The Slaying of Vritrasura

Verse 1 (padma.1.73.1)

व्यास उवाच । ततो वृत्रो महातेजा दैत्यानां प्रवरो युधि । दिग्गजाढ्यं गजारूढः प्राद्रवद्बलसूदनम्

vyāsa uvāca | tato vṛtro mahātejā daityānāṁ pravaro yudhi | diggajāḍhyaṁ gajārūḍhaḥ prādravadbalasūdanam

Vyasa said: Then Vritra, of great splendor, foremost of the demons in battle, mounted on an elephant vast as the world-elephants, rushed at Indra, the slayer of Bala.

Verse 2 (padma.1.73.2)

आगच्छंतं ततो वृत्रं शरैः कालानलप्रभैः । विव्याध सर्वगात्रेषु द्विरदस्थो महाहवे

āgacchaṁtaṁ tato vṛtraṁ śaraiḥ kālānalaprabhaiḥ | vivyādha sarvagātreṣu dviradastho mahāhave

As Vritra approached, Indra, mounted on his elephant, pierced him all over his body with arrows blazing like the fire of dissolution, in that great battle.

Verse 3 (padma.1.73.3)

ततो वृत्रस्तु शीर्षं च जिष्णोरेव पतत्रिणा । विव्याध सहसा तेन स चचाल महाबलः

tato vṛtrastu śīrṣaṁ ca jiṣṇoreva patatriṇā | vivyādha sahasā tena sa cacāla mahābalaḥ

Then Vritra suddenly struck the head of Jishnu (Indra) himself with a winged arrow, by which that mighty one reeled.

Verse 4 (padma.1.73.4)

आत्मानं च समाश्वास्य धनुरुद्यम्य वीर्यवान् । ववर्ष शरवर्षेण तस्य दैत्यस्य विग्रहे

ātmānaṁ ca samāśvāsya dhanurudyamya vīryavān | vavarṣa śaravarṣeṇa tasya daityasya vigrahe

Recovering himself, the valiant Indra raised his bow and rained a shower of arrows upon the demon's body.

Verse 5 (padma.1.73.5)

शरांश्छित्वा बिभेदाशु शरैराशीविषोपमैः । शतक्रतुं महावीर्यः सर्वदेवाधिपं युधि

śarāṁśchitvā bibhedāśu śarairāśīviṣopamaiḥ | śatakratuṁ mahāvīryaḥ sarvadevādhipaṁ yudhi

Cutting down those arrows, mighty Vritra swiftly pierced Shatakratu, lord of all the gods, with arrows sharp as venomous serpents.

Verse 6 (padma.1.73.6)

ततः शरसहस्रैस्तु दैत्यं विव्याध देवराट् । परस्परं शरा यांति यथा सप्ताश्व रश्मयः

tataḥ śarasahasraistu daityaṁ vivyādha devarāṭ | parasparaṁ śarā yāṁti yathā saptāśva raśmayaḥ

Then the king of gods pierced the demon with thousands of arrows; their arrows clashed against each other like the rays of the seven-horsed sun.

Verse 7 (padma.1.73.7)

एवं शरसहस्रैस्तु बिभिदाते परस्परम् । मनोजवसमाः शीघ्रा गाढाः शिखरिणो यथा

evaṁ śarasahasraistu bibhidāte parasparam | manojavasamāḥ śīghrā gāḍhāḥ śikhariṇo yathā

Thus with thousands of arrows they pierced each other swiftly, quick as the speed of mind, dense as falling mountain peaks.

Verse 8 (padma.1.73.8)

बडवानलसंस्पर्शाः खगा वज्रारभेदकाः । तयोर्धनुष्मतोर्युद्धे शरास्तुल्यगुणान्विताः

baḍavānalasaṁsparśāḥ khagā vajrārabhedakāḥ | tayordhanuṣmatoryuddhe śarāstulyaguṇānvitāḥ

In the battle of those two archers, their arrows had the touch of the submarine fire, flew like birds, could split even a thunderbolt, and were matched equally in power.

Verse 9 (padma.1.73.9)

एवं क्रमेण युद्धे च अहोरात्रमवर्तत । महेंद्रो द्विरदं तस्य शूलेनैव जघान ह

evaṁ krameṇa yuddhe ca ahorātramavartata | maheṁdro dviradaṁ tasya śūlenaiva jaghāna ha

In this manner the battle continued for a day and a night. Then great Indra struck down his elephant with his own trident.

Verse 10 (padma.1.73.10)

स निपत्य महीपृष्ठे लाघवात्स्वरथं ययौ । रथस्थस्तस्य देवस्य शक्त्या चैरावणं दृढम्

sa nipatya mahīpṛṣṭhe lāghavātsvarathaṁ yayau | rathasthastasya devasya śaktyā cairāvaṇaṁ dṛḍham

Falling to the ground, Vritra swiftly went to his own chariot; mounted there, he struck with his spear at Airavata, the mighty elephant belonging to that god (Indra).

Verse 11 (padma.1.73.11)

बिभेद लाघवेनाशु वज्रेणेव महागिरिं । शुशुभे कंपमानस्तु सेंद्रः स च महागजः

bibheda lāghavenāśu vajreṇeva mahāgiriṁ | śuśubhe kaṁpamānastu seṁdraḥ sa ca mahāgajaḥ

He pierced that elephant swiftly and skillfully, as if a thunderbolt striking a great mountain; and the trembling elephant, with Indra upon it, still shone forth in splendor.

Verse 12 (padma.1.73.12)

ततः शक्तिं समादाय आविध्य मघवाऽसुरम् । बिभेदोरसि दैत्यस्य स पपात रथोपरि

tataḥ śaktiṁ samādāya āvidhya maghavā'suram | bibhedorasi daityasya sa papāta rathopari

Then Maghavan, taking up his spear and hurling it, pierced the demon in the chest; he fell down upon his own chariot.

Verse 13 (padma.1.73.13)

क्षणात्संज्ञां समालंब्य स विनद्य पतत्त्रिणा । बिभेद समरे शक्रं स ततः कश्मलं गतः

kṣaṇātsaṁjñāṁ samālaṁbya sa vinadya patattriṇā | bibheda samare śakraṁ sa tataḥ kaśmalaṁ gataḥ

Regaining consciousness in a moment, Vritra, roaring, pierced Shakra in battle with a winged arrow; and Indra then fell into a swoon.

Verse 14 (padma.1.73.14)

इंद्रः संज्ञां पुनः प्राप्य जघान विशिखैः शितैः । शतकोटिसमैर्बाणैरर्दितो व्यथयान्वितः

iṁdraḥ saṁjñāṁ punaḥ prāpya jaghāna viśikhaiḥ śitaiḥ | śatakoṭisamairbāṇairardito vyathayānvitaḥ

Indra, regaining consciousness once more, struck him with sharp arrows; tormented by hundreds of millions of shafts, Vritra was overcome with anguish.

Verse 15 (padma.1.73.15)

ततो वृत्रो महाशूलं प्राक्षिपन्निर्जरेश्वरे । शांभवास्त्रेण देवेशो वैष्णवास्त्रं मुमोच ह

tato vṛtro mahāśūlaṁ prākṣipannirjareśvare | śāṁbhavāstreṇa deveśo vaiṣṇavāstraṁ mumoca ha

Then Vritra hurled a great trident at the lord of the immortals; the lord of gods released the Vaishnava missile against that Shambhava weapon.

Verse 16 (padma.1.73.16)

उभयोरंबरे चास्त्रे वह्निकूटसमप्रभे । अन्योन्यं जघ्नतुस्तत्र स्फुलिगानि विमुंचती

ubhayoraṁbare cāstre vahnikūṭasamaprabhe | anyonyaṁ jaghnatustatra sphuligāni vimuṁcatī

Both weapons, blazing like a mass of fire, met in the sky and struck against each other, scattering sparks.

Verse 17 (padma.1.73.17)

स्पर्शने च स्फुलिंगानामुभयोः सेनयोर्भटाः । न शक्ताः संमुखे स्थातुं शलभा ज्वलने यथा

sparśane ca sphuliṁgānāmubhayoḥ senayorbhaṭāḥ | na śaktāḥ saṁmukhe sthātuṁ śalabhā jvalane yathā

At the touch of those sparks, the warriors of both armies could not stand their ground, falling like moths into a flame.

Verse 18 (padma.1.73.18)

दग्धाः पेतुः पृथिव्यां च दिशस्सर्वाः प्रदुद्रुवुः । देवदानवयोर्वीराः शून्यस्तत्राभवद्रणः

dagdhāḥ petuḥ pṛthivyāṁ ca diśassarvāḥ pradudruvuḥ | devadānavayorvīrāḥ śūnyastatrābhavadraṇaḥ

Scorched, they fell to the earth and fled in every direction; the heroes of gods and demons scattered, and the battlefield lay empty.

Verse 19 (padma.1.73.19)

अस्त्रं निरस्तकं दृष्ट्वा स दैत्यः क्रोधमूर्च्छितः । मायया शैलसंदोहमस्त्रं शक्रे मुमोच ह

astraṁ nirastakaṁ dṛṣṭvā sa daityaḥ krodhamūrcchitaḥ | māyayā śailasaṁdohamastraṁ śakre mumoca ha

Seeing his weapon repelled, the demon, faint with rage, released by his illusion a weapon of massed mountains upon Shakra.

Verse 20 (padma.1.73.20)

बाणौघैः शैलसंघातं प्रचिच्छेद रणे हरिः । अघोरं प्रासृजद्दैत्यः पुरुहूते महाबले

bāṇaughaiḥ śailasaṁghātaṁ praciccheda raṇe hariḥ | aghoraṁ prāsṛjaddaityaḥ puruhūte mahābale

Hari (Indra) shattered that mass of mountains in battle with a flood of arrows; then the demon released the terrible Aghora weapon upon mighty Puruhuta.

Verse 21 (padma.1.73.21)

कोटिकोटिसहस्राणि जंतूनां प्रवराणि च । सिंहशार्दूलभल्लूक वृक व्याघ्र महागजाः

koṭikoṭisahasrāṇi jaṁtūnāṁ pravarāṇi ca | siṁhaśārdūlabhallūka vṛka vyāghra mahāgajāḥ

Thousands upon thousands of millions of fearsome creatures — lions, tigers, bears, wolves, tigers again, and great elephants—

Verse 22 (padma.1.73.22)

दंदशूकादयः सत्वाः प्रधावंति सुरेश्वरं । क्षुरप्रैरर्धचंद्रैश्च भल्लैः शिलीमुखैस्तथा

daṁdaśūkādayaḥ satvāḥ pradhāvaṁti sureśvaraṁ | kṣuraprairardhacaṁdraiśca bhallaiḥ śilīmukhaistathā

—serpents and other beasts, charged at the lord of the gods. With razor-arrows, crescent-headed shafts, spear-arrows, and other missiles—

Verse 23 (padma.1.73.23)

असंप्राप्तान्प्रचिच्छेद मघवा परवीरहा । ततो वृत्रो महाबाहुर्धनुरुद्यम्य वीर्यवान्

asaṁprāptānpraciccheda maghavā paravīrahā | tato vṛtro mahābāhurdhanurudyamya vīryavān

—Maghavan, slayer of enemy heroes, cut them all down before they could reach him. Then mighty-armed, valiant Vritra, raising his bow,

Verse 24 (padma.1.73.24)

बिभेद शरसाहस्रैर्वज्रकल्पैः शतक्रतुं । छित्वा क्षुरप्रैश्शक्रश्च धनुस्तस्य चकर्त च

bibheda śarasāhasrairvajrakalpaiḥ śatakratuṁ | chitvā kṣurapraiśśakraśca dhanustasya cakarta ca

pierced Shatakratu with thousands of arrows like thunderbolts. Shakra, in turn, cut down those arrows with razor-shafts and severed his bow.

Verse 25 (padma.1.73.25)

सूतं चाश्वान्पृथिव्यां च पातयामास तत्क्षणात् । सकंटकांगदां भीमां संपूज्यासुरसत्तमः

sūtaṁ cāśvānpṛthivyāṁ ca pātayāmāsa tatkṣaṇāt | sakaṁṭakāṁgadāṁ bhīmāṁ saṁpūjyāsurasattamaḥ

He instantly felled Vritra's charioteer and horses to the ground. Then that foremost of demons, honoring his fearsome thorn-studded mace,

Verse 26 (padma.1.73.26)

जघान पद्मिनः शीर्षे मोहाद्दंती क्षितिं ययौ । सगदः सर्वदेवेशो धरणीं समुपस्थितः

jaghāna padminaḥ śīrṣe mohāddaṁtī kṣitiṁ yayau | sagadaḥ sarvadeveśo dharaṇīṁ samupasthitaḥ

in his fury struck the head of Indra's elephant, which sank to the ground. Then the mace-bearing lord of all the gods himself stepped down onto the earth.

Verse 27 (padma.1.73.27)

ततस्तयोर्गदायुद्धमवर्तत मुहुर्मुहुः । तयोः प्रहरतोः शब्दो गदापातोद्भवो ध्रुवं

tatastayorgadāyuddhamavartata muhurmuhuḥ | tayoḥ praharatoḥ śabdo gadāpātodbhavo dhruvaṁ

Then a fierce duel with maces began between them, again and again; the sound rising from the clash of their maces was tremendous.

Verse 28 (padma.1.73.28)

आवर्तं परिवर्तं च चक्रतुस्तौ पुनः पुनः । अध ऊर्ध्वं प्रहारं च पार्श्वयोरतिभीषणं

āvartaṁ parivartaṁ ca cakratustau punaḥ punaḥ | adha ūrdhvaṁ prahāraṁ ca pārśvayoratibhīṣaṇaṁ

Again and again they circled and turned about each other, striking terrible blows downward, upward, and to the sides.

Verse 29 (padma.1.73.29)

बभूवैवं तयोर्युद्धं लोकालोकभयंकरं । दृष्ट्वा देवगणाः सिद्धा दानवा विस्मयं गताः

babhūvaivaṁ tayoryuddhaṁ lokālokabhayaṁkaraṁ | dṛṣṭvā devagaṇāḥ siddhā dānavā vismayaṁ gatāḥ

Thus their battle became a thing that struck fear into every world; seeing it, the gods, siddhas, and danavas were all filled with wonder.

Verse 30 (padma.1.73.30)

युद्ध्यमानौ तु तौ वीरौ मृत्युसंशयमागतौ । देवदानववीराश्च द्रष्टुं नैव तदीशिरे

yuddhyamānau tu tau vīrau mṛtyusaṁśayamāgatau | devadānavavīrāśca draṣṭuṁ naiva tadīśire

As those two heroes fought on, each brought to the very brink of death, the heroes of gods and demons alike could not bear even to watch.

Verse 31 (padma.1.73.31)

ईशब्रह्मादयः खे तु स्थिता द्रष्टुं तदद्भुतं । तयोर्हुंकारशब्देन गदापातस्वनेन च

īśabrahmādayaḥ khe tu sthitā draṣṭuṁ tadadbhutaṁ | tayorhuṁkāraśabdena gadāpātasvanena ca

Shiva, Brahma, and the others stood in the sky to witness that wonder; and from their roaring cries and the crash of their maces—

Verse 32 (padma.1.73.32)

ऊर्ध्वोर्ध्वमगमच्छब्दो ह्यशनेश्चोपजायते । भग्ने गदे द्वयोरेव करः संपुटितस्तयोः

ūrdhvordhvamagamacchabdo hyaśaneścopajāyate | bhagne gade dvayoreva karaḥ saṁpuṭitastayoḥ

—a sound rose ever higher, as though born of a thunderbolt. When both their maces broke, the two of them grappled hand to hand.

Verse 33 (padma.1.73.33)

एवं चैवार्धयामेन तयोरस्त्रे निपेततुः । एतस्मिंन्नन्तरे वीरौ खड्गचर्मधरौ तदा

evaṁ caivārdhayāmena tayorastre nipetatuḥ | etasmiṁnnantare vīrau khaḍgacarmadharau tadā

Thus for half a watch their weapons kept falling from them. At that moment the two heroes took up sword and shield.

Verse 34 (padma.1.73.34)

प्रतियोद्धुं महाघोरमाहवे संप्रचेरतुः । निस्त्रिंशौ विद्युदुल्काभौ तयोर्गात्रे च चर्मणी

pratiyoddhuṁ mahāghoramāhave saṁpraceratuḥ | nistriṁśau vidyudulkābhau tayorgātre ca carmaṇī

They advanced again into that terrible battle to fight; their swords flashed like lightning upon their bodies and their shields,

Verse 35 (padma.1.73.35)

दृश्येते सर्वलोकैश्च लाघवं विस्मयं गतैः । चिच्छिदाते तयोरेव चर्मणी बहुवर्णके

dṛśyete sarvalokaiśca lāghavaṁ vismayaṁ gataiḥ | cicchidāte tayoreva carmaṇī bahuvarṇake

visible to every world, who watched their skill in wonder. Then the multicolored shields of both of them were cut to pieces.

Verse 36 (padma.1.73.36)

भीष्मकं बलयुद्धं च तयोरेवं प्रवर्तते । मंडलं चक्रधन्वं च लाघवं च परिप्लुतं

bhīṣmakaṁ balayuddhaṁ ca tayorevaṁ pravartate | maṁḍalaṁ cakradhanvaṁ ca lāghavaṁ ca pariplutaṁ

Thus that fearsome contest of strength went on between them — circling, wheeling like a bow's arc, overflowing with sheer skill and speed.

Verse 37 (padma.1.73.37)

वृत्रवासवयोर्युद्धं वृत्रवासवयोरिव । केशान्वृत्रस्य उत्प्लुत्य संप्रधृत्यासिना द्रुतं

vṛtravāsavayoryuddhaṁ vṛtravāsavayoriva | keśānvṛtrasya utplutya saṁpradhṛtyāsinā drutaṁ

The battle of Vritra and Vasava was like nothing but itself — until, leaping up, Indra seized Vritra by the hair, sword in hand,

Verse 38 (padma.1.73.38)

शिरश्चिच्छेद सहसा मघवा रणमूर्धनि । जयशब्दस्ततस्त्वासीद्देवानां च समंततः

śiraściccheda sahasā maghavā raṇamūrdhani | jayaśabdastatastvāsīddevānāṁ ca samaṁtataḥ

and Maghavan at once severed his head there at the height of the battle. Then a cry of victory rose up from the gods on every side.

Verse 39 (padma.1.73.39)

प्रोत्फुल्लहृदया देवा मघवंतमपूजयन् । देवदुंदुभयो नेदुर्ननृतुश्चाप्सरोगणाः

protphullahṛdayā devā maghavaṁtamapūjayan | devaduṁdubhayo nedurnanṛtuścāpsarogaṇāḥ

The gods, their hearts blossoming with joy, honored Maghavan; the divine drums resounded, and the hosts of Apsaras danced.

Verse 40 (padma.1.73.40)

गीतं गायंति गंधर्वा मुनयः स्तुतिपाठकाः । भीताः पलायिताः सर्वे दैत्यास्त्यक्तायुधा दिशः

gītaṁ gāyaṁti gaṁdharvā munayaḥ stutipāṭhakāḥ | bhītāḥ palāyitāḥ sarve daityāstyaktāyudhā diśaḥ

The Gandharvas sang songs, and the sages recited hymns of praise; all the demons, terrified, fled in every direction, casting away their weapons.