Adhyaya 24

Verse 1

सूत उवाच । हतं श्रुत्वा दितिः पुत्रं सुबलं बलमेव च । रुदितं करुणं कृत्वा हा हा कष्टं भृशं मम

Sūta said: Hearing that her sons Subala and Bala had been slain, Diti burst into pitiful weeping, crying, “Alas, alas! How grievous is my fate!”

Verse 2

एवं सुकरुणं कृत्वा बहुकालं तपस्विनी । सा गता कश्यपं कांतं तमुवाच यशस्विनी

Thus, having long remained in deep compassion, the ascetic woman went to her beloved Kaśyapa; and that illustrious one spoke to him.

Verse 3

तव पुत्रो महापाप इंद्रः सुरगणेश्वरः । सागरोपगतं दृष्ट्वा बलं मे ब्रह्मलक्षणम्

Your son—Indra, lord of the hosts of the devas—is a great sinner. Seeing my power, marked with Brahman-like splendor, entering the ocean, he acted accordingly.

Verse 4

वज्रेण घातयामास संध्यामास्यंतमेव हि । एवं श्रुत्वा ततः क्रुद्धो मरीचितनयस्तदा

Indeed, he struck (him) with the vajra precisely at twilight. Hearing this, Marīci’s son then became enraged.

Verse 5

क्रोधेन महताविष्टः प्रजज्वालेव वह्निना । अवलुंच्य जटामेकां शुच्यग्नौ स द्विजोत्तमः

Overcome by mighty wrath, he blazed as though kindled by fire; and that foremost of Brahmins, tearing out a single lock of his matted hair, cast it into the pure sacrificial flame.

Verse 6

इंद्रस्यैव वधार्थाय पुत्रमुत्पादयाम्यहम् । तस्मात्कुंडात्समुत्पन्नो हुताशनमुखादपि

“Solely for the slaying of Indra shall I beget a son. From that fire-pit he will arise—indeed, even from the very mouth of the Fire-god.”

Verse 7

कृष्णांजनचयोपेतः पिंगाक्षो भीषणाकृतिः । दंष्ट्राकरालवक्त्रांतो जगतां भयदायकः

Smeared with a mass of black collyrium, tawny-eyed and dreadful in form—his mouth made terrifying by protruding fangs—he became a cause of fear to the worlds.

Verse 8

महाचर्वरिको घोरः खड्गचर्मधरस्तथा । सर्वांगतेजसा दीप्तो महामेघोपमो बली

The fearsome Mahācarvarika, bearing a sword and shield, blazed with radiance in every limb—powerful, and resembling a great storm-cloud.

Verse 9

उवाच कश्यपं विप्रमादेशो मम दीयताम् । कस्मादुत्पादितो विप्र भवता कारणं वद

He said to the Brahmin Kaśyapa: “Grant me your command, your instruction. O Brahmin, for what reason did you bring me forth? Tell me the cause.”

Verse 10

तमहं साधयिष्यामि प्रसादात्तव सुव्रत । कश्यप उवाच । अस्या मनोरथं पुत्र पूरयस्व ममैव हि

“I shall accomplish it by your gracious favor, O you of excellent vows.” Kaśyapa said: “My son, fulfill her desire—indeed, for my sake.”

Verse 11

अदित्यास्त्वं महाप्राज्ञ जहि इंद्रं दुरात्मकम् । निहते देवराजे हि ऐंद्रं पदं प्रभुंक्ष्व च

O most wise one, you are among the Ādityas—slay Indra, that wicked-souled one. For when the king of the gods is slain, then enjoy the sovereign post of Indra as well.

Verse 12

एवं तेन समादिष्टः कश्यपेन महात्मना । वृत्रस्तु उद्यमं चक्रे तस्येंद्रस्य वधाय च

Thus instructed by the great-souled Kaśyapa, Vṛtra set about his endeavor, making preparations to slay Indra as well.

Verse 13

धनुर्वेदस्य चाभ्यासं स चक्रे पौरुषान्वितः । बलं वीर्यं तथा क्षात्रं तेजो धैर्यसमन्वितम्

Endowed with manly prowess, he undertook the discipline of the science of archery—possessing strength and vigor, the warrior’s spirit, radiance, and steadfast courage.

Verse 14

दृष्ट्वा हि तस्य दैत्यस्य सहस्राक्षो भयातुरः । उपायं चिंतितं तस्य वृत्रस्यापि दुरात्मनः

Seeing that daitya, Sahasrākṣa (Indra) was distressed with fear, and he began to devise a means against Vṛtra as well, that evil-souled one.

Verse 15

वधार्थं देवदेवेन समाहूय महामुनीन् । सप्तर्षीन्प्रेषयामास वृत्रं दैत्येश्वरं प्रति

For the slaying of Vṛtra, the Lord of the gods summoned the great sages and dispatched the Seven Ṛṣis toward Vṛtra, the lord of the Daityas.

Verse 16

भवंतस्तत्र गच्छंतु यत्र वृत्रः स तिष्ठति । संधिं कुर्वंतु वै तेन सार्द्धं मम मुनीश्वराः

“Go all of you there, to the place where Vṛtra stands. Let my revered sages indeed make a truce with him.”

Verse 17

एवं तेन समादिष्टा मुनयः सप्त ते तदा । वृत्रासुरं ततः प्रोचुः सहस्राक्ष प्रचालिताः

Thus instructed by him, those seven sages then addressed Vṛtrāsura, having been set in motion by Sahasrākṣa (Indra).

Verse 18

सख्यं कर्तुं प्रयच्छेत्स क्रियतां दैत्यसत्तम । ऋषयः सप्ततत्त्वज्ञा ऊचुर्वृत्रं महाबलम्

“Let friendship be offered—let it be made, O best of the Daityas.” Thus spoke the seven sages, knowers of true principles, to Vṛtra, the mighty one.

Verse 19

सहस्राक्षो महाप्राज्ञो भवता सह सत्तम । मैत्रमिच्छति वै कर्तुं तत्कथं न करोषि किम्

O best among men, the thousand-eyed and supremely wise Indra truly wishes to form friendship with you. Why, then, do you not do so?

Verse 20

अर्धमैंद्रं पदं वीर सत्वं भुंक्ष्व सुखेन वै । वर्तंत्वर्द्धेन इंद्रस्तु असुरा देवतास्तथा

O hero, enjoy in ease this portion—half of Indra’s station. Let Indra subsist on the other half; so too the Asuras and the Devas.

Verse 21

सुखं वर्तंतु ते सर्वे वैरं चैव विसृज्य वै । वृत्र उवाच । यदि सत्येन देवेंद्रो मैत्रमिच्छति सत्तमः

“May you all dwell in happiness, truly casting aside enmity.” Vṛtra said: “If Indra, lord of the gods, best among men, truly desires friendship in truth…”

Verse 22

सत्यमाश्रित्य चैवाहं करिष्ये नात्र संशयः । छद्म चैवं पुरस्कृत्य इंद्रो द्रोहं समाचरेत्

Relying upon truth, I will indeed do it—there is no doubt of this. Yet Indra, taking disguise as a pretext, went forth to commit treachery.

Verse 23

तदा किं क्रियते विप्रा इत्यर्थे प्रत्ययं हि किम् । ऋषयस्त्विंद्रमाचख्युरित्यर्थं प्रत्ययं वद

“O brāhmaṇas, what is to be done then?”—here the particle ‘kim’ conveys the intended sense as an interrogative. And since the sages spoke of Indra, explain the intended sense of that expression as well.

Verse 24

इति श्रीपद्मपुराणे पंचपंचाशत्सहस्रसंहितायां भूमिखंडे वृत्र । वंचनंनाम चतुर्विंशोऽध्यायः

Thus ends the twenty-fourth chapter, called “The Deception of Vṛtra,” in the Bhūmi-khaṇḍa of the revered Padma Purāṇa, within the compilation of fifty-five thousand verses.

Verse 25

ब्रह्महत्यादिकैः पापैर्लिप्येहं नात्र संशयः । छद्म चैवं पुरस्कृत्य इंद्रो द्रोहं समाचरेत्

“I shall indeed be tainted here by sins such as brahma-hatyā—the slaying of a brāhmaṇa; of this there is no doubt. Thus, putting forward a pretext as a cover, Indra would proceed to commit treachery.”

Verse 26

ब्रह्महत्यादिकैः पापैर्लिप्येहं नात्र संशयः । इत्युवाच महाप्राज्ञ त्वामेवं स पुरंदरः

“I am stained here by sins such as brahma-hatyā—the killing of a brāhmaṇa; of this there is no doubt.” Thus spoke Purandara (Indra) to you in this way, O greatly wise one.

Verse 27

एतेन प्रत्ययेनापि सख्यं कुरु महामते । वृत्र उवाच । भवतां शिष्टमार्गेण सत्येनानेन तस्य च

“Even by this assurance, O great-minded one, form a bond of friendship.” Vṛtra said: “By your truthful conduct—following the path of the noble—and by this truthfulness of his as well …”

Verse 28

मैत्रमेवं करिष्यामि तेन सार्द्धं द्विजोत्तमाः । वृत्रमिंद्रस्यसंस्थानं नीतं ब्राह्मणपुङ्गवैः

“Thus I shall establish friendship with him, O best of the twice-born. Vṛtra—Indra’s counterpart in might and station—was led onward by eminent brāhmaṇas.”

Verse 29

इन्द्रस्तमागतं दृष्ट्वा वृत्रं मित्रार्थमुद्यतः । सिंहासनात्समुत्थाय अर्घमादाय सत्वरः

Seeing Vṛtra arrive, Indra—intent on friendship—quickly rose from his throne and promptly took up the arghya offering to honor him.

Verse 30

ददौ तस्मै स धर्मात्मा वृत्राय द्विजसत्तम । अर्धं भुंक्ष्व महाप्राज्ञ ऐंद्रमेतन्महत्पदम्

O best of the twice-born, that righteous-souled one gave it to Vṛtra, saying: “O great sage, enjoy half of this—this mighty, Indra-like sovereign station.”

Verse 31

वर्तितव्यं सुखेनापि आवाभ्यां दैत्यसत्तम । एवं विश्वासयन्दैत्यं वृत्र मैत्रेण वै तदा

“O best of the Daityas, we two should live at ease as well.” Thus, at that time, Vṛtra—using friendship—kept reassuring and winning over the Daitya.

Verse 32

गतेषु तेषु विप्रेषु स्वस्थानं द्विजसत्तम । छिद्रं पश्यति दुष्टात्मा वृत्रस्यापि सदैव हि

When those brāhmaṇas had departed, O best of the twice-born, the wicked-minded one kept watching for a flaw—indeed, always seeking an opening even against Vṛtra.

Verse 33

सावधानत्वमिंद्रोपि दिवारात्रौ प्रचिंतयेत् । तस्यच्छिद्रं न पश्येत वृत्रस्यापि महात्मनः

Even Indra should continually reflect, day and night, on the need for vigilance; for he would find no flaw—no opening—in that great-souled Vṛtra.

Verse 34

उपायं चिंतयामास तस्यैव वधहेतवे । रंभा संप्रेषिता तेन मोहयस्व महासुरम्

He devised a stratagem for the very purpose of his slaying; and by him Rambhā was dispatched with the command, “Delude the great demon.”

Verse 35

येनकेनाप्युपायेन यथा हत्वा लभे सुखम् । तथा कुरुष्व कल्याणि संमोहाय सुरद्विषः

By whatever means, so that—having slain him—I may obtain happiness: do exactly that, O auspicious one, for the delusion of the enemies of the gods.

Verse 36

वनं पुण्यं महादिव्यं पुण्यपादपसेवितम् । बहुवृक्षफलोपेतं मृगपक्षिसमाकुलम्

A sacred forest—great and wondrous—attended by holy trees, rich with the fruits of many kinds of trees, and filled with herds of deer and flocks of birds.

Verse 37

विमानमंदिरैर्दिव्यैः सर्वत्र परिशोभितम् । दिव्यगंधर्वसंगीतं भ्रमराकुलितं सदा

Everywhere it was adorned with divine aerial palaces and splendid mansions; it resounded with celestial Gandharva music and was always thronged with swarms of bees.

Verse 38

कोकिलानां रुतैः पुण्यैः सर्वत्र मधुरायतैः । शिखिसारंगनादैश्च सर्वत्र सुसमाकुलम्

Everywhere it was filled with the auspicious calls of cuckoos, sweetly resounding in all directions, and everywhere it was richly alive with the cries of peacocks and deer.

Verse 39

दिव्यैस्तु चंदनैर्वृक्षैः सर्वत्र समलंकृतम् । वापीकुंडतडागैश्च जलपूर्णैर्मनोहरैः

It was adorned everywhere with celestial sandalwood trees, and with delightful stepwells, ponds, and lakes, all filled with water.

Verse 40

कमलैः शतपत्रैश्च पुष्पितैः समलंकृतम् । देवगंधर्वसंसिद्धैश्चारणैश्चैव किन्नरैः

It was beautifully adorned with blooming lotuses and hundred-petalled flowers, and thronged with divine Gandharvas, Siddhas, Cāraṇas, and Kinnaras.

Verse 41

मुनिभिः शुशुभे दिव्यैर्दिव्योद्यानवरेण च । अप्सरोगणसंकीर्णं नानाकौतुकमंगलैः

It shone splendidly with divine sages and with an excellent celestial garden; it was filled with hosts of apsarās and adorned with many festive celebrations and auspicious rites.

Verse 42

हेमप्रासादसंबाधं दंडच्छत्रैश्च चामरैः । कलशैश्च पताकाभिः सर्वत्रसमलंकृतम्

It was crowded with golden palaces, and everywhere it was beautifully adorned with staffs and parasols, with fly-whisks, with finials (auspicious pots), and with banners.

Verse 43

वेदध्वनिसमाकीर्णं गीतध्वनिसमाकुलम् । एवं नंदनमासाद्य सा रंभा चारुहासिनी

Filled with the resonant sound of Vedic recitation and bustling with the music of song—thus, having reached Nandana, Rambhā, the lovely-smiling one, entered there.

Verse 44

अप्सरोभिः समं तत्र क्रीडत्येवं विलासिनी । सूत उवाच । एकदा तु स वृत्रो वै कालाकृष्टो गतो वनम्

There, the playful and graceful lady sported thus together with the apsarās. Sūta said: Once, that Vṛtra—drawn onward by Time—went to the forest.

Verse 45

कतिभिर्दानवैः सार्द्धं मुदया परया युतः । अलक्ष्ये भ्रमते पार्श्वं तस्यैव च महात्मनः

Accompanied by a few Dānavas and filled with supreme delight, he wandered about—unseen—moving around the very side of that great-souled one.

Verse 46

देवराजोपि विप्रेंद्रश्छिद्रान्वेषी द्विषां किल । स हि वृत्रो महाप्राज्ञो विश्वस्तः सर्वकर्मसु

O best of Brahmins, even the king of the gods is said to be one who searches for the faults of his enemies; but Vṛtra indeed was greatly wise and trustworthy in all undertakings.

Verse 47

इंद्रं मित्रं परं जानन्भयं चक्रे न तस्य सः । भ्रममाणो वनं पश्येत्सर्वत्र परमं शुभम्

Knowing Indra to be a supreme friend, he did not give rise to fear. Even while wandering through the forest, he would behold the highest auspiciousness everywhere.

Verse 48

सुरम्यं कौतुकवनं वनितागणसंकुलम् । चंदनस्यापि वृक्षस्य छायां शीतां सुपुण्यदाम्

It was a delightful pleasure-grove, crowded with groups of women; and there was also the cool shade of sandalwood trees—exceedingly auspicious and merit-bestowing.

Verse 49

समाश्रित्य विशालाक्षी रंभा तत्र प्रदीव्यति । सखीभिस्तु महाभागा दोलारूढा यशस्विनी

There, the large-eyed Rambhā, having taken refuge there, shines forth; the illustrious, fortunate one is seated on a swing, accompanied by her friends.

Verse 50

गायते सुस्वरं गीतं सर्वविश्वप्रमोहनम् । तत्र वृत्रः समायातः कामाकुलितमानसः

A song, sweet in melody and enchanting to the whole world, was being sung. There Vṛtra arrived, his mind agitated and overwhelmed by desire.

Verse 51

दोलारूढां समालोक्य रंभां चारुसुलोचनाम्

Seeing Rambhā, the lovely wide-eyed one, seated upon a swing,