The Slaying of Hunda

Verse 1 (padma.2.115.1)

कुंजल उवाच । ततस्त्वसौ संयति राजमानः समुद्यतश्चापधरो महात्मा । यथैव कालः कुपितः सलोकान्संहर्तुमैच्छत्तु तथा सुदानवान्

kuṁjala uvāca tatastvasau saṁyati rājamānaḥ samudyataścāpadharo mahātmā yathaiva kālaḥ kupitaḥ salokānsaṁhartumaicchattu tathā sudānavān

Kunjala said: Then that great soul, resplendent in the battle, bow ready in hand, longed to destroy those demons, just as Time itself, enraged, longs to destroy the very worlds.

Verse 2 (padma.2.115.2)

महास्त्रजालै रवितेजतुल्यैः सुदीप्तिमद्भिर्निजघान दानवान् । वायुर्यथोन्मूलयतीह पादपांस्तथैव राजा निजघान दानवान्

mahāstrajālai ravitejatulyaiḥ sudīptimadbhirnijaghāna dānavān vāyuryathonmūlayatīha pādapāṁstathaiva rājā nijaghāna dānavān

With volleys of great missiles, blazing as the sun's own splendor, he cut down the demons — just as the wind uproots trees, so did that king cut down the demons.

Verse 3 (padma.2.115.3)

वायुर्यथा मेघचयं च दिव्यं संचालयेत्स्वेन बलेन तेजसा । तथा स राजा असुरान्मदोत्कटाननाशयद्बाणवरैः सुतीक्ष्णैः

vāyuryathā meghacayaṁ ca divyaṁ saṁcālayetsvena balena tejasā tathā sa rājā asurānmadotkaṭānanāśayadbāṇavaraiḥ sutīkṣṇaiḥ

As the wind scatters a divine mass of clouds by its own strength and speed, so did that king destroy those demons, intoxicated with pride, with his sharp and excellent arrows.

Verse 4 (padma.2.115.4)

न शेकुर्दानवाः सर्वे बाणवर्षं महात्मनः । मृताः केचिद्द्रुताः केचित्केचिन्नष्टा महाहवात्

na śekurdānavāḥ sarve bāṇavarṣaṁ mahātmanaḥ mṛtāḥ keciddrutāḥ kecitkecinnaṣṭā mahāhavāt

All the demons could not withstand that great soul's shower of arrows — some were slain, some fled, and some perished in that great battle.

Verse 5 (padma.2.115.5)

सूत उवाच । महातेजं महाप्राज्ञं महादानवनाशनम् । चुक्रोध हुंडो दुष्टात्मा दृष्ट्वा तं नृपनंदनम्

sūta uvāca mahātejaṁ mahāprājñaṁ mahādānavanāśanam cukrodha huṁḍo duṣṭātmā dṛṣṭvā taṁ nṛpanaṁdanam

Suta said: Beholding that prince, of great splendor and great wisdom, a destroyer of the mightiest demons, the wicked-souled Hunda grew enraged.

Verse 6 (padma.2.115.6)

स्थितो गत्वेदमाभाष्य तिष्ठतिष्ठेति चाहवे । त्वामद्य च नयिष्यामि आयुपुत्र यमांतिकम्

sthito gatvedamābhāṣya tiṣṭhatiṣṭheti cāhave tvāmadya ca nayiṣyāmi āyuputra yamāṁtikam

He went and stood there, crying 'Stand! Stand!' in the battle — 'O son of Ayu, I shall send you this very day to the abode of Death.'

Verse 7 (padma.2.115.7)

नहुष उवाच । स्थितोस्मि समरे पश्य त्वामहं हंतुमागतः । अहं त्वां तु हनिष्यामि दानवं पापचेतनम्

nahuṣa uvāca sthitosmi samare paśya tvāmahaṁ haṁtumāgataḥ ahaṁ tvāṁ tu haniṣyāmi dānavaṁ pāpacetanam

Nahusha said: 'I stand ready in this battle, look — I have come here only to kill you. It is I who shall slay you, sinful-minded demon.'

Verse 8 (padma.2.115.8)

इत्युक्त्वा धनुरादाय बाणानग्निशिखोपमान् । छत्रेण ध्रियमाणेन शुशुभे सोऽपि संयुगे

ityuktvā dhanurādāya bāṇānagniśikhopamān chatreṇa dhriyamāṇena śuśubhe so'pi saṁyuge

Having said this, he took up his bow, and set his arrows, like tongues of fire, upon its string. Even in that combat, with his parasol held above him, he shone resplendent.

Verse 9 (padma.2.115.9)

इंद्रस्य सारथिं दिव्यं मातलिं वाक्यमब्रवीत् । वाहयतु रथं मेऽद्य हुंडस्य सम्मुखं भवान्

iṁdrasya sārathiṁ divyaṁ mātaliṁ vākyamabravīt vāhayatu rathaṁ me'dya huṁḍasya sammukhaṁ bhavān

He said to Indra's own divine charioteer, Matali: 'Drive my chariot today straight toward Hunda.'

Verse 10 (padma.2.115.10)

इत्युक्तस्तेन वीरेण मातलिर्लघुविक्रमः । तुरगांश्चोदयामास महावातजवोपमान्

ityuktastena vīreṇa mātalirlaghuvikramaḥ turagāṁścodayāmāsa mahāvātajavopamān

At that hero's word, Matali, most agile, urged on those horses, swift as the very speed of a mighty wind.

Verse 11 (padma.2.115.11)

उत्पेतुश्च ततो वाहा हंसा इव यथांबरे । छत्रेण इंदुवर्णेन रथेनापि पताकिना

utpetuśca tato vāhā haṁsā iva yathāṁbare chatreṇa iṁduvarṇena rathenāpi patākinā

Then those horses, along with the chariot with its moon-white parasol and banners, leapt up into the sky, like swans in flight.

Verse 12 (padma.2.115.12)

नभस्तलं तु संप्राप्य यथा सूर्यो विराजते । आयुपुत्रस्तथा संख्ये तेजसा विक्रमेण तु

nabhastalaṁ tu saṁprāpya yathā sūryo virājate āyuputrastathā saṁkhye tejasā vikrameṇa tu

Having reached the vault of the sky, just as the sun shines radiant there, so did Ayu's son shine forth in that battle, radiant with splendor and valor.

Verse 13 (padma.2.115.13)

अथ हुंडो रथस्थोऽपि राजमानः स्वतेजसा । सर्वायुधैश्च संयुक्तस्तद्वद्वीरव्रते स्थितः

atha huṁḍo rathastho'pi rājamānaḥ svatejasā sarvāyudhaiśca saṁyuktastadvadvīravrate sthitaḥ

Meanwhile Hunda too, mounted upon his own chariot, resplendent with his own splendor, armed with every weapon, stood likewise fixed in his heroic vow.

Verse 14 (padma.2.115.14)

उभयोर्वीरयोर्युद्धं देवविस्मयकारकम् । तदा आसीन्महाप्राज्ञ दारुणं भीतिदायकम्

ubhayorvīrayoryuddhaṁ devavismayakārakam tadā āsīnmahāprājña dāruṇaṁ bhītidāyakam

O greatly wise one, that battle between those two heroes became something to astonish even the gods, terrible and dreadful beyond measure.

Verse 15 (padma.2.115.15)

सुबाणैर्निशितैस्तीक्ष्णैः कंकपत्रैः शिलीमुखैः । हुंडेन ताडितो राजा सुबाह्वोरंतरे तदा

subāṇairniśitaistīkṣṇaiḥ kaṁkapatraiḥ śilīmukhaiḥ huṁḍena tāḍito rājā subāhvoraṁtare tadā

With sharp, keen-edged arrows fletched with heron feathers, Hunda struck that king in the space between his two arms.

Verse 16 (padma.2.115.16)

सुभाले पंचभिर्बाणैर्विद्धः क्रुद्धोऽभवत्तदा । सविद्धस्तु तदा बाणैरधिकं शुशुभे नृपः

subhāle paṁcabhirbāṇairviddhaḥ kruddho'bhavattadā saviddhastu tadā bāṇairadhikaṁ śuśubhe nṛpaḥ

His brow too was pierced by five arrows, and he grew furious at this. Pierced thus by arrows, that king shone forth all the more —

Verse 17 (padma.2.115.17)

सारुणः करमालाभिरुदयंश्च दिवाकरः । रुधिरेण तु दिग्धांगो हेमबाणैस्तनुस्थितैः

sāruṇaḥ karamālābhirudayaṁśca divākaraḥ rudhireṇa tu digdhāṁgo hemabāṇaistanusthitaiḥ

— as if he were the very sun, rising with garlands of red-hued rays; his limbs stained with blood, the golden arrows still lodged in his body —

Verse 18 (padma.2.115.18)

सूर्यवच्छोभते राजा पूर्वकालस्य चांबरे । दृष्ट्वा तु पौरुषं तस्य दानवं वाक्यमब्रवीत्

sūryavacchobhate rājā pūrvakālasya cāṁbare dṛṣṭvā tu pauruṣaṁ tasya dānavaṁ vākyamabravīt

— that king shone resplendent as the sun in the dawn sky. Beholding this valor of his, he said to that demon —

Verse 19 (padma.2.115.19)

तिष्ठतिष्ठ क्षणं दैत्य पश्य मे लाघवं पुनः । इत्युक्त्वा तु रणे दैत्यं जघान दशभिः शरैः

tiṣṭhatiṣṭha kṣaṇaṁ daitya paśya me lāghavaṁ punaḥ ityuktvā tu raṇe daityaṁ jaghāna daśabhiḥ śaraiḥ

'Stand, stand a moment, demon! Behold my swiftness once more.' Having said this, he struck that demon in the battle with ten arrows.

Verse 20 (padma.2.115.20)

मुखे भाले हतस्तेन मूर्च्छितो निपपात ह । पश्यामानैः सुरैर्दिव्यै रथोपरि महाबलः

mukhe bhāle hatastena mūrcchito nipapāta ha paśyāmānaiḥ surairdivyai rathopari mahābalaḥ

Struck in the face and on the brow, he fell fainting upon his own chariot — the divine gods watched that mighty one fall.

Verse 21 (padma.2.115.21)

देवैश्च चारणैः सिद्धैः कृतः शब्दः सुहर्षजः । जयजयेति राजेंद्र शंखान्दध्मुः पुनः पुनः

devaiśca cāraṇaiḥ siddhaiḥ kṛtaḥ śabdaḥ suharṣajaḥ jayajayeti rājeṁdra śaṁkhāndadhmuḥ punaḥ punaḥ

The gods, the charanas and the siddhas raised a most joyful cry — 'Victory, victory, O king of kings!' — and conches were blown again and again.

Verse 22 (padma.2.115.22)

सकोलाहलशब्दस्तु तुमलो देवतेरितः । कर्णरंध्रमाविवेश हुंडस्य मूर्छितस्य च

sakolāhalaśabdastu tumalo devateritaḥ karṇaraṁdhramāviveśa huṁḍasya mūrchitasya ca

That great, tumultuous sound raised by the gods entered even the ears of the fainted Hunda.

Verse 23 (padma.2.115.23)

श्रुत्वा सधनुरादाय बाणमाशीविषोपमम् । स्थीयतां स्थीयतां युद्धे न मृतोस्मि त्वया हतः

śrutvā sadhanurādāya bāṇamāśīviṣopamam sthīyatāṁ sthīyatāṁ yuddhe na mṛtosmi tvayā hataḥ

Hearing it, taking up his bow and an arrow like a venomous serpent, he rose — 'Stand, stand in this battle! I am not slain by your blow.'

Verse 24 (padma.2.115.24)

इत्युक्त्वा पुनरुत्थाय लाघवेन समन्वितः । एकविंशतिभिर्बाणैर्नहुषं चाहनत्पुनः

ityuktvā punarutthāya lāghavena samanvitaḥ ekaviṁśatibhirbāṇairnahuṣaṁ cāhanatpunaḥ

Saying this, he rose again with great agility, and struck Nahusha once more with twenty-one arrows.

Verse 25 (padma.2.115.25)

एकेन मुष्टिमध्ये तु चतुर्भिर्बाहुमध्यतः । चतुर्भिश्च महाश्वांश्च छत्रमेकेन तेन वै

ekena muṣṭimadhye tu caturbhirbāhumadhyataḥ caturbhiśca mahāśvāṁśca chatramekena tena vai

With one he struck between the fist, with four between the arms, with four the fine horses, and with one his very parasol —

Verse 26 (padma.2.115.26)

पंचभिर्मातलिं विद्ध्वा रथनीडं तु सप्तभिः । ध्वजदंडं त्रिभिस्तीक्ष्णैर्दानवः शिखिपत्रिभिः

paṁcabhirmātaliṁ viddhvā rathanīḍaṁ tu saptabhiḥ dhvajadaṁḍaṁ tribhistīkṣṇairdānavaḥ śikhipatribhiḥ

— piercing Matali with five, the chariot's seat with seven, and the flagstaff with three sharp arrows fletched with peacock feathers, that demon —

Verse 27 (padma.2.115.27)

आदानं तु निदानं तु लक्षमोक्षं दुरात्मनः । लाघवं तस्य संदृष्ट्वा देवता विस्मयंगताः

ādānaṁ tu nidānaṁ tu lakṣamokṣaṁ durātmanaḥ lāghavaṁ tasya saṁdṛṣṭvā devatā vismayaṁgatāḥ

— that vile-souled one's skill in drawing, aiming and unerringly striking his mark left even the gods astonished.

Verse 28 (padma.2.115.28)

तस्य पौरुषमापश्य स राजा दानवोत्तमम् । शूरोसि कृतविद्योसि धीरोसि रणपंडितः

tasya pauruṣamāpaśya sa rājā dānavottamam śūrosi kṛtavidyosi dhīrosi raṇapaṁḍitaḥ

Beholding that best of demons' valor, the king said: 'You are brave, accomplished in your art, resolute, skilled in war.'

Verse 29 (padma.2.115.29)

इत्युक्वा दानवं तं तु धनुर्विस्फार्य भूपतिः । मार्गणैर्दशभिस्तं तु विव्याध लघुविक्रमः

ityukvā dānavaṁ taṁ tu dhanurvisphārya bhūpatiḥ mārgaṇairdaśabhistaṁ tu vivyādha laghuvikramaḥ

Having said this to that demon, that king, drawing his bow, with swift valor pierced him with ten arrows.

Verse 30 (padma.2.115.30)

त्रिभिर्ध्वजं प्रचिच्छेद स पपात धरातले । तुरगान्पातयामास चतुर्भिस्तस्य सायकैः

tribhirdhvajaṁ praciccheda sa papāta dharātale turagānpātayāmāsa caturbhistasya sāyakaiḥ

With three he cut down his banner, which fell to the ground; and with four arrows he brought down his horses too.

Verse 31 (padma.2.115.31)

एकेन छत्रं तस्यापि चकर्त लघुविक्रमः । दशभिः सारथिस्तस्य प्रेषितो यममंदिरम्

ekena chatraṁ tasyāpi cakarta laghuvikramaḥ daśabhiḥ sārathistasya preṣito yamamaṁdiram

With one, that swift and valiant one cut down his parasol too; and with ten arrows he sent his charioteer to the abode of Death.

Verse 32 (padma.2.115.32)

दंशनं दशभिश्छित्त्वा शरैश्च विदलीकृतः । सर्वांगेषु च त्रिंशद्भिर्विव्याध दनुजेश्वरम्

daṁśanaṁ daśabhiśchittvā śaraiśca vidalīkṛtaḥ sarvāṁgeṣu ca triṁśadbhirvivyādha danujeśvaram

With ten arrows he cut through and shattered his armor, and with thirty arrows he pierced every limb of that lord of demons.

Verse 33 (padma.2.115.33)

हताश्वो विरथो जातो बाणपाणिर्धनुर्धरः । अभ्यधावत्स वेगेन वर्षयन्निशितैः शरैः

hatāśvo viratho jāto bāṇapāṇirdhanurdharaḥ abhyadhāvatsa vegena varṣayanniśitaiḥ śaraiḥ

His horses gone, his chariot lost, bow and arrow still in hand, raining down sharp arrows, he charged forward with great speed.

Verse 34 (padma.2.115.34)

खड्गचर्मधरो दैत्यो राजानं तमधावत । धावमानस्य हुंडस्य खड्गं चिच्छेद भूपतिः

khaḍgacarmadharo daityo rājānaṁ tamadhāvata dhāvamānasya huṁḍasya khaḍgaṁ ciccheda bhūpatiḥ

Bearing sword and shield, that demon charged toward the king. As Hunda charged, the king cut down that very sword.

Verse 35 (padma.2.115.35)

क्षुरप्रैर्निशितैर्बाणैश्चर्म चिच्छेद भूपतिः । अथ हुंडः स दुष्टात्मा समालोक्य समंततः

kṣuraprairniśitairbāṇaiścarma ciccheda bhūpatiḥ atha huṁḍaḥ sa duṣṭātmā samālokya samaṁtataḥ

With sharp, crescent-headed arrows the king cut down his shield too. Then that wicked-souled Hunda, looking about on every side —

Verse 36 (padma.2.115.36)

जग्राह मुद्गरं तूर्णं मुमोच लघुविक्रमः । वज्रवेगं समायांतं ददृशे नृपतिस्तदा

jagrāha mudgaraṁ tūrṇaṁ mumoca laghuvikramaḥ vajravegaṁ samāyāṁtaṁ dadṛśe nṛpatistadā

— quickly took up a mace, and, with his swift prowess, hurled it. The king saw it coming, with the speed of a thunderbolt,

Verse 37 (padma.2.115.37)

मुद्गरं स्वनवंतं चापातयदंबरात्ततः । दशभिर्निशितैर्बाणैः क्षुरप्रैश्च स्वविक्रमात्

mudgaraṁ svanavaṁtaṁ cāpātayadaṁbarāttataḥ daśabhirniśitairbāṇaiḥ kṣurapraiśca svavikramāt

and, by his own valor, struck down that roaring mace in mid-air itself — with ten sharp arrows and crescent-headed shafts.

Verse 38 (padma.2.115.38)

मुद्गरं पतितं दृष्ट्वा दशखण्डमयं भुवि । गदामुद्यम्य वेगेन राजानमभ्यधावत

mudgaraṁ patitaṁ dṛṣṭvā daśakhaṇḍamayaṁ bhuvi gadāmudyamya vegena rājānamabhyadhāvata

Seeing his mace fallen to the ground in ten pieces, he swiftly took up another mace and charged toward the king.

Verse 39 (padma.2.115.39)

खड्गेन तीक्ष्णधारेण तस्य बाहुं विचिच्छिदे । सगदं पतितं भूमौ सांगदं कटकान्वितम्

khaḍgena tīkṣṇadhāreṇa tasya bāhuṁ vicicchide sagadaṁ patitaṁ bhūmau sāṁgadaṁ kaṭakānvitam

With a sharp-edged sword the king cut off his very arm — it fell to the ground still holding the mace, still wearing its bracelet and armlet.

Verse 40 (padma.2.115.40)

महारावं ततः कृत्वा वज्रस्फोटसमं तदा । रुधिरेणापि दिग्धांगो धावमानो महाहवे

mahārāvaṁ tataḥ kṛtvā vajrasphoṭasamaṁ tadā rudhireṇāpi digdhāṁgo dhāvamāno mahāhave

Then, letting out a great roar like the crash of a thunderbolt, his limbs drenched in blood, he charged on into that great battle.

Verse 41 (padma.2.115.41)

क्रोधेन महताविष्टो ग्रस्तुमिच्छति भूपतिम् । दुर्निवार्यः समायातः पार्श्वं तस्य च भूपतेः

krodhena mahatāviṣṭo grastumicchati bhūpatim durnivāryaḥ samāyātaḥ pārśvaṁ tasya ca bhūpateḥ

Overcome with the greatest fury, he wished to swallow that king whole; coming with an unstoppable speed, he reached the king's very side.

Verse 42 (padma.2.115.42)

नहुषेण महाशक्त्या ताडितो हृदि दानवः । पतितः सहसा भूमौ वज्राहत इवाचलः

nahuṣeṇa mahāśaktyā tāḍito hṛdi dānavaḥ patitaḥ sahasā bhūmau vajrāhata ivācalaḥ

Nahusha, with his mighty weapon, struck that demon in the very heart — he fell at once to the ground, like a mountain struck by a thunderbolt.

Verse 43 (padma.2.115.43)

तस्मिन्दैत्ये गते भूमावितरे दानवा गताः । विविशुः कति दुर्गेषु कति पातालमाश्रिताः

tasmindaitye gate bhūmāvitare dānavā gatāḥ viviśuḥ kati durgeṣu kati pātālamāśritāḥ

As soon as that demon fell to the ground, all the remaining demons fled from there — some hid themselves in impassable places, some took refuge in the netherworld.

Verse 44 (padma.2.115.44)

देवाः प्रहर्षमाजग्मुर्गंधर्वाः सिद्धचारणाः । हते तस्मिन्महापापे नहुषेण महात्मना

devāḥ praharṣamājagmurgaṁdharvāḥ siddhacāraṇāḥ hate tasminmahāpāpe nahuṣeṇa mahātmanā

With that greatest of sinners slain by the great-souled Nahusha, the gods, gandharvas, siddhas and charanas were all filled with the greatest joy.

Verse 45 (padma.2.115.45)

तस्मिन्हते दैत्यवरे महाहवे देवाश्च सर्वे प्रमुदं प्रलेभिरे । तां देवरूपां तपसा प्रवर्द्धितां स आयुपुत्रः प्रतिलभ्य हर्षितः

tasminhate daityavare mahāhave devāśca sarve pramudaṁ pralebhire tāṁ devarūpāṁ tapasā pravarddhitāṁ sa āyuputraḥ pratilabhya harṣitaḥ

With that finest of demons slain in that great battle, all the gods were filled with delight; and that son of Ayu, having won back his own goddess-like wife, exalted by her austerity, was filled with joy.