The Birth of Vritra, His False Treaty with Indra, and Rambha's Snare

Verse 1 (padma.2.24.1)

सूत उवाच- हतं श्रुत्वा दितिः पुत्रं सुबलं बलमेव च । रुदितं करुणं कृत्वा हा हा कष्टं भृशं मम

sūta uvāca- hataṁ śrutvā ditiḥ putraṁ subalaṁ balameva ca ruditaṁ karuṇaṁ kṛtvā hā hā kaṣṭaṁ bhṛśaṁ mama

Suta said: Diti, hearing of the slaying of her fine son Bala, wept most piteously, crying: 'Alas, alas, what great suffering has come upon me!'

Verse 2 (padma.2.24.2)

एवं सुकरुणं कृत्वा बहुकालं तपस्विनी । सा गता कश्यपं कांतं तमुवाच यशस्विनी

evaṁ sukaruṇaṁ kṛtvā bahukālaṁ tapasvinī sā gatā kaśyapaṁ kāṁtaṁ tamuvāca yaśasvinī

Having wept most piteously for a long time, that ascetic, renowned woman went to her husband Kashyapa and said to him:

Verse 3 (padma.2.24.3)

तव पुत्रो महापाप इंद्रः सुरगणेश्वरः । सागरोपगतं दृष्ट्वा बलं मे ब्रह्मलक्षणम्

tava putro mahāpāpa iṁdraḥ suragaṇeśvaraḥ sāgaropagataṁ dṛṣṭvā balaṁ me brahmalakṣaṇam

—'Your son, greatly sinful, Indra, lord of the hosts of gods, seeing my son Bala, of Brahman-like marks, gone to the ocean—'

Verse 4 (padma.2.24.4)

वज्रेण घातयामास संध्यामास्यंतमेव हि । एवं श्रुत्वा ततः क्रुद्धो मरीचितनयस्तदा

vajreṇa ghātayāmāsa saṁdhyāmāsyaṁtameva hi evaṁ śrutvā tataḥ kruddho marīcitanayastadā

—'struck him down with the thunderbolt, right at the very end of his evening rites.' Hearing this, that son of Marichi, Kashyapa, then grew wrathful—

Verse 5 (padma.2.24.5)

क्रोधेन महताविष्टः प्रजज्वालेव वह्निना । अवलुंच्य जटामेकां शुच्यग्नौ स द्विजोत्तमः

krodhena mahatāviṣṭaḥ prajajvāleva vahninā avaluṁcya jaṭāmekāṁ śucyagnau sa dvijottamaḥ

—filled with great anger, he blazed as if with fire; plucking out a single lock of matted hair, that best of brahmins cast it into the pure sacrificial fire—

Verse 6 (padma.2.24.6)

इंद्रस्यैव वधार्थाय पुत्रमुत्पादयाम्यहम् । तस्मात्कुंडात्समुत्पन्नो हुताशनमुखादपि

iṁdrasyaiva vadhārthāya putramutpādayāmyaham tasmātkuṁḍātsamutpanno hutāśanamukhādapi

—declaring: 'For the very destruction of Indra I shall produce a son.' From that sacrificial pit, from the very mouth of the fire—

Verse 7 (padma.2.24.7)

कृष्णांजनचयोपेतः पिंगाक्षो भीषणाकृतिः । दंष्ट्राकरालवक्त्रांतो जगतां भयदायकः

kṛṣṇāṁjanacayopetaḥ piṁgākṣo bhīṣaṇākṛtiḥ daṁṣṭrākarālavaktrāṁto jagatāṁ bhayadāyakaḥ

—there arose one dark as a mass of black collyrium, tawny-eyed, of terrifying form, his mouth terrible with fangs, a bringer of fear to the worlds—

Verse 8 (padma.2.24.8)

महाचर्वरिको घोरः खड्गचर्मधरस्तथा । सर्वांगतेजसा दीप्तो महामेघोपमो बली

mahācarvariko ghoraḥ khaḍgacarmadharastathā sarvāṁgatejasā dīpto mahāmeghopamo balī

—a great, dreadful devourer, bearing sword and shield, blazing with splendor in every limb, mighty, resembling a great storm-cloud.

Verse 9 (padma.2.24.9)

उवाच कश्यपं विप्रमादेशो मम दीयताम् । कस्मादुत्पादितो विप्र भवता कारणं वद

uvāca kaśyapaṁ vipramādeśo mama dīyatām kasmādutpādito vipra bhavatā kāraṇaṁ vada

He said to the brahmin Kashyapa: 'Let my command be given. For what purpose have I been produced by you, O brahmin? Tell me the reason.'

Verse 10 (padma.2.24.10)

तमहं साधयिष्यामि प्रसादात्तव सुव्रत । कश्यप उवाच- अस्या मनोरथं पुत्र पूरयस्व ममैव हि

tamahaṁ sādhayiṣyāmi prasādāttava suvrata kaśyapa uvāca- asyā manorathaṁ putra pūrayasva mamaiva hi

'I shall accomplish it, by your grace, O one of good vows.' Kashyapa said: 'Fulfill this woman's desire, my son, indeed for me—'

Verse 11 (padma.2.24.11)

अदित्यास्त्वं महाप्राज्ञ जहि इंद्रं दुरात्मकम् । निहते देवराजे हि ऐंद्रं पदं प्रभुंक्ष्व च

adityāstvaṁ mahāprājña jahi iṁdraṁ durātmakam nihate devarāje hi aiṁdraṁ padaṁ prabhuṁkṣva ca

—'slay Aditi's son, the evil-souled Indra, O greatly wise one. When the king of the gods has been struck down, enjoy the very station of Indra.'

Verse 12 (padma.2.24.12)

एवं तेन समादिष्टः कश्यपेन महात्मना । वृत्रस्तु उद्यमं चक्रे तस्येंद्रस्य वधाय च

evaṁ tena samādiṣṭaḥ kaśyapena mahātmanā vṛtrastu udyamaṁ cakre tasyeṁdrasya vadhāya ca

Thus instructed by that great soul Kashyapa, Vritra set about the effort to slay that Indra.

Verse 13 (padma.2.24.13)

धनुर्वेदस्य चाभ्यासं स चक्रे पौरुषान्वितः । बलं वीर्यं तथा क्षात्रं तेजो धैर्यसमन्वितम्

dhanurvedasya cābhyāsaṁ sa cakre pauruṣānvitaḥ balaṁ vīryaṁ tathā kṣātraṁ tejo dhairyasamanvitam

He, joined with manly vigor, practiced the science of archery — strength, valor, martial prowess, splendor joined with fortitude.

Verse 14 (padma.2.24.14)

दृष्ट्वा हि तस्य दैत्यस्य सहस्राक्षो भयातुरः । उपायं चिंतितं तस्य वृत्रस्यापि दुरात्मनः

dṛṣṭvā hi tasya daityasya sahasrākṣo bhayāturaḥ upāyaṁ ciṁtitaṁ tasya vṛtrasyāpi durātmanaḥ

Seeing this of that daitya, the thousand-eyed Indra, stricken with fear, pondered a means to deal with that evil-souled Vritra.

Verse 15 (padma.2.24.15)

वधार्थं देवदेवेन समाहूय महामुनीन् । सप्तर्षीन्प्रेषयामास वृत्रं दैत्येश्वरं प्रति

vadhārthaṁ devadevena samāhūya mahāmunīn saptarṣīnpreṣayāmāsa vṛtraṁ daityeśvaraṁ prati

For the sake of his destruction, the god of gods summoned the great sages and sent the seven rishis to that lord of daityas, Vritra.

Verse 16 (padma.2.24.16)

भवंतस्तत्र गच्छंतु यत्र वृत्रः स तिष्ठति । संधिं कुर्वंतु वै तेन सार्द्धं मम मुनीश्वराः

bhavaṁtastatra gacchaṁtu yatra vṛtraḥ sa tiṣṭhati saṁdhiṁ kurvaṁtu vai tena sārddhaṁ mama munīśvarāḥ

—'Go there, all of you, to where Vritra dwells; make a treaty with him on my behalf, O lords of sages.'

Verse 17 (padma.2.24.17)

एवं तेन समादिष्टा मुनयः सप्त ते तदा । वृत्रासुरं ततः प्रोचुः सहस्राक्ष प्रचालिताः

evaṁ tena samādiṣṭā munayaḥ sapta te tadā vṛtrāsuraṁ tataḥ procuḥ sahasrākṣa pracālitāḥ

Thus instructed by him, those seven sages, sent by the thousand-eyed one, then spoke to Vritrasura:

Verse 18 (padma.2.24.18)

सख्यं कर्तुं प्रयच्छेत्स क्रियतां दैत्यसत्तम । ऋषयः सप्ततत्त्वज्ञा ऊचुर्वृत्रं महाबलम्

sakhyaṁ kartuṁ prayacchetsa kriyatāṁ daityasattama ṛṣayaḥ saptatattvajñā ūcurvṛtraṁ mahābalam

—'Let friendship be made, let it be established, O worthy daitya.' The seven sages, knowers of truth, said to the mighty Vritra:

Verse 19 (padma.2.24.19)

सहस्राक्षो महाप्राज्ञो भवता सह सत्तम । मैत्रमिच्छति वै कर्तुं तत्कथं न करोषि किम्

sahasrākṣo mahāprājño bhavatā saha sattama maitramicchati vai kartuṁ tatkathaṁ na karoṣi kim

—'The thousand-eyed one, greatly wise, wishes indeed to make friendship with you, O worthy one; why then do you not do so?'

Verse 20 (padma.2.24.20)

अर्धमैंद्रं पदं वीर सत्वं भुंक्ष्व सुखेन वै । वर्तंत्वर्द्धेन इंद्रस्तु असुरा देवतास्तथा

ardhamaiṁdraṁ padaṁ vīra satvaṁ bhuṁkṣva sukhena vai vartaṁtvarddhena iṁdrastu asurā devatāstathā

'Enjoy in happiness half the station of Indra itself, O hero, and its power too; let Indra rule by half, and the asuras and gods likewise by the other half.'

Verse 21 (padma.2.24.21)

सुखं वर्तंतु ते सर्वे वैरं चैव विसृज्य वै । वृत्र उवाच- यदि सत्येन देवेंद्रो मैत्रमिच्छति सत्तमः

sukhaṁ vartaṁtu te sarve vairaṁ caiva visṛjya vai vṛtra uvāca- yadi satyena deveṁdro maitramicchati sattamaḥ

'Let all of them dwell in happiness, having cast off enmity indeed.' Vritra said: 'If the king of the gods, that worthy one, truly desires friendship—'

Verse 22 (padma.2.24.22)

सत्यमाश्रित्य चैवाहं करिष्ये नात्र संशयः । छद्म चैवं पुरस्कृत्य इंद्रो द्रोहं समाचरेत्

satyamāśritya caivāhaṁ kariṣye nātra saṁśayaḥ chadma caivaṁ puraskṛtya iṁdro drohaṁ samācaret

—'then, resting upon truth, I too shall do so, no doubt of it. But if, putting forward this deceit, Indra should commit treachery—'

Verse 23 (padma.2.24.23)

तदा किं क्रियते विप्रा इत्यर्थे प्रत्ययं हि किम् । ऋषयस्त्विंद्रमाचख्युरित्यर्थं प्रत्ययं वद

tadā kiṁ kriyate viprā ityarthe pratyayaṁ hi kim ṛṣayastviṁdramācakhyurityarthaṁ pratyayaṁ vada

—'what then is to be done, O brahmins? What assurance is there for this?' The sages then went and told Indra: 'Declare your assurance on this matter.'

Verse 24 (padma.2.24.24)

तन्नस्त्वं सत्यतां ब्रूहि यदि सख्यमिहेच्छसि । इंद्र उवाच- यद्यऽसत्येन वर्तामि भवद्भिः सह छद्मना

tannastvaṁ satyatāṁ brūhi yadi sakhyamihecchasi iṁdra uvāca- yadya'satyena vartāmi bhavadbhiḥ saha chadmanā

'Declare to us your truthfulness, if you desire friendship here.' Indra said: 'If I act with falsehood, with deceit, toward you—'

Verse 25 (padma.2.24.25)

ब्रह्महत्यादिकैः पापैर्लिप्येहं नात्र संशयः । छद्म चैवं पुरस्कृत्य इंद्रो द्रोहं समाचरेत्

brahmahatyādikaiḥ pāpairlipyehaṁ nātra saṁśayaḥ chadma caivaṁ puraskṛtya iṁdro drohaṁ samācaret

—'let me be tainted with the sin of brahmin-slaughter and the rest, no doubt of it. And should Indra, putting forward this deceit, commit treachery—'

Verse 26 (padma.2.24.26)

ब्रह्महत्यादिकैः पापैर्लिप्येहं नात्र संशयः । इत्युवाच महाप्राज्ञ त्वामेवं स पुरंदरः

brahmahatyādikaiḥ pāpairlipyehaṁ nātra saṁśayaḥ ityuvāca mahāprājña tvāmevaṁ sa puraṁdaraḥ

—'let me be tainted with the sin of brahmin-slaughter and the rest, no doubt of it.' Thus, O greatly wise one, did that Purandara himself speak to you—

Verse 27 (padma.2.24.27)

एतेन प्रत्ययेनापि सख्यं कुरु महामते । वृत्र उवाच- भवतां शिष्टमार्गेण सत्येनानेन तस्य च

etena pratyayenāpi sakhyaṁ kuru mahāmate vṛtra uvāca- bhavatāṁ śiṣṭamārgeṇa satyenānena tasya ca

—'with this very assurance, make friendship, O great-minded one.' Vritra said: 'By your own righteous way, and by this truth of his—'

Verse 28 (padma.2.24.28)

मैत्रमेवं करिष्यामि तेन सार्द्धं द्विजोत्तमाः । वृत्रमिंद्रस्यसंस्थानं नीतं ब्राह्मणपुङ्गवैः

maitramevaṁ kariṣyāmi tena sārddhaṁ dvijottamāḥ vṛtramiṁdrasyasaṁsthānaṁ nītaṁ brāhmaṇapuṁgavaiḥ

—'I shall indeed make friendship with him, O best of brahmins.' Vritra was led to Indra's own abode by those bulls among brahmins.

Verse 29 (padma.2.24.29)

इन्द्रस्तमागतं दृष्ट्वा वृत्रं मित्रार्थमुद्यतः । सिंहासनात्समुत्थाय अर्घमादाय सत्वरः

indrastamāgataṁ dṛṣṭvā vṛtraṁ mitrārthamudyataḥ siṁhāsanātsamutthāya arghamādāya satvaraḥ

Indra, seeing Vritra arrive, ready for friendship, rose at once from his throne and quickly took up the offering of welcome—

Verse 30 (padma.2.24.30)

ददौ तस्मै स धर्मात्मा वृत्राय द्विजसत्तम । अर्धं भुंक्ष्व महाप्राज्ञ ऐंद्रमेतन्महत्पदम्

dadau tasmai sa dharmātmā vṛtrāya dvijasattama ardhaṁ bhuṁkṣva mahāprājña aiṁdrametanmahatpadam

—and gave it to Vritra, that righteous soul, O worthy brahmin: 'Enjoy half of this, O greatly wise one, this great station of Indra.'

Verse 31 (padma.2.24.31)

वर्तितव्यं सुखेनापि आवाभ्यां दैत्यसत्तम । एवं विश्वासयन्दैत्यं वृत्र मैत्रेण वै तदा

vartitavyaṁ sukhenāpi āvābhyāṁ daityasattama evaṁ viśvāsayandaityaṁ vṛtra maitreṇa vai tadā

'Let us both, O worthy daitya, dwell in happiness.' Thus, with friendship, he then reassured the daitya Vritra.

Verse 32 (padma.2.24.32)

गतेषु तेषु विप्रेषु स्वस्थानं द्विजसत्तम । छिद्रं पश्यति दुष्टात्मा वृत्रस्यापि सदैव हि

gateṣu teṣu vipreṣu svasthānaṁ dvijasattama chidraṁ paśyati duṣṭātmā vṛtrasyāpi sadaiva hi

When those brahmins had gone to their own abode, O worthy brahmin, that wicked-souled one ever watched for a weakness in Vritra indeed.

Verse 33 (padma.2.24.33)

सावधानत्वमिंद्रोपि दिवारात्रौ प्रचिंतयेत् । तस्यच्छिद्रं न पश्येत वृत्रस्यापि महात्मनः

sāvadhānatvamiṁdropi divārātrau praciṁtayet tasyacchidraṁ na paśyeta vṛtrasyāpi mahātmanaḥ

Indra too remained watchful day and night, pondering constantly; yet he could find no weakness in that great soul Vritra.

Verse 34 (padma.2.24.34)

उपायं चिंतयामास तस्यैव वधहेतवे । रंभा संप्रेषिता तेन मोहयस्व महासुरम्

upāyaṁ ciṁtayāmāsa tasyaiva vadhahetave raṁbhā saṁpreṣitā tena mohayasva mahāsuram

He pondered a means for his very destruction; Rambha was then sent by him: 'Delude that great asura.'

Verse 35 (padma.2.24.35)

येनकेनाप्युपायेन यथा हत्वा लभे सुखम् । तथा कुरुष्व कल्याणि संमोहाय सुरद्विषः

yenakenāpyupāyena yathā hatvā labhe sukham tathā kuruṣva kalyāṇi saṁmohāya suradviṣaḥ

'By whatever means, so that, having slain him, I may find peace — do this, O auspicious one, for the bewitching of that enemy of the gods.'

Verse 36 (padma.2.24.36)

वनं पुण्यं महादिव्यं पुण्यपादपसेवितम् । बहुवृक्षफलोपेतं मृगपक्षिसमाकुलम्

vanaṁ puṇyaṁ mahādivyaṁ puṇyapādapasevitam bahuvṛkṣaphalopetaṁ mṛgapakṣisamākulam

Rambha went to a meritorious, greatly divine forest, tended by sacred trees, filled with many fruit-bearing trees, thronged with deer and birds—

Verse 37 (padma.2.24.37)

विमानमंदिरैर्दिव्यैः सर्वत्र परिशोभितम् । दिव्यगंधर्वसंगीतं भ्रमराकुलितं सदा

vimānamaṁdirairdivyaiḥ sarvatra pariśobhitam divyagaṁdharvasaṁgītaṁ bhramarākulitaṁ sadā

—resplendent everywhere with divine palaces and aerial mansions, filled with the divine song of gandharvas, ever thronged with bees—

Verse 38 (padma.2.24.38)

कोकिलानां रुतैः पुण्यैः सर्वत्र मधुरायतैः । शिखिसारंगनादैश्च सर्वत्र सुसमाकुलम्

kokilānāṁ rutaiḥ puṇyaiḥ sarvatra madhurāyataiḥ śikhisāraṁganādaiśca sarvatra susamākulam

—filled everywhere with the sacred, sweet-echoing calls of cuckoos, and everywhere thronged with the cries of peacocks and deer—

Verse 39 (padma.2.24.39)

दिव्यैस्तु चंदनैर्वृक्षैः सर्वत्र समलंकृतम् । वापीकुंडतडागैश्च जलपूर्णैर्मनोहरैः

divyaistu caṁdanairvṛkṣaiḥ sarvatra samalaṁkṛtam vāpīkuṁḍataḍāgaiśca jalapūrṇairmanoharaiḥ

—everywhere adorned with divine sandal trees, and with lovely, water-filled wells, pools, and lakes—

Verse 40 (padma.2.24.40)

कमलैः शतपत्रैश्च पुष्पितैः समलंकृतम् । देवगंधर्वसंसिद्धैश्चारणैश्चैव किन्नरैः

kamalaiḥ śatapatraiśca puṣpitaiḥ samalaṁkṛtam devagaṁdharvasaṁsiddhaiścāraṇaiścaiva kinnaraiḥ

—adorned with blooming lotuses of a hundred petals; thronged with gods, gandharvas, siddhas, charanas, and kinnaras—

Verse 41 (padma.2.24.41)

मुनिभिः शुशुभे दिव्यैर्दिव्योद्यानवरेण च । अप्सरोगणसंकीर्णं नानाकौतुकमंगलैः

munibhiḥ śuśubhe divyairdivyodyānavareṇa ca apsarogaṇasaṁkīrṇaṁ nānākautukamaṁgalaiḥ

—it shone with divine sages and with that excellent divine garden, Nandana; thronged with hosts of apsarases, with manifold wonders and auspicious things—

Verse 42 (padma.2.24.42)

हेमप्रासादसंबाधं दंडच्छत्रैश्च चामरैः । कलशैश्च पताकाभिः सर्वत्रसमलंकृतम्

hemaprāsādasaṁbādhaṁ daṁḍacchatraiśca cāmaraiḥ kalaśaiśca patākābhiḥ sarvatrasamalaṁkṛtam

—crowded with golden palaces, adorned everywhere with staffs, parasols, chowries, vessels, and banners—

Verse 43 (padma.2.24.43)

वेदध्वनिसमाकीर्णं गीतध्वनिसमाकुलम् । एवं नंदनमासाद्य सा रंभा चारुहासिनी

vedadhvanisamākīrṇaṁ gītadhvanisamākulam evaṁ naṁdanamāsādya sā raṁbhā cāruhāsinī

—filled with the sound of Vedic recitation, thronged with the sound of song. Having reached this Nandana grove thus, that Rambha, of lovely smile—

Verse 44 (padma.2.24.44)

अप्सरोभिः समं तत्र क्रीडत्येवं विलासिनी । सूत उवाच- एकदा तु स वृत्रो वै कालाकृष्टो गतो वनम्

apsarobhiḥ samaṁ tatra krīḍatyevaṁ vilāsinī sūta uvāca- ekadā tu sa vṛtro vai kālākṛṣṭo gato vanam

—played there together with the apsarases, that playful one. Suta said: One day, Vritra, drawn there by fate, went to that forest—

Verse 45 (padma.2.24.45)

कतिभिर्दानवैः सार्द्धं मुदया परया युतः । अलक्ष्ये भ्रमते पार्श्वं तस्यैव च महात्मनः

katibhirdānavaiḥ sārddhaṁ mudayā parayā yutaḥ alakṣye bhramate pārśvaṁ tasyaiva ca mahātmanaḥ

—together with a few danavas, filled with supreme joy; wandering unseen near the side of that great soul—

Verse 46 (padma.2.24.46)

देवराजोपि विप्रेंद्रश्छिद्रान्वेषी द्विषां किल । स हि वृत्रो महाप्राज्ञो विश्वस्तः सर्वकर्मसु

devarājopi vipreṁdraśchidrānveṣī dviṣāṁ kila sa hi vṛtro mahāprājño viśvastaḥ sarvakarmasu

—the king of the gods too, O foremost of brahmins, was ever a seeker of weakness in his enemies. But that greatly wise Vritra remained trusting in every dealing—

Verse 47 (padma.2.24.47)

इंद्रं मित्रं परं जानन्भयं चक्रे न तस्य सः । भ्रममाणो वनं पश्येत्सर्वत्र परमं शुभम्

iṁdraṁ mitraṁ paraṁ jānanbhayaṁ cakre na tasya saḥ bhramamāṇo vanaṁ paśyetsarvatra paramaṁ śubham

—knowing Indra as his own true friend, he felt no fear of him. Wandering thus, he beheld the forest, supremely auspicious everywhere—

Verse 48 (padma.2.24.48)

सुरम्यं कौतुकवनं वनितागणसंकुलम् । चंदनस्यापि वृक्षस्य छायां शीतां सुपुण्यदाम्

suramyaṁ kautukavanaṁ vanitāgaṇasaṁkulam caṁdanasyāpi vṛkṣasya chāyāṁ śītāṁ supuṇyadām

—most delightful, a forest of wonders, thronged with hosts of women; and the cool, greatly meritorious shade of a sandal tree—

Verse 49 (padma.2.24.49)

समाश्रित्य विशालाक्षी रंभा तत्र प्रदीव्यति । सखीभिस्तु महाभागा दोलारूढा यशस्विनी

samāśritya viśālākṣī raṁbhā tatra pradīvyati sakhībhistu mahābhāgā dolārūḍhā yaśasvinī

—taking refuge under which, that wide-eyed Rambha sported there; that greatly fortunate, renowned one, mounted on a swing together with her companions—

Verse 50 (padma.2.24.50)

गायते सुस्वरं गीतं सर्वविश्वप्रमोहनम् । तत्र वृत्रः समायातः कामाकुलितमानसः

gāyate susvaraṁ gītaṁ sarvaviśvapramohanam tatra vṛtraḥ samāyātaḥ kāmākulitamānasaḥ

—sang a sweet song that bewitched the whole universe. There Vritra came, his mind agitated with desire—

Verse 51 (padma.2.24.51)

दोलारूढां समालोक्य रंभां चारुसुलोचनाम्

dolārūḍhāṁ samālokya raṁbhāṁ cārusulocanām

—beholding Rambha, mounted on the swing, that lovely, fine-eyed one.