The Slaying of Bala and Namuchi

Verse 1 (padma.1.67.1)

व्यास उवाच। एतच्छ्रुत्वा तु दैत्येंद्रो हिरण्याक्षो महाबलः। सरोषश्चातिताम्राक्षो ह्यसुरानादिदेश ह

vyāsa uvāca. etacchrutvā tu daityeṁdro hiraṇyākṣo mahābalaḥ. saroṣaścātitāmrākṣo hyasurānādideśa ha

Vyasa said: Hearing this, the lord of daityas, Hiranyaksha, of great strength, filled with rage, his eyes turned deep red, commanded the asuras thus—

Verse 2 (padma.1.67.2)

स्वयं गच्छामि युद्धाय देवानां विजिघांसया। नागच्छंति न युद्ध्यंते तेन मार्गाद्विशन्त्वितः

svayaṁ gacchāmi yuddhāya devānāṁ vijighāṁsayā. nāgacchaṁti na yuddhyaṁte tena mārgādviśantvitaḥ

"—I myself go forth to battle, desiring to slay the gods. Those who will not come, who will not fight, let them clear the way from here."

Verse 3 (padma.1.67.3)

एतच्छ्रुत्वा तु वचनं शेषा दैत्यगणाधिपाः। युद्धाय प्रययुः सर्वे शूलपाशातिपंडिताः

etacchrutvā tu vacanaṁ śeṣā daityagaṇādhipāḥ. yuddhāya prayayuḥ sarve śūlapāśātipaṁḍitāḥ

Hearing these words, all the remaining lords of the daitya hosts, greatly skilled with trident and noose, set forth for battle.

Verse 4 (padma.1.67.4)

अधिकं पूर्वसैन्याश्च तथा शतगुणैरपि। निरंतरं तथाकाशं प्रययुर्युद्धकांक्षिणः

adhikaṁ pūrvasainyāśca tathā śataguṇairapi. niraṁtaraṁ tathākāśaṁ prayayuryuddhakāṁkṣiṇaḥ

Their army, more numerous than before by a hundredfold, eager for battle, advanced, filling the sky without a gap.

Verse 5 (padma.1.67.5)

ततो रुद्रास्स साध्याश्च विश्वे च वसवस्तथा। स्कंदश्च गणपश्चैव विष्णुजिष्णुपुरोगमाः

tato rudrāssa sādhyāśca viśve ca vasavastathā. skaṁdaśca gaṇapaścaiva viṣṇujiṣṇupurogamāḥ

Then the Rudras, the Sadhyas, the Vishvedevas, and the Vasus likewise, and Skanda and Ganapa, with Vishnu and Jishnu at the forefront—

Verse 6 (padma.1.67.6)

सर्वे योद्धुं गतास्ते च हृष्टा रणसमुत्सुकाः। एतस्मिन्नंतरे युद्धं देवदानवयोरपि

sarve yoddhuṁ gatāste ca hṛṣṭā raṇasamutsukāḥ. etasminnaṁtare yuddhaṁ devadānavayorapi

—all of them, joyful and eager for battle, went forth to fight. Then, at that time, a battle broke out between the gods and the danavas—

Verse 7 (padma.1.67.7)

न भूतं न श्रुतं पूर्वं सर्वलोकभयंकरम्। शस्त्रास्त्रैबर्हुधा युक्तं शिशिरेणेव काननम्

na bhūtaṁ na śrutaṁ pūrvaṁ sarvalokabhayaṁkaram. śastrāstraibarhudhā yuktaṁ śiśireṇeva kānanam

—such as had never before occurred, nor been heard of: terrifying to all the worlds, thick with weapons and missiles of every kind, like a forest thick with winter frost.

Verse 8 (padma.1.67.8)

धरां स्वर्गौक आकाशं संरुध्य युद्धमाबभौ। अन्योन्यं जघ्नुराकाशे तथान्योन्यं महीतले

dharāṁ svargauka ākāśaṁ saṁrudhya yuddhamābabhau. anyonyaṁ jaghnurākāśe tathānyonyaṁ mahītale

Filling the earth, the heavens, and the sky, the battle raged; they struck each other in the sky, and likewise struck each other on the ground.

Verse 9 (padma.1.67.9)

शक्तिभिर्मुसलैर्भल्लैर्बहुभिः शरवृष्टिभिः। दारुणैः खड्गपातैश्च तथा चक्रपरःश्वधैः

śaktibhirmusalairbhallairbahubhiḥ śaravṛṣṭibhiḥ. dāruṇaiḥ khaḍgapātaiśca tathā cakraparaḥśvadhaiḥ

With spears, maces, broad-headed arrows, and many showers of shafts; with terrible sword-strokes, and likewise with discuses and axes—

Verse 10 (padma.1.67.10)

अन्यायुधैश्च विविधैर्निर्जघ्नुस्ते परस्परम्। अभवन्घोररूपाणि धराकाशे व्ययानि च

anyāyudhaiśca vividhairnirjaghnuste parasparam. abhavanghorarūpāṇi dharākāśe vyayāni ca

—and with other, various weapons, they struck one another; terrible and destructive forms appeared, filling earth and sky.

Verse 11 (padma.1.67.11)

शस्त्रैः शरैरसृक्पातैः कंकवायसजंबुकैः। यथा मुसलधाराभिर्घना वर्षंति लोहितम्

śastraiḥ śarairasṛkpātaiḥ kaṁkavāyasajaṁbukaiḥ. yathā musaladhārābhirghanā varṣaṁti lohitam

With weapons and arrows, streams of blood flowed, amid kanka-birds, crows, and jackals; as dense clouds pour down torrents, so blood rained down—

Verse 12 (padma.1.67.12)

तथैव क्षतजैः स्रस्तैः स्वाङ्गाच्च देवदानवाः। केचित्पतंति मुह्यंति स्खलंति च हसंति च

tathaiva kṣatajaiḥ srastaiḥ svāṅgācca devadānavāḥ. kecitpataṁti muhyaṁti skhalaṁti ca hasaṁti ca

—likewise, gods and danavas, drenched and streaming with blood from their own limbs, some fell, some swooned, some stumbled, and some laughed deliriously—

Verse 13 (padma.1.67.13)

मुंचंति चार्तनादांश्च सिंहनादं मुहुर्मुहुः। केषांचिद्बाहवश्छिन्नाश्छिन्नपादास्तथापरे

muṁcaṁti cārtanādāṁśca siṁhanādaṁ muhurmuhuḥ. keṣāṁcidbāhavaśchinnāśchinnapādāstathāpare

—some uttered cries of agony, while others roared lion-roars again and again; the arms of some were cut off, and likewise others had their feet severed.

Verse 14 (padma.1.67.14)

छिन्नपार्श्वोदराः केचिन्निपेतुः शतशो भुवि। कोटिकोटिसहस्राणि गजवाज्यसुराणि च

chinnapārśvodarāḥ kecinnipetuḥ śataśo bhuvi. koṭikoṭisahasrāṇi gajavājyasurāṇi ca

Some, their sides and bellies cut open, fell by the hundreds to the ground. Many millions upon millions of elephants, horses, and asuras—

Verse 15 (padma.1.67.15)

अपतन्धरणीपृष्ठे रक्तौघे बहुधा भुवि। ततस्तु धरणीपृष्ठे त्वभवल्लोहितार्णवः

apatandharaṇīpṛṣṭhe raktaughe bahudhā bhuvi. tatastu dharaṇīpṛṣṭhe tvabhavallohitārṇavaḥ

—fell upon the surface of the earth, amid the many floods of blood on the ground. Then upon the earth's surface there formed an ocean of blood.

Verse 16 (padma.1.67.16)

विपरीतास्ततो नद्यः सद्यस्तत्र विसुस्रुवुः। तृणकाष्ठपरास्तत्र शक्तयो दारुसंचयाः

viparītāstato nadyaḥ sadyastatra visusruvuḥ. tṛṇakāṣṭhaparāstatra śaktayo dārusaṁcayāḥ

The rivers there at once flowed backward. There, spears floated like heaps of grass and wood—

Verse 17 (padma.1.67.17)

मुद्गरा मुसलाः शूला मकराद्या भवंति च। जयंतिका ध्वजा मीनाः कमठाश्चर्मकायकाः

mudgarā musalāḥ śūlā makarādyā bhavaṁti ca. jayaṁtikā dhvajā mīnāḥ kamaṭhāścarmakāyakāḥ

—and clubs, maces, and tridents became like crocodiles; banners became like small fish, and shields like the bodies of tortoises.

Verse 18 (padma.1.67.18)

शरादिभिर्महोष्ट्रैश्च निरुद्धाः प्रचुरैस्तथा। केशचामरशैवालाः संपूर्णास्तास्ततःस्ततः

śarādibhirmahoṣṭraiśca niruddhāḥ pracuraistathā. keśacāmaraśaivālāḥ saṁpūrṇāstāstataḥstataḥ

Blocked by arrows and by the many great camels' bodies, those rivers here and there were choked with hair serving as moss, and with chowries.

Verse 19 (padma.1.67.19)

पतद्भिश्च तथान्यैश्च विविधैः क्षतजार्णवः। तदा वसुंधरा सर्वा सशैलवनकानना

patadbhiśca tathānyaiśca vividhaiḥ kṣatajārṇavaḥ. tadā vasuṁdharā sarvā saśailavanakānanā

With those falling and with various other things, that ocean of blood grew still wider; then the whole earth, with its mountains, forests, and thickets—

Verse 20 (padma.1.67.20)

रुधिरौघा महाघोरा सर्वलोकभयंकरा। स्कंदस्य शक्तिपातेन गता दैत्या यमक्षयम्

rudhiraughā mahāghorā sarvalokabhayaṁkarā. skaṁdasya śaktipātena gatā daityā yamakṣayam

—became a torrent of blood, exceedingly terrible, terrifying to all the worlds. By the fall of Skanda's spear, many daityas went to the abode of Yama.

Verse 21 (padma.1.67.21)

पर्शुना परमेणैव अग्निनाग्निशिखैः शरैः। वरुणस्य च पाशेन बद्धा मग्ना यमक्षये

parśunā parameṇaiva agnināgniśikhaiḥ śaraiḥ. varuṇasya ca pāśena baddhā magnā yamakṣaye

By the supreme axe, by fire, by fire-tipped arrows, and bound by Varuna's noose, many sank into the abode of Yama.

Verse 22 (padma.1.67.22)

येषां पुत्रैश्च पौत्रैश्च पुरोगैः सचिवैस्तथा। निपातिताश्च दैतेयाः शरशक्त्यृष्टिवृष्टिभिः

yeṣāṁ putraiśca pautraiśca purogaiḥ sacivaistathā. nipātitāśca daiteyāḥ śaraśaktyṛṣṭivṛṣṭibhiḥ

Those daityas, along with their sons and grandsons, their commanders and ministers, were felled by showers of arrows, spears, and darts—

Verse 23 (padma.1.67.23)

ग्रहैश्च श्वसनैरेव यक्षगंधर्वकिन्नरैः। महत्या गदया चैव कुबेरेण च धीमता

grahaiśca śvasanaireva yakṣagaṁdharvakinnaraiḥ. mahatyā gadayā caiva kubereṇa ca dhīmatā

—by the seizing-spirits and by the winds themselves, by yakshas, gandharvas, and kinnaras; by a great mace, and by the wise Kubera—

Verse 24 (padma.1.67.24)

घनानां निकरैर्वज्रैस्तुषारैर्विधुनेरितैः। पन्नगानां विषैर्घोरैर्दैत्याः पेतुर्धरातले

ghanānāṁ nikarairvajraistuṣārairvidhuneritaiḥ. pannagānāṁ viṣairghorairdaityāḥ peturdharātale

—by masses of clouds, by thunderbolts, by hailstones hurled by the Moon, and by the terrible venom of serpents, the daityas fell upon the ground.

Verse 25 (padma.1.67.25)

अन्यैश्च विविधैर्देवैः कोटिकोटिसहस्रशः। पातिताः प्रययुस्सर्वे धरण्यां तु गतासवः

anyaiśca vividhairdevaiḥ koṭikoṭisahasraśaḥ. pātitāḥ prayayussarve dharaṇyāṁ tu gatāsavaḥ

And by other various gods too, by the many millions, they were felled; all of them, their life-breath gone, went down upon the earth.

Verse 26 (padma.1.67.26)

देहांस्त्यक्त्वा दिवं यांति केचिच्च यममंदिरम्। केचिद्गच्छंति पातालं पुण्यापुण्यप्रयोगतः

dehāṁstyaktvā divaṁ yāṁti kecicca yamamaṁdiram. kecidgacchaṁti pātālaṁ puṇyāpuṇyaprayogataḥ

Leaving their bodies, some went to heaven, some to the abode of Yama, and some went down to the netherworld, according to the working of their merit and demerit.

Verse 27 (padma.1.67.27)

एतस्मिन्नंतरे वेदाञ्जजल्पुः परमर्षयः। स्वस्त्यस्तु ब्राह्मणेभ्यश्च गोभ्यः स्त्रीभ्यस्तपस्विषु

etasminnaṁtare vedāñjajalpuḥ paramarṣayaḥ. svastyastu brāhmaṇebhyaśca gobhyaḥ strībhyastapasviṣu

Meanwhile, the great sages chanted the Vedas: "May there be well-being for brahmins, for cows, for women, and for ascetics—"

Verse 28 (padma.1.67.28)

प्रयुध्यमानेष्वन्येषु सांप्रतं सर्वजंतुषु। विबुधैरर्दिता दैत्याः शेषाः पर्वतमाश्रिताः

prayudhyamāneṣvanyeṣu sāṁprataṁ sarvajaṁtuṣu. vibudhairarditā daityāḥ śeṣāḥ parvatamāśritāḥ

"—while all other creatures are still now engaged in battle." The remaining daityas, harassed by the gods, took refuge upon a mountain.

Verse 29 (padma.1.67.29)

प्रजग्मुश्च दिशः सर्वाः कातरा रणभीरवः। दैत्यव्यूहे प्रभग्ने च बलो नाम महाबलः

prajagmuśca diśaḥ sarvāḥ kātarā raṇabhīravaḥ. daityavyūhe prabhagne ca balo nāma mahābalaḥ

Timid and fearful of battle, they fled in every direction. When the daitya battle-formation was thus broken, one named Bala, of great strength—

Verse 30 (padma.1.67.30)

अर्दयामास देवांश्च संयम्याग्निसमैः शरैः। तस्य बाणार्दिता देवा बहवो बलदर्पिताः

ardayāmāsa devāṁśca saṁyamyāgnisamaiḥ śaraiḥ. tasya bāṇārditā devā bahavo baladarpitāḥ

—now, holding steady, assailed the gods with fire-like arrows. Many gods, proud of their strength, harassed by his arrows—

Verse 31 (padma.1.67.31)

पतिता धरणीपृष्ठे केचिद्भग्ना रणाजिरे। दृष्ट्वा तस्य महत्कर्म दारुणं लोकभीषणम्

patitā dharaṇīpṛṣṭhe kecidbhagnā raṇājire. dṛṣṭvā tasya mahatkarma dāruṇaṁ lokabhīṣaṇam

—some fell upon the surface of the earth, shattered on the battlefield. Seeing his great and terrible feat, fearsome to the worlds—

Verse 32 (padma.1.67.32)

शशंसुर्ऋषयो देवास्तत्र शिष्टाः प्रचुक्रुशुः। अथ क्रुद्धो महातेजाश्शतक्रतुररिंदमः

śaśaṁsurṛṣayo devāstatra śiṣṭāḥ pracukruśuḥ. atha kruddho mahātejāśśatakraturariṁdamaḥ

—the sages praised him, while the remaining gods there cried out in distress. Then, enraged, the greatly radiant Shatakratu, subduer of foes—

Verse 33 (padma.1.67.33)

जघान शरसंदोहैर्बलं बलवतां वरम्। सोपि क्रुद्धो बलो युद्धे तथा शक्रं ससंभ्रमः

jaghāna śarasaṁdohairbalaṁ balavatāṁ varam. sopi kruddho balo yuddhe tathā śakraṁ sasaṁbhramaḥ

—struck Bala, foremost among the strong, with a mass of arrows. He too, enraged, struck Shakra likewise in the battle, with fury—

Verse 34 (padma.1.67.34)

रुधिरेणावसिक्तांगौ प्रसृतेन महाबलौ। तौ यथा माधवे मासि पुष्पितौ किंशुकद्रुमौ

rudhireṇāvasiktāṁgau prasṛtena mahābalau. tau yathā mādhave māsi puṣpitau kiṁśukadrumau

—those two of great strength, their limbs drenched with flowing blood, appeared like two kimshuka trees in blossom in the month of spring.

Verse 35 (padma.1.67.35)

चक्राणि च सहस्राणि शूलानि मुसलानि च। निचखान रणे शक्रे चपले चासुरोत्तमः

cakrāṇi ca sahasrāṇi śūlāni musalāni ca. nicakhāna raṇe śakre capale cāsurottamaḥ

That foremost of asuras hurled thousands of discuses, tridents, and maces at the swift-moving Shakra in the battle—

Verse 36 (padma.1.67.36)

तानि चक्राणि शूलानि निचकर्त्त शरोत्तमैः। सुरराट्सहसा भ्रांतो लीलया समरे बली

tāni cakrāṇi śūlāni nicakartta śarottamaiḥ. surarāṭsahasā bhrāṁto līlayā samare balī

—those discuses and tridents the king of the gods cut down with his finest arrows; whirling about suddenly, the mighty one seemed to move playfully in that battle.

Verse 37 (padma.1.67.37)

स च दैत्यो महातेजाः शक्त्या चैव पुरंदरम्। निजघान तदा तूर्णं गजस्थं च स्तनांतरे

sa ca daityo mahātejāḥ śaktyā caiva puraṁdaram. nijaghāna tadā tūrṇaṁ gajasthaṁ ca stanāṁtare

That greatly radiant daitya then swiftly struck Purandara, seated upon his elephant, with a spear, between his breasts.

Verse 38 (padma.1.67.38)

तया विनिहतः शक्रः प्रचचाल गजोपरि। लब्धसंज्ञो बलं जिष्णुर्बिभेद दनुजं क्षणात्

tayā vinihataḥ śakraḥ pracacāla gajopari. labdhasaṁjño balaṁ jiṣṇurbibheda danujaṁ kṣaṇāt

Struck by it, Shakra reeled upon the elephant. Regaining his senses, Jishnu pierced the demon Bala in an instant.

Verse 39 (padma.1.67.39)

रथसंस्थस्य हस्तौ च धनुश्चिच्छेद चेषुणा। चर्मतीक्ष्णं ध्वजं तस्य शरेणैकेन वीरहा

rathasaṁsthasya hastau ca dhanuściccheda ceṣuṇā. carmatīkṣṇaṁ dhvajaṁ tasya śareṇaikena vīrahā

With an arrow he cut off the two hands of Bala as he stood upon his chariot, together with his bow; and with a single shaft the slayer of heroes cut down his shield and his sharp banner—

Verse 40 (padma.1.67.40)

चतुर्भिर्निशितैर्बाणैर्विव्याध चतुरो हयान्। शरेणैकेन सूतस्य शिरश्चिच्छेद तत्क्षणात्

caturbhirniśitairbāṇairvivyādha caturo hayān. śareṇaikena sūtasya śiraściccheda tatkṣaṇāt

—with four sharp arrows he pierced the four horses; with a single arrow he instantly cut off the head of the charioteer.

Verse 41 (padma.1.67.41)

छिन्नधन्वा हतरथो हताश्वो हतसारथिः। निपत्य मूर्च्छितः पृथ्व्यां मुहूर्तान्मृत्युमाप सः

chinnadhanvā hataratho hatāśvo hatasārathiḥ. nipatya mūrcchitaḥ pṛthvyāṁ muhūrtānmṛtyumāpa saḥ

His bow cut, his chariot destroyed, his horses slain, his charioteer slain, Bala fell upon the earth in a swoon, and after a while met his death.

Verse 42 (padma.1.67.42)

अथ क्रुद्धो महादैत्यो नमुचिः सुरदर्पहा। गदामादाय सहसा स जघान महागजम्

atha kruddho mahādaityo namuciḥ suradarpahā. gadāmādāya sahasā sa jaghāna mahāgajam

Then the enraged great daitya Namuchi, the crusher of the gods' pride, suddenly seized a mace and struck the great elephant Airavata.

Verse 43 (padma.1.67.43)

यथा मेरुगिरेः शृंगे वज्रपातो भवेद्ध्रुवम्। तथैव च महाशब्दो ह्यभवल्लोमहर्षणः

yathā merugireḥ śṛṁge vajrapāto bhaveddhruvam. tathaiva ca mahāśabdo hyabhavallomaharṣaṇaḥ

As a thunderbolt certainly falling upon the peak of Mount Meru would sound, so was the mighty, hair-raising sound of that blow.

Verse 44 (padma.1.67.44)

प्रहारेणार्दितः पद्मी संचचाल स विह्वलः। रुधिरेणावसिक्तांगो विमुखो वेदनातुरः

prahāreṇārditaḥ padmī saṁcacāla sa vihvalaḥ. rudhireṇāvasiktāṁgo vimukho vedanāturaḥ

Tormented by that blow, the lotus-marked one reeled, overcome; his limbs drenched in blood, he turned away, afflicted with pain.

Verse 45 (padma.1.67.45)

शतक्रतुं विधावंति शतशोथ सहस्रशः। अर्धचंद्रैक्षुःरप्रैश्च चिच्छेद पाकशासनः

śatakratuṁ vidhāvaṁti śataśotha sahasraśaḥ. ardhacaṁdraikṣuḥrapraiśca ciccheda pākaśāsanaḥ

Hundreds and thousands of arrows rushed at Shatakratu; but Pakashasana cut them down with crescent-headed and razor-tipped shafts.

Verse 46 (padma.1.67.46)

जंतुभिस्तस्य मायाभिरर्दितास्सुरपुंगवाः। भूमौ निपतिताः केचित्केचित्सुप्ता रथोपरि

jaṁtubhistasya māyābhirarditāssurapuṁgavāḥ. bhūmau nipatitāḥ kecitkecitsuptā rathopari

By his illusory creatures the foremost of the gods were harassed; some fell upon the ground, some lay as if asleep upon their chariots.

Verse 47 (padma.1.67.47)

दृष्ट्वा तस्य महत्कर्म माधवो विशिखांस्तथा। जंतुभूतान्स चक्रेण चिच्छेद देहलग्नकान्

dṛṣṭvā tasya mahatkarma mādhavo viśikhāṁstathā. jaṁtubhūtānsa cakreṇa ciccheda dehalagnakān

Seeing his great feat, Madhava, with his discus, cut down both his arrows and the illusory creatures clinging to the gods' bodies.

Verse 48 (padma.1.67.48)

ततो जिष्णुस्त्रिभिर्बाणैः पातयामास भूतले। पृथिव्यां पतितो दैत्यो मूर्च्छितस्खलितः पुनः

tato jiṣṇustribhirbāṇaiḥ pātayāmāsa bhūtale. pṛthivyāṁ patito daityo mūrcchitaskhalitaḥ punaḥ

Then Jishnu felled him to the ground with three arrows. Fallen upon the earth, the daitya, swooning, staggered up again—

Verse 49 (padma.1.67.49)

दधार मुद्गरं घोरं शक्रं हंतुं समुद्यतः। ततो जघान मघवा कुलिशेन महासुरम्

dadhāra mudgaraṁ ghoraṁ śakraṁ haṁtuṁ samudyataḥ. tato jaghāna maghavā kuliśena mahāsuram

—and seized a terrible club, rising up ready to slay Shakra. Then Maghavan struck that great asura with the thunderbolt.

Verse 50 (padma.1.67.50)

स पपात महीपृष्ठे क्षतवक्षा महाबलः। साधुसाध्विति देवाश्च सिद्धाश्चैव महर्षयः

sa papāta mahīpṛṣṭhe kṣatavakṣā mahābalaḥ. sādhusādhviti devāśca siddhāścaiva maharṣayaḥ

He, of great strength, his chest torn open, fell upon the surface of the earth. "Well done, well done!" cried the gods, the siddhas, and the great sages—

Verse 51 (padma.1.67.51)

अपूजयंस्तदा शक्रं बहुभिः पुष्पवृष्टिभिः। ततो दैत्यगणाः सर्वे भीतास्तत्र प्रदुद्रुवुः। गीतं गायंति गंधर्वा ननृतुश्चाप्सरोगणाः

apūjayaṁstadā śakraṁ bahubhiḥ puṣpavṛṣṭibhiḥ. tato daityagaṇāḥ sarve bhītāstatra pradudruvuḥ. gītaṁ gāyaṁti gaṁdharvā nanṛtuścāpsarogaṇāḥ

—and honored Shakra then with many showers of flowers. Then all the hosts of daityas, in fear, fled from there; the gandharvas sang songs, and the hosts of apsarases danced.