ततो वह्निं समाहूय ब्रह्मा वचनमब्रवीत् । शक्रहत्या चतुर्थांशं जातवेदो गृहाण भो
Then, summoning fire, Brahmā spoke: 'O Jātavedas, accept a fourth part of Śakra's Brahmin-killing sin.'
अग्निरुवाच। मम मोक्षस्य को हेतुर्ब्रह्महत्याकृते प्रभो । एतदिच्छामि विज्ञातुं तत्त्वतो लोकपूजित
Agni spoke: 'What is the reason for my liberation, O Lord, in regard to the Brahmin-killing sin? I wish to know this truly, O honored one.'
ब्रह्मोवाच। यस्त्वां ज्वलंतमासाद्य न होष्यति नरः क्वचित् । बीजौषधितिलानग्रे फलमूलसमित्कुशान्
Brahmā spoke: 'Whoever approaches you while you are blazing will never use you in any way for seeds, herbs, sesame, fruits, roots, sacrificial sticks, or kuśa grass.'
तदैव त्यक्षति त्वां च तत्रैव च निवत्स्यति । ब्रह्महत्या हव्यवाह व्येतु ते मनसो ज्वरः
At that moment, he will abandon you and remain there; O carrier of offerings, let the fever of your mind caused by Brahmin-killing depart.
ततः स परिजग्राह तद्वचो हव्यकव्यभुक् । पितामहश्च भगवान्तथा तदलभत्प्रियम्
Then, the eater of offerings accepted that command, and the blessed grandsire thus obtained his desire.
ततो वृक्षौषधितृणान्याहूय स पितामहः । इममर्थं महाभागे वक्तुं समुपचक्रमे 6.168.
Then, summoning trees, herbs, and grasses, the grandsire began to speak this matter to the noble lady.
ततो वृक्षौषधितृणैस्तथैवोक्तं यथातथम् । व्यथितान्यग्निवद्देवि ब्रह्माणं वाक्यमब्रुवन्
Then, the trees, herbs, and grasses spoke as instructed, O goddess, afflicted like Agni, and addressed Brahmā.
अस्माकं ब्रह्महत्यायाः कथयंतः पितामह । स्वभाव निहिता तस्मान्न पुनर्हंतुमर्हसि
For us, O grandsire, the Brahmin-killing sin is inherent by nature; therefore, you should not kill us again.
वयमग्निं तथा शीतं वर्षं च पवनेरितम् । सहामः सततं देव तथा छेदनभेदनम्
We endure fire, cold, rain driven by wind, O god, and also cutting and splitting, always.
ब्रह्मोवाच। अकारणं नरो यस्तु युष्मच्छेदनभेदनम् । करिष्यति महामोहात्तमेषानु प्रयास्यति
Brahmā spoke: 'If any man, out of great delusion, cuts or splits you without cause, this sin will go to him.'
महादेव उवाच। ततो महौषधितृणैरोमित्युक्तं महात्मभिः । ब्रह्माणमपि संपूज्य जग्मुश्चाथ यथागतम्
Mahādeva spoke: 'Then, as said by the great souls, the trees, herbs, and grasses, after honoring Brahmā, departed as they had come.'
आहूयाप्सरसो देवस्ततो लोकपितामहः । वाचा मधुरया प्राह सांत्वयन्निव सत्तमे
Then, summoning the Apsarases, the lord of the worlds, the grandsire, spoke with sweet words, as if consoling, to the noble ones.
इयं वृत्रादनुप्राप्ता ब्रह्महत्या वराङ्गनाः । चतुर्थमस्या भागं च मयोक्तं संप्रतीच्छथ
This Brahmin-killing sin, O beautiful ones, has come from Vṛtra; I have assigned a fourth part of it to you, accept it now.
अप्सरा ऊचुः । ग्रहणे कृतबुद्धीनां देवेश तव शासनात् । संमोक्षसमयोऽस्माकं चिंतनीयः पितामह
The Apsarases spoke: 'We are resolved to accept it, O lord of gods, by your command; but the time for our liberation, O grandsire, must be considered.'
पितामह उवाच। रजस्वलासु नारीषु यो वै मैथुनमाचरेत् । तमेषा यास्यति क्षिप्रं व्येतु वो मनसो ज्वरः
Pitāmaha said: Whoever engages in intercourse with women during their menstrual period, she will swiftly depart from him; let the fever of your minds subside.
महादेव उवाच। तथेति हृष्टमनसः प्रत्युक्ता ह्यप्सरोगणाः । स्वानि स्थानानि संप्राप्य रेमिरे शैलजे तदा
Mahādeva said: 'So be it,' replied the group of apsarases, their hearts delighted. Having reached their own places, they enjoyed themselves with the daughter of the mountain.
ततश्च लोककृद्देवः पुनरेव पितामहः । आपः संचिंतयामास ततस्ताश्च समागमन्
Then the creator of the worlds, Pitāmaha, once again considered the waters, and they came together.
ताश्च सर्वाः समागम्य ब्रह्माणममितौजसम् । इदमूचुर्वचो देवि प्रणिपत्य पितामहम्
All of them gathered and, bowing to Pitāmaha, the goddess with immeasurable energy, spoke these words to Brahmā.
इमाः स्म देव संप्राप्तास्त्वत्सकाशमरिंदम। शासनात्तव देवेश समाज्ञापय तत्प्रभो
O god, we have come to you, O destroyer of enemies, at your command, O lord of gods; instruct us, O master.
ब्रह्मोवाच। इयं वृत्रादनुप्राप्ता पुरुहूतं भयानका । ब्रह्महत्या चतुर्थांशं यूयमस्याः प्रतीच्छथ
Brahmā said: This dreadful Brahma-hatya, which came from Vṛtra, has reached Indra. You must accept a fourth part of it.
आप ऊचुः। एवं भवतु लोकेश यत्त्वं वदसि नः प्रभोः । मोक्षस्य समयं नस्त्वं संचिंतयितुमर्हसि
The waters said: So be it, O lord of the world, as you command us, O master. You should consider the means for our liberation.
त्वं हि देवेंद्र सर्वस्य जगतः परमा गतिः । कोऽन्येभ्यो हि प्रसादोऽपि यः कृच्छ्रान्नः समुद्धरेत्
For you, O Indra, are the supreme refuge of all the worlds. Who else could grant favor and deliver us from hardship?
ब्रह्मोवाच। अल्पमेव मतिं कृत्वा यो नरो बुद्धिमोहितः
Brahmā said: If a man, his mind deluded, acts with little understanding—
श्लेष्ममूत्रपुरीषाणि युष्मासु प्रतिमोक्षति । तमेव यास्यति क्षिप्रं तत्रैव च निवत्स्यति । ततो वै भविता मोक्ष इति सत्यं ब्रवीमि वः
He will discharge phlegm, urine, and feces into you; he will quickly go there and remain there. Then liberation will occur; I speak the truth to you.
महादेव उवाच। ततो विमुच्य देवेंद्रं ब्रह्महत्या सुरेश्वरि । गतातिहृष्टो देवेशो ह्यभवद्देवशासनात्
Mahādeva said: Then, freed from Brahma-hatya by the command of the gods, Indra became exceedingly joyful.
एवं शक्रेण संप्राप्ता ब्रह्महत्या पुरा युगे । अस्मिंस्तीर्थे तपस्तप्त्वा शुद्धात्मा त्रिदिवं ययौ
Thus, in ancient times, Indra was afflicted by Brahma-hatya; after performing austerities at this holy place, purified in soul, he went to heaven.
अश्वमेधं ततः कृत्वा विपाप्मा समपद्यत । इति साभ्रमती तीर्थे वार्त्रघ्नीयं नगात्मजे
Then, having performed the horse sacrifice, he became free from sin. Thus, at this holy place, the Vārtraghnī, O daughter of the mountain.
इति श्रीपाद्मे महापुराणे पंचपंचाशत्साहस्र्यां संहितायामुत्तरखंडे। वार्त्रघ्नीमाहात्म्यंनामाष्टषष्ट्यधिकशततमोऽध्यायः
Thus ends the one hundred and sixty-eighth chapter, entitled 'The Glory of Vārtraghnī,' in the Uttarakhaṇḍa of the glorious Padma Mahāpurāṇa, comprising fifty-five thousand verses.
महेश उवाच। ततःपरं देवनदी वार्त्रघ्नी संगमात्किल । प्रविष्टा भद्रया सार्द्धं सागरं वरुणालयम्
Maheśa said: Thereafter, the divine river Vārtraghnī, from the confluence, entered the abode of Varuṇa, the ocean, together with Bhadrā.
समुद्रोऽपि तया तावदागम्य प्रियकाम्यया । साभ्रमत्यानुरागेण कृतवान्प्रियमेलनम्
The ocean, desiring her affection, approached her; with loving attachment, he made a union with her.