The Crushing of Tripura's Son

Verse 1 (padma.1.74.1)

व्यास उवाच । चतुर्भिस्तुरगैर्जुष्टं रथं सूर्यसमप्रभं । त्रैपुरिः संरुरोहाथाब्रवीद्वाक्यं गणाधिपं

vyāsa uvāca | caturbhisturagairjuṣṭaṁ rathaṁ sūryasamaprabhaṁ | traipuriḥ saṁrurohāthābravīdvākyaṁ gaṇādhipaṁ

Vyasa said: The son of Tripura mounted a chariot yoked with four horses, radiant as the sun, and spoke these words to the Lord of the Ganas (Ganesha).

Verse 2 (padma.1.74.2)

पिता मे निहतः पित्रा तव यस्माद्गणाधिप । तस्मात्त्वामद्य विशिखैर्नयामि यमसादनं

pitā me nihataḥ pitrā tava yasmādgaṇādhipa | tasmāttvāmadya viśikhairnayāmi yamasādanaṁ

'O Lord of the Ganas, since my father was slain by your father, I shall today send you with my arrows to the abode of Yama.'

Verse 3 (padma.1.74.3)

ततस्तमब्रवीद्देवो गणेशस्त्रिपुरात्मजं । तव तातेन दुष्टेन सुराणामहितं पुरा

tatastamabravīddevo gaṇeśastripurātmajaṁ | tava tātena duṣṭena surāṇāmahitaṁ purā

Then the god Ganesha spoke to the son of Tripura: 'By your wicked father, harm was once done to the gods—'

Verse 4 (padma.1.74.4)

कृतं कर्ममहत्पापं श्रुतं नो जनकेन हि । पापकर्मरतं दुष्टं ज्ञात्वा ज्ञानबलेन च

kṛtaṁ karmamahatpāpaṁ śrutaṁ no janakena hi | pāpakarmarataṁ duṣṭaṁ jñātvā jñānabalena ca

'—a great sinful deed, which my father heard of. Knowing him, by the strength of his wisdom, to be wicked and devoted to sinful acts—'

Verse 5 (padma.1.74.5)

अवधीत्तं शरैकेन पितरं ते बलेन च । पंकात्प्रतारितो मोहात्प्रेषितो यममंदिरं

avadhīttaṁ śaraikena pitaraṁ te balena ca | paṁkātpratārito mohātpreṣito yamamaṁdiraṁ

'—he slew your father with a single arrow, by his own strength. Deceived by delusion, he was sent to the abode of Yama.'

Verse 6 (padma.1.74.6)

त्वां चाहं तत्पथं दैत्य प्रेषयामि क्षणादिह । उक्तवंतं महाप्राज्ञं सुराणां च गणाधिपं

tvāṁ cāhaṁ tatpathaṁ daitya preṣayāmi kṣaṇādiha | uktavaṁtaṁ mahāprājñaṁ surāṇāṁ ca gaṇādhipaṁ

'And you too, O demon, I shall send this instant upon that same path!' Having spoken thus, the wise Lord of the Ganas—

Verse 7 (padma.1.74.7)

विव्याध दशभिस्तीक्ष्णैः कालानलसमप्रभैः । ततः शरसहस्रैस्तु दैत्यं विव्याध साहसात्

vivyādha daśabhistīkṣṇaiḥ kālānalasamaprabhaiḥ | tataḥ śarasahasraistu daityaṁ vivyādha sāhasāt

—pierced him with ten sharp arrows blazing like the fire of dissolution, then boldly pierced the demon again with a thousand more.

Verse 8 (padma.1.74.8)

यमदंडसमैर्बाणैः क्षुरप्रैश्च शिलीमुखैः । कंकपत्रैर्महातीक्ष्णैर्वज्रानलसमप्रभैः

yamadaṁḍasamairbāṇaiḥ kṣurapraiśca śilīmukhaiḥ | kaṁkapatrairmahātīkṣṇairvajrānalasamaprabhaiḥ

With arrows like the staff of Yama, with razor-shafts and spear-arrows, with heron-feathered arrows exceedingly sharp and blazing like thunder-fire—

Verse 9 (padma.1.74.9)

विचकर्त शरांश्चास्य लंबोदरः सुरार्चितः । पुनर्विव्याध विशिखैः सहसाभि दुरोपमैः

vicakarta śarāṁścāsya laṁbodaraḥ surārcitaḥ | punarvivyādha viśikhaiḥ sahasābhi duropamaiḥ

—Lambodara (Ganesha), worshipped by the gods, cut down his arrows and again pierced him with countless, matchless shafts.

Verse 10 (padma.1.74.10)

शरैरर्दितसर्वांगो मूर्च्छितस्त्वपतद्भुवि । ततो भद्रश्च सौभद्रो भीषणो निर्जरांतकः

śarairarditasarvāṁgo mūrcchitastvapatadbhuvi | tato bhadraśca saubhadro bhīṣaṇo nirjarāṁtakaḥ

Tormented in every limb by those arrows, he fell to the ground in a swoon. Then Bhadra, Saubhadra, fearsome Bhishana, and Nirjarantaka—

Verse 11 (padma.1.74.11)

स्वां स्वां गदां समादाय दुद्रुवुस्तं विनायकम् । युगपत्ते गदापातैर्निजघ्नुर्गणनायकम्

svāṁ svāṁ gadāṁ samādāya dudruvustaṁ vināyakam | yugapatte gadāpātairnijaghnurgaṇanāyakam

—each taking up his own mace, rushed at Vinayaka; together they struck the Lord of the Ganas with blows of their maces.

Verse 12 (padma.1.74.12)

लाघवात्तु वृथा कृत्वा गदास्तेषां महाबलः । भद्रकस्य तु शीर्षे चाहनत्परशुना तदा

lāghavāttu vṛthā kṛtvā gadāsteṣāṁ mahābalaḥ | bhadrakasya tu śīrṣe cāhanatparaśunā tadā

The mighty one, with his own swiftness, rendered their maces useless, and then struck off Bhadraka's head with his axe.

Verse 13 (padma.1.74.13)

सौभद्रस्योत्तमांगं च असिनाग्रे निपातितम् । भीषणस्य कुठारेण खड्गेन निर्जरांतकम्

saubhadrasyottamāṁgaṁ ca asināgre nipātitam | bhīṣaṇasya kuṭhāreṇa khaḍgena nirjarāṁtakam

Saubhadra's head he felled with the point of his sword; Bhishana's with his hatchet, and Nirjarantaka's with his blade.

Verse 14 (padma.1.74.14)

पातयित्वा च हेरम्बो महागिरिसमांस्तदा । चतुरो गणमुख्यांश्च अन्यांश्चापातयद्द्विषः

pātayitvā ca herambo mahāgirisamāṁstadā | caturo gaṇamukhyāṁśca anyāṁścāpātayaddviṣaḥ

Having thus felled those four chiefs, mighty as great mountains, Heramba (Ganesha) struck down other enemies as well.

Verse 15 (padma.1.74.15)

ततः संज्ञां समालभ्य त्रैपुरिश्चासुरोत्तमः । समारुह्य रथं स्वं च जघान सुरसत्तमम्

tataḥ saṁjñāṁ samālabhya traipuriścāsurottamaḥ | samāruhya rathaṁ svaṁ ca jaghāna surasattamam

Then the son of Tripura, foremost of demons, regaining his senses and mounting his chariot again, struck at that foremost of the gods.

Verse 16 (padma.1.74.16)

विशिखैरर्धचंद्रैश्च क्षुरप्रैर्भल्लकैस्तथा । तांस्तु चिच्छेद धर्मात्मा पुनर्विव्याध तं शरैः

viśikhairardhacaṁdraiśca kṣuraprairbhallakaistathā | tāṁstu ciccheda dharmātmā punarvivyādha taṁ śaraiḥ

With shafts, crescent-headed arrows, razors, and spear-heads he struck; but righteous Ganesha cut them all down and pierced him again with his own arrows.

Verse 17 (padma.1.74.17)

चतुर्भिः सैंधवांश्चैव शरैकेन च सारथिम् । शरैः संपातयामास धरण्यां गणनायकान्

caturbhiḥ saiṁdhavāṁścaiva śaraikena ca sārathim | śaraiḥ saṁpātayāmāsa dharaṇyāṁ gaṇanāyakān

With four arrows he felled the Sindhu horses, and with a single arrow the charioteer; with more arrows he brought the enemy commanders down to the ground.

Verse 18 (padma.1.74.18)

लाघवात्तु रथं चान्यं गत्वा त्रिपुरनंदनः । विशिखैर्वज्रसंकाशैः संबिभेद गणाधिपम्

lāghavāttu rathaṁ cānyaṁ gatvā tripuranaṁdanaḥ | viśikhairvajrasaṁkāśaiḥ saṁbibheda gaṇādhipam

Then, swiftly mounting another chariot, the son of Tripura pierced the Lord of the Ganas with shafts like thunderbolts.

Verse 19 (padma.1.74.19)

रुधिरेणावसिक्तांगो रुषा घोर यमप्रभः । ललाटे च त्रिभिर्बाणैस्सप्तभिश्च स्तनांतरे

rudhireṇāvasiktāṁgo ruṣā ghora yamaprabhaḥ | lalāṭe ca tribhirbāṇaissaptabhiśca stanāṁtare

His limbs drenched in blood, terrible in his fury, radiant as Yama, Ganesha struck him with three arrows on the forehead and seven between the breasts—

Verse 20 (padma.1.74.20)

चतुर्भिर्नाभिदेशे च पंचभिर्मुष्टिमस्तके । संबिभेद महाक्रोधो बलिनं शंभुनंदनः

caturbhirnābhideśe ca paṁcabhirmuṣṭimastake | saṁbibheda mahākrodho balinaṁ śaṁbhunaṁdanaḥ

—with four in the region of the navel, and five, with a blow of his fist, upon the head; in great wrath Shambhu's son pierced that powerful demon through.

Verse 21 (padma.1.74.21)

शरैरर्दितसर्वांगः स दैत्यो रणमूर्धनि । कश्मलं परमं गत्वा संपपात रथोपरि

śarairarditasarvāṁgaḥ sa daityo raṇamūrdhani | kaśmalaṁ paramaṁ gatvā saṁpapāta rathopari

That demon, his whole body tormented by arrows, fell into utter faintness there at the height of the battle and collapsed upon his chariot.

Verse 22 (padma.1.74.22)

ततः सूतेन धीरेण अपनीतो रणाजिरात् । विमुखं नाहनच्छूरो विनायकः सुरार्चितः

tataḥ sūtena dhīreṇa apanīto raṇājirāt | vimukhaṁ nāhanacchūro vināyakaḥ surārcitaḥ

Then his steadfast charioteer bore him away from the field; and heroic Vinayaka, worshipped by the gods, would not strike one who had turned away.

Verse 23 (padma.1.74.23)

चिरात्संज्ञां समालभ्य यंतारं चाब्रवीद्वचः । गच्छ सूत रणे भीरुं विनायकं हरात्मजम्

cirātsaṁjñāṁ samālabhya yaṁtāraṁ cābravīdvacaḥ | gaccha sūta raṇe bhīruṁ vināyakaṁ harātmajam

After a long while regaining his senses, he said to his charioteer: 'Charioteer, go and meet that fearsome son of Hara, Vinayaka, in battle.'

Verse 24 (padma.1.74.24)

ततो यंताब्रवीद्वाक्यं सत्यं पथ्यं च कोमलम् । हरात्मजशरान्सोढुं कस्समर्थो रणाजिरे

tato yaṁtābravīdvākyaṁ satyaṁ pathyaṁ ca komalam | harātmajaśarānsoḍhuṁ kassamartho raṇājire

Then the charioteer spoke words both true, wholesome, and gentle: 'Who indeed is able to withstand the arrows of Hara's son on the field of battle?'

Verse 25 (padma.1.74.25)

तस्मान्मोहगतस्त्वं च मयानीतः प्रभासुत । एतज्ज्ञात्वा त्विदानीं भो यद्युक्तं तद्विधीयताम्

tasmānmohagatastvaṁ ca mayānītaḥ prabhāsuta | etajjñātvā tvidānīṁ bho yadyuktaṁ tadvidhīyatām

'Therefore, O son of Prabha, when you had fallen into delusion, it was I who carried you off. Knowing this now, let whatever is fitting be done.'

Verse 26 (padma.1.74.26)

एतस्मिन्नंतरे राज्ञा प्रेरितः कविसत्तमः । औषधादिप्रयोगेण गजः संज्ञामबोधयत्

etasminnaṁtare rājñā preritaḥ kavisattamaḥ | auṣadhādiprayogeṇa gajaḥ saṁjñāmabodhayat

Meanwhile, sent by the king, the greatest of sages (Kavi, i.e. Shukracharya), by the application of herbs and other remedies, revived the elephant to consciousness.

Verse 27 (padma.1.74.27)

अकारयच्छतगुण प्राणं च जयमादिशत् । प्राग्जलं मंत्रितं दत्वा रुरोधास्याङ्गकव्रणान्

akārayacchataguṇa prāṇaṁ ca jayamādiśat | prāgjalaṁ maṁtritaṁ datvā rurodhāsyāṅgakavraṇān

He made its vital strength a hundredfold and decreed it victory; giving it water consecrated with mantras beforehand, he sealed shut the wounds upon its body.

Verse 28 (padma.1.74.28)

स गजो दशनैरेव स्फोटयामास वै गिरिम् । एवं शतसहस्राणि सैन्यानि सैन्यपालकान्

sa gajo daśanaireva sphoṭayāmāsa vai girim | evaṁ śatasahasrāṇi sainyāni sainyapālakān

That elephant, with its very tusks, shattered even a mountain; in this way it felled hundreds of thousands of soldiers and their commanders.

Verse 29 (padma.1.74.29)

पातयामास समितौ गजः परमदुर्जयः । स दैत्यस्तस्य पृष्ठस्थः शरैः कालानलप्रभैः

pātayāmāsa samitau gajaḥ paramadurjayaḥ | sa daityastasya pṛṣṭhasthaḥ śaraiḥ kālānalaprabhaiḥ

That utterly unconquerable elephant struck them down in the melee; and that demon, mounted upon its back, with arrows blazing like the fire of dissolution—

Verse 30 (padma.1.74.30)

हत्वा त्वपातयच्चोर्व्यां मुख्यमुख्यान्सुराधिपान् । शरैस्तस्य तदा देवा यमदंडसमप्रभैः

hatvā tvapātayaccorvyāṁ mukhyamukhyānsurādhipān | śaraistasya tadā devā yamadaṁḍasamaprabhaiḥ

—slew and felled the foremost of the leading gods to the ground. Then, by his arrows like the very staff of Yama, the gods—

Verse 31 (padma.1.74.31)

निपतंति महावीर्या रुधिरौघपरिप्लुताः । यस्मिन्यस्मिंश्च मार्गे तु स दैत्यः सगजो गतः

nipataṁti mahāvīryā rudhiraughapariplutāḥ | yasminyasmiṁśca mārge tu sa daityaḥ sagajo gataḥ

—mighty in valor as they were, fell down drenched in floods of blood. Wherever that demon went upon his elephant—

Verse 32 (padma.1.74.32)

तत्र तत्र चकाराशु भीषणं संचितं शरैः । गजेन पातिताः केचिद्गजारोहेण चापरे

tatra tatra cakārāśu bhīṣaṇaṁ saṁcitaṁ śaraiḥ | gajena pātitāḥ kecidgajāroheṇa cāpare

—there, again and again, he swiftly raised a terrible heap with his arrows; some were felled by the elephant itself, others by its rider.

Verse 33 (padma.1.74.33)

वेगेन भ्रमणेनैव सुराः केचित्प्रतापिताः । एवं सुरगणाध्यक्षाः शस्त्रास्त्रैर्विविधैश्च तम्

vegena bhramaṇenaiva surāḥ kecitpratāpitāḥ | evaṁ suragaṇādhyakṣāḥ śastrāstrairvividhaiśca tam

Some of the gods were struck down by the mere speed of its charging and wheeling about. Then the chiefs of the hosts of gods, with weapons and missiles of many kinds—

Verse 34 (padma.1.74.34)

सगजं युद्धनिर्भीता निजघ्नुर्बहुभिः शरैः । तथापि तद्गजं योद्धुं न शक्तास्ते महाबलाः

sagajaṁ yuddhanirbhītā nijaghnurbahubhiḥ śaraiḥ | tathāpi tadgajaṁ yoddhuṁ na śaktāste mahābalāḥ

—though terrified by that battle, struck at him and his elephant together with many arrows; yet even those mighty ones were unable to withstand that elephant.

Verse 35 (padma.1.74.35)

क्षिप्रं तांस्तु गजो दंतैस्त्रैपुरोऽपातयच्छरैः । न गता ये धरण्यां च देवा जर्जरविग्रहाः

kṣipraṁ tāṁstu gajo daṁtaistraipuro'pātayaccharaiḥ | na gatā ye dharaṇyāṁ ca devā jarjaravigrahāḥ

The elephant with its tusks, and the son of Tripura with his arrows, swiftly felled them; those gods not yet brought to the ground had their bodies broken and shattered—

Verse 36 (padma.1.74.36)

शरण्यं गणपं जग्मुर्भीतास्ते वेदनातुराः । देवानां कदनं दृष्ट्वा गणाधीशः प्रतापवान्

śaraṇyaṁ gaṇapaṁ jagmurbhītāste vedanāturāḥ | devānāṁ kadanaṁ dṛṣṭvā gaṇādhīśaḥ pratāpavān

—and, terrified and tormented by pain, they fled to Ganapati, their refuge. Seeing this slaughter of the gods, the mighty Lord of the Ganas—

Verse 37 (padma.1.74.37)

स गजं ताडयामास वज्रानलसमैः शरैः । स गजो वेगसंरुद्धः शरेण च समुत्थितः

sa gajaṁ tāḍayāmāsa vajrānalasamaiḥ śaraiḥ | sa gajo vegasaṁruddhaḥ śareṇa ca samutthitaḥ

—struck at the elephant with arrows blazing like the thunderbolt's fire. Checked for a moment by its own force, that elephant rose up again under the blow of an arrow.

Verse 38 (padma.1.74.38)

अथोतौ द्वौ शरैरेव बिभिदाते परस्परम् । उभौ तौ नर्दमानौ च अन्योन्यं जयमैच्छताम्

athotau dvau śaraireva bibhidāte parasparam | ubhau tau nardamānau ca anyonyaṁ jayamaicchatām

Then those two kept piercing each other with arrows; both, roaring, each sought victory over the other.

Verse 39 (padma.1.74.39)

शोणितैर्लिप्तसर्वांगौ वीरमुख्यौ सुरासुरौ । अथाखुं स गजो मत्तो बिभेद दशनैः स्वकैः

śoṇitairliptasarvāṁgau vīramukhyau surāsurau | athākhuṁ sa gajo matto bibheda daśanaiḥ svakaiḥ

Their limbs drenched in blood from head to foot, those two were the foremost heroes of the gods and demons. Then that maddened elephant gored a mouse (Akhu) with its own tusks.

Verse 40 (padma.1.74.40)

आखुनाभिद्रुतो नागो घोरयुद्धं तयोः परम् । अधोर्ध्वं संविभागे च चतुर्भिर्युद्धमद्भुतम्

ākhunābhidruto nāgo ghorayuddhaṁ tayoḥ param | adhordhvaṁ saṁvibhāge ca caturbhiryuddhamadbhutam

Set upon by the mouse, the elephant fought a most terrible battle against it; up and down, on every side, that astonishing fourfold contest raged on.

Verse 41 (padma.1.74.41)

सशब्दं तुमुलं युद्धं सर्वलोकभयंकरम् । दशनैर्दशनैरेव शरैरेव शरोत्तमैः

saśabdaṁ tumulaṁ yuddhaṁ sarvalokabhayaṁkaram | daśanairdaśanaireva śaraireva śarottamaiḥ

That tumultuous, thunderous battle, terrifying to every world, went on — tusk against tusk, and finest arrow against arrow—

Verse 42 (padma.1.74.42)

तद्घोरमभवद्युद्धं देवदानवसंगरे । आखुको भेदयांचक्रे महानांगं महाबलम्

tadghoramabhavadyuddhaṁ devadānavasaṁgare | ākhuko bhedayāṁcakre mahānāṁgaṁ mahābalam

—that terrible battle unfolded within the clash of gods and demons; the mouse tore through the body of that vast and mighty elephant.

Verse 43 (padma.1.74.43)

पर्शुना पृष्ठवंशाग्रे स्थित्वा तेनाहनत्पुनः । दैत्यस्य दशनद्वारे हृदिस्कंधेथ लाघवात्

parśunā pṛṣṭhavaṁśāgre sthitvā tenāhanatpunaḥ | daityasya daśanadvāre hṛdiskaṁdhetha lāghavāt

Standing at the ridge of its spine, he struck again with his axe; at the mouth, the heart, and the shoulder of the demon, with great swiftness—

Verse 44 (padma.1.74.44)

सगजः स पपातोर्व्यां गतासुर्लोहितं वमन् । शशंसुर्मुनयो देवास्साधुसाध्विति चाब्रुवत्

sagajaḥ sa papātorvyāṁ gatāsurlohitaṁ vaman | śaśaṁsurmunayo devāssādhusādhviti cābruvat

—that demon, together with his elephant, fell to the earth lifeless, vomiting blood. The sages and the gods praised him, crying, 'Well done! Well done!'

Verse 45 (padma.1.74.45)

अत्रान्येस्त्रैरमोघैश्च दैत्यानाजघ्नुराहवे । यावत्तु सेनयोर्नैव जययुद्धं समापयेत्

atrānyestrairamoghaiśca daityānājaghnurāhave | yāvattu senayornaiva jayayuddhaṁ samāpayet

Here too, with other unfailing weapons, the gods struck down the demons in battle, until the fighting between the two armies came to its victorious end.