देवा ऊचुः तव प्रसादाद् वर्धन्ते प्रजाः सर्वाश्चतुर्विधाः। ता भाविता भावयन्ति हव्यकव्यैर्दिवौकसः।१।।

The celestials said : All the four orders of creatures increase through your favour. They propitiate the dwellers of heaven with the offering of Habya and Kabya (sacrificial libations to the gods and oblations to the Pitris).

Vana Parva 103.1

लोका ह्येवं विवर्धन्ते ह्यन्योन्यं समुपाश्रिताः। त्वत्प्रसादान्निरुद्विग्नास्त्वयैव परिरक्षिताः॥ इदं च समनुप्राप्तं लोकानां भयमुत्तमम्। न च जानीम केनेमे रात्रौ वध्यन्ति ब्राह्मणाः॥

Thus being protected by you and freed from troubles, people through your favour increase depending on one arrother. Now this great fear has overtaken the people. We do not know by whom the Brahmanas are killed at night.

Vana Parva 103.2

क्षीणेषु च ब्राह्मणेषु पृथिवी क्षयमेष्यति। ततः पृथिव्यां क्षीणायां त्रिदिवं क्षयमेष्यति॥

If the Brahmanas are destroyed, the world will be also destroyed. If the world is destroyed, heaven itself will be destroyed.

Vana Parva 103.3

त्वत्प्रसादान्महाबाहो लोकाः सर्वे जगत्पते। विनाशं नाधिगच्छेयुस्त्वया वै परिरक्षिताः॥

O mighty armed lord of the universe, let not, through your favour, people, protected as they are by you, meet with destruction.

Vana Parva 103.4

विष्णुरुवाच विदितं मे सुराः सर्वं प्रजानां क्षयकारणम्। भवतां चापि वक्ष्यामि शृणुध्वं विगतज्वराः॥

Vishnu said: O celestials, I know the reason of the destruction of all creatures. I shall tell you all about it. Having your mind freed form anxiety listen to it.

Vana Parva 103.5

कालेय इति विख्यातो गणः परमदारुणः। तैश्च वृत्रं समाश्रित्य जगत् सर्वं प्रमाथितम्॥

There are a fearful class (of Danavas) wellknown by the name of Kalkeyas. Placing Vritra at their head, they devasted the Universe.

Vana Parva 103.6

ते वृत्रं निहतं दृष्ट्वा सहस्राक्षेणधीमता। जीवितं परिरक्षन्तः प्रविष्टा वरुणालयम्॥

Having seen Vritra killed by the greatly intelligent deity of one thousand eyes (Indra), they entered into the ocean) the abode of Varuna, to save their lives,

Vana Parva 103.7

ते प्रविश्योदधिं घोरं नक्रग्राहसमाकुलम्। उत्सादनार्थं लोकानां रात्रौ घ्नन्ति ऋषीनिह॥

Having entered the fearful ocean full of sharks and crocodiles, they (now) kill the Rishis at night with the intention of exterminating all creatures.

Vana Parva 103.8

न तु शक्या: क्षयं नेतुं समुद्राश्रयगा हि ते। समुद्रस्य क्षये बुद्धिर्भवद्भिः सम्प्रधार्यताम्॥

But they cannot be killed, as they have taken shelter under the sea. You should therefore find out some means to dry up the ocean.

Vana Parva 103.9

अगस्त्येन विना को हि शक्तोऽन्योऽर्णवशोषणे। अन्यथा हि न शक्यास्ते विना सागरशोषणम्॥

Except Agastya, who else is capable of drying up the ocean? Without drying up the ocean, they cannot be assailed by any other ineans.

Vana Parva 103.10

एतच्छ्रुत्वा तदा देवा विष्णुना समुदाहृतम्। परमेष्ठिनमाज्ञाप्य अगस्त्यस्याश्रमं ययुः॥

Having heard these words of Vishnu about the drying up of the ocean, they took the permission of Parameshti (Brahma) and went to the hermitage of Agastya.

Vana Parva 103.11

तत्रापश्यन् महात्मानं वारुणिं दीप्ततेजसम्। उपास्यमानमृषिभिर्देवैरिव पितामहम्॥

There they saw the high-souled son of Varuna, of blazing effulgence, waited upon by the Rishis, as Brahma is waited upon by the celestials.

Vana Parva 103.12

तेऽभिगम्य महात्मानं मैत्रावरुणिमच्युतम्। आश्रमस्थं तपोराशि कर्मभिः स्वैरभिष्टुवन्॥

Going to the high-souled and undeteriorating son of Mitra and Varuna (Agastya) Seated in his hermitage as a man of ascetic merits, they sang his glory by reciting his deeds.

Vana Parva 103.13

देवा ऊचुः नहुषेणाभितप्तानां त्वं लोकानां गतिः पुरा। भ्रंशितश्च सुरैश्वार्यात् स्वर्लोकाल्लोककण्टकः॥

The celestials said: You became in the days of yore the refuge of creatures when they were oppressed by Nahusha. Deprived of his heaven's affluence, he was thrown down, a thorn of the heaven as he was, from the celestials region.

Vana Parva 103.14

क्रोधात् प्रवृद्धः सहसा भास्करस्य नगोत्तमः। वचस्तवानतिक्रामन् विन्ध्यः शैलो न वर्धते॥

That foremnost of mountains Vindhya being angry with the sun, suddenly in the days of yore) began to increase its height, but he has ceased to increase, as he could not disobey your command.

Vana Parva 103.15

तमसा चावृते लोके मृत्युनाभ्यर्दिताः प्रजाः। त्वामेव नाथमासाद्य निर्वृत्तिं परमां गताः॥

When darkness covered the world, creatures were oppressed by death; but having got you as a protector, they obtained the greatest security.

Vana Parva 103.16

अस्माकं भयभीतानां नित्यशो भगवान् गतिः। ततस्त्वार्ताः प्रयाग्रमो वरं त्वां वरदो ह्यसि॥

O exalted one, whenever we are beset with danger, it is you from whom we ask for a boon, for you always grant the boon asked of you.

Vana Parva 103.17