उत्साद्य देवसंघातं चक्रुस्त्रिभुवनोदरे । पौरुषेणैव यत्नेन साम्राज्यं दानवेश्वराः ॥ २२ ॥
utsādya dēvasaṁghātaṁ cakrustribhuvanōdarē | pauruṣēṇaiva yatnēna sāmrājyaṁ dānavēśvarāḥ || 22 ||
Translation
Driving out the host of the gods, the lords of the demons ruled as emperors within the three worlds, by effort and striving alone.
Word by word
- utsādya
- driving out
- dēva
- of the gods
- saṁghātaṁ
- the host
- cakrus
- (cakruḥ) ruled
- tribhuvana
- the three worlds
- udarē
- within
- pauruṣēṇa
- by effort
- ēva
- alone
- yatnēna
- and striving
- sāmrājyaṁ
- as emperors
- dānava
- of the demons
- īśvarāḥ
- the lords
Meaning
Next, the demons. The commentary names Hiraṇyakaśipu and the like, who ruined the gods and ruled all three worlds. Note that the verse does not approve of them. It is only asking how they did it, and the answer is the uncomfortable one that the wrong side can also work hard. This is the realism of the Yoga Vāsiṣṭha. Those who work against the good often succeed, and the reason is no mystery. If the upright are to prevail, they will have to bring no less effort than the others.