Vritra Slain and the Brahmahatya Divided

Verse 1 (12.288.1)

वृत्रस्य तु महाराज ज्वराविष्टस्य सर्वशः । अभवन्यानि लिङ्गानि शरीरे तानि मे शृणु ॥

vṛtrasya tu mahārāja jvarāviṣṭasya sarvaśaḥ | abhavanyāni liṅgāni śarīre tāni me śṛṇu

Hear from me, great king, the signs that appeared in Vritra's body when he was seized all over by the fever.

Verse 2 (12.288.2)

ज्वलितास्योऽभवद्घोरो वैवर्ण्यं चागमत्परम् । गात्रकम्पश्च सुमहाञ्श्वासश्चाप्यभवन्महान् ॥

jvalitāsyo'bhavadghoro vaivarṇyaṃ cāgamatparam | gātrakampaśca sumahāñśvāsaścāpyabhavanmahān

His mouth blazed, he became terrible, a deathly pallor came over him, his limbs shook violently, and his breathing grew heavy.

Note on the text: Corrected द्धोरो → द्घोरो (misprint in Wikisource; द्ध for द्घ; CE 12.273.2 reads घोरो).

Verse 3 (12.288.3)

रोमहर्षश्च तीव्रोऽभून्निःश्वासश्च महान्नृप । शिवा चाशिवसंकाशा तस्य वक्त्रात्सुदारुणा ॥

romaharṣaśca tīvro'bhūnniḥśvāsaśca mahānnṛpa | śivā cāśivasaṃkāśā tasya vaktrātsudāruṇā

The hair of his body bristled sharply and his sighs were mighty, O king; and a she-jackal, dreadful and of ill-omened look, most terrible,

Note on the text: Corrected वक्रात्सुदारुणा → वक्त्रात्सुदारुणा (misprint in Wikisource; वक्रात् "from a bend" gives no sense; the त्र is dropped, CE 12.273.3 reads वक्त्रात्). Lines = CE 12.273.2e and 3a.

Verse 4 (12.288.4)

निष्पपात महाघोरा स्मृतिर्नष्टास्य भारत । उल्काश्च ज्वलितास्तस्य दीप्ताः पार्श्वे प्रपेदिरे ॥

niṣpapāta mahāghorā smṛtirnaṣṭāsya bhārata | ulkāśca jvalitāstasya dīptāḥ pārśve prapedire

very fearful, burst out of his mouth; his memory was lost, O Bharata, and blazing meteors fell, flaming, at his sides.

Note on the text: Corrected उत्काश्च → उल्काश्च (misprint in Wikisource; त for ल; CE 12.273.3 reads उल्काः). Lines = CE 12.273.3c and 3e (CE 3c: स्मृतिः सा तस्य भारत; Wikisource: स्मृतिर्नष्टास्य भारत).

Verse 5 (12.288.5)

गृध्राः कङ्का बलाकाश्च वाचोऽमुञ्चन्सुदारुणाः । वृत्रस्योपरि संहृष्टाश्चक्रवत्परिबभ्रमुः ॥

gṛdhrāḥ kaṅkā balākāśca vāco'muñcansudāruṇāḥ | vṛtrasyopari saṃhṛṣṭāścakravatparibabhramuḥ

Vultures, herons and cranes uttered dreadful cries and, exultant, wheeled in circles over Vritra.

Verse 6 (12.288.6)

ततस्तं रथमास्थाय देवाप्यायित आहवे । वज्रोद्यतकरः शक्रस्तं दैत्यं प्रत्यवैक्षत ॥

tatastaṃ rathamāsthāya devāpyāyita āhave | vajrodyatakaraḥ śakrastaṃ daityaṃ pratyavaikṣata

Then, mounting his chariot, strengthened by the gods in the battle, Shakra with his thunderbolt raised looked at the Daitya.

Verse 7 (12.288.7)

अमानुषमथो नादं स मुमोच महासुरः । व्यजृम्भच्चैव राजेन्द्र तीव्रज्वरसमन्वितः ॥

amānuṣamatho nādaṃ sa mumoca mahāsuraḥ | vyajṛmbhaccaiva rājendra tīvrajvarasamanvitaḥ

That great asura let out an inhuman cry and, O king of kings, gripped by the violent fever, he yawned.

Note on the text: Lines = CE 12.273.6a and 6c.

Verse 8 (12.288.8)

अथास्य जृम्भतः शक्रस्ततो वज्रमवासृजत् । स वज्रः सुमहातेजा कालान्तकयमोपमः ॥

athāsya jṛmbhataḥ śakrastato vajramavāsṛjat | sa vajraḥ sumahātejā kālāntakayamopamaḥ

As he yawned, Shakra then hurled the thunderbolt; and that bolt, of great splendour, like Time, Death and Yama,

Note on the text: Lines = CE 12.273.6e and 7a (CE 7a: कालाग्निसदृशोपमः; Wikisource: कालान्तकयमोपमः).

Verse 9 (12.288.9)

क्षिप्रमेव महाकायं वृत्रं दैत्यमपातयत् । ततो नादः समभवत्पुनरेव समन्ततः ॥

kṣiprameva mahākāyaṃ vṛtraṃ daityamapātayat | tato nādaḥ samabhavatpunareva samantataḥ

swiftly felled the huge-bodied Daitya Vritra. Then a roar rose again on every side

Note on the text: Lines = CE 12.273.7c and 8a.

Verse 10 (12.288.10)

वृत्रं विनिहितं दृष्ट्वा देवानां भरतर्षभ । वृत्रं तु हत्वा मघवा दानवारिर्महायशाः ॥

vṛtraṃ vinihitaṃ dṛṣṭvā devānāṃ bharatarṣabha | vṛtraṃ tu hatvā maghavā dānavārirmahāyaśāḥ

from the gods, O best of the Bharatas, when they saw Vritra slain. And Maghavan, the enemy of the Danavas, of great fame, having slain Vritra,

Note on the text: Lines = CE 12.273.8c and 9a.

Verse 11 (12.288.11)

वज्रेण विष्णुयुक्तेन दिवमेव समाविशत् । अथ वृत्रस्य कौरव्य शरीरादभिनिःसृता ॥

vajreṇa viṣṇuyuktena divameva samāviśat | atha vṛtrasya kauravya śarīrādabhiniḥsṛtā

entered heaven with the thunderbolt joined with Vishnu. But then, O Kaurava, from Vritra's body there came forth

Note on the text: Lines = CE 12.273.9c and 10a.

Verse 12 (12.288.12)

ब्रह्महत्या महाघोरा रौद्रा लोकभयावहा । करालदशना भीमा विकृता कृष्णपिङ्गला ॥

brahmahatyā mahāghorā raudrā lokabhayāvahā | karāladaśanā bhīmā vikṛtā kṛṣṇapiṅgalā

Brahmahatya, the sin of brahmin-slaying, most dreadful, fierce, a terror to the worlds, with fearsome teeth, horrible, misshapen, dark and tawny,

Note on the text: Lines = CE 12.273.10c and 11a.

Verse 13 (12.288.13)

प्रकीर्णमूर्धजा चैव घोरनेत्रा च भारत । कपालमालिनी चैव कृत्येव भरतर्षभ ॥

prakīrṇamūrdhajā caiva ghoranetrā ca bhārata | kapālamālinī caiva kṛtyeva bharatarṣabha

with scattered hair and terrible eyes, O Bharata, wearing a garland of skulls, like a Kritya, O best of the Bharatas,

Note on the text: Lines = CE 12.273.11c and 12a (CE 12a: कपालमालिनी चैव कृशा च; Wikisource: कपालमालिनी चैव कृत्येव).

Verse 14 (12.288.14)

रुधिरार्द्रा च धर्मज्ञ चीरवल्कलवासिनी । साऽभिनिष्क्रम्य राजेन्द्र तादृग्रूपा भयावहा ॥

rudhirārdrā ca dharmajña cīravalkalavāsinī | sā'bhiniṣkramya rājendra tādṛgrūpā bhayāvahā

wet with blood, O knower of dharma, and clothed in rags and bark. Coming forth, O king of kings, in such a form, frightening,

Note on the text: Corrected तादृग्रृपा → तादृग्रूपा (misprint in Wikisource; broken vowel sign; CE 12.273.13 reads तादृग्रूपा). Lines = CE 12.273.12c and 13a (CE 12c: चीरवस्त्रनिवासिनी; Wikisource: चीरवल्कलवासिनी).

Verse 15 (12.288.15)

वज्रिणं मृगयामास तदा भरतसत्तम । कस्यचित्त्वथ कालस्य वृत्रहा कुरुनन्दन ॥

vajriṇaṃ mṛgayāmāsa tadā bharatasattama | kasyacittvatha kālasya vṛtrahā kurunandana

she went looking for the wielder of the thunderbolt, O best of the Bharatas. After some time, O joy of the Kurus, the slayer of Vritra

Note on the text: Lines = CE 12.273.13c and 14a.

Verse 16 (12.288.16)

स्वर्गायाभिमुखः प्रायाल्लोकानां हितकाम्यया । सा विनिःसरमाणं तु दृष्ट्वा शक्रं महौजसम् ॥

svargāyābhimukhaḥ prāyāllokānāṃ hitakāmyayā | sā viniḥsaramāṇaṃ tu dṛṣṭvā śakraṃ mahaujasam

set out for heaven, for the good of the worlds. Seeing mighty Shakra as he went out, she

Note on the text: Lines = CE 12.273.14c and 15a (CE 15a: बिसान्निःसरमाणं तु; Wikisource: सा विनिःसरमाणं तु).

Verse 17 (12.288.17)

कण्ठे जग्राह देवेन्द्रं सुलग्ना चाभवत्तदा । स हि तस्मिन्समुत्पन्ने ब्रह्मवध्याकृते भये ॥

kaṇṭhe jagrāha devendraṃ sulagnā cābhavattadā | sa hi tasminsamutpanne brahmavadhyākṛte bhaye

seized the lord of the gods by the neck, and clung fast to him. Then, when that terror caused by the brahmin-slaying had arisen, he

Note on the text: Lines = CE 12.273.15c and 16a.

Verse 18 (12.288.18)

नलिन्या विसमध्यस्थ उवासाब्दगणान्बहून् । अनुसृत्य तु यत्नात्स तया वै ब्रह्महत्यया ॥

nalinyā visamadhyastha uvāsābdagaṇānbahūn | anusṛtya tu yatnātsa tayā vai brahmahatyayā

lived for many years in a lotus pond, hidden in the fibres of a lotus stalk. Pursued with effort by that Brahmahatya,

Note on the text: Lines = CE 12.273.16c and 17a. The page prints two labels (12-288-18a, 12-288-18b) on this verse; kept as one verse.

Verse 19 (12.288.19)

तदा गृहीतः कौरव्य निस्तेजाः समपद्यत । तस्या व्यपोहने शक्रः परं यत्नं चकार ह ॥

tadā gṛhītaḥ kauravya nistejāḥ samapadyata | tasyā vyapohane śakraḥ paraṃ yatnaṃ cakāra ha

he was then seized, O Kaurava, and lost his lustre. Shakra made a great effort to shake her off,

Note on the text: Lines = CE 12.273.17c and 18a.

Verse 20 (12.288.20)

न चाशकत्तां देवेन्द्रो ब्रह्मवध्यां व्यपोहितुम् । गृहीत एव तु तया देवेन्द्रो भरतर्षभ ॥

na cāśakattāṃ devendro brahmavadhyāṃ vyapohitum | gṛhīta eva tu tayā devendro bharatarṣabha

but the lord of the gods could not shake off that brahmin-slaying; held fast by her, the lord of the gods, O best of the Bharatas,

Note on the text: Lines = CE 12.273.18c and 19a.

Verse 21 (12.288.21)

पितामहमुपागम्य शिरसा प्रत्यपूजयत् । ज्ञात्वा गृहीतं शक्रं स द्विजप्रवरवध्यया ॥

pitāmahamupāgamya śirasā pratyapūjayat | jñātvā gṛhītaṃ śakraṃ sa dvijapravaravadhyayā

went to the grandsire and honoured him with bowed head. Brahma, knowing that Shakra was seized by the sin of slaying the foremost of the twice-born,

Note on the text: Lines = CE 12.273.19c and 20a.

Verse 22 (12.288.22)

ब्रह्मा स चिन्तयामास तदा भरतसत्तम । तामुवाच महाबाहो ब्रह्मवध्यां पितामहः ॥

brahmā sa cintayāmāsa tadā bharatasattama | tāmuvāca mahābāho brahmavadhyāṃ pitāmahaḥ

pondered, O best of the Bharatas. Then the grandsire spoke to Brahmahatya, O mighty-armed one,

Note on the text: Lines = CE 12.273.20c and 21a.

Verse 23 (12.288.23)

स्वरेण मधुरेणाथ सान्त्वयन्निव भारत । मुच्यतां त्रिदशेन्द्रोऽयं मत्प्रियं कुरु भामिनि ॥

svareṇa madhureṇātha sāntvayanniva bhārata | mucyatāṃ tridaśendro'yaṃ matpriyaṃ kuru bhāmini

in a sweet voice, as if consoling her, O Bharata: 'Let this lord of the thirty gods be set free; do what pleases me, lady.

Note on the text: Corrected त्रिदशेन्द्रोयं → त्रिदशेन्द्रोऽयं (misprint in Wikisource; avagraha dropped; CE 12.273.22 reads त्रिदशेन्द्रोऽयं). Corrected कुरु भामिनी → कुरु भामिनि (misprint in Wikisource; vocative is भामिनि; CE 12.273.22 reads भामिनि). Lines = CE 12.273.21c and 22a. Line 1 is narration; the speech of Brahma begins in line 2 and continues in verse 24.

Verse 24 (12.288.24)

ब्रूहि किं ते करोम्यद्य कामं किं त्वमिहेच्छसि ॥

brūhi kiṃ te karomyadya kāmaṃ kiṃ tvamihecchasi

Tell me, what am I to do for you today? What is the wish that you have here?'

Note on the text: One-line verse as printed; = CE 12.273.22c. The speech is Brahma's (no heading is printed; the input carried it under Bhishma).

Verse 25 (12.288.25)

त्रिलोकपूजिते देवे प्रीते त्रैलोक्यकर्तरि । कृतमेव हि मन्यामि निवासं तु विधत्स्व मे ॥

trilokapūjite deve prīte trailokyakartari | kṛtameva hi manyāmi nivāsaṃ tu vidhatsva me

'When the god honoured in the three worlds, the maker of the three worlds, is pleased, I count it as already done; but appoint me a dwelling.'

Note on the text: The speaker heading "ब्रह्महत्योवाच" (with a stray "12-" label fragment) slipped into the verse text; removed and made the speaker (the input had left it under Bhishma). Wikisource reads कृतमेव हि मन्यामि for CE कृतमेवेह मन्येऽहं (12.273.23).

Verse 26 (12.288.26)

त्वया कृतेयं मर्यादा लोकसंरक्षणार्थिना । स्थापना वै सुमहती त्वया देव प्रवर्तिता ॥

tvayā kṛteyaṃ maryādā lokasaṃrakṣaṇārthinā | sthāpanā vai sumahatī tvayā deva pravartitā

'This ordinance was laid down by you, desiring to protect the worlds; a very great institution has been set in motion by you, O god.'

Verse 27 (12.288.27)

प्रीते तु त्वयि धर्मज्ञ सर्वलोकेश्वर प्रभो । शक्रादपगमिष्यामि निवासं संविधत्स्व मे ॥

prīte tu tvayi dharmajña sarvalokeśvara prabho | śakrādapagamiṣyāmi nivāsaṃ saṃvidhatsva me

'You being pleased, O knower of dharma, lord of all the worlds, I shall leave Shakra; appoint me a dwelling.'

Verse 28 (12.288.28)

तथेति तां प्राह तदा ब्रह्मवध्यां पितामहः । उपायतः स शक्रस्य ब्रह्मवध्यां व्यपोहितुम् ॥

tatheti tāṃ prāha tadā brahmavadhyāṃ pitāmahaḥ | upāyataḥ sa śakrasya brahmavadhyāṃ vyapohitum

'So be it,' the grandsire then said to Brahmahatya, and he set about removing the brahmin-slaying from Shakra by a contrivance.

Verse 29 (12.288.29)

ततः स्वयंभुवा ध्यातस्तत्र वह्निर्महात्मना । ब्रह्माणमुपसंगम्य ततो वचनमब्रवीत् ॥

tataḥ svayaṃbhuvā dhyātastatra vahnirmahātmanā | brahmāṇamupasaṃgamya tato vacanamabravīt

Then Agni, called to mind by the great-souled Svayambhu, went to Brahma and spoke these words.

Verse 30 (12.288.30)

प्राप्तोऽस्मि भगवन्देव त्वत्सकाशमनिन्दित । यत्कर्तव्यं मया देव तद्भवान्वक्तुमर्हति ॥

prāpto'smi bhagavandeva tvatsakāśamanindita | yatkartavyaṃ mayā deva tadbhavānvaktumarhati

'I have come into your presence, blessed god, O blameless one; what I am to do, O god, you ought to tell me.'

Note on the text: Corrected मनिन्दित् → मनिन्दित (misprint in Wikisource; final halant spurious (vocative of अनिन्दित); CE 12.273.28 reads अरिंदम). The speech is Agni's (no heading printed; the input carried it under Bhishma).

Verse 31 (12.288.31)

बहुधा विभजिष्यामि ब्रह्मवध्यामिमामहम् । शक्रस्याद्य विमोक्षार्थं चतुर्भागं प्रतीच्छ वै ॥

bahudhā vibhajiṣyāmi brahmavadhyāmimāmaham | śakrasyādya vimokṣārthaṃ caturbhāgaṃ pratīccha vai

'I shall divide this Brahmahatya in many ways; to free Shakra today, take a fourth part of her.'

Verse 32 (12.288.32)

मम मोक्षस्य कोऽन्तो वै ब्रह्मन्ध्यायस्व वै प्रभो । एतदिच्छामि विज्ञातुं तत्वतो लोकपूजित ॥

mama mokṣasya ko'nto vai brahmandhyāyasva vai prabho | etadicchāmi vijñātuṃ tatvato lokapūjita

'What is the end of my release, O Brahma? Reflect, lord. This I wish to know in truth, O one honoured by the world.'

Verse 33 (12.288.33)

यस्त्वां ज्वलन्तमासाद्य स्वयं वै मानवः क्वचित् । बीजौषधिरसैर्वह्ने न यक्ष्यति तमोवृतः ॥

yastvāṃ jvalantamāsādya svayaṃ vai mānavaḥ kvacit | bījauṣadhirasairvahne na yakṣyati tamovṛtaḥ

'Any man who, approaching you as you blaze, never of himself makes offerings to you, O Agni, with seeds and the juices of herbs, being wrapped in darkness,'

Verse 34 (12.288.34)

तमेषा यास्यति क्षिप्रं तत्रैव च निवत्स्यति । ब्रह्मवध्या हव्यवाह व्येतु ते मानसो ज्वरः ॥

tameṣā yāsyati kṣipraṃ tatraiva ca nivatsyati | brahmavadhyā havyavāha vyetu te mānaso jvaraḥ

'to him she will quickly go, and there she will dwell. Brahmahatya, O bearer of the offerings, let the fever of your mind depart.'

Verse 35 (12.288.35)

इत्युक्तः प्रतिजग्राह तद्वचो हव्यकव्यभुक् । पितामहस्य भगवांस्तथा च तदभूत्प्रभो ॥

ityuktaḥ pratijagrāha tadvaco havyakavyabhuk | pitāmahasya bhagavāṃstathā ca tadabhūtprabho

So addressed, the eater of the oblations to gods and ancestors accepted the grandsire's words; and so it came to pass, O lord.

Verse 36 (12.288.36)

ततो वृक्षौषधितृणं समाहूय पितामहः । इममर्थं महाराज वक्तुं समुपचक्रमे ॥

tato vṛkṣauṣadhitṛṇaṃ samāhūya pitāmahaḥ | imamarthaṃ mahārāja vaktuṃ samupacakrame

Then the grandsire, summoning the trees, herbs and grasses, began to tell them this, O great king:

Verse 37 (12.288.37)

इयं पुत्रादनुप्राप्ता ब्रह्महत्या महाभया । पुरुहूतं चतुर्थांशमस्या यूयं प्रतीच्छत ॥

iyaṃ putrādanuprāptā brahmahatyā mahābhayā | puruhūtaṃ caturthāṃśamasyā yūyaṃ pratīcchata

'This Brahmahatya, greatly terrible, has come upon Puruhuta from that son; take a fourth part of her, all of you.'

Note on the text: Removed the stray backtick, quote mark and double danda printed around the verse. Not in the critical edition's constituted text (found in the vulgate recension); it is the CE star passage 12.273.34d*0731_01-02, printed in the apparatus after 12.273.34 (CE: इयं वृत्रादनुप्राप्ता … महाभया; Wikisource: पुत्रात्). The alignment's match with CE 12.273.49 is a different, similar verse (printed here as verse 52).

Verse 38 (12.288.38)

ततो वृक्षौषधितृणं तथैवोक्तं यथातथम् । व्यथितं वह्निवद्राजन्ब्रह्माणमिदमब्रवीत् ॥

tato vṛkṣauṣadhitṛṇaṃ tathaivoktaṃ yathātatham | vyathitaṃ vahnivadrājanbrahmāṇamidamabravīt

Then the trees, herbs and grasses, spoken to exactly thus, pained like Agni, O king, said this to Brahma:

Verse 39 (12.288.39)

अस्माकं ब्रह्मवध्यायाः कोऽन्तो लोकपितामह । स्वभावनिहतानस्मान्न पुनर्हन्तुमर्हसि ॥

asmākaṃ brahmavadhyāyāḥ ko'nto lokapitāmaha | svabhāvanihatānasmānna punarhantumarhasi

'What is the end of our brahmin-slaying, O grandfather of the worlds? We are already struck down by our own nature; you ought not to strike us again.'

Note on the text: The speech is that of the trees, herbs and grasses (verse 38 introduces it; the input carried verses 39–41 under Brahma).

Verse 40 (12.288.40)

वयमग्निं तथा शीतं वर्षं च पवनेरितम् । सहामः सततं देव तथा च्छेदनभेदने ॥

vayamagniṃ tathā śītaṃ varṣaṃ ca pavaneritam | sahāmaḥ satataṃ deva tathā cchedanabhedane

'We constantly endure fire, cold, and rain driven by the wind, O god, and also cutting and splitting.'

Verse 41 (12.288.41)

ब्रह्मवध्यामिमामद्य भवतः शासनाद्वयम् । ग्रहीष्यामस्त्रिलोकेश मोक्षं चिन्तयतां भवान् ॥

brahmavadhyāmimāmadya bhavataḥ śāsanādvayam | grahīṣyāmastrilokeśa mokṣaṃ cintayatāṃ bhavān

'This brahmin-slaying we shall take today at your command, O lord of the three worlds; think of our release.'

Verse 42 (12.288.42)

पर्वकाले तु संप्राप्ते यो वै छेदनभेदनम् । करिष्यति नरो मोहात्तमेषाऽनुगमिष्यति ॥

parvakāle tu saṃprāpte yo vai chedanabhedanam | kariṣyati naro mohāttameṣā'nugamiṣyati

'When the time of a lunar juncture has come, any man who through folly cuts or splits you, she will follow him.'

Verse 43 (12.288.43)

ततो वृक्षौषधितृणमेवमुक्तं महात्मना । ब्रह्माणमभिसंपूज्य जगामाशु यथागतम् ॥

tato vṛkṣauṣadhitṛṇamevamuktaṃ mahātmanā | brahmāṇamabhisaṃpūjya jagāmāśu yathāgatam

Thus addressed by the great-souled one, the trees, herbs and grasses paid homage to Brahma and went quickly as they had come.

Verse 44 (12.288.44)

आहूयाप्सरसो देवस्ततो लोकपितामहः । वाचा मधुरया प्राह सान्त्वयन्निव भारत ॥

āhūyāpsaraso devastato lokapitāmahaḥ | vācā madhurayā prāha sāntvayanniva bhārata

Then the god, grandsire of the worlds, summoned the Apsarases and spoke to them in a sweet voice, as if consoling them, O Bharata:

Verse 45 (12.288.45)

इयमिन्द्रादनुप्राप्ता ब्रह्मवध्या वराङ्गनाः । चतुर्थमस्या भागांशं मयोक्ताः संप्रतीच्छत ॥

iyamindrādanuprāptā brahmavadhyā varāṅganāḥ | caturthamasyā bhāgāṃśaṃ mayoktāḥ saṃpratīcchata

'This Brahmahatya has come from Indra, O fair-limbed ones; as I have told you, take a fourth portion of her.'

Note on the text: The speech is Brahma's (no heading printed; verse 44 introduces it; the input carried it under Bhishma).

Verse 46 (12.288.46)

ग्रहणे कृतबुद्धीनां देवेश तव शासनात् । मोक्षं समयतोऽस्माकं चिन्तयस्व पितामह ॥

grahaṇe kṛtabuddhīnāṃ deveśa tava śāsanāt | mokṣaṃ samayato'smākaṃ cintayasva pitāmaha

'We have set our minds on taking her, lord of the gods, at your command; think, grandfather, of our release, on terms.'

Verse 47 (12.288.47)

रजस्वलासु नारीषु यो वै मैथुनमाचरेत् । तमेषा यास्यति क्षिप्रं व्येतु वो मानसो ज्वरः ॥

rajasvalāsu nārīṣu yo vai maithunamācaret | tameṣā yāsyati kṣipraṃ vyetu vo mānaso jvaraḥ

'Any man who has intercourse with women in their courses, she will quickly go to him; let the fever of your minds depart.'

Verse 48 (12.288.48)

तथेति हृष्टमनस इत्युक्त्वाऽऽप्सरसां गणाः । स्वानि स्थानानि संप्राप्य रेमिरे भरतर्षभ ॥

tatheti hṛṣṭamanasa ityuktvā''psarasāṃ gaṇāḥ | svāni sthānāni saṃprāpya remire bharatarṣabha

'So be it,' said the troops of Apsarases, glad in mind, and having gone back to their own places, they sported there, O best of the Bharatas.

Verse 49 (12.288.49)

ततस्त्रिलोककृद्देवः पुनरेव महातपाः । अपः संचिन्तयामास ध्यातास्ताश्चाप्यथागमन् ॥

tatastrilokakṛddevaḥ punareva mahātapāḥ | apaḥ saṃcintayāmāsa dhyātāstāścāpyathāgaman

Then the god, maker of the three worlds, the great ascetic, again thought of the Waters; and being thought of, they came.

Note on the text: Corrected अथः → अपः (misprint in Wikisource; थ for प; CE 12.273.46 reads अपः (the Waters)).

Verse 50 (12.288.50)

तास्तु सर्वाः समागम्य ब्रह्माणममितौजसम् । इदमूचुर्वचो राजन्प्रणिपत्य पितामहम् ॥

tāstu sarvāḥ samāgamya brahmāṇamamitaujasam | idamūcurvaco rājanpraṇipatya pitāmaham

All of them, coming together to Brahma of immeasurable energy, O king, bowed to the grandsire and spoke these words:

Verse 51 (12.288.51)

इमाः स्म देव संप्राप्तास्त्वत्सकाशमरिंदम । शासनात्तव लोकेश समाज्ञापय नः प्रभो ॥

imāḥ sma deva saṃprāptāstvatsakāśamariṃdama | śāsanāttava lokeśa samājñāpaya naḥ prabho

'Here we have come into your presence, O god, scourge of foes; at your command, lord of the worlds, instruct us, lord.'

Note on the text: Corrected मरिंदम् → मरिंदम (misprint in Wikisource; final halant spurious (vocative); CE 12.273.48 reads अरिंदम). The speech is the Waters' (no heading printed; verse 50 introduces it; the input carried it under Bhishma).

Verse 52 (12.288.52)

इयं वृत्रादनुप्राप्ता पुरुहूतं महाभया । ब्रह्मवध्या चतुर्थांशमस्या यूयं प्रतीच्छत ॥

iyaṃ vṛtrādanuprāptā puruhūtaṃ mahābhayā | brahmavadhyā caturthāṃśamasyā yūyaṃ pratīcchata

'This Brahmahatya, greatly terrible, has come upon Puruhuta from Vritra; take a fourth part of her, all of you.'

Verse 53 (12.288.53)

एवं भवतु लोकेश यथा वदसि नः प्रभो । मोक्षं समयतोऽस्माकं संचिन्तयितुमर्हसि ॥

evaṃ bhavatu lokeśa yathā vadasi naḥ prabho | mokṣaṃ samayato'smākaṃ saṃcintayitumarhasi

'So be it, lord of the worlds, as you tell us, lord; you ought to think of our release, on terms.'

Verse 54 (12.288.54)

त्वं हि देवेश सर्वस्य जगतः परमा गतिः । कोऽन्यः प्रसाद्यो हि भवेद्यः कृच्छ्रान्नः समुद्धरेत् ॥

tvaṃ hi deveśa sarvasya jagataḥ paramā gatiḥ | ko'nyaḥ prasādyo hi bhavedyaḥ kṛcchrānnaḥ samuddharet

'You, lord of the gods, are the supreme refuge of the whole world; who else could be propitiated, who could lift us out of this hardship?'

Verse 55 (12.288.55)

अल्पा इति मतिं कृत्वा यो नरो बुद्धिमोहितः । श्लेष्ममूत्रपुरीषाणि युष्मासु प्रतिमोक्ष्यति ॥

alpā iti matiṃ kṛtvā yo naro buddhimohitaḥ | śleṣmamūtrapurīṣāṇi yuṣmāsu pratimokṣyati

'The man who, deluded in mind and thinking you of little account, throws phlegm, urine and excrement into you,'

Verse 56 (12.288.56)

तमियं यास्यति क्षिप्रं तत्रैव च निवत्स्यति । तथा वो भविता मोक्ष इति सत्यं ब्रवीमि वः ॥

tamiyaṃ yāsyati kṣipraṃ tatraiva ca nivatsyati | tathā vo bhavitā mokṣa iti satyaṃ bravīmi vaḥ

'to him she will quickly go, and there she will dwell. Thus your release will be; I tell you the truth.'

Verse 57 (12.288.57)

ततो विमुच्य देवेन्द्रं ब्रह्मवध्या युधिष्ठिर । यथा निसृष्टं तं वासमगमद्देवशासनात् ॥

tato vimucya devendraṃ brahmavadhyā yudhiṣṭhira | yathā nisṛṣṭaṃ taṃ vāsamagamaddevaśāsanāt

Then, having released the lord of the gods, Brahmahatya, O Yudhishthira, went by the command of the god to the dwelling that had been assigned to her.

Note on the text: Narration by Bhishma (the input carried verses 57–66 under Brahma).

Verse 58 (12.288.58)

एवं शक्रेण संप्राप्ता ब्रह्मवध्या जनाधिप । पितामहमनुज्ञाप्य सोऽश्वमेधमकल्पयत् ॥

evaṃ śakreṇa saṃprāptā brahmavadhyā janādhipa | pitāmahamanujñāpya so'śvamedhamakalpayat

Thus did Shakra incur Brahmahatya, O lord of men; and having taken the grandsire's leave, he arranged a horse sacrifice.

Verse 59 (12.288.59)

श्रूयते च महाराज संप्राप्ता वासवेन वै । ब्रह्मवध्या ततः शुद्धिं हयमेधेन लब्धवान् ॥

śrūyate ca mahārāja saṃprāptā vāsavena vai | brahmavadhyā tataḥ śuddhiṃ hayamedhena labdhavān

And it is heard, great king, that Vasava, who had incurred Brahmahatya, then obtained purification by the horse sacrifice.

Verse 60 (12.288.60)

समवाप्य श्रियं देवो हत्वाऽरींश्च सहस्रशः । प्रहर्षमतुलं लेभे वासवः पृथिवीपते ॥

samavāpya śriyaṃ devo hatvā'rīṃśca sahasraśaḥ | praharṣamatulaṃ lebhe vāsavaḥ pṛthivīpate

Having regained his glory and slain thousands of enemies, Vasava, O lord of the earth, found incomparable joy.

Verse 61 (12.288.61)

वृत्रस्य रुधिराच्चैव बुद्बुदाः पार्थ जज्ञिरे । द्विजातिभिरभक्ष्यास्ते दीक्षितैश्च तपोधनैः ॥

vṛtrasya rudhirāccaiva budbudāḥ pārtha jajñire | dvijātibhirabhakṣyāste dīkṣitaiśca tapodhanaiḥ

And from Vritra's blood, O Partha, bubbles were born; they are not to be eaten by the twice-born, nor by those consecrated for sacrifice, rich in austerity.

Verse 62 (12.288.62)

सर्वावस्थं त्वमप्येषां द्विजातीनां प्रियं कुरु । इमे हि भूतले देवाः प्रथिताः कुरुनन्दन ॥

sarvāvasthaṃ tvamapyeṣāṃ dvijātīnāṃ priyaṃ kuru | ime hi bhūtale devāḥ prathitāḥ kurunandana

In every circumstance do what pleases these twice-born, you too; for these are the gods renowned on earth, O joy of the Kurus.

Verse 63 (12.288.63)

एवं शक्रेण कौरव्य बुद्धिसौक्ष्म्यान्महासुरः । उपायपूर्वं निहतो वृत्रो ह्यमिततेजसा ॥

evaṃ śakreṇa kauravya buddhisaukṣmyānmahāsuraḥ | upāyapūrvaṃ nihato vṛtro hyamitatejasā

Thus, O Kaurava, was the great asura Vritra slain by Shakra of boundless splendour, through the subtlety of his intelligence, by a contrivance devised beforehand.

Verse 64 (12.288.64)

एवं त्वमपि कौन्तेय पृथिव्यामपराजितः । भविष्यसि यथा देवः शतक्रतुरमित्रहा ॥

evaṃ tvamapi kaunteya pṛthivyāmaparājitaḥ | bhaviṣyasi yathā devaḥ śatakraturamitrahā

So you too, son of Kunti, will be unconquered on earth, like the god Shatakratu, slayer of his foes.

Verse 65 (12.288.65)

ये तु शक्रकथां दिव्यामिमां पर्वसुपर्वसु । विप्रमध्ये वदिष्यन्ति न ते प्राप्स्यन्ति किल्विषं ॥

ye tu śakrakathāṃ divyāmimāṃ parvasuparvasu | vipramadhye vadiṣyanti na te prāpsyanti kilviṣaṃ

Those who recite this divine tale of Shakra on every lunar juncture, in the midst of brahmins, will incur no sin.

Verse 66 (12.288.66)

इत्येतद्वृत्रमाश्रित्य शक्रस्यात्यद्भुतं महत् । कथितं कर्म ते तात किं भूयः श्रोतुमिच्छसि ॥

ityetadvṛtramāśritya śakrasyātyadbhutaṃ mahat | kathitaṃ karma te tāta kiṃ bhūyaḥ śrotumicchasi

Thus have I related to you, dear child, this very great and wonderful deed of Shakra concerning Vritra. What more do you wish to hear?