The Slaying of Madhu

Verse 1 (padma.1.72.1)

व्यास उवाच । दिव्यं रथं समास्थाय धनुर्हस्तो बलैर्युतः । गत्वा च माधवं संख्ये देवासुरगणाग्रतः

vyāsa uvāca | divyaṁ rathaṁ samāsthāya dhanurhasto balairyutaḥ | gatvā ca mādhavaṁ saṁkhye devāsuragaṇāgrataḥ

Vyasa said: Mounting a divine chariot, bow in hand, accompanied by his forces, Madhu advanced against Madhava (Vishnu) in battle, before the assembled hosts of gods and demons.

Verse 2 (padma.1.72.2)

क्रोधेन महताविष्टो मधुर्निर्जरमर्दनः । अब्रवीत्परुषं वाक्यमव्ययं हरिमीश्वरम्

krodhena mahatāviṣṭo madhurnirjaramardanaḥ | abravītparuṣaṁ vākyamavyayaṁ harimīśvaram

Overcome with great wrath, Madhu, the crusher of the immortals, spoke harsh words to Hari, the imperishable Lord.

Verse 3 (padma.1.72.3)

नारायण न जानासि युद्धधर्ममितः कथम् । अन्यायाद्दुर्वधोपायं कृत्वा नष्टो न शोचसि

nārāyaṇa na jānāsi yuddhadharmamitaḥ katham | anyāyāddurvadhopāyaṁ kṛtvā naṣṭo na śocasi

O Narayana, you know nothing of the law of battle! By unjust and evil means of slaying, you have wrought ruin, yet you feel no shame for it.

Verse 4 (padma.1.72.4)

अनेन पंकयोगेन व्यवहारा कृतस्य च । सुरत्वं चोपनष्टं स्यादन्यसृष्टिं करोम्यहम्

anena paṁkayogena vyavahārā kṛtasya ca | suratvaṁ copanaṣṭaṁ syādanyasṛṣṭiṁ karomyaham

Through this base conduct and these dealings of yours, the very godhood of the gods will be destroyed — I myself shall bring forth another creation.

Verse 5 (padma.1.72.5)

त्वामेव निहनिष्यामि सह देवगणैरिह । इत्युक्त्वा धनुरादाय जघान विशिखैर्विभुम्

tvāmeva nihaniṣyāmi saha devagaṇairiha | ityuktvā dhanurādāya jaghāna viśikhairvibhum

'I shall kill you here, along with the hosts of gods!' So saying, he took up his bow and struck the mighty Lord with arrows.

Verse 6 (padma.1.72.6)

माधवस्तान्बिभेदाथ शरैर्वज्रसमप्रभैः । बहुभिस्सर्वगात्रेषु जघान च मधुं ततः

mādhavastānbibhedātha śarairvajrasamaprabhaiḥ | bahubhissarvagātreṣu jaghāna ca madhuṁ tataḥ

Madhava then pierced him with many arrows blazing like thunderbolts, striking Madhu all over his body and wounding him.

Verse 7 (padma.1.72.7)

मायया छादितः सोभूद्दैत्यस्तं सुरसत्तमाः । ये वै शूराश्च रुद्राद्यास्त्रिदशास्सत्त्वधारिणः

māyayā chāditaḥ sobhūddaityastaṁ surasattamāḥ | ye vai śūrāśca rudrādyāstridaśāssattvadhāriṇaḥ

That demon became concealed by his own illusion, O best of the gods. Then the heroic Rudra and the rest, the thirty gods sustained by goodness—

Verse 8 (padma.1.72.8)

देव्यो नानाविधाश्चापि सायुधा वाहनान्विताः । सेनान्यो गणपा देवा लोकेश हरविष्णवः

devyo nānāvidhāścāpi sāyudhā vāhanānvitāḥ | senānyo gaṇapā devā lokeśa haraviṣṇavaḥ

—the goddesses in their many forms, armed and mounted on their vehicles, the generals, the ganas, Lokesha (Brahma), Hara, and Vishnu—

Verse 9 (padma.1.72.9)

अन्ये ग्रहादयो देवाः सर्वे युध्यन्ति संगताः । विनष्टाश्च तदा देवा मधोर्वै मायया ध्रुवम्

anye grahādayo devāḥ sarve yudhyanti saṁgatāḥ | vinaṣṭāśca tadā devā madhorvai māyayā dhruvam

—and the other gods, the planetary deities among them, all gathered and fought together. Then, surely, the gods were overwhelmed by Madhu's illusion.

Verse 10 (padma.1.72.10)

संमुखे विमुखे चैव शरशक्त्यृष्टिवृष्टिभिः । पतंति सहसा देवा भूमौ शस्त्राभिपीडिताः

saṁmukhe vimukhe caiva śaraśaktyṛṣṭivṛṣṭibhiḥ | pataṁti sahasā devā bhūmau śastrābhipīḍitāḥ

Whether facing him or turned away, struck by a shower of arrows, spears, and lances, the gods suddenly fell to the ground, tormented by weapons.

Verse 11 (padma.1.72.11)

एतस्मिन्नंतरे विष्णुर्गृहीत्वा च सुदर्शनम् । असुरान्मायया देवान्जघान रणमूर्धनि

etasminnaṁtare viṣṇurgṛhītvā ca sudarśanam | asurānmāyayā devānjaghāna raṇamūrdhani

Meanwhile, Vishnu took up the Sudarshana discus and, at the front of the battle, slew the illusion-armed demons who were overpowering the gods.

Verse 12 (padma.1.72.12)

अथ तेषां शिरांस्येष छित्वा चैव सहस्रशः । पातयामास देवेशो दैत्यानां च सुरात्मनाम्

atha teṣāṁ śirāṁsyeṣa chitvā caiva sahasraśaḥ | pātayāmāsa deveśo daityānāṁ ca surātmanām

Then the Lord of the gods, cutting off their heads by the thousands, felled those demons who had assumed the semblance of gods.

Verse 13 (padma.1.72.13)

एवमन्यान्विभुर्दैत्यान्द्रावयामास संगरात् । तं दृष्ट्वा मुनयो देवाः सर्वे विस्मयमाययुः

evamanyānvibhurdaityāndrāvayāmāsa saṁgarāt | taṁ dṛṣṭvā munayo devāḥ sarve vismayamāyayuḥ

In this way the mighty Lord routed the other demons from the battlefield. Seeing this, the sages and all the gods were struck with wonder.

Verse 14 (padma.1.72.14)

कर्णे कर्णे प्रजल्पंते देवा मुनिगणास्तथा । सदा देवैकगोप्ता च हरिरव्यय ईश्वरः

karṇe karṇe prajalpaṁte devā munigaṇāstathā | sadā devaikagoptā ca hariravyaya īśvaraḥ

The gods and the sages whispered to one another: 'Hari, the imperishable Lord, is indeed the sole eternal protector of the gods.'

Verse 15 (padma.1.72.15)

सर्वसाक्षी त्वयं देवो दैत्यजिष्णुर्युगे युगे । कथं हंति सुरान्सर्वान्कल्पांत इह जायते

sarvasākṣī tvayaṁ devo daityajiṣṇuryuge yuge | kathaṁ haṁti surānsarvānkalpāṁta iha jāyate

'O God, you are witness to all things, ever victorious over demons in age after age — how then, at the end of the kalpa, do you yourself destroy all the gods?'

Verse 16 (padma.1.72.16)

एतस्मिन्नंतरे दूरे मधुर्मायां प्रयोजिता । हररूपधरो भूत्वा अब्रवीद्धरिमव्ययम्

etasminnaṁtare dūre madhurmāyāṁ prayojitā | hararūpadharo bhūtvā abravīddharimavyayam

Meanwhile, Madhu, standing at a distance, employed his illusion; assuming the form of Hara (Shiva), he spoke to the imperishable Hari.

Verse 17 (padma.1.72.17)

दैत्यानामग्रतः पाप रणे देवान्समंततः । हत्वा किं ते शिवं चाद्य धर्मकीर्ति यशो गुणाः

daityānāmagrataḥ pāpa raṇe devānsamaṁtataḥ | hatvā kiṁ te śivaṁ cādya dharmakīrti yaśo guṇāḥ

'O sinner! Having slain the gods on every side before the demons, what good, what dharma, what fame, or what virtue is there for you in this today?'

Verse 18 (padma.1.72.18)

महतोन्मत्तभावेन न जानासि परान्स्वकान् । अतस्त्वां निशितैर्बाणैर्नयामि यमसादनम्

mahatonmattabhāvena na jānāsi parānsvakān | atastvāṁ niśitairbāṇairnayāmi yamasādanam

'In your great arrogance you cannot tell friend from foe. Therefore I shall send you to the abode of Yama with sharp arrows.'

Verse 19 (padma.1.72.19)

एवमुक्त्वा शरैरुग्रैर्जघान केशवं रणे । निचकर्त शरांस्तांस्तु माधवो वाक्यमब्रवीत्

evamuktvā śarairugrairjaghāna keśavaṁ raṇe | nicakarta śarāṁstāṁstu mādhavo vākyamabravīt

Having spoken thus, he struck Keshava in battle with fierce arrows. But Madhava cut down those arrows and spoke these words:

Verse 20 (padma.1.72.20)

जानामि त्वां रणे दैत्यं हररूपधरं प्रियम् । शूरं शूरविकर्माणं मधुं मायानियोजितम्

jānāmi tvāṁ raṇe daityaṁ hararūpadharaṁ priyam | śūraṁ śūravikarmāṇaṁ madhuṁ māyāniyojitam

'I know you well in this battle, dear one wearing Hara's form — heroic Madhu of heroic deeds, master of your own illusion!'

Verse 21 (padma.1.72.21)

मिथ्यालोकं प्रदास्यामि पातयित्वा रणाजिरे । एतस्मिन्नंतरे तीक्ष्णैः शरैर्विव्याध संयुगे

mithyālokaṁ pradāsyāmi pātayitvā raṇājire | etasminnaṁtare tīkṣṇaiḥ śarairvivyādha saṁyuge

'I shall fell you on this field of battle and send you to the world of falsehood.' So saying, he pierced him with sharp arrows in the fight.

Verse 22 (padma.1.72.22)

जटिलं वृषकेतुं च वृषभस्थं महेश्वरम् । तयोर्युद्धमतीवासीद्देवदानवयोस्तदा

jaṭilaṁ vṛṣaketuṁ ca vṛṣabhasthaṁ maheśvaram | tayoryuddhamatīvāsīddevadānavayostadā

Matted-haired, bull-bannered, mounted on a bull as great Maheshvara — between that disguised demon and the Lord a fierce battle then raged.

Verse 23 (padma.1.72.23)

परस्परं भिंदतोश्च प्राप्तान्प्राप्तान्शरान्शरैः । क्षुरप्रेण धनुस्तस्य चिच्छेद हरिरव्ययः

parasparaṁ bhiṁdatośca prāptānprāptānśarānśaraiḥ | kṣurapreṇa dhanustasya ciccheda hariravyayaḥ

As each struck the other, cutting down every arrow with arrows of their own, the imperishable Hari severed his bow with a razor-tipped shaft.

Verse 24 (padma.1.72.24)

ततश्च पातयामास घोटकं वृषरूपिणम् । स दैत्यश्शूलहस्तोथ प्रदुद्राव जगत्पतिम्

tataśca pātayāmāsa ghoṭakaṁ vṛṣarūpiṇam | sa daityaśśūlahastotha pradudrāva jagatpatim

Then he felled his steed, which had taken the form of a bull. That demon, trident in hand, then rushed at the Lord of the universe.

Verse 25 (padma.1.72.25)

भ्रामयित्वा ततः शूलं जघान परमेश्वरम् । त्रिभिश्चिच्छेद बाणैश्च शूलं कालानलप्रभम्

bhrāmayitvā tataḥ śūlaṁ jaghāna parameśvaram | tribhiściccheda bāṇaiśca śūlaṁ kālānalaprabham

Whirling his trident, he hurled it at the Supreme Lord, but with three arrows the Lord cut apart that trident, blazing like the fire of dissolution.

Verse 26 (padma.1.72.26)

ततः क्रूरो महाबाहुर्मधुर्मायातिमायिकः । देवीरूपं समास्थाय सिंहस्थः प्रययौ हरिः

tataḥ krūro mahābāhurmadhurmāyātimāyikaḥ | devīrūpaṁ samāsthāya siṁhasthaḥ prayayau hariḥ

Then the cruel, mighty-armed Madhu, most skilled in illusion, assumed the form of the Goddess and, mounted on a lion, advanced to attack.

Verse 27 (padma.1.72.27)

शरैर्बहुविधैर्विष्णुं जघानैवाब्रवीद्वचः । स्वामी तु मे सुरश्रेष्ठ त्वयैव पातितो युधि

śarairbahuvidhairviṣṇuṁ jaghānaivābravīdvacaḥ | svāmī tu me suraśreṣṭha tvayaiva pātito yudhi

Striking Vishnu with arrows of many kinds, he said: 'O best of gods, you yourself have slain my lord in this battle.'

Verse 28 (padma.1.72.28)

अहं त्वां च हनिष्यामि सुतौ स्कंदविनायकौ । उक्तवंतं च दैतेयं जघान बहुमार्गणैः

ahaṁ tvāṁ ca haniṣyāmi sutau skaṁdavināyakau | uktavaṁtaṁ ca daiteyaṁ jaghāna bahumārgaṇaiḥ

'Now I shall kill you, and the two sons Skanda and Vinayaka as well.' That demon, having spoken thus, was struck down by many arrows.

Verse 29 (padma.1.72.29)

स पपात महीपृष्ठे गतासुर्लोहितोद्गिरः । पितरौ निहतौ दृष्ट्वा मायाबद्धो महाबलः

sa papāta mahīpṛṣṭhe gatāsurlohitodgiraḥ | pitarau nihatau dṛṣṭvā māyābaddho mahābalaḥ

He fell to the earth lifeless, vomiting blood. Seeing his parents apparently slain, mighty Skanda, bound by that illusion —

Verse 30 (padma.1.72.30)

स्कंदः शक्तिं समादाय प्रायाद्योधयितुं हरिम् । ततो धाताऽब्रवीद्वाक्यं स्कंदं मोहप्रपीडितम्

skaṁdaḥ śaktiṁ samādāya prāyādyodhayituṁ harim | tato dhātā'bravīdvākyaṁ skaṁdaṁ mohaprapīḍitam

— took up his spear and set out to fight Hari. Then Brahma spoke these words to Skanda, tormented by delusion:

Verse 31 (padma.1.72.31)

पश्य ते पितरौ दूरे पश्यंतौ युद्धमीदृशम् । अंतरिक्षे भ्रमंतौ च संस्थितौ लोकसाक्षिणौ

paśya te pitarau dūre paśyaṁtau yuddhamīdṛśam | aṁtarikṣe bhramaṁtau ca saṁsthitau lokasākṣiṇau

'Behold your parents there in the distance, moving through the sky, standing as witnesses of the world, watching this very battle.'

Verse 32 (padma.1.72.32)

एतच्छ्रुत्वा ततो दृष्ट्वा तत्रैवांतरधीयत । ततो धुंधुश्च सुंधुश्च भ्रातरावतिदर्पितौ

etacchrutvā tato dṛṣṭvā tatraivāṁtaradhīyata | tato dhuṁdhuśca suṁdhuśca bhrātarāvatidarpitau

Hearing this and seeing for himself, Skanda vanished on the spot. Then the two exceedingly arrogant brothers, Dhundhu and Sundhu —

Verse 33 (padma.1.72.33)

वधं प्रति हरेर्युद्धे पेततुर्गरुडोपरि । खड्गहस्तं च धुंधुं च सगदं सुंधुमेव च

vadhaṁ prati hareryuddhe petaturgaruḍopari | khaḍgahastaṁ ca dhuṁdhuṁ ca sagadaṁ suṁdhumeva ca

— fell upon Garuda in battle, intent on slaying Hari — Dhundhu, sword in hand, and Sundhu, bearing his mace.

Verse 34 (padma.1.72.34)

चिच्छेद नंदकेनैकं गदया सादयत्परम् । पेततुस्तौ धरापृष्ठे प्रवीरौ क्षतविक्षतौ

ciccheda naṁdakenaikaṁ gadayā sādayatparam | petatustau dharāpṛṣṭhe pravīrau kṣatavikṣatau

He cut down one with his sword Nandaka, and struck the other down with his mace. Both those heroes fell to the ground, wounded and torn.

Verse 35 (padma.1.72.35)

मधुस्तदागतस्तूर्णमंतर्धानं तमोवृतः । पातयामास विष्णौ च मायया शतपर्वतान्

madhustadāgatastūrṇamaṁtardhānaṁ tamovṛtaḥ | pātayāmāsa viṣṇau ca māyayā śataparvatān

Then Madhu himself came swiftly, hidden within darkness, and by his illusion hurled a hundred mountains down upon Vishnu.

Verse 36 (padma.1.72.36)

ततस्तान्पर्वतांश्छित्वा तमसोऽन्तर्गतो युधि । क्रोधात्सुदर्शनेनैव शिरश्छित्वा निपातितः

tatastānparvatāṁśchitvā tamaso'ntargato yudhi | krodhātsudarśanenaiva śiraśchitvā nipātitaḥ

Then, cutting apart those mountains, he pursued the demon hidden within the darkness of the fight and, in wrath, severed his head with the Sudarshana discus alone and felled him.

Verse 37 (padma.1.72.37)

ततो ब्रह्मादिभिर्देवैश्शंभुना त्रिदशैरपि । मधुसूदन इतिख्यातिर्विष्णोर्लोकेषु कारिता

tato brahmādibhirdevaiśśaṁbhunā tridaśairapi | madhusūdana itikhyātirviṣṇorlokeṣu kāritā

Then Brahma and the other gods, together with Shambhu and all the thirty gods, proclaimed the name 'Madhusudana' (Slayer of Madhu) for Vishnu throughout the worlds.