Shumbha and Nishumbha Conquer Heaven

Verse 1 (devibhagavatam.5.21.1)

व्यास उवाच । शृणु राजन् प्रवक्ष्यामि देव्याश्चरितमुत्तमम् । सुखदं सर्वजन्तूनां सर्वपापप्रणाशनम्

vyāsa uvāca | śṛṇu rājan pravakṣyāmi devyāścaritamuttamam | sukhadaṁ sarvajantūnāṁ sarvapāpapraṇāśanam

Vyasa said: "Listen, O king, I shall now tell you this supreme story of the Goddess, which gives happiness to all creatures and destroys every sin."

Verse 2 (devibhagavatam.5.21.2)

यथा शुम्भो निशुम्भश्च भ्रातरौ बलवत्तरौ । बभूवतुर्महावीरौ अवध्यौ पुरुषैः किल

yathā śumbho niśumbhaśca bhrātarau balavattarau | babhūvaturmahāvīrau avadhyau puruṣaiḥ kila

"How Shumbha and Nishumbha, two exceedingly powerful brothers, became great heroes, indeed unslayable by any man."

Verse 3 (devibhagavatam.5.21.3)

बहुसेनावृतौ शूरौ देवानां दुःखदौ सदा दुराचारौ मदोत्सिक्तौ बहुदानवसंयुतौ

bahusenāvṛtau śūrau devānāṁ duḥkhadau sadā durācārau madotsiktau bahudānavasaṁyutau

"Those two heroes, surrounded by vast armies, ever a source of sorrow to the gods, ill-behaved and swollen with pride, accompanied by many danavas —"

Verse 4 (devibhagavatam.5.21.4)

हतावम्बिकया तौ तु सङ्ग्रामेऽतीव दारुणे । देवानाञ्ज हितार्थाय सर्वैः परिचरैः सह

hatāvambikayā tau tu saṅgrāme'tīva dāruṇe | devānāñja hitārthāya sarvaiḥ paricaraiḥ saha

"— were slain by Ambika in a most terrible battle, for the good of the gods, along with all their attendants."

Verse 5 (devibhagavatam.5.21.5)

चण्डमुण्डौ महाबाहू रक्तबीजोऽतिदारुणः । धूम्रलोचननामा च निहतास्ते रणाङ्गणे

caṇḍamuṇḍau mahābāhū raktabījo'tidāruṇaḥ | dhūmralocananāmā ca nihatāste raṇāṅgaṇe

"Chanda and Munda, the mighty-armed, the most terrible Raktabija, and the one named Dhumralochana — these too were slain upon the battlefield."

Verse 6 (devibhagavatam.5.21.6)

तान्निहत्य सुराणां सा जहार भयमुत्तमम् । स्तुता सम्पूजिता देवैर्गिरौ हेमाचले शुभे

tānnihatya surāṇāṁ sā jahāra bhayamuttamam | stutā sampūjitā devairgirau hemācale śubhe

"Having slain them, she removed the gods' utmost fear, and was praised and worshipped by them on the auspicious golden mountain."

Verse 7 (devibhagavatam.5.21.7)

राजोवाच । कावेतावसुरावादौ कथं तौ बलिनां वरौ । केन संस्थापितौ चेह स्त्रीवध्यत्वं कुतो गतौ

rājovāca | kāvetāvasurāvādau kathaṁ tau balināṁ varau | kena saṁsthāpitau ceha strīvadhyatvaṁ kuto gatau

The king said: "Who were these two asuras at first? How did they become the foremost among the mighty? By whom were they established here, and how did they come to be slayable only by a woman?"

Verse 8 (devibhagavatam.5.21.8)

तपसा वरदानेन कस्य जातौ महाबलौ । कथञ्च निहतौ सर्वं कथयस्व सविस्तरम्

tapasā varadānena kasya jātau mahābalau | kathañca nihatau sarvaṁ kathayasva savistaram

"Through what austerity, or by whose granting of a boon, did they become so mighty? And how were they slain? Tell me all of this in full detail."

Verse 9 (devibhagavatam.5.21.9)

व्यास उवाच । शृणु राजन्कथां दिव्यां सर्वपापप्रणाशिनीम् । देव्याश्चरितसंयुक्तां सर्वार्थफलदां शुभाम्

vyāsa uvāca | śṛṇu rājankathāṁ divyāṁ sarvapāpapraṇāśinīm | devyāścaritasaṁyuktāṁ sarvārthaphaladāṁ śubhām

Vyasa said: "Listen, O king, to this divine story, which destroys every sin, which concerns the conduct of the Goddess, and which is auspicious, bestowing the fruit of every desire."

Verse 10 (devibhagavatam.5.21.10)

पुरा शुम्भनिशुम्भौ द्वावसुरौ भूमिमण्डले । पातालतश्च सम्प्राप्तौ भ्रातरौ शुभदर्शनौ

purā śumbhaniśumbhau dvāvasurau bhūmimaṇḍale | pātālataśca samprāptau bhrātarau śubhadarśanau

"Long ago, Shumbha and Nishumbha, two asuras, fair to behold, two brothers, came up from Patala onto the circle of the earth."

Verse 11 (devibhagavatam.5.21.11)

तौ प्राप्तयौवनौ चैव चेरतुस्तप उत्तमम् । अन्नोदकं परित्यज्य पुष्करे लोकपावने

tau prāptayauvanau caiva ceratustapa uttamam | annodakaṁ parityajya puṣkare lokapāvane

"Having reached youth, the two of them practiced the highest austerity, giving up food and water, at Pushkara, that place which purifies the world."

Verse 12 (devibhagavatam.5.21.12)

वर्षाणामयुतं यावद्योगविद्यापरायणौ । एकत्रैवासनं कृत्वा तेपाते परमं तपः

varṣāṇāmayutaṁ yāvadyogavidyāparāyaṇau | ekatraivāsanaṁ kṛtvā tepāte paramaṁ tapaḥ

"For ten thousand years, devoted to the discipline of yoga, seated together in one and the same place, they performed the highest austerity."

Verse 13 (devibhagavatam.5.21.13)

तयोस्तुष्टोऽभवद् ब्रह्मा सर्वलोकपितामहः । तत्रागतश्च भगवानारुह्य वरटापतिम्

tayostuṣṭo'bhavad brahmā sarvalokapitāmahaḥ | tatrāgataśca bhagavānāruhya varaṭāpatim

"Brahma, the grandsire of all the worlds, became pleased with them, and the blessed lord came there, mounted upon the lord of geese."

Verse 14 (devibhagavatam.5.21.14)

तावुभौ च जगत्स्रष्टा दृष्ट्वा ध्यानपरौ स्थितौ । उत्तिष्ठत महाभागौ तुष्टोऽहं तपसा किल

tāvubhau ca jagatsraṣṭā dṛṣṭvā dhyānaparau sthitau | uttiṣṭhata mahābhāgau tuṣṭo'haṁ tapasā kila

"Seeing the two of them absorbed in meditation, the Creator of the world said: 'Rise, O most fortunate ones! I am indeed pleased with your austerity.'"

Verse 15 (devibhagavatam.5.21.15)

वाञ्छितं वां वरं कामं ददामि ब्रुवतामिह । कामदोऽहं समायातो दृष्ट्वा वां तपसो बलम्

vāñchitaṁ vāṁ varaṁ kāmaṁ dadāmi bruvatāmiha | kāmado'haṁ samāyāto dṛṣṭvā vāṁ tapaso balam

"'I grant you whatever boon you desire — speak it here. I have come as the granter of wishes, having seen the power of your austerity.'"

Verse 16 (devibhagavatam.5.21.16)

व्यास उवाच । इति श्रुत्वा वचस्तस्य प्रबुद्धौ तौ समाहितौ । प्रदक्षिणक्रियां कृत्वा प्रणामं चक्रतुस्तदा

vyāsa uvāca | iti śrutvā vacastasya prabuddhau tau samāhitau | pradakṣiṇakriyāṁ kṛtvā praṇāmaṁ cakratustadā

Vyasa said: Hearing his words, the two of them, now awakened from their trance and composed, then circumambulated him and offered their obeisance.

Verse 17 (devibhagavatam.5.21.17)

दण्डवत्प्रणिपातञ्च कृत्वा तौ दुर्बलाकृती । ऊचतुर्मधुरां वाचं दीनौ गद्गदया गिरा

daṇḍavatpraṇipātañca kṛtvā tau durbalākṛtī | ūcaturmadhurāṁ vācaṁ dīnau gadgadayā girā

Prostrating themselves flat upon the ground, the two of them, their bodies weakened by austerity, spoke sweet words, humbly, in a voice choked with emotion.

Verse 18 (devibhagavatam.5.21.18)

देवदेव दयासिन्धो भक्तानामभयप्रद । अमरत्वञ्च नौ ब्रह्मन्देहि तुष्टोऽसि चेद्विभो

devadeva dayāsindho bhaktānāmabhayaprada | amaratvañca nau brahmandehi tuṣṭo'si cedvibho

"O god of gods, ocean of compassion, giver of fearlessness to your devotees! O Brahma, grant us immortality, O mighty lord, if you are indeed pleased."

Verse 19 (devibhagavatam.5.21.19)

मरणादपरं किञ्चिद्भयं नास्ति धरातले । तस्माद्भयाच्च सन्त्रस्तौ युष्माकं शरणं गतौ

maraṇādaparaṁ kiñcidbhayaṁ nāsti dharātale | tasmādbhayācca santrastau yuṣmākaṁ śaraṇaṁ gatau

"There is no fear upon this earth greater than that of death; therefore, terrified by that very fear, we have come to you for refuge."

Verse 20 (devibhagavatam.5.21.20)

त्राहि त्वं देवदेवेश जगत्कर्तः क्षमानिधे । परिस्फोटय विश्वात्मन् सद्यो मरणजं भयम्

trāhi tvaṁ devadeveśa jagatkartaḥ kṣamānidhe | parisphoṭaya viśvātman sadyo maraṇajaṁ bhayam

"Save us, O lord of the gods of gods, O maker of the world, O treasury of forbearance! O Soul of the universe, utterly shatter this fear born of death, at once."

Verse 21 (devibhagavatam.5.21.21)

ब्रह्मोवाच । किमिदं प्रार्थनीयं वो विपरीतं तु सर्वथा । अदेयं सर्वथा सर्वैः सर्वेभ्यो भुवनत्रये

brahmovāca | kimidaṁ prārthanīyaṁ vo viparītaṁ tu sarvathā | adeyaṁ sarvathā sarvaiḥ sarvebhyo bhuvanatraye

Brahma said: "What is this that you ask for? It is in every way contrary to nature — a thing that cannot be granted, under any circumstance, by anyone, to anyone at all, in these three worlds."

Verse 22 (devibhagavatam.5.21.22)

जातस्य हि ध्रुवो मृत्युर्ध्रुवं जन्म मृतस्य च । मर्यादा विहिता लोके पूर्वं विश्वकृता किल

jātasya hi dhruvo mṛtyurdhruvaṁ janma mṛtasya ca | maryādā vihitā loke pūrvaṁ viśvakṛtā kila

"For one who is born, death is certain; and for one who has died, birth again is certain. This boundary was laid down in the world long ago, indeed, by the maker of the universe himself."

Verse 23 (devibhagavatam.5.21.23)

मर्तव्यं सर्वथा सर्वैः प्राणिभिर्नात्र संशयः । अन्यं प्रार्थयतं कामं ददामि यच्च वाञ्छितम्

martavyaṁ sarvathā sarvaiḥ prāṇibhirnātra saṁśayaḥ | anyaṁ prārthayataṁ kāmaṁ dadāmi yacca vāñchitam

"All beings, without exception, must die — there is no doubt of this. Ask for something else, whatever you desire, and I shall grant it."

Verse 24 (devibhagavatam.5.21.24)

व्यास उवाच । तदाकर्ण्य वचस्तस्य सुविमृश्य च दानवौ । ऊचतुः प्रणिपत्याथ ब्रह्माणं पुरतः स्थितम्

vyāsa uvāca | tadākarṇya vacastasya suvimṛśya ca dānavau | ūcatuḥ praṇipatyātha brahmāṇaṁ purataḥ sthitam

Vyasa said: Hearing his words, and having deliberated carefully, the two danavas, bowing before Brahma who stood there, said:

Verse 25 (devibhagavatam.5.21.25)

पुरुषैरमराद्यैश्च मानवैर्मृगपक्षिभिः । अवध्यत्वं कृपासिन्धो देहि नौ वाञ्छितं वरम्

puruṣairamarādyaiśca mānavairmṛgapakṣibhiḥ | avadhyatvaṁ kṛpāsindho dehi nau vāñchitaṁ varam

"O ocean of compassion, grant us the boon we desire: that we be unslayable by men, by gods and the like, by humans, by beasts, and by birds."

Verse 26 (devibhagavatam.5.21.26)

नारी बलवती कास्ति या नौ नाशं करिष्यति । न बिभीवः स्त्रियः कामं त्रैलोक्ये सचराचरे

nārī balavatī kāsti yā nau nāśaṁ kariṣyati | na bibhīvaḥ striyaḥ kāmaṁ trailokye sacarācare

"What woman is powerful enough to bring about our destruction? We have indeed no fear of women at all, in these three worlds, moving and unmoving."

Verse 27 (devibhagavatam.5.21.27)

अवध्यौ भ्रातरौ स्यातां नरेभ्यः पङ्कजोद्भव । भयं न स्त्रीजनेभ्यश्च स्वभावादबला हि सा

avadhyau bhrātarau syātāṁ narebhyaḥ paṅkajodbhava | bhayaṁ na strījanebhyaśca svabhāvādabalā hi sā

"Let us two brothers be unslayable by men, O lotus-born one; we have no fear from womankind, for she is, by her very nature, the weaker sex."

Verse 28 (devibhagavatam.5.21.28)

व्यास उवाच । इति श्रुत्वा तयोर्वाक्यं प्रददौ वाञ्छितं वरम् । ब्रह्मा प्रसन्नमनसा जगामाथ स्वमालयम्

vyāsa uvāca | iti śrutvā tayorvākyaṁ pradadau vāñchitaṁ varam | brahmā prasannamanasā jagāmātha svamālayam

Vyasa said: Hearing their words, Brahma, with a pleased mind, granted them the boon they desired, and then departed to his own abode.

Verse 29 (devibhagavatam.5.21.29)

गतेऽथ भवने तस्मिन्दानवौ स्वगृहं गतौ । भृगुं पुरोहितं कृत्वा चक्रतुः पूजनं तदा

gate'tha bhavane tasmindānavau svagṛhaṁ gatau | bhṛguṁ purohitaṁ kṛtvā cakratuḥ pūjanaṁ tadā

When he had gone to his abode, the two danavas returned to their own home, and, appointing Bhrigu as their family priest, then performed worship.

Verse 30 (devibhagavatam.5.21.30)

शुभे दिने सुनक्षत्रे जातरूपमयं शुभम् । कृत्वा सिंहासनं दिव्यं राज्यार्थं प्रददौ मुनिः

śubhe dine sunakṣatre jātarūpamayaṁ śubham | kṛtvā siṁhāsanaṁ divyaṁ rājyārthaṁ pradadau muniḥ

On an auspicious day, under a favorable constellation, having fashioned a splendid throne of pure gold, the sage, for the purpose of kingship, bestowed it.

Verse 31 (devibhagavatam.5.21.31)

शुम्भाय ज्येष्ठभूताय ददौ राज्यासनं शुभम् । सेवनार्थं तदैवाशु सम्प्राप्ता दानवोत्तमाः

śumbhāya jyeṣṭhabhūtāya dadau rājyāsanaṁ śubham | sevanārthaṁ tadaivāśu samprāptā dānavottamāḥ

He gave that auspicious royal throne to Shumbha, the elder-born; and at once, the foremost of the danavas arrived there for the purpose of serving him.

Verse 32 (devibhagavatam.5.21.32)

चण्डमुण्डौ महावीरौ भ्रातरौ बलदर्पितौ । सम्प्राप्तौ सैन्यसंयुक्तौ रथवाजिगजान्वितौ

caṇḍamuṇḍau mahāvīrau bhrātarau baladarpitau | samprāptau sainyasaṁyuktau rathavājigajānvitau

Chanda and Munda, two great heroic brothers, swollen with pride in their strength, arrived, accompanied by their army, furnished with chariots, horses, and elephants.

Verse 33 (devibhagavatam.5.21.33)

धूम्रलोचननामा च तद्रूपश्चण्डविक्रमः । शुम्भञ्च भूपतिं श्रुत्वा तदागाद्बलसंयुतः

dhūmralocananāmā ca tadrūpaścaṇḍavikramaḥ | śumbhañca bhūpatiṁ śrutvā tadāgādbalasaṁyutaḥ

And the one named Dhumralochana, of that same fierce prowess, hearing that Shumbha had become king, came there too, accompanied by his forces.

Verse 34 (devibhagavatam.5.21.34)

रक्तबीजस्तथा शूरो वरदानबलाधिकः । अक्षौहिणीभ्यां संयुक्तस्तत्रैवागत्य सङ्गतः

raktabījastathā śūro varadānabalādhikaḥ | akṣauhiṇībhyāṁ saṁyuktastatraivāgatya saṅgataḥ

And the hero Raktabija, made all the more powerful by a boon he had received, came there too, joined with two full akshauhini armies, and gathered with them.

Verse 35 (devibhagavatam.5.21.35)

तस्यैकं कारणं राजन् सङ्ग्रामे युध्यतः सदा । देहाद्रुधिरसम्पातस्तस्य शस्त्राहतस्य च

tasyaikaṁ kāraṇaṁ rājan saṅgrāme yudhyataḥ sadā | dehādrudhirasampātastasya śastrāhatasya ca

There was a singular power he possessed, O king: whenever, while fighting ever in battle, his body was struck by a weapon, and blood fell from it —

Verse 36 (devibhagavatam.5.21.36)

जायते च यदा भूमावुत्पद्यन्ते ह्यनेकशः । तादृशाः पुरुषाः क्रूरा बहवः शस्त्रपाणयः

jāyate ca yadā bhūmāvutpadyante hyanekaśaḥ | tādṛśāḥ puruṣāḥ krūrā bahavaḥ śastrapāṇayaḥ

— then, the very moment it touched the ground, there would arise, in great numbers, cruel men just like him, weapons in hand.

Verse 37 (devibhagavatam.5.21.37)

सम्भवन्ति तदाकारास्तद्रूपास्तत्पराक्रमाः । युद्धं पुनस्ते कुर्वन्ति पुरुषा रक्तसम्भवाः

sambhavanti tadākārāstadrūpāstatparākramāḥ | yuddhaṁ punaste kurvanti puruṣā raktasambhavāḥ

They would come into being with his very form, his very shape, his very valor — and these blood-born men would fight the battle all over again.

Verse 38 (devibhagavatam.5.21.38)

अतः सोऽपि महावीर्यः सङ्ग्रामेऽतीव दुर्जयः । अवध्यः सर्वभूतानां रक्तबीजो महासुरः

ataḥ so'pi mahāvīryaḥ saṅgrāme'tīva durjayaḥ | avadhyaḥ sarvabhūtānāṁ raktabījo mahāsuraḥ

Therefore, that great asura Raktabija too, of immense might, exceedingly hard to conquer in battle, was unslayable by any being at all.

Verse 39 (devibhagavatam.5.21.39)

अन्ये च बहवः शूराश्चतुरङ्गसमन्विताः । शुम्भञ्च नृपतिं मत्वा बभूवुस्तस्य सेवकाः

anye ca bahavaḥ śūrāścaturaṅgasamanvitāḥ | śumbhañca nṛpatiṁ matvā babhūvustasya sevakāḥ

Many other heroes too, accompanied by their fourfold armies, recognizing Shumbha as their king, became his servants.

Verse 40 (devibhagavatam.5.21.40)

असङ्ख्याता तदा जाता सेना शुम्भनिशुम्भयोः । पृथिव्याः सकलं राज्यं गृहीतं बलवत्तया

asaṅkhyātā tadā jātā senā śumbhaniśumbhayoḥ | pṛthivyāḥ sakalaṁ rājyaṁ gṛhītaṁ balavattayā

Thus an innumerable army arose for Shumbha and Nishumbha; and the entire kingdom of the earth was seized by them through sheer force.

Verse 41 (devibhagavatam.5.21.41)

सेनायोगं तदा कृत्वा निशुम्भः परवीरहा । जगाम तरसा स्वर्गे शचीपतिजयाय च

senāyogaṁ tadā kṛtvā niśumbhaḥ paravīrahā | jagāma tarasā svarge śacīpatijayāya ca

Then, having mustered his forces, Nishumbha, the slayer of enemy heroes, swiftly went to heaven for the sake of conquering Indra, the lord of Shachi.

Verse 42 (devibhagavatam.5.21.42)

चकारासौ महायुद्धं लोकपालैः समन्ततः । वृत्रहा वज्रपातेन ताडयामास वक्षसि

cakārāsau mahāyuddhaṁ lokapālaiḥ samantataḥ | vṛtrahā vajrapātena tāḍayāmāsa vakṣasi

He waged a great battle on every side with the guardians of the world; the slayer of Vritra struck him upon the chest with the fall of his thunderbolt.

Verse 43 (devibhagavatam.5.21.43)

स वज्राभिहतो भूमौ पपात दानवानुजः । भग्नं बलं तदा तस्य निशुम्भस्य महात्मनः

sa vajrābhihato bhūmau papāta dānavānujaḥ | bhagnaṁ balaṁ tadā tasya niśumbhasya mahātmanaḥ

Struck by the thunderbolt, that younger brother of the danavas fell to the ground; and the army of that great-souled Nishumbha was then broken.

Verse 44 (devibhagavatam.5.21.44)

भ्रातरं मूर्च्छितं श्रुत्वा शुम्भः परबलार्दनः । तत्रागत्य सुरान्मर्वांस्ताडयामास सायकैः

bhrātaraṁ mūrcchitaṁ śrutvā śumbhaḥ parabalārdanaḥ | tatrāgatya surānmarvāṁstāḍayāmāsa sāyakaiḥ

Hearing that his brother had fallen unconscious, Shumbha, the crusher of enemy armies, came there and struck the immortal gods with his arrows.

Verse 45 (devibhagavatam.5.21.45)

कृतं युद्धं महत्तेन शुम्भेनाक्लिष्टकर्मणा । निर्जितास्तु सुराः सर्वे सेन्द्राः पालाश्च सर्वशः

kṛtaṁ yuddhaṁ mahattena śumbhenākliṣṭakarmaṇā | nirjitāstu surāḥ sarve sendrāḥ pālāśca sarvaśaḥ

A great battle was waged by that mighty Shumbha, whose deeds were unhindered; and all the gods, together with Indra and all the guardians of the world, were entirely defeated.

Verse 46 (devibhagavatam.5.21.46)

ऐन्द्रं पदं तदा तेन गृहीतं बलवत्तया । कल्पपादपसंयुक्तं कामधेनुसमन्वितम्

aindraṁ padaṁ tadā tena gṛhītaṁ balavattayā | kalpapādapasaṁyuktaṁ kāmadhenusamanvitam

The very throne of Indra was then seized by him through sheer force — that throne joined with the wish-fulfilling tree, and accompanied by the wish-granting cow.

Verse 47 (devibhagavatam.5.21.47)

त्रैलोक्यं यज्ञभागाश्च हृतास्तेन महात्मना । नन्दनं च वनं प्राप्य मुदितोऽभून्महासुरः

trailokyaṁ yajñabhāgāśca hṛtāstena mahātmanā | nandanaṁ ca vanaṁ prāpya mudito'bhūnmahāsuraḥ

The three worlds and the sacrificial shares of the gods were seized by that great-souled one; and, having taken the Nandana grove for himself, that great asura became overjoyed.

Verse 48 (devibhagavatam.5.21.48)

सुधायाश्चैव पानेन सुखमाप महासुरः । कुबेरं स च निर्जित्य तस्य राज्यं चकार ह

sudhāyāścaiva pānena sukhamāpa mahāsuraḥ | kuberaṁ sa ca nirjitya tasya rājyaṁ cakāra ha

And by drinking of the nectar of immortality, that great asura obtained happiness; and having conquered Kubera, he took his kingdom for his own.

Verse 49 (devibhagavatam.5.21.49)

अधिकारं तथा भानोः शशिनश्च चकार ह । यमञ्चैव विनिर्जित्य जग्राह तत्पदं तथा

adhikāraṁ tathā bhānoḥ śaśinaśca cakāra ha | yamañcaiva vinirjitya jagrāha tatpadaṁ tathā

He likewise took over the offices of the Sun and the Moon; and, having conquered Yama as well, he seized his position too.

Verse 50 (devibhagavatam.5.21.50)

वरुणस्य तथा राज्यं चकार वह्निकर्म च । वायोः कार्यं निशुम्भश्च चकार स्वबलान्वितः

varuṇasya tathā rājyaṁ cakāra vahnikarma ca | vāyoḥ kāryaṁ niśumbhaśca cakāra svabalānvitaḥ

He took over Varuna's realm and likewise the office of Fire; and Nishumbha, accompanied by his own forces, took over the function of the Wind.

Verse 51 (devibhagavatam.5.21.51)

ततो देवा विनिर्धूता हृतराज्या हृतश्रियः । सन्त्यज्य नन्दनं सर्वे निर्ययुर्गिरिगह्वरे

tato devā vinirdhūtā hṛtarājyā hṛtaśriyaḥ | santyajya nandanaṁ sarve niryayurgirigahvare

Then the gods, driven out, their kingdom stolen, their glory stripped away, all abandoned the Nandana grove and went forth into mountain caves.

Verse 52 (devibhagavatam.5.21.52)

हृताधिकारास्ते सर्वे बभ्रमुर्विजने वने । निरालम्बा निराधारा निस्तेजस्का निरायुधाः

hṛtādhikārāste sarve babhramurvijane vane | nirālambā nirādhārā nistejaskā nirāyudhāḥ

Their offices seized, all of them wandered about in the desolate forest, without support, without refuge, without splendor, and without weapons.

Verse 53 (devibhagavatam.5.21.53)

विचेरुरमराः सर्वे पर्वतानां गुहासु च । उद्यानेषु च शून्येषु नदीनां गह्वरेषु च

viceruramarāḥ sarve parvatānāṁ guhāsu ca | udyāneṣu ca śūnyeṣu nadīnāṁ gahvareṣu ca

All the immortals wandered about in the caves of the mountains, in deserted gardens, and in the ravines of rivers.

Verse 54 (devibhagavatam.5.21.54)

न प्रापुस्ते सुखं वापि स्थानभ्रष्टा विचेतसः । लोकपाला महाराज दैवाधीनं सुखं किल

na prāpuste sukhaṁ vāpi sthānabhraṣṭā vicetasaḥ | lokapālā mahārāja daivādhīnaṁ sukhaṁ kila

They found no happiness at all, fallen as they were from their positions, bewildered — the very guardians of the world, O great king; for happiness, indeed, is dependent upon fate.

Verse 55 (devibhagavatam.5.21.55)

बलवन्तो महाभागा बहुज्ञा धनसंयुताः । काले दुःखं तथा दैन्यमाप्नुवन्ति नराधिप

balavanto mahābhāgā bahujñā dhanasaṁyutāḥ | kāle duḥkhaṁ tathā dainyamāpnuvanti narādhipa

Even the powerful, the exceedingly fortunate, the greatly learned, and the wealthy — in time, O lord of men, they too obtain sorrow and misery.

Verse 56 (devibhagavatam.5.21.56)

चित्रमेतन्महाराज कालस्यैव विचेष्टितम् । यः करोति नरं तावद्राजानं भिक्षुकं ततः

citrametanmahārāja kālasyaiva viceṣṭitam | yaḥ karoti naraṁ tāvadrājānaṁ bhikṣukaṁ tataḥ

This is indeed a wonder, O great king, the very working of Time — which turns a man who was a king into a beggar,

Verse 57 (devibhagavatam.5.21.57)

दातारं याचकं चैव बलवन्तं तथाबलम् । पण्डितं विकलं कामं शूरं चातीव कातरम्

dātāraṁ yācakaṁ caiva balavantaṁ tathābalam | paṇḍitaṁ vikalaṁ kāmaṁ śūraṁ cātīva kātaram

turns a giver into a supplicant, the powerful into the powerless, the learned into the helpless, and the very brave into the utterly cowardly.

Verse 58 (devibhagavatam.5.21.58)

मखानाञ्च शतं कृत्वा प्राप्येन्द्रासनमुत्तमम् । पुनर्दुःखं परं प्राप्तं कालस्य गतिरीदृशी

makhānāñca śataṁ kṛtvā prāpyendrāsanamuttamam | punarduḥkhaṁ paraṁ prāptaṁ kālasya gatirīdṛśī

Having performed a hundred sacrifices and obtained the supreme throne of Indra, one may yet again attain the deepest sorrow — such is the course of Time.

Verse 59 (devibhagavatam.5.21.59)

कालः करोति धर्मिष्ठं पुरुषं ज्ञानसंयुतम् । तमेवातीव पापिष्ठं ज्ञानलेशविवर्जितम्

kālaḥ karoti dharmiṣṭhaṁ puruṣaṁ jñānasaṁyutam | tamevātīva pāpiṣṭhaṁ jñānaleśavivarjitam

Time makes a righteous man, endowed with knowledge, into that very same man, utterly sinful and devoid of even a trace of knowledge.

Verse 60 (devibhagavatam.5.21.60)

न विस्मयोऽत्र कर्तव्यः सर्वथा कालचेष्टिते । ब्रह्मविष्णुहरादीनामपीदृक्कष्टचेष्टितम्

na vismayo'tra kartavyaḥ sarvathā kālaceṣṭite | brahmaviṣṇuharādīnāmapīdṛkkaṣṭaceṣṭitam

No wonder at all should be felt at the workings of Time in any way — for even Brahma, Vishnu, Hara, and the rest experience such difficult happenings.

Verse 61 (devibhagavatam.5.21.61)

विष्णुर्जननमाप्नोति सूकरादिषु योनिषु । हरः कपाली सञ्जातः कालेनैव बलीयसा

viṣṇurjananamāpnoti sūkarādiṣu yoniṣu | haraḥ kapālī sañjātaḥ kālenaiva balīyasā

Vishnu obtains birth in wombs such as that of the boar; Hara became a skull-bearing beggar — all by the power of Time alone, mightier than all.