The Three Cities of the Asuras

Verse 1 (8.24.1)

भूय एव तु मद्रेश यत्त्वा वक्ष्यामि तच्छृणु । यथा पुरावृत्तमिदं युद्धे देवासुरे प्रभो ॥

bhūya eva tu madreśa yattvā vakṣyāmi tacchṛṇu | yathā purāvṛttamidaṃ yuddhe devāsure prabho

Listen further, O lord of the Madras, to what I shall tell you: how this came to pass long ago, in the war between the gods and the asuras, O lord.

Verse 2 (8.24.2)

यदुक्तवान्पितुर्मह्यं मार्कण्डेयो महातपाः । ब्रुवतस्तदशेषेण मम राजर्षिसत्तम । निबोध मनसा चात्र न ते कार्या विचारणा ॥

yaduktavānpiturmahyaṃ mārkaṇḍeyo mahātapāḥ | bruvatastadaśeṣeṇa mama rājarṣisattama | nibodha manasā cātra na te kāryā vicāraṇā

What the great ascetic Markandeya once told my father, I shall relate to you in full, O best of royal sages. Listen to it with your whole mind, and have no doubt about it.

Note on the text: Lines 1–3 are CE 8.24.2a, c, e (Wikisource's wording differs slightly); the automatic alignment found no match.

Verse 3 (8.24.3)

समुत्पन्ना हि राजानः प्रमोह इति निश्चयम् । कृत्वा चैव व्यवस्यन्ति सर्वे धर्मार्थनिश्चयान् ॥

samutpannā hi rājānaḥ pramoha iti niścayam | kṛtvā caiva vyavasyanti sarve dharmārthaniścayān

It is certain that kings who have come into power are prone to delusion; and yet, having made up their minds, they all go on to settle matters of duty and profit.

Note on the text: Removed stray wiki quote marks. Corrected समुत्पन्नो → समुत्पन्ना (misprint in Wikisource; ओ for आ, since राजानः is plural; the critical edition's star passage reads samutpannā). Not in the critical edition's constituted text (found in the vulgate recension); the critical edition records it in its apparatus as the star passage 8.24.2f*0228_01–02 (placed after 8.24.2).

Verse 4 (8.24.4)

देवानामसुराणां च महानासीत्समुच्छ्रयः । सैंहिकेयास्तदोद्वृत्ता विबुधानवसूदयन् । ते निरस्ताः कृता देवैर्दानवा बलगर्विताः ॥

devānāmasurāṇāṃ ca mahānāsītsamucchrayaḥ | saiṃhikeyāstadodvṛttā vibudhānavasūdayan | te nirastāḥ kṛtā devairdānavā balagarvitāḥ

There was a great uprising of the gods and the asuras. Then the Saimhikeyas, swollen with pride, began to slay the gods; but those Danavas, vain of their strength, were thrown back by the gods.

Note on the text: Removed stray wiki quote marks. Corrected निरस्तः → निरस्ताः (misprint in Wikisource; dropped long ā, since दानवाः is plural; the star passage reads nirastāḥ). Line 1 is a variant of CE 8.24.3a (समुच्छ्रयः for समागमः); lines 2–3 are the star passage 8.24.3b*0229_01–02 (not in the constituted text). The automatic alignment found no match.

Verse 5 (8.24.5)

तत्रासीत्प्रथमो राजन्सङ्ग्रामस्तारकामयः । निर्जिताश्च ततो दैत्या दैवतैरिति नः श्रुतिः ॥

tatrāsītprathamo rājansaṅgrāmastārakāmayaḥ | nirjitāśca tato daityā daivatairiti naḥ śrutiḥ

Then, O king, the first battle took place, the one fought over Taraka; and we have heard that the daityas were defeated by the gods.

Note on the text: Line 1 is a variant of CE 8.24.3c and line 2 is CE 8.24.3e (श्रुतिः for श्रुतम्); the automatic alignment found no match.

Verse 6 (8.24.6)

भग्नदर्पा निरुत्साहाः पातालं विविशुस्तदा ॥

bhagnadarpā nirutsāhāḥ pātālaṃ viviśustadā

Their pride broken and their spirit gone, they then entered the nether world.

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition's constituted text (found in the vulgate recension); the critical edition records it in its apparatus as the star passage 8.24.3f*0230_01.

Verse 7 (8.24.7)

निर्जितेषु च दैत्येषु तारकस्य सुतास्त्रयः । ताराक्षः कमलाक्षश्च विद्युन्माली च पार्थिव ॥

nirjiteṣu ca daityeṣu tārakasya sutāstrayaḥ | tārākṣaḥ kamalākṣaśca vidyunmālī ca pārthiva

When the daityas had been defeated, Taraka had three sons: Tarakaksha, Kamalaksha and Vidyunmalin, O king.

Verse 8 (8.24.8)

तप उग्रं समास्थाय नियमे परमे स्थिताः । तपसा कर्शयामासुर्देहांस्ताञ्शत्रुकर्शनाः ॥

tapa ugraṃ samāsthāya niyame parame sthitāḥ | tapasā karśayāmāsurdehāṃstāñśatrukarśanāḥ

Taking up fierce austerity and keeping to the strictest vows, those tormentors of their foes wasted their bodies away by penance.

Note on the text: Corrected कर्णयामासुः → कर्शयामासुः (misprint in Wikisource; ण for श, since कर्णयामास is not a word; the critical edition reads karśayām āsuḥ "wasted away").

Verse 9 (8.24.9)

दमेन तपसा चैव नियमेन समाधिना । तेषां पितामहः प्रीतो वरदः प्रददौ वरम् ॥

damena tapasā caiva niyamena samādhinā | teṣāṃ pitāmahaḥ prīto varadaḥ pradadau varam

Pleased with their self-control, austerity, discipline and concentration, the Grandsire, giver of boons, granted them a boon.

Verse 10 (8.24.10)

अवध्यत्वं च ते सर्वे सर्वभूतेषु सर्वदा । सहिता वरयामासुः सर्वलोकपितामहम् ॥

avadhyatvaṃ ca te sarve sarvabhūteṣu sarvadā | sahitā varayāmāsuḥ sarvalokapitāmaham

All of them together asked the Grandsire of all the worlds that they should always be invulnerable to every kind of being.

Note on the text: Corrected वरयामासः → वरयामासुः (misprint in Wikisource; the perfect "they asked" is वरयामासुः, with a dropped ु; the critical edition reads varayām āsuḥ).

Verse 11 (8.24.11)

तानब्रवीत्तदा देवः सर्वलोकगुरुः प्रभुः । नास्ति सर्वामरत्वं वै निवर्तध्वमितोऽसुराः । अन्यं वरं वृणीध्वं वै रोचते यादृशो हि वः ॥

tānabravīttadā devaḥ sarvalokaguruḥ prabhuḥ | nāsti sarvāmaratvaṃ vai nivartadhvamito'surāḥ | anyaṃ varaṃ vṛṇīdhvaṃ vai rocate yādṛśo hi vaḥ

Then the god, the lord and teacher of all the worlds, said to them: "There is no immortality for all; turn back from this, O asuras. Ask for some other boon, whichever pleases you."

Note on the text: Lines 1–3 are CE 8.24.8a, c, e (with variant wording); the automatic alignment found no match.

Verse 12 (8.24.12)

ततस्ते सहिता राजन्सम्प्रधार्यासकृद्बहु । सर्वलोकेश्वरं वाक्यं प्रणम्यैनमथाऽब्रुवन् ॥

tataste sahitā rājansampradhāryāsakṛdbahu | sarvalokeśvaraṃ vākyaṃ praṇamyainamathā'bruvan

Then, O king, they deliberated together many times; and bowing to the lord of all the worlds, they spoke these words to him.

Note on the text: Corrected बहुः → बहु (misprint in Wikisource; a stray visarga on the adverb; the critical edition reads bahu).

Verse 13 (8.24.13)

वस्तुमिच्छाम नगरं कर्तुं कामगमं शुभम् । सर्वकामसमृद्धार्थमवध्यं देवदानवैः ॥

vastumicchāma nagaraṃ kartuṃ kāmagamaṃ śubham | sarvakāmasamṛddhārthamavadhyaṃ devadānavaiḥ

"We wish to live in a fair city that can travel wherever we please, supplied with all that we desire, and that neither gods nor danavas can slay,"

Note on the text: Corrected समृद्वार्थम् → समृद्धार्थम् (misprint in Wikisource; द्व for द्ध; the star passage reads samṛddhārtham). Not in the critical edition's constituted text (found in the vulgate recension); the critical edition records it in its apparatus as lines 01–02 of the star passage 8.24.9d*0232 (placed after 8.24.9). The speakers of verses 13–17 are the three Daityas, as the sense shows.

Verse 14 (8.24.14)

यक्षरक्षोरगगणैर्नानाजातिभिरेव च । न कृत्याभिर्न शस्त्रैश्च न शापैर्ब्रह्मवादिनाम् । वध्येत त्रिपुरं देव प्रयच्छेः प्रपितामह ॥

yakṣarakṣoragagaṇairnānājātibhireva ca | na kṛtyābhirna śastraiśca na śāpairbrahmavādinām | vadhyeta tripuraṃ deva prayaccheḥ prapitāmaha

"nor hosts of yakshas, rakshasas and serpents, nor beings of any kind; and may that triple city be destroyed neither by sorcery, nor by weapons, nor by the curses of the knowers of Brahman. Grant this, O god, O great-grandfather."

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition's constituted text (found in the vulgate recension); lines 1–2 are lines 03–04 of the star passage 8.24.9d*0232, and line 3 is a variant of its line 05 (CE: vadhyeta tripuraṃ devaṃ prasanne tvayi sādaram).

Verse 15 (8.24.15)

वयं पुराणि त्रीण्येव समास्थाय महीमिमाम् । विचरिष्याम लोकेऽस्मिंस्त्वत्प्रसादपुरस्कृताः ॥

vayaṃ purāṇi trīṇyeva samāsthāya mahīmimām | vicariṣyāma loke'smiṃstvatprasādapuraskṛtāḥ

"We shall dwell in just three cities, and roam over this earth, in this world, honoured by your grace.

Note on the text: Lines 1–2 are CE 8.24.10c and 10e; CE 8.24.10a (asmākaṃ tvaṃ varaṃ deva prayacchemaṃ pitāmaha) is not in Wikisource. The automatic alignment found no match.

Verse 16 (8.24.16)

ततो वर्षसहस्रेषु समेष्यामः परस्परम् । एकीभावं गमिष्यन्ति पुराण्येतानि चानघ ॥

tato varṣasahasreṣu sameṣyāmaḥ parasparam | ekībhāvaṃ gamiṣyanti purāṇyetāni cānagha

Then after thousands of years we shall meet one another, and, O sinless one, these cities will join into one.

Note on the text: Corrected गभिष्यन्ति → गमिष्यन्ति (misprint in Wikisource; भ for म; the critical edition reads gamiṣyanti).

Verse 17 (8.24.17)

समागतानि चैतानि यो हन्याद्भगवांस्तदा । एकेषुणा देववरः स नो मृत्युर्भविष्यति ॥

samāgatāni caitāni yo hanyādbhagavāṃstadā | ekeṣuṇā devavaraḥ sa no mṛtyurbhaviṣyati

And the best of the gods, O blessed lord, who then destroys these cities, joined together, with a single arrow: let him be our death."

Note on the text: Lines 1–2 are CE 8.24.12a and 12c; the automatic alignment found no match.

Verse 18 (8.24.18)

तेषां तद्वचनं श्रुत्वा दानवानां पितामहः । एवमस्त्विति तान्देवः प्रत्युक्त्वा प्राविशद्दिवम् ॥

teṣāṃ tadvacanaṃ śrutvā dānavānāṃ pitāmahaḥ | evamastviti tāndevaḥ pratyuktvā prāviśaddivam

Hearing those words of the danavas, the Grandsire answered them, "So be it," and went back to heaven.

Note on the text: Line 1 is a variant of the star passage 8.24.12d*0234_01 (CE: teṣāṃ tad vacanaṃ śrutvā dānavānāṃ mahāyaśāḥ), not in the constituted text; line 2 is CE 8.24.12e. The automatic alignment found no match.

Verse 19 (8.24.19)

ते तु लब्धवराः प्रीताः सम्प्रधार्य परस्परम् । पुरत्रयविसृष्ट्यर्थं मयं वव्रुर्महारथाः । विश्वकर्माणमजरं दैत्यदानवपूजितम् ॥

te tu labdhavarāḥ prītāḥ sampradhārya parasparam | puratrayavisṛṣṭyarthaṃ mayaṃ vavrurmahārathāḥ | viśvakarmāṇamajaraṃ daityadānavapūjitam

Glad of their boon, those great chariot-fighters consulted one another and chose Maya, the ageless Vishvakarman, honoured by daityas and danavas, to make the three cities.

Note on the text: Corrected विश्वकार्माणम् → विश्वकर्माणम् (misprint in Wikisource; stray long ā; the critical edition reads viśvakarmāṇam).

Verse 20 (8.24.20)

ततो मयः स्वतपसा चक्रे धीमान्पुराणि च । त्रीणि काञ्चनमेकं वै रौप्यं कार्ष्णायसं तथा ॥

tato mayaḥ svatapasā cakre dhīmānpurāṇi ca | trīṇi kāñcanamekaṃ vai raupyaṃ kārṣṇāyasaṃ tathā

Then the wise Maya, by his own austerity, made the cities: three of them, one of gold, one of silver, and one of dark iron.

Verse 21 (8.24.21)

काञ्चनं दिवि तत्रासीदन्तरिक्षे च राजतम् । आयसं चाभवद्भौमं तदा तेषां परन्तप ॥

kāñcanaṃ divi tatrāsīdantarikṣe ca rājatam | āyasaṃ cābhavadbhaumaṃ tadā teṣāṃ parantapa

The golden one was in heaven, the silver one in the sky, and the iron one on the earth, O scorcher of foes; so were they theirs.

Verse 22 (8.24.22)

एकैकं योजनशतं विस्तृतं तावदायतम् । दृढं चाट्टालकयुतं बृहत्प्राकारतोरणम् ॥

ekaikaṃ yojanaśataṃ vistṛtaṃ tāvadāyatam | dṛḍhaṃ cāṭṭālakayutaṃ bṛhatprākāratoraṇam

Each was a hundred yojanas wide and as many long, strong, with watchtowers and great ramparts and gateways.

Verse 23 (8.24.23)

गृहप्रवरसम्बाधमसम्बाधमहापथम् । प्रासादैर्विविधैश्चापि द्वारैश्चैवोपशोभितम् ॥

gṛhapravarasambādhamasambādhamahāpatham | prāsādairvividhaiścāpi dvāraiścaivopaśobhitam

Thronged with the finest houses, yet with broad, uncrowded main roads, they were adorned with palaces of many kinds and with gateways.

Verse 24 (8.24.24)

त्रिपुरं तेषु चाप्यासन्राजानो वै पृथक्पृथक् । दिव्यमाल्याम्बरधरा दैतेया राजसत्तम ॥

tripuraṃ teṣu cāpyāsanrājāno vai pṛthakpṛthak | divyamālyāmbaradharā daiteyā rājasattama

In the triple city, O best of kings, there were kings in each of them separately: daityas wearing divine garlands and garments.

Note on the text: Line 1 is a variant of CE 8.24.18a (त्रिपुरं तेषु for पुरेषु); line 2 is the star passage 8.24.18b*0235_01 (not in the constituted text). The automatic alignment found no match.

Verse 25 (8.24.25)

काञ्चनं तारकाक्षस्य दिव्यमासीन्महात्मनः । राजतं कमलाक्षस्य विद्युन्मालिन आयसम् ॥

kāñcanaṃ tārakākṣasya divyamāsīnmahātmanaḥ | rājataṃ kamalākṣasya vidyunmālina āyasam

The divine golden city belonged to the great Tarakaksha, the silver one to Kamalaksha, and the iron one to Vidyunmalin.

Note on the text: Lines 1–2 are CE 8.24.18c and 18e (दिव्यम् for चित्रम्); the automatic alignment found no match.

Verse 26 (8.24.26)

त्रयस्ते दैत्यराजानस्त्रीँल्लोकानाशु तेजसा । आक्रम्य तस्थुरूचुश्च कश्च नाम प्रजापतिः ॥

trayaste daityarājānastrīm̐llokānāśu tejasā | ākramya tasthurūcuśca kaśca nāma prajāpatiḥ

Those three daitya kings quickly overran the three worlds with their power and held them; and they said, "Who, indeed, is Prajapati?"

Verse 27 (8.24.27)

तेषां दानवमुख्यानां प्रयुतान्यर्बुदानि च । कोट्याश्चाप्रतिवीराणां समाजग्मुस्ततस्ततः ॥

teṣāṃ dānavamukhyānāṃ prayutānyarbudāni ca | koṭyāścāprativīrāṇāṃ samājagmustatastataḥ

Millions, tens of millions and crores of matchless danava chiefs gathered to them from every side.

Note on the text: Lines 1–2 are CE 8.24.20a and 20c; the automatic alignment found no match.

Verse 28 (8.24.28)

मांसाशिनः सुदृप्ताश्च सुरैर्विनिकृताः पुरा । महदैश्वर्यमिच्छन्तस्त्रिपुरं दुर्गमाश्रिताः ॥

māṃsāśinaḥ sudṛptāśca surairvinikṛtāḥ purā | mahadaiśvaryamicchantastripuraṃ durgamāśritāḥ

Flesh-eaters, arrogant, and long ago humbled by the gods, they sought great sovereignty and took refuge in the impregnable triple city.

Note on the text: Line 1 is a variant of the star passage 8.24.20d*0236_01 (not in the constituted text); line 2 is CE 8.24.20e. The automatic alignment found no match.

Verse 29 (8.24.29)

सर्वेषां च पुनश्चैषां सर्वयोगवहो मयः । तमाश्रित्य हि ते सर्वेऽवर्तयन्नकुतोभयाः ॥

sarveṣāṃ ca punaścaiṣāṃ sarvayogavaho mayaḥ | tamāśritya hi te sarve'vartayannakutobhayāḥ

And for all of them Maya was the one who supplied every means; relying on him, they all lived without fear from any quarter.

Verse 30 (8.24.30)

यो हि यं मनसा कामं दध्यौ त्रिपुरसंश्रयः । तस्मै तस्मै मयस्तं तं विदधे मायया तदा ॥

yo hi yaṃ manasā kāmaṃ dadhyau tripurasaṃśrayaḥ | tasmai tasmai mayastaṃ taṃ vidadhe māyayā tadā

Whatever desire anyone living in the triple city set his mind on, Maya at once provided that very thing for him by his magic.

Verse 31 (8.24.31)

तारकाक्षसुतश्चासीद्धरिर्नाम महाबलः । तपस्तेपे परमकं येनातुष्यत्पितामहः ॥

tārakākṣasutaścāsīddharirnāma mahābalaḥ | tapastepe paramakaṃ yenātuṣyatpitāmahaḥ

Tarakaksha had a mighty son named Hari. He performed severe austerity, by which the Grandsire was pleased.

Note on the text: Corrected चासीद्वरिर्नाम → चासीद्धरिर्नाम (misprint in Wikisource; द्व for द्ध, the name being हरिः after चासीद्; the critical edition reads cāsīd dharir nāma, and the same figure is called तारकाक्षसुतो हरिः in verse 33).

Verse 32 (8.24.32)

सन्तुष्टमवृणोद्देवं वापी भवतु नः पुरे । शस्त्रैर्विनिहता यत्र क्षिप्ताः स्युर्बलवत्तराः ॥

santuṣṭamavṛṇoddevaṃ vāpī bhavatu naḥ pure | śastrairvinihatā yatra kṣiptāḥ syurbalavattarāḥ

Satisfied, the god asked for this: "Let there be a pool in our city, into which those slain by weapons, once thrown there, become stronger still."

Note on the text: Corrected भवतुः → भवतु (misprint in Wikisource; a stray visarga on the imperative; the critical edition reads bhavatu).

Verse 33 (8.24.33)

स तु लब्ध्वा वरं वीरस्तारकाक्षसुतो हरिः । ससृजे तत्र वापीं तां मृतसञ्जीविनीं प्रभो ॥

sa tu labdhvā varaṃ vīrastārakākṣasuto hariḥ | sasṛje tatra vāpīṃ tāṃ mṛtasañjīvinīṃ prabho

Having received the boon, that hero Hari, son of Tarakaksha, created there a pool that brings the dead back to life, O lord.

Verse 34 (8.24.34)

येन रूपेण यो दैत्यो येन वेषेण चाप्यथ । क्षिप्यते निहतो वाप्यां तादृशेनैव जायते । सम्पूर्णबलवीर्यस्तु राजञ्छौर्यसमन्वितः ॥

yena rūpeṇa yo daityo yena veṣeṇa cāpyatha | kṣipyate nihato vāpyāṃ tādṛśenaiva jāyate | sampūrṇabalavīryastu rājañchauryasamanvitaḥ

In whatever form and whatever dress a daitya was cast, dead, into the pool, in just that form he rose again, his strength and vigour complete and full of courage, O king.

Note on the text: Lines 1–2 are CE 8.24.26a and 26c (in different wording); line 3 is the star passage 8.24.26d*0238_01 (not in the constituted text). The automatic alignment found no match.

Verse 35 (8.24.35)

एवं वीर्येण संयुक्तां कृतां तेन महात्मना । तां प्राप्य त्रैपुरा वापीं लोकान्सर्वान्बबाधिरे ॥

evaṃ vīryeṇa saṃyuktāṃ kṛtāṃ tena mahātmanā | tāṃ prāpya traipurā vāpīṃ lokānsarvānbabādhire

Having gained that pool, endowed with such power by that great one, the people of the three cities oppressed all the worlds.

Note on the text: Line 1 is a variant of the star passage 8.24.26d*0238_02 (not in the constituted text); line 2 is a variant of CE 8.24.27a. The automatic alignment found no match.

Verse 36 (8.24.36)

महता तपसा सिद्धाः सुराणां भयवर्धनाः । एकस्मिन्निहते दैत्ये सृजन्ति स्म दशासुरान् । न तेषां विद्यते युद्धे क्षयो राजन्कथञ्चन ॥

mahatā tapasā siddhāḥ surāṇāṃ bhayavardhanāḥ | ekasminnihate daitye sṛjanti sma daśāsurān | na teṣāṃ vidyate yuddhe kṣayo rājankathañcana

Made perfect by great austerity and increasing the gods' fear, they brought ten asuras into being whenever one daitya was slain; and in battle, O king, they suffered no loss at all.

Note on the text: Corrected युद्वे → युद्धे (misprint in Wikisource; द्व for द्ध; the critical edition reads yuddhe). Line 1 is CE 8.24.27c, line 2 is the star passage 8.24.27d*0240_01 (not in the constituted text), and line 3 is CE 8.24.27e. The automatic alignment found no match.

Verse 37 (8.24.37)

ततस्ते लोभमोहाभ्यामभिभूता विचेतसः । निर्भीकाः सहिताः सर्वे स्थापिताः समलोलुपाः ॥

tataste lobhamohābhyāmabhibhūtā vicetasaḥ | nirbhīkāḥ sahitāḥ sarve sthāpitāḥ samalolupāḥ

Then, overcome by greed and delusion and out of their wits, they were all settled together, fearless and equally covetous.

Verse 38 (8.24.38)

विद्राव्य सगणान्देवांस्तत्रतत्र तदातदा । विचेरुः स्वेन कामेन वरदानेन दर्पिताः ॥

vidrāvya sagaṇāndevāṃstatratatra tadātadā | viceruḥ svena kāmena varadānena darpitāḥ

Driving the gods and their hosts from place to place, at every turn, they roamed as they pleased, made arrogant by their boon.

Verse 39 (8.24.39)

देवोद्यानानि सर्वाणि स्थानानि च दिवौकसाम् । ऋषीणामाश्रमान्पुण्यान्रम्याञ्जनपदांस्तथा । उत्सादयन्त मर्यादां दानवा दुष्टचारिणः ॥

devodyānāni sarvāṇi sthānāni ca divaukasām | ṛṣīṇāmāśramānpuṇyānramyāñjanapadāṃstathā | utsādayanta maryādāṃ dānavā duṣṭacāriṇaḥ

Those evil-doing danavas laid waste all the gods' pleasure-groves, the dwelling places of those who live in heaven, the holy hermitages of the seers, and the lovely countrysides, and broke every bound of propriety.

Note on the text: Corrected रम्याञ्चनपदांस्तथा → रम्याञ्जनपदांस्तथा (misprint in Wikisource; च for ज, since the words are रम्यान् जनपदान् "pleasant countrysides"; the critical edition reads janapadāṃs tathā). Lines 1–3 are CE 8.24.30a, c, e (with variant wording); the automatic alignment matched it at only 0.82.

Verse 40 (8.24.40)

निःस्थानाश्च कृता देवा ऋषयः पितृभिः सह । दैत्यैस्त्रिभिस्त्रयो लोका ह्याक्रान्तास्तैः सुरेतरैः ॥

niḥsthānāśca kṛtā devā ṛṣayaḥ pitṛbhiḥ saha | daityaistribhistrayo lokā hyākrāntāstaiḥ suretaraiḥ

The gods and the seers, together with the ancestors, were driven from their homes; the three worlds were overrun by those three daityas, the enemies of the gods.

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition's constituted text (found in the vulgate recension); the critical edition records it in its apparatus as lines 01–02 of the star passage 8.24.30f*0241 (placed after 8.24.30).

Verse 41 (8.24.41)

पीड्यमानेषु लोकेषु ततः शक्रो मरुद्वृतः । पुराण्यायोधयाञ्चक्रे वज्रहस्तः समन्ततः ॥

pīḍyamāneṣu lokeṣu tataḥ śakro marudvṛtaḥ | purāṇyāyodhayāñcakre vajrahastaḥ samantataḥ

While the worlds were being tormented, Shakra, with the Maruts around him and the thunderbolt in his hand, attacked the cities on every side.

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition's constituted text (found in the vulgate recension); the critical edition records it in its apparatus as lines 01–02 of the star passage 8.24.30f*0242 (placed after 8.24.30; CE reads vajrapātaiḥ for वज्रहस्तः).

Verse 42 (8.24.42)

नाशकत्तान्यभेद्यानि यदा भेत्तुं पुरन्दरः । पुराणि वरदत्तानि धात्रा तेन नराधिप ॥

nāśakattānyabhedyāni yadā bhettuṃ purandaraḥ | purāṇi varadattāni dhātrā tena narādhipa

But when Purandara could not break those impregnable cities, which the Creator had given as a boon, O lord of men,

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition's constituted text (found in the vulgate recension); the critical edition records it in its apparatus as lines 03–04 of the star passage 8.24.30f*0242.

Verse 43 (8.24.43)

तदा भीतः सुरपतिर्मुक्त्वा तानि पुराण्यथ । तैरेव विबुधैः सार्धं पितामहमरिन्दम । जगामाथ तदाख्यातुं विप्रकारं सुरेतरैः ॥

tadā bhītaḥ surapatirmuktvā tāni purāṇyatha | taireva vibudhaiḥ sārdhaṃ pitāmahamarindama | jagāmātha tadākhyātuṃ viprakāraṃ suretaraiḥ

then the frightened lord of the gods gave up those cities and, together with those same gods, went to the Grandsire, O subduer of foes, to tell him of the outrage done by the asuras.

Note on the text: Line 1 is line 05 of the star passage 8.24.30f*0242 (not in the constituted text); lines 2–3 are a variant of CE 8.24.31a and 31c. The automatic alignment found no match.

Verse 44 (8.24.44)

ते तत्त्वं सर्वमाख्याय शिरोभिः सम्प्रणम्य च । तद्वधोपायमाचक्ष्व भगवन्निति चाब्रुवन् ॥

te tattvaṃ sarvamākhyāya śirobhiḥ sampraṇamya ca | tadvadhopāyamācakṣva bhagavanniti cābruvan

Having told him everything as it was, and bowing their heads to him, they said, "Lord, tell us the means of destroying them."

Note on the text: A variant of CE 8.24.32 (lines a, c); the automatic alignment found no match.

Verse 45 (8.24.45)

श्रुत्वा तद्भगवान्देवो देवानिदमुवाच ह । श्रूयतां त्रिदशाः सर्वे यथेदं वाक्यगौरवम् ॥

śrutvā tadbhagavāndevo devānidamuvāca ha | śrūyatāṃ tridaśāḥ sarve yathedaṃ vākyagauravam

Hearing this, the blessed god said to the gods: "Listen, all you gods, to these weighty words of mine."

Note on the text: Line 1 is a variant of CE 8.24.33a; line 2 is the star passage 8.24.33b*0244_01 (not in the constituted text). The automatic alignment found no match.

Verse 46 (8.24.46)

दुरात्मानोऽसुरा नित्यं ते चापि विबुधा मम । न शक्नुवन्ति ते सर्वे युष्मान्वै पीडयन्ति ते ॥

durātmāno'surā nityaṃ te cāpi vibudhā mama | na śaknuvanti te sarve yuṣmānvai pīḍayanti te

"The asuras are always wicked of heart, yet the gods too are mine. The asuras cannot bear this, all of them, and so they torment you.

Note on the text: Removed the bracketed alternative reading (ये) that Wikisource prints in the line; the main reading ते is kept. A loose variant of CE 8.24.33c and 33e (असुराश्च दुरात्मानस्ते चापि विबुधद्विषः / अपराध्यन्ति सततं ये युष्मान्पीडयन्त्युत), whose second line reads differently; a related star line is 8.24.33b*0243_01. The automatic alignment found no match. The line is obscure; it is read as "The asuras are ever wicked, and the gods are mine too; all of them cannot bear it, and so they torment you."

Verse 47 (8.24.47)

अहं समस्तु सर्वेषां भूतानां नात्र संशयः । अविनीता निहन्तव्या इत्येवं प्रब्रवीमि वः ॥

ahaṃ samastu sarveṣāṃ bhūtānāṃ nātra saṃśayaḥ | avinītā nihantavyā ityevaṃ prabravīmi vaḥ

I am the same to all beings, there is no doubt of that; but the unruly must be slain. So I tell you.

Verse 48 (8.24.48)

एकेषुणा विभेद्यानि तानि दुर्गाणि नान्यथा । शक्तस्तु तानि बाणेन भेत्तुं कामं त्रिलोचनः ॥

ekeṣuṇā vibhedyāni tāni durgāṇi nānyathā | śaktastu tāni bāṇena bhettuṃ kāmaṃ trilocanaḥ

Those fortresses can be split by a single arrow and not otherwise; and only the three-eyed god is able, as he wills, to pierce them with an arrow.

Note on the text: Removed the bracketed word (हि) that Wikisource prints in the line. Not in the critical edition's constituted text (found in the vulgate recension); the critical edition records it in its apparatus as lines 01–02 of the star passage 8.24.34d*0246 (placed after 8.24.34); line 2 is a variant of its line 02.

Verse 49 (8.24.49)

ते यूयं स्थाणुमीशानं जिष्णुमक्लिष्टकारिणम् । योद्धारं वृणुत क्षिप्रं स तान्हन्ता सुरेतरान् ॥

te yūyaṃ sthāṇumīśānaṃ jiṣṇumakliṣṭakāriṇam | yoddhāraṃ vṛṇuta kṣipraṃ sa tānhantā suretarān

Therefore choose at once as your warrior Sthanu, the lord Ishana, the victorious, whose deeds cost him no toil; he will slay those enemies of the gods."

Note on the text: Corrected जिष्मुम् → जिष्णुम् (misprint in Wikisource; ष्म for ष्ण; the critical edition reads jiṣṇum). Corrected योद्वारं → योद्धारं (misprint in Wikisource; द्व for द्ध; the critical edition reads yoddhāraṃ).

Verse 50 (8.24.50)

ते देवास्तेन वाक्येन चोदिताः प्रणताः स्थिताः । दिव्यं वर्षसहस्रं वै तपस्तप्त्वा सुरर्षभाः । शुभात्मानो महात्मानो जग्मुर्वै वृषभध्वजम् ॥

te devāstena vākyena coditāḥ praṇatāḥ sthitāḥ | divyaṃ varṣasahasraṃ vai tapastaptvā surarṣabhāḥ | śubhātmāno mahātmāno jagmurvai vṛṣabhadhvajam

Urged on by those words, the gods stood bowed. Then, having practised austerity for a divine thousand years, those best of gods, pure and great of soul, went to the bull-bannered Shiva.

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition's constituted text (found in the vulgate recension); the critical edition records it in its apparatus as lines 01–03 of the star passage 8.24.36b*0247 (placed after 8.24.36a).

Verse 51 (8.24.51)

ब्रह्माणमग्रतः कृत्वा शरण्यं शरणागताः । तपः परममाजग्मुर्गृणन्तो ब्रह्म शाश्वतम् ॥

brahmāṇamagrataḥ kṛtvā śaraṇyaṃ śaraṇāgatāḥ | tapaḥ paramamājagmurgṛṇanto brahma śāśvatam

Putting Brahma at their head, they came for refuge to the giver of refuge and took up supreme austerity, chanting the eternal Brahman.

Note on the text: Line 1 is a variant of CE 8.24.36c; line 2 is CE 8.24.37a. The automatic alignment found no match.

Verse 52 (8.24.52)

अनङ्गमथनं सर्वे भवं सर्वात्मना गताः । देवदेवं परं स्थाणुं वरदं त्र्यम्बकं शिवम् ॥

anaṅgamathanaṃ sarve bhavaṃ sarvātmanā gatāḥ | devadevaṃ paraṃ sthāṇuṃ varadaṃ tryambakaṃ śivam

All of them, with their whole being, sought refuge in Bhava, the destroyer of Kama, the god of gods, the supreme Sthanu, giver of boons, the three-eyed, the benign.

Note on the text: Line 1 is a variant of CE 8.24.37c; line 2 is the star passage 8.24.37d*0248_01 (not in the constituted text). The automatic alignment found no match.

Verse 53 (8.24.53)

शर्वमीड्यमजं रुद्रं शशाङ्काङ्कितमूर्धजम् । तुष्टुवुर्वाग्भिरुग्राभिर्भयेष्वभयमच्युतम् । सर्वात्मानं महात्मानं येनाप्तं विश्वमात्मना ॥

śarvamīḍyamajaṃ rudraṃ śaśāṅkāṅkitamūrdhajam | tuṣṭuvurvāgbhirugrābhirbhayeṣvabhayamacyutam | sarvātmānaṃ mahātmānaṃ yenāptaṃ viśvamātmanā

They praised with fiery words Sharva, the praiseworthy, the unborn Rudra with the crescent in his locks, the unfailing one who is fearlessness in times of fear, the Self of all, the great Self, by whom the whole universe has been pervaded through his own self.

Note on the text: Line 1 is line 02 of the star passage 8.24.37d*0248 (not in the constituted text); lines 2–3 are a variant of CE 8.24.38a and 38c. The automatic alignment found no match.

Verse 54 (8.24.54)

तपोविशेषैर्विविधैर्योगं यो वेद चात्मनः । यः साङ्ख्यमात्मना वेत्ति यस्य चात्मा वशे सदा ॥

tapoviśeṣairvividhairyogaṃ yo veda cātmanaḥ | yaḥ sāṅkhyamātmanā vetti yasya cātmā vaśe sadā

who knows the yoga of the Self through manifold special austerities, who knows Sankhya through the Self, and whose Self is always under his control.

Note on the text: Corrected वेशे → वशे (misprint in Wikisource; े for the missing short a, since वेश "dwelling" gives no sense; the critical edition reads vaśe "in his control").

Verse 55 (8.24.55)

तं ते ददृशुरीशानं तेजोराशिमुमापतिम् । परेण यत्नेन भवं त्रिदशाः शर्वमीश्वरम् । अनन्यसदृशं लोके प्रतपन्तमकल्मषम् ॥

taṃ te dadṛśurīśānaṃ tejorāśimumāpatim | pareṇa yatnena bhavaṃ tridaśāḥ śarvamīśvaram | ananyasadṛśaṃ loke pratapantamakalmaṣam

They saw him, the lord Ishana, a mass of radiance, husband of Uma; with supreme effort the gods beheld Bhava, Sharva, the Lord, matchless in the world, blazing, without stain.

Note on the text: Removed stray wiki quote marks. Lines 1 and 3 are CE 8.24.40a and 40c (प्रतपन्तम् for व्रतवन्तम्); line 2 is the star passage 8.24.40b*0249_01 (not in the constituted text). The automatic alignment found no match.

Verse 56 (8.24.56)

एकश्च भगवांस्तत्र नानारूपमकल्पयत् । आत्मनः प्रतिरूपाणि रूपाण्यथ महात्मनि । परस्परस्य चापश्यन्सर्वे परमविस्मिताः ॥

ekaśca bhagavāṃstatra nānārūpamakalpayat | ātmanaḥ pratirūpāṇi rūpāṇyatha mahātmani | parasparasya cāpaśyansarve paramavismitāḥ

Then the one blessed Lord fashioned many forms there, forms that were images of himself; and in that great soul they all, utterly astonished, saw one another's forms.

Verse 57 (8.24.57)

सर्वभूतमयं दृष्ट्वा तमजं जगतः पतिम् । देवा ब्रह्मर्षयश्चैव शिरोभिर्धरणीं गताः ॥

sarvabhūtamayaṃ dṛṣṭvā tamajaṃ jagataḥ patim | devā brahmarṣayaścaiva śirobhirdharaṇīṃ gatāḥ

Seeing him who is made of all beings, the unborn lord of the world, the gods and the brahmin seers bowed to the ground with their heads.

Note on the text: Corrected परिम् → पतिम् (misprint in Wikisource; र for त; the critical edition reads jagataḥ patim "lord of the world").

Verse 58 (8.24.58)

तान्स्वस्तिवाच्य चाभ्यर्च्य समुत्थाप्य च शङ्करः । ब्रूतब्रूतेति भगवान्स्मयमानोऽभ्यभाषत ॥

tānsvastivācya cābhyarcya samutthāpya ca śaṅkaraḥ | brūtabrūteti bhagavānsmayamāno'bhyabhāṣata

Greeting them with blessings and honouring them, Shankara raised them up, and the blessed one, smiling, said, "Speak, speak!"

Verse 59 (8.24.59)

त्र्यम्बकेणाभ्यनुज्ञातास्ततस्ते स्वस्थचेतसः । नमो नमो नमस्तेऽस्तु प्रभो इत्यब्रुवन्भवम् ॥

tryambakeṇābhyanujñātāstataste svasthacetasaḥ | namo namo namaste'stu prabho ityabruvanbhavam

Permitted by Tryambaka, and with their minds at ease, they said to Bhava, "Homage, homage, homage to you, lord!"

Verse 60 (8.24.60)

नमो देवाधिदेवाय प्रियाधाघ्नेऽतिमन्यवे । प्रजापतिमखघ्नाय प्रजापतिभिरीड्यते ॥

namo devādhidevāya priyādhāghne'timanyave | prajāpatimakhaghnāya prajāpatibhirīḍyate

"Homage to the God of gods, the archer of fierce wrath, the destroyer of Prajapati's sacrifice, who is praised by the Prajapatis.

Note on the text: The epithet प्रियाधाघ्ने is unclear in Wikisource (CE 8.24.45a has dhanvine "to the archer"); it is left as printed and rendered after the critical edition's sense. ईड्यते is read as the dative ईड्यमानाय, as the commentary printed on the page glosses it.

Verse 61 (8.24.61)

नमः स्तुताय स्तुत्याय स्तूयमानाय शम्भवे । विलोहिताय रुद्राय नीलग्रीवाय शूलिने ॥

namaḥ stutāya stutyāya stūyamānāya śambhave | vilohitāya rudrāya nīlagrīvāya śūline

Homage to him who has been praised, who is worthy of praise, who is being praised, to Shambhu; to the deep-red Rudra, the blue-necked, the bearer of the trident.

Verse 62 (8.24.62)

अमोघाय मृगाक्षाय प्रवरायुधयोधिने । अर्हाय चैव शुद्धाय क्षयाय क्रथनाय च ॥

amoghāya mṛgākṣāya pravarāyudhayodhine | arhāya caiva śuddhāya kṣayāya krathanāya ca

To the unfailing, the deer-eyed, who fights with the choicest weapons; to the worthy and the pure, to the destroyer, to the slayer.

Note on the text: Corrected शुद्वाय → शुद्धाय (misprint in Wikisource; द्व for द्ध; the star passage reads śuddhāya). Line 1 is CE 8.24.47a; line 2 is the star passage 8.24.47b*0250_01 (not in the constituted text). The automatic alignment found no match.

Verse 63 (8.24.63)

दुर्वारणाय शुक्राय ब्रह्मणे ब्रह्मचारिणे । ईशानायाप्रमेयाय निहन्त्रे चर्मवाससे ॥

durvāraṇāya śukrāya brahmaṇe brahmacāriṇe | īśānāyāprameyāya nihantre carmavāsase

To the irresistible, the radiant, to Brahman himself, the celibate; to Ishana, the immeasurable, the slayer, clothed in hide.

Note on the text: Line 1 is CE 8.24.47c; line 2 is a variant of CE 8.24.48a (निहन्त्रे for नियन्त्रे). The automatic alignment found no match.

Verse 64 (8.24.64)

तपोरताय पिङ्गाय व्रतिने कृत्तिवाससे । कुमारपित्रे त्र्यक्षाय प्रवरायुधधारिणे ॥

taporatāya piṅgāya vratine kṛttivāsase | kumārapitre tryakṣāya pravarāyudhadhāriṇe

To him who delights in austerity, the tawny one, the keeper of vows, clothed in a skin; to the father of Kumara, the three-eyed, the bearer of choice weapons.

Note on the text: Line 1 is a variant of CE 8.24.48c (तपोरताय for तपोनित्याय); line 2 is CE 8.24.49a. The automatic alignment found no match.

Verse 65 (8.24.65)

प्रपन्नार्तिविनाशाय ब्रह्मद्विट्‌सङ्घघातिने । वनस्पतीनां पतये वनानां पतये नमः ॥

prapannārtivināśāya brahmadviṭsaṅghaghātine | vanaspatīnāṃ pataye vanānāṃ pataye namaḥ

To the destroyer of the distress of those who have come for refuge, the smiter of the hosts of the foes of the Brahmins; homage to the lord of the trees, the lord of the forests.

Note on the text: Line 1 is CE 8.24.49c; line 2 is a variant of CE 8.24.50a (वनानाम् for नराणाम्). The automatic alignment found no match. The zero-width non-joiner after ट् in ब्रह्मद्विट्‌सङ्घ is as printed.

Verse 66 (8.24.66)

गवां च पतये नित्यं यज्ञानां पतये नमः । नमोस्तु ते ससैन्याय त्र्यम्बकायामितौजसे । मनोवाक्कर्मभिर्देव त्वां प्रपन्नान्भजस्व नः ॥

gavāṃ ca pataye nityaṃ yajñānāṃ pataye namaḥ | namostu te sasainyāya tryambakāyāmitaujase | manovākkarmabhirdeva tvāṃ prapannānbhajasva naḥ

To the lord of cattle for ever, homage to the lord of sacrifices; homage to you, with your host, the three-eyed, of boundless might. In thought, word and deed we have come to you for refuge, O god: accept us."

Note on the text: Line 1 is CE 8.24.50c; lines 2–3 are CE 8.24.51a and 51c. The automatic alignment found no match.

Verse 67 (8.24.67)

ततः प्रसन्नो भगवान्स्वागतेनाभिनन्द्य च । प्रोवाच व्येतु वस्त्रासो ब्रूत किं करवाणि वः ॥

tataḥ prasanno bhagavānsvāgatenābhinandya ca | provāca vyetu vastrāso brūta kiṃ karavāṇi vaḥ

Then the blessed Lord, pleased, welcomed them kindly and said, "Let your terror go; tell me what I am to do for you."

Verse 68 (8.24.68)

देवाः शर्वस्य वचनं श्रुत्वा हर्षमुपागताः ॥

devāḥ śarvasya vacanaṃ śrutvā harṣamupāgatāḥ

Hearing Sharva's words, the gods were filled with joy.

Note on the text: Removed stray wiki quote marks. Not in the critical edition's constituted text (found in the vulgate recension); the critical edition records it in its apparatus as the star passage 8.24.52d*0251_01 (placed after 8.24.52).