शल्य उवाच अथ तामब्रवीद् दृष्ट्वा नहुषो देवराट् तदा। त्रयाणामपि लोकानामहमिन्द्रः शुचिस्मिते॥
Shalya said Then did Nahusha, the king of the gods, seeing her address her thus-“I am the Indra of the three worlds, O you of sweet smiles." me as
भजस्व मां वरारोहे पतित्वे वरवर्णिनि। एवमुक्ता तु सा देवी नहुषेण पतिव्रता॥
o you with slender waist, O you with bright complexion, choose your husband." The chaste goddess being thus spoken to by Nahusha.
प्रावेपत भयोद्विग्ना प्रवाते कदली यथा। प्रणम्य सा हि ब्रह्माणं शिरसा तु कृताञ्जलिः॥
Literally trembled with fear as the plantain tree does during a storm and bowing her head to Brahma and clasping her hands together.
देवराजमथोवाच नहुषं घोरदर्शनम्। कालमिच्छाम्यहं लब्धं त्वत्तः कंचित् सुरेश्वर॥
Said to the (now) terrific looking king of the gods. “I want time to get information on certain points, O lord of the gods.
न हि विज्ञायते शक्रः किंवा प्राप्तः क्व वा गतः। तत्त्वमेतत् तु विज्ञाय यदि न ज्ञायते प्रभो॥
I do not know where Shakra now is, nor where he has gone to. If after trying to get information on these points, I do not get them, Olord.
ततोऽहं त्वामुपस्थास्ये सत्यमेतद् ब्रवीमि ते। एवमुक्तः स इन्द्राण्या नहुषः प्रीतिमानभूत्॥
Then shall I attend on you; I speak sincerely." Being thus addressed by the queen of Indra, Nahusha became highly pleased.
नहुष उवाच एवं भवतु सुश्रोणि यथा मामिह भाषसे। ज्ञात्वा जागमनं कार्यं सत्यमेतदनुस्मरेः॥
Nahusha said O you with beautiful things, let it be as you tell me here; but remember your plighted word.
नहुषेण विसृष्टा च निश्चक्राम ततः शुभा। बृहस्पतिनिकेतं च सा जगाम यशस्विनी॥
Shalya said Then did the beautiful one, thus dismissed by Nahusha, came out and the renowned one went to the abode of Brihaspati.
तस्याः संश्रुत्यं च वचो देवाश्चाग्निपुरोगमाः। चिन्तयामासुरेकाग्राः शनार्थं राजसत्तम॥
Having heard her words, the gods with Agni at their head, began to deliberate earnestly on the means of attaining to Shakra's good, O best among kings.
देवदेवेन सङ्गम्य विष्णुना प्रभविष्णुना। ऊचुश्चैनं समुद्विग्ना वाक्यं वाक्यविशारदाः॥
Having met the god among the gods, the Lord Vishnu, the anxious ones, who wore adepts at speeches, thus addressed him.
ब्रह्मवध्याभिभूतो वै शक्रः सुरगणेश्वरः। गतिश्च नस्त्वं देवेश पूर्वजो जगतः प्रभुः॥
Shakra, the lord of the gods, is overpowered by the crime of slaying a Brahmana. You, O lord, O lord of the gods, are our refuge, O you born before the universe.
रक्षार्थं सर्वभूतानां विष्णुत्वमुपजग्मिवान्। त्वद्वीर्यनिहते वृत्रे वासवो ब्रह्महत्यया।॥ वृतः सुरगणश्रेष्ठ मोक्षं तस्य विनिर्दिशा तेषां तद् वचनं श्रुत्वा देवानां विष्णुरब्रवीत्॥
You assumed the form of Vishnu for protecting all the beings. Vritra being slain through (the aid of) your strength, Vasava, the chief among all the gods, is overpowered by the sin of slaying a Brahmana. Indicate to us the means of his salvation. Vishnu, having
मामेव यजतां शक्रः पावयिष्यामि वज्रिणम्। पुण्येन हयमेधेन मामिष्ट्वा पाकशासनः॥
"Let Shakra offer sacrifice to me, I shall purity the one with the thunderbolt. Having duly worshipped me, by the holy sacrifice of a horse, shall the chastiser of the Paka.
पुनरेष्यति देवानामिन्द्रत्वमकुतोभयः। स्वकर्मभिश्च नहुषो नाशं यास्यति दुर्मतिः॥
Regain the position of the king of the gods without any fear. And the evil-minded Nahusha will meet with destruction, as the effect of his own deeds.
किंचित् कालमिदं देवा मर्षयध्वमतन्द्रिताः। श्रुत्वा विष्णोः शुभां सत्यां वाणी ताममृतोपमाम्॥
For some time, O gods, must you be patient and watchful." Hearing these words of Vishnu which were true, auspicious and like nectar.
ततः सर्वे सुरगणाः सोपाध्यायाः सहर्षिभिः। यत्र शक्रो भयोद्विग्नस्तं देशमुपचक्रमुः॥
All the gods, with the preceptors and the Rishis, went to the spot where Shakra lay stricken with fear.
तत्राश्वमेधः सुमहान् महेन्द्रस्य महात्मनः। ववृते पावनार्थं वै ब्रह्महत्यापहो नृप॥
There did they perform the sacrifice of a horse on a large scale, capable of absolving one from the sin of having slier of Brahmana, for the absolution of the large minded Mahendra.
विभज्य ब्रह्महत्यां तु वृक्षेषु च नदीषु च। पर्वतेषु पृथिव्यां च स्त्रीषु चैव युधिष्ठिर॥
Then, O Yudhishthira was the crime of slaying that Brahmana divided among the trees, the rivers and the mountains and the world and the women.
संविभज्य च भूतेषु विसृज्य च सुरेश्वरः। विज्वरो धूतपाप्मा च वासवोऽभवदात्मवान्॥
(This sin) being thus divided among all beings having left the lord of the gods, Vasava was cured of his disorder and getting rid of his sins, came to himself.
अकम्पन्नहुषं स्थानादं दृष्ट्वा बलनिषूदनः। तेजोनं सर्वभूतानां वरदानाच्च दुःसहम्॥
Form that place the slayer of Bala saw Nahusha, who was not afraid of him and who absorbed the power of all beings and who could not be approached through the boon granted him.
ततः शचीपतिर्देवः पुनरेव व्यनश्यत। अदृश्यः सर्वभूतानां कालाकाक्षी चचार ह॥
Then the god, the husband of Sachi again melted himself into the air and invisible by all beings he remained for a fitting opportunity.
प्रनष्टे तु ततः शक्रे शची शोकसमन्विता। हा शक्रेति तदा देवी विललाप सुदुःखिता।॥
Shakra having rendered himself invisible, Sachi, being stricken with grief and the goddess, exceedingly sad thus lamented for him, Alas Shakra.
यदि दत्तं यदि हुतं गुरवस्तोषिता यदि। एकभर्तृत्वमेवास्तु सत्यं यद्यस्ति वा मयि॥
If ever a gift has been made by me or an offering (made by me) or my superiors satisfied by me and if there is any truth in me, let me be with one husband only.
पुण्यां चेमामहं दिव्या प्रवृत्तामुत्तरायणे। देवीं रात्रिं नमस्यामि सिध्यतां मे मनोरथः॥
I bow to this holy, godly goddess night who is now on the northern solstice; let my wish be satisfied.
प्रयता च निशां देवीमुपातिष्ठत तत्र सा! प्रतिव्रतात्वात् सत्येन सोपश्रुतिमथाकरोत्॥
Then did she making her body and soul pure, offer due worship to the goddess night and for the sake of her truth and chastity she had recourse to divination.
यत्रास्ते देवराजोऽसौ तं देशं दर्शयस्व मे। इत्याहोपश्रुतिं देवीं सत्यं सत्येन दृश्यताम्॥
Show me the spot where stays he the king of gods. Show me truth by means of truth. Thus did she ask of Upashruti.