Taking Refuge with Shankara

Verse 1 (devibhagavatam.5.7.1)

व्यास उवाच । असुरान्महिषो दृष्ट्वा विषण्णमनसस्तदा । त्यक्त्वा तन्माहिषं रूपं बभूव मृगराडसौ

vyāsa uvāca | asurānmahiṣo dṛṣṭvā viṣaṇṇamanasastadā | tyaktvā tanmāhiṣaṁ rūpaṁ babhūva mṛgarāḍasau

Vyasa said: Seeing his own asuras dispirited, Mahisha then abandoned that buffalo form and became a lion.

Verse 2 (devibhagavatam.5.7.2)

कृत्वा नादं महाघोरं विस्तार्य च महासटाम् । पपात सुरसेनायां त्रासयन्नखदर्शनैः

kṛtvā nādaṁ mahāghoraṁ vistārya ca mahāsaṭām | papāta surasenāyāṁ trāsayannakhadarśanaiḥ

Letting out a most terrible roar and spreading his great mane wide, he fell upon the army of the gods, terrifying them with the very sight of his claws.

Verse 3 (devibhagavatam.5.7.3)

गरुडञ्च नखाघातैः कृत्वा रुधिरविप्लुतम् । जघान च भुजे विष्णुं नखाघातेन केसरी

garuḍañca nakhāghātaiḥ kṛtvā rudhiraviplutam | jaghāna ca bhuje viṣṇuṁ nakhāghātena kesarī

With blows of his claws he covered Garuda in blood, and that lion struck Vishnu upon the arm with his claws as well.

Verse 4 (devibhagavatam.5.7.4)

वासुदेवोऽपि तं दृष्ट्वा चक्रमुद्यम्य वेगवान् । हन्तुकामो हरिः काममवापाशु क्रुधान्वितः

vāsudevo'pi taṁ dṛṣṭvā cakramudyamya vegavān | hantukāmo hariḥ kāmamavāpāśu krudhānvitaḥ

Vasudeva too, seeing him, swiftly raised his discus, desiring to slay him; Hari, filled with rage, moved at once to fulfill that wish.

Verse 5 (devibhagavatam.5.7.5)

यावद्धयरिपुं वेगाच्चक्रेणाभिजघान तम् । तावत्सोऽतिबलः शृङ्गी शृङ्गाभ्यां न्यहनद्धरिम्

yāvaddhayaripuṁ vegāccakreṇābhijaghāna tam | tāvatso'tibalaḥ śṛṅgī śṛṅgābhyāṁ nyahanaddharim

Just as he swiftly struck at him with his discus, that exceedingly powerful, horn-bearing one struck Hari with his horns in turn.

Verse 6 (devibhagavatam.5.7.6)

वासुदेवो विषाणाभ्यां ताडितोरसि विह्वलः । पलायनपरो वेगाज्जगाम भुवनं निजम्

vāsudevo viṣāṇābhyāṁ tāḍitorasi vihvalaḥ | palāyanaparo vegājjagāma bhuvanaṁ nijam

Vasudeva, struck on the chest by those horns and overcome, fled swiftly and returned to his own realm.

Verse 7 (devibhagavatam.5.7.7)

गतं दृष्ट्वा हरिं कामं शङ्करोऽपि भयान्वितः । अवध्यं तं परं मत्वा ययौ कैलासपर्वतम्

gataṁ dṛṣṭvā hariṁ kāmaṁ śaṅkaro'pi bhayānvitaḥ | avadhyaṁ taṁ paraṁ matvā yayau kailāsaparvatam

Seeing Hari depart thus, Shankara too became afraid; deeming him wholly unslayable, he withdrew to Mount Kailasa.

Verse 8 (devibhagavatam.5.7.8)

ब्रह्मापि च निजं धाम त्वरितः प्रययौ भयात् । मघवा वज्रमालम्ब्य तस्थावाजौ महाबलः

brahmāpi ca nijaṁ dhāma tvaritaḥ prayayau bhayāt | maghavā vajramālambya tasthāvājau mahābalaḥ

Brahma too, out of fear, swiftly departed for his own abode; only mighty Maghavan remained on the field, holding fast to his thunderbolt.

Verse 9 (devibhagavatam.5.7.9)

वरुणः शक्तिमालम्ब्य धैर्यमालम्ब्य संस्थितः । यमोऽपि दण्डमादाय यत्तः समरतत्परः

varuṇaḥ śaktimālambya dhairyamālambya saṁsthitaḥ | yamo'pi daṇḍamādāya yattaḥ samaratatparaḥ

Varuna too remained, holding his shakti-weapon and holding to his courage; Yama also, staff in hand, stood alert and ready for battle.

Verse 10 (devibhagavatam.5.7.10)

ततो यक्षाधिपः कामं बभूव रणतत्परः । पावकः शक्तिमादाय तत्राभूद्युद्धमानसः

tato yakṣādhipaḥ kāmaṁ babhūva raṇatatparaḥ | pāvakaḥ śaktimādāya tatrābhūdyuddhamānasaḥ

Then the lord of the Yakshas too made ready for battle; Agni too, taking up his shakti-weapon, stood there resolved on war.

Verse 11 (devibhagavatam.5.7.11)

नक्षत्राधिपतिः सूर्यः समवेतौ स्थितावुभौ । वीक्ष्य तं दानवश्रेष्ठं युद्धाय कृतनिश्चयौ

nakṣatrādhipatiḥ sūryaḥ samavetau sthitāvubhau | vīkṣya taṁ dānavaśreṣṭhaṁ yuddhāya kṛtaniścayau

The Moon, lord of the constellations, and the Sun — both stood together, resolved on battle at the sight of that foremost of danavas.

Verse 12 (devibhagavatam.5.7.12)

एतस्मिन्नन्तरे क्रुद्धं दैत्यसैन्यं समभ्यगात् । विसृजन्बाणजालानि क्रूराहिसदृशानि च

etasminnantare kruddhaṁ daityasainyaṁ samabhyagāt | visṛjanbāṇajālāni krūrāhisadṛśāni ca

Meanwhile the enraged army of the daityas advanced, loosing volleys of arrows like cruel serpents.

Verse 13 (devibhagavatam.5.7.13)

कृत्वा हि माहिषं रूपं भूपतिः संस्थितस्तदा । देवदानवयोधानां निनादस्तुमुलोऽभवत्

kṛtvā hi māhiṣaṁ rūpaṁ bhūpatiḥ saṁsthitastadā | devadānavayodhānāṁ ninādastumulo'bhavat

That king, resuming his buffalo form, stood firm; and a tumultuous roar arose from the warriors of gods and danavas.

Verse 14 (devibhagavatam.5.7.14)

ज्याघातश्च तलाघातो मेघनादसमोऽभवत् । सङ्ग्रामे सुमहाघोरे देवदानवसेनयोः

jyāghātaśca talāghāto meghanādasamo'bhavat | saṅgrāme sumahāghore devadānavasenayoḥ

In that most terrible battle between the armies of gods and danavas, the twang of bowstrings and the slap of palms echoed like the roar of thunderclouds.

Verse 15 (devibhagavatam.5.7.15)

शृङ्गाभ्यां पार्वताञ्छृङ्गांश्चिक्षेप च महाबलः । जघान सुरसङ्घांश्च दानवो मदगर्वितः

śṛṅgābhyāṁ pārvatāñchṛṅgāṁścikṣepa ca mahābalaḥ | jaghāna surasaṅghāṁśca dānavo madagarvitaḥ

With his horns, that mighty, pride-swollen danava hurled mountain-peaks and struck down the hosts of gods.

Verse 16 (devibhagavatam.5.7.16)

खुराघातैस्तथा देवान्पुच्छस्य भ्रमणेन च । स जघान रुषाविष्टो महिषः परमाद्भुतः

khurāghātaistathā devānpucchasya bhramaṇena ca | sa jaghāna ruṣāviṣṭo mahiṣaḥ paramādbhutaḥ

That most astonishing Mahisha, possessed by fury, struck down the gods with the blows of his hooves and the whirling of his tail.

Verse 17 (devibhagavatam.5.7.17)

ततो देवाः सगन्धर्वा भयमाजग्मुरुद्यताः । मघवा महिषं दृष्ट्वा पलायनपरोऽभवत्

tato devāḥ sagandharvā bhayamājagmurudyatāḥ | maghavā mahiṣaṁ dṛṣṭvā palāyanaparo'bhavat

Then the gods, together with the gandharvas, were seized with fear and made ready to flee; Maghavan too, seeing Mahisha, turned to flight.

Verse 18 (devibhagavatam.5.7.18)

सङ्गरं सम्परित्यज्य गते शक्रे शचीपतौ । यमो धनाधिपः पाशी जग्मुः सर्वे भयातुराः

saṅgaraṁ samparityajya gate śakre śacīpatau | yamo dhanādhipaḥ pāśī jagmuḥ sarve bhayāturāḥ

When Shakra, the husband of Shachi, had abandoned the battle and gone, Yama, the lord of wealth, and noose-bearing Varuna — all of them fled in terror.

Verse 19 (devibhagavatam.5.7.19)

महिषोऽपि जयं मत्वा जगाम स्वगृहं ततः । ऐरावतं गजं प्राप्य त्यक्तमिन्द्रेण गच्छता

mahiṣo'pi jayaṁ matvā jagāma svagṛhaṁ tataḥ | airāvataṁ gajaṁ prāpya tyaktamindreṇa gacchatā

Mahisha too, deeming himself victorious, made for that palace, having taken the elephant Airavata, abandoned by Indra as he fled.

Verse 20 (devibhagavatam.5.7.20)

तथोच्चैःश्रवसं भानोः कामधेनुं पयस्विनीम् । स्वसैन्यसंवृतस्तूर्णं स्वर्गं गन्तुं मनो दधे

tathoccaiḥśravasaṁ bhānoḥ kāmadhenuṁ payasvinīm | svasainyasaṁvṛtastūrṇaṁ svargaṁ gantuṁ mano dadhe

Likewise, having also seized Uchchaihshravas and the Sun's milk-yielding Kamadhenu, surrounded by his own army, he resolved to go swiftly to heaven.

Verse 21 (devibhagavatam.5.7.21)

तरसा देवसदनं गत्वा स महिषासुरः । जग्राह सुरराज्यं वै त्यक्तं देवैर्भयातुरैः

tarasā devasadanaṁ gatvā sa mahiṣāsuraḥ | jagrāha surarājyaṁ vai tyaktaṁ devairbhayāturaiḥ

Swiftly reaching the abode of the gods, that Mahishasura seized the kingdom of the gods, left abandoned by the terror-stricken gods.

Verse 22 (devibhagavatam.5.7.22)

इन्द्रासने तथा रम्ये दानवः समुपाविशत् । दानवान्स्थापयामास देवानां स्थानकेषु सः

indrāsane tathā ramye dānavaḥ samupāviśat | dānavānsthāpayāmāsa devānāṁ sthānakeṣu saḥ

The danava seated himself upon Indra's own beautiful throne, and installed the danavas in the various offices of the gods.

Verse 23 (devibhagavatam.5.7.23)

एवं वर्षशतं पूर्णं कृत्वा युद्धं सुदारुणम् । अवापैन्द्रपदं कामं दानवो मदगर्वितः

evaṁ varṣaśataṁ pūrṇaṁ kṛtvā yuddhaṁ sudāruṇam | avāpaindrapadaṁ kāmaṁ dānavo madagarvitaḥ

Thus, having waged a most terrible war for a full hundred years, that pride-swollen danava obtained the very rank of Indra.

Verse 24 (devibhagavatam.5.7.24)

निर्जरा निर्गता नाकात्तेन सर्वेऽतिपीडिताः । एवं बहूनि वर्षाणि बभ्रमुर्गिरिगह्वरे

nirjarā nirgatā nākāttena sarve'tipīḍitāḥ | evaṁ bahūni varṣāṇi babhramurgirigahvare

Driven out of heaven by him, the immortals, all sorely afflicted, wandered thus for many years in the caves of the mountains.

Verse 25 (devibhagavatam.5.7.25)

श्रान्ताः सर्वे तदा राजन् ब्रह्माणं शरणं ययुः । प्रजापतिं जगन्नाथं रजोरूपं चतुर्मुखम्

śrāntāḥ sarve tadā rājan brahmāṇaṁ śaraṇaṁ yayuḥ | prajāpatiṁ jagannāthaṁ rajorūpaṁ caturmukham

O king, all of them then, exhausted, went for refuge to Brahma — the lord of creatures, master of the world, the embodiment of rajas, the four-faced one —

Verse 26 (devibhagavatam.5.7.26)

पद्मासनं वेदगर्भं सेवितं मुनिभिः स्वजैः । मरीचिप्रमुखैः शान्तैर्वेदवेदाङ्गपारगैः

padmāsanaṁ vedagarbhaṁ sevitaṁ munibhiḥ svajaiḥ | marīcipramukhaiḥ śāntairvedavedāṅgapāragaiḥ

— who sits upon the lotus-seat, the very womb of the Vedas, served by his own sages, Marichi and the rest, peaceful and versed in the Vedas and Vedangas —

Verse 27 (devibhagavatam.5.7.27)

किन्नरैः सिद्धगन्धर्वैश्चारणोरगपन्नगैः । तुष्टुवुर्भयभीतास्ते देवदेवं जगद्गुरुम्

kinnaraiḥ siddhagandharvaiścāraṇoragapannagaiḥ | tuṣṭuvurbhayabhītāste devadevaṁ jagadgurum

— together with kinnaras, siddhas, gandharvas, charanas, and nagas. Struck with fear, they praised that god of gods, guru of the world.

Verse 28 (devibhagavatam.5.7.28)

देवा ऊचुः । धातः किमेतदखिलार्तिहराम्बुजन्म जन्माभिवीक्ष्य न दयां कुरुषे सुरान् यत् । सम्पीडितान् रणजितानसुराधिपेन स्थानच्युतान् गिरिगुहाकृतसन्निवासान्

devā ūcuḥ | dhātaḥ kimetadakhilārtiharāmbujanma janmābhivīkṣya na dayāṁ kuruṣe surān yat | sampīḍitān raṇajitānasurādhipena sthānacyutān giriguhākṛtasannivāsān

The gods said: O Ordainer, lotus-born one, remover of every affliction, what is this — that beholding our plight, you show no compassion to the gods, oppressed and defeated in battle by the lord of the asuras, driven from their place, forced to dwell in mountain caves?

Verse 29 (devibhagavatam.5.7.29)

पुत्रान्पिता किमपराधशतैः समेतान्सन्त्यज्य लोभरहितः कुरुतेऽतिदुःस्थान् । यस्त्वं सुरांस्तव पदाम्बुजभक्तियुक्तान्दैत्यार्दितांश्च कृपणान् यदुपेक्षसेऽद्य

putrānpitā kimaparādhaśataiḥ sametānsantyajya lobharahitaḥ kurute'tiduḥsthān | yastvaṁ surāṁstava padāmbujabhaktiyuktāndaityārditāṁśca kṛpaṇān yadupekṣase'dya

Does a father, free of greed, ever abandon sons burdened with a hundred faults and cast them into utter distress? Yet you, today, disregard the gods — devoted to your lotus feet, tormented by the daityas, and pitiable — as though they were nothing to you.

Verse 30 (devibhagavatam.5.7.30)

अमरभुवनराज्यं तेन भुक्तं नितान्तं मखहविरपि योग्यं ब्राह्मणैराददाति । सुरतरुवरपुष्पं सेवतेऽसौ दुरात्मा जलनिधिनिधिभूतां गामसौ सेवते ताम्

amarabhuvanarājyaṁ tena bhuktaṁ nitāntaṁ makhahavirapi yogyaṁ brāhmaṇairādadāti | surataruvarapuṣpaṁ sevate'sau durātmā jalanidhinidhibhūtāṁ gāmasau sevate tām

He has utterly seized the kingdom of the immortals' realm; he takes even the sacrificial oblation due from the brahmins. That evil-souled one enjoys the flowers of the finest wish-fulfilling tree, and enjoys too that cow risen as a treasure from the ocean.

Verse 31 (devibhagavatam.5.7.31)

किं वा गृणीमः सुरकार्यमद्भुतं जानासि देवेश सुरारिचेष्टितम् । ज्ञानेन सर्वं त्वमशेषकार्यवित्तस्मात्प्रभो ते प्रणताः स्म पादयोः

kiṁ vā gṛṇīmaḥ surakāryamadbhutaṁ jānāsi deveśa surāriceṣṭitam | jñānena sarvaṁ tvamaśeṣakāryavittasmātprabho te praṇatāḥ sma pādayoḥ

What more shall we say of this astonishing plight of the gods? You already know, O lord of gods, the doings of this enemy of the gods. Through your knowledge you understand every matter in full — therefore, O lord, we bow low at your feet.

Verse 32 (devibhagavatam.5.7.32)

यत्रापि कुत्रापि गतान्सुरानसौ नानाचरित्रः खलु पापमानसः । पीडां करोत्येव स दुष्टचेष्टितस्त्रातासि देवेश विधेहि शं विभो

yatrāpi kutrāpi gatānsurānasau nānācaritraḥ khalu pāpamānasaḥ | pīḍāṁ karotyeva sa duṣṭaceṣṭitastrātāsi deveśa vidhehi śaṁ vibho

Wherever we gods have gone, that one of so many wicked ways, sinful-minded and evil in conduct, has done nothing but afflict us there too. You alone are our protector, O lord of gods — grant us peace, O mighty one.

Verse 33 (devibhagavatam.5.7.33)

नो चेद्वयं दावमहाग्निपीडिताः कं शान्तिकर्तारमनन्ततेजसम् । यामः प्रजेशं शरणं सुरेष्टं धातारमाद्यं परिमुच्य कं शिवम्

no cedvayaṁ dāvamahāgnipīḍitāḥ kaṁ śāntikartāramanantatejasam | yāmaḥ prajeśaṁ śaraṇaṁ sureṣṭaṁ dhātāramādyaṁ parimucya kaṁ śivam

Otherwise, like creatures caught in a raging forest-fire, to what other bringer of peace, of infinite splendor, could we turn? Forsaking you, the primal Ordainer, to what other auspicious friend of the gods should we go for refuge?

Verse 34 (devibhagavatam.5.7.34)

व्यास उवाच । इति स्तुत्वा सुराः सर्वे प्रणेमुस्तं प्रजापतिम् । बद्धाञ्जलिपुटाः सर्वे विषण्णवदना भृशम्

vyāsa uvāca | iti stutvā surāḥ sarve praṇemustaṁ prajāpatim | baddhāñjalipuṭāḥ sarve viṣaṇṇavadanā bhṛśam

Vyasa said: Having thus praised him, all the gods bowed before that Lord of creatures, hands joined, their faces deeply downcast.

Verse 35 (devibhagavatam.5.7.35)

तांस्तथा पीडितान्दृष्ट्वा तदा लोकपितामहः । उवाच श्लक्ष्णया वाचा सुखं सञ्जनयन्निव

tāṁstathā pīḍitāndṛṣṭvā tadā lokapitāmahaḥ | uvāca ślakṣṇayā vācā sukhaṁ sañjanayanniva

Seeing them thus afflicted, Brahma, the grandfather of the worlds, then spoke to them in a gentle voice, as if bringing them comfort.

Verse 36 (devibhagavatam.5.7.36)

ब्रह्मोवाच । किं करोमि सुराः कामं दानवो वरदर्पितः । स्त्रीवध्योऽसौ न पुंवध्यो विधेयं तत्र किं पुनः

brahmovāca | kiṁ karomi surāḥ kāmaṁ dānavo varadarpitaḥ | strīvadhyo'sau na puṁvadhyo vidheyaṁ tatra kiṁ punaḥ

Brahma said: What can I do, O gods? This danava is proud with the pride of his boon; he can be slain only by a woman, never by a man — so what indeed is to be done about that?

Verse 37 (devibhagavatam.5.7.37)

व्रजामोऽद्य सुराः सर्वे कैलासं पर्वतोत्तमम् । शङ्करं पुरतः कृत्वा सर्वकार्यविशारदम्

vrajāmo'dya surāḥ sarve kailāsaṁ parvatottamam | śaṅkaraṁ purataḥ kṛtvā sarvakāryaviśāradam

Let all of us gods go today to Kailasa, foremost of mountains, placing Shankara, skilled in every undertaking, at our head.

Verse 38 (devibhagavatam.5.7.38)

ततो व्रजाम वैकुण्ठं यत्र देवो जनार्दनः । मिलित्वा देवकार्यञ्च विमृशामो विशेषतः

tato vrajāma vaikuṇṭhaṁ yatra devo janārdanaḥ | militvā devakāryañca vimṛśāmo viśeṣataḥ

Then let us go on to Vaikuntha, where the god Janardana dwells; meeting him, let us take counsel especially on this matter of the gods.

Verse 39 (devibhagavatam.5.7.39)

इत्युक्त्वा हंसमारुह्य ब्रह्मा कार्यसमुच्चये । देवांश्च पृष्ठतः कृत्वा कैलासाभिमुखो ययौ

ityuktvā haṁsamāruhya brahmā kāryasamuccaye | devāṁśca pṛṣṭhataḥ kṛtvā kailāsābhimukho yayau

Having said this, Brahma, intent on that common task, mounted his swan and, with the gods following behind, set out toward Kailasa.

Verse 40 (devibhagavatam.5.7.40)

तावच्छिवोऽपि तरसा ज्ञात्वा ध्यानेन पद्मजम् । आगच्छन्तं सुरैः सार्धं निर्गतः स्वगृहाद्बहिः

tāvacchivo'pi tarasā jñātvā dhyānena padmajam | āgacchantaṁ suraiḥ sārdhaṁ nirgataḥ svagṛhādbahiḥ

At that very moment Shiva too, quickly perceiving through meditation that the lotus-born one was coming with the gods, came out from his own abode.

Verse 41 (devibhagavatam.5.7.41)

दृष्ट्वा परस्परं तौ तु कृताभिवादनौ भृशम् । प्रणतौ च सुरैः सर्वैः सन्तुष्टौ सम्बभूवतुः

dṛṣṭvā parasparaṁ tau tu kṛtābhivādanau bhṛśam | praṇatau ca suraiḥ sarvaiḥ santuṣṭau sambabhūvatuḥ

Seeing each other, the two greeted one another warmly, and, bowed to by all the gods, both became greatly content.

Verse 42 (devibhagavatam.5.7.42)

आसनानि पृथग्दत्त्वा देवेभ्यो गिरिजापतिः । उपविष्टेषु तेष्वेव निषसादासने स्वके

āsanāni pṛthagdattvā devebhyo girijāpatiḥ | upaviṣṭeṣu teṣveva niṣasādāsane svake

The husband of Girija, having given the gods separate seats, and once they were seated, took his own place upon his own seat.

Verse 43 (devibhagavatam.5.7.43)

कृत्वा तु कुशलप्रश्नं ब्रह्माणं वृषभध्वजः । पप्रच्छ कारणं देवान्कैलासागमने विभुः

kṛtvā tu kuśalapraśnaṁ brahmāṇaṁ vṛṣabhadhvajaḥ | papraccha kāraṇaṁ devānkailāsāgamane vibhuḥ

Then the bull-bannered lord, having inquired after Brahma's welfare, asked the gods the reason for their coming to Kailasa.

Verse 44 (devibhagavatam.5.7.44)

शिव उवाच । किमत्रागमनं ब्रह्मन् कृतं देवैः सवासवैः । भवता च महाभाग ब्रूहि तत्कारणं किल

śiva uvāca | kimatrāgamanaṁ brahman kṛtaṁ devaiḥ savāsavaiḥ | bhavatā ca mahābhāga brūhi tatkāraṇaṁ kila

Shiva said: O Brahma, for what reason have you come here with the gods and Vasava? O most fortunate one, tell me that reason.

Verse 45 (devibhagavatam.5.7.45)

ब्रह्मोवाच । महिषेण सुरेशान पीडिताः स्वर्निवासिनः । भ्रमन्ति गिरिदुर्गेषु भयत्रस्ताः सवासवाः

brahmovāca | mahiṣeṇa sureśāna pīḍitāḥ svarnivāsinaḥ | bhramanti giridurgeṣu bhayatrastāḥ savāsavāḥ

Brahma said: O lord of gods, the dwellers of heaven, oppressed by Mahisha, wander terrified, together with Vasava, in the fastnesses of the mountains.

Verse 46 (devibhagavatam.5.7.46)

यज्ञभुग्महिषो जातस्तथान्ये सुरशत्रवः । पीडिता लोकपालाश्च त्वामद्य शरणं गताः

yajñabhugmahiṣo jātastathānye suraśatravaḥ | pīḍitā lokapālāśca tvāmadya śaraṇaṁ gatāḥ

Mahisha has become the enjoyer of the sacrificial offerings, as have his fellow enemies of the gods; the oppressed guardians of the world have come today for refuge to you alone.

Verse 47 (devibhagavatam.5.7.47)

मया ते भवनं शम्भो प्रापिताः कार्यगौरवात् । यद्युक्तं तद्विधत्स्वाद्य सुरकार्यं सुरेश्वर

mayā te bhavanaṁ śambho prāpitāḥ kāryagauravāt | yadyuktaṁ tadvidhatsvādya surakāryaṁ sureśvara

O Shambhu, given the gravity of the matter, I have brought them to your abode. O lord of gods, do now whatever is fitting for the sake of the gods' cause.

Verse 48 (devibhagavatam.5.7.48)

त्वयि भारोऽस्ति सर्वेषां देवानां भूतभावन । व्यास उवाच । इति तद्वचनं श्रुत्वा शङ्करः प्रहसन्निव

tvayi bhāro'sti sarveṣāṁ devānāṁ bhūtabhāvana | vyāsa uvāca | iti tadvacanaṁ śrutvā śaṅkaraḥ prahasanniva

The burden of all the gods, O source of all beings, now rests upon you alone. Vyasa said: Hearing these words, Shankara, as if smiling —

Verse 49 (devibhagavatam.5.7.49)

वचनं श्लक्ष्णया वाचा प्रोवाच पद्मजं प्रति । शिव उवाच । भवतैव कृतं कार्यं वरदानात्पुरा विभो

vacanaṁ ślakṣṇayā vācā provāca padmajaṁ prati | śiva uvāca | bhavataiva kṛtaṁ kāryaṁ varadānātpurā vibho

— spoke gently to the lotus-born one. Shiva said: O mighty one, this affair was your own doing, done once already by granting that boon.

Verse 50 (devibhagavatam.5.7.50)

अनर्थदञ्च देवानां किं कर्तव्यमतः परम् । ईदृशो बलवाञ्छूरः सर्वदेवभयप्रदः

anarthadañca devānāṁ kiṁ kartavyamataḥ param | īdṛśo balavāñchūraḥ sarvadevabhayapradaḥ

It has turned out disastrous for the gods — what more, then, is to be done? Such a powerful, valiant one, a terror to every god —

Verse 51 (devibhagavatam.5.7.51)

का समर्था वरा नारी तं हन्तुं मददर्पितम् । न मे भार्या न ते भार्या सङ्ग्रामं गन्तुमर्हति

kā samarthā varā nārī taṁ hantuṁ madadarpitam | na me bhāryā na te bhāryā saṅgrāmaṁ gantumarhati

— what excellent woman could possibly be capable of slaying one so proud? Neither my wife nor your wife is fit to go into battle.

Verse 52 (devibhagavatam.5.7.52)

गत्वैव ते महाभागे युयुधाते कथं पुनः । इन्द्राणी च महाभागा न युद्धकुशलास्ति हि

gatvaiva te mahābhāge yuyudhāte kathaṁ punaḥ | indrāṇī ca mahābhāgā na yuddhakuśalāsti hi

Even if those two most fortunate ladies went, how indeed could they fight? Fortunate Indrani, too, is not skilled in warfare.

Verse 53 (devibhagavatam.5.7.53)

कान्या हन्तुं समर्थास्ति तं पापं मददर्पितम् । ममेदं मतमद्यैव गत्वा देवं जनार्दनम्

kānyā hantuṁ samarthāsti taṁ pāpaṁ madadarpitam | mamedaṁ matamadyaiva gatvā devaṁ janārdanam

What other woman could be capable of slaying that sinful, pride-swollen one? This is my own view: let us go this very day to the god Janardana —

Verse 54 (devibhagavatam.5.7.54)

स्तुत्वा तं देवकार्याय प्रेरयामः सुसत्वरम् । सोऽतिबुद्धिमतां श्रेष्ठो विष्णुः सर्वार्थसाधने

stutvā taṁ devakāryāya prerayāmaḥ susatvaram | so'tibuddhimatāṁ śreṣṭho viṣṇuḥ sarvārthasādhane

— and, praising him, swiftly urge him on for the gods' sake. He, Vishnu, is foremost among the wise, most skilled in the accomplishment of every aim.

Verse 55 (devibhagavatam.5.7.55)

मिलित्वा वासुदेवं वै कर्तव्यं कार्यचिन्तनम् । प्रपञ्चेन च बुद्ध्या स संविधास्यति साधनम्

militvā vāsudevaṁ vai kartavyaṁ kāryacintanam | prapañcena ca buddhyā sa saṁvidhāsyati sādhanam

Meeting with Vasudeva, we must take counsel on this matter together; through his resourcefulness and wisdom he will devise the means.

Verse 56 (devibhagavatam.5.7.56)

व्यास उवाच । इति रुद्रवचः श्रुत्वा ब्रह्माद्याः सुरसत्तमाः । उत्थितास्ते तथेत्युक्त्वा शिवेन सह सत्वराः

vyāsa uvāca | iti rudravacaḥ śrutvā brahmādyāḥ surasattamāḥ | utthitāste tathetyuktvā śivena saha satvarāḥ

Vyasa said: Hearing these words of Rudra, Brahma and the other foremost gods rose up, saying, 'So be it,' and swiftly, together with Shiva —

Verse 57 (devibhagavatam.5.7.57)

स्वकीयैर्वाहनैः सर्वे ययुविष्णपुरं प्रति । मुदिताः शकुनान्दृष्ट्वा कार्यसिद्धिकराञ्छुभान्

svakīyairvāhanaiḥ sarve yayuviṣṇapuraṁ prati | muditāḥ śakunāndṛṣṭvā kāryasiddhikarāñchubhān

— all of them, mounting their own vehicles, set out toward Vishnu's abode, made joyful by seeing auspicious omens that promised the success of their task.

Verse 58 (devibhagavatam.5.7.58)

ववुर्वाताः शुभाः शान्ताः सुगन्धाः शुभशंसिनः । पक्षिणश्च शिवा वाचस्तत्रोचुः पथि सर्वशः

vavurvātāḥ śubhāḥ śāntāḥ sugandhāḥ śubhaśaṁsinaḥ | pakṣiṇaśca śivā vācastatrocuḥ pathi sarvaśaḥ

Gentle, fragrant, auspicious winds began to blow, foretelling good fortune; and birds everywhere along the road called out with auspicious cries.

Verse 59 (devibhagavatam.5.7.59)

निर्मलं चाभवद्व्योम दिशश्च विमलास्तथा । गमने तत्र देवानां सर्वं शुभमिवाभवत्

nirmalaṁ cābhavadvyoma diśaśca vimalāstathā | gamane tatra devānāṁ sarvaṁ śubhamivābhavat

The sky grew clear, and the directions too grew clear; on that journey of the gods, everything seemed to turn auspicious.