Agni Finds Indra in the Lotus Stalk

Verse 1 (5.16.1)

त्वमग्रे सर्वदेवानां मुखं त्वमसि हव्यवाट् । त्वमन्तः सर्वभूतानां गूढश्चरसि साक्षिवत् ॥

tvamagre sarvadevānāṃ mukhaṃ tvamasi havyavāṭ | tvamantaḥ sarvabhūtānāṃ gūḍhaścarasi sākṣivat

O Agni, you are foremost among all the gods and their mouth; you are the bearer of oblations. You move hidden within all beings, like a witness.

Verse 2 (5.16.2)

त्वामाहुरेकं कवयस्त्वामाहुस्त्रिविधं पुनः । त्वया त्यक्तं जगच्चेदं सद्यो नश्येद्धुताशन ॥

tvāmāhurekaṃ kavayastvāmāhustrividhaṃ punaḥ | tvayā tyaktaṃ jagaccedaṃ sadyo naśyeddhutāśana

The seers call you one, and again they call you threefold. Were you to abandon it, this world would perish at once, O eater of oblations.

Verse 3 (5.16.3)

कृत्वा तुभ्यं नमो विप्राः स्वकर्मविजितां गतिम् । गच्छन्ति सह पत्नीभिः सुतैरपि च शाश्वतीम् ॥

kṛtvā tubhyaṃ namo viprāḥ svakarmavijitāṃ gatim | gacchanti saha patnībhiḥ sutairapi ca śāśvatīm

Brahmins who bow to you go, together with their wives and sons, to the everlasting state that they have won by their own deeds.

Verse 4 (5.16.4)

त्वमेवाग्ने हव्यवाहस्त्वमेव परमं हविः । यजन्ति सत्रैस्त्वामेव यज्ञैश्च परमाध्वरैः ॥

tvamevāgne havyavāhastvameva paramaṃ haviḥ | yajanti satraistvāmeva yajñaiśca paramādhvaraiḥ

You alone, Agni, are the bearer of oblations, and you yourself are the supreme oblation. It is you whom they worship with sacrificial sessions and with the greatest sacrifices.

Verse 5 (5.16.5)

सृष्ट्वा लोकांस्त्रीनिमान्हव्यवाह । प्राप्ते काले पचसि पुनः समिद्धः । त्वं सर्वस्य भुवनस्य प्रसूति- । स्त्वमेवाग्रे भवसि पुनः प्रतिष्ठा ॥

sṛṣṭvā lokāṃstrīnimānhavyavāha | prāpte kāle pacasi punaḥ samiddhaḥ | tvaṃ sarvasya bhuvanasya prasūti- | stvamevāgre bhavasi punaḥ pratiṣṭhā

Having created these three worlds, O bearer of oblations, when the time comes you blaze up and consume them again. You are the source of the whole universe, and in the beginning you alone become its foundation once more.

Note on the text: Corrected लोकांस्त्रीमिमान् → लोकांस्त्रीनिमान् (misprint in Wikisource; त्रीन् इमान्, "these three", as the critical edition reads).

Verse 6 (5.16.6)

त्वामग्ने जलदानाहुर्विद्युतश्च मनीषिणः । वहन्ति सर्वभूतानि त्वत्तो निष्क्रम्य हेतयः ॥

tvāmagne jaladānāhurvidyutaśca manīṣiṇaḥ | vahanti sarvabhūtāni tvatto niṣkramya hetayaḥ

The wise call you, Agni, the clouds and the lightning. Your flames, issuing from you, carry all beings.

Verse 7 (5.16.7)

त्वय्यापो निहिताः सर्वास्त्वयि सर्वमिदं जगत् । न तेऽस्त्यविदितं किंचित्त्रिषु लोकेषु पावक ॥

tvayyāpo nihitāḥ sarvāstvayi sarvamidaṃ jagat | na te'styaviditaṃ kiṃcittriṣu lokeṣu pāvaka

All the waters are placed in you; this whole world rests in you. There is nothing in the three worlds unknown to you, O Purifier.

Note on the text: Corrected किचित्रिषु → किंचित्त्रिषु (misprint in Wikisource; dropped anusvara and त्; the critical edition reads kiṃ cit triṣu).

Verse 8 (5.16.8)

स्वयोनिं भजते सर्वो विशस्वापोऽविशङ्कितः । अहं त्वां वर्धयिष्यामि ब्राह्मैर्मन्त्रैः सनातनैः ॥

svayoniṃ bhajate sarvo viśasvāpo'viśaṅkitaḥ | ahaṃ tvāṃ vardhayiṣyāmi brāhmairmantraiḥ sanātanaiḥ

Everything returns to its own source. Enter the waters without fear. I will strengthen you with the eternal Vedic mantras.

Note on the text: Corrected स्वयोर्नि → स्वयोनिं (misprint in Wikisource; the critical edition reads svayoniṃ, "its own source").

Verse 9 (5.16.9)

एवं स्तुतो हव्यवाट् स भगवान्कविरुत्तमः । बृहस्पतिमथोवाच प्रीतिमान्वाक्यमुत्तमम् । दर्शयिष्यामि ते शक्रं सत्यमेतद्ब्रवीमि ते ॥

evaṃ stuto havyavāṭ sa bhagavānkaviruttamaḥ | bṛhaspatimathovāca prītimānvākyamuttamam | darśayiṣyāmi te śakraṃ satyametadbravīmi te

Thus praised, the blessed bearer of oblations, supreme among seers, was pleased and spoke these excellent words to Brihaspati: "I will show you Shakra; this I tell you truly."

Note on the text: Speaker: this verse is narration (Agni answering Brihaspati), so it is given to Shalya; Wikisource prints its "शल्य उवाच" one verse late, before verse 10, while the critical edition prints it before this verse.

Verse 10 (5.16.10)

प्रविश्यापस्ततो वह्निः ससमुद्राः सपल्वलाः । आससाद सरस्तच्च गूढो यत्र शतक्रतुः ॥

praviśyāpastato vahniḥ sasamudrāḥ sapalvalāḥ | āsasāda sarastacca gūḍho yatra śatakratuḥ

Then the fire entered the waters, with their oceans and their ponds, and came to the lake where Shatakratu lay hidden.

Note on the text: Corrected प्रविष्यापस् → प्रविश्यापस् (misprint in Wikisource; प्रविश्य, "having entered", as the critical edition reads).

Verse 11 (5.16.11)

अथ तत्रापि पद्मानि विचिन्वन्भरतर्षभ । अपश्यत्स तु देवेन्द्रं बिसमध्यगतं तदा ॥

atha tatrāpi padmāni vicinvanbharatarṣabha | apaśyatsa tu devendraṃ bisamadhyagataṃ tadā

There, O bull of the Bharatas, searching among the lotuses, he saw the lord of the gods lying within a lotus stalk.

Verse 12 (5.16.12)

आगत्य च ततस्तूर्णं तमाचष्ट बृहस्पतेः । अणुमात्रेण वपुषा पद्मतन्त्वाश्रितं प्रभुम् ॥

āgatya ca tatastūrṇaṃ tamācaṣṭa bṛhaspateḥ | aṇumātreṇa vapuṣā padmatantvāśritaṃ prabhum

He returned swiftly and told Brihaspati of the lord, who had taken a body no bigger than an atom and clung to a lotus fibre.

Verse 13 (5.16.13)

गत्वा देवर्षिगन्धर्वैः सहितोऽथ बृहस्पतिः । पुराणैः कर्मभिर्देवं तुष्टाव बलसूदनम् ॥

gatvā devarṣigandharvaiḥ sahito'tha bṛhaspatiḥ | purāṇaiḥ karmabhirdevaṃ tuṣṭāva balasūdanam

Then Brihaspati went there with the divine seers and the gandharvas, and praised the god, the slayer of Bala, by recounting his deeds of old.

Verse 14 (5.16.14)

महाऽसुरो हतः शक्र नमुचिर्दारुणस्त्वया । शम्बरश्च बलश्चैव तथोभौ घोरविक्रमौ ॥

mahā'suro hataḥ śakra namucirdāruṇastvayā | śambaraśca balaścaiva tathobhau ghoravikramau

By you, Shakra, the fearsome great demon Namuchi was slain, and Shambara and Bala too, both of terrible prowess.

Note on the text: Speaker: Brihaspati's hymn to Indra fills this verse without a printed heading; given to Brihaspati.

Verse 15 (5.16.15)

शतक्रतो विवर्धस्व सर्वाञ्शत्रून्निषूदय । उत्तिष्ठ शक्र संपश्य देवर्षींश्च समागतान् ॥

śatakrato vivardhasva sarvāñśatrūnniṣūdaya | uttiṣṭha śakra saṃpaśya devarṣīṃśca samāgatān

Grow, Shatakratu, and destroy all your enemies. Rise, Shakra, and behold the divine seers gathered here.

Note on the text: Speaker: Brihaspati's hymn continues (no printed heading). Corrected देवर्षीश्च → देवर्षींश्च (misprint in Wikisource; the accusative plural needs the anusvara, as the critical edition reads devarṣīṃś ca).

Verse 16 (5.16.16)

महेन्द्र दानवान्हत्वा लोकास्त्रातास्त्वया विभो । अपां फेनं समासाद्य विष्णुतेजोऽतिबृंहितम् । त्वया वृत्रो हतः पूर्वं देवराज जगत्पते ॥

mahendra dānavānhatvā lokāstrātāstvayā vibho | apāṃ phenaṃ samāsādya viṣṇutejo'tibṛṃhitam | tvayā vṛtro hataḥ pūrvaṃ devarāja jagatpate

Great Indra, mighty one, by slaying the Danavas you protected the worlds. Taking the foam of the waters, swelled with Vishnu's power, you slew Vritra long ago, O king of the gods, lord of the world.

Note on the text: Speaker: Brihaspati's hymn continues (no printed heading). Corrected विष्णुतेजोतिबृंहितम् → विष्णुतेजोऽतिबृंहितम् (misprint in Wikisource; missing avagraha before अतिबृंहितम्).

Verse 17 (5.16.17)

त्वं सर्वभूतेषु शरण्य ईड्य- । स्त्वया समं विद्यते नेह भूतम् । त्वया धार्यन्ते सर्वभूतानि शक्र । त्वं देवानां महिमानं चकर्थ ॥

tvaṃ sarvabhūteṣu śaraṇya īḍya- | stvayā samaṃ vidyate neha bhūtam | tvayā dhāryante sarvabhūtāni śakra | tvaṃ devānāṃ mahimānaṃ cakartha

You are the refuge of all beings, worthy of praise; there is no being here equal to you. By you, Shakra, all beings are upheld; you have established the greatness of the gods.

Note on the text: Speaker: Brihaspati's hymn continues (no printed heading).

Verse 18 (5.16.18)

पाहि सर्वांश्च लोकांश्च महेन्द्र बलमाप्नुहि । एवं संस्तूयमानश्च सोऽवर्धत शनैः शनैः ॥

pāhi sarvāṃśca lokāṃśca mahendra balamāpnuhi | evaṃ saṃstūyamānaśca so'vardhata śanaiḥ śanaiḥ

"Protect all the worlds, great Indra, and regain your strength." Being praised in this way, he grew little by little.

Verse 19 (5.16.19)

स्वं चैव वपुरास्थाय बभूव स बलान्वितः । अब्रवीच्च गुरुं देवो बृहस्पतिमवस्थितम् ॥

svaṃ caiva vapurāsthāya babhūva sa balānvitaḥ | abravīcca guruṃ devo bṛhaspatimavasthitam

Resuming his own body, he grew strong again, and the god spoke to Brihaspati, his preceptor, who stood before him:

Note on the text: Corrected गुरं → गुरुं (misprint in Wikisource; गुरुम्, "preceptor", as the critical edition reads).

Verse 20 (5.16.20)

किं कार्यमवशिष्टं वो हतस्त्वाष्ट्रो महासुरः । वृत्रश्च सुमहाकायो यो वै लोकाननाशयत् ॥

kiṃ kāryamavaśiṣṭaṃ vo hatastvāṣṭro mahāsuraḥ | vṛtraśca sumahākāyo yo vai lokānanāśayat

What task of yours remains? The great demon, Tvashtri's son, is slain, and so is Vritra of mighty body, who was destroying the worlds.

Note on the text: Speaker: Indra's question fills this verse without a printed heading; given to Indra.

Verse 21 (5.16.21)

मानुषो नहुषो राजा देवर्षिगणतेजसा । देवराज्यमनुप्राप्तः सर्वान्नो बाधते भृशम् ॥

mānuṣo nahuṣo rājā devarṣigaṇatejasā | devarājyamanuprāptaḥ sarvānno bādhate bhṛśam

Nahusha, a mortal king, has won the kingship of the gods through the power of the gods and the hosts of seers, and he oppresses us all grievously.

Verse 22 (5.16.22)

कथं च नहुषो राज्यं देवानां प्राप दुर्लभम् । तपसा केन वा युक्तः किंवीर्यो वा बृहस्पते । तत्सर्वं कथय त्वं मे यथेन्द्रत्वमुपेयिवान् ॥

kathaṃ ca nahuṣo rājyaṃ devānāṃ prāpa durlabham | tapasā kena vā yuktaḥ kiṃvīryo vā bṛhaspate | tatsarvaṃ kathaya tvaṃ me yathendratvamupeyivān

How did Nahusha win the kingship of the gods, so hard to attain? With what austerity was he endowed, Brihaspati, or what was his might? Tell me all of it — how he came to be Indra.

Note on the text: Third line (तत्सर्वं कथय त्वं मे …) is not in the critical edition's constituted text; it appears in its apparatus as 109*, after 5.16.22.

Verse 23 (5.16.23)

त्वयि प्रनष्टे देवेश विश्वं प्रव्यथितं जगत् । परस्परभयोद्विग्नं बभूवार्तमराजकम् ॥

tvayi pranaṣṭe deveśa viśvaṃ pravyathitaṃ jagat | parasparabhayodvignaṃ babhūvārtamarājakam

When you vanished, lord of the gods, the whole world was shaken. Without a king it fell into distress, every creature anxious with fear of the others.

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension). The critical edition gives it in its apparatus as 110* (lines 1–2), before 5.16.23.

Verse 24 (5.16.24)

ततो देवैः सगन्धर्वैः सर्षिसङ्घैः सपावकैः । मानुषो नहुषो राजा देवराज्येऽभिषेचितः ॥

tato devaiḥ sagandharvaiḥ sarṣisaṅghaiḥ sapāvakaiḥ | mānuṣo nahuṣo rājā devarājye'bhiṣecitaḥ

Then the gods, with the gandharvas, the hosts of seers and Agni, consecrated Nahusha, a mortal king, in the kingship of the gods.

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension). The critical edition gives it in its apparatus as 110* (lines 3–4), before 5.16.23.

Verse 25 (5.16.25)

देवा भीताः शक्रमकामयन्त । त्वया त्यक्तं महदैन्द्रं पदं तत् । तदा देवाः पितरोऽथर्षयश्च । गन्धर्वमुख्याश्च समेत्य सर्वे ॥

devā bhītāḥ śakramakāmayanta | tvayā tyaktaṃ mahadaindraṃ padaṃ tat | tadā devāḥ pitaro'tharṣayaśca | gandharvamukhyāśca sametya sarve

The gods were afraid and longed for Shakra, for you had abandoned that great seat of Indra. Then the gods, the ancestors, the seers and the chief gandharvas all came together.

Verse 26 (5.16.26)

गत्वाऽब्रुवन्नहुषं तत्र शक्र । त्वं नो राजा भव भुवनस्य गोप्ता । तानब्रवीन्नहुषो नास्मि शक्त । आप्यायध्वं तपसा तेजसा माम् ॥

gatvā'bruvannahuṣaṃ tatra śakra | tvaṃ no rājā bhava bhuvanasya goptā | tānabravīnnahuṣo nāsmi śakta | āpyāyadhvaṃ tapasā tejasā mām

They went to Nahusha there, Shakra, and said, "Be our king, the protector of the world." Nahusha answered them, "I am not able. Fill me with strength by your austerity and your power."

Verse 27 (5.16.27)

एवमुक्तैर्वर्द्धितश्चापि देवै । राजाऽभवन्नहुषो घोरवीर्यः । त्रैलोक्ये च प्राप्य राज्यं महर्षी- । न्कृत्वा वाहान्याति लोकान्दुरात्मा ॥

evamuktairvarddhitaścāpi devai | rājā'bhavannahuṣo ghoravīryaḥ | trailokye ca prāpya rājyaṃ maharṣī- | nkṛtvā vāhānyāti lokāndurātmā

So addressed, and strengthened by the gods, Nahusha became king, terrible in his might. Having won rule over the three worlds, the wicked one makes the great seers his bearers and travels through the worlds.

Verse 28 (5.16.28)

तेजोहरं दृष्टिविषं सुघोरं । मा त्वं पश्येर्नहुषं वै कदाचित् । देवाश्च सर्वे नहुषं भृशार्ता । न पश्यन्ते गूढरूपाश्चरन्तः ॥

tejoharaṃ dṛṣṭiviṣaṃ sughoraṃ | mā tvaṃ paśyernahuṣaṃ vai kadācit | devāśca sarve nahuṣaṃ bhṛśārtā | na paśyante gūḍharūpāścarantaḥ

He robs others of their splendour, his very glance is poison, he is utterly dreadful: never look upon Nahusha. All the gods, sorely afflicted, go about in hidden forms and do not look at Nahusha.

Verse 29 (5.16.29)

एवं वदत्यङ्गिरसां वरिष्ठे । बृहस्पतौ लोकपालः कुबेरः । वैवस्वतश्चैव यमः पुराणो । देवश्च सोमो वरुणश्चाजगाम ॥

evaṃ vadatyaṅgirasāṃ variṣṭhe | bṛhaspatau lokapālaḥ kuberaḥ | vaivasvataścaiva yamaḥ purāṇo | devaśca somo varuṇaścājagāma

While Brihaspati, best of the Angirases, was speaking thus, there came Kubera, guardian of the world, and Yama, the ancient son of Vivasvat, and the god Soma, and Varuna.

Note on the text: Corrected दवेश्च → देवश्च (misprint in Wikisource; transposed vowel sign; the critical edition reads devaś ca).

Verse 30 (5.16.30)

ते वै समागम्य महेन्द्रमूचु- । र्दिष्ट्या त्वाष्ट्रो निहतश्चैव वृत्रः । दिष्ट्या च त्वां कुशलिनमक्षतं च । पश्यामो वै निहतारिं च शक्र ॥

te vai samāgamya mahendramūcu- | rdiṣṭyā tvāṣṭro nihataścaiva vṛtraḥ | diṣṭyā ca tvāṃ kuśalinamakṣataṃ ca | paśyāmo vai nihatāriṃ ca śakra

Gathering there, they said to great Indra: "Happily, Tvashtri's son has been slain, and Vritra too. Happily, Shakra, we see you well and unharmed, with your enemies slain."

Verse 31 (5.16.31)

स तान्यथावच्च हि लोकपाला- । न्समेत्य वै प्रीतमना महेन्द्रः । उवाच चैनान्प्रतिभाष्य शक्रः । संचोदयिष्यन्नहुषस्यान्तरेण ॥

sa tānyathāvacca hi lokapālā- | nsametya vai prītamanā mahendraḥ | uvāca cainānpratibhāṣya śakraḥ | saṃcodayiṣyannahuṣasyāntareṇa

Great Indra met those guardians of the world as was fitting, glad at heart; and Shakra, answering them, spoke to them, meaning to rouse them against Nahusha by sowing division:

Note on the text: Corrected समेत्स → समेत्य (misprint in Wikisource; समेत्य, "having met", as the critical edition's apparatus reads). Wikisource divides verses 31–34 one half-line out of step with the critical edition: lines 1–2 here appear only in the critical edition's apparatus (111*, after 5.16.29d; its line 1 is partly illegible there), and lines 3–4 correspond to 5.16.29ab.

Verse 32 (5.16.32)

राजा देवानां नहुषो घोररूप- । स्तत्र साह्यं दीयतां मे भवद्भिः । ते चाब्रुवन्नहुषो घोररूपो । दृष्टीविषस्तस्य बिभीम ईश ॥

rājā devānāṃ nahuṣo ghorarūpa- | statra sāhyaṃ dīyatāṃ me bhavadbhiḥ | te cābruvannahuṣo ghorarūpo | dṛṣṭīviṣastasya bibhīma īśa

"Nahusha, king of the gods, is dreadful in form; give me your help in this." They replied, "Nahusha is dreadful in form and his glance is poison; we are afraid of him, lord.

Note on the text: Lines 1–2 correspond to the critical edition 5.16.29cd, lines 3–4 to 5.16.30ab.

Verse 33 (5.16.33)

त्वं चेद्राजानं नहुषं पराजये- । स्ततो वयं भागमर्हाम शक्र । इन्द्रोऽब्रवीद्भवतु भवानपां पति- । र्यमः कुबेरश्च मयाभिषेकम् ॥

tvaṃ cedrājānaṃ nahuṣaṃ parājaye- | stato vayaṃ bhāgamarhāma śakra | indro'bravīdbhavatu bhavānapāṃ pati- | ryamaḥ kuberaśca mayābhiṣekam

If you overthrow King Nahusha, Shakra, then we deserve a share." Indra said, "So be it: you shall be lord of the waters, and Yama and Kubera, consecrated by me,

Note on the text: Lines 1–2 correspond to the critical edition 5.16.30cd, lines 3–4 to 5.16.31ab.

Verse 34 (5.16.34)

संप्राप्नुवन्त्वद्य सहैव तेन । रिपुं जयामो नहुषं घोरदृष्टिम् । ततः शक्रं ज्वलनोऽप्याह भागं । प्रयच्छ मह्यं तव साह्यं करिष्ये । तमाह शक्रो भविताग्ने तवापि । चेन्द्राग्न्योर्वै भाग एको महाक्रतौ ॥

saṃprāpnuvantvadya sahaiva tena | ripuṃ jayāmo nahuṣaṃ ghoradṛṣṭim | tataḥ śakraṃ jvalano'pyāha bhāgaṃ | prayaccha mahyaṃ tava sāhyaṃ kariṣye | tamāha śakro bhavitāgne tavāpi | cendrāgnyorvai bhāga eko mahākratau

receive it today, together with him. Let us conquer our enemy Nahusha, whose gaze is dreadful." Then Agni too said to Shakra, "Give me a share, and I will help you." Shakra said to him, "You too, Agni, shall have a share: in the great sacrifice there will be one share for Indra and Agni together."

Note on the text: Restored from the critical edition (5.16.31cd–32c): Wikisource skips verse number 34 and keeps only this verse's last quarter (चेन्द्राग्न्योर्वै भाग एको महाक्रतौ), printed on its own line above the heading of verse 35; without the lost lines Indra's sentence breaks off and Agni's share in the next verses has no context. The first five lines are the critical edition's words; the last quarter is Wikisource's own (the critical edition reads aindrāgno vai bhāga eko mahākratau).

Verse 35 (5.16.35)

एवं संचिन्त्य भगवान्महेन्द्रः पाकशासनः । कुबेरं सर्वयक्षाणां धनानां च प्रभुं तथा ॥

evaṃ saṃcintya bhagavānmahendraḥ pākaśāsanaḥ | kuberaṃ sarvayakṣāṇāṃ dhanānāṃ ca prabhuṃ tathā

Having reflected thus, the blessed great Indra, chastiser of Paka, made Kubera lord of all the yakshas and of riches,

Note on the text: Moved the stray last quarter of verse 34 (चेन्द्राग्न्योर्वै भाग एको महाक्रतौ), which the input had merged into this verse, back to verse 34. Wikisource repeats the heading "शल्य उवाच" here; Shalya is already the speaker.

Verse 36 (5.16.36)

वैवस्वतं पितॄणां च वरुणं चाप्यपां तथा । आधिपत्यं ददौ शक्रः सत्कृत्य वरदस्तथा ॥

vaivasvataṃ pitṝṇāṃ ca varuṇaṃ cāpyapāṃ tathā | ādhipatyaṃ dadau śakraḥ satkṛtya varadastathā

and Shakra, the giver of boons, honouring them, gave Yama, son of Vivasvat, lordship over the ancestors, and Varuna lordship over the waters.