Critical Edition
युधिष्ठिर उवाच कथमिन्द्रेण राजेन्द्र सभार्येण महात्मना दुःखं प्राप्तं परं घोरमेतदिच्छामि वेदितुम्
M. N. Dutt: Yudhishthira said I want to hear how is was, O chief among, kings, that the large minded Indra, with his queen met with grave difficulties.
शल्य उवाच शृणु राजन्पुरा वृत्तमितिहासं पुरातनम् सभार्येण यथा प्राप्तं दुःखमिन्द्रेण भारत
M. N. Dutt: Shalya said O king, listen to this old story as related in ancient history, of how Indra with his queen met with difficulties, O son of Bharata.
त्वष्टा प्रजापतिर्ह्यासीद्देवश्रेष्ठो महातपाः स पुत्रं वै त्रिशिरसमिन्द्रद्रोहात्किलासृजत्
M. N. Dutt: There was a great devotee named Tvashtri who was the lord of all beings and the chief among gods. Out of pure wrath towards Indra, he created a son with three heads.
ऐन्द्रं स प्रार्थयत्स्थानं विश्वरूपो महाद्युतिः तैस्त्रिभिर्वदनैर्घोरैः सूर्येन्दुज्वलनोपमैः
M. N. Dutt: The place, occupied by Indra, was desired by this mysterious personage, who was as it were the image of the universe and had three awful faces comparable to the sun, the moon and fire.
वेदानेकेन सोऽधीते सुरामेकेन चापिबत् एकेन च दिशः सर्वाः पिबन्निव निरीक्षते
M. N. Dutt: With one mouth be read the Veda, with the second he drank wine and with the other he looked as if he would absorb the cardinal points.
स तपस्वी मृदुर्दान्तो धर्मे तपसि चोद्यतः तपोऽतप्यन्महत्तीव्रं सुदुश्चरमरिंदम
M. N. Dutt: He was a devotee, mild, having powers of self-control and engaged in religious worship and devotion. And O subduer of foes, the austerities practised by him could not be practised by others, for they were very hard and very difficult to be practised.
तस्य दृष्ट्वा तपोवीर्यं सत्त्वं चामिततेजसः विषादमगमच्छक्र इन्द्रोऽयं मा भवेदिति
M. N. Dutt: Shakra was depressed in spirits, at seeing the strength in devotion and truthfulness of the one with unrivaled power, for fear lest he be the chief among gods.
कथं सज्जेत भोगेषु न च तप्येन्महत्तपः विवर्धमानस्त्रिशिराः सर्वं त्रिभुवनं ग्रसेत्
AI Translation: How can one be attached to pleasures and not be tormented by great austerities? Increasing, the three-headed one would swallow the entire three worlds.
इति संचिन्त्य बहुधा बुद्धिमान्भरतर्षभ आज्ञापयत्सोऽप्सरसस्त्वष्टृपुत्रप्रलोभने
AI Translation: Thus reflecting in many ways, O wise one, O bull among the Bharatas, He commanded the apsarases in the enticement of Tvashtri's son.
यथा स सज्जेत्त्रिशिराः कामभोगेषु वै भृशम् क्षिप्रं कुरुत गच्छध्वं प्रलोभयत माचिरम्
M. N. Dutt: He ordered fairies (to engage themselves) in decoying the son of Tvashtri, so that the three-headed one might, for certain, engage himself in the enjoyment of sensual pleasure saying them
शृङ्गारवेषाः सुश्रोण्यो भावैर्युक्ता मनोहरैः प्रलोभयत भद्रं वः शमयध्वं भयं मम
AI Translation: Attired in the garb of love, with beautiful hips, endowed with charming emotions, Please tempt me for my welfare, dispel my fear.
Supplementary Passages:
5.9.11 After 11ab, B (B1 marg.) D (except D1; D2 marg.) ins.: *68 हावभावसमायुक्ताः सर्वाः सौन्दर्यशोभिताः After 11, M ins.: *69 प्रजापतिर्भवेदेष चन्द्रो वैश्रवणो यमः वरुणः पाशहस्तो वा धर्म एव भवेत्स्वयम्
अस्वस्थं ह्यात्मनात्मानं लक्षयामि वराङ्गनाः भयमेतन्महाघोरं क्षिप्रं नाशयताबलाः
AI Translation: I perceive my own self to be in an unstable state, O you of excellent limbs. O you of great strength, quickly destroy this fear which is very terrible.
अप्सरस ऊचुः तथा यत्नं करिष्यामः शक्र तस्य प्रलोभने यथा नावाप्स्यसि भयं तस्माद्बलनिषूदन
M. N. Dutt: The Nymphs said O Shakra, we shall try to decoy him so that, O you slayer of Bala, you may not experience any dread from him
निर्दहन्निव चक्षुर्भ्यां योऽसावास्ते तपोनिधिः तं प्रलोभयितुं देव गच्छामः सहिता वयम् यतिष्यामो वशे कर्तुं व्यपनेतुं च ते भयम्
M. N. Dutt: The great devotee who now sits, as if scorching with his eyes, O lord and whom we are going together to decoy. We shall try to get him under our control and thus destroy your fears.
शल्य उवाच इन्द्रेण तास्त्वनुज्ञाता जग्मुस्त्रिशिरसोऽन्तिकम् तत्र ता विविधैर्भावैर्लोभयन्त्यो वराङ्गनाः नृत्यं संदर्शयन्त्यश्च तथैवाङ्गेषु सौष्ठवम्
M. N. Dutt: Shalya said Being commanded by Indra they went to the three-headed one and the lovely damsels tempted him there with various gestures of lust.
विचेरुः संप्रहर्षं च नाभ्यगच्छन्महातपाः इन्द्रियाणि वशे कृत्वा पूर्णसागरसंनिभः
AI Translation: They roamed about, but the great ascetic did not attain to great joy. Having brought the senses under control, he was like a full ocean.
तास्तु यत्नं परं कृत्वा पुनः शक्रमुपस्थिताः कृताञ्जलिपुटाः सर्वा देवराजमथाब्रुवन्
AI Translation: Having made great effort, they again approached Śakra. All of them, with folded hands, then said to the king of the gods:
न स शक्यः सुदुर्धर्षो धैर्याच्चालयितुं प्रभो यत्ते कार्यं महाभाग क्रियतां तदनन्तरम्
AI Translation: He is very difficult to assail and cannot be shaken by courage, O Lord. O greatly fortunate one, whatever you have to do, do it now.
संपूज्याप्सरसः शक्रो विसृज्य च महामतिः चिन्तयामास तस्यैव वधोपायं महात्मनः
AI Translation: Having worshipped the Apsarās, Śakra, the greatly wise one, dismissed them. He pondered on the means of killing that great-souled one.
स तूष्णीं चिन्तयन्वीरो देवराजः प्रतापवान् विनिश्चितमतिर्धीमान्वधे त्रिशिरसोऽभवत्
M. N. Dutt: O Yudhishthira, he thought of some means to slay him. And the chief among the gods who was valiant, famous as a gifted being of unfailing judgment and intelligent, fixed on a plan for slaying the three-headed one.
वज्रमस्य क्षिपाम्यद्य स क्षिप्रं न भविष्यति शत्रुः प्रवृद्धो नोपेक्ष्यो दुर्बलोऽपि बलीयसा
M. N. Dutt: (Thought he) I shall this soon cease to exist. A foe who has already grown up must not be made light of by even the powerful, a weak foe though he might be.
शास्त्रबुद्ध्या विनिश्चित्य कृत्वा बुद्धिं वधे दृढाम् अथ वैश्वानरनिभं घोररूपं भयावहम् मुमोच वज्रं संक्रुद्धः शक्रस्त्रिशिरसं प्रति
M. N. Dutt: Deciding on this course of action laid down in the books, he firmly resolved on slaying him. Shakra, wrathful, flung his fearful and dress-inspiring thunderbolt, which could be compared to the fire, on the head of the three-headed one. Being severely struck by the thunderbolt he fell down to the earth, like the loosened summit of a mountain.
स पपात हतस्तेन वज्रेण दृढमाहतः पर्वतस्येव शिखरं प्रणुन्नं मेदिनीतले
AI Translation: Struck by that thunderbolt, he fell, like the peak of a mountain struck down to the ground.
तं तु वज्रहतं दृष्ट्वा शयानमचलोपमम् न शर्म लेभे देवेन्द्रो दीपितस्तस्य तेजसा हतोऽपि दीप्ततेजाः स जीवन्निव च दृश्यते
M. N. Dutt: Seeing him struck by the thunderbolt and lying like a mountain, the chief among the gods got no peace of mind, owing to his luster which still retained its effulgence.
Supplementary Passages:
5.9.24 After 24cd, K (except K2) D8.10 ins.: *70 घोररूपो महारौद्रस्तीव्रस्तीव्रपराक्रमः After 24, K3 (om. lines 2-4) B (B4 om. line 4) D (except D1; D2 marg.; D10 om. line 1) ins.: *71 घातितस्य शिरांस्याजौ जीवन्तीवाद्भुतानि वै ततोऽतिभीतगात्रस्तु शक्र आस्ते विचारयन् अथाजगाम परशुं स्कन्धेनादाय वर्धकिः तदरण्यं महाराज यत्रास्तेऽसौ निपातितः On the other hand, S ins. after 24: *72 शिरांसि तस्य जायन्ते त्रीण्येव शकुनास्त्रयः तित्तिरिः कलविङ्कश्च तथैव च कपिञ्जलः विश्वरूपशिरांस्येव जायन्ते तस्य भारत
अभितस्तत्र तक्षाणं घटमानं शचीपतिः अपश्यदब्रवीच्चैनं सत्वरं पाकशासनः क्षिप्रं छिन्धि शिरांस्यस्य कुरुष्व वचनं मम
M. N. Dutt: O great king, where he was lying felled down. The Lord of Sachi, who still had fears, saw that wood cutter coming there by chance and the subduer of Paka soon said to him "quickly cut down the heads of this being; do what I tell you."
तक्षोवाच महास्कन्धो भृशं ह्येष परशुर्न तरिष्यति कर्तुं चाहं न शक्ष्यामि कर्म सद्भिर्विगर्हितम्
M. N. Dutt: The wood cutter said This man has large shoulders; the axe cannot cut down the heads) nor shall I be able to do the deed which is regarded to be wrong by honest people.
इन्द्र उवाच मा भैस्त्वं क्षिप्रमेतद्वै कुरुष्व वचनं मम मत्प्रसादाद्धि ते शस्त्रं वज्रकल्पं भविष्यति
M. N. Dutt: Shakra said You need not have any fears, do quickly what I tell you; through my favour shall your weapon be equal to the thunderbolt.
तक्षोवाच कं भवन्तमहं विद्यां घोरकर्माणमद्य वै एतदिच्छाम्यहं श्रोतुं तत्त्वेन कथयस्व मे
M. N. Dutt: The wood cutter said I must know who you are and I want to hear why you have done this cruel deed today. Tell me the truth.
इन्द्र उवाच अहमिन्द्रो देवराजस्तक्षन्विदितमस्तु ते कुरुष्वैतद्यथोक्तं मे तक्षन्मा त्वं विचारय
M. N. Dutt: Indra said I am Indra, the chief among the gods, let it be known to you O wood cutter. Do as I have told you. O wood cutter, do not ponder.
Supplementary Passages:
5.9.29 M2-5 (which all om. 29cd) ins. after 29ab: T (T2 om. line 1) G1.5 ins. after 29: *73 मया हि निहतः शेते त्रिशिरास्त्वं च विद्धि वै स प्रह्वः प्राञ्जलिर्भूत्वा इदं वचनमब्रवीत्
तक्षोवाच क्रूरेण नापत्रपसे कथं शक्रेह कर्मणा ऋषिपुत्रमिमं हत्वा ब्रह्महत्याभयं न ते
M. N. Dutt: The wood cutter said O Shakra, how is it that you are not ashamed at this cruel deed? Having killed this son of a Rishi, have you no fear of the sin of killing a Brahmana?
इन्द्र उवाच पश्चाद्धर्मं चरिष्यामि पावनार्थं सुदुश्चरम् शत्रुरेष महावीर्यो वज्रेण निहतो मया
M. N. Dutt: Shakra said For the purification of my soul I shall thereafter precise some severe penance. He was my enemy, possessed of great strength and has been killed by my thunderbolt.
अद्यापि चाहमुद्विग्नस्तक्षन्नस्माद्बिभेमि वै क्षिप्रं छिन्धि शिरांसि त्वं करिष्येऽनुग्रहं तव
M. N. Dutt: To this day, O wood cutter, am I anxious and dread this. Quickly cut off his heads. I shall bestow a favour on you.
शिरः पशोस्ते दास्यन्ति भागं यज्ञेषु मानवाः एष तेऽनुग्रहस्तक्षन्क्षिप्रं कुरु मम प्रियम्
M. N. Dutt: In sacrificial rites, men will give the heads of the beasts. This is the favour I great you. Quickly do what I desire.
शल्य उवाच एतच्छ्रुत्वा तु तक्षा स महेन्द्रवचनं तदा शिरांस्यथ त्रिशिरसः कुठारेणाच्छिनत्तदा
M. N. Dutt: Shalya said Having heard this, the wood cutter, after the speech of Indra, cut down the heads of the three-headed one with his axe.
निकृत्तेषु ततस्तेषु निष्क्रामंस्त्रिशिरास्त्वथ कपिञ्जलास्तित्तिराश्च कलविङ्काश्च सर्वशः
M. N. Dutt: The heads, being cut off, came out from them a good many birds of the Kapinjala, (doves) Titara (sparrows) and Kalavinka (parrots) species.
येन वेदानधीते स्म पिबते सोममेव च तस्माद्वक्त्रान्विनिष्पेतुः क्षिप्रं तस्य कपिञ्जलाः
M. N. Dutt: From the mouth by which he used to read the Veda and drink Soma juice, came forth quickly birds of the Kapinjala species,
येन सर्वा दिशो राजन्पिबन्निव निरीक्षते तस्माद्वक्त्राद्विनिष्पेतुस्तित्तिरास्तस्य पाण्डव
M. N. Dutt: From the one by which, o king, he looked as if he would absorb (the cardinal points) came forth, O son of Pandu, birds of the Titara species.
यत्सुरापं तु तस्यासीद्वक्त्रं त्रिशिरसस्तदा कलविङ्का विनिष्पेतुस्तेनास्य भरतर्षभ
M. N. Dutt: And from the mouth of the three-headed one which used to drink wine, came out birds of the Kalavinka species and birds of prey, O best among the race of Bharata.
ततस्तेषु निकृत्तेषु विज्वरो मघवानभूत् जगाम त्रिदिवं हृष्टस्तक्षापि स्वगृहान्ययौ
M. N. Dutt: They having come out, Indra became tranquilized and went to heaven and the wood cutter too, well pleased, went home.
Supplementary Passages:
5.9.39 After 39ab, S (except M2) ins.: *74 तक्ष्णे चैव वरं दत्त्वा प्रहृष्टस्त्रिदशेश्वरः After 39, S (T2 om. line 12) ins.: *75 तक्षापि स्वगृहं गत्वा नैव शंसति कस्यचित् अथैनं नाभिजानन्ति वर्षमेकं तथागतम् अथ संवत्सरे पूर्णे भूताः पशुपतेः प्रभो ते चाक्रोशन्त मघवान्नः प्रभुर्ब्रह्महा इति तत इन्द्रो व्रतं घोरमचरत्पाकशासनः तपसा च सुसंयुक्तः सह देवैर्मरुद्गणैः समुद्रे च पृथिव्यां च वनस्पतिषु स्त्रीषु च विभज्य ब्रह्महत्यां च तांश्च संयोजयद्वरैः वरदस्तु वरं दत्त्वा पृथिव्यै सागराय च वनस्पतिभ्यः स्त्रीभ्यश्च ब्रह्महत्यां नुनोद ताम् ततस्तु शुद्धो भगवान्देवैर्लोकैश्च पूजितः इन्द्रस्थानमुपातिष्ठत्पूज्यमानो महर्षिभिः N (B4 missing) ins. after 39: T, after 75*: *76 मेने कृतार्थमात्मानं हत्वा शत्रुं सुरारिहा
त्वष्टा प्रजापतिः श्रुत्वा शक्रेणाथ हतं सुतम् क्रोधसंरक्तनयन इदं वचनमब्रवीत्
M. N. Dutt: This chief among the gods, having killed his enemy, thought himself gratified. Tvashtri, the lord of all beings, having heard of the slaying of his son by Shakra, said these words with eyes red with wrath.
तप्यमानं तपो नित्यं क्षान्तं दान्तं जितेन्द्रियम् अनापराधिनं यस्मात्पुत्रं हिंसितवान्मम
M. N. Dutt: Tvashtri said due to my My son who was ever devoted to devotion, of a forgiving nature, endowed with selfcontrol and who had brought his passions under his control, has been killed by you without any fault.
तस्माच्छक्रवधार्थाय वृत्रमुत्पादयाम्यहम् लोकाः पश्यन्तु मे वीर्यं तपसश्च बलं महत् स च पश्यतु देवेन्द्रो दुरात्मा पापचेतनः
M. N. Dutt: For this reason shall I create Vritra with a view to destroy Shakra. Let the worlds see my influence and power as also the great strength devotion.
उपस्पृश्य ततः क्रुद्धस्तपस्वी सुमहायशाः अग्निं हुत्वा समुत्पाद्य घोरं वृत्रमुवाच ह इन्द्रशत्रो विवर्धस्व प्रभावात्तपसो मम
M. N. Dutt: And having made his offerings to fire and having created the hero Vritra said-"O you foe of Indra, grow up through the strength due to my devotions."
सोऽवर्धत दिवं स्तब्ध्वा सूर्यवैश्वानरोपमः किं करोमीति चोवाच कालसूर्य इवोदितः शक्रं जहीति चाप्युक्तो जगाम त्रिदिवं ततः
M. N. Dutt: He grew up and the height of his figure reached beyond the sky and could be compared with the sun or fire. Like the sun that rises at the time of the annihilation of the universe, he said-"What shall I do?"
ततो युद्धं समभवद्वृत्रवासवयोस्तदा संक्रुद्धयोर्महाघोरं प्रसक्तं कुरुसत्तम
AI Translation: Then there was a battle between Vritra and Vasava, of the two who were very angry and extremely terrible, O best of the Kurus.
Supplementary Passages:
5.9.45 After 45, M (except M1) ins.: *77 ग्रस्ता लोकाश्च वृत्रेण सर्वे भरतसत्तम त्वष्टृतेजोविवृद्धेन वृत्रेण सुमहात्मना सर्वे गन्धेन्द्रियरसा हृता भारत तेन वै पृथिवी वायुराकाश आपो ज्योतिश्च पञ्चमः हृतमेतन्महाराज वृत्रेण सुमहात्मना
ततो जग्राह देवेन्द्रं वृत्रो वीरः शतक्रतुम् अपावृत्य स जग्रास वृत्रः क्रोधसमन्वितः
AI Translation: Then the hero Vritra seized Indra, the hundred-sacrificer, and, having opened his mouth, Vritra, full of anger, swallowed him,
ग्रस्ते वृत्रेण शक्रे तु संभ्रान्तास्त्रिदशास्तदा असृजंस्ते महासत्त्वा जृम्भिकां वृत्रनाशिनीम्
AI Translation: When Indra was swallowed by Vritra, the gods were terrified. Those great beings created Jṛmbhikā, the destroyer of Vritra.
विजृम्भमाणस्य ततो वृत्रस्यास्यादपावृतात् स्वान्यङ्गान्यभिसंक्षिप्य निष्क्रान्तो बलसूदनः ततः प्रभृति लोकेषु जृम्भिका प्राणिसंश्रिता
M. N. Dutt: They highly powerful then created the Yawn which was to destroy Vritra and then the slayer of Bala contracted his limbs and came out of the open mouth of the yawning Vritra. Since that day has the yawn remained in the breath of men.
जहृषुश्च सुराः सर्वे दृष्ट्वा शक्रं विनिःसृतम् ततः प्रववृते युद्धं वृत्रवासवयोः पुनः संरब्धयोस्तदा घोरं सुचिरं भरतर्षभ
M. N. Dutt: And seeing Shakra come out the gods all became joyful and then Vritra and Vasava again engaged themselves is fight.
यदा व्यवर्धत रणे वृत्रो बलसमन्वितः त्वष्टुस्तपोबलाद्विद्वांस्तदा शक्रो न्यवर्तत
AI Translation: When Vritra, endowed with strength, grew in battle, then Shakra retreated, knowing the power of Tvashtra's austerities.
निवृत्ते तु तदा देवा विषादमगमन्परम् समेत्य शक्रेण च ते त्वष्टुस्तेजोविमोहिताः अमन्त्रयन्त ते सर्वे मुनिभिः सह भारत
M. N. Dutt: Being pierced with the spirit of Tvashtri they untied with Shakra and all held a consultation with the Rishis, O son of Bharata.
किं कार्यमिति ते राजन्विचिन्त्य भयमोहिताः जग्मुः सर्वे महात्मानं मनोभिर्विष्णुमव्ययम् उपविष्टा मन्दराग्रे सर्वे वृत्रवधेप्सवः
M. N. Dutt: Filled with dread they thought, O king, on what could best be done. Seated at the summit of Mandara, they all desirous of the destruction of Vritra, went in imagination of Vishnu, who was never to be destroyed.