Dhruva Maharaja's Fight with the Yakshas

Verse 1 (bhagavata.4.10.1)

मैत्रेय उवाच प्रजापतेर्दुहितरं शिशुमारस्य वै ध्रुवः । उपयेमे भ्रमिं नाम तत्सुतौ कल्पवत्सरौ ॥ 10.1 ॥

maitreya uvāca prajāpater duhitaraṁ śiśumārasya vai dhruvaḥ upayeme bhramiṁ nāma tat-sutau kalpa-vatsarau

The great sage Maitreya said: Thereafter Dhruva married Bhrami, daughter of Prajapati Shishumara, and two sons, Kalpa and Vatsara, were born to them.

Verse 2 (bhagavata.4.10.2)

इलायामपि भार्यायां वायोः पुत्र्यां महाबलः । पुत्रमुत्कलनामानं योषिद्रत्नमजीजनत् ॥ 10.2 ॥

ilāyām api bhāryāyāṁ vāyoḥ putryāṁ mahā-balaḥ putram utkala-nāmānaṁ yoṣid-ratnam ajījanat

The mighty Dhruva also took as wife Ila, daughter of the wind-god Vayu, and by her begot a son named Utkala and a daughter who was a jewel among women.

Verse 3 (bhagavata.4.10.3)

उत्तमस्त्वकृतोद्वाहो मृगयायां बलीयसा । हतः पुण्यजनेनाद्रौ तन्मातास्य गतिं गता ॥ 10.3 ॥

uttamas tv akṛtodvāho mṛgayāyāṁ balīyasā hataḥ puṇya-janenādrau tan-mātāsya gatiṁ gatā

Uttama, still unwed, went out hunting and was slain by a powerful Yaksha in the Himalayas; his mother, following his path, met the same end.

Verse 4 (bhagavata.4.10.4)

ध्रुवो भ्रातृवधं श्रुत्वा कोपामर्षशुचार्पितः । जैत्रं स्यन्दनमास्थाय गतः पुण्यजनालयम् ॥ 10.4 ॥

dhruvo bhrātṛ-vadhaṁ śrutvā kopāmarṣa-śucārpitaḥ jaitraṁ syandanam āsthāya gataḥ puṇya-janālayam

Hearing of his brother's death, Dhruva, overcome with rage, grief and impatience, mounted his victorious chariot and set out for the abode of the Yakshas.

Verse 5 (bhagavata.4.10.5)

गत्वोदीचीं दिशं राजा रुद्रानुचरसेविताम् । ददर्श हिमवद्द्रोण्यां पुरीं गुह्यकसङ्कुलाम् ॥ 10.5 ॥

gatvodīcīṁ diśaṁ rājā rudrānucara-sevitām dadarśa himavad-droṇyāṁ purīṁ guhyaka-saṅkulām

The King journeyed to the northern quarter and, in a valley of the Himalayas, beheld a city thronged with Guhyakas, served by the attendants of Rudra.

Verse 6 (bhagavata.4.10.6)

दध्मौ शङ्खं बृहद्बाहुः खं दिशश्चानुनादयन् । येनोद्विग्नदृशः क्षत्तरुपदेव्योऽत्रसन्भृशम् ॥ 10.6 ॥

dadhmau śaṅkhaṁ bṛhad-bāhuḥ khaṁ diśaś cānunādayan yenodvigna-dṛśaḥ kṣattar upadevyo ’trasan bhṛśam

The mighty-armed Dhruva blew his conch, making the sky and the directions resound; hearing it, the wives of the Yakshas were struck with terror, their eyes wide with alarm.

Verse 7 (bhagavata.4.10.7)

ततो निष्क्रम्य बलिन उपदेवमहाभटाः । असहन्तस्तन्निनादमभिपेतुरुदायुधाः ॥ 10.7 ॥

tato niṣkramya balina upadeva-mahā-bhaṭāḥ asahantas tan-ninādam abhipetur udāyudhāḥ

Then the powerful Yaksha warriors, unable to bear that sound, rushed forth from the city with weapons raised.

Verse 8 (bhagavata.4.10.8)

स तानापततो वीर उग्रधन्वा महारथः । एकैकं युगपत्सर्वानहन् बाणैस्त्रिभिस्त्रिभिः ॥ 10.8 ॥

sa tān āpatato vīra ugra-dhanvā mahā-rathaḥ ekaikaṁ yugapat sarvān ahan bāṇais tribhis tribhiḥ

That hero, a mighty archer and charioteer, struck them down one by one, loosing three arrows at a time against each.

Verse 9 (bhagavata.4.10.9)

ते वै ललाटलग्नैस्तैरिषुभिः सर्व एव हि । मत्वा निरस्तमात्मानमाशंसन् कर्म तस्य तत् ॥ 10.9 ॥

te vai lalāṭa-lagnais tair iṣubhiḥ sarva eva hi matvā nirastam ātmānam āśaṁsan karma tasya tat

Feeling those arrows fixed upon their very foreheads, each of them understood himself struck down, yet, being heroes, they praised that very feat of his.

Verse 10 (bhagavata.4.10.10)

तेऽपि चामुममृष्यन्तः पादस्पर्शमिवोरगाः । शरैरविध्यन् युगपद् द्विगुणं प्रचिकीर्षवः ॥ 10.10 ॥

te ’pi cāmum amṛṣyantaḥ pāda-sparśam ivoragāḥ śarair avidhyan yugapad dvi-guṇaṁ pracikīrṣavaḥ

Unable to bear this, like serpents whose hoods are trodden underfoot, they, eager to retaliate, loosed twice as many arrows upon him at once.

Verse 11 (bhagavata.4.10.11)

ततः परिघनिस्त्रिंशैः प्रासशूलपरश्वधैः । शक्त्यृष्टिभिर्भुशुण्डीभिश्चित्रवाजैः शरैरपि ॥ 10.11 ॥

tataḥ parigha-nistriṁśaiḥ prāsaśūla-paraśvadhaiḥ śakty-ṛṣṭibhir bhuśuṇḍībhiś citra-vājaiḥ śarair api

Then, one hundred and thirty thousand strong, greatly enraged, seeking to counter him, they showered upon Dhruva, his chariot and his charioteer alike, arrows of many kinds together with maces, swords and axes,

Verse 12 (bhagavata.4.10.12)

अभ्यवर्षन् प्रकुपिताः सरथं सहसारथिम् । इच्छन्तस्तत्प्रतीकर्तुमयुतानां त्रयोदश ॥ 10.12 ॥

abhyavarṣan prakupitāḥ sarathaṁ saha-sārathim icchantas tat pratīkartum ayutānāṁ trayodaśa

and, in that assault, tridents, pikes, spears and bhushundi weapons as well, all falling upon him at once.

Verse 13 (bhagavata.4.10.13)

औत्तानपादिः स तदा शस्त्रवर्षेण भूरिणा । न एवादृश्यताच्छन्न आसारेण यथा गिरिः ॥ 10.13 ॥

auttānapādiḥ sa tadā śastra-varṣeṇa bhūriṇā na evādṛśyatācchanna āsāreṇa yathā giriḥ

Covered by that dense downpour of weapons, the son of Uttanapada could no longer be seen, just as a mountain vanishes beneath a heavy fall of rain.

Verse 14 (bhagavata.4.10.14)

हाहाकारस्तदैवासीत्सिद्धानां दिवि पश्यताम् । हतोऽयं मानवः सूर्यो मग्नः पुण्यजनार्णवे ॥ 10.14 ॥

hāhā-kāras tadaivāsīt siddhānāṁ divi paśyatām hato ’yaṁ mānavaḥ sūryo magnaḥ puṇya-janārṇave

At that very moment, a cry of dismay arose among the Siddhas watching from the sky: "This son of man is slain — the sun has drowned in the ocean of the Yakshas!"

Verse 15 (bhagavata.4.10.15)

नदत्सु यातुधानेषु जयकाशिष्वथो मृधे । उदतिष्ठद्रथस्तस्य नीहारादिव भास्करः ॥ 10.15 ॥

nadatsu yātudhāneṣu jaya-kāśiṣv atho mṛdhe udatiṣṭhad rathas tasya nīhārād iva bhāskaraḥ

While the demons roared out cries of victory in that battle, his chariot suddenly rose up again, like the sun emerging from a bank of mist.

Verse 16 (bhagavata.4.10.16)

धनुर्विस्फूर्जयन्दिव्यं द्विषतां खेदमुद्वहन् । अस्त्रौघं व्यधमद्बाणैर्घनानीकमिवानिलः ॥ 10.16 ॥

dhanur visphūrjayan divyaṁ dviṣatāṁ khedam udvahan astraughaṁ vyadhamad bāṇair ghanānīkam ivānilaḥ

Twanging his divine bow, striking despair into his foes, he scattered the mass of their weapons with his arrows, as the wind scatters a bank of clouds.

Verse 17 (bhagavata.4.10.17)

तस्य ते चापनिर्मुक्ता भित्त्वा वर्माणि रक्षसाम् । कायानाविविशुस्तिग्मा गिरीनशनयो यथा ॥ 10.17 ॥

tasya te cāpa-nirmuktā bhittvā varmāṇi rakṣasām kāyān āviviśus tigmā girīn aśanayo yathā

The sharp arrows released from his bow, piercing the armor of the demons, entered their very bodies, like thunderbolts striking into mountains.

Verse 18 (bhagavata.4.10.18)

भल्लैः सञ्छिद्यमानानां शिरोभिश्चारुकुण्डलैः । ऊरुभिर्हेमतालाभैर्दोर्भिर्वलयवल्गुभिः ॥ 10.18 ॥

bhallaiḥ sañchidyamānānāṁ śirobhiś cāru-kuṇḍalaiḥ ūrubhir hema-tālābhair dorbhir valaya-valgubhiḥ

Strewn with heads still wearing lovely earrings, with thighs like golden palm trunks, and with arms graceful with bracelets — those cut down by his broad-headed arrows —

Verse 19 (bhagavata.4.10.19)

हारकेयूरमुकुटैरुष्णीषैश्च महाधनैः । आस्तृतास्ता रणभुवो रेजुर्वीरमनोहराः ॥ 10.19 ॥

hāra-keyūra-mukuṭair uṣṇīṣaiś ca mahā-dhanaiḥ āstṛtās tā raṇa-bhuvo rejur vīra-mano-harāḥ

and with garlands, armlets, crowns and precious turbans scattered about, the field of battle shone, enchanting even to a warrior's eye.

Verse 20 (bhagavata.4.10.20)

हतावशिष्टा इतरे रणाजिराद् रक्षोगणाः क्षत्रियवर्यसायकैः । प्रायो विवृक्णावयवा विदुद्रुवु- र्मृगेन्द्रविक्रीडितयूथपा इव ॥ 10.20 ॥

hatāvaśiṣṭā itare raṇājirād rakṣo-gaṇāḥ kṣatriya-varya-sāyakaiḥ prāyo vivṛkṇāvayavā vidudruvur mṛgendra-vikrīḍita-yūthapā iva

The remaining demon host, their limbs mostly cut apart by the arrows of that finest of warriors, fled the field, like a herd of elephants scattered by a playful lion.

Verse 21 (bhagavata.4.10.21)

अपश्यमानः स तदाततायिनं महामृधे कञ्चन मानवोत्तमः । पुरीं दिदृक्षन्नपि नाविशद्द्विषां न मायिनां वेद चिकीर्षितं जनः ॥ 10.21 ॥

apaśyamānaḥ sa tadātatāyinaṁ mahā-mṛdhe kañcana mānavottamaḥ purīṁ didṛkṣann api nāviśad dviṣāṁ na māyināṁ veda cikīrṣitaṁ janaḥ

Seeing no more armed opponent left on that great battlefield, that finest of men wished to enter the city, yet did not — for no one, he thought, can know the intentions of the deceitful.

Verse 22 (bhagavata.4.10.22)

इति ब्रुवंश्चित्ररथः स्वसारथिं यत्तः परेषां प्रतियोगशङ्कितः । शुश्राव शब्दं जलधेरिवेरितं नभस्वतो दिक्षु रजोऽन्वदृश्यत ॥ 10.22 ॥

iti bruvaṁś citra-rathaḥ sva-sārathiṁ yattaḥ pareṣāṁ pratiyoga-śaṅkitaḥ śuśrāva śabdaṁ jaladher iveritaṁ nabhasvato dikṣu rajo ’nvadṛśyata

As he spoke thus to his charioteer, wary and suspicious of some counter-move by his foes, he heard a sound as of the surging ocean, and dust appeared in every direction of the sky.

Verse 23 (bhagavata.4.10.23)

क्षणेनाच्छादितं व्योम घनानीकेन सर्वतः । विस्फुरत्तडिता दिक्षु त्रासयत्स्तनयित्नुना ॥ 10.23 ॥

kṣaṇenācchāditaṁ vyoma ghanānīkena sarvataḥ visphurat-taḍitā dikṣu trāsayat-stanayitnunā

In an instant the whole sky was covered on every side by dense clouds, lightning flashing in every direction and thunder pealing forth in terror.

Verse 24 (bhagavata.4.10.24)

ववृषू रुधिरौघासृक्पूयविण्मूत्रमेदसः । निपेतुर्गगनादस्य कबन्धान्यग्रतोऽनघ ॥ 10.24 ॥

vavṛṣū rudhiraughāsṛk- pūya-viṇ-mūtra-medasaḥ nipetur gaganād asya kabandhāny agrato ’nagha

O sinless one, there rained down before him streams of blood, pus, excrement, urine and marrow, and headless trunks fell from the sky.

Verse 25 (bhagavata.4.10.25)

ततः खेऽदृश्यत गिरिर्निपेतुः सर्वतोदिशम् । गदापरिघनिस्त्रिंशमुसलाः साश्मवर्षिणः ॥ 10.25 ॥

tataḥ khe ’dṛśyata girir nipetuḥ sarvato-diśam gadā-parigha-nistriṁśa- musalāḥ sāśma-varṣiṇaḥ

Next a mountain appeared in the sky, and from every direction fell hail together with maces, iron bludgeons, swords, clubs and great showers of stone.

Verse 26 (bhagavata.4.10.26)

अहयोऽशनिनिःश्वासा वमन्तोऽग्निं रुषाक्षिभिः । अभ्यधावन् गजा मत्ताः सिंहव्याघ्राश्च यूथशः ॥ 10.26 ॥

ahayo ’śani-niḥśvāsā vamanto ’gniṁ ruṣākṣibhiḥ abhyadhāvan gajā mattāḥ siṁha-vyāghrāś ca yūthaśaḥ

Serpents hissing like thunder, vomiting fire from eyes red with fury, came rushing at him, along with herds of maddened elephants, lions and tigers.

Verse 27 (bhagavata.4.10.27)

समुद्र ऊर्मिभिर्भीमः प्लावयन् सर्वतो भुवम् । आससाद महाह्रादः कल्पान्त इव भीषणः ॥ 10.27 ॥

samudra ūrmibhir bhīmaḥ plāvayan sarvato bhuvam āsasāda mahā-hrādaḥ kalpānta iva bhīṣaṇaḥ

A terrible ocean, its waves flooding the earth on every side, and roaring mightily, drew near, fearsome as at the dissolution of the world.

Verse 28 (bhagavata.4.10.28)

एवंविधान्यनेकानि त्रासनान्यमनस्विनाम् । ससृजुस्तिग्मगतय आसुर्या माययासुराः ॥ 10.28 ॥

evaṁ-vidhāny anekāni trāsanāny amanasvinām sasṛjus tigma-gataya āsuryā māyayāsurāḥ

Thus the demons, whose weapons and powers are sharp, conjured up by their demoniac illusion these and many other terrors, meant to unsettle the faint of heart.

Verse 29 (bhagavata.4.10.29)

ध्रुवे प्रयुक्तामसुरैस्तां मायामतिदुस्तराम् । निशम्य तस्य मुनयः शमाशंसन् समागताः ॥ 10.29 ॥

dhruve prayuktām asurais tāṁ māyām atidustarām niśamya tasya munayaḥ śam āśaṁsan samāgatāḥ

Hearing that this well-nigh insurmountable illusion of the demons had been set loose against Dhruva, the sages gathered together and wished him peace.

Verse 30 (bhagavata.4.10.30)

मुनय ऊचुः औत्तानपाद भगवांस्तव शार्ङ्गधन्वा देवः क्षिणोत्ववनतार्तिहरो विपक्षान् । यन्नामधेयमभिधाय निशम्य चाद्धा लोकोऽञ्जसा तरति दुस्तरमङ्ग मृत्युम् ॥ 10.30 ॥

munaya ūcuḥ auttānapāda bhagavāṁs tava śārṅgadhanvā devaḥ kṣiṇotv avanatārti-haro vipakṣān yan-nāmadheyam abhidhāya niśamya cāddhā loko ’ñjasā tarati dustaram aṅga mṛtyum

The sages said: O son of Uttanapada, may Bhagavan who bears the bow Sharnga, remover of the sorrow of the surrendered, destroy your enemies — for merely by uttering and hearing His holy name a person easily crosses over even death, so hard to overcome.