Fourth Skandha · Chapter 14
Sourceव्यास उवाच ।। इति संचिंत्य मनसा तानुवाच हसन्निव ।। वंचिता मत्स्वरूपेण दैत्याः किं गुरुणा किल ।।१।। अहं काव्यो गुरुश्चाऽयं देवकार्यप्रसादकः ।। अनेन वंचिता यूयं मद्याज्या नात्र संशयः ।। २ ।। मा श्रद्धध्वं वचोऽस्याऽऽर्या दाभिकोऽयं मदा कृतिः ।। अनुगच्छत मां याज्यास्त्यजतैनं बृहस्पतिम् ।। ३ ।। इत्याकर्ण्य वचस्तस्य दृष्ट्वा तौ सदृशौ पुनः ।। विस्मयं परमं जग्मुः काव्योऽयमिति निश्चिताः ।। ४ ।। स तान्वीक्ष्य सुसंभ्रातान्गुरुर्वाक्यमुवाच ह ।। गुरुर्वो वंचयत्येव मद्रूपोऽयं बृहस्पतिः ।। ५ ।। प्राप्तो वंचयितुं युष्मान्देवकार्यार्थसिद्धये ।। मा विश्वासं वचस्यस्य कुरुध्वं दैत्यसत्तमाः ।। ६ ।। प्राप्ता विद्या मया शंभोर्युष्मानध्याप यामि ताम् ।। देवेभ्यो विजयं नूनं करिष्यामि न संशयः ।। ७ ।। इति श्रुत्वा गुरोर्वाक्यं काव्यं रूपधरस्य ते ।। निश्वासं परमं जग्मुः काव्योऽयमिति निश्चयात्।। ८ ।। काव्येन बहुधा तत्र बोधिताः किल दानवाः ।। बुबुधुर्न गुरोर्मायामोहिताः काल पर्ययात् ।। ९ ।। एवं ते निश्चयं कृत्वा ततो भार्गवमब्रुवन् ।। अयं गुरुर्नो धर्मात्मा बुद्धिदश्च हिते रतः ।। 4.14.१० ।। दशवर्षाणि सततमयं नः शास्ति भार्गवः ।। गच्छ त्वं कुहको भासि नाऽस्माकं गुरुरप्युत ।। ११ ।। इत्युक्त्वा भार्गवं मूढा निर्भर्त्स्य च पुनः पुनः ।। जगृहुस्तं गुरुं प्रीत्या प्रणिपत्या ऽभिवाद्य च ।।१२ ।। काव्यस्तु तन्मयान्दृष्ट्वा चुकोपाऽथ शशाप च ।। दैत्यान्विबोधि तान्मत्वा गुरुणा चातिवंचितान् ।। १३ ।। यस्मान्मया बोधिता वै गृह्णीयुर्न च मे वचः।। तस्मात्प्रनष्टसंज्ञा वै पराभवमवाप्स्यथ ।। १४ ।। मदवज्ञाफलं कामं स्वल्पे काले ह्यवाप्स्यथ।। तदाऽस्य कपटं सर्वं परिज्ञातं भविष्यति।।१५।। व्यास उवाच ।। इत्युक्त्वाऽसौ जगामाऽशु भार्गवः क्रोधसंयुतः ।। बृहस्पतिर्मुदं प्राप्य तस्थौ तत्र समाहितः ।। १६ ।। ततः शप्तान्गुरु र्ज्ञात्वा दैत्यांस्तान्भार्गवेण हि ।। जगाम तरसा त्यक्त्वा स्वरूपं स्वं विधाय च ।। १७ ।। गत्वोवाच तदा शक्रं कृतं कार्यं मया धुवम् ।। शप्ताः शुक्रेण ते दैत्या मया त्यक्ताः पुनः पुनः ।।१८।। निराधारा कृता नूनं यतध्वं सुरसत्तमाः ।। संग्रामार्थं महाभाग शापदग्धा मया कृताः ।। १९ ।। इति श्रुत्वा गुरोर्वाक्यं मघवा मुदमाप्तवान् ।। जहृषुश्च सुराः सर्वे प्रतिपूज्य बृहस्पतिम् ।। 4.14.२० ।। संग्रामाय मतिं चक्रुः संविचार्य मिथः पुनः ।। निर्ययुर्मिलिता सर्वे दानवाऽभिमुखाः सुराः ।। २१ ।। सुरान्समुद्यतान्ज्ञात्वा कृतोद्योगान्महाबलान् ।। अंतर्हितं गुरुं चैव बभूवुश्चिंतयाऽन्विताः ।। २२ ।। परस्परमथोचुस्ते मोहितास्तस्य मायया ।। संप्रसाद्यो महात्मा च यातोऽसौ रुष्टमानसः ।।२३।। वंचयित्वा गतः पापो गुरुः कपटपंडितः ।। भ्रातृस्त्रीलंभनः प्रायो मलिनोंऽतर्बहिः शुचिः ।। २४ ।। किं कुर्मः क्व च गच्छामः कथं काव्यं प्रकोपितम् ।। कूर्वीमहि सहायार्थं प्रसन्नं हृष्टमानसम् ।। २५ ।। इति संचिंत्य ते सर्वे मिलिता भयकंपिताः ।। प्रह्लादं पुरतः कृत्वा जग्मुस्ते भार्गवं पुनः ।। २६ ।। प्रणेमुश्चरणौ तस्य मुनेर्मौनभृतस्तदा ।। भार्गवस्तानुवाचाथ रोषसंरक्तलोचनः ।। २७ ।। मया प्रबोधिता यूयं मोहिता गुरुमायया ।। न गृहीतं वचो योग्यं तदा याज्या हितं शुचि ।।२८।। तदाऽवगणितश्चाहं भवद्भिस्तद्वशं गतैः ।। प्राप्तं नूनं मदोन्मत्तैर्ममाऽवमानजं फलम् ।। २९ ।। तत्र गच्छत सद्भ्रष्टा यत्रासौ कपटाकृतिः ।। वंचकः सुरकार्यार्थी नाहं तद्वद्धि वंचकः ।। 4.14.३० ।। व्यास उवाच ।। एवं ब्रुवतं शुक्रं तु वाक्यं संदिग्धया गिरा ।। प्रह्लादस्तं तदोवाच गृहीत्वा चरणौ ततः ।। ३१ ।। प्रह्लाद उवाच ।। भार्गवाऽद्य समायातान्याज्यानस्मांस्तथाऽऽतुरान् ।। त्यक्तुं नार्हसि सर्वज्ञ त्वद्धितांस्तनयान्हि नः ।। ३२ ।। गते त्वयि तु मंत्रार्थं शैलूषेण दुरात्मना ।। त्वद्वेषमधुराऽऽलापैर्वयं तेन प्रवंचिताः ।। ३३ ।। अज्ञानकृतदोषेण नैव कुप्यति शांतिमान् ।। सर्वज्ञस्त्वं विजानासि चित्तं नः प्रवणं त्वयि ।। ३४ ।। ज्ञात्वा नस्तपसा भावं त्यज कोपं महामते ।। ब्रुवंति मुनयः सर्वे क्षणकोपाहि साधवः ।। ३५ ।। जलं स्वभावत शीतं वह्न्यातप समाग मात् ।। भवत्युष्णं वियोगाच्च शीतत्वमनुगच्छति ।। ३६ ।। क्रोधश्चांडालरूपो वै त्यक्तव्यः सर्वथा बुधैः ।। तस्माद्रोषं परित्यज्य प्रसादं कुरु सुव्रत ।। ३७ ।। यदि न त्यजसि क्रोधं त्यजस्यस्मान्सुदुःखितान् ।। त्वया त्यक्ता महाभाग गमिष्यामो रसातलम् ।। ३८ ।। व्यास उवाच ।। प्रह्लादस्य वचः श्रुत्वा भार्गवो ज्ञानचक्षुषा ।। विलोक्य सुमना भूत्वा तानुवाच हसन्निव ।। ३९ ।। न भेतव्यं न गंतव्यं दानवा वा रसातलम् ।। रक्षयिष्यामि वो याज्यान्मंत्रैरवितथैः किल ।। 4.14.४० ।। हितं सत्यं ब्रवीम्यद्य शृणुध्वं तत्तु निश्चयम् ।। वचनं मम धर्मज्ञाः श्रुतं यद्ब्रह्मणः पुरा ।। ४१ ।। अवश्यंभाविनो भावाः प्रभवंति शुभाऽशुभाः ।। देवं न चाऽन्यथा कर्तुं क्षमः कोऽपि धरातले ।। ४२ ।। अद्य मंदबला यूयं कालयोगादसंशयम् ।। देवैर्जिताः सकृच्चाऽपि पातालं प्रतिपत्स्यथ ।। ४३ ।। प्राप्तः पर्यायकालो वै इति ब्रह्माऽभ्यभाषत ।। भुक्तं राज्यं भवद्भिश्च पूर्णं सर्वं समृद्धिमत् ।। ४४ ।। युगानि दश पूर्णानि देवानाक्रम्य मूर्धनि ।। दैवयोगाच्च युस्माभिर्भुक्तं त्रैलोक्यमूर्जितम् ।। ४५ ।। सावर्णिके मनौ राज्यं पुनस्तत्तु भविष्यति ।। पौत्रस्त्रैलोक्य विजयी राज्यं प्राप्स्यति ते बलिः ।। ४६ ।। यदा वामनरूपेण हृतं देवेन विष्णुना ।। तदैव च भवत्पौत्रः प्रोक्तो देवेन जिष्णुना ।।४७।। हृतं येन बले राज्यं देववांछार्थ सिद्धये ।। त्वमिंद्रो भविता चाग्रे स्थिते सावर्णिके मनौ ।।४८।। भार्गव उवाच ।। इत्युक्तो हरिणा पौत्रस्तव प्रह्लाद सांप्रतम् ।। अदृश्यः सर्वभूतानां गुप्तश्चरति भीतवत् ।। ४९ ।। एकदा वासवेनासौ बलिर्गर्दभरूपभाक् ।। शून्ये गृहे स्थितः कामं भयभीतः शतक्रतो ।। 4.14.५० ।। पृष्टश्च बहुधा तेन वासवेन बलिस्तदा ।। किमर्थं गार्दभं रूपं कृतवान्दैत्यपुंगव ।। ५१ ।। भोक्ता त्वं सर्वलोकस्य दैत्यानां च प्रशासिता ।। न लज्जा खररूपेण तव राक्षससत्तम ।। '' तस्य तद्वचनं श्रुत्वा दैत्यराजो बलिस्तदा ।। ५२ ।। प्रोवाच वचनं शक्रं कोऽत्र शोकः शतक्रतो ।। यथा विष्णुर्महातेजा मत्स्यकच्छपतां गतः ।।५३।। तथाऽहं खररूपेण संस्थितः कालयोगतः ।। यथा त्वं कमले लीनः संस्थितो ब्रह्महत्यया ।। ५४ ।। पीडितश्च तथा ह्यद्य स्थितोऽहं खररूपधृक् ।। दैवाधीनस्य किं दुःखं किं सुखं पाकशासन ।। ५५ ।। कालः करोति वै नूनं यदिच्छति यथा तथा ।। भार्गव उवाच ।। इति तौ बलिदेवेशौ कृत्वा संविदमुत्तमाम् ।। ५६ ।। प्रबोधं प्रापतुः कामं यथास्थानं च जग्मतुः ।। इत्येतत्ते समाख्याता मया दैवबलिष्ठता ।।५७।। दैवाधीनं जगत्सर्वं सदेवासुरमानुषम् ।।५८।। इति श्रीदेवीभागवते महापुराणे चतुर्थस्कंधे चतुर्दशोऽध्यायः ।। १४ ।।
vyāsa uvāca || iti saṃciṃtya manasā tānuvāca hasanniva || vaṃcitā matsvarūpeṇa daityāḥ kiṃ guruṇā kila ||1|| ahaṃ kāvyo guruścā'yaṃ devakāryaprasādakaḥ || anena vaṃcitā yūyaṃ madyājyā nātra saṃśayaḥ || 2 || mā śraddhadhvaṃ vaco'syā''ryā dābhiko'yaṃ madā kṛtiḥ || anugacchata māṃ yājyāstyajatainaṃ bṛhaspatim || 3 || ityākarṇya vacastasya dṛṣṭvā tau sadṛśau punaḥ || vismayaṃ paramaṃ jagmuḥ kāvyo'yamiti niścitāḥ || 4 || sa tānvīkṣya susaṃbhrātāngururvākyamuvāca ha || gururvo vaṃcayatyeva madrūpo'yaṃ bṛhaspatiḥ || 5 || prāpto vaṃcayituṃ yuṣmāndevakāryārthasiddhaye || mā viśvāsaṃ vacasyasya kurudhvaṃ daityasattamāḥ || 6 || prāptā vidyā mayā śaṃbhoryuṣmānadhyāpa yāmi tām || devebhyo vijayaṃ nūnaṃ kariṣyāmi na saṃśayaḥ || 7 || iti śrutvā gurorvākyaṃ kāvyaṃ rūpadharasya te || niśvāsaṃ paramaṃ jagmuḥ kāvyo'yamiti niścayāt|| 8 || kāvyena bahudhā tatra bodhitāḥ kila dānavāḥ || bubudhurna gurormāyāmohitāḥ kāla paryayāt || 9 || evaṃ te niścayaṃ kṛtvā tato bhārgavamabruvan || ayaṃ gururno dharmātmā buddhidaśca hite rataḥ || 4.14.10 || daśavarṣāṇi satatamayaṃ naḥ śāsti bhārgavaḥ || gaccha tvaṃ kuhako bhāsi nā'smākaṃ gururapyuta || 11 || ityuktvā bhārgavaṃ mūḍhā nirbhartsya ca punaḥ punaḥ || jagṛhustaṃ guruṃ prītyā praṇipatyā 'bhivādya ca ||12 || kāvyastu tanmayāndṛṣṭvā cukopā'tha śaśāpa ca || daityānvibodhi tānmatvā guruṇā cātivaṃcitān || 13 || yasmānmayā bodhitā vai gṛhṇīyurna ca me vacaḥ|| tasmātpranaṣṭasaṃjñā vai parābhavamavāpsyatha || 14 || madavajñāphalaṃ kāmaṃ svalpe kāle hyavāpsyatha|| tadā'sya kapaṭaṃ sarvaṃ parijñātaṃ bhaviṣyati||15|| vyāsa uvāca || ityuktvā'sau jagāmā'śu bhārgavaḥ krodhasaṃyutaḥ || bṛhaspatirmudaṃ prāpya tasthau tatra samāhitaḥ || 16 || tataḥ śaptānguru rjñātvā daityāṃstānbhārgaveṇa hi || jagāma tarasā tyaktvā svarūpaṃ svaṃ vidhāya ca || 17 || gatvovāca tadā śakraṃ kṛtaṃ kāryaṃ mayā dhuvam || śaptāḥ śukreṇa te daityā mayā tyaktāḥ punaḥ punaḥ ||18|| nirādhārā kṛtā nūnaṃ yatadhvaṃ surasattamāḥ || saṃgrāmārthaṃ mahābhāga śāpadagdhā mayā kṛtāḥ || 19 || iti śrutvā gurorvākyaṃ maghavā mudamāptavān || jahṛṣuśca surāḥ sarve pratipūjya bṛhaspatim || 4.14.20 || saṃgrāmāya matiṃ cakruḥ saṃvicārya mithaḥ punaḥ || niryayurmilitā sarve dānavā'bhimukhāḥ surāḥ || 21 || surānsamudyatānjñātvā kṛtodyogānmahābalān || aṃtarhitaṃ guruṃ caiva babhūvuściṃtayā'nvitāḥ || 22 || parasparamathocuste mohitāstasya māyayā || saṃprasādyo mahātmā ca yāto'sau ruṣṭamānasaḥ ||23|| vaṃcayitvā gataḥ pāpo guruḥ kapaṭapaṃḍitaḥ || bhrātṛstrīlaṃbhanaḥ prāyo malinoṃ'tarbahiḥ śuciḥ || 24 || kiṃ kurmaḥ kva ca gacchāmaḥ kathaṃ kāvyaṃ prakopitam || kūrvīmahi sahāyārthaṃ prasannaṃ hṛṣṭamānasam || 25 || iti saṃciṃtya te sarve militā bhayakaṃpitāḥ || prahlādaṃ purataḥ kṛtvā jagmuste bhārgavaṃ punaḥ || 26 || praṇemuścaraṇau tasya munermaunabhṛtastadā || bhārgavastānuvācātha roṣasaṃraktalocanaḥ || 27 || mayā prabodhitā yūyaṃ mohitā gurumāyayā || na gṛhītaṃ vaco yogyaṃ tadā yājyā hitaṃ śuci ||28|| tadā'vagaṇitaścāhaṃ bhavadbhistadvaśaṃ gataiḥ || prāptaṃ nūnaṃ madonmattairmamā'vamānajaṃ phalam || 29 || tatra gacchata sadbhraṣṭā yatrāsau kapaṭākṛtiḥ || vaṃcakaḥ surakāryārthī nāhaṃ tadvaddhi vaṃcakaḥ || 4.14.30 || vyāsa uvāca || evaṃ bruvataṃ śukraṃ tu vākyaṃ saṃdigdhayā girā || prahlādastaṃ tadovāca gṛhītvā caraṇau tataḥ || 31 || prahlāda uvāca || bhārgavā'dya samāyātānyājyānasmāṃstathā''turān || tyaktuṃ nārhasi sarvajña tvaddhitāṃstanayānhi naḥ || 32 || gate tvayi tu maṃtrārthaṃ śailūṣeṇa durātmanā || tvadveṣamadhurā''lāpairvayaṃ tena pravaṃcitāḥ || 33 || ajñānakṛtadoṣeṇa naiva kupyati śāṃtimān || sarvajñastvaṃ vijānāsi cittaṃ naḥ pravaṇaṃ tvayi || 34 || jñātvā nastapasā bhāvaṃ tyaja kopaṃ mahāmate || bruvaṃti munayaḥ sarve kṣaṇakopāhi sādhavaḥ || 35 || jalaṃ svabhāvata śītaṃ vahnyātapa samāga māt || bhavatyuṣṇaṃ viyogācca śītatvamanugacchati || 36 || krodhaścāṃḍālarūpo vai tyaktavyaḥ sarvathā budhaiḥ || tasmādroṣaṃ parityajya prasādaṃ kuru suvrata || 37 || yadi na tyajasi krodhaṃ tyajasyasmānsuduḥkhitān || tvayā tyaktā mahābhāga gamiṣyāmo rasātalam || 38 || vyāsa uvāca || prahlādasya vacaḥ śrutvā bhārgavo jñānacakṣuṣā || vilokya sumanā bhūtvā tānuvāca hasanniva || 39 || na bhetavyaṃ na gaṃtavyaṃ dānavā vā rasātalam || rakṣayiṣyāmi vo yājyānmaṃtrairavitathaiḥ kila || 4.14.40 || hitaṃ satyaṃ bravīmyadya śṛṇudhvaṃ tattu niścayam || vacanaṃ mama dharmajñāḥ śrutaṃ yadbrahmaṇaḥ purā || 41 || avaśyaṃbhāvino bhāvāḥ prabhavaṃti śubhā'śubhāḥ || devaṃ na cā'nyathā kartuṃ kṣamaḥ ko'pi dharātale || 42 || adya maṃdabalā yūyaṃ kālayogādasaṃśayam || devairjitāḥ sakṛccā'pi pātālaṃ pratipatsyatha || 43 || prāptaḥ paryāyakālo vai iti brahmā'bhyabhāṣata || bhuktaṃ rājyaṃ bhavadbhiśca pūrṇaṃ sarvaṃ samṛddhimat || 44 || yugāni daśa pūrṇāni devānākramya mūrdhani || daivayogācca yusmābhirbhuktaṃ trailokyamūrjitam || 45 || sāvarṇike manau rājyaṃ punastattu bhaviṣyati || pautrastrailokya vijayī rājyaṃ prāpsyati te baliḥ || 46 || yadā vāmanarūpeṇa hṛtaṃ devena viṣṇunā || tadaiva ca bhavatpautraḥ prokto devena jiṣṇunā ||47|| hṛtaṃ yena bale rājyaṃ devavāṃchārtha siddhaye || tvamiṃdro bhavitā cāgre sthite sāvarṇike manau ||48|| bhārgava uvāca || ityukto hariṇā pautrastava prahlāda sāṃpratam || adṛśyaḥ sarvabhūtānāṃ guptaścarati bhītavat || 49 || ekadā vāsavenāsau balirgardabharūpabhāk || śūnye gṛhe sthitaḥ kāmaṃ bhayabhītaḥ śatakrato || 4.14.50 || pṛṣṭaśca bahudhā tena vāsavena balistadā || kimarthaṃ gārdabhaṃ rūpaṃ kṛtavāndaityapuṃgava || 51 || bhoktā tvaṃ sarvalokasya daityānāṃ ca praśāsitā || na lajjā khararūpeṇa tava rākṣasasattama || '' tasya tadvacanaṃ śrutvā daityarājo balistadā || 52 || provāca vacanaṃ śakraṃ ko'tra śokaḥ śatakrato || yathā viṣṇurmahātejā matsyakacchapatāṃ gataḥ ||53|| tathā'haṃ khararūpeṇa saṃsthitaḥ kālayogataḥ || yathā tvaṃ kamale līnaḥ saṃsthito brahmahatyayā || 54 || pīḍitaśca tathā hyadya sthito'haṃ khararūpadhṛk || daivādhīnasya kiṃ duḥkhaṃ kiṃ sukhaṃ pākaśāsana || 55 || kālaḥ karoti vai nūnaṃ yadicchati yathā tathā || bhārgava uvāca || iti tau balideveśau kṛtvā saṃvidamuttamām || 56 || prabodhaṃ prāpatuḥ kāmaṃ yathāsthānaṃ ca jagmatuḥ || ityetatte samākhyātā mayā daivabaliṣṭhatā ||57|| daivādhīnaṃ jagatsarvaṃ sadevāsuramānuṣam ||58|| iti śrīdevībhāgavate mahāpurāṇe caturthaskaṃdhe caturdaśo'dhyāyaḥ || 14 ||
English translation
1. Vyasa said Thus arguing in his mind, S’ukracharya smilingly said to the Daityas O Daityas! what for have you all been cheated by Brihaspati, the Guru of the Devas, in my guise.
2. I am S’ukracharya; you are my disciples; this man is Brihaspati, wanting to serve the Gods. He has cheated you, there is no doubt in this.
3. This vain villainous person has assumed my form; do not put the least faith in his words. O Daityas! You are my disciples, follow unto me; leave this Brihaspati, vain and arrogant.
4. The Daityas, on hearing his words were struck with wonder at the resemblance of the two personages and came to the conclusion that “the person just come is the real S’ukracharya.”
5. Then Brihaspati, the false S’ukracharya explained to the Daityas in plain and enchanting words that “the second man just come is the Deva Guru Brihaspati; he has come here in my guise. His object is to cheat you.
6. He has come here to cheat you and serve the purpose of the Devas; do not believe in his words.
7. What knowledge I have acquired from the God S’ambhu, I am teaching it to you; I will make you, no doubt, victorious in the battle with the Devas.”
8. Thus the Daityas, hearing the words of the false S’ukracharya, thought the false one to be real and placed implicit reliance in his words.
9. The real S’ukracharya, then explained them as much as he could; but the Daityas, owing to the magic of the false S’ukracharya and to the wonderful effect of time, did not hear his words.
10. The Daityas thus convinced said to the real S’ukracharya, “this man before us is our Guru for our welfare and enlightenment, he is the foremost religious S’ukracharya; for ten years continuously he is giving us advices. You are not our Guru; you appear fictitious and false; you better leave this place and go away.”
11. The dull brained Daityas repeatedly told to S’ukracharya the reproachful words and bowed down to the false S’ukracharya, and, saluting, him, gladly welcomed him as their Guru.
12-14. The real S’ukracharya, seeing the Daityas exceedingly attached to Brihaspati, the Guru of the Devas, and deceived by his words, cursed them out of anger and said:-“As you have not taken my words though I have explained everything to you, you would lose your knowledge and get defeat.
15. As you have shown disrespect towards me, you will get the fruits of it at an early date and will then understand the deceitful behaviours of that Deva Guru.”
16. Vyasa said Thus saying S’ukracharya hurriedly went away, infuriated with anger. Brihaspati was glad and remained there with his mind calm.
17-19. Brihaspati then knowing the Daityas cursed by S’ukracharya, assumed his real appearance, left that place, and hurriedly returned to Indra. He began to say “I have undoubtedly succeeded in my undertaking; the Daityas have been cursed and left by me too. They are now helpless; so, O Good Suras! I have made them cursed, you would better now try to fight with them.”
20-21. Indra heard their Guru and became very glad; all the other Devas were glad and worshipped him. They held another cabinet, secret council, how to fight with the Daityas; and, then, all uniting together marched out in battle against the Asuras.
22. Seeing that the powerful Devas are marching towards them ready to fight and knowing their false Guru had fled, the Daityas became very anxious.
23. They told each otherAlas! We were enchanted by the Devaguru; the highsouled S’ukracharya angrily left us; now it is our incumbent duty to satisfy him.
24. That vicious, dirty inside and pure outside, hypocrite Pundit Deva Guru, who used to go to his brother’s wife, has really cheated and has quitted us.
25. What are we to do now? where to go? How to satiate now the anger of S’ukra so that he might be glad and help us.
26. Thus pondering over they all unitedly, shuddering with fear, again went to S’ukracharya, keeping Prahlada in front of them.
27. They all bowed down at the feet of their Guru; S’ukra remained silent; then, bursting with anger and with eyes red, told them.
28. You were all warned by me that you were being cheated by the Maya of Brihaspati; you did not take my word, as worth hearing, though unselfish, pure and leading to your welfare.
29. Rather you were influenced by him and infatuated with vanity, you insulted me; now you will have to bear undoubtedly the effects of that Karma.
30. You are now vitiated from the path of your welfare; go now where that disguised cheat resides for the welfare of the Gods; know me not to be a cheat like him.
31. Vyasa said O king! When S’ukra finished saying his uncertain words, Prahlada clasped his feet and began to say thus
32. Prahlada said O our Guru Bhargava! Today we have come to you in a very distressed condition! O Omniscient! we are your disciples; we are your good sons; you ought not to quit us.
33. On your departure to get the Mantra, that hypocrite, vicious Brihaspati getting the opportunity, assumed your false appearance and cheated us.
34. Peaceful persons do not take any offence committed with ignorance; you know everything; you know very well that our hearts are devoted to thee and to thee alone. There is no need of telling anything further to you.
35. O Highly Intelligent One! By your Tapas, you know our inner minds and relinquish your anger. The sages say that the anger of the saints is not lasting.
36. O Muni! Water is naturally cool; when in contact with fire it gets hot; but, when the heat is removed, it gets cold shortly after.
37. O observer of good vows! Anger is like chandala; sages therefore quit it. Our prayer to you is that you leave your anger and be pleased with us.
38. If you do not quit your anger and if you make us overpowered with grief and sorrow, O blessed one! We, being abandoned by you, will go down to the Patala.
39. Vyasa said Bhargava heard Prahlada’s words and, with his intuitioned eye, came to see the proper state of affairs and was pleased and lovingly said.
40. You will not have to fear nor to enter into the Patala. You are my Yajamanas; I will certainly protect you all by my never failing Mantra power.
41. O knower of religion! What Brahma of yore told me, I am now telling you accordingly. Hear my truthful words, leading to your welfare.
42. Whatever is inevitable, doomed to pass, must come to pass, be it auspicious or inauspicious. No one is able in this world to go against the current of Fate.
43. Under the influence of Time you are now deprived of strength, therefore you will have to suffer defeat at the hands of the Devas and you will have to go once to the Patala.
44-45. Brahma said When your time to enjoy the sovereignty of the Triloki had come, you enjoyed the kingdoms of the Triloki with all its wealth and power. You attacked the Devas and, helped by Time, had been able to trample them under your feet and held your sovereignty for full ten yugas and enjoyed the pleasures without any hitch.
46. You will regain this kingdom in the Savarnik manvantara. Then Bali will come in your family as the grandson of Prahlada and will conquer the Triloki and will get name and fame throughout his kingdom.
47-48. When the Lord of Vaikuntha had incarnated as Vamana and stolen away the kingdom of Vali, then the Janardan Visnu told Bali, the king of the Demons that “I have taken away your kingdom by pretext to serve the purpose of the Gods; you will become Indra, no doubt, in the coming Savarnika manvantara.”
49. Bhargava said According to the sayings of S’ri Bhagavan Hari, your grandson Bali is now invisible to all creatures and is now passing away his time, very much terror stricken.
50-51. Being afraid of Indra, he is now staying in a lonely house as an ass. One day Indra on seeing him enquired of him, in various ways, the cause of his assuming that ass-body.
52. O Lord of the Daityas! You have always enjoyed pleasures of all the world; you are the ruler of the Daityas; you ruled over all the worlds; do you not feel shame now in thus assuming this ass body. The Lord of the Daityas, hearing him, spoke thus.
53-54. O Indra, there is nothing to be sorry in these matters. When the most powerful Visnu can assume fish and tortoise incarnations, then what wonder is there that I by virtue of the force of Time, am now staying as an ass? When you had murdered a Brahman, you, too had hid yourself in the Manasa lake in the lotuses; similarly today distressed, I am staying here in this ass body.
55. O Indra! What sorrow or happiness can be to a person who is under the control of Fate. To him everything is alike; for whatever the Time wishes, It can act accordingly.
56. Bhargava said to Prahlada! Both persons Bali and Indra got enlightenment at the mutual conversations; and they went away to their places at their own will.
57. O Lord of the Asuras! I have narrated to you this story indicating how powerful is the Time. Know that the Devas and Daityas and all the human beings and this whole universe is under that Great Fate.
Here ends the Fourteenth Chapter in the Fourth Book of S’ri Mad Devi Bhagavatam, the Maha Puranam of 18,000 verses on the Daityas getting back their S’ukracharya, by Maharsi Veda Vyasa.
Complete chapter-aligned witnesses. Sanskrit Wikisource page 15908, revision 76339 (2016-08-19T16:34:43Z). English is Swami Vijñanananda’s complete 1921–23 public-domain translation, controlled against the archival OCR and its chapter page at https://sacred-texts.com/hin/db/bk04ch14.htm. Historic spelling and transliteration are lightly normalized; no verse-by-verse alignment is asserted.