Passage 1
श्रीराम उवाच— हरिणासुरमायासु क्षिप्तासु स्वेन तेजसा। सुराः संलब्धचैतन्या आतेनुः स्वस्वविक्रमम्॥१॥
Śrī Rāma said: When Hari had dispelled the Asuras' illusions by his own radiance, the gods recovered their awareness and displayed their respective valor.
Passage 2
बभूवुः संहताः सर्वे शक्रवायुपुरोगमाः। निजघ्नुरसुरानीकं हरिणा प्रतिबोधिताः॥२॥
Rallied under Indra and Vāyu and awakened by Hari, they struck the Asura host.
Passage 3
बलिमुद्दिश्य कुलिशं सुरराडुदतोलयत्। तदा हाहाकृतमभूद्दैत्यसैन्यं समन्ततः॥३॥
The king of the gods raised his thunderbolt against Bali, and cries of alarm filled the Daitya army.
Passage 4
देवेन्द्रः कुलिशं बिभ्रदाश्वस्तो हरिणा रणे। उवाच बलिमुद्दिश्य बहुविक्रान्तपूर्वकम्॥४॥
Reassured by Hari and bearing the thunderbolt, Indra addressed Bali with great confidence in his prowess.
Passage 5
आक्षिप्य त्वामिदमहं वच्मि शत्रो यथार्थवत्। अहं ते मायया मूढ महामायाधिपे हरौ॥५॥
“Enemy, I reproach you and speak the truth: while Hari, Lord of the great illusion, is present, your magic cannot truly delude me.
Passage 6
ये बाला विनिबद्धाक्षास्तान् विजित्यैन्द्रजालिकः। सर्वस्वमाहरत्येव भवान् मूढ स्वमायया॥६॥
“Like a conjurer, fool, you defeat only childish people whose eyes are covered and then steal everything through your illusion.
Passage 7
आरुरुक्षसि किं मूढ माययैवानया दिवम्। एतां विधूय सहसा त्वामधः पातयाम्यहम्॥७॥
“Do you hope to climb heaven with this illusion? I shall sweep it away and cast you down at once.
Passage 8
दुष्टां त्वमति दुष्टात्मन् कूटमायामुपाश्रितः। तस्य तेऽहं हरिष्यामि वज्रेणात्युत्तमं शिरः॥८॥
“Wicked soul, you have resorted to corrupt deceit; with my thunderbolt I shall take your proud head.
Passage 9
अनेकपर्वणो वज्रान्मम भीतास्तवासुराः। सहसा विद्रविष्यन्ति फेरुतुल्या दिशो दश॥९॥
“Frightened by my many-jointed thunderbolt, your Asuras will suddenly scatter like jackals through the ten directions.”
Passage 10
दुरुक्तैरवमिन्द्रस्य ताडितोऽतीव मर्मणि। जगादासुरराट् क्रुद्धः पूर्वविक्रमहृत्धीः॥१०॥
Pierced deeply by Indra's insulting words, the angry Asura king, his judgment robbed by former pride, replied.
Passage 11
भवान् यन्मां पराभूय विजेष्यति रणाङ्गणे। किं चित्रं तर्हि देवेन्द्र ह्येकः स्याद् युध्यतो मृधे॥११॥
“What wonder would there be, Indra, if you defeat me here? In battle only one of two combatants can prevail.
Passage 12
एकतो विजयः कीर्तिरन्यतश्चाजयो मृतिः। एतद्दैवपराधीनं तत्र हृष्यसि किं मुधा॥१२॥
“On one side lie victory and fame, on the other defeat and death; all depend on destiny, so why rejoice vainly?
Passage 13
न स्वायत्तमिदं पुंसां जयो वापि पराजयः। तत्राभिमतिमांस्त्वं चेन्मूढ एव न संशयः॥१३॥
“Victory and defeat are not under human control. If you are proud of either, you are certainly a fool.
Passage 14
सत्यं पराजितोऽस्माभिर्यदि मायेति मन्यसे। तर्हि त्वया मृतं पीतं सापि माया न किं भवेत्॥१४॥
“If you believe we were truly defeated because it was illusion, then might not the nectar you drank while dead also be illusion?
Passage 15
असुरा वारुणीं पीत्वा मामकाः समरोद्धताः। सुधापानमदं सद्यो हरिष्यन्त्यधुनैव वः॥१५॥
“My battle-furious Asuras have drunk Vāruṇī; they will immediately strip away your pride in drinking nectar.
Passage 16
महामायाविना युद्धे विक्रान्तं यदि विष्णुना। ध्रुवं तर्हि जयस्तस्य त्वं तु नूनं विनिर्जितः॥१६॥
“If the great magician Viṣṇu displayed valor in battle, victory is surely his; you yourself were certainly defeated.
Passage 17
अलक्षितगतिस्थानवासेन हरिणा वयम्। जिता अपि प्रतिष्ठध्ववीर्याः किं खलु कुर्महे॥१७॥
“Hari's course, position, and dwelling cannot be perceived. Though defeated by him, our valor remains; what else could we do?
Passage 18
त्वां तु जेतुं वयं क्षिप्त्वा नाराचान् वीरघातिनः। लज्जामहे सुरश्रेष्ठ वराकं शरणातुरम्॥१८॥
“We would be ashamed to shoot warrior-killing arrows merely to defeat you, a wretch anxiously dependent on another's refuge.
Passage 19
तथाप्यरुन्तुदान्येवं ब्रुवाणः समराङ्गणे। नोपेक्ष्योऽसि महाभीरो मया त्वं कुलिशं वहन्॥१९॥
“Even so, speaking such piercing words on the battlefield, you cannot be ignored by me, great coward, though you bear the thunderbolt.”
Passage 20
इति विद्ध्वा वचोबाणैर्विरोचनसुतो बली। बाणैस्तं ताडयामास समरे मर्मभेदिभिः॥२०॥
Having wounded Indra with arrows of speech, Virocana's son Bali struck him with arrows that pierced vital points.
Passage 21
तदमृष्यन् सुरपतिः कुलिशं प्राहिणोद् द्विषे। स तेन प्रहितो भूमौ निपपात सवाहनः॥२१॥
Unable to bear it, Indra hurled the thunderbolt at his foe, and Bali fell to earth with his mount. Jambha Enters the Battle
Passage 22
बलिं निपतितं वीक्ष्य प्रियं सुहृदमात्मनः। जम्भासुरो महावीर इन्द्रं योद्धुमुपाययौ॥२२॥
Seeing his dear friend Bali fallen, the mighty Jambhāsura advanced to fight Indra.
Passage 23
जम्भेन गदयाशक्रः प्रहृतो रणमूर्धनि। ऐरावतश्च बलिना सुभृशं तीव्रवेगया॥२३॥
Jambha struck Indra with his mace at the battlefront and violently struck Airāvata with tremendous force.
Passage 24
ऐरावतस्तं प्रहारं न सोढुमशकत्तमाम्। जानुभ्यामवनीं प्राप सुभूरिरुधिरोक्षितः॥२४॥
Airāvata could not endure the blow; drenched in abundant blood, he sank to his knees.
Passage 25
गजेन्द्रे मूर्च्छितप्राये महासत्त्वे सुरेश्वरः। रथं मातलिनानीतमारुहच्छनकैर्मृधे॥२५॥
As the great elephant nearly fainted, Indra slowly mounted the chariot brought by Mātali.
Passage 26
सुवर्णवर्णैस्तुरगैः समन्वितं रथं समारुह्य सुदीर्घनिःस्वनम्। रणाङ्गणे संशुशुभे सुराधिपो घनं यथा प्रावृषि वातेरितम्॥२६॥
Mounted on the loudly rumbling chariot drawn by golden horses, Indra shone like a rain cloud driven by wind.
Passage 27
अमृष्यन् मातलिं जम्भः शूलेन ज्वलितार्चिषा। जघान प्रहसन्नुच्चैः साधु रे सुरसारथे॥२७॥
Unable to tolerate Mātali, Jambha struck him with a blazing spear, laughing and crying, “Well done, charioteer of the gods!”
Passage 28
शूलेन प्रहतस्तेन मातलिर्विह्वलोऽभवत्। तावत्सुरेन्द्रो जम्भस्य कुलिशेनाहरच्छिरः॥२८॥
Mātali reeled from the spear wound, while Indra severed Jambha's head with the thunderbolt.
Passage 29
इन्द्रेण निहते जम्भे महाभीमपराक्रमे। जिता इति सुपर्वाणः प्रहर्षमतुलं ययुः॥२९॥
When Indra slew the exceedingly formidable Jambha, the gods cried “Victory!” and rejoiced beyond measure.
Passage 30
आययुस्तदमृष्यन्तः कर्म युद्धे विडौजसः। तत्सजातीयनमुचिबलपाका महासुराः॥३०॥
Unable to bear Indra's deed, Jambha's kinsmen Namuci, Bala, and Pāka advanced against him.
Passage 31
ते छादयन्तो देवानां वाहिनीं निशितैः शरैः। घना इव रणे रेजुर्धारासम्पातवर्षिणः॥३१॥
Covering the divine army with sharp arrows, they resembled rain clouds pouring torrents in battle.
Passage 32
क्षणाददृश्यतां नीताः सुरसेनाः शितैः शरैः। तं दृष्ट्वा प्रसरं चक्रुरसुराः सुमहोद्धताः॥३२॥
Within moments the divine army vanished beneath sharp arrows, and the greatly exultant Asuras pressed forward.
Passage 33
बलेन पीडिता बाणैः सह दुर्गा हरेः सुराः। त्रस्ताभवन् रथमुत्सृज्य गन्तुकामा रणाङ्गणात्॥३३॥
Tormented by Bala's arrows, the gods, even Hari's difficult-to-conquer followers, grew afraid and wished to abandon their chariots and flee.
Passage 34
पाको मातलिमाविध्य शरैः सन्ततपर्वभिः। रथं च विव्यधेऽत्यर्थं महेन्द्रस्य रुषोद्धतः॥३४॥
Furious Pāka pierced Mātali with jointed arrows and repeatedly struck Indra's chariot.
Passage 35
नमुचिश्चातुलबलो जघान शरवर्षेण। रथिनं च रथं चैव सारथिं चैव मातलिम्॥३५॥
Namuci, of unequaled strength, showered arrows on Indra, his chariot, and the charioteer Mātali.
Passage 36
ततोऽसुराः प्रहर्षेण गर्जन्तो वासवं रणे। अवाकिरन् बाणवर्षैस्तस्मिन्नवसरे जवात्॥३६॥
The Asuras roared joyfully and swiftly covered Indra with showers of arrows.
Passage 37
अलक्ष्यतामुपगमितेऽसुरेषुभिः पुरन्दरे सपदि रणे मरुद्गणाः। विचुक्रुशुर्व्यपगतधैर्यवृत्तयस्तरोः खगा इव सरिदोघसम्प्लुते॥३७॥
When Indra disappeared beneath Asura arrows, the Maruts lost courage and cried out like birds in a tree overwhelmed by a river's flood.
Passage 38
ततो विनिर्धूय शरौघपञ्जरं निजैः शरैर्वृत्रहरो विनिर्ययौ। रविर्हिमानीमिव घृष्णिभिर्निजैः प्रकाशयामास दिशश्च रोदसी॥३८॥
Indra burst from the cage of arrows with shafts of his own, like the sun breaking through mist, illuminating heaven, earth, and the directions.
Passage 39
स विलोक्य निजां सेनामसुरैर्विनिपीडिताम्। इवाविष्टाशयोऽगृह्णाच्छत्रुसंहरणं पविम्॥३९॥
Seeing his army crushed by Asuras, he seized the enemy-destroying thunderbolt as though possessed by wrath.
Passage 40
अवधीद्वासवस्तेन बलं पाकं च दानवम्। कबन्धीकृत्य समरे कुर्वन् दैत्यबले भयम्॥४०॥
Indra killed the Dānavas Bala and Pāka, leaving headless trunks and spreading terror through the Daitya host. Namuci's Protection
Passage 41
बलपाकौ हतौ दृष्ट्वा शक्रेण नमुचिर्बली। शोकामर्षरुषाविष्टो जिहीर्षुस्तमुपाययौ॥४१॥
Seeing Bala and Pāka slain by Indra, mighty Namuci, filled with grief, resentment, and rage, approached intending to kill him.
Passage 42
स वज्रकठिनं शूलं दोर्भ्यामादाय वज्रिणे। प्रजिघाय हतोऽसीति गर्जमानो रणाङ्गणे॥४२॥
Taking in both hands a spear hard as a thunderbolt, he hurled it at Indra, roaring, “You are dead!”
Passage 43
इन्द्रः सहस्रशश्चक्रे तस्य शूलं तदापतत्। निजबाणैस्तीव्रवेगैस्तं च वज्रेण विव्यधे॥४३॥
Indra cut the incoming spear into a thousand pieces with swift arrows, then struck Namuci with the thunderbolt.
Passage 44
वृत्रभिद्वज्रघातेन नमुचिस्ताडितोऽपि सन्। न विव्यथे नापनीतस्त्यङ्मात्रश्चित्रमास तत्॥४४॥
Though struck by the thunderbolt that killed Vṛtra, Namuci neither suffered nor moved even a hair's breadth—an astonishing event.
Passage 45
शशोच त्रिदशाधीशो वज्रेऽपि सुपराहते। अहोऽत्यद्भुतमेवेदं भूतं नाद्यापि मे क्वचित्॥४५॥
Indra lamented although the thunderbolt had struck perfectly: “Never before have I encountered anything so astonishing.
Passage 46
वृत्रो येन विदारितोऽसुखरस्त्वाष्ट्रं परं यत्तपः सारं भूत्वाखिलास्तथासुरवराः शस्त्रास्त्रकोट्यक्षताः। अद्रीणामपि पक्षमेदनविधौ विक्रान्तपूर्वं च यत् तद्वज्रं नमुचेस्त्वचं दलयितुं कुण्ठीबभूवाद्भुतम्॥४६॥
“This thunderbolt tore apart Vṛtra, embodiment of Tvaṣṭṛ's supreme austerity, destroyed countless armed Asura chiefs, and cut mountains' wings; astonishingly, it is now too blunt to split Namuci's skin.
Passage 47
एतावत्यसुरेऽल्पवर्चसि मया मुक्तं वृथैवाभवत् त्वग्लोमादिकमप्यपाकुरुत नो यत्तन्मुधावीर्यकम्। वज्रं मे प्रतिरुद्धवीर्यमथवा देवेन कुण्ठीकृतं किं तद्दण्डसमं वृथैव पुनरादास्येऽस्थि सत्यं मुनेः॥४७॥
“Released against this insignificant Asura, it could not remove even skin or hair; its power is checked or blunted by providence. Why should I again take up this useless rod made from the truthful sage's bone?”
Passage 48
इति शोकभराविष्टे शक्रे नारायणोऽब्रवीत्। मा विषीदेद्र नो वध्य आर्द्रैः शुष्कैरयं रिपुः॥४८॥
As Indra sank into grief, Nārāyaṇa said, “Do not despair. This enemy cannot be killed by anything wet or dry.
Passage 49
लब्धो हि पूर्वमेतेन द्विषा ते देवतावरः। न केवलादार्द्रशुष्काभ्यां तव मृत्युर्भवेदिति॥४९॥
“Your foe formerly obtained the divine boon that his death would come from neither wet nor dry substances.
Passage 50
उपायान्तरमेवातश्चिन्तनीयं वधे रिपोः। इति श्रुत्वा सुनासीरश्चिरं दध्यौ समाहितः॥५०॥
“Therefore another means of killing him must be devised.” Hearing this, Indra reflected intently for a long time.
Passage 51
नार्द्रं नैकान्ततः शुष्कं जले फेनं हि तादृशम्। रसस्यानुपलम्भाद्धि नार्द्रं प्रत्यक्षतो मतम्॥५१॥
Foam upon water is neither wet nor entirely dry: because no liquid is perceived in it, it is not directly regarded as wet.
Passage 52
अथो जलविकारत्वान्न शुष्कमनुमीयते। ततस्तेनावधीच्छत्रुमिन्द्रो देवगणप्रभुः॥५२॥
Yet because it is a transformation of water, it cannot be inferred to be dry. Indra therefore killed his enemy with foam.
Passage 53
तमृषयः परितः खलु तुष्टुवुः सुरतरुप्रसवैः समवाकिरन्। प्रत्यक्षो जगुरप्सरसां प्रियाः ननृतुरप्सरसश्च मुदान्विताः॥५३॥
Sages praised Indra on every side and showered him with heavenly blossoms; Gandharvas sang and joyful Apsarases danced.
Passage 54
हाहाहूहूश्चापि गन्धर्वमुख्यौ विश्वावसुश्चापि परावसुस्तम्। उच्चैः शब्दैः शृण्वतां निर्जराणां जगुः श्लोक्यं सर्वदेवौघमुरुप्रम्॥५४॥
The foremost Gandharvas Hāhā, Hūhū, Viśvāvasu, and Parāvasu loudly sang his praiseworthy deed before the assembled gods. Nārada Ends the Battle
Passage 55
इतरेऽपि सुरश्रेष्ठाः पाश्यग्निमरुदादयः। जघ्नुः शत्रुगणान् संख्ये स्वस्वायुधमहौजसा॥५५॥
Varuṇa, Agni, the Maruts, and other leading gods slew hosts of enemies with the might of their respective weapons.
Passage 56
सुधापानसुसम्पन्नैर्देवैः संख्ये महौजितैः। दैत्यानां दानवानां च नितरां कदनं कृतम्॥५६॥
Empowered by drinking nectar, the mighty gods inflicted a terrible slaughter on the Daityas and Dānavas.
Passage 57
अथ बलिप्रमुखासुरवैष्णवानवितुमञ्जभवो विबुधांस्तदा। व्यरमयत्समरादतिरोषणान् प्रहितनारदवक्त्रनिसृष्टगीः॥५७॥
To protect the Asuras led by Bali who were devotees of Viṣṇu, Brahmā sent Nārada with his command and stopped the wrathful gods from battle.
Passage 58
ततस्तान् ब्रह्मणाऽऽज्ञप्तो नारदो मुनिपुङ्गवः। इदमाह सुसंरब्धान् दैत्यानां कदनं प्रति॥५८॥
Commanded by Brahmā, the eminent sage Nārada addressed those fiercely intent on destroying the Daityas.
Passage 59
अहो सुरा हृतपदेर्भवद्भिः पीतामृतैर्विष्णुभुजाश्रयेण। प्राप्ता विनष्टापि पुनर्निजश्रीरतः परं किं कलहेन दैत्यैः॥५९॥
“Gods, though you lost your stations, by drinking nectar under Viṣṇu's protection you recovered your vanished prosperity. What further purpose is served by fighting the Daityas?
Passage 60
रणे जितास्तेऽपि महौजितो द्विषस्तस्यैव देवस्य हरेर्भुजौजसा। तमेव सुश्लोकवरेण्यमुच्चकैर्गिरानिशं गायत भूरिसौहृदाः॥६०॥
“Your powerful enemies were conquered only by the strength of Hari's arm. Sing that praiseworthy Lord loudly and constantly with loving hearts.
Passage 61
अतः परं किं रोषेण संरम्भेणाधिकेन च। तमेव स्वस्वलोकस्थाः उच्चैर्यजत गायत॥६१॥
“What need is there for more anger and violence? Return to your worlds and worship and sing him aloud.”
Passage 62
ब्रह्मणो वचनादित्थं विनिवारितमन्यवः। निःसंरम्भाः सुरा जग्मुः स्वं स्वं लोकमनामयाः॥६२॥
Their wrath checked by Brahmā's command, the gods peacefully returned unharmed to their respective worlds.
Passage 63
स्वस्वानुचरसंदोहैर्गीयमाना जयोजिताः। स्वस्वलोकसमासीनाः शमेधाञ्चक्रिरे सुराः॥६३॥
Praised as victorious by their attendants, the gods settled in their worlds and established peace.
Passage 64
तस्मिन् रणेऽवशिष्टा ये दैत्यदानवपुङ्गवाः। बलिं राजानमादाय ते ययुः स्वं स्वमालयम्॥६४॥
The surviving foremost Daityas and Dānavas took King Bali and departed for their homes.
Passage 65
केऽप्यधोभुवनं याताः केऽपि सागरमध्यतः। केऽपि चास्तगिरिं जग्मुः परे मेरुं च दक्षिणम्॥६५॥
Some went to the lower worlds, some into the ocean, some to Mount Asta, and others south of Meru.
Passage 66
तान् निर्भिन्नवपुषो ग्रीवाकुञ्चशेषितान्। शुक्रः संजीवयामास पुनः संजीविनीबलात्॥६६॥
By the power of Sañjīvanī, Śukra revived those whose bodies were shattered and whose necks alone remained.
Passage 67
बलिर्भगवतो भक्तः श्रीपतेर्जनकात्मजे। शुक्रोपचरिताशेषदेवदिव्यायुधक्षतः॥६७॥
O daughter of Janaka, Bali was a devotee of the Lord, Śrī's husband; Śukra treated every wound made by the gods' divine weapons.
Passage 68
देवैः पराभूततमोऽपि विष्णोः स्मरन् यशस्तन्त्रिजगत्पवित्रम्। ज्ञानेन नात्यन्तमखिद्यतान्तर्भक्तप्ररोहामृतपूरमग्नः॥६८॥
Though utterly defeated by the gods, Bali remembered Viṣṇu's glory, which purifies the three worlds; immersed in the nectar flooding from devotion's growth, he did not grieve deeply. Fruit of Hearing the Ocean Churning
Passage 69
इत्थं य एतन्मथनं पयोधेः शृणोति लक्ष्म्या अपि तत्सखीनाम्। समुद्भवं पुण्यमथामृतस्य तस्य क्षयं यात्यघसंघशैलः॥६९॥
Whoever hears this holy account of the ocean's churning, the emergence of Lakṣmī and her companions, and the nectar, sees the mountain of accumulated sin destroyed.
Passage 70
पुण्यानि नारायणदेवकीर्तिगाथाश्रयाणीन्दुमुखीदृशानि। कर्माणि लोकोऽनुसवं हि शृण्वन् गायन् स्मरंश्चाभ्युदयं प्रयाति॥७०॥
By repeatedly hearing, singing, and remembering these sacred deeds—the moon-faced narratives that bear Lord Nārāyaṇa's fame—a person attains flourishing good fortune.