Kashyapa's Counsel to the Daityas, and Their Resolve to Perform Austerity

Verse 1 (padma.2.10.1)

ऋषय ऊचुः- ततस्ते दानवाः सर्वे हिरण्यकशिपूत्तराः । युद्धाद्भग्नास्तु किं कुर्युर्व्यवसायं महामते

ṛṣaya ūcuḥ- tataste dānavāḥ sarve hiraṇyakaśipūttarāḥ yuddhādbhagnāstu kiṁ kuryurvyavasāyaṁ mahāmate

The sages said: Then all those danavas, headed by Hiranyakashipu, routed from the battle — what did they resolve to do, O great-minded one?

Verse 2 (padma.2.10.2)

विस्तरेणापि नो ब्रूहि तेषां वृत्तमनुत्तमम् । श्रोतुमिच्छामहे सर्वे त्वत्तो वै सांप्रतं द्विज

vistareṇāpi no brūhi teṣāṁ vṛttamanuttamam śrotumicchāmahe sarve tvatto vai sāṁprataṁ dvija

Tell us their supreme story in full; we all wish to hear it now from you, O brahmin.

Verse 3 (padma.2.10.3)

सूत उवाच- भग्ना रणात्तु ते सर्वे बलहीनास्तु वै तदा । गतदर्पाः सुदुःखार्ता दैत्यास्ते पितरं गताः

sūta uvāca- bhagnā raṇāttu te sarve balahīnāstu vai tadā gatadarpāḥ suduḥkhārtā daityāste pitaraṁ gatāḥ

Suta said: Routed from the battle, bereft of strength, their pride gone, sorely afflicted with grief, those daityas then went to their father Kashyapa.

Verse 4 (padma.2.10.4)

भक्त्या प्रणम्य ते सर्वे समूचुः कश्यपं तदा । दानवा ऊचुः- भवद्वीर्यात्समुत्पत्तिरस्माकं द्विजसत्तम

bhaktyā praṇamya te sarve samūcuḥ kaśyapaṁ tadā dānavā ūcuḥ- bhavadvīryātsamutpattirasmākaṁ dvijasattama

Bowing to him with devotion, all of them then spoke to Kashyapa. The danavas said: 'Our origin, O worthy brahmin, is from your very seed—'

Verse 5 (padma.2.10.5)

देवतानां महाभाग दानवानां तथैव च । वयं च दानवाः सर्वे बलवीर्यपराक्रमाः

devatānāṁ mahābhāga dānavānāṁ tathaiva ca vayaṁ ca dānavāḥ sarve balavīryaparākramāḥ

—'as is that of the gods, O greatly fortunate one, and of the danavas likewise. We danavas are all possessed of strength, might, and valor—'

Verse 6 (padma.2.10.6)

उपायज्ञाः सुधीराश्च उद्यमेन समन्विताः । वयं तु बहवस्तात देवास्त्वल्पास्तथैव च

upāyajñāḥ sudhīrāśca udyamena samanvitāḥ vayaṁ tu bahavastāta devāstvalpāstathaiva ca

—'skilled in strategy, resolute, and full of initiative. We, moreover, are many, father, while the gods are few—'

Verse 7 (padma.2.10.7)

कथं जयंति ते सर्वे वयं भग्ना महाहवात् । तत्किं वै कारणं तात बलतेजः समन्विताः

kathaṁ jayaṁti te sarve vayaṁ bhagnā mahāhavāt tatkiṁ vai kāraṇaṁ tāta balatejaḥ samanvitāḥ

—'how then do they all triumph, while we are routed from this great battle? What indeed is the reason, father, we who are endowed with strength and splendor?'

Verse 8 (padma.2.10.8)

मत्तनागसहस्राणामेकैकस्य महामते । बलमस्ति च दैत्यस्य नास्ति देवेषु तादृशम्

mattanāgasahasrāṇāmekaikasya mahāmate balamasti ca daityasya nāsti deveṣu tādṛśam

'Each single daitya, O great-minded one, has the strength of a thousand rutting elephants; no such strength exists among the gods—'

Verse 9 (padma.2.10.9)

जयश्च दृश्यते तात देवेष्वेव महाहवे । तत्सर्वं कथयस्वैव संशयंछेत्तुमर्हसि

jayaśca dṛśyate tāta deveṣveva mahāhave tatsarvaṁ kathayasvaiva saṁśayaṁchettumarhasi

—'yet victory, father, is seen among the gods alone, in the great battle. Tell us all of this; you are able to dispel our doubt.'

Verse 10 (padma.2.10.10)

कश्यप उवाच- शृणुध्वं पुत्रकाः सर्वे जयस्यापि च कारणम् । यस्माद्धि देवताः सर्वे समरे जयिनोऽभवन्

kaśyapa uvāca- śṛṇudhvaṁ putrakāḥ sarve jayasyāpi ca kāraṇam yasmāddhi devatāḥ sarve samare jayino'bhavan

Kashyapa said: 'Listen, all my sons, to the reason for that victory — why it is that the gods have ever become victorious in battle.'

Verse 11 (padma.2.10.11)

वीर्यनिर्वापकस्तातो माताक्षेत्रमिदं सदा । धारणे पालने चैव पोषणे च यथैव हि

vīryanirvāpakastāto mātākṣetramidaṁ sadā dhāraṇe pālane caiva poṣaṇe ca yathaiva hi

'The father is the one who plants the seed; the mother is ever this field — just as in the bearing, protecting, and nourishing of a child—'

Verse 12 (padma.2.10.12)

किं कुर्याद्विषमार्थे तु पिता पुत्रे च वै तथा । अत्र प्रधानं कर्मैव मामेवं बुद्धिराश्रिता

kiṁ kuryādviṣamārthe tu pitā putre ca vai tathā atra pradhānaṁ karmaiva māmevaṁ buddhirāśritā

—'what indeed could father or son do amiss in such matters? Here, action alone is what is primary; this indeed is the understanding I hold to.'

Verse 13 (padma.2.10.13)

द्वैविध्यं कर्मसंबंधं पापपुण्यसमुद्भवम् । सत्यमेव समाश्रित्य क्रियते धर्म उत्तमः

dvaividhyaṁ karmasaṁbaṁdhaṁ pāpapuṇyasamudbhavam satyameva samāśritya kriyate dharma uttamaḥ

'There is a twofold connection of deeds, one arising from sin, one from merit; taking refuge in truth alone is supreme dharma accomplished.'

Verse 14 (padma.2.10.14)

तपोध्यानसमायुक्तं तारणाय हि तं सुताः । पतनाय पातकं प्रोक्तं सर्वदैव न संशयः

tapodhyānasamāyuktaṁ tāraṇāya hi taṁ sutāḥ patanāya pātakaṁ proktaṁ sarvadaiva na saṁśayaḥ

'Joined with austerity and meditation, that dharma, my sons, leads to salvation; sin is always declared to lead to downfall — no doubt of it.'

Verse 15 (padma.2.10.15)

बलेन परिवारेण आभिजात्येन पुत्रकाः । पुण्यहीनस्य पुंसो वै तद्बलं विकलायते

balena parivāreṇa ābhijātyena putrakāḥ puṇyahīnasya puṁso vai tadbalaṁ vikalāyate

'By strength, by retinue, by noble birth, my sons — for a man devoid of merit, even that strength becomes crippled and vain.'

Verse 16 (padma.2.10.16)

उन्नता गिरिदुर्गेषु वृक्षाः संति सुपुत्रकाः । पतंति वातवेगेन समूलास्तु घनास्तथा

unnatā giridurgeṣu vṛkṣāḥ saṁti suputrakāḥ pataṁti vātavegena samūlāstu ghanāstathā

'Trees standing tall in mountain strongholds, my good sons, however dense and mighty, fall by the force of the wind, roots and all—'

Verse 17 (padma.2.10.17)

सत्यधर्मविहीनास्ते तथायांति यमक्षयम् । साधारणः प्राणिनां च धर्म एष सुपुत्रकाः

satyadharmavihīnāste tathāyāṁti yamakṣayam sādhāraṇaḥ prāṇināṁ ca dharma eṣa suputrakāḥ

—'so too do those devoid of truth and dharma go likewise to their destruction under Yama. This dharma, my good sons, is common to every being—'

Verse 18 (padma.2.10.18)

येन संतरते जंतुरिह चैव परत्र च । तद्युष्माभिः परित्यक्तं सत्यं धर्मसमन्वितम्

yena saṁtarate jaṁturiha caiva paratra ca tadyuṣmābhiḥ parityaktaṁ satyaṁ dharmasamanvitam

—'by which a creature is carried across, both here and in the world beyond. That truth, joined with dharma, has been abandoned by all of you.'

Verse 19 (padma.2.10.19)

अधर्ममास्थितं पुत्रा युष्माभिः सत्यवर्जितैः । सत्यधर्मतपोभ्रष्टाः पतिता दुःखसागरे

adharmamāsthitaṁ putrā yuṣmābhiḥ satyavarjitaiḥ satyadharmatapobhraṣṭāḥ patitā duḥkhasāgare

'Unrighteousness has been embraced by you, my sons, who have forsaken truth; fallen from truth, dharma, and austerity, you have sunk into an ocean of suffering.'

Verse 20 (padma.2.10.20)

देवाश्च सत्यसंपन्नाः श्रेयसा च समन्विताः । तपः शांतिदमोपेताः सुपुण्या पापवर्जिताः

devāśca satyasaṁpannāḥ śreyasā ca samanvitāḥ tapaḥ śāṁtidamopetāḥ supuṇyā pāpavarjitāḥ

'The gods, however, are endowed with truth and joined with true good; possessed of austerity, peace, and self-control, greatly meritorious, free of sin.'

Verse 21 (padma.2.10.21)

यत्र सत्यं च धर्मश्च तपः पुण्यं तथैव च । यत्र विष्णुर्हृषीकेशो जयस्तत्र प्रदृश्यते

yatra satyaṁ ca dharmaśca tapaḥ puṇyaṁ tathaiva ca yatra viṣṇurhṛṣīkeśo jayastatra pradṛśyate

'Where truth and dharma are, and austerity and merit likewise, and where Vishnu Hrishikesha is — there victory is to be seen.'

Verse 22 (padma.2.10.22)

तेषां सहायः संभूतो वासुदेवः सनातनः । तस्माज्जयंति ते देवाः सत्यधर्मसमन्विताः

teṣāṁ sahāyaḥ saṁbhūto vāsudevaḥ sanātanaḥ tasmājjayaṁti te devāḥ satyadharmasamanvitāḥ

'Their helper is the eternal Vasudeva himself; therefore those gods, joined with truth and dharma, are victorious.'

Verse 23 (padma.2.10.23)

सहायेन बलेनैव पौरुषेण तथैव च । भवंतः किल वै पुत्रास्तपः सत्यविवर्जिताः

sahāyena balenaiva pauruṣeṇa tathaiva ca bhavaṁtaḥ kila vai putrāstapaḥ satyavivarjitāḥ

'By mere allies, by strength alone, and by manly prowess likewise — such indeed, my sons, are you, devoid of austerity and truth.'

Verse 24 (padma.2.10.24)

यस्य विष्णुः सहायश्च तपश्चैव बलं तथा । तस्यैव च जयो दृष्ट इति धर्मविदो विदुः

yasya viṣṇuḥ sahāyaśca tapaścaiva balaṁ tathā tasyaiva ca jayo dṛṣṭa iti dharmavido viduḥ

'He whose helper is Vishnu, and who has austerity and strength as well — his alone is victory seen; thus do the knowers of dharma understand.'

Verse 25 (padma.2.10.25)

यूयं धर्मविहीनास्तु तपः सत्यविवर्जिताः । ऐंद्रं पदं बलेनैव प्राप्तवंतश्च पूर्वतः

yūyaṁ dharmavihīnāstu tapaḥ satyavivarjitāḥ aiṁdraṁ padaṁ balenaiva prāptavaṁtaśca pūrvataḥ

'You are devoid of dharma, bereft of austerity and truth; the station of Indra you obtained before by strength alone.'

Verse 26 (padma.2.10.26)

तपो विना महाप्राज्ञा धर्मेण यशसा विना । बलदर्पगुणैः पुत्रा न प्राप्यमैन्द्रकं पदम्

tapo vinā mahāprājñā dharmeṇa yaśasā vinā baladarpaguṇaiḥ putrā na prāpyamaindrakaṁ padam

'Without austerity, O greatly wise ones, without dharma, without true glory — by mere strength, pride, and such qualities, the station of Indra cannot be attained.'

Verse 27 (padma.2.10.27)

प्राप्याप्यैंद्रं पदं पुत्रास्ततो भ्रष्टा भवंति हि । तस्माद्यूयं प्रकुर्वंतु तपः पुत्राः समन्विताः

prāpyāpyaiṁdraṁ padaṁ putrāstato bhraṣṭā bhavaṁti hi tasmādyūyaṁ prakurvaṁtu tapaḥ putrāḥ samanvitāḥ

'Even having attained the station of Indra, my sons, you fall from it again. Therefore all of you should perform austerity together, my sons—'

Verse 28 (padma.2.10.28)

अविरोधेन संयुक्ता ज्ञानध्यानसमन्विताः । वैरं चैव न कर्तव्यं केशवेन समं कदा

avirodhena saṁyuktā jñānadhyānasamanvitāḥ vairaṁ caiva na kartavyaṁ keśavena samaṁ kadā

—'joined with non-opposition, endowed with knowledge and meditation; and enmity should never at any time be undertaken against Keshava.'

Verse 29 (padma.2.10.29)

एवंविधा यदा पुत्रा यूयं धन्या भविष्यथ । परां सिद्धिं तदा सर्वे प्रयास्यथ न संशयः

evaṁvidhā yadā putrā yūyaṁ dhanyā bhaviṣyatha parāṁ siddhiṁ tadā sarve prayāsyatha na saṁśayaḥ

'When you become of such a kind, my sons, you shall be blessed indeed; then all of you shall attain the supreme accomplishment, no doubt of it.'

Verse 30 (padma.2.10.30)

एवं संभाषितास्ते तु कश्यपेन महात्मना । समाकर्ण्य पितुर्वाक्यं दानवास्ते महौजसः

evaṁ saṁbhāṣitāste tu kaśyapena mahātmanā samākarṇya piturvākyaṁ dānavāste mahaujasaḥ

Thus addressed by the great soul Kashyapa, and having heard their father's word, those mighty danavas—

Verse 31 (padma.2.10.31)

प्रणम्य कश्यपं भक्त्या समुत्थाय त्वरान्विताः । सुमंत्रं चक्रिरे दैत्याः परस्परसमाहिताः

praṇamya kaśyapaṁ bhaktyā samutthāya tvarānvitāḥ sumaṁtraṁ cakrire daityāḥ parasparasamāhitāḥ

—bowed to Kashyapa with devotion and, rising in haste, the daityas held counsel together among themselves.

Verse 32 (padma.2.10.32)

हिरण्यकशिपू राजा तानुवाचाथ दानवान् । तपश्चैव करिष्यामो दुष्करं सर्वदायकम्

hiraṇyakaśipū rājā tānuvācātha dānavān tapaścaiva kariṣyāmo duṣkaraṁ sarvadāyakam

King Hiranyakashipu then said to those danavas: 'We shall perform austerity, difficult to accomplish, but the giver of all things.'

Verse 33 (padma.2.10.33)

हिरण्याक्षस्तदोवाच करिष्ये दारुणं तपः । ततो बलेन त्रैलोक्यं ग्रहीष्ये नात्र संशयः

hiraṇyākṣastadovāca kariṣye dāruṇaṁ tapaḥ tato balena trailokyaṁ grahīṣye nātra saṁśayaḥ

Hiranyaksha then said: 'I shall perform fierce austerity; then, through strength, I shall seize the three worlds, no doubt of it.'

Verse 34 (padma.2.10.34)

रणे निर्जित्य गोविंदं तमिमं पापचेतसम् । व्यापाद्य देवताः सर्वाः पदमैंद्रं व्रजाम्यहम्

raṇe nirjitya goviṁdaṁ tamimaṁ pāpacetasam vyāpādya devatāḥ sarvāḥ padamaiṁdraṁ vrajāmyaham

'Having conquered in battle this evil-minded Govinda, and having destroyed all the gods, I shall attain the station of Indra.'

Verse 35 (padma.2.10.35)

बलिरुवाच- एवं न युज्यते कर्तुं युष्माभिर्दितिजेश्वराः । विष्णुना सह यद्वैरं तद्वैरं नाशकारणम्

baliruvāca- evaṁ na yujyate kartuṁ yuṣmābhirditijeśvarāḥ viṣṇunā saha yadvairaṁ tadvairaṁ nāśakāraṇam

Bali said: 'This is not fitting for you to do, O lords of the sons of Diti; enmity against Vishnu is itself the very cause of ruin.'

Verse 36 (padma.2.10.36)

दानधर्मैस्तथा पुण्यैस्तपोभिर्यज्ञयाजनैः । तमाराध्य हृषीकेशं सुखं गच्छंति मानवाः

dānadharmaistathā puṇyaistapobhiryajñayājanaiḥ tamārādhya hṛṣīkeśaṁ sukhaṁ gacchaṁti mānavāḥ

'Through gifts and righteous deeds, through merit, austerities, and the performance of sacrifices, men worship Hrishikesha and thereby attain happiness.'

Verse 37 (padma.2.10.37)

हिरण्यकशिपुरुवाच- अहमेवं न करिष्ये हरेराराधनं कदा । स्वभावं तु परित्यज्य शत्रुसेवा प्रचर्यते

hiraṇyakaśipuruvāca- ahamevaṁ na kariṣye harerārādhanaṁ kadā svabhāvaṁ tu parityajya śatrusevā pracaryate

Hiranyakashipu said: 'I shall never do this — never worship Hari. Only by abandoning one's own nature does one come to serve an enemy.'

Verse 38 (padma.2.10.38)

मरणादधिकं तं तु मानयंति हि पंडिताः । विष्णोः सेवा न वै कार्या मया चान्यैश्च दानवैः

maraṇādadhikaṁ taṁ tu mānayaṁti hi paṁḍitāḥ viṣṇoḥ sevā na vai kāryā mayā cānyaiśca dānavaiḥ

'The wise indeed regard that as worse than death itself. Service to Vishnu shall never be rendered, neither by me nor by the other danavas.'

Verse 39 (padma.2.10.39)

तमुवाच महात्मानं बलिः पितामहं पुनः । धर्मशास्त्रेषु यद्दृष्टं मुनिभिस्तत्त्ववेदिभिः

tamuvāca mahātmānaṁ baliḥ pitāmahaṁ punaḥ dharmaśāstreṣu yaddṛṣṭaṁ munibhistattvavedibhiḥ

Bali spoke once more to that great soul, his grandfather: 'What has been seen in the scriptures of dharma by the sages, knowers of truth—'

Verse 40 (padma.2.10.40)

राजनीतियुतं मंत्रं शत्रोश्चैव प्रधानतः । हीनमात्मानमाज्ञाय रिपुं तं बलिनं तथा

rājanītiyutaṁ maṁtraṁ śatroścaiva pradhānataḥ hīnamātmānamājñāya ripuṁ taṁ balinaṁ tathā

—'is this counsel joined with statecraft: regarding the enemy as the stronger, knowing oneself to be weaker—'

Verse 41 (padma.2.10.41)

तस्य पार्श्वे प्रगत्वैव जयकालं प्रतीक्षयेत् । दीपच्छायां समाश्रित्य तमो वसति सर्वदा

tasya pārśve pragatvaiva jayakālaṁ pratīkṣayet dīpacchāyāṁ samāśritya tamo vasati sarvadā

—'one should go to that very enemy's side and there await the time of victory. Taking refuge in the shadow cast by a lamp, darkness ever abides there—'

Verse 42 (padma.2.10.42)

स्नेहं दशागतं प्रेक्ष्य दीपस्यापि महाबलम् । प्रकाशं याति वेगेन तमश्च वर्द्धते पुनः

snehaṁ daśāgataṁ prekṣya dīpasyāpi mahābalam prakāśaṁ yāti vegena tamaśca varddhate punaḥ

—'and, seeing the oil reach the wick, and even the lamp's great strength, it swiftly turns to light — yet then the darkness grows once more.'

Verse 43 (padma.2.10.43)

तथा प्रसादयेच्छन्नः स्नेहं निर्दिश्य तत्त्वतः । स्नेहं कृत्वासुरैः सार्द्धं धर्मभावैः सुरद्विषः

tathā prasādayecchannaḥ snehaṁ nirdiśya tattvataḥ snehaṁ kṛtvāsuraiḥ sārddhaṁ dharmabhāvaiḥ suradviṣaḥ

'In the same way, one hidden should win favor, showing outward affection while holding a different intent beneath; having formed a bond with the gods through outward gestures of dharma, O enemy of the gods—'

Verse 44 (padma.2.10.44)

पूर्वमुक्तं सुमंत्रं तु मुनिना कश्यपेन हि । तेन मंत्रेण राजेंद्र कुरु कार्यं स्वमात्मवान्

pūrvamuktaṁ sumaṁtraṁ tu muninā kaśyapena hi tena maṁtreṇa rājeṁdra kuru kāryaṁ svamātmavān

—'by that excellent counsel spoken before by the sage Kashyapa, by that very counsel, O king of kings, act with self-mastery.'

Verse 45 (padma.2.10.45)

तस्य तद्वचनं श्रुत्वा प्राह दैत्यः प्रतापवान् । पौत्र नैवं करिष्येहं मानभंगं तथात्मनः

tasya tadvacanaṁ śrutvā prāha daityaḥ pratāpavān pautra naivaṁ kariṣyehaṁ mānabhaṁgaṁ tathātmanaḥ

Hearing this word of his, that mighty daitya said: 'Grandson, I shall never do this — it would be my own dishonor.'

Verse 46 (padma.2.10.46)

अन्ये च बांधवाः सर्वे तमूचुर्नयपंडितम् । बलिनोक्तं च यत्पुण्यं देवतानां प्रियंकरम्

anye ca bāṁdhavāḥ sarve tamūcurnayapaṁḍitam balinoktaṁ ca yatpuṇyaṁ devatānāṁ priyaṁkaram

And all the other kinsmen said to that one skilled in policy: 'What Bali has said, though meritorious and pleasing to the gods—'

Verse 47 (padma.2.10.47)

शक्रमानकरं प्रोक्तं दानवानां भयंकरम् । करिष्यामो वयं सर्वे तप एवमनुत्तमम्

śakramānakaraṁ proktaṁ dānavānāṁ bhayaṁkaram kariṣyāmo vayaṁ sarve tapa evamanuttamam

—'is declared to honor Shakra, and is fearsome to the danavas. We shall all instead perform this supreme austerity—'

Verse 48 (padma.2.10.48)

तपसा निर्जित्य देवान्हरिष्यामः स्वकं पदम् । एवमामंत्र्य ते सर्वे निराकृत्य बलिं तदा

tapasā nirjitya devānhariṣyāmaḥ svakaṁ padam evamāmaṁtrya te sarve nirākṛtya baliṁ tadā

—'and, having conquered the gods through austerity, reclaim our own station.' Having thus resolved, and having rejected Bali's counsel—

Verse 49 (padma.2.10.49)

विष्णोः सार्द्धं महावैरं हृदि कृत्वा महासुराः । तपश्चक्रुस्ततः सर्वे गिरिदुर्गेषु सानुषु

viṣṇoḥ sārddhaṁ mahāvairaṁ hṛdi kṛtvā mahāsurāḥ tapaścakrustataḥ sarve giridurgeṣu sānuṣu

—those great asuras, harboring great enmity toward Vishnu in their hearts, then all performed austerity upon the peaks of mountain strongholds.

Verse 50 (padma.2.10.50)

एवं ते दानवाः सर्वे त्यक्तरागाः सुनिश्चिताः । कामक्रोधविहीनाश्च निराहारा जितक्लमाः

evaṁ te dānavāḥ sarve tyaktarāgāḥ suniścitāḥ kāmakrodhavihīnāśca nirāhārā jitaklamāḥ

Thus did all those danavas, their passions abandoned, resolute, free of desire and anger, taking no food, having mastered fatigue—