The Sages' Question and the Plan Against Trishira

Verse 1 (devibhagavatam.6.1.1)

ऋषय ऊचुः । सूत सूत महाभाग मिष्टं ते वचनामृतम् । न तृप्ताः स्मो वयं पीत्वा द्वैपायनकृतं शुभम्

ṛṣaya ūcuḥ | sūta sūta mahābhāga miṣṭaṁ te vacanāmṛtam | na tṛptāḥ smo vayaṁ pītvā dvaipāyanakṛtaṁ śubham

The sages said: O Suta, O Suta, most fortunate one, your speech is sweet as nectar. Though we have drunk this auspicious nectar composed by Dvaipayana, we are not yet satisfied.

Verse 2 (devibhagavatam.6.1.2)

पुनस्त्वां प्रष्टुमिच्छामः कथां पौराणिकीं शुभाम् । वेदेऽपि कथितां रम्यां प्रसिद्धां पापनाशिनीम्

punastvāṁ praṣṭumicchāmaḥ kathāṁ paurāṇikīṁ śubhām | vede'pi kathitāṁ ramyāṁ prasiddhāṁ pāpanāśinīm

We wish to ask you again about an auspicious Puranic story — one told even in the Veda, delightful, well-known, and destructive of sin.

Verse 3 (devibhagavatam.6.1.3)

वृत्रासुर इति ख्यातो वीर्यवांस्त्वष्टुरात्मजः । स कथं निहतः सङ्ख्ये वासवेन महात्मना

vṛtrāsura iti khyāto vīryavāṁstvaṣṭurātmajaḥ | sa kathaṁ nihataḥ saṅkhye vāsavena mahātmanā

How was the mighty Vritrasura, renowned as the son of Tvashtri, slain in battle by the great-souled Vasava (Indra)?

Verse 4 (devibhagavatam.6.1.4)

त्वष्टा वै सुरपक्षीयस्तत्पुत्रो बलवत्तरः । शक्रेण घातितः कस्माद्ब्रह्मयोनिर्महाबलः

tvaṣṭā vai surapakṣīyastatputro balavattaraḥ | śakreṇa ghātitaḥ kasmādbrahmayonirmahābalaḥ

Tvashtri himself belonged to the side of the gods; why then was his son — even mightier, of brahmin birth, immensely powerful — slain by Shakra?

Verse 5 (devibhagavatam.6.1.5)

देवाः सत्त्वगुणोत्पना मानुषा राजसाः स्मृताः । तिर्यञ्चस्तामसाः प्रोक्ताः पुराणागमवादिभिः

devāḥ sattvaguṇotpanā mānuṣā rājasāḥ smṛtāḥ | tiryañcastāmasāḥ proktāḥ purāṇāgamavādibhiḥ

The tellers of the Puranas and Agamas say that the gods arise from the quality of sattva, men from rajas, and beasts are declared to be of tamas.

Verse 6 (devibhagavatam.6.1.6)

विरोधोऽत्र महान् भाति नूनं शतमखेन ह । छलेन बलवान् वृत्रः शक्रेण विनिपातितः

virodho'tra mahān bhāti nūnaṁ śatamakhena ha | chalena balavān vṛtraḥ śakreṇa vinipātitaḥ

Here a great contradiction indeed appears — the mighty Vritra was struck down by Shatamakha (Indra) through sheer deceit.

Verse 7 (devibhagavatam.6.1.7)

विष्णुः प्रेरयिता तत्र स तु सत्त्वधरः परः । प्रविष्टः पविमध्ये स छद्मना भगवान् प्रभुः

viṣṇuḥ prerayitā tatra sa tu sattvadharaḥ paraḥ | praviṣṭaḥ pavimadhye sa chadmanā bhagavān prabhuḥ

It was Vishnu, the supreme bearer of sattva, who instigated it there — that Lord, by deceit, entered into the very body of the thunderbolt.

Verse 8 (devibhagavatam.6.1.8)

सन्धिं विधाय स ह्येवं मन्त्रितोऽसौ महाबलः । हरिभ्यां सत्यमुत्सृज्य जलफेनेन शातितः

sandhiṁ vidhāya sa hyevaṁ mantrito'sau mahābalaḥ | haribhyāṁ satyamutsṛjya jalaphenena śātitaḥ

Having made a truce, that mighty one was thus drawn into a counsel; casting aside truth, the two Haris (Vishnu and Indra) destroyed him by means of water-foam.

Verse 9 (devibhagavatam.6.1.9)

कृतमिन्द्रेण हरिणा किमेतत्सूत साहसम् । महान्तोऽपि च मोहेन वञ्चिताः पापबुद्धयः

kṛtamindreṇa hariṇā kimetatsūta sāhasam | mahānto'pi ca mohena vañcitāḥ pāpabuddhayaḥ

What rash deed is this, O Suta, done by Indra together with Hari? Even the great, overcome by delusion, become deceitful and sinful in mind.

Verse 10 (devibhagavatam.6.1.10)

अन्यायवर्तिनोऽत्यर्थं भवन्ति सुरसत्तमाः । सदाचारेण युक्तेन देवाः शिष्टत्वमागताः

anyāyavartino'tyarthaṁ bhavanti surasattamāḥ | sadācāreṇa yuktena devāḥ śiṣṭatvamāgatāḥ

The best of the gods have become exceedingly unjust in conduct — though it was through righteous behavior that the gods had attained the very status of the virtuous.

Verse 11 (devibhagavatam.6.1.11)

एवं विशिष्टधर्मेण शिष्टत्वं कीदृशं पुनः । हत्वा वृत्रं तु विश्वस्तं शक्रेण छद्मना पुनः

evaṁ viśiṣṭadharmeṇa śiṣṭatvaṁ kīdṛśaṁ punaḥ | hatvā vṛtraṁ tu viśvastaṁ śakreṇa chadmanā punaḥ

Then of what kind is that virtue gained through such exalted dharma, when Shakra again slew the trusting Vritra through deceit?

Verse 12 (devibhagavatam.6.1.12)

प्राप्तं पापफलं नो वा ब्रह्महत्यासमुद्भवम् । किं च त्वया पुरा प्रोक्तं वृत्रासुरवधः कृतः

prāptaṁ pāpaphalaṁ no vā brahmahatyāsamudbhavam | kiṁ ca tvayā purā proktaṁ vṛtrāsuravadhaḥ kṛtaḥ

Did he receive the sinful fruit arising from the killing of a brahmin, or not? And you yourself said earlier that the slaying of Vritrasura was accomplished —

Verse 13 (devibhagavatam.6.1.13)

श्रीदेव्या इति तच्चापि चित्तं मोहयतीह नः । सूत उवाच । शृण्वन्तु मुनयो वृत्तं वृत्रासुरवधाश्रयम्

śrīdevyā iti taccāpi cittaṁ mohayatīha naḥ | sūta uvāca | śṛṇvantu munayo vṛttaṁ vṛtrāsuravadhāśrayam

— by Shri Devi herself; this too confuses our minds. Suta said: Let the sages listen to the account concerning the slaying of Vritrasura.

Verse 14 (devibhagavatam.6.1.14)

यथेन्द्रेण च सम्प्राप्तं दुःखं हत्यासमुद्भवम् । एवमेव पुरा पृष्टो व्यासः सत्यवतीसुतः

yathendreṇa ca samprāptaṁ duḥkhaṁ hatyāsamudbhavam | evameva purā pṛṣṭo vyāsaḥ satyavatīsutaḥ

— how Indra came to bear the sorrow born of that killing. In just the same way, long ago, Vyasa, son of Satyavati, was asked this very question.

Verse 15 (devibhagavatam.6.1.15)

पारीक्षितेन राज्ञापि स यदाह च तद्ब्रुवे । जनमेजय उवाच । कथं वृत्रासुरः पूर्वं हतो मघवता मुने

pārīkṣitena rājñāpi sa yadāha ca tadbruve | janamejaya uvāca | kathaṁ vṛtrāsuraḥ pūrvaṁ hato maghavatā mune

— by King Janamejaya, son of Parikshit; and what he said then, I now relate. Janamejaya said: O sage, how was Vritrasura slain long ago by Maghavan (Indra)?

Verse 16 (devibhagavatam.6.1.16)

सहायं विष्णुमासाद्य छद्मना सात्त्विकेन ह । कथं च देव्या निहतो दैत्योऽसौ केन हेतुना

sahāyaṁ viṣṇumāsādya chadmanā sāttvikena ha | kathaṁ ca devyā nihato daityo'sau kena hetunā

Taking Vishnu, the embodiment of sattva, as his helper, through deceit — (Vritra was slain); and for what reason was that daitya also slain by the Goddess?

Verse 17 (devibhagavatam.6.1.17)

कथमेकवधो द्वाभ्यां कृतः स्यान्मुनिपुङ्गव । तदेतच्छ्रोतुमिच्छामि परं कौतूहलं हि मे

kathamekavadho dvābhyāṁ kṛtaḥ syānmunipuṅgava | tadetacchrotumicchāmi paraṁ kautūhalaṁ hi me

O foremost of sages, how could a single slaying be accomplished by two? I wish to hear of this, for my curiosity is great indeed.

Verse 18 (devibhagavatam.6.1.18)

महतां चरितं शृण्वन् को विरज्येत मानवः । कथयाम्बावैभवं त्वं वृत्रासुरवधाश्रितम्

mahatāṁ caritaṁ śṛṇvan ko virajyeta mānavaḥ | kathayāmbāvaibhavaṁ tvaṁ vṛtrāsuravadhāśritam

What man, hearing the deeds of the great, could ever lose interest? Tell me of the Mother's glory as it relates to the slaying of Vritrasura.

Verse 19 (devibhagavatam.6.1.19)

व्यास उवाच । धन्योऽसि राजंस्तव बुद्धिरीदृशी जाता पुराणश्रवणेऽतिसादरा । पीत्वामृतं देववरास्तु सर्वथा पाने वितृष्णाः प्रभवन्ति वै पुनः

vyāsa uvāca | dhanyo'si rājaṁstava buddhirīdṛśī jātā purāṇaśravaṇe'tisādarā | pītvāmṛtaṁ devavarāstu sarvathā pāne vitṛṣṇāḥ prabhavanti vai punaḥ

Vyasa said: Blessed are you, O king, that such a deeply reverent mind for hearing the Puranas has arisen in you! Even the best of the gods, having drunk nectar once, become wholly free from any further craving to drink it again.

Verse 20 (devibhagavatam.6.1.20)

दिने दिने तेऽधिकभक्तिभावः कथासु राजन् महनीयकीर्तेः । श्रोता यदैकप्रवणः शृणोति वक्ता तदा प्रीतमना ब्रवीति

dine dine te'dhikabhaktibhāvaḥ kathāsu rājan mahanīyakīrteḥ | śrotā yadaikapravaṇaḥ śṛṇoti vaktā tadā prītamanā bravīti

Day by day, O king, your devotion to the stories of one whose glory deserves such honor grows ever greater. When the listener attends with single-minded devotion, only then does the speaker recount them with a joyful heart.

Verse 21 (devibhagavatam.6.1.21)

युद्धं पुरा वासववृत्रयोर्यद् वेदे प्रसिद्धं च तथा पुराणे । दुःखं सुरेन्द्रेण तथैव लब्धं हत्वा रिपुं त्वाष्ट्रमपापमेव

yuddhaṁ purā vāsavavṛtrayoryad vede prasiddhaṁ ca tathā purāṇe | duḥkhaṁ surendreṇa tathaiva labdhaṁ hatvā ripuṁ tvāṣṭramapāpameva

The ancient battle between Vasava and Vritra, renowned in both the Veda and the Purana, and the sorrow that the lord of the gods came to bear after slaying his sinless enemy, the son of Tvashtri —

Verse 22 (devibhagavatam.6.1.22)

चित्रं किमत्र नृपते हरिवज्रभृद्भ्यां यच्छद्मना विनिहतस्त्रिशिरोऽथ वृत्रः । मायाबलेन मुनयोऽपि विमोहितास्ते चक्रुश्च निन्द्यमनिशं किल पापभीताः

citraṁ kimatra nṛpate harivajrabhṛdbhyāṁ yacchadmanā vinihatastriśiro'tha vṛtraḥ | māyābalena munayo'pi vimohitāste cakruśca nindyamaniśaṁ kila pāpabhītāḥ

What wonder is there in this, O king, that Hari and the wielder of the vajra slew Trishiras, and then Vritra, through deceit? Even sages, deluded by the power of maya, went on ceaselessly performing blameworthy deeds while remaining fearful of sin.

Verse 23 (devibhagavatam.6.1.23)

विष्णुः सदैव कपटेन जघान दैत्यान् सत्त्वात्ममूर्तिरपि मोहमवाप्य कामम् । कोऽन्योऽस्ति तां भगवतीं मनसापि जेतुं शक्तः समस्तजनमोहकरीं भवानीम्

viṣṇuḥ sadaiva kapaṭena jaghāna daityān sattvātmamūrtirapi mohamavāpya kāmam | ko'nyo'sti tāṁ bhagavatīṁ manasāpi jetuṁ śaktaḥ samastajanamohakarīṁ bhavānīm

Even though the very embodiment of sattva, Vishnu ever slays the daityas through deceit, willingly falling into delusion for that purpose. Who else exists who could conquer, even in thought, that Bhagavati Bhavani, who deludes every being?

Verse 24 (devibhagavatam.6.1.24)

मत्स्यादियोनिषु सहस्रयुगेषु सद्यः साक्षाद्भवत्यपि यया विनियोजितोऽत्र । नारायणो नरसखो भगवाननन्तः कार्यं करोति विहिताविहितं कदाचित्

matsyādiyoniṣu sahasrayugeṣu sadyaḥ sākṣādbhavatyapi yayā viniyojito'tra | nārāyaṇo narasakho bhagavānanantaḥ kāryaṁ karoti vihitāvihitaṁ kadācit

By whose command even Narayana — the friend of Nara, the infinite Lord — becomes directly manifest in the forms of the Fish and other incarnations across a thousand yugas, and performs deeds, whether sanctioned or not, whenever she wills it.

Verse 25 (devibhagavatam.6.1.25)

देहं धनं गृहमिदं स्वजना मदीयं पुत्राः कलत्रमिति मोहमुपेत्य सर्वः । पुण्यं करोत्यथ च पापचयं करोति मायागुणैरतिबलैर्विकलीकृतो यत्

dehaṁ dhanaṁ gṛhamidaṁ svajanā madīyaṁ putrāḥ kalatramiti mohamupetya sarvaḥ | puṇyaṁ karotyatha ca pāpacayaṁ karoti māyāguṇairatibalairvikalīkṛto yat

'This body, this wealth, this house, my own kinsmen, my sons and wife' — falling into such delusion, every being performs both merit and heaps up sin, rendered powerless by the overwhelmingly strong qualities of maya.

Verse 26 (devibhagavatam.6.1.26)

न जातु मोहं क्षपितुं नरः क्षमः कश्चिद्भवेद्भूप परावरार्थवित् । विमोहितस्तैस्त्रिभिरेव मूलतो वशीकृतात्मा जगतीतले भृशम्

na jātu mohaṁ kṣapituṁ naraḥ kṣamaḥ kaścidbhavedbhūpa parāvarārthavit | vimohitastaistribhireva mūlato vaśīkṛtātmā jagatītale bhṛśam

No man, O king, however learned in the highest and lowest truths, is ever capable of destroying delusion; deluded to the very root by those three gunas, he remains utterly enslaved upon this earth.

Verse 27 (devibhagavatam.6.1.27)

अथ तौ मायया विष्णुवासवौ मोहितौ भृशम् । जघ्नतुश्छद्मना वृत्रं स्वार्थसाधनतत्परौ

atha tau māyayā viṣṇuvāsavau mohitau bhṛśam | jaghnatuśchadmanā vṛtraṁ svārthasādhanatatparau

Then Vishnu and Vasava, both deeply deluded by maya and intent only on serving their own ends, slew Vritra through deceit.

Verse 28 (devibhagavatam.6.1.28)

तदहं सम्प्रवक्ष्यामि वृत्तान्तमवनीपते । कारणं पूर्ववैरस्य वृत्रवासवयोर्मिथः

tadahaṁ sampravakṣyāmi vṛttāntamavanīpate | kāraṇaṁ pūrvavairasya vṛtravāsavayormithaḥ

Now, O lord of the earth, I shall relate that account — the cause of the ancient mutual enmity between Vritra and Vasava.

Verse 29 (devibhagavatam.6.1.29)

त्वष्टा प्रजापतिर्ह्यासीद्देवश्रेष्ठो महातपाः । देवानां कार्यकर्ता च निपुणो ब्राह्मणप्रियः

tvaṣṭā prajāpatirhyāsīddevaśreṣṭho mahātapāḥ | devānāṁ kāryakartā ca nipuṇo brāhmaṇapriyaḥ

Tvashtri was a Prajapati, foremost among the gods, of great austerity — the one who carried out the work of the gods, skilled in his craft and beloved of brahmins.

Verse 30 (devibhagavatam.6.1.30)

स पुत्रं वै त्रिशिरसमिन्द्रद्वेषात्किलासृजत् । विश्वरूपेति विख्यातं नाम्ना रूपेण मोहनम्

sa putraṁ vai triśirasamindradveṣātkilāsṛjat | viśvarūpeti vikhyātaṁ nāmnā rūpeṇa mohanam

Out of hatred for Indra, he created a three-headed son known by the name Vishvarupa, whose form was enchanting to behold.

Verse 31 (devibhagavatam.6.1.31)

त्रिभिः स वदनैः श्रेष्ठैर्व्यरोचत मनोहरैः । त्रिभिर्भिन्नानि कार्याणि मुखैः समकरोन्मुनिः

tribhiḥ sa vadanaiḥ śreṣṭhairvyarocata manoharaiḥ | tribhirbhinnāni kāryāṇi mukhaiḥ samakaronmuniḥ

He shone resplendent with three excellent, captivating faces; and with those three mouths the sage performed three distinct tasks.

Verse 32 (devibhagavatam.6.1.32)

वेदानेकेन सोऽधीते सुरां चैकेन सोऽपिबत् । तृतीयेन दिशः सर्वा युगपच्च निरीक्षते

vedānekena so'dhīte surāṁ caikena so'pibat | tṛtīyena diśaḥ sarvā yugapacca nirīkṣate

With one mouth he studied the Vedas, with another he drank wine, and with the third he gazed simultaneously upon every direction.

Verse 33 (devibhagavatam.6.1.33)

त्रिशिरा भोगमुत्सृज्य तपश्चक्रे सुदुष्करम् । तपस्वी स मृदुर्दान्तो धर्ममेव समाश्रितः

triśirā bhogamutsṛjya tapaścakre suduṣkaram | tapasvī sa mṛdurdānto dharmameva samāśritaḥ

Trishira renounced all enjoyment and undertook the most difficult austerity; that gentle, self-controlled ascetic took refuge in dharma alone.

Verse 34 (devibhagavatam.6.1.34)

पञ्चाग्निसाधनं काले पादपाग्रे निवेशनम् । जलमध्ये निवासं च हेमन्ते शिशिरे तथा

pañcāgnisādhanaṁ kāle pādapāgre niveśanam | jalamadhye nivāsaṁ ca hemante śiśire tathā

At the proper season he practiced the discipline of the five fires, stood at the very top of a tree, and in the winter and deep-winter months dwelt immersed in water.

Verse 35 (devibhagavatam.6.1.35)

निराहारो जितात्मासौ त्यक्तसर्वपरिग्रहः । तपश्चचार मेधावी दुष्करं मन्दबुद्धिभिः

nirāhāro jitātmāsau tyaktasarvaparigrahaḥ | tapaścacāra medhāvī duṣkaraṁ mandabuddhibhiḥ

Fasting, his self mastered, having renounced every possession, that wise one performed austerity so difficult that men of dull intellect could never accomplish it.

Verse 36 (devibhagavatam.6.1.36)

तं च दृष्ट्वा तपस्यन्तं खेदमाप शचीपतिः । विषादमगमत्तत्र शक्रोऽयं मास्मभूदिति

taṁ ca dṛṣṭvā tapasyantaṁ khedamāpa śacīpatiḥ | viṣādamagamattatra śakro'yaṁ māsmabhūditi

Seeing him thus absorbed in austerity, Shachi's lord (Indra) grew troubled; Shakra fell into despair there, thinking, 'let this one not bring about my ruin.'

Verse 37 (devibhagavatam.6.1.37)

दृष्ट्वा तस्य तपो वीर्यं सत्यं चामिततेजसः । चिन्तां च महतीं प्राप ह्यनिशं पाकशासनः

dṛṣṭvā tasya tapo vīryaṁ satyaṁ cāmitatejasaḥ | cintāṁ ca mahatīṁ prāpa hyaniśaṁ pākaśāsanaḥ

Seeing his austerity, his valor, his truthfulness, and his boundless splendor, Pakashasana (Indra) sank into constant, deep anxiety.

Verse 38 (devibhagavatam.6.1.38)

विवर्धमानस्त्रिशिरा मामयं शातयिष्यति । नोपेक्ष्यः सर्वथा शत्रुर्वर्धमानबलो बुधैः

vivardhamānastriśirā māmayaṁ śātayiṣyati | nopekṣyaḥ sarvathā śatrurvardhamānabalo budhaiḥ

'This ever-growing Trishira will destroy me' — the wise hold that a foe of growing strength must never, under any circumstance, be disregarded.

Verse 39 (devibhagavatam.6.1.39)

तस्मादुपायः कर्तव्यस्तपोनाशाय साम्प्रतम् । कामस्तु तपसां शत्रुः कामान्नश्यति वै तपः

tasmādupāyaḥ kartavyastaponāśāya sāmpratam | kāmastu tapasāṁ śatruḥ kāmānnaśyati vai tapaḥ

'Therefore a means must now be found to destroy his austerity — for desire alone is the enemy of austerity, and it is through desire that austerity is indeed destroyed.'

Verse 40 (devibhagavatam.6.1.40)

तथैवाद्य प्रकर्तव्यं भोगासक्तो भवेद्यथा । इति सञ्चिन्त्य मनसा बुद्धिमान्बलमर्दनः

tathaivādya prakartavyaṁ bhogāsakto bhavedyathā | iti sañcintya manasā buddhimānbalamardanaḥ

'It must be done this very way, so that he becomes attached to sensual pleasure' — thinking so in his mind, the wise crusher of enemies (Indra) then...

Verse 41 (devibhagavatam.6.1.41)

आज्ञापयत्सोऽप्सरसस्त्वाष्ट्रपुत्रप्रलोभने । उर्वशीं मेनकां रम्भां घृताचीं च तिलोत्तमाम्

ājñāpayatso'psarasastvāṣṭraputrapralobhane | urvaśīṁ menakāṁ rambhāṁ ghṛtācīṁ ca tilottamām

...commanded the apsarases — Urvashi, Menaka, Rambha, Ghritachi, and Tilottama — to entice the son of Tvashtri.

Verse 42 (devibhagavatam.6.1.42)

समाहूयाब्रवीच्छक्रस्तास्तदा रूपगर्विताः । प्रियं कुरुध्वं मे सर्वाः कार्येऽद्य समुपस्थिते

samāhūyābravīcchakrastāstadā rūpagarvitāḥ | priyaṁ kurudhvaṁ me sarvāḥ kārye'dya samupasthite

Shakra summoned those beauty-proud apsarases and said, 'All of you, please me now in this task that has arisen.'

Verse 43 (devibhagavatam.6.1.43)

यत्तो मेऽद्य महाञ्छत्रुस्तपस्तपति दुर्जयः । कार्यं कुरुत गच्छध्वं प्रलोभयत माचिरम्

yatto me'dya mahāñchatrustapastapati durjayaḥ | kāryaṁ kuruta gacchadhvaṁ pralobhayata māciram

'A great and unconquerable enemy of mine is right now performing austerity with vigilance. Go, accomplish this task, and tempt him without delay.'

Verse 44 (devibhagavatam.6.1.44)

शृङ्गारवेषैर्विविधैर्हावैर्देहसमुद्भवैः । प्रलोभयत भद्रं वः शमयध्वं ज्वरं मम

śṛṅgāraveṣairvividhairhāvairdehasamudbhavaiḥ | pralobhayata bhadraṁ vaḥ śamayadhvaṁ jvaraṁ mama

'With varied alluring attire and the bodily gestures of love, tempt him — may good come to you — and put out this fever burning in me.'

Verse 45 (devibhagavatam.6.1.45)

अस्वस्थोऽहं महाभागास्तस्य ज्ञात्वा तपोबलम् । बलवानासनं मेऽद्य ग्रहीष्यत्यविलम्बितः

asvastho'haṁ mahābhāgāstasya jñātvā tapobalam | balavānāsanaṁ me'dya grahīṣyatyavilambitaḥ

'O fortunate ones, knowing the power of his austerity I have become unwell; that mighty one will, without delay, soon seize my very throne.'

Verse 46 (devibhagavatam.6.1.46)

भयं मे समुपायातं क्षिप्रं नाशयताबलाः । उपकुर्वन्तु सहिताः कार्येऽद्य समुपस्थिते

bhayaṁ me samupāyātaṁ kṣipraṁ nāśayatābalāḥ | upakurvantu sahitāḥ kārye'dya samupasthite

'Fear has overtaken me — destroy it quickly, O women. Let all of you together lend your help in this task now before us.'

Verse 47 (devibhagavatam.6.1.47)

तच्छ्रुत्वा वचनं नार्य ऊचुस्तं प्रणताः पुरः । मा भयं कुरु देवेश यतिष्यामः प्रलोभने

tacchrutvā vacanaṁ nārya ūcustaṁ praṇatāḥ puraḥ | mā bhayaṁ kuru deveśa yatiṣyāmaḥ pralobhane

Hearing these words, the women bowed before him and said, 'Have no fear, O lord of the gods; we shall make every effort at this temptation.'

Verse 48 (devibhagavatam.6.1.48)

यथा न स्याद्भयं तस्मात्तथा कार्यं महाद्युते । नृत्यगीतविहारैश्च मुनेस्तस्य प्रलोभने

yathā na syādbhayaṁ tasmāttathā kāryaṁ mahādyute | nṛtyagītavihāraiśca munestasya pralobhane

'O radiant one, it shall be so arranged that no fear from him remains — through dance, song, and playful sport we shall work at that sage's temptation.'

Verse 49 (devibhagavatam.6.1.49)

कटाक्षैरङ्गभेदैश्च मोहयित्वा मुनिं विभो । लोलुपं वशमस्माकं करिष्यामो नियन्त्रितम्

kaṭākṣairaṅgabhedaiśca mohayitvā muniṁ vibho | lolupaṁ vaśamasmākaṁ kariṣyāmo niyantritam

'O lord, with sidelong glances and varied movements of the body, having bewildered that sage, we shall render him full of longing and bring him wholly under our sway.'

Verse 50 (devibhagavatam.6.1.50)

व्यास उवाच । इत्याभाष्य हरिं नार्यो ययुस्त्रिशिरसोऽन्तिकम् । कुर्वन्त्यो विविधान्भावान्कामशास्त्रोचितानपि

vyāsa uvāca | ityābhāṣya hariṁ nāryo yayustriśiraso'ntikam | kurvantyo vividhānbhāvānkāmaśāstrocitānapi

Vyasa said: Having thus addressed Indra, the women went to Trishira's presence, displaying a variety of expressions befitting the science of love.

Verse 51 (devibhagavatam.6.1.51)

गायन्त्यस्तालभेदैस्ता नृत्यन्त्यः पुरतो मुनेः । तं प्रलोभयितुं चक्रुर्नानाभावान्वराङ्गनाः

gāyantyastālabhedaistā nṛtyantyaḥ purato muneḥ | taṁ pralobhayituṁ cakrurnānābhāvānvarāṅganāḥ

Singing to varied rhythms and dancing before the sage, those lovely women displayed manifold expressions in their effort to tempt him.

Verse 52 (devibhagavatam.6.1.52)

नापश्यत्स तपोराशिरङ्गनानां विडम्बनम् । इन्द्रियाणि वशे कृत्वा मूकान्धबधिरः स्थितः

nāpaśyatsa taporāśiraṅganānāṁ viḍambanam | indriyāṇi vaśe kṛtvā mūkāndhabadhiraḥ sthitaḥ

That embodiment of austerity did not even notice the women's display; having mastered his senses completely, he remained as if mute, blind, and deaf.

Verse 53 (devibhagavatam.6.1.53)

दिनानि कतिचित्तस्थुर्नार्यस्तस्याश्रमे वरे । कुर्वन्त्यो गाननृत्यादिप्रपञ्चानतिमोहदान्

dināni katicittasthurnāryastasyāśrame vare | kurvantyo gānanṛtyādiprapañcānatimohadān

For several days the women remained in that excellent hermitage, carrying on their whole enchanting display of song and dance and the like.

Verse 54 (devibhagavatam.6.1.54)

न चचाल यदा कामं ध्यानाच्च त्रिशिरा मुनिः । परावृत्य तदा देव्यः पुनः शक्रमुपस्थिताः

na cacāla yadā kāmaṁ dhyānācca triśirā muniḥ | parāvṛtya tadā devyaḥ punaḥ śakramupasthitāḥ

When the sage Trishira did not waver in the least from his meditation, the divine women turned back and came once more before Shakra.

Verse 55 (devibhagavatam.6.1.55)

कृताञ्जलिपुटाः सर्वा देवराजमथाब्रुवन् । श्रान्ता दीना भयत्रस्ता विवर्णवदना भृशम्

kṛtāñjalipuṭāḥ sarvā devarājamathābruvan | śrāntā dīnā bhayatrastā vivarṇavadanā bhṛśam

Exhausted, wretched, terrified, their faces utterly drained of color, all of them, with joined palms, then spoke to the king of the gods.

Verse 56 (devibhagavatam.6.1.56)

देवदेव महाराज यत्नश्च परमः कृतः । न स शक्यो दुराधर्षो धैर्याच्चालयितुं विभो

devadeva mahārāja yatnaśca paramaḥ kṛtaḥ | na sa śakyo durādharṣo dhairyāccālayituṁ vibho

'O god of gods, great king, we made every possible effort; but, O lord, that unassailable one could not be shaken from his composure.'

Verse 57 (devibhagavatam.6.1.57)

उपायोऽन्यः प्रकर्तव्यः सर्वथा पाकशासन । नास्माकं बलमेतस्मिंस्तापसे विजितेन्द्रिये

upāyo'nyaḥ prakartavyaḥ sarvathā pākaśāsana | nāsmākaṁ balametasmiṁstāpase vijitendriye

'Some other means must now be devised, O Pakashasana; we have no power whatsoever over this ascetic who has fully conquered his senses.'

Verse 58 (devibhagavatam.6.1.58)

दिष्ट्या वयं न शप्ताः स्म यदनेन महात्मना । मुनिना वह्नितुल्येन तपसा द्योतितेन हि

diṣṭyā vayaṁ na śaptāḥ sma yadanena mahātmanā | muninā vahnitulyena tapasā dyotitena hi

'By good fortune, we were not cursed by this great-souled sage, blazing like fire with the radiance of his austerity.'

Verse 59 (devibhagavatam.6.1.59)

विसृज्याप्सरसः शक्रश्चिन्तयामास मन्दधीः । तस्यैव च वधोपायं पापबुद्धिरसाम्प्रतम्

visṛjyāpsarasaḥ śakraścintayāmāsa mandadhīḥ | tasyaiva ca vadhopāyaṁ pāpabuddhirasāmpratam

Having sent the apsarases away, Shakra, of clouded judgment and now given over to sinful intent, began to ponder the means of that very one's destruction.

Verse 60 (devibhagavatam.6.1.60)

विसृज्य लोकलज्जां स तथा पापभयं भृशम् । चकार पापबुद्धिं तु तद्वधाय महीपते

visṛjya lokalajjāṁ sa tathā pāpabhayaṁ bhṛśam | cakāra pāpabuddhiṁ tu tadvadhāya mahīpate

Casting aside both worldly shame and the fear of sin, O king, that sinful-minded one resolved firmly upon his destruction.