देवकार्यं तदा सर्वं भविष्यति न संशयः । स वम्रीं संदिदेशाथ देवदेवः सनातनः
Then all the work of the gods will be accomplished, without doubt; and the eternal Lord of gods instructed the termite.
तमुवाच तदा वम्री देवदेवस्य मापतेः । निद्राभङ्गः कथं कार्यो देवस्य जगतां गुरोः
Then the termite said to the Lord of gods: 'How should the sleep of the god, the teacher of the worlds, be broken?'
निद्राभङ्गः कथाच्छेदो दम्पत्योः प्रीतिभेदनम् । शिशुमातृविभेदश्च ब्रह्महत्यासमं स्मृतम्
The breaking of sleep, the interruption of a story, the separation of a loving couple, and the division of mother and child are considered equal to the sin of killing a Brahmin.
तत्कथं देवदेवस्य करोमि सुखनाशनम् । किं फलं भक्षणाद्देव येन पापं करोम्यहम्
How, then, can I bring about the loss of happiness for the Lord of gods? What fruit will I gain from eating, for which I would commit sin?
सर्वः स्वार्थवशो लोकः कुरुते पातकं किल । तस्मादहं करिष्यामि स्वार्थमेव प्रभक्षणम्
The whole world, compelled by self-interest, indeed commits sin; therefore, I will do this act for my own sake, and I will eat.
ब्रह्मोवाच तव भागं करिष्यामो मखमध्ये यथा शृणु । तेन त्वं कुरु कार्यं नो विष्णुं बोधय माचिरम्
Brahma said: 'We will give you your share in the sacrifice—listen as I tell you. By that, do our task and quickly awaken Vishnu.'
होमकर्मणि पार्श्वे च हविर्दानात्पतिष्यति । तत्ते भागं विजानीहि कुरु कार्यं त्वरान्विता
At the side of the sacrificial rite, from the offering of oblations, your share will fall; know that as your portion, and perform the task with speed.
सूत उवाच इत्युक्ता ब्रह्मणा वम्री धनुषोऽग्रं त्वरान्विता । चखाद संस्थितं भूमौ विमुक्ता ज्या तदाभवत्
Suta said: Thus addressed by Brahma, the termite quickly ate the tip of the bow that was resting on the ground, and then the bowstring was released.
प्रत्यञ्जायां विमुक्तायां मुक्ता कोटिस्तथोत्तरा । शब्दः समभवद्घोरस्तेन त्रस्ताः सुरास्तदा
As the bowstring was released and the tip sprang upward, a terrible sound arose, and the gods were frightened by it.
ब्रह्माण्डं क्षुभितं सर्वं वसुधा कम्पिता तदा । समुद्राश्च समुद्विग्नास्त्रेसुश्च जलजन्तवः
The entire cosmic egg was shaken, the earth trembled, the oceans were agitated, and the aquatic creatures were terrified.