The Battle Between Lord Boar and the Demon Hiranyaksha

Verse 1 (bhagavata.3.18.1)

मैत्रेय उवाच तदेवमाकर्ण्य जलेशभाषितं महामनास्तद्विगणय्य दुर्मदः । हरेर्विदित्वा गतिमङ्ग नारदाद् रसातलं निर्विविशे त्वरान्वितः ॥ १ ॥

maitreya uvāca tad evam ākarṇya jaleśa-bhāṣitaṁ mahā-manās tad vigaṇayya durmadaḥ harer viditvā gatim aṅga nāradād rasātalaṁ nirviviśe tvarānvitaḥ

Maitreya said: Hearing these words of Varuna, lord of the waters, the arrogant demon paid them no heed. Learning from Narada where Hari could be found, dear Vidura, he plunged into Rasatala in great haste.

Verse 2 (bhagavata.3.18.2)

ददर्श तत्राभिजितं धराधरं प्रोन्नीयमानावनिमग्रदंष्ट्रया । मुष्णन्तमक्ष्णा स्वरुचोऽरुणश्रिया जहास चाहो वनगोचरो मृगः ॥ २ ॥

dadarśa tatrābhijitaṁ dharā-dharaṁ pronnīyamānāvanim agra-daṁṣṭrayā muṣṇantam akṣṇā sva-ruco ’ruṇa-śriyā jahāsa cāho vana-gocaro mṛgaḥ

There he saw the victorious bearer of the earth, lifting it upward on the point of His tusk, His reddish, radiant eyes eclipsing the demon's own splendor. Seeing this, he laughed: 'Oh, just a wild beast that roams the forest and water!'

Verse 3 (bhagavata.3.18.3)

आहैनमेह्यज्ञ महीं विमुञ्च नो रसौकसां विश्वसृजेयमर्पिता । न स्वस्ति यास्यस्यनया ममेक्षतः सुराधमासादितसूकराकृते ॥ ३ ॥

āhainam ehy ajña mahīṁ vimuñca no rasaukasāṁ viśva-sṛjeyam arpitā na svasti yāsyasy anayā mamekṣataḥ surādhamāsādita-sūkarākṛte

He said to Him: 'Come here, fool, and give up this earth to us, the dwellers of the netherworld; it was entrusted to us by the creator of the universe. While I stand watching, you will not get away safely with it, O lowest of gods who has taken this form of a boar!'

Verse 4 (bhagavata.3.18.4)

त्वं नः सपत्नैरभवाय किं भृतो यो मायया हन्त्यसुरान् परोक्षजित् । त्वां योगमायाबलमल्पपौरुषं संस्थाप्य मूढ प्रमृजे सुहृच्छुचः ॥ ४ ॥

tvaṁ naḥ sapatnair abhavāya kiṁ bhṛto yo māyayā hanty asurān parokṣa-jit tvāṁ yoga-māyā-balam alpa-pauruṣaṁ saṁsthāpya mūḍha pramṛje suhṛc-chucaḥ

Have our enemies raised you up just to destroy us, you who kill demons by illusion, winning your victories unseen? O fool, your only strength is the power of your mystic yogamaya; your real valor is trifling. Once I have finished you, I will wipe away the grief of my kinsmen.

Verse 5 (bhagavata.3.18.5)

त्वयि संस्थिते गदया शीर्णशीर्ष- ण्यस्मद्भुजच्युतया ये च तुभ्यम् । बलिं हरन्त्यृषयो ये च देवाः स्वयं सर्वे न भविष्यन्त्यमूलाः ॥ ५ ॥

tvayi saṁsthite gadayā śīrṇa-śīrṣaṇy asmad-bhuja-cyutayā ye ca tubhyam baliṁ haranty ṛṣayo ye ca devāḥ svayaṁ sarve na bhaviṣyanty amūlāḥ

When you are finished, your skull shattered by the mace flying from my arm, then all those sages and gods who offer their oblations to you will vanish of their own accord, like trees stripped of their roots.

Verse 6 (bhagavata.3.18.6)

स तुद्यमानोऽरिदुरुक्ततोमरै- र्दंष्ट्राग्रगां गामुपलक्ष्य भीताम् । तोदं मृषन्निरगादम्बुमध्याद् ग्राहाहतः सकरेणुर्यथेभः ॥ ६ ॥

sa tudyamāno ’ri-durukta-tomarair daṁṣṭrāgra-gāṁ gām upalakṣya bhītām todaṁ mṛṣan niragād ambu-madhyād grāhāhataḥ sa-kareṇur yathebhaḥ

Though pierced like arrows by the enemy's abusive taunts, He bore the pain, and seeing the frightened earth resting on the point of His tusk, He rose up out of the water, just as an elephant attacked by a crocodile emerges from the water with its mate.

Verse 7 (bhagavata.3.18.7)

तं निःसरन्तं सलिलादनुद्रुतो हिरण्यकेशो द्विरदं यथा झषः । करालदंष्ट्रोऽशनिनिस्वनोऽब्रवीद् गतह्रियां किं त्वसतां विगर्हितम् ॥ ७ ॥

taṁ niḥsarantaṁ salilād anudruto hiraṇya-keśo dviradaṁ yathā jhaṣaḥ karāla-daṁṣṭro ’śani-nisvano ’bravīd gata-hriyāṁ kiṁ tv asatāṁ vigarhitam

Golden-haired Hiranyaksha chased Him as He rose from the water, as a crocodile pursues an elephant. Baring his fearsome tusks and roaring like thunder, he said: 'What, indeed, is there for the shameless and wicked to be ashamed of?'

Verse 8 (bhagavata.3.18.8)

स गामुदस्तात्सलिलस्य गोचरे विन्यस्य तस्यामदधात्स्वसत्त्वम् । अभिष्टुतो विश्वसृजा प्रसूनै- रापूर्यमाणो विबुधैः पश्यतोऽरेः ॥ ८ ॥

sa gām udastāt salilasya gocare vinyasya tasyām adadhāt sva-sattvam abhiṣṭuto viśva-sṛjā prasūnair āpūryamāṇo vibudhaiḥ paśyato ’reḥ

He set the earth upon the surface of the water within His own sight and endowed her with His power, so that she floated. While the enemy looked on, Brahma the creator praised Him, and the demigods showered Him with flowers.

Verse 9 (bhagavata.3.18.9)

परानुषक्तं तपनीयोपकल्पं महागदं काञ्चनचित्रदंशम् । मर्माण्यभीक्ष्णं प्रतुदन्तं दुरुक्तैः प्रचण्डमन्युः प्रहसंस्तं बभाषे ॥ ९ ॥

parānuṣaktaṁ tapanīyopakalpaṁ mahā-gadaṁ kāñcana-citra-daṁśam marmāṇy abhīkṣṇaṁ pratudantaṁ duruktaiḥ pracaṇḍa-manyuḥ prahasaṁs taṁ babhāṣe

To that demon who followed close behind, decked in gold ornaments and beautiful golden armor, wielding his great mace, ceaselessly piercing His heart with abusive words, the Lord, His anger now terrible though He smiled, spoke.

Verse 10 (bhagavata.3.18.10)

श्रीभगवानुवाच सत्यं वयं भो वनगोचरा मृगा युष्मद्विधान्मृगये ग्रामसिंहान् । न मृत्युपाशैः प्रतिमुक्तस्य वीरा विकत्थनं तव गृह्णन्त्यभद्र ॥ १० ॥

śrī-bhagavān uvāca satyaṁ vayaṁ bho vana-gocarā mṛgā yuṣmad-vidhān mṛgaye grāma-siṁhān na mṛtyu-pāśaiḥ pratimuktasya vīrā vikatthanaṁ tava gṛhṇanty abhadra

The Lord said: 'True enough, sir, We are a beast of the forest, and hunting village-dogs like you is Our business. A hero who is freed from death's noose pays no mind to your boasting, O ill-omened one.'

Verse 11 (bhagavata.3.18.11)

एते वयं न्यासहरा रसौकसां गतह्रियो गदया द्रावितास्ते । तिष्ठामहेऽथापि कथञ्चिदाजौ स्थेयं क्व यामो बलिनोत्पाद्य वैरम् ॥ ११ ॥

ete vayaṁ nyāsa-harā rasaukasāṁ gata-hriyo gadayā drāvitās te tiṣṭhāmahe ’thāpi kathañcid ājau stheyaṁ kva yāmo balinotpādya vairam

Yes, We are the thief who has made off with the trust of the netherworld's people, and shameless as We are, though chased by your mace, We somehow remain here on the field. We must stay, for having earned the enmity of one so mighty, where else could We go?

Verse 12 (bhagavata.3.18.12)

त्वं पद्रथानां किल यूथपाधिपो घटस्व नोऽस्वस्तय आश्वनूहः । संस्थाप्य चास्मान् प्रमृजाश्रुस्वकानां यः स्वां प्रतिज्ञां नातिपिपर्त्यसभ्यः ॥ १२ ॥

tvaṁ pad-rathānāṁ kila yūthapādhipo ghaṭasva no ’svastaya āśv anūhaḥ saṁsthāpya cāsmān pramṛjāśru svakānāṁ yaḥ svāṁ pratijñāṁ nātipiparty asabhyaḥ

You are said to be the commander-in-chief of the foot soldiers; act promptly, without further thought, for Our undoing. Finish Us off and wipe away your kinsmen's tears, for one who fails to keep his own vow deserves no place in any assembly.

Verse 13 (bhagavata.3.18.13)

मैत्रेय उवाचसोऽधिक्षिप्तो भगवता प्रलब्धश्च रुषा भृशम् । आजहारोल्बणं क्रोधं क्रीड्यमानोऽहिराडिव ॥ १३ ॥

maitreya uvāca so ’dhikṣipto bhagavatā pralabdhaś ca ruṣā bhṛśam ājahārolbaṇaṁ krodhaṁ krīḍyamāno ’hi-rāḍ iva

Maitreya said: Rebuked and mocked so thoroughly by the Lord, the demon flared up with violent rage, exactly like a great serpent being toyed with.

Verse 14 (bhagavata.3.18.14)

सृजन्नमर्षितः श्वासान्मन्युप्रचलितेन्द्रियः । आसाद्य तरसा दैत्यो गदयान्यहनद्धरिम् ॥ १४ ॥

sṛjann amarṣitaḥ śvāsān manyu-pracalitendriyaḥ āsādya tarasā daityo gadayā nyahanad dharim

Breathing hard in fury he could not contain, his senses shaken by rage, the demon rushed forward with great speed and struck Hari with his mace.

Verse 15 (bhagavata.3.18.15)

भगवांस्तु गदावेगं विसृष्टं रिपुणोरसि । अवञ्चयत्तिरश्चीनो योगारूढ इवान्तकम् ॥ १५ ॥

bhagavāṁs tu gadā-vegaṁ visṛṣṭaṁ ripuṇorasi avañcayat tiraścīno yogārūḍha ivāntakam

But the Lord, stepping aside, dodged the force of the mace hurled at His chest by the enemy, just as an accomplished yogi eludes death itself.

Verse 16 (bhagavata.3.18.16)

पुनर्गदां स्वामादाय भ्रामयन्तमभीक्ष्णशः । अभ्यधावद्धरिः क्रुद्धः संरम्भाद्दष्टदच्छदम् ॥ १६ ॥

punar gadāṁ svām ādāya bhrāmayantam abhīkṣṇaśaḥ abhyadhāvad dhariḥ kruddhaḥ saṁrambhād daṣṭa-dacchadam

As the demon took up his mace once more, whirling it again and again, biting his own lip in fury, Hari, now angered, rushed toward him.

Verse 17 (bhagavata.3.18.17)

ततश्च गदयारातिं दक्षिणस्यां भ्रुवि प्रभुः । आजघ्ने स तु तां सौम्य गदया कोविदोऽहनत् ॥ १७ ॥

tataś ca gadayārātiṁ dakṣiṇasyāṁ bhruvi prabhuḥ ājaghne sa tu tāṁ saumya gadayā kovido ’hanat

Then the Lord struck at the enemy's right eyebrow with His mace; but he, gentle Vidura, being skilled in combat, saved himself with a stroke of his own mace.

Verse 18 (bhagavata.3.18.18)

एवं गदाभ्यां गुर्वीभ्यां हर्यक्षो हरिरेव च । जिगीषया सुसंरब्धावन्योन्यमभिजघ्नतुः ॥ १८ ॥

evaṁ gadābhyāṁ gurvībhyāṁ haryakṣo harir eva ca jigīṣayā susaṁrabdhāv anyonyam abhijaghnatuḥ

Thus, with their two massive maces, both Haryaksha and Hari, each burning to win, struck at one another again and again.

Verse 19 (bhagavata.3.18.19)

तयोः स्पृधोस्तिग्मगदाहताङ्गयोः क्षतास्रवघ्राणविवृद्धमन्य्वोः । विचित्रमार्गांश्चरतोर्जिगीषया व्यभादिलायामिव शुष्मिणोर्मृधः ॥ १९ ॥

tayoḥ spṛdhos tigma-gadāhatāṅgayoḥ kṣatāsrava-ghrāṇa-vivṛddha-manyvoḥ vicitra-mārgāṁś carator jigīṣayā vyabhād ilāyām iva śuṣmiṇor mṛdhaḥ

The bodies of the two rivals were wounded by their sharp maces, and the smell of their own flowing blood only fed their fury; weaving through varied maneuvers in their hunger for victory, they looked exactly like two powerful bulls locked in combat over a cow.

Verse 20 (bhagavata.3.18.20)

दैत्यस्य यज्ञावयवस्य माया- गृहीतवाराहतनोर्महात्मनः । कौरव्य मह्यां द्विषतोर्विमर्दनं दिदृक्षुरागादृषिभिर्वृतः स्वराट् ॥ २० ॥

daityasya yajñāvayavasya māyā- gṛhīta-vārāha-tanor mahātmanaḥ kauravya mahyāṁ dviṣator vimardanaṁ didṛkṣur āgād ṛṣibhir vṛtaḥ svarāṭ

O descendant of Kuru, eager to witness that crushing combat, waged for the earth's sake between the demon and the great-souled Lord who through His own power had assumed the boar's body of sacrifice, self-ruled Brahma arrived there, surrounded by sages.

Verse 21 (bhagavata.3.18.21)

आसन्नशौण्डीरमपेतसाध्वसं कृतप्रतीकारमहार्यविक्रमम् । विलक्ष्य दैत्यं भगवान् सहस्रणी- र्जगाद नारायणमादिसूकरम् ॥ २१ ॥

āsanna-śauṇḍīram apeta-sādhvasaṁ kṛta-pratīkāram ahārya-vikramam vilakṣya daityaṁ bhagavān sahasra-ṇīr jagāda nārāyaṇam ādi-sūkaram

Seeing the demon, who had grown mighty, was free of any fear, could counter every attack, and possessed an unconquerable prowess, the worshipful leader of a thousand sages, Brahma, addressed Narayana in His form as the primeval boar.

Verse 22 (bhagavata.3.18.22)

ब्रह्मोवाच एष ते देव देवानामङ्घ्रिमूलमुपेयुषाम् । विप्राणां सौरभेयीणां भूतानामप्यनागसाम् ॥ २२ ॥

brahmovāca eṣa te deva devānām aṅghri-mūlam upeyuṣām viprāṇāṁ saurabheyīṇāṁ bhūtānām apy anāgasām

Brahma said: O Lord, to the demigods who have taken shelter at Your feet, to the brahmanas, to the cows, and even to innocent creatures, this one —

Verse 23 (bhagavata.3.18.23)

आगस्कृद्भयकृद्दुष्कृदस्मद्राद्धवरोऽसुरः । अन्वेषन्नप्रतिरथो लोकानटति कण्टकः ॥ २३ ॥

āgas-kṛd bhaya-kṛd duṣkṛd asmad-rāddha-varo ’suraḥ anveṣann apratiratho lokān aṭati kaṇṭakaḥ

— has become an offender, a source of terror, a doer of evil deeds; having won a boon from me, this demon now wanders through all the worlds like a thorn to everyone, still searching for a match in battle.

Verse 24 (bhagavata.3.18.24)

मैनं मायाविनं दृप्तं निरङ्कुशमसत्तमम् । आक्रीड बालवद्देव यथाशीविषमुत्थितम् ॥ २४ ॥

mainaṁ māyāvinaṁ dṛptaṁ niraṅkuśam asattamam ākrīḍa bālavad deva yathāśīviṣam utthitam

O Lord, do not toy with this arrogant, unrestrained, thoroughly wicked master of deception as though he were a mere child at play; he is like a serpent risen up to strike.

Verse 25 (bhagavata.3.18.25)

न यावदेष वर्धेत स्वां वेलां प्राप्य दारुणः । स्वां देव मायामास्थाय तावज्जह्यघमच्युत ॥ २५ ॥

na yāvad eṣa vardheta svāṁ velāṁ prāpya dāruṇaḥ svāṁ deva māyām āsthāya tāvaj jahy agham acyuta

Before this fearsome demon can grow stronger still, seizing his own favorable hour, destroy this sinner now, O Lord, O infallible one, by resorting to Your own divine power.

Verse 26 (bhagavata.3.18.26)

एषा घोरतमा सन्ध्या लोकच्छम्बट्करी प्रभो । उपसर्पति सर्वात्मन् सुराणां जयमावह ॥ २६ ॥

eṣā ghoratamā sandhyā loka-cchambaṭ-karī prabho upasarpati sarvātman surāṇāṁ jayam āvaha

This most terrible twilight hour, which brings ruin upon the world, O Lord, draws near; O Soul of all beings, grant the gods their victory.

Verse 27 (bhagavata.3.18.27)

अधुनैषोऽभिजिन्नाम योगो मौहूर्तिको ह्यगात् । शिवाय नस्त्वं सुहृदामाशु निस्तर दुस्तरम् ॥ २७ ॥

adhunaiṣo ’bhijin nāma yogo mauhūrtiko hy agāt śivāya nas tvaṁ suhṛdām āśu nistara dustaram

Even now the auspicious moment called Abhijit is slipping away; for the good of us, Your well-wishers, swiftly overcome this well-nigh insurmountable enemy.

Verse 28 (bhagavata.3.18.28)

दिष्टया त्वां विहितं मृत्युसमयमासादितः स्वयम् । विक्रम्यैनं मृधे हत्वा लोकानाधेहि शर्मणि ॥ २८ ॥

diṣṭyā tvāṁ vihitaṁ mṛtyum ayam āsāditaḥ svayam vikramyainaṁ mṛdhe hatvā lokān ādhehi śarmaṇi

Fortunately, he has come of his own accord to the death appointed for him by You; show Your power, slay him in this duel, and set the worlds at peace.