Verse 1

¹Though their master spoke dharma to them in this way, they were out of their senses and did not take in his words at all, struck with fear and bent on running, king. ²The bull among demons saw the demon army coming apart, driven like a herd with no master by the thirty gods, whom time was favouring, ³and seeing it he burned. Enraged and unable to bear it, the enemy of Indra held them back by his strength, king, and rebuked them and said this. ⁴What use are you, your mother's droppings, running off and cut down from behind? Killing the frightened brings no praise and no heaven to men who think themselves brave. ⁵If you have any belief in a fight, or any strength in your small hearts, stand in front of me a moment. Unless what you want is the pleasure of the village.

⁶So terrifying his enemies, the hosts of gods, with his body, the angry one of enormous breath roared out; and at it the worlds went out of their senses. ⁷At that burst of sound from Vrtra all the hosts of gods fell fainting to the ground, as though they had been struck by lightning.