Dama's Swayamvara and the Battle for Sumana

Verse 1 (markandeya.130.1)

मार्कण्डेय उवाच नरिष्यन्तस्य तनयो दुष्टारिदमनो दमः । शक्रस्येव बलं तस्य दयाशीलं मुनेरिव ॥ 130.1 ॥

mārkaṇḍeya uvāca nariṣyantasya tanayo duṣṭāridamano damaḥ śakrasyeva balaṁ tasya dayāśīlaṁ muneriva

Markandeya said: "Narishyanta's son was Dama, the tamer of wicked foes — his strength was like Indra's, and his gentle, compassionate nature was like that of a sage."

Verse 2 (markandeya.130.2)

बाभ्रव्यामिन्द्रसेनायां जज्ञे तस्य भूभृतः । नववर्षाणि जठरे स्थित्वा मार्तुर्महायशाः ॥ 130.2 ॥

bābhravyāmindrasenāyāṁ jajñe tasya bhūbhṛtaḥ navavarṣāṇi jaṭhare sthitvā mārturmahāyaśāḥ

"That most illustrious child was born to the king by Indrasena, daughter of the Bhabhru line, having remained nine years in the womb."

Verse 3 (markandeya.130.3)

यद्ग्राहयामास दम मातरं जठरे स्थितः । दमशीलश्च भविता यतश्चायं नृपात्मजः ॥ 130.3 ॥

yadgrāhayāmāsa dama mātaraṁ jaṭhare sthitaḥ damaśīlaśca bhavitā yataścāyaṁ nṛpātmajaḥ

"Even while still in the womb, he compelled his own mother to self-restraint (dama) — and it was for this that this prince was destined to be of a self-controlled (dama) nature."

Verse 4 (markandeya.130.4)

ततस्त्रिकालविज्ञानः स हि तस्य पुरोहितः । दम इत्यकरोन्नाम नरिष्यन्तसुतस्य तु ॥ 130.4 ॥

tatastrikālavijñānaḥ sa hi tasya purohitaḥ dama ityakaronnāma nariṣyantasutasya tu

"Then the family priest, who knew the three times — past, present and future — gave Narishyanta's son the name 'Dama'."

Verse 5 (markandeya.130.5)

स दत्तो राजपुत्रस्तु धनुर्वेदमशेषतः । जगृहे सुरराजस्य सकाशाद्वृषपर्वणः ॥ 130.5 ॥

sa datto rājaputrastu dhanurvedamaśeṣataḥ jagṛhe surarājasya sakāśādvṛṣaparvaṇaḥ

"That prince was placed under the tutelage of Vrishaparvan, lord of the danavas, and from him received the entire science of archery."

Verse 6 (markandeya.130.6)

दुन्दुभेर्दैत्यवर्यस्य तपोवननिवासिनः । सकाशाज्जगृहे कृत्स्नमस्त्रग्रामं च तत्त्वतः ॥ 130.6 ॥

dundubherdaityavaryasya tapovananivāsinaḥ sakāśājjagṛhe kṛtsnamastragrāmaṁ ca tattvataḥ

"From Dundubhi, foremost of the daityas, who dwelt in a forest hermitage, he received the entire array of divine weapons, in full and in truth."

Verse 7 (markandeya.130.7)

शक्तेः सकाशाद्वेदाश्च वेदाङ्गान्यखिलानि च । तथार्ष्टिषेणाद्राजर्षेर्जगृहे योगमात्मवान् ॥ 130.7 ॥

śakteḥ sakāśādvedāśca vedāṅgānyakhilāni ca tathārṣṭiṣeṇādrājarṣerjagṛhe yogamātmavān

"From the sage Shakti he received the Vedas and all the Vedangas, and from the royal sage Arshtishena that self-possessed prince learned yoga."

Verse 8 (markandeya.130.8)

तं सुरूपं महात्मानं गृहीतास्त्रं महाबलम् । स्वयंवरे कृता पित्रा जगृहे सुमना पतिम् ॥ 130.8 ॥

taṁ surūpaṁ mahātmānaṁ gṛhītāstraṁ mahābalam svayaṁvare kṛtā pitrā jagṛhe sumanā patim

"At the swayamvara arranged by her father, Sumana chose as her husband that handsome, mighty, great-souled prince who had already mastered every weapon."

Verse 9 (markandeya.130.9)

सुता दशार्णाधिपतेर्बलिनश्चारुवर्मणः । पश्यतां सर्वभूतानां ये तदर्थमुपागताः ॥ 130.9 ॥

sutā daśārṇādhipaterbalinaścāruvarmaṇaḥ paśyatāṁ sarvabhūtānāṁ ye tadarthamupāgatāḥ

"She was the daughter of Charuvarma, the mighty king of Dasharna, and all the assembled beings who had gathered there for that very purpose looked on."

Verse 10 (markandeya.130.10)

तस्यां च सानुरागोऽभून्मद्रराजस्य वै सुतः । सुमनायां महानन्दो महाबलपराक्रमः ॥ 130.10 ॥

tasyāṁ ca sānurāgo’bhūnmadrarājasya vai sutaḥ sumanāyāṁ mahānando mahābalaparākramaḥ

"Mahananda, son of the king of Madra, mighty and valorous, had also conceived a passionate longing for that same Sumana."

Verse 11 (markandeya.130.11)

तथा विदर्भाधिपतेः पुत्रः संक्रन्दनस्य च । वपुष्मान्राजपुत्रश्च महाधनुरुदारधीः ॥ 130.11 ॥

tathā vidarbhādhipateḥ putraḥ saṁkrandanasya ca vapuṣmānrājaputraśca mahādhanurudāradhīḥ

"So too had Prince Vapushmat, son of Sankrandana, lord of Vidarbha, a great archer of noble mind."

Verse 12 (markandeya.130.12)

ते तदा तं वृतं दृष्ट्वा दुष्टारिदमनं दमम् । मन्त्रयामासुरन्योऽन्यं तत्रानङ्गविमोहिताः ॥ 130.12 ॥

te tadā taṁ vṛtaṁ dṛṣṭvā duṣṭāridamanaṁ damam mantrayāmāsuranyo’nyaṁ tatrānaṅgavimohitāḥ

"When these princes saw that Dama, the tamer of wicked foes, had been chosen instead, they were overcome by passion and began plotting together."

Verse 13 (markandeya.130.13)

एतामस्य बलात्कन्यां गृहीत्वा रूपशालिनीम् । गृहं प्रयामस्तस्येयमस्माकं यं ग्रहीष्यति ॥ 130.13 ॥

etāmasya balātkanyāṁ gṛhītvā rūpaśālinīm gṛhaṁ prayāmastasyeyamasmākaṁ yaṁ grahīṣyati

"'Let us seize this beautiful maiden by force and carry her off, each to his own home — she shall belong to whichever of us actually takes her.'"

Verse 14 (markandeya.130.14)

भर्तृबुद्ध्या वरारोहा स्वयंवरविधानतः । तस्येच्छया नो भवित्री भार्या धर्मोपपादिता ॥ 130.14 ॥

bhartṛbuddhyā varārohā svayaṁvaravidhānataḥ tasyecchayā no bhavitrī bhāryā dharmopapāditā

"'Whichever of us, by his own desire, this fair maiden then comes to accept as her rightfully wedded husband under the forms of a lawful marriage — to him she shall belong.'"

Verse 15 (markandeya.130.15)

अथ नेच्छति सा कञ्चिदस्माकं मदिरेक्षणा । ततस्तस्य भवित्री सा यो दमं घातयिष्यति ॥ 130.15 ॥

atha necchati sā kañcidasmākaṁ madirekṣaṇā tatastasya bhavitrī sā yo damaṁ ghātayiṣyati

"'And if this girl of intoxicating eyes refuses all of us alike, then she shall belong to whichever of us actually kills Dama.'"

Verse 16 (markandeya.130.16)

मार्कण्डेय उवाच इति ते निश्चयं कृत्वा त्रयः पार्थिवनन्दनाः । जगृहुस्तां सुचार्वङ्गीं दमपार्श्वानुवर्त्तिनीम् ॥ 130.16 ॥

mārkaṇḍeya uvāca iti te niścayaṁ kṛtvā trayaḥ pārthivanandanāḥ jagṛhustāṁ sucārvaṅgīṁ damapārśvānuvarttinīm

Markandeya said: "Having made this resolve, the three princes seized that beautiful maiden as she was walking beside Dama."

Verse 17 (markandeya.130.17)

ततः केचिन्नृपास्तेषां ये तत्पक्षा विचुक्रुशुः । चुक्रुशुश्चापरे भूपाः केचिन्मध्यस्थतां गताः ॥ 130.17 ॥

tataḥ kecinnṛpāsteṣāṁ ye tatpakṣā vicukruśuḥ cukruśuścāpare bhūpāḥ kecinmadhyasthatāṁ gatāḥ

"At this, some kings on their side cried out in protest, other kings cried out too, while some remained neutral, standing apart."

Verse 18 (markandeya.130.18)

ततो दमस्तान्भूपालानवलोक्य समन्ततः । अनाकुलमना वाक्यमिदमाह महामुने ॥ 130.18 ॥

tato damastānbhūpālānavalokya samantataḥ anākulamanā vākyamidamāha mahāmune

"Then Dama, looking all around at those assembled kings, O great sage, spoke these words with an unperturbed mind."

Verse 19 (markandeya.130.19)

दम उवाच भो भूपा धर्मकृत्येषु यद्वदन्ति स्वयंवरम् । दशार्णपतिना भूपाः कृते धर्म्ये स्वयंवरे । अधर्मो वाऽथ वा धर्मो यदेभिर्गृह्यते बलात् ॥ 130.19 ॥

dama uvāca bho bhūpā dharmakṛtyeṣu yadvadanti svayaṁvaram daśārṇapatinā bhūpāḥ kṛte dharmye svayaṁvare adharmo vā’tha vā dharmo yadebhirgṛhyate balāt

Dama said: "'O kings, in matters of dharma this is called a swayamvara — a lawful ceremony arranged by the lord of Dasharna himself. Now, this act of seizing her by force — is it dharma, or is it adharma?'"

Verse 20 (markandeya.130.20)

यद्यधर्मो न मे कार्यमन्यभार्या भविष्यति । धर्मो वा तदलं प्राणैर्ये रक्ष्यन्तेऽरिलङ्घने ॥ 130.20 ॥

yadyadharmo na me kāryamanyabhāryā bhaviṣyati dharmo vā tadalaṁ prāṇairye rakṣyante’rilaṅghane

"'If it is adharma, then it matters nothing to me — I shall simply have another wife. But if it is dharma, then for the sake of those who deserve protection from this violation by an enemy, what is even life itself worth withholding!'"

Verse 21 (markandeya.130.21)

ततो दशार्णाधिपतिश्चारुवर्मा नराधिपः । निःशब्दं कारयित्वा तत्सदः प्राह महामुने ॥ 130.21 ॥

tato daśārṇādhipatiścāruvarmā narādhipaḥ niḥśabdaṁ kārayitvā tatsadaḥ prāha mahāmune

"Then Charuvarma, the king of Dasharna, having called that assembly to silence, O great sage, spoke thus —"

Verse 22 (markandeya.130.22)

दमेन यदिदं प्रोक्तं धर्माधर्माश्रितं नृपाः । तद्वदध्वं यथा धर्मो ममास्य च न लुप्यते ॥ 130.22 ॥

damena yadidaṁ proktaṁ dharmādharmāśritaṁ nṛpāḥ tadvadadhvaṁ yathā dharmo mamāsya ca na lupyate

"'O kings, Dama has raised this question touching both dharma and adharma. Answer it in such a way that neither my dharma nor his is violated.'"

Verse 23 (markandeya.130.23)

मार्कण्डेय उवाच ततः केचिन्महीपालास्तमूचुर्वसुधाधिपम् । परस्परानुरागेण गान्धर्वो विहितो विधिः ॥ 130.23 ॥

mārkaṇḍeya uvāca tataḥ kecinmahīpālāstamūcurvasudhādhipam parasparānurāgeṇa gāndharvo vihito vidhiḥ

Markandeya said: "Then some of the kings said to that lord of the earth: 'Through mutual affection, a gandharva marriage has already taken place here.'"

Verse 24 (markandeya.130.24)

क्षत्रियाणां परमयं न विट्शूद्रद्विजन्मनाम् । दममाश्रित्य निष्पन्नः स चास्या दुहितुस्तव ॥ 130.24 ॥

kṣatriyāṇāṁ paramayaṁ na viṭśūdradvijanmanām damamāśritya niṣpannaḥ sa cāsyā duhitustava

"'This is the supreme form of marriage for kshatriyas — not for vaishyas, shudras, or brahmins. It has already been accomplished through Dama, and it belongs to your daughter as much as to him.'"

Verse 25 (markandeya.130.25)

इति धर्माद्दमस्यैषा दुहिता तव पार्थिव । योऽन्यथा वर्त्तते मोहात्कामात्मा सम्प्रवर्त्तते ॥ 130.25 ॥

iti dharmāddamasyaiṣā duhitā tava pārthiva yo’nyathā varttate mohātkāmātmā sampravarttate

"'So according to dharma, O king, your daughter now belongs to Dama. Whoever acts otherwise does so only out of delusion, driven by lust.'"

Verse 26 (markandeya.130.26)

तथाऽपरे तदा प्रोचुर्महात्मानो हि भूभृताम् । पक्षे ये भूभृतो विप्र दशार्णाधिपतिं वचः ॥ 130.26 ॥

tathā’pare tadā procurmahātmāno hi bhūbhṛtām pakṣe ye bhūbhṛto vipra daśārṇādhipatiṁ vacaḥ

"At that same moment, O brahmin, some other great-souled kings, standing on the opposing side, likewise addressed the lord of Dasharna —"

Verse 27 (markandeya.130.27)

मोहात्किमाहुर्धर्मोऽयं गान्धर्वं क्षत्रजन्मनः । न त्वेष शास्ता नान्यो हि राक्षसः शस्त्रजीविनाम् ॥ 130.27 ॥

mohātkimāhurdharmo’yaṁ gāndharvaṁ kṣatrajanmanaḥ na tveṣa śāstā nānyo hi rākṣasaḥ śastrajīvinām

"'To call the gandharva rite dharma for one born a kshatriya is spoken only out of delusion. There is no other authority governing it — for those who live by the sword, the rakshasa rite alone is the true standard.'"

Verse 28 (markandeya.130.28)

बलादिमां यो हरति हत्वा तु परिपन्थिनः । तस्यैषा स्याद्राक्षसेन विवाहेनावनीश्वराः ॥ 130.28 ॥

balādimāṁ yo harati hatvā tu paripanthinaḥ tasyaiṣā syādrākṣasena vivāhenāvanīśvarāḥ

"'Whoever slays his rivals and carries her off by force, O kings, becomes her husband through that very rakshasa marriage.'"

Verse 29 (markandeya.130.29)

प्रधानतर एषोऽत्र विवाहद्वितये मतः । क्षत्रियाणामतो धर्मा महानन्दादिभिः कृतः ॥ 130.29 ॥

pradhānatara eṣo’tra vivāhadvitaye mataḥ kṣatriyāṇāmato dharmā mahānandādibhiḥ kṛtaḥ

"'Of the two forms of marriage, this one is held to be the more authoritative — and it is for this reason that Mahananda and the others have adopted this kshatriya dharma.'"

Verse 30 (markandeya.130.30)

मार्कण्डेय उवाच अथ प्रोचुः पुनर्भूपा यैः पूर्वमुदितो नृपः । परस्परानुरागेण जातिधर्माश्रितं वचः ॥ 130.30 ॥

mārkaṇḍeya uvāca atha procuḥ punarbhūpā yaiḥ pūrvamudito nṛpaḥ parasparānurāgeṇa jātidharmāśritaṁ vacaḥ

Markandeya said: "Then those kings who had first spoken in favor of Dama replied once more, grounding their argument in caste-dharma and the principle of mutual affection."

Verse 31 (markandeya.130.31)

सत्यं शस्तो राक्षसोऽपि क्षत्रियाणां परो विधिः । किन्त्वसौ जनकस्वाम्ये कुमार्यानुमतो वरः ॥ 130.31 ॥

satyaṁ śasto rākṣaso’pi kṣatriyāṇāṁ paro vidhiḥ kintvasau janakasvāmye kumāryānumato varaḥ

"'It is true that the rakshasa rite too is called a fitting form for kshatriyas — but this holds only where the bridegroom is one accepted by the maiden herself, while she remains under her father's authority.'"

Verse 32 (markandeya.130.32)

हत्वा तु पितृसम्बन्धं बलेन ह्रियते हि या । स राक्षसो विधिः प्रोक्तो नात्र भर्तृकरे स्थिता ॥ 130.32 ॥

hatvā tu pitṛsambandhaṁ balena hriyate hi yā sa rākṣaso vidhiḥ prokto nātra bhartṛkare sthitā

"'The rakshasa rite applies only where the father's authority is overthrown and the girl seized by force against it — it does not apply here, where she has already placed her own hand in another's.'"

Verse 33 (markandeya.130.33)

पश्यतां सर्वभूपानामनया यद्वृतो दमः । गान्धर्वस्येह निष्पत्तौ विवाहो राक्षसोऽत्र कः ॥ 130.33 ॥

paśyatāṁ sarvabhūpānāmanayā yadvṛto damaḥ gāndharvasyeha niṣpattau vivāho rākṣaso’tra kaḥ

"'In full view of every king assembled here, she chose Dama for herself — the gandharva marriage was thereby already accomplished. Where, then, is there any room left for a rakshasa marriage?'"

Verse 34 (markandeya.130.34)

विवाहितायाः कन्यायाः कन्यात्वं नैव विद्यते । कन्यायाश्च विवाहेन सम्बन्धः पृथिवीश्वराः ॥ 130.34 ॥

vivāhitāyāḥ kanyāyāḥ kanyātvaṁ naiva vidyate kanyāyāśca vivāhena sambandhaḥ pṛthivīśvarāḥ

"'A maiden once married is a maiden no longer, and it is marriage alone, O lords of the earth, that establishes a woman's bond with her husband.'"

Verse 35 (markandeya.130.35)

त इमे ये बलादेनां दमादादातुमुद्यताः । बलिनस्ते यदि ततः कुर्वन्तु न तु साधु तत् ॥ 130.35 ॥

ta ime ye balādenāṁ damādādātumudyatāḥ balinaste yadi tataḥ kurvantu na tu sādhu tat

"'As for these men now bent on tearing her from Dama by force — even if they have the strength to do it, let them try; but it would still not be right.'"

Verse 36 (markandeya.130.36)

मार्कण्डेय उवाच तच्छ्रुत्वाऽसौ दमः कोपकषायीकृतलोचनः । आरोपयामास धनुर्वचनं चेदमब्रवीत् ॥ 130.36 ॥

mārkaṇḍeya uvāca tacchrutvā’sau damaḥ kopakaṣāyīkṛtalocanaḥ āropayāmāsa dhanurvacanaṁ cedamabravīt

Markandeya said: "Hearing this, Dama, his eyes reddened with fury, strung his bow and spoke these words —"

Verse 37 (markandeya.130.37)

ममापि भार्या बलिभिः पश्यतो ह्रियते यदि । तत्कुलेन भुजाभ्यां वा को गुणः क्लीबजन्मनः ॥ 130.37 ॥

mamāpi bhāryā balibhiḥ paśyato hriyate yadi tatkulena bhujābhyāṁ vā ko guṇaḥ klībajanmanaḥ

"'If, even before my very eyes, strong men can carry off my own wife, then what value is there left in noble lineage or in the strength of these arms? I would deserve to be called no better than a eunuch by birth.'"

Verse 38 (markandeya.130.38)

धिङ्ममास्त्राणि धिक्छौर्यं धिक्छरान्धिक्छरासनम् । धिग्व्यर्थं मे कुले जन्म मरुत्तस्य महात्मनः ॥ 130.38 ॥

dhiṅmamāstrāṇi dhikchauryaṁ dhikcharāndhikcharāsanam dhigvyarthaṁ me kule janma maruttasya mahātmanaḥ

"'Shame on my weapons, shame on my valor, shame on my arrows and my bow! Shame on this worthless birth of mine in the line of the great-souled Marutta!'"

Verse 39 (markandeya.130.39)

यदि भार्यामिमे मूढाः समादाय बलान्विताः । प्रयान्ति जीवतो धिक्तां मम व्यर्थमनुष्यताम् ॥ 130.39 ॥

yadi bhāryāmime mūḍhāḥ samādāya balānvitāḥ prayānti jīvato dhiktāṁ mama vyarthamanuṣyatām

"'If these foolish, brute-strong men can carry off my wife and leave here still alive, then curse this useless human life of mine!'"

Verse 40 (markandeya.130.40)

इत्युक्त्वा तान्महीपालान्महानन्दमुखान्बली । अथाब्रवीत्तदा सर्वान्महारिदमनो दमः ॥ 130.40 ॥

ityuktvā tānmahīpālānmahānandamukhānbalī athābravīttadā sarvānmahāridamano damaḥ

"Having said this, that mighty tamer of great enemies, Dama, then spoke again to all those kings led by Mahananda —"

Verse 41 (markandeya.130.41)

एषातिशोभना बाला चार्वङ्गी मदिरेक्षणा । किं तस्य जन्मना भार्या न यस्येयं कुलोद्भवा ॥ 130.41 ॥

eṣātiśobhanā bālā cārvaṅgī madirekṣaṇā kiṁ tasya janmanā bhāryā na yasyeyaṁ kulodbhavā

"'This maiden is exceedingly beautiful, of lovely form and intoxicating eyes — but what is her birth worth as a wife to one who is not himself of noble lineage?'"

Verse 42 (markandeya.130.42)

इति सञ्चिन्त्य भूपालास्तथा यतत संयुगे । यथा निर्जित्य मामेतां पत्नीं कुरुत मानिनः ॥ 130.42 ॥

iti sañcintya bhūpālāstathā yatata saṁyuge yathā nirjitya māmetāṁ patnīṁ kuruta māninaḥ

"'Thinking thus, O proud kings, strive with all your might in this battle — so that, having first defeated me, you may then make her your own.'"

Verse 43 (markandeya.130.43)

इत्याभाष्य ततस्तत्र शरवर्षममुञ्चत । छादयन्पृथिवीपालांस्तमसेव महीरुहान् ॥ 130.43 ॥

ityābhāṣya tatastatra śaravarṣamamuñcata chādayanpṛthivīpālāṁstamaseva mahīruhān

"Having said this, he loosed there a shower of arrows, covering the assembled kings as darkness covers the trees of a forest."

Verse 44 (markandeya.130.44)

तेऽपि वीरा महीपालाः शरशक्त्यृष्टिमुद्गरान् । मुमुचुस्तत्प्रयुक्तांश्च दमश्चिच्छेद लीलया ॥ 130.44 ॥

te’pi vīrā mahīpālāḥ śaraśaktyṛṣṭimudgarān mumucustatprayuktāṁśca damaściccheda līlayā

"Those heroic kings, in turn, hurled arrows, javelins, spears and maces; but Dama cut down every weapon they launched as though it were mere sport."

Verse 45 (markandeya.130.45)

तेऽपि तत्प्रहितान्बाणांस्तेषां चासौ शरोत्करान् । चिच्छेद पृथिवीशानां नरिष्यन्तात्मजो मुने ॥ 130.45 ॥

te’pi tatprahitānbāṇāṁsteṣāṁ cāsau śarotkarān ciccheda pṛthivīśānāṁ nariṣyantātmajo mune

"O sage, Narishyanta's son Dama likewise shredded to pieces every arrow and every mass of arrows those kings loosed at him."

Verse 46 (markandeya.130.46)

वर्त्तमाने तदा युद्धे दमस्य क्षितिपात्मजैः । प्रविवेश महानन्दः खड्गपाणिर्यतो दमः ॥ 130.46 ॥

varttamāne tadā yuddhe damasya kṣitipātmajaiḥ praviveśa mahānandaḥ khaḍgapāṇiryato damaḥ

"While the battle between Dama and those princes was still raging, Mahananda, sword in hand, now advanced upon him."

Verse 47 (markandeya.130.47)

तमायान्तं दमो दृष्ट्वा खड्गपाणिं महामृधे । मुमोच शरवर्षाणि वर्षाणीव पुरन्दरः ॥ 130.47 ॥

tamāyāntaṁ damo dṛṣṭvā khaḍgapāṇiṁ mahāmṛdhe mumoca śaravarṣāṇi varṣāṇīva purandaraḥ

"Seeing him advance with sword in hand into that great battle, Dama loosed upon him a shower of arrows like Indra's own rain-clouds."

Verse 48 (markandeya.130.48)

तदस्त्राणि ततस्तानि शरजालानि तत्क्षणात् । महानन्दः प्रचिच्छेद खड्गेनान्यानवञ्चयत् ॥ 130.48 ॥

tadastrāṇi tatastāni śarajālāni tatkṣaṇāt mahānandaḥ praciccheda khaḍgenānyānavañcayat

"Mahananda instantly cut those weapons, those very nets of arrows, to pieces with his sword, and deftly evaded the rest."

Verse 49 (markandeya.130.49)

ततो रोषात्समारुह्य तं दमस्य तदा रथम् । महानन्दो महावीर्यो दमेन युयुधे सह ॥ 130.49 ॥

tato roṣātsamāruhya taṁ damasya tadā ratham mahānando mahāvīryo damena yuyudhe saha

"Then, in fury, the mighty Mahananda climbed up onto Dama's very chariot and began to fight with him hand to hand."

Verse 50 (markandeya.130.50)

बहुधा युध्यमानस्य महानन्दस्य लाघवात् । दमो मुमोच हदये शरं कालानलप्रभम् ॥ 130.50 ॥

bahudhā yudhyamānasya mahānandasya lāghavāt damo mumoca hadaye śaraṁ kālānalaprabham

"As they fought again and again, eluding the nimble Mahananda's blows, Dama loosed at his heart an arrow blazing like the fire of doomsday."

Verse 51 (markandeya.130.51)

तं लग्नमात्मनोत्कृष्य विभिन्नेन ततो हृदा । दमं प्रति विचिक्षेप महानन्दोऽसिमुज्ज्वलम् ॥ 130.51 ॥

taṁ lagnamātmanotkṛṣya vibhinnena tato hṛdā damaṁ prati vicikṣepa mahānando’simujjvalam

"Wounded, his heart pierced through, Mahananda himself tore that arrow out and hurled his gleaming sword at Dama."

Verse 52 (markandeya.130.52)

पतन्तं चैनमुल्काभं शक्त्या चिक्षेप तं दमः । शिरो वेतसपत्रेण महानन्दस्य चाच्छिनत् ॥ 130.52 ॥

patantaṁ cainamulkābhaṁ śaktyā cikṣepa taṁ damaḥ śiro vetasapatreṇa mahānandasya cācchinat

"Dama cut down that falling, meteor-bright sword with a javelin, and then severed Mahananda's head with an arrow shaped like a cane-leaf."

Verse 53 (markandeya.130.53)

तस्मिन्हते महानन्दे प्राचुर्येण पराङ्मुखाः । बभूवुः पार्थिवास्तस्थौ वपुष्मान्कुण्डिनाधिपः ॥ 130.53 ॥

tasminhate mahānande prācuryeṇa parāṅmukhāḥ babhūvuḥ pārthivāstasthau vapuṣmānkuṇḍinādhipaḥ

"When Mahananda was slain, most of the kings turned and fled; only Vapushmat, lord of Kundina, still stood his ground."

Verse 54 (markandeya.130.54)

दमेन युयुधे चासौ बलगर्वमदान्वितः । दाक्षिणात्यमहीपालतनयो रणगोचरः ॥ 130.54 ॥

damena yuyudhe cāsau balagarvamadānvitaḥ dākṣiṇātyamahīpālatanayo raṇagocaraḥ

"Intoxicated with pride in his own strength, that southern prince, Vapushmat, advanced onto the field to fight with Dama."

Verse 55 (markandeya.130.55)

युध्यमानस्य तस्योग्रं करवालं स वै लघु । चिच्छेद सारथेश्चैव शिरः संख्ये तथा ध्वजम् ॥ 130.55 ॥

yudhyamānasya tasyograṁ karavālaṁ sa vai laghu ciccheda sāratheścaiva śiraḥ saṁkhye tathā dhvajam

"As he fought, Dama swiftly cut down his fierce sword, and in that battle severed both his charioteer's head and his standard as well."

Verse 56 (markandeya.130.56)

छिन्नखड्गो गदां सोऽथ जग्राह बहुकण्टकाम् । तामप्यस्य स चिच्छेद करस्थामेव सत्वरः ॥ 130.56 ॥

chinnakhaḍgo gadāṁ so’tha jagrāha bahukaṇṭakām tāmapyasya sa ciccheda karasthāmeva satvaraḥ

"His sword cut away, he then seized a thorn-studded mace; that too Dama swiftly severed while it was still in his very hand."

Verse 57 (markandeya.130.57)

यावदन्यत्समादत्त्ते स वपुष्मान्वरायुधम् । तावच्छरेण तं विद्ध्वा दमो भूमावपातयत् ॥ 130.57 ॥

yāvadanyatsamādattte sa vapuṣmānvarāyudham tāvacchareṇa taṁ viddhvā damo bhūmāvapātayat

"Before Vapushmat could even take up another fine weapon, Dama pierced him through with an arrow and felled him to the ground."

Verse 58 (markandeya.130.58)

स पातितस्ततो भूमौ विह्वलाङ्गः सवेपथुः । विनिवृत्तमतिर्युद्धाद्बभूव क्षितिपात्मजः ॥ 130.58 ॥

sa pātitastato bhūmau vihvalāṅgaḥ savepathuḥ vinivṛttamatiryuddhādbabhūva kṣitipātmajaḥ

"Cast down upon the ground, his limbs faltering and trembling, that prince's mind turned wholly away from further battle."

Verse 59 (markandeya.130.59)

तमालोक्य तथा भूतमयुद्धमतिमात्मवान् । उत्सृज्यादाय सुमनां सुमनाः प्रययौ दमः ॥ 130.59 ॥

tamālokya tathā bhūtamayuddhamatimātmavān utsṛjyādāya sumanāṁ sumanāḥ prayayau damaḥ

"Seeing him thus reduced and turned away from the fight, the self-possessed Dama abandoned the battle, and, glad at heart, set off from there taking Sumana with him."

Verse 60 (markandeya.130.60)

ततो दशार्णाधिपतिः प्रीतिमानकरोत्तयोः । दमस्य सुमनायाश्च विवाहं विधिपूर्वकम् ॥ 130.60 ॥

tato daśārṇādhipatiḥ prītimānakarottayoḥ damasya sumanāyāśca vivāhaṁ vidhipūrvakam

"Then the lord of Dasharna, filled with joy, had the marriage of Dama and Sumana solemnized according to the full prescribed rites."

Verse 61 (markandeya.130.61)

कृतदारो दमस्तत्र दशार्णाधिपतेः पुरे । स्थित्वाऽल्पकालं प्रययौ सभार्यो निजमन्दिरम् ॥ 130.61 ॥

kṛtadāro damastatra daśārṇādhipateḥ pure sthitvā’lpakālaṁ prayayau sabhāryo nijamandiram

"Having married her in the city of the lord of Dasharna, Dama remained there for a short while, then set out for his own home with his wife."

Verse 62 (markandeya.130.62)

दशार्णाधिपतिश्चासौ दत्त्वा नागांस्तुरङ्गमान् । रथगोऽश्वखरोष्ट्रांश्च दासीदासांस्तथा बहून् ॥ 130.62 ॥

daśārṇādhipatiścāsau dattvā nāgāṁsturaṅgamān rathago’śvakharoṣṭrāṁśca dāsīdāsāṁstathā bahūn

"The lord of Dasharna also presented him with elephants and horses, chariot-oxen, steeds, mules and camels, and many male and female servants besides."

Verse 63 (markandeya.130.63)

वस्त्रालङ्कारचापादि वरोपस्करमासनम् । अन्यैस्तैश्च तथा भाण्डैः परिपूर्णं व्यसर्जयत् ॥ 130.63 ॥

vastrālaṅkāracāpādi varopaskaramāsanam anyaistaiśca tathā bhāṇḍaiḥ paripūrṇaṁ vyasarjayat

"He sent him off besides with garments, ornaments, bows and other fine gear, seats, and a great abundance of other precious vessels and goods."