Adhyaya 10

Verse 1

ऋषय ऊचुः । ततस्ते दानवाः सर्वे हिरण्यकशिपूत्तराः । युद्धाद्भग्नास्तु किं कुर्युर्व्यवसायं महामते

The sages said: “Then all those Dānavas—the sons of Hiraṇyakaśipu—routed in battle, what course of action did they undertake, O great-minded one?”

Verse 2

विस्तरेणापि नो ब्रूहि तेषां वृत्तमनुत्तमम् । श्रोतुमिच्छामहे सर्वे त्वत्तो वै सांप्रतं द्विज

Tell us, even in detail, their unsurpassed account. We all wish to hear it now—indeed, from you, O twice-born sage.

Verse 3

सूत उवाच । भग्ना रणात्तु ते सर्वे बलहीनास्तु वै तदा । गतदर्पाः सुदुःखार्ता दैत्यास्ते पितरं गताः

Sūta said: Then all of them, broken in battle and indeed bereft of strength, their pride gone and afflicted by intense sorrow, those Daityas went to their father.

Verse 4

भक्त्या प्रणम्य ते सर्वे समूचुः कश्यपं तदा । दानवा ऊचुः । भवद्वीर्यात्समुत्पत्तिरस्माकं द्विजसत्तम

Then all of them bowed to Kaśyapa in devotion and spoke. The Dānavas said: “O best of the twice-born, we have arisen from your virile energy.”

Verse 5

देवतानां महाभाग दानवानां तथैव च । वयं च दानवाः सर्वे बलवीर्यपराक्रमाः

O greatly fortunate one, among the devas and likewise among the Dānavas, we too—all of us Dānavas—are endowed with strength, valor, and heroic prowess.

Verse 6

उपायज्ञाः सुधीराश्च उद्यमेन समन्विताः । वयं तु बहवस्तात देवास्त्वल्पास्तथैव च

We are resourceful, clear-minded, and endowed with determined effort. And we are many, dear father—whereas the devas are few indeed.

Verse 7

कथं जयंति ते सर्वे वयं भग्ना महाहवात् । तत्किं वै कारणं तात बलतेजः समन्विताः

How is it that all of them are victorious, while we have been routed from the great battle? What, dear father, is the reason for this, though we are endowed with strength and fiery prowess?

Verse 8

मत्तनागसहस्राणामेकैकस्य महामते । बलमस्ति च दैत्यस्य नास्ति देवेषु तादृशम्

O wise one, each daitya possesses the strength of a thousand rutting elephants; among the devas there is no strength comparable to that.

Verse 9

जयश्च दृश्यते तात देवेष्वेव महाहवे । तत्सर्वं कथयस्वैव संशयंछेत्तुमर्हसि

Victory is seen, dear one, among the gods themselves in that great battle. Therefore tell me all of it, for you are able to dispel my doubt.

Verse 10

इति श्रीपद्मपुराणे भूमिखंडे दैत्यतपश्चर्यावर्णनंनाम दशमोऽध्यायः

Thus, in the Śrī Padma Purāṇa, in the Bhūmi-khaṇḍa, ends the tenth chapter entitled “The Description of the Demons’ Austerities.”

Verse 11

वीर्यनिर्वापकस्तातो माताक्षेत्रमिदं सदा । धारणे पालने चैव पोषणे च यथैव हि

Therefore, dear one, the mother is ever the field that receives and settles the seed—just as she is in carrying, protecting, and nourishing the child.

Verse 12

किं कुर्याद्विषमार्थे तु पिता पुत्रे च वै तथा । अत्र प्रधानं कर्मैव मामेवं बुद्धिराश्रिता

What should a father do when a difficult, conflicting situation arises concerning his son? Here, right action alone is paramount—this is the understanding I hold.

Verse 13

द्वैविध्यं कर्मसंबंधं पापपुण्यसमुद्भवम् । सत्यमेव समाश्रित्य क्रियते धर्म उत्तमः

Karma is connected in a twofold way, arising as sin and merit. Taking refuge in truth alone, the highest dharma is practiced.

Verse 14

तपोध्यानसमायुक्तं तारणाय हि तं सुताः । पतनाय पातकं प्रोक्तं सर्वदैव न संशयः

O sons, that which is joined with austerity and meditation is indeed declared to lead to liberation; but sin (pātaka) is said to bring downfall—of this there is never any doubt.

Verse 15

बलेन परिवारेण आभिजात्येन पुत्रकाः । पुण्यहीनस्य पुंसो वै तद्बलं विकलायते

Through strength, family support, noble birth, and sons—yet for a man devoid of merit (puṇya), all that strength indeed withers away.

Verse 16

उन्नता गिरिदुर्गेषु वृक्षाः संति सुपुत्रकाः । पतंति वातवेगेन समूलास्तु घनास्तथा

Even tall trees, firmly rooted on mountain strongholds, can be toppled by the force of the wind—falling with their roots, and likewise even dense stands of trees as well.

Verse 17

सत्यधर्मविहीनास्ते तथायांति यमक्षयम् । साधारणः प्राणिनां च धर्म एष सुपुत्रकाः

Those who are devoid of truth and dharma go accordingly to Yama’s realm. This is the common duty of all living beings, O good sons.

Verse 18

येन संतरते जंतुरिह चैव परत्र च । तद्युष्माभिः परित्यक्तं सत्यं धर्मसमन्वितम्

That by which a living being safely crosses over—both here in this world and in the world beyond—namely truth endowed with dharma, has been abandoned by you.

Verse 19

अधर्ममास्थितं पुत्रा युष्माभिः सत्यवर्जितैः । सत्यधर्मतपोभ्रष्टाः पतिता दुःखसागरे

My sons, you—having forsaken truth—have taken refuge in adharma. Fallen away from truth, dharma, and tapas, you have sunk into an ocean of suffering.

Verse 20

देवाश्च सत्यसंपन्नाः श्रेयसा च समन्विताः । तपः शांतिदमोपेताः सुपुण्या पापवर्जिताः

And the gods are endowed with truth and joined to what leads to the highest good; they possess tapas, peace, and self-restraint—rich in merit and free from sin.

Verse 21

यत्र सत्यं च धर्मश्च तपः पुण्यं तथैव च । यत्र विष्णुर्हृषीकेशो जयस्तत्र प्रदृश्यते

Where truth and dharma abide—together with tapas and merit—and where Viṣṇu, Hṛṣīkeśa, Lord of the senses, is present, there victory is plainly seen.

Verse 22

तेषां सहायः संभूतो वासुदेवः सनातनः । तस्माज्जयंति ते देवाः सत्यधर्मसमन्विताः

For them, the eternal Vāsudeva manifested as a helper; therefore those gods, endowed with truth and dharma, are victorious.

Verse 23

सहायेन बलेनैव पौरुषेण तथैव च । भवंतः किल वै पुत्रास्तपः सत्यविवर्जिताः

Relying only on allies, on sheer strength, and on mere manly prowess, you sons—so it is said—are devoid of tapas and truth.

Verse 24

यस्य विष्णुः सहायश्च तपश्चैव बलं तथा । तस्यैव च जयो दृष्ट इति धर्मविदो विदुः

For one who has Viṣṇu as an ally, and who also possesses tapas and strength, victory is indeed seen to belong to him alone; thus do the knowers of dharma understand.

Verse 25

यूयं धर्मविहीनास्तु तपः सत्यविवर्जिताः । ऐंद्रं पदं बलेनैव प्राप्तवंतश्च पूर्वतः

You are bereft of dharma, and devoid of tapas and truth. Formerly, you attained Indra’s station only by sheer force.

Verse 26

तपो विना महाप्राज्ञा धर्मेण यशसा विना । बलदर्पगुणैः पुत्रा न प्राप्यमैन्द्रकं पदम्

O highly wise ones, my sons: without tapas, and without righteousness and honorable repute, the Indra-like station is not attainable—no matter one’s strength, pride, or other qualities.

Verse 27

प्राप्याप्यैंद्रं पदं पुत्रास्ततो भ्रष्टा भवंति हि । तस्माद्यूयं प्रकुर्वंतु तपः पुत्राः समन्विताः

Even after attaining Indra’s exalted station, sons do indeed fall from it. Therefore, you sons—united and steadfast—should undertake tapas.

Verse 28

अविरोधेन संयुक्ता ज्ञानध्यानसमन्विताः । वैरं चैव न कर्तव्यं केशवेन समं कदा

Remain joined in harmony, endowed with true knowledge and meditation; and never, at any time, should one make enmity with Keśava.

Verse 29

एवंविधा यदा पुत्रा यूयं धन्या भविष्यथ । परां सिद्धिं तदा सर्वे प्रयास्यथ न संशयः

When you become such virtuous sons, you will be truly blessed. Then all of you will attain the highest perfection—of this there is no doubt.

Verse 30

एवं संभाषितास्ते तु कश्यपेन महात्मना । समाकर्ण्य पितुर्वाक्यं दानवास्ते महौजसः

Thus addressed by the great-souled Kaśyapa, those mighty Dānavas, having listened to their father’s words, responded and acted accordingly.

Verse 31

प्रणम्य कश्यपं भक्त्या समुत्थाय त्वरान्विताः । सुमंत्रं चक्रिरे दैत्याः परस्परसमाहिताः

Having bowed to Kaśyapa with devotion, they rose quickly; the Daityas then formed an excellent plan, mutually intent and in full accord with one another.

Verse 32

हिरण्यकशिपू राजा तानुवाचाथ दानवान् । तपश्चैव करिष्यामो दुष्करं सर्वदायकम्

Then King Hiraṇyakaśipu spoke to those Dānavas: “Indeed, we shall undertake tapas—austerity difficult to perform, yet bestowing all desired boons.”

Verse 33

हिरण्याक्षस्तदोवाच करिष्ये दारुणं तपः । ततो बलेन त्रैलोक्यं ग्रहीष्ये नात्र संशयः

Then Hiraṇyākṣa said: “I shall undertake a fierce tapas. By the power gained from it, I will seize the three worlds—of this there is no doubt.”

Verse 34

रणे निर्जित्य गोविंदं तमिमं पापचेतसम् । व्यापाद्य देवताः सर्वाः पदमैंद्रं व्रजाम्यहम्

Having conquered Govinda in battle and slain all the gods, I shall go to Padma-Indra; this one here is of sinful mind.

Verse 35

बलिरुवाच । एवं न युज्यते कर्तुं युष्माभिर्दितिजेश्वराः । विष्णुना सह यद्वैरं तद्वैरं नाशकारणम्

Bali said: “O lords of the Diti-born (Daityas), it is not fitting for you to act thus. Enmity with Viṣṇu—such hostility becomes the very cause of ruin.”

Verse 36

दानधर्मैस्तथा पुण्यैस्तपोभिर्यज्ञयाजनैः । तमाराध्य हृषीकेशं सुखं गच्छंति मानवाः

Through charity, dharma, meritorious deeds, austerities, and the performance of sacrifices (yajñas), people worship Hṛṣīkeśa; and having worshipped Him, they attain happiness.

Verse 37

हिरण्यकशिपुरुवाच । अहमेवं न करिष्ये हरेराराधनं कदा । स्वभावं तु परित्यज्य शत्रुसेवा प्रचर्यते

Hiraṇyakaśipu said: “Never shall I perform such worship of Hari. Abandoning one’s own nature, one ends up rendering service to an enemy.”

Verse 38

मरणादधिकं तं तु मानयंति हि पंडिताः । विष्णोः सेवा न वै कार्या मया चान्यैश्च दानवैः

The learned indeed regard that course as worse than death. Therefore service to Viṣṇu should certainly not be undertaken—neither by me nor by other Dānavas.

Verse 39

तमुवाच महात्मानं बलिः पितामहं पुनः । धर्मशास्त्रेषु यद्दृष्टं मुनिभिस्तत्त्ववेदिभिः

Then Bali again addressed his grandsire, the great-souled one: “That which is taught in the Dharma-śāstras by sages who know the truth—”

Verse 40

राजनीतियुतं मंत्रं शत्रोश्चैव प्रधानतः । हीनमात्मानमाज्ञाय रिपुं तं बलिनं तथा

Having adopted counsel grounded in statecraft, and treating the enemy as the foremost concern, one should recognize one’s own weakness—and likewise understand that foe to be strong.

Verse 41

तस्य पार्श्वे प्रगत्वैव जयकालं प्रतीक्षयेत् । दीपच्छायां समाश्रित्य तमो वसति सर्वदा

Having gone to his side, one should wait for the auspicious moment of victory; for darkness, taking refuge in the shadow of a lamp, dwells there always.

Verse 42

स्नेहं दशागतं प्रेक्ष्य दीपस्यापि महाबलम् । प्रकाशं याति वेगेन तमश्च वर्द्धते पुनः

Seeing that the lamp’s oil has reached its final state, even though the lamp is powerful, its light quickly fades—and darkness increases again.

Verse 43

तथा प्रसादयेच्छन्नः स्नेहं निर्दिश्य तत्त्वतः । स्नेहं कृत्वासुरैः सार्द्धं धर्मभावैः सुरद्विषः

In the same way, concealing his intent, he should win them over—outwardly indicating genuine affection. Having thus formed a bond of ‘friendship’ with the asuras, the enemy of the gods would proceed, adopting the guise of righteousness.

Verse 44

पूर्वमुक्तं सुमंत्रं तु मुनिना कश्यपेन हि । तेन मंत्रेण राजेंद्र कुरु कार्यं स्वमात्मवान्

That excellent mantra was indeed previously taught by the sage Kaśyapa. O king of kings, being self-possessed, accomplish your task by means of that mantra.

Verse 45

तस्य तद्वचनं श्रुत्वा प्राह दैत्यः प्रतापवान् । पौत्र नैवं करिष्येहं मानभंगं तथात्मनः

Hearing those words, the mighty Daitya replied: “Grandson, I will not act in this way here—so as to bring about the breaking of my own honor.”

Verse 46

अन्ये च बांधवाः सर्वे तमूचुर्नयपंडितम् । बलिनोक्तं च यत्पुण्यं देवतानां प्रियंकरम्

Then all the other kinsmen also spoke to him, the wise man skilled in proper conduct: “That meritorious act spoken of by Bali is indeed pleasing to the gods.”

Verse 47

शक्रमानकरं प्रोक्तं दानवानां भयंकरम् । करिष्यामो वयं सर्वे तप एवमनुत्तमम्

It has been declared to be a formidable foe of Śakra (Indra), terrifying to the Dānavas. Therefore, all of us shall undertake such unsurpassed austerity.

Verse 48

तपसा निर्जित्य देवान्हरिष्यामः स्वकं पदम् । एवमामंत्र्य ते सर्वे निराकृत्य बलिं तदा

“By austerity we shall conquer the gods and seize our own rightful station.” Saying so, they all took leave, and at that time they cast aside Bali.

Verse 49

विष्णोः सार्द्धं महावैरं हृदि कृत्वा महासुराः । तपश्चक्रुस्ततः सर्वे गिरिदुर्गेषु सानुषु

Harboring fierce enmity toward Viṣṇu within their hearts, all the great asuras then undertook austerities upon mountain strongholds and lofty ridges.

Verse 50

एवं ते दानवाः सर्वे त्यक्तरागाः सुनिश्चिताः । कामक्रोधविहीनाश्च निराहारा जितक्लमाः

Thus all those Dānavas—having cast off attachment and become firmly resolved—were free from desire and anger, fasting, and having conquered fatigue.