Critical Edition
बृहस्पतिरुवाच त्वमग्ने सर्वदेवानां मुखं त्वमसि हव्यवाट् त्वमन्तः सर्वभूतानां गूढश्चरसि साक्षिवत्
M. N. Dutt: Brihaspati said O Agni, you are within all beings and concealed there you act like a witness.
त्वामाहुरेकं कवयस्त्वामाहुस्त्रिविधं पुनः त्वया त्यक्तं जगच्चेदं सद्यो नश्येद्धुताशन
M. N. Dutt: The poets sang of you as the one and then again as the three. O you consumer of offerings, bereft of you this world is at once annihilated.
कृत्वा तुभ्यं नमो विप्राः स्वकर्मविजितां गतिम् गच्छन्ति सह पत्नीभिः सुतैरपि च शाश्वतीम्
M. N. Dutt: The Brahmanas, having bowed down to you, go away along with their wives and sons, to the eternal region, which has been won by the merit of their own deeds.
त्वमेवाग्ने हव्यवाहस्त्वमेव परमं हविः यजन्ति सत्रैस्त्वामेव यज्ञैश्च परमाध्वरे
M. N. Dutt: You are, O god of fire, the receiver of offering and you are yourself the best offering. They worship you in a sacrificial ceremony by the best offerings.
सृष्ट्वा लोकांस्त्रीनिमान्हव्यवाह; प्राप्ते काले पचसि पुनः समिद्धः सर्वस्यास्य भुवनस्य प्रसूति;स्त्वमेवाग्ने भवसि पुनः प्रतिष्ठा
M. N. Dutt: O you receiver of offerings, having created the three worlds in due time you again in due time consume them in an enkindled form; you are, O god of fire, the progenitor of the entire world and you again annihilate it.
त्वामग्ने जलदानाहुर्विद्युतश्च त्वमेव हि दहन्ति सर्वभूतानि त्वत्तो निष्क्रम्य हायनाः
M. N. Dutt: Wise people called you, O Agni, the giver of water and lightning and flames coming out from you support all beings.
त्वय्यापो निहिताः सर्वास्त्वयि सर्वमिदं जगत् न तेऽस्त्यविदितं किंचित्त्रिषु लोकेषु पावक
M. N. Dutt: Water depends on you, everything and this entire world; o you purifying element, there is not the least thing unknown to you in these three worlds.
स्वयोनिं भजते सर्वो विशस्वापोऽविशङ्कितः अहं त्वां वर्धयिष्यामि ब्राह्मैर्मन्त्रैः सनातनैः
M. N. Dutt: Everything accepts that which comes from it, enter the waters without any fear. I shall make you strong by reciting eternal hymns relating to Brahma.
शल्य उवाच एवं स्तुतो हव्यवाहो भगवान्कविरुत्तमः बृहस्पतिमथोवाच प्रीतिमान्वाक्यमुत्तमम् दर्शयिष्यामि ते शक्रं सत्यमेतद्ब्रवीमि ते
M. N. Dutt: Thus propitiated, the bearer of offerings, the god, the best among poets, said to Brihaspati, these good words indicating satisfaction. “I shall show you Shakra. I speak this truly.
प्रविश्यापस्ततो वह्निः ससमुद्राः सपल्वलाः आजगाम सरस्तच्च गूढो यत्र शतक्रतुः
M. N. Dutt: Shalya said Agni (the god of fire) thus having entered the waters including the seas and the small lakes, came to the lake where Shakra lay in disguise.
अथ तत्रापि पद्मानि विचिन्वन्भरतर्षभ अन्वपश्यत्स देवेन्द्रं बिसमध्यगतं स्थितम्
M. N. Dutt: And there searching among the lotuses, O you foremost in the race of Bharata, he saw at last the king of gods, in one of the stalks.
आगत्य च ततस्तूर्णं तमाचष्ट बृहस्पतेः अणुमात्रेण वपुषा पद्मतन्त्वाश्रितं प्रभुम्
M. N. Dutt: And then coming back quickly he gave that information to Brihaspati, namely that the lord having assumed a diminutive form was lying within a lotus.
गत्वा देवर्षिगन्धर्वैः सहितोऽथ बृहस्पतिः पुराणैः कर्मभिर्देवं तुष्टाव बलसूदनम्
M. N. Dutt: Brihaspati, then having gone (there) along with the Devarshis and Gandharvas, propitiated the slayer of Bala by reciting his deeds of olden days.
महासुरो हतः शक्र नमुचिर्दारुणस्त्वया शम्बरश्च बलश्चैव तथोभौ घोरविक्रमौ
M. N. Dutt: 0 Shakra, the great Asura, Namuchi of great power has been slain by you; so are Shambara and Bala, both of great prowess.
शतक्रतो विवर्धस्व सर्वाञ्शत्रून्निषूदय उत्तिष्ठ वज्रिन्संपश्य देवर्षींश्च समागतान्
M. N. Dutt: O you performer of a hundred sacrifices, gain in strength and slay all enemies; rise up Shakra and see the Devarshis come to you.
महेन्द्र दानवान्हत्वा लोकास्त्रातास्त्वया विभो अपां फेनं समासाद्य विष्णुतेजोपबृंहितम् त्वया वृत्रो हतः पूर्वं देवराज जगत्पते
M. N. Dutt: O Great Indra, having slain the Danavas, you have saved the worlds. O Lord, having got the foam of the waters and with the assistance of the strength of Vishnu, you have killed Vritra before this; o you king of the gods, 0 you lord of the universe.
त्वं सर्वभूतेषु वरेण्य ईड्य;स्त्वया समं विद्यते नेह भूतम् त्वया धार्यन्ते सर्वभूतानि शक्र; त्वं देवानां महिमानं चकर्थ
M. N. Dutt: You are the saviour of all beings and worthy of beings and worthy of being propitiated by them. There is no being is this world equal to you. All the beings and support by you, O Shakra and you created the greatness of the gods.
पाहि देवान्सलोकांश्च महेन्द्र बलमाप्नुहि एवं संस्तूयमानश्च सोऽवर्धत शनैः शनैः
M. N. Dutt: O great Indra, rule over all three worlds and grow in strength. Being thus propitiated he, by slow degrees, increased (in strength).
स्वं चैव वपुरास्थाय बभूव स बलान्वितः अब्रवीच्च गुरुं देवो बृहस्पतिमुपस्थितम्
M. N. Dutt: Having gained his own form he became endowed with strength and the god thus addressed his preceptor who was standing before him.
किं कार्यमवशिष्टं वो हतस्त्वाष्ट्रो महासुरः वृत्रश्च सुमहाकायो ग्रस्तुं लोकानियेष यः
M. N. Dutt: What is there still remaining to be done. The great Asura, the son of Tvashtri, has been killed and so has been Vritra of large stature who destroyed the three worlds.
बृहस्पतिरुवाच मानुषो नहुषो राजा देवर्षिगणतेजसा देवराज्यमनुप्राप्तः सर्वान्नो बाधते भृशम्
M. N. Dutt: Brihaspati said The human being Nahusha, through the influence of the Devarshis, having gained the kingdom of gods, is very much inflecting us.
इन्द्र उवाच कथं नु नहुषो राज्यं देवानां प्राप दुर्लभम् तपसा केन वा युक्तः किंवीर्यो वा बृहस्पते
M. N. Dutt: Indra said How did Nahusha obtain the kingdom of the gods, which is hard to gain; with what strength of devotion is he endued, what is his power, O Brihaspati.
Supplementary Passages:
5.16.22 After 22, T1 G (except G3) ins.: *109 तत्सर्वं कथयध्वं मे यथेन्द्रत्वमुपेयिवान्
बृहस्पतिरुवाच देवा भीताः शक्रमकामयन्त; त्वया त्यक्तं महदैन्द्रं पदं तत् तदा देवाः पितरोऽथर्षयश्च; गन्धर्वसंघाश्च समेत्य सर्वे
M. N. Dutt: Brihaspati said Yourself having left the celebrated position of Indra, the gods became anxious and wished for a Shakra; and at that time the gods, the Pitris, the Rishis and the chief among the Gandharvas all united together.
Supplementary Passages:
5.16.23 After the ref., S ins.: *110 त्वयि प्रणष्टे देवेश विश्वं प्रव्यथितं जगत् परस्परभयोद्विग्नं बभूवार्तमराजकम् ततो देवैः सगन्धर्वैः सर्षिसंघैः सपावकैः मानुषो नहुषो राजा देवराज्येऽभिषेचितः
गत्वाब्रुवन्नहुषं शक्र तत्र; त्वं नो राजा भव भुवनस्य गोप्ता तानब्रवीन्नहुषो नास्मि शक्त; आप्यायध्वं तपसा तेजसा च
M. N. Dutt: And going, O Shakra, to Nahusha they said-Be you king, the protector of the worldNahusha said to them-I am not capable of being your king); infuse in me, strength with the virtue of devotion.
एवमुक्तैर्वर्धितश्चापि देवै; राजाभवन्नहुषो घोरवीर्यः त्रैलोक्ये च प्राप्य राज्यं तपस्विनः; कृत्वा वाहान्याति लोकान्दुरात्मा
M. N. Dutt: The gods being thus spoken to, infused strength into Nahusha (now) of great strength and, he became the king; having got the kingdom of the three worlds, he has made the great Rishis his bears and the wicked-minded one is now roaming about the worlds.
तेजोहरं दृष्टिविषं सुघोरं; मा त्वं पश्येर्नहुषं वै कदाचित् देवाश्च सर्वे नहुषं भयार्ता; न पश्यन्तो गूढरूपाश्चरन्ति
M. N. Dutt: Never do you look at Nahusha who absorbs all energy and whose gaze is as very subtle as poison. The gods too, being very much afraid of Nahusha, do not look at him and roam about in concealment.
शल्य उवाच एवं वदत्यङ्गिरसां वरिष्ठे; बृहस्पतौ लोकपालः कुबेरः वैवस्वतश्चैव यमः पुराणो; देवश्च सोमो वरुणश्चाजगाम
M. N. Dutt: Shalya said While Brihaspati, that best among the race of Angira, was yet speaking, Kubera, the ruler of the world and Yama, the son of Vivasvata and the aged god Soma and Varuna came there.
ते वै समागम्य महेन्द्रमूचु;र्दिष्ट्या त्वाष्ट्रो निहतश्चैव वृत्रः दिष्ट्या च त्वां कुशलिनमक्षतं च; पश्यामो वै निहतारिं च शक्र
M. N. Dutt: They having come there spoke thus to the great Indra-"it is lucky that the son of Tvashtri has been killed and Vritra; it is lucky that we see you, O Shakra, safe and sound and without any would, with all your enemies slain.
स तान्यथावत्प्रतिभाष्य शक्रः; संचोदयन्नहुषस्यान्तरेण राजा देवानां नहुषो घोररूप;स्तत्र साह्यं दीयतां मे भवद्भिः
AI Translation: Having thus replied to them, Shakra, urging them on, said to Nahusha: "King Nahusha of the gods is of terrible form. Give me assistance there, O you gods."
Supplementary Passages:
5.16.29 After yathāvat, N (except K1.3.5) T (T2 marg. sec. m.) ins.: *111 च हि लोकपालान् समेत्य वै प्रीतमना महेन्द्रः उवाच चैनान्
ते चाब्रुवन्नहुषो घोररूपो; दृष्टीविषस्तस्य बिभीम देव त्वं चेद्राजन्नहुषं पराजये;स्तद्वै वयं भागमर्हाम शक्र
AI Translation: And they said, "Ahusha is of terrible form, his eye is poison. We fear him, O god. If, O king, you conquer Ahusha, then we deserve a share in that, O Shakra.
इन्द्रोऽब्रवीद्भवतु भवानपां पति;र्यमः कुबेरश्च महाभिषेकम् संप्राप्नुवन्त्वद्य सहैव तेन; रिपुं जयामो नहुषं घोरदृष्टिम्
AI Translation: Indra said: "Let you be the lord of waters, Yama and Kubera, and let them receive the great consecration today, together with him. Let us conquer the enemy Nahusha, of
ततः शक्रं ज्वलनोऽप्याह भागं; प्रयच्छ मह्यं तव साह्यं करिष्ये तमाह शक्रो भविताग्ने तवापि; ऐन्द्राग्नो वै भाग एको महाक्रतौ
M. N. Dutt: Coming together, shall we this day, with the aid of the gods, win victory over our enemy, Nahusha, of terrific gaze. Then the god of fire said to Shakra-"give me a share, I shall render you assistance" and Indra said to him; "O God of fire, you too shall get a share; in large sacrificial ceremonies, there will be but one share for Indra and Agni."
एवं संचिन्त्य भगवान्महेन्द्रः पाकशासनः कुबेरं सर्वयक्षाणां धनानां च प्रभुं तथा
AI Translation: Having thus reflected, the Blessed One, the Lord of the Great Indra, and Kubera, the lord of all yakshas and wealth,
वैवस्वतं पितॄणां च वरुणं चाप्यपां तथा आधिपत्यं ददौ शक्रः सत्कृत्य वरदस्तदा
AI Translation: He gave the lordship of the Pitrs to Vivasvat and of the waters to Varuna. Shakra, the bestower of boons, honoured them and gave them lordship.