The Great War at Kailasa

Verse 1 (padma.6.100.1)

नारद उवाच । जालंधरस्तु तच्छ्रुत्वा कोपाकुलितविग्रहः । निर्जगामाशु दैत्यानां कोटिभिः परिवारितः

nārada uvāca jālaṁdharastu tacchrutvā kopākulitavigrahaḥ nirjagāmāśu daityānāṁ koṭibhiḥ parivāritaḥ

Narada said: Hearing this, Jalandhara, his body convulsed with rage, swiftly set out, surrounded by millions of demons.

Verse 2 (padma.6.100.2)

गतस्तस्याग्रतः शुक्रो राहुर्दृष्टिस्थितोऽभवत् । मुकुटश्चापतद्भूमौ वेगात्प्रस्खलितस्तदा

gatastasyāgrataḥ śukro rāhurdṛṣṭisthito'bhavat mukuṭaścāpatadbhūmau vegātpraskhalitastadā

Shukra went before him, and Rahu remained stationed within his sight. Then, stumbling in his haste, his crown fell to the ground.

Verse 3 (padma.6.100.3)

दैत्यसैन्यवृतैस्तत्र विमानानां शतैस्तदा । व्यराजत नभः पूर्णं प्रावृषीव बलाहकैः

daityasainyavṛtaistatra vimānānāṁ śataistadā vyarājata nabhaḥ pūrṇaṁ prāvṛṣīva balāhakaiḥ

There, the sky, filled with hundreds of aerial chariots crowded with demon armies, glowed as though laden with clouds in the rainy season.

Verse 4 (padma.6.100.4)

तस्योद्योगं तदा दृष्ट्वा देवाः शक्रपुरोगमाः । अलक्षितत्वराजग्मुः शूलिनं ते व्यजिज्ञपन्

tasyodyogaṁ tadā dṛṣṭvā devāḥ śakrapurogamāḥ alakṣitatvarājagmuḥ śūlinaṁ te vyajijñapan

Seeing his preparations, the gods, led by Indra, went swiftly and unnoticed, and made their petition to the trident-bearer.

Verse 5 (padma.6.100.5)

देवा ऊचुः । न जानासि कथं स्वामिन्देवा विज्ञापयंति भो । तदस्मद्रक्षणार्थाय जहि सागरनंदनम्

devā ūcuḥ na jānāsi kathaṁ svāmindevā vijñāpayaṁti bho tadasmadrakṣaṇārthāya jahi sāgaranaṁdanam

The gods said: 'O Lord, how can you not know? We gods make this petition to you: for our protection, slay the ocean's son.'

Verse 6 (padma.6.100.6)

नारद उवाच । इति देववचः श्रुत्वा प्रहस्य वृषभध्वजः । महाविष्णुं समाहूय वचनं चेदमब्रवीत्

nārada uvāca iti devavacaḥ śrutvā prahasya vṛṣabhadhvajaḥ mahāviṣṇuṁ samāhūya vacanaṁ cedamabravīt

Narada said: Hearing these words of the gods, the bull-bannered one (Shiva), laughing, summoned the great Vishnu and spoke these words —

Verse 7 (padma.6.100.7)

ईश्वर उवाच । जालंधरः कथं विष्णो न हतः संगरे त्वया । तद्भयाच्चापयातोऽसि त्यक्त्वा वैकुंठमात्मनः

īśvara uvāca jālaṁdharaḥ kathaṁ viṣṇo na hataḥ saṁgare tvayā tadbhayāccāpayāto'si tyaktvā vaikuṁṭhamātmanaḥ

Ishvara said: 'O Vishnu, why did you not slay Jalandhara in battle? Is it out of fear of him that you have abandoned your own Vaikuntha and taken shelter here?'

Verse 8 (padma.6.100.8)

भगवानुवाच । तवांशसंभवत्वाच्च भ्रातृत्वाच्च तथा श्रियः । न मया निहतः संख्ये त्वमेनं जहि दानवम्

bhagavānuvāca tavāṁśasaṁbhavatvācca bhrātṛtvācca tathā śriyaḥ na mayā nihataḥ saṁkhye tvamenaṁ jahi dānavam

The Blessed Lord said: 'Because he is born of a portion of you, and because he is the brother of Shri (Lakshmi), he was not slain by me in battle. You yourself slay this demon.'

Verse 9 (padma.6.100.9)

ईश्वर उवाच । नायमेभिर्महातेजाः शस्त्रास्त्रैर्वध्यते मया । देवैः सर्वैः स्वतेजोंशः शस्त्रार्थे दीयतां मम

īśvara uvāca nāyamebhirmahātejāḥ śastrāstrairvadhyate mayā devaiḥ sarvaiḥ svatejoṁśaḥ śastrārthe dīyatāṁ mama

Ishvara said: 'This being of great power cannot be slain by me with these ordinary weapons. Let all the gods give me a portion of their own splendor for a weapon.'

Verse 10 (padma.6.100.10)

नारद उवाच । अथ विष्णुमुखा देवाः स्वतेजांसि ददुस्तदा । तान्येकत्वं गतानीशो दृष्ट्वा तेजो महांस्तदा

nārada uvāca atha viṣṇumukhā devāḥ svatejāṁsi dadustadā tānyekatvaṁ gatānīśo dṛṣṭvā tejo mahāṁstadā

Narada said: Then the gods, headed by Vishnu, gave their own splendors. Seeing all of them merged into one, Ishvara beheld that vast radiance.

Verse 11 (padma.6.100.11)

तेनाकरोन्महादेवः सहसा शस्त्रमुत्तमम् । चक्रं सुदर्शनं नाम ज्वालामालातिभीषणम्

tenākaronmahādevaḥ sahasā śastramuttamam cakraṁ sudarśanaṁ nāma jvālāmālātibhīṣaṇam

From it, Mahadeva at once fashioned a supreme weapon — the discus named Sudarshana, exceedingly terrible with its garlands of flame.

Verse 12 (padma.6.100.12)

तेजःशेषेण च तदा वज्रं च कृतवान्हरः । तावज्जलंधरो दृष्टः कैलासतलभूमिषु

tejaḥśeṣeṇa ca tadā vajraṁ ca kṛtavānharaḥ tāvajjalaṁdharo dṛṣṭaḥ kailāsatalabhūmiṣu

With the remainder of that splendor, Hara (Shiva) also fashioned a thunderbolt. At that very moment, Jalandhara appeared on the ground at the foot of Kailasa.

Verse 13 (padma.6.100.13)

हस्त्यश्वरथपत्तीनां कोटीभिः परिवारितः । तं दृष्ट्वा हर्षिताः सर्वे देवा जग्मुर्यथागतम्

hastyaśvarathapattīnāṁ koṭībhiḥ parivāritaḥ taṁ dṛṣṭvā harṣitāḥ sarve devā jagmuryathāgatam

He was surrounded by millions of elephants, horses, chariots, and foot-soldiers. Seeing him, all the gods, filled with joy, set out for battle in the very manner they had come.

Verse 14 (padma.6.100.14)

गणाश्च समनह्यंत युद्धायातित्वरान्विताः । नंदीभवक्त्रसेनानीमुखाः सर्वे शिवाज्ञया

gaṇāśca samanahyaṁta yuddhāyātitvarānvitāḥ naṁdībhavaktrasenānīmukhāḥ sarve śivājñayā

Shiva's own attendants too, headed by Nandi, Bhava, and the commander Vakra, at Shiva's command, hastily armed themselves for war.

Verse 15 (padma.6.100.15)

अवतेरुर्गणाः सर्वे कैलासाद्युद्धदुर्मदाः । ततः समभवद्युद्धं कैलासोपत्यका भुवि

avaterurgaṇāḥ sarve kailāsādyuddhadurmadāḥ tataḥ samabhavadyuddhaṁ kailāsopatyakā bhuvi

All those attendants, intoxicated with the passion for battle, descended from Kailasa. Then a battle broke out on the ground at the foothills of Kailasa.

Verse 16 (padma.6.100.16)

प्रमथाधिपदैत्यानां घोरं शस्त्रास्त्रसंकुलम् । भेरीमृदंगशंखौघनिस्वनैर्वीरहर्षणैः

pramathādhipadaityānāṁ ghoraṁ śastrāstrasaṁkulam bherīmṛdaṁgaśaṁkhaughanisvanairvīraharṣaṇaiḥ

A terrible battle, thick with weapons, took place between the lords of the Pramathas (Shiva's attendants) and the demons, amid the resounding of war-drums, kettledrums, and conches, exhilarating to the warriors —

Verse 17 (padma.6.100.17)

गजाश्वरथशब्दैश्च नादिता भूर्व्यकंपत । शक्तितोमरबाणौघैर्मुशलप्रासपट्टिशैः

gajāśvarathaśabdaiśca nāditā bhūrvyakaṁpata śaktitomarabāṇaughairmuśalaprāsapaṭṭiśaiḥ

— and the earth, resounding with the sounds of elephants, horses, and chariots, trembled. With showers of javelins, lances, arrows, clubs, spears, and battle-axes —

Verse 18 (padma.6.100.18)

व्यराजत नभः पूर्णमुल्काभिरिव संवृतम् । निहतैरथ नागाश्वैः सर्वा भूमिर्व्यराजत

vyarājata nabhaḥ pūrṇamulkābhiriva saṁvṛtam nihatairatha nāgāśvaiḥ sarvā bhūmirvyarājata

— the sky glowed as though filled with meteors. The whole earth was covered with slain elephants and horses.

Verse 19 (padma.6.100.19)

वज्राहताश्चलशिरः शकलैरिव संवृता । प्रमथाहतदैत्यौघैर्दैत्याहतगणैस्तथा

vajrāhatāścalaśiraḥ śakalairiva saṁvṛtā pramathāhatadaityaughairdaityāhatagaṇaistathā

The ground, seemingly covered with fragments of mountains struck by the thunderbolt, was covered with hosts of demons slain by the attendants, and attendants slain by the demons —

Verse 20 (padma.6.100.20)

वसासृङ्मांस पंकाद्यैर्भूरगम्याभवत्तदा । प्रमथाहतदैत्यौघान्भार्गवः समजीवयत्

vasāsṛṅmāṁsa paṁkādyairbhūragamyābhavattadā pramathāhatadaityaughānbhārgavaḥ samajīvayat

— with fat, blood, flesh, and mire, the earth became well-nigh impassable. Bhargava (Shukra) revived the hosts of demons slain by the Pramathas.

Verse 21 (padma.6.100.21)

युद्धे पुनः पुनश्चैव मृतसंजीवनी बलात् । तं दृष्ट्वा व्याकुलीभूत्वा गणाः सर्वे भयार्दिताः

yuddhe punaḥ punaścaiva mṛtasaṁjīvanī balāt taṁ dṛṣṭvā vyākulībhūtvā gaṇāḥ sarve bhayārditāḥ

Again and again in the battle, they were revived through the power of the mrita-sanjivani knowledge. Seeing this, all the attendants became distressed and afflicted with fear.

Verse 22 (padma.6.100.22)

शशंसुर्देवदेवेशं तत्सर्वं शुक्रचेष्टितम् । अथ रुद्रमुखात्कृत्या बभूवातीव भीषणा

śaśaṁsurdevadeveśaṁ tatsarvaṁ śukraceṣṭitam atha rudramukhātkṛtyā babhūvātīva bhīṣaṇā

They reported to the God of gods this entire doing of Shukra. Then, from Rudra's mouth, there arose an exceedingly terrible Kritya (a sorcerous female spirit).

Verse 23 (padma.6.100.23)

तालजंघोदरी वक्रा स्तनापीडितभूरुहा । सा युद्धभूमिमासाद्य भक्षयंती महासुरान्

tālajaṁghodarī vakrā stanāpīḍitabhūruhā sā yuddhabhūmimāsādya bhakṣayaṁtī mahāsurān

With thighs like palm trees, a sunken belly, crooked, and with breasts so large they could crush trees, she, reaching the battlefield, began to devour the great demons.

Verse 24 (padma.6.100.24)

भार्गवं स्वकरे धृत्वा जगामांतर्हिताभवत् । विधृतं भार्गवं दृष्ट्वा दैत्यसैन्यगणास्तदा

bhārgavaṁ svakare dhṛtvā jagāmāṁtarhitābhavat vidhṛtaṁ bhārgavaṁ dṛṣṭvā daityasainyagaṇāstadā

She seized Bhargava in her hand and departed, vanishing from sight. Seeing Bhargava thus seized, the demon army's soldiers —

Verse 25 (padma.6.100.25)

प्रम्लानवदना दर्पान्निजघ्नुर्युद्धदुर्मदाः । अथाभज्यत दैत्यानां सेना गणभयार्दिता

pramlānavadanā darpānnijaghnuryuddhadurmadāḥ athābhajyata daityānāṁ senā gaṇabhayārditā

— their faces downcast, yet still, intoxicated with battle-pride, kept fighting on. Then the demon army, afflicted with fear of the Pramathas, broke apart.

Verse 26 (padma.6.100.26)

वायुवेगहता यद्वत्प्रकीर्णतृणसंहतिः । भग्नां गतभयात्सेनां दृष्ट्वा हर्षं गणा ययुः

vāyuvegahatā yadvatprakīrṇatṛṇasaṁhatiḥ bhagnāṁ gatabhayātsenāṁ dṛṣṭvā harṣaṁ gaṇā yayuḥ

Just as a heap of straw is scattered by the force of the wind. Seeing that broken army fleeing in fear, the Pramathas rejoiced.

Verse 27 (padma.6.100.27)

निशुंभशुंभसेनान्यौ कालनेमिश्च वीर्यवान् । त्रयस्ते वारयामासुर्गणसेनां महाबलाः

niśuṁbhaśuṁbhasenānyau kālanemiśca vīryavān trayaste vārayāmāsurgaṇasenāṁ mahābalāḥ

Nishumbha and Shumbha, both generals, and the mighty Kalanemi — these three, all of great strength, held back the army of the Pramathas.

Verse 28 (padma.6.100.28)

मुंचतः शरवर्षाणि प्रावृषीव बलाहकाः । ततो दैत्यशरौघास्ते शलभानामिव व्रजाः

muṁcataḥ śaravarṣāṇi prāvṛṣīva balāhakāḥ tato daityaśaraughāste śalabhānāmiva vrajāḥ

They began to release showers of arrows, as though they were monsoon clouds. Then the demons' streams of arrows, like swarms of locusts —

Verse 29 (padma.6.100.29)

रुरुधुः खं दिशः सर्वा गणसेनामकंपयन् । गणाः शरशतैर्भिन्ना रुधिरासारवर्षिणः

rurudhuḥ khaṁ diśaḥ sarvā gaṇasenāmakaṁpayan gaṇāḥ śaraśatairbhinnā rudhirāsāravarṣiṇaḥ

— filled the sky and every direction, and made the army of the Pramathas tremble. Pierced by hundreds of arrows, the Pramathas began to shower forth streams of blood.

Verse 30 (padma.6.100.30)

वसंते किंशुकाभासा न प्राज्ञायत किंचन । पतिताः पात्यमानाश्च छिन्नाभिन्नास्तदा गणाः

vasaṁte kiṁśukābhāsā na prājñāyata kiṁcana patitāḥ pātyamānāśca chinnābhinnāstadā gaṇāḥ

They appeared red as the palash flowers of spring, and nothing could any longer be distinguished. The Pramathas, falling and being felled, became cut and mangled.

Verse 31 (padma.6.100.31)

त्यक्त्वा संग्रामभूमिं ते सर्वेऽपि विमुखाभवन्

tyaktvā saṁgrāmabhūmiṁ te sarve'pi vimukhābhavan

All of them, abandoning the field of battle, turned their backs and fled.

Verse 32 (padma.6.100.32)

ततः प्रभग्नं स्वबलं विलोक्य गजास्यनंदीश्वरकार्तिकेयाः । चिरान्विता दैत्यवरान्प्रसह्य निवारयामासुरमर्षणास्ते

tataḥ prabhagnaṁ svabalaṁ vilokya gajāsyanaṁdīśvarakārtikeyāḥ cirānvitā daityavarānprasahya nivārayāmāsuramarṣaṇāste

Then, seeing their own army routed, Ganesha, Nandishvara, and Kartikeya, long since roused to fury, forcibly began to hold back the finest of the demons.