लोमश उवाच समुद्रं ते समाश्रित्य वारुणं निधिसम्भसः। कालेयाः सम्प्रवर्तन्त त्रैलोक्यस्य विनाशने॥
Lomasha said : Living in the ocean, the abode of Varuna, the Kalkeyas began their operations for the destruction of the worlds.
ते रात्रौ समभिक्रुद्धा भक्षयन्ति सदा मुनीन्। आश्रमेषु च ये सन्ति पुण्येष्वायतनेषु च॥
They began to devour in the night in anger the Rishis (they found) in the hermitages and in the holy spots.
वसिष्ठस्याश्रमे विप्रा भक्षितास्तैर्दुरात्मभिः। अशीतिः शतमष्टौ च नव चान्ये तपस्विनः॥
Those wicked-minded Daityas devoured one hundred and eighty Brahmanas and also ascetics in the hermitage of Vasishtha.
च्यवनस्याश्रमं गत्वा पुण्यं द्विजनिषेवितम्। फलमूलाशनानां हि मुनीनां भक्षितं शतम्॥
Going to the sacred hermitage hermitage of Chayavana, frequented by the Brahmanas, they devoured one hundred Rishis who lived on fruits and roots.
एवं रात्रौ स्म कुर्वन्ति विविशुश्चार्णवं दिवा। भरद्वाजाश्रमे चैव नियता ब्रह्मचारिणः॥ वाय्वाहाराम्बुभक्षाश्च विंशतिः संनिषूदिताः। एवं क्रमेण सर्वांस्तानाश्रमान् दानवास्तदा॥
They thus acted during the night and during the day they entered into the sea. They devoured in the hermitage of Bharadvaja two Brahmanas of subdued soul and of Brahmachari life, living on air and water only. In this way did the Danavas one after another (invade) all the hermitages.
निशायां परिबाधन्ते मत्ता भुजबलाश्रयात्। कालोपसृष्टाः कालेया घ्नन्तो द्विजगणान् बहून्॥
Being intoxicated with prowess of arms and their lives nearly run out, the Kalkeyas destroyed many Brahmanas.
न चैनानन्वबुध्यन्त मनुजा मनुजोत्तम। एवं प्रवृत्तान् दैत्यांस्तांस्तापसेषु तपस्विषु॥
O foremost of men, the Danavas acted in this way towards the ascetics in their ascetic retreats. Yet men could not discover them.
प्रभाते समदृश्यन्त नियताहारकर्शिताः। महीतलस्था मुनयः शरीरैर्गतजीवितैः॥
Every morning people saw lying on the ground the dead bodies of Rishis who were emaciated for living on frugal diet.
क्षीणमांसैविरुधिरैर्विमज्जान्त्रैविसंधिभिः। आकीर्णैराबभौ भूमिः शङ्खानामिव राशिभिः॥
Many of those bodies were without flesh or blood. without entrails and with limbs separated from one another. Here and there lay heaps of bones like heaps of conch-shells.
कलशैविप्रविबैश्च सुवैर्भग्नैस्तथैव च। विकीर्णैरग्निहोत्रैश्च भूर्बभूव समावृता॥
The earth was scattered over with the (sacrificial) contents of broken jars and shattered ladles for pouring libations of ghee and with the sacred fires kept with care by the ascetics.
नि:स्वाध्यायवषट्कारं नष्टयज्ञोत्सवक्रियम्। जगदासीनिरुत्साहं कालेयभयपीडितम्॥
The universe, being afflicted with the terror of the Kalkeyas and being destitute of the Vedic studies, of the Vashats and the sacrificial festivals and religious rites, became very fearless.
एवं संक्षीयमाणाश्च मानवा मनुजेश्वर। आत्मत्राणपराभीताः प्राद्रवन्त दिशो भयात्॥
O ruler of men, when men began to perish in this way, the survivors fled for their lives in all directions.
केचिद् गुहा: प्रविविशुर्निर्झरांश्चापरे तथा। अपरे मरणोद्विग्ना भयात् प्राणान् समुत्सृजन्॥
Some fled to caverns and some behind mountain streams and springs and some through fear of death gave up their lives.
केचिदत्र महेष्वासाः शूराः परमहर्षिताः। मार्गमाणाः परं यत्नं दानवानां प्रचक्रिरे॥
Those among them who were bow-men and heroes cheerfully went out and took great trouble of find out the Danavas.
न चैतानधिजग्मुस्ते समुद्रं समुपाश्रितान्। श्रमं जग्मुश्च परममाजग्मुः क्षयमेव च॥
Failing to find them, for the Asuras had taken shelter in the bottom of the ocean, they came back to their homes greatly aggrieved.
जगत्युपशमं याते नष्टयज्ञोत्सवक्रिये। आजग्मुः परमामाति त्रिदशा मनुजेश्वर॥
O ruler of men, when the universe was being thus destroyed and when sacrificial festivals and religious rites were all destroyed, the celestials were filled with great afflictions.
समेत्य समहेन्द्राश्च भयान्मन्त्रं प्रचक्रिरे। शरण्यं शरणं देवं नारायणमजं विभुम्॥
Assembling all together with Indra in their midst, they consulted with one another out of fcar. They asked protection from the increate and exalted deity, Narayana.
तेऽभिगम्य नमस्कृत्य वैकुण्ठमपराजितम्। ततो देवाः समस्तास्ते तदोचुर्मधुसूदनम्॥
Going to that unvanquished lord of Vaikuntha and bowing to that slayer of Madhu, the celestials thus addressed him,
त्वं न स्रष्टा च भर्ता च हर्ता च जगतः प्रभो। त्वया सृष्टमिदं विश्वं यच्चेङ्गं यच् नेङ्गति॥
“O lord, you are the creator, the protector and the destroyer of the universe as well as of ourselves. It is you who have created this universe with all its mobile creatures.
त्वया भूमिः पुरा नष्टा समुद्रात् पुष्करेक्षण। वाराहं वपुराश्रित्य जगदर्थे समुद्धृता॥
O lotus-eyed deity, it is you who in the days of yore assuming the form of a boar raised the sunken earth from the sea for the benefit of all creatures.
आदिदैत्यो महावीर्यो हिरण्यकशिपुः पुरा। नारसिंहं वपुः कृत्वा सूदितः पुरुषोत्तम॥
O foremost of Purushas, assuming the form of Narasimha (half man and half lion) you killed in the days of yore the ancient and greatly powerful Daityas, called Hiranayakashipu.
अवध्यः सर्वभूतानां बलिश्चापि महासुरः। वामनं वपुराश्रित्य त्रैलोक्याद् भ्रंशितस्त्वया॥
There was a great Asura named Bali, incapable of being killed by any crcature. Assuming the form of a dwarf, you exiled him from the three worlds.
असुरश्च महेष्वासो जम्भ इत्यभिविश्रुतः। यज्ञक्षोभकरः क्रूरस्त्वयैव विनिपातितः॥
It is by you that wicked Asura called Jambha who was a powerful bow-man and v.ho always obstructed sacrifices was killed.
एवमादीनि कर्माणि येषां संख्या न विद्यते। अस्माकं भयभीतानां त्वं गतिर्मधुसूदन॥
Your acts are like those which, O slayer of Madhu, cannot be counted. You are the refuge of all who are afflicted with fear.
तस्मात् त्वां देवदेवेश लोकार्थं ज्ञापयामहे। रक्ष लोकांश्च देवांश्च शक्रं च महतो भयात्॥
O god of gods, it is for this we tell you what is our present trouble. Save the worlds, the celestials and Indra also from this great fear.