this became a single ocean of water; the surface of the earth was motionless, without sky, and indescribable.
tamaḥ-saṁvṛtam asparśam ati-gambhīra-darśanam। niḥśabdaṁ ca aprameyaṁ ca tatra jajñe pitāmahaḥ ॥12-160-12॥
In that place, enveloped in darkness, untouchable, of profound aspect, silent and immeasurable, the Grandfather (Brahmā) was born.
so'sṛjad vāyum agniṃ ca bhāskaraṃ ca api vīryavān। ākāśam asṛjat ca ūrdhvam adhaḥ bhūmiṃ ca nairṛtim ॥12-160-13॥
He, being powerful, created wind, fire, and the sun; he also created the sky, the upward and downward directions, the earth, and the region of Nairṛti (southwest).
nabhaḥ sacandratāraṃ ca nakṣatrāṇi grahāṃstathā। saṃvatsarānahorātrānṛtūnatha lavānkṣaṇān ॥12-160-14॥
The sky, along with the moon, stars, constellations, and planets, as well as years, days and nights, seasons, instants, and moments.
tataḥ śarīraṃ lokasthaṃ sthāpayitvā pitāmahaḥ। janayāmāsa bhagavān putrān uttamatejasaḥ ॥12-160-15॥
Then the grandsire, having established a body in the world, created sons of supreme brilliance.
marīcim ṛṣim atriṃ ca pulastyaṃ pulahaṃ kratum | vasiṣṭhāṅgirasau cobhau rudraṃ ca prabhum īśvaram || 12-160-16 ||
Marīci, Atri, Pulastya, Pulaha, Kratu, Vasiṣṭha, Aṅgiras, Rudra, and the supreme lord are mentioned here as revered sages and deities.
prācetasaḥ tathā dakṣaḥ kanyāḥ ṣaṣṭim ajījanat। tā vai brahmarṣayaḥ sarvāḥ prajārthaṃ pratipedire ॥12-160-17॥
Similarly, Dakṣa, the son of Pracetas, begot sixty daughters. All those daughters were accepted by the Brahmarṣis for the purpose of progeny.
tābhyo viśvāni bhūtāni devāḥ pitṛgaṇās tathā| gandharvāpsarasaś caiva rakṣāṃsi vividhāni ca ||12-160-18||
To those women, all beings—including gods, ancestors, gandharvas, apsarases, and various kinds of demons—are devoted.
patatrimṛgamīnāś ca plavaṅgāś ca mahoragāḥ। nānākṛtibalāś cānye jalakṣitivicāriṇaḥ ॥12-160-19॥
There were winged creatures, beasts, fishes, jumpers, great serpents, and others of various forms and strengths, wandering in water and on earth.
audbhidāḥ svedajāścaiva aṇḍajāśca jarāyujāḥ। jajñe tāta tathā sarvaṃ jagat-sthāvara-jaṅgamam ॥12-160-20॥
O dear, thus all beings in the world—whether immobile or mobile—were born: those born from plants, from sweat, from eggs, and from wombs.
bhūtasargam imaṃ kṛtvā sarvalokapitāmahaḥ। śāśvataṃ vedapaṭhitaṃ dharmaṃ ca yuyuje punaḥ॥12-160-21॥
After creating this world of beings, the grandsire of all worlds once again established the eternal dharma as recited in the Vedas.
tasmin dharme sthitā devāḥ sahācāryapurohitāḥ। ādityā vasavo rudrāḥ sasādhyā marudaśvinaḥ ॥12-160-22॥
In that dharma, the gods, along with their teachers and priests—the Ādityas, Vasus, Rudras, Sādhyas, Maruts, and Aśvins—stood together.
bhṛgv-atry-aṅgirasaḥ siddhāḥ kāśyapaś ca tapodhanaḥ। vasiṣṭha-gautama-agastyās tathā nārada-parvatau ॥12-160-23॥
Bhṛgu, Atri, Aṅgiras, the perfected sages, Kāśyapa and the ascetic, as well as Vasiṣṭha, Gautama, Agastya, and also Nārada and Parvata.
ṛṣayo vālakhiḷyāś ca prabhāsāḥ sikatās tathā। ghṛtācāḥ somavāyavyā vaikhānasamarīcipāḥ ॥12-160-24॥
The seers, including the Vālakhiḷya, Prabhāsa, Sikatā, Ghṛtāca, Somavāyavya, Vaikhānasa, and Marīcipa sages, were present.
akṛṣṭāś caiva haṃsāś ca ṛṣayo 'thāgniyoni-jāḥ। vānaprasthāḥ pṛśnayaś ca sthitā brahmānuśāsane ॥12-160-25॥
Those who do not till the soil, the Hamsas, the sages, those born from fire, the forest-dwellers, the Pṛśni sages, all were established in the discipline of Brahman.
dānavendrās tv atikramya tat-pitāmaha-śāsanam। dharmasyāpacayaṃ cakruḥ krodha-lobha-samanvitāḥ ॥12-160-26॥
But the lords of the Dānavas, disregarding their grandfather's command, caused the decline of dharma, being overcome by anger and greed.
hiraṇyakaśipuś caiva hiraṇyākṣo virocanaḥ। śambaro vipracittiś ca prahrādo namucir baliḥ ॥12-160-27॥
Hiraṇyakaśipu, Hiraṇyākṣa, Virocana, Śambara, Vipracitti, Prahlāda, Namuci, and Bali.
ete cānye ca bahavaḥ sagaṇā daityadānavāḥ। dharmasetumatikramya remire'dharmaniscayāḥ ॥12-160-28॥
These and many other Daityas and Dānavas, along with their groups, having crossed the bounds of righteousness, rejoiced, being intent on unrighteousness.
sarve sma tulyajātīyā yathā devās tathā vayam। ityevaṃ hetum āsthāya spardhamānāḥ surarṣibhiḥ ॥12-160-29॥
All of us are of equal birth, just like the gods; thus, adopting this reasoning, we competed with the divine sages.
na priyaṃ nāpyanukrośaṃ cakrurbhūteṣu bhārata। trīnupāyānatikramya daṇḍena rurudhuḥ prajāḥ ॥ na jagmuḥ saṃvidaṃ taiśca darpādasurasattamāḥ ॥12-160-30॥
O Bhārata, they neither acted with kindness nor with compassion towards beings. Having disregarded the three means, they controlled the people by punishment. The chief Asuras, out of pride, did not come to an agreement with them.
atha vai bhagavān brahmā brahmarṣibhir upasthitaḥ। tadā himavataḥ pṛṣṭhe suramye padmatārake ॥12-160-31॥
Then, the blessed Brahmā, together with the Brahmarṣis, arrived and was present on the delightful ridge of the Himalaya, at the place called Padmatāraka.
śatayojanavistāre maṇimuktācayācite। tasmin girivare putra puṣpitadrumakānane॥ tasthau sa vibudhaśreṣṭho brahmā lokārthasiddhaye॥12-160-32॥
On that excellent mountain, stretching a hundred yojanas and heaped with jewels and pearls, in the forest of flowering trees, Brahmā, the foremost among the gods, stood there for the accomplishment of the world's purpose.
tato varṣasahasrānte vitānamakarotprabhuḥ। vidhinā kalpadṛṣṭena yathoktenopapāditam ॥12-160-33॥
Then, after a thousand years had passed, the lord constructed a canopy, performing it exactly as prescribed in the Kalpa ritual and as stated in the instructions.
ṛṣibhir yajña-paṭubhir yathāvat karma-kartṛbhiḥ। marudbhiḥ parisaṃstīrṇaṃ dīpyamānaiś ca pāvakaiḥ ॥12-160-34॥
It was completely covered by sages skilled in sacrifice, proper performers of rites, the Maruts, and blazing fires.
kāñcanairyajñabhāṇḍaiśca bhrājiṣṇubhiralaṅkṛtam। vṛtaṃ devagaṇaiścaiva prababhau yajñamaṇḍalam ॥12-160-35॥
The sacrificial arena, decorated with brilliant gold and ritual vessels, and surrounded by hosts of gods, shone resplendently.
tathā brahmarṣibhiścaiva sadasyairupaśobhitam। tatra ghoratamaṃ vṛttamṛṣīṇāṃ me pariśrutam ॥12-160-36॥
Thus, when the place was adorned by the Brahmarṣis and the assembly members, I heard there about the most dreadful event concerning the sages.
candramā vimalaṃ vyoma yathābhyuditatārakam। vidāryāgniṃ tathā bhūtamutthitaṃ śrūyate tataḥ ॥12-160-37॥
Just as the moon shines in the spotless sky with the stars risen, so it is heard that a being arose after splitting the fire.
nīlotpalasavarṇābhaṃ tīkṣṇadaṃṣṭraṃ kṛśodaram। prāṃśu durdarśanaṃ caivāpyatitejastathaiva ca ॥12-160-38॥
He had the appearance of the color of a blue lotus, sharp fangs, a thin belly, was tall, difficult to look at, and exceedingly radiant.
tasminnutpatamāne ca pracacāla vasundharā। tatrormikalilāvartaścukṣubhe ca mahārṇavaḥ ॥12-160-39॥
As that (being) was rising, the earth trembled; there, the wave-churned whirlpools and the great ocean were agitated.
peturulkā mahotpātāḥ śākhāśca mumucur drumāḥ। aprasannā diśaḥ sarvāḥ pavanaś cāśivo vavau॥ muhurmuhuś ca bhūtāni prāvyathanta bhayāt tathā॥12-160-40॥
Meteors and great portents fell; branches and trees broke off. All directions became unfavorable, and the wind blew ominously. Again and again, all beings were seized with fear.
tataḥ sutumulaṃ dṛṣṭvā tadadbhutamupasthitam। maharṣisuragandharvānuvācedaṃ pitāmahaḥ ॥12-160-41॥
Then, seeing that extraordinary and tumultuous event, the grandsire spoke these words to the great sages and divine Gandharvas.
mayaitac cintitaṃ bhūtam asir nām aiṣa vīryavān। rakṣaṇārthāya lokasya vadhāya ca suradviṣām॥12-160-42॥
I have conceived this powerful sword called 'Asi' for the protection of the world and for the destruction of the enemies of the gods.
tatastadrūpamutsṛjya babhau nistriṃśa eva saḥ। vimalastīkṣṇadhāraśca kālāntaka ivodyataḥ ॥12-160-43॥
Then, abandoning that form, he appeared as a sword—pure, sharp-edged, and raised aloft like Death himself.
tatastaṃ śitikaṇṭhāya rudrāyarṣabhaketave। brahmā dadāvasiṃ dīptamadharmaprativāraṇam ॥12-160-44॥
Then Brahmā gave that shining sword to the blue-throated Rudra, the bull-bannered one, for the prevention of unrighteousness.
tataḥ sa bhagavān rudro brahmarṣigaṇasaṃstutaḥ। pragṛhyāsim ameyātmā rūpam anyaṃ cakāra ha ॥12-160-45॥
Then the venerable Rudra, praised by the assembly of Brahmarṣis, took up his sword and indeed assumed another immeasurable form.
caturbāhuḥ spṛśanmūrdhnā bhūsthito'pi nabhastalam। ūrdhvadṛṣṭirmahāliṅgo mukhājjvālāḥ samutsṛjan॥ vikurvanbahudhā varṇān nīlapāṇḍuralohitān॥12-160-46॥
Though standing on the earth, the four-armed great symbol, with his head touching the sky and gaze turned upward, emitted flames from his mouth and manifested many colors—dark-blue, pale, and red—in various ways.
bibhrat-kṛṣṇājinam vāso hema-pravara-tārakam। netraṃ caikaṃ lalāṭena bhāskara-pratimaṃ mahat॥ śuśubhāte ca vimale dve netre kṛṣṇa-piṅgale॥12-160-47॥
He wore a garment of black-deerskin adorned with excellent golden star-like marks; one great eye on his forehead, resembling the sun, and his two clear eyes, dark-brown, shone brilliantly.
tato devo mahādevaḥ śūlapāṇirbhagākṣihā। sampragṛhya tu nistriṃśaṃ kālārkānalasaṃnibham ॥12-160-48॥
Then Mahadeva, the god with the spear, destroyer of Bhaga's eye, firmly seized the sword that shone like time, the sun, and fire.
trikūṭaṃ carma codyamya savidyutamivāmbudam। cacāra vividhānmārgānmahābalaparākramaḥ ॥ vidhunvannasimākāśe dānavāntacikīrṣayā ॥12-160-49॥
He lifted his three-peaked shield, which resembled a cloud with lightning, and, full of immense strength and valor, moved along various paths, wielding his sword in the sky, intent on bringing about the end of the demon.
tasya nādaṃ vinadato mahāhāsaṃ ca muñcataḥ। babhau pratibhayaṃ rūpaṃ tadā rudrasya bhārata॥12-160-50॥
O Bhārata, at that time, as he uttered a loud sound and released a great laughter, the terrifying form of Rudra shone forth.
tadrūpadhāriṇaṃ rudraṃ raudrakarma cikīrṣavaḥ। niśamya dānavāḥ sarve hṛṣṭāḥ samabhidudruvuḥ ॥12-160-51॥
When they saw Rudra assuming that form and wishing to perform a terrible deed, all the Dānavas, delighted, rushed together towards him.
aśmabhiś cāpy avarṣanta pradīptaiś ca tathol-mukaiḥ। ghoraiḥ praharaṇaiś cānyaiḥ śitadhārair ayomukhaiḥ॥12-160-52॥
They rained down stones, blazing firebrands, terrible weapons, and other sharp-edged, iron-pointed missiles.
tatas taddānavānīkaṃ sampraṇetāram acyutam। rudrakhadgabaloddhūtaṃ pracacāla mumoha ca ॥12-160-53॥
Then that army of demons, led by Acyuta (Krishna), was shaken by the strength of Rudra's sword, trembled, and became bewildered.
citraṃ śīghratara-tvāc ca carantam asidhāriṇam। tam ekam asurāḥ sarve sahasram iti menire॥12-160-54॥
Because of his wonderful and extraordinary speed, all the asuras thought that the one sword-bearer was a thousand.
chindan bhindan rujan kṛntan dārayan pramathan api। acarad daitya-saṅgheṣu rudraḥ agniḥ iva kakṣagaḥ ॥12-160-55॥
Rudra moved among the groups of Daityas, cutting, splitting, breaking, severing, tearing apart, and crushing them, just as fire moves through the undergrowth.
asivegaprarugṇās te chinnabāhūruvakṣasaḥ। samprakṛttottamāṅgāś ca petur urvyāṃ mahāsurāḥ॥12-160-56॥
The great asuras, their arms, thighs, and chests severed by the swift sword, and their heads completely cut off, fell to the ground.
apare dānavā bhagnā rudraghātāvapīḍitāḥ। anyonyam abhinardanto diśaḥ sampratipedire ॥12-160-57॥
Other Dānavas, shattered and oppressed by Rudra's blows, attacked each other and fled in all directions.
bhūmiṃ kecit praviviśuḥ parvatān apare tathā। apare jagmur ākāśam apare 'mbhaḥ samāviśan ॥12-160-58॥
Some entered the earth, others the mountains, others went to the sky, and others entered the water.
tasmin mahati saṁvṛtte samare bhṛśa-dāruṇe। babhau bhūmiḥ pratibhayā tadā rudhira-kardamā ॥12-160-59॥
In that great and fierce battle, the earth at that time shone brilliantly, being muddy with blood.
dānavānāṃ śarīraiś ca mahadbhiḥ śoṇitokṣitaiḥ। samākīrṇā mahābāho śailair iva sakiṃśukaiḥ ॥12-160-60॥
O mighty-armed one, the place was covered with the great blood-smeared bodies of the dānavas, resembling mountains adorned with kiṃśuka trees.
rudhireṇa pariklinnā prababhau vasudhā tadā। raktārdravasanā śyāmā nārīva madavihvalā ॥12-160-61॥
At that time, the earth, soaked with blood and with her garments moistened and darkened, shone like an intoxicated woman.
sa rudro dānavān hatvā kṛtvā dharmottaraṃ jagat। raudraṃ rūpaṃ vihāya āśu cakre rūpaṃ śivaṃ śivaḥ ॥12-160-62॥
Rudra, after destroying the Dānavas and establishing the world in supreme dharma, swiftly abandoned his terrible form and assumed the auspicious form of Śiva.
tato maharṣayaḥ sarve sarve devagaṇās tathā। jayenādbhutakalpena devadevam athārcayan ॥12-160-63॥
Then all the great sages and all the groups of gods likewise, with victorious and wondrous arrangements, worshipped the god of gods.
tataḥ sa bhagavān rudro dānavakṣatajokṣitam। asiṃ dharmasya goptāraṃ dadau satkṛtya viṣṇave ॥12-160-64॥
Then the revered Rudra respectfully gave to Viṣṇu the sword, smeared with the blood from the demon's wound, as the protector of dharma.
viṣṇur marīcaye prādān marīcir bhagavāṁś ca tam। maharṣibhyo dadau khaḍgam ṛṣayo vāsavāya tu ॥12-160-65॥
Viṣṇu gave the sword to Marīci; Marīci, the venerable sage, gave it to the great sages; the sages then gave the sword to Vāsava (Indra).
mahendro lokapālebhyo lokapālāstu putraka। manave sūryaputrāya daduḥ khaḍgaṃ suvistaram ॥12-160-66॥
O son, great Indra gave a very broad sword to Manu, the son of the Sun, through the guardians of the worlds.
ūcuś cainaṃ tathaivādyaṃ mānuṣāṇāṃ tvam īśvaraḥ। asinā dharmagarbheṇa pālayasva prajā iti ॥12-160-67॥
They said to him: "Thus, indeed, you are now the foremost lord of men; therefore, with this sword imbued with dharma, protect your subjects."
dharmasetumatikrāntāḥ sūkṣmasthūlārthakāraṇāt। vibhajya daṇḍaṃ rakṣyāḥ syurdharmato na yadṛcchayā ॥12-160-68॥
Those who have crossed the bounds of dharma, for subtle or gross reasons, should have punishment apportioned and protection given according to dharma, not arbitrarily.
durvācā nigraho daṇḍo hiraṇya-bahulas-tathā। vyaṅganaṃ ca śarīrasya vadho vānalpa-kāraṇāt ॥12-160-69॥
Restraint, punishment, fines of gold, mutilation of the body, or even death may be imposed for serious offenses of evil speech.
asere tāni rūpāṇi durvācādīni nirdiśet। asereva pramāṇāni parimāṇavyatikramāt ॥12-160-70॥
One should indicate these forms of 'as', which are difficult to express and others. Only the measures of 'as' are due to excess of quantity.
adhisṛjyātha putraṃ svaṃ prajānāmadhipaṃ tataḥ। manuḥ prajānāṃ rakṣārthaṃ kṣupāya pradadāvasim ॥12-160-71॥
After appointing his own son as the ruler of the people, Manu then gave a sword to Kṣupa for the protection of the subjects.
kṣupāj jagrāha cekṣvākur ikṣvākoś ca purūravaḥ। āyuś ca tasmāl lebhe taṃ nahuṣaś ca tato bhuvi॥12-160-72॥
Ikṣvāku seized the kingdom from Kṣupa, and from Ikṣvāku came Purūravas; Āyu was born from him, and from him Nahuṣa was born on earth.
yayātir nahuṣāc cāpi pūrus tasmāc ca labdhavān। āmūrtarayasas tasmāt tato bhūmiśayo nṛpaḥ ॥12-160-73॥
Yayati was born from Nahusha, and from Yayati, Puru was born; from Puru, the king Bhūmiśaya, of unmanifested glory, was then born.
bharataś cāpi dauḥṣantir lebhe bhūmiśayādasim। tasmāc ca lebhe dharmajño rājannaiḍabiḍas tathā ॥12-160-74॥
Bharata, the descendant of Duhshanta, also obtained a sword from lying on the ground; and from that, O king, the dharma-knower Idabida likewise obtained one.
tataś caiḍabiḍāl lebhe dhundhumāro janeśvaraḥ। dhundhumārāc ca kāmbojo mucukundas tato 'labhat ॥12-160-75॥
Then, Dhundhumāra, the lord of men, was born from Aiḍabiḍāla. From Dhundhumāra came Kāmboja, and from him, Mucukunda was born.
mucukundān maruttaś ca maruttād api raivataḥ। raivatād yuvanāśvaś ca yuvanāśvāt tato raghuḥ॥12-160-76॥
Marutta was born from Mucukunda, Raivata from Marutta, Yuvanāśva from Raivata, and then Raghu from Yuvanāśva.
ikṣvāku-vaṃśajaḥ tasmāt hariṇāśvaḥ pratāpavān। hariṇāśvāt asiṃ lebhe śunakaḥ śunakād api ॥12-160-77॥
The powerful Hariṇāśva was born from the descendant of Ikṣvāku. From Hariṇāśva, Śunaka obtained Asi, and from Śunaka as well.
uśīnaro vai dharmātmā tasmādbhiojāḥ sayādavāḥ। yadubhyaśca śibirle bhe śibeścāpi pratardanaḥ ॥12-160-78॥
Uśīnara was indeed a righteous king; from him descended the Bhojas along with the Yādavas; from the Yadus, Śibi was born; and from Śibi, Pratardana was also born.
pratardanādaṣṭakaś ca ruśadaśvo'ṣṭakād api। ruśadaśvādbharadvājo droṇas tasmāt kṛpas tataḥ ॥ tatas tvaṃ bhrātṛbhiḥ sārdhaṃ paramāsim avāptavān ॥12-160-79॥
From Pratardana came Aṣṭaka, and from Aṣṭaka, Ruśadaśva; from Ruśadaśva, Bharadvāja; from Bharadvāja, Droṇa; from Droṇa, Kṛpa. Then you, along with your brothers, obtained the supreme sword.
kṛttikāś cāsya nakṣatram aser agniś ca daivatam। rohiṇyo gotram asyātha rudraś ca gurur uttamaḥ ॥12-160-80॥
The Kṛttikā constellation is his star, with Agni as its deity. His clan is the Rohiṇī, and Rudra is his supreme teacher.
aseraṣṭau ca nāmāni rahasyāni nibodha me। pāṇḍaveya sadā yāni kīrtayaṃlabhate jayam ॥12-160-81॥
O son of Pāṇḍu, listen to the eight secret names of the sword from me. Whoever always recites them attains victory.
asirviśasanaḥ khaḍgastīkṣṇavartmā durāsadaḥ। śrīgarbho vijayaścaiva dharmapālastathaiva ca ॥12-160-82॥
He is the sword, the destroyer, the scimitar with a sharp edge, difficult to approach, the one who holds prosperity within, victory itself, and indeed the protector of dharma, likewise.
agryaḥ praharaṇānāṃ ca khaḍgo mādravatīsuta। maheśvarapraṇītaśca purāṇe niścayaṃ gataḥ ॥12-160-83॥
O son of Mādravatī, it is certain in the Purāṇa that among weapons, the sword is foremost, and it was composed by Maheśvara.
pṛthustu utpādayāmāsa dhanur ādyam ariṃdama। tene iyaṃ pṛthivī pūrvaṃ vainyena parirakṣitā ॥12-160-84॥
But Pṛthu, the destroyer of enemies, created the original bow. By him, this earth was formerly protected as Vainya.
tadetadārṣaṃ mādreya pramāṇaṃ kartumarhasi। aseśca pūjā kartavyā sadā yuddhaviśāradaiḥ ॥12-160-85॥
O son of Madri, you ought to act according to this authority of the ṛṣis. And worship should always be performed by those skilled in battle.
ityeṣa prathamaḥ kalpo vyākhyātas te suvistaraḥ। aser utpatti-saṃsargo yathāvad bharatarṣabha ॥12-160-86॥
Thus, O best of the Bharatas, the first section has been explained to you in detail, describing the origin and connection of Asu as it truly is.
sarvathaitadiha śrutvā khaḍgasādhanamuttamam। labhate puruṣaḥ kīrtiṃ pretya cānantyamaśnute ॥12-160-87॥
Whoever hears here, in every way, this supreme practice of the sword, gains fame and, after death, attains immortality.
