The Slaying of Shankhachuda

Verse 1 (devibhagavatam.9.23.1)

शिवस्तत्त्वं समाकर्ण्य तत्त्वज्ञानविशारदः । ययौ स्वयं च समरे स्वगणैः सह नारद

śivastattvaṁ samākarṇya tattvajñānaviśāradaḥ | yayau svayaṁ ca samare svagaṇaiḥ saha nārada

Shiva, skilled in the knowledge of truth, hearing the whole account, went himself into the battle, O Narada, together with his own hosts.

Verse 2 (devibhagavatam.9.23.2)

शङ्खचूडः शिवं दृष्ट्वा विमानादवरुह्य च । ननाम परया भक्त्या शिरसा दण्डवद्भुवि

śaṅkhacūḍaḥ śivaṁ dṛṣṭvā vimānādavaruhya ca | nanāma parayā bhaktyā śirasā daṇḍavadbhuvi

Shankhachuda, seeing Shiva, descended from his chariot and bowed with the utmost devotion, prostrate on the ground.

Verse 3 (devibhagavatam.9.23.3)

तं प्रणम्य च वेगेन विमानमारुरोह सः । तूर्णं चकार सन्नाहं धनुर्जग्राह दुर्वहम्

taṁ praṇamya ca vegena vimānamāruroha saḥ | tūrṇaṁ cakāra sannāhaṁ dhanurjagrāha durvaham

Having bowed to him, he swiftly mounted his chariot again; he quickly put on his armor and took up his mighty bow.

Verse 4 (devibhagavatam.9.23.4)

शिवदानवयोर्युद्धं पूर्णमब्दशतं पुरा । न बभूवतुरन्योन्यं ब्रह्मञ्जयपराजयौ

śivadānavayoryuddhaṁ pūrṇamabdaśataṁ purā | na babhūvaturanyonyaṁ brahmañjayaparājayau

The battle between Shiva and the Danava went on for a full hundred years; and, O brahmin, neither one achieved victory or defeat over the other.

Verse 5 (devibhagavatam.9.23.5)

न्यस्तशस्त्रश्च भगवान् न्यस्तशस्त्रश्च दानवः । रथस्थः शङ्खचूडश्च वृषस्थो वृषभध्वजः

nyastaśastraśca bhagavān nyastaśastraśca dānavaḥ | rathasthaḥ śaṅkhacūḍaśca vṛṣastho vṛṣabhadhvajaḥ

The Lord set down his weapons, and the Danava too set down his weapons; Shankhachuda remained on his chariot, and the bull-bannered Shiva on his bull.

Verse 6 (devibhagavatam.9.23.6)

दानवानां च शतकमुद्धृतं च बभूव ह । रणे ये ये मृताः शम्भुर्जीवयामास तान्विभुः

dānavānāṁ ca śatakamuddhṛtaṁ ca babhūva ha | raṇe ye ye mṛtāḥ śambhurjīvayāmāsa tānvibhuḥ

Hundreds of the Danavas had by then been slain in that battle; but the all-powerful Shambhu revived whoever fell dead there.

Verse 7 (devibhagavatam.9.23.7)

एतस्मिन्नन्तरे वृद्धब्राह्मणः परमातुरः । आगत्य च रणस्थानमुवाच दानवेश्वरम्

etasminnantare vṛddhabrāhmaṇaḥ paramāturaḥ | āgatya ca raṇasthānamuvāca dānaveśvaram

Meanwhile, an aged brahmin, greatly distressed, came to the battlefield and spoke to the lord of the Danavas.

Verse 8 (devibhagavatam.9.23.8)

वृद्धब्राह्मण उवाच । देहि भिक्षां च राजेन्द्र मह्यं विप्राय साम्प्रतम् । त्वं सर्वसम्पदां दाता यन्मे मनसि वाञ्छितम्

vṛddhabrāhmaṇa uvāca | dehi bhikṣāṁ ca rājendra mahyaṁ viprāya sāmpratam | tvaṁ sarvasampadāṁ dātā yanme manasi vāñchitam

The aged brahmin said: "O king of kings, give alms now to me, a brahmin; you are the giver of all wealth — grant what is desired in my mind.

Verse 9 (devibhagavatam.9.23.9)

निरीहाय च वृद्धाय तृषिताय च साम्प्रतम् । पश्चात्त्वां कथयिष्यामि पुरः सत्यं च कुर्विति

nirīhāya ca vṛddhāya tṛṣitāya ca sāmpratam | paścāttvāṁ kathayiṣyāmi puraḥ satyaṁ ca kurviti

To me, desireless, old, and thirsty as I now am — give your word first, and afterward I shall tell you what it is; first make your promise true.

Verse 10 (devibhagavatam.9.23.10)

ओमित्युवाच राजेन्द्रः प्रसन्नवदनेक्षणः । कवचार्थी जनश्चाहमित्युवाचातिमायया

omityuvāca rājendraḥ prasannavadanekṣaṇaḥ | kavacārthī janaścāhamityuvācātimāyayā

"So be it," said the king, his face and eyes serene. Then the brahmin, with the greatest guile, said: "I am one who desires your armor."

Verse 11 (devibhagavatam.9.23.11)

तच्छ्रुत्वा कवचं दिव्यं जग्राह हरिरेव च । शङ्खचूडस्य रूपेण जगाम तुलसीं प्रति

tacchrutvā kavacaṁ divyaṁ jagrāha harireva ca | śaṅkhacūḍasya rūpeṇa jagāma tulasīṁ prati

Hearing this, Hari himself took up that divine armor; and, in the very form of Shankhachuda, went to Tulasi.

Verse 12 (devibhagavatam.9.23.12)

गत्वा तस्यां मायया च वीर्याधानं चकार ह । अथ शम्भुर्हरेः शूलं जग्राह दानवं प्रति

gatvā tasyāṁ māyayā ca vīryādhānaṁ cakāra ha | atha śambhurhareḥ śūlaṁ jagrāha dānavaṁ prati

Going to her, by his own maya, he placed his seed within her; then Shambhu took up Hari's trident against the Danava.

Verse 13 (devibhagavatam.9.23.13)

ग्रीष्ममध्याह्नमार्तण्डप्रलयाग्निशिखोपमम् । दुर्निवार्यं च दुर्धर्षमव्यर्थं वैरिघातकम्

grīṣmamadhyāhnamārtaṇḍapralayāgniśikhopamam | durnivāryaṁ ca durdharṣamavyarthaṁ vairighātakam

— like the midsummer noonday sun, like the flame of the cosmic-dissolution fire, irresistible, unassailable, unfailing, the slayer of enemies —

Verse 14 (devibhagavatam.9.23.14)

तेजसा चक्रतुल्यं च सर्वशस्त्रास्त्रसारकम् । शिवकेशवयोरन्यैर्दुर्वहं च भयङ्करम्

tejasā cakratulyaṁ ca sarvaśastrāstrasārakam | śivakeśavayoranyairdurvahaṁ ca bhayaṅkaram

— in splendor equal to the discus, the very essence of all weapons and missiles, borne by none other than Shiva and Keshava, terrible —

Verse 15 (devibhagavatam.9.23.15)

धनुःसहस्रं दैर्घ्येण प्रस्थेन शतहस्तकम् । सजीवं ब्रह्मरूपं च नित्यरूपमनिर्दिशम्

dhanuḥsahasraṁ dairghyeṇa prasthena śatahastakam | sajīvaṁ brahmarūpaṁ ca nityarūpamanirdiśam

— a thousand bow-lengths in span, a hundred hands in breadth, living, of the very form of Brahman, eternal, beyond all description —

Verse 16 (devibhagavatam.9.23.16)

संहर्तुं सर्वब्रह्माण्डमलं यत्स्वीयलीलया । चिक्षेप तोलनं कृत्वा शङ्खचूडे च नारद

saṁhartuṁ sarvabrahmāṇḍamalaṁ yatsvīyalīlayā | cikṣepa tolanaṁ kṛtvā śaṅkhacūḍe ca nārada

— able, by its own play, to destroy the entire universe — that trident, having balanced it in his hand, Shiva hurled at Shankhachuda, O Narada.

Verse 17 (devibhagavatam.9.23.17)

राजा चापं परित्यज्य श्रीकृष्णचरणाम्बुजम् । ध्यानं चकार भक्त्या च कृत्वा योगासनं धिया

rājā cāpaṁ parityajya śrīkṛṣṇacaraṇāmbujam | dhyānaṁ cakāra bhaktyā ca kṛtvā yogāsanaṁ dhiyā

The king, casting aside his bow, taking up the yogic posture in his mind, meditated with devotion upon Sri Krishna's lotus feet.

Verse 18 (devibhagavatam.9.23.18)

शूलं च भ्रमणं कृत्वा पपात दानवोपरि । चकार भस्मसात्तं च सरथं चाथ लीलया

śūlaṁ ca bhramaṇaṁ kṛtvā papāta dānavopari | cakāra bhasmasāttaṁ ca sarathaṁ cātha līlayā

The trident, whirling, fell upon the Danava; and, as if in play, reduced him and his chariot alike to ashes.

Verse 19 (devibhagavatam.9.23.19)

राजा धृत्वा दिव्यरूपं किशोरं गोपवेषकम् । द्विभुजं मुरलीहस्तं रत्नभूषणभूषितम्

rājā dhṛtvā divyarūpaṁ kiśoraṁ gopaveṣakam | dvibhujaṁ muralīhastaṁ ratnabhūṣaṇabhūṣitam

The king assumed a divine form — that of a youth, in the guise of a cowherd, two-armed, flute in hand, adorned with jeweled ornaments —

Verse 20 (devibhagavatam.9.23.20)

रत्नेन्द्रसारनिर्माणं वेष्टितं गोपकोटिभिः । गोलोकादागतं यानमारुरोह पुरं ययौ

ratnendrasāranirmāṇaṁ veṣṭitaṁ gopakoṭibhiḥ | golokādāgataṁ yānamāruroha puraṁ yayau

— and, mounting a chariot fashioned of the finest gems, come from Goloka, surrounded by crores of cowherds, went on to that city.

Verse 21 (devibhagavatam.9.23.21)

गत्वा ननाम शिरसा स राधाकृष्णयोर्मुने । भक्त्या च चरणाम्भोजं रासे वृन्दावने वने

gatvā nanāma śirasā sa rādhākṛṣṇayormune | bhaktyā ca caraṇāmbhojaṁ rāse vṛndāvane vane

Going there, O sage, he bowed his head with devotion to the lotus feet of Radha and Krishna, in the Rasa-dance, in the forest of Vrindavana.

Verse 22 (devibhagavatam.9.23.22)

सुदामानं च तौ दृष्ट्वा प्रसन्नवदनेक्षणौ । क्रोडे चक्रतुरत्यन्तं प्रेम्णातिपरिसंयुतौ

sudāmānaṁ ca tau dṛṣṭvā prasannavadanekṣaṇau | kroḍe cakraturatyantaṁ premṇātiparisaṁyutau

Seeing Sudama, the two of them, their faces and eyes serene, took him into their arms, filled with the utmost, overflowing love.

Verse 23 (devibhagavatam.9.23.23)

अथ शलं च वेगेन प्रययौ तं च सादरम् । अस्थिभिः शङ्खचूडस्य शङ्खजातिर्बभूव ह

atha śalaṁ ca vegena prayayau taṁ ca sādaram | asthibhiḥ śaṅkhacūḍasya śaṅkhajātirbabhūva ha

Then the trident swiftly returned in reverence to Shiva; and from Shankhachuda's very bones came into being the race of conch-shells.

Verse 24 (devibhagavatam.9.23.24)

नानाप्रकाररूपेण शश्वत्पूता सुरार्चने । प्रशस्तं शङ्खतोयं च देवानां प्रीतिदं परम्

nānāprakārarūpeṇa śaśvatpūtā surārcane | praśastaṁ śaṅkhatoyaṁ ca devānāṁ prītidaṁ param

— in manifold forms, ever pure, used in the worship of the gods; and the water of the conch is most excellent, deeply pleasing to the gods —

Verse 25 (devibhagavatam.9.23.25)

तीर्थतोयस्वरूपं च पवित्रं शम्भुना विना । शङ्खशब्दो भवेद्यत्र तत्र लक्ष्मीः सुसंस्थिरा

tīrthatoyasvarūpaṁ ca pavitraṁ śambhunā vinā | śaṅkhaśabdo bhavedyatra tatra lakṣmīḥ susaṁsthirā

— pure as the water of sacred pilgrimage, forbidden only in the worship of Shambhu; and wherever the sound of the conch resounds, there Lakshmi remains firmly established —

Verse 26 (devibhagavatam.9.23.26)

स स्नातः सर्वतीर्थेषु यः स्नातः शङ्खवारिणा । शङ्खो हरेरधिष्ठानं यत्र शङ्खस्ततो हरिः

sa snātaḥ sarvatīrtheṣu yaḥ snātaḥ śaṅkhavāriṇā | śaṅkho hareradhiṣṭhānaṁ yatra śaṅkhastato hariḥ

— he who has bathed in conch-water has, as it were, bathed in every sacred water; the conch is the very seat of Hari — wherever the conch is, there Hari is —

Verse 27 (devibhagavatam.9.23.27)

तत्रैव वसते लक्ष्मीर्दूरीभूतममङ्गलम् । स्त्रीणां च शङ्खध्वनिभिः शूद्राणां च विशेषतः

tatraiva vasate lakṣmīrdūrībhūtamamaṅgalam | strīṇāṁ ca śaṅkhadhvanibhiḥ śūdrāṇāṁ ca viśeṣataḥ

— there indeed Lakshmi dwells, and misfortune is banished far away. But by the conch-blast sounded by women, and especially by shudras —

Verse 28 (devibhagavatam.9.23.28)

भीता रुष्टा याति लक्ष्मीस्तत्स्थलादन्यदेशतः । शिवोऽपि दानवं हत्वा शिवलोकं जगाम ह

bhītā ruṣṭā yāti lakṣmīstatsthalādanyadeśataḥ | śivo'pi dānavaṁ hatvā śivalokaṁ jagāma ha

— Lakshmi, frightened and displeased, departs from that place to another. Shiva too, having slain the Danava, set out for Shivaloka, his own abode.

Verse 29 (devibhagavatam.9.23.29)

प्रहृष्टो वृषभारूढः स्वगणैश्च समावृतः । सुराः स्वविषयं प्रापुः परमानन्दसंयुताः

prahṛṣṭo vṛṣabhārūḍhaḥ svagaṇaiśca samāvṛtaḥ | surāḥ svaviṣayaṁ prāpuḥ paramānandasaṁyutāḥ

Delighted, mounted on his bull, surrounded by his own hosts, he departed; and the gods, filled with the highest joy, returned to their own domains.

Verse 30 (devibhagavatam.9.23.30)

नेदुर्दुन्दुभयः स्वर्गे जगुर्गन्धर्वकिन्नराः । बभूव पुष्पवृष्टिश्च शिवस्योपरि सन्ततम् । प्रशशंसुः सुरास्तं च मुनीन्द्रप्रवरादयः

nedurdundubhayaḥ svarge jagurgandharvakinnarāḥ | babhūva puṣpavṛṣṭiśca śivasyopari santatam | praśaśaṁsuḥ surāstaṁ ca munīndrapravarādayaḥ

Kettledrums sounded in heaven, Gandharvas and Kinnaras sang; a ceaseless shower of flowers fell upon Shiva, and the gods, together with the foremost of the great sages, sang his praise.