The Duels of the War

Verse 1 (padma.6.101.1)

नारद उवाच । ते गणाधिपतीन्दृष्ट्वा नंदीभमुखषण्मुखान् । अमर्षादभ्यधावंत द्वंद्वयुद्धाय दानवाः

nārada uvāca te gaṇādhipatīndṛṣṭvā naṁdībhamukhaṣaṇmukhān amarṣādabhyadhāvaṁta dvaṁdvayuddhāya dānavāḥ

Narada said: Seeing the leaders of Shiva's attendants — Nandi, Ganesha (the elephant-faced), and Kartikeya (the six-faced) — the demons, in fury, charged forward to single combat.

Verse 2 (padma.6.101.2)

नंदिनं कालनेमिश्च शुंभो लंबोदरं तथा । निशुंभः षण्मुखं वेगादभ्यधावत दंशितः

naṁdinaṁ kālanemiśca śuṁbho laṁbodaraṁ tathā niśuṁbhaḥ ṣaṇmukhaṁ vegādabhyadhāvata daṁśitaḥ

Kalanemi rushed toward Nandi, Shumbha toward Lambodara (Ganesha), and Nishumbha, clad in armor, swiftly charged toward Shanmukha (Kartikeya).

Verse 3 (padma.6.101.3)

निशुंभः कार्तिकेयस्य मयूरं पंचभिः शरैः । हृदि विव्याध वेगेन मूर्छितः स पपात च

niśuṁbhaḥ kārtikeyasya mayūraṁ paṁcabhiḥ śaraiḥ hṛdi vivyādha vegena mūrchitaḥ sa papāta ca

Nishumbha, with five arrows, swiftly pierced the heart of Kartikeya's peacock mount, which fell to the ground in a faint.

Verse 4 (padma.6.101.4)

ततः शक्तिधरः शक्तिं यावज्जग्राह रोषितः । तावन्निशुंभो वेगेन स्वशक्त्या तमपातयत्

tataḥ śaktidharaḥ śaktiṁ yāvajjagrāha roṣitaḥ tāvanniśuṁbho vegena svaśaktyā tamapātayat

Then, as the spear-wielding Kartikeya, enraged, was about to raise his own spear, Nishumbha, swiftly, with his own spear, struck him down.

Verse 5 (padma.6.101.5)

ततो नंदीश्वरो बाणैः कालनेमिमविध्यत । सप्तभिश्च हयान्केतूंस्त्रिभिः सारथिमच्छिनत्

tato naṁdīśvaro bāṇaiḥ kālanemimavidhyata saptabhiśca hayānketūṁstribhiḥ sārathimacchinat

Then Nandishvara pierced Kalanemi with arrows. With seven arrows he cut down his horses and banners, and with three arrows his charioteer.

Verse 6 (padma.6.101.6)

कालनेमिस्तु संक्रुद्धो धनुश्चिच्छेद नंदिनः । तदपास्य सशूलेन तं वक्षस्य हनद्दृढम्

kālanemistu saṁkruddho dhanuściccheda naṁdinaḥ tadapāsya saśūlena taṁ vakṣasya hanaddṛḍham

Then Kalanemi, exceedingly enraged, cut down Nandi's bow. Casting it aside, together with a spear, he struck Nandi firmly upon the chest.

Verse 7 (padma.6.101.7)

सशूलभिन्नहृदयो हताश्वो हतसारथिः । अद्रेः शिखरमामुच्य शैलाद्रिं सोऽप्यपातयत्

saśūlabhinnahṛdayo hatāśvo hatasārathiḥ adreḥ śikharamāmucya śailādriṁ so'pyapātayat

With his heart pierced by the spear, his horses slain, and his charioteer slain, he (Nandi) nonetheless lifted up a mountain peak and hurled it at Shailadri (Kalanemi).

Verse 8 (padma.6.101.8)

अथ शुंभो गणेशश्च रथमूषकवाहनौ । युध्यमानौ शरव्रातैः परस्परमविध्यताम्

atha śuṁbho gaṇeśaśca rathamūṣakavāhanau yudhyamānau śaravrātaiḥ parasparamavidhyatām

Then Shumbha and Ganesha, mounted on chariot and mouse respectively, fighting, began to pierce each other with volleys of arrows.

Verse 9 (padma.6.101.9)

अथ शुंभं गणाध्यक्षो हृदि विव्याध पत्रिणा । सारथिं पंचभिर्बाणैः पातयामास भूतले

atha śuṁbhaṁ gaṇādhyakṣo hṛdi vivyādha patriṇā sārathiṁ paṁcabhirbāṇaiḥ pātayāmāsa bhūtale

Then the lord of the Ganas (Ganesha) pierced Shumbha's heart with a feathered arrow, and with five arrows felled his charioteer to the ground.

Verse 10 (padma.6.101.10)

ततः शुंभोऽतिक्रुद्धोऽपि बाणषष्ट्या गणाधिपम् । मूषकं च त्रिभिर्विद्ध्वा ननाद जलदस्वनः

tataḥ śuṁbho'tikruddho'pi bāṇaṣaṣṭyā gaṇādhipam mūṣakaṁ ca tribhirviddhvā nanāda jaladasvanaḥ

Then Shumbha, exceedingly enraged, pierced the lord of the Ganas with sixty arrows and the mouse with three, and roared like thunder.

Verse 11 (padma.6.101.11)

मूषकः शरभिन्नांगश्चचाल कृतवेदनः । लंबोदरः समुत्तीर्य पदातिरभवन्नृप

mūṣakaḥ śarabhinnāṁgaścacāla kṛtavedanaḥ laṁbodaraḥ samuttīrya padātirabhavannṛpa

The mouse, its limbs pierced by arrows, trembled in pain. O king, Lambodara dismounted and continued fighting on foot.

Verse 12 (padma.6.101.12)

ततो लंबोदरः शुंभं हत्वा परशुना हृदि । अपातयत्तदा भूमौ मूषकं चारुहत्पुनः

tato laṁbodaraḥ śuṁbhaṁ hatvā paraśunā hṛdi apātayattadā bhūmau mūṣakaṁ cāruhatpunaḥ

Then Lambodara struck Shumbha's chest with his axe and felled him to the ground, and then mounted the mouse once more.

Verse 13 (padma.6.101.13)

कालनेमिर्निशुंभश्च उभौ लंबोदरं शरैः । युगपज्जघ्नतुः कोपात्तोत्रेणेव महाद्विपम्

kālanemirniśuṁbhaśca ubhau laṁbodaraṁ śaraiḥ yugapajjaghnatuḥ kopāttotreṇeva mahādvipam

Then Kalanemi and Nishumbha, both together, in fury, struck Lambodara with arrows simultaneously, as though goading a great elephant with a hooked prod.

Verse 14 (padma.6.101.14)

तं पीड्यमानमालोक्य वीरभद्रो महाबलः । अभ्यधावत वेगेन भूतकोटियुतस्तदा

taṁ pīḍyamānamālokya vīrabhadro mahābalaḥ abhyadhāvata vegena bhūtakoṭiyutastadā

Seeing him thus afflicted, the mighty Virabhadra rushed forward swiftly, accompanied by millions of ghostly spirits.

Verse 15 (padma.6.101.15)

कूष्मांडा भैरवाश्चापि वेताला योगिनीगणाः । पिशाचा योगिनीसंघा गणाश्चापि तमन्वयुः

kūṣmāṁḍā bhairavāścāpi vetālā yoginīgaṇāḥ piśācā yoginīsaṁghā gaṇāścāpi tamanvayuḥ

Kushmandas, Bhairavas, vetalas, hosts of yoginis, pishachas, and further hosts of attendants — all these too followed after him.

Verse 16 (padma.6.101.16)

ततः किलकिलाशब्दैः सिंहनादैः सघुर्घुरैः । विनादिता डमरुकैः पृथिवी समकंपत

tataḥ kilakilāśabdaiḥ siṁhanādaiḥ saghurghuraiḥ vināditā ḍamarukaiḥ pṛthivī samakaṁpata

Then the earth, resounding with cries of 'kilkila,' lion-roars, growling noises, and the beat of hand-drums, trembled.

Verse 17 (padma.6.101.17)

ततो भूतानि धावंति भक्षयंति स्म दानवान् । उत्पतंति पतंति स्म ननृतुश्चरणांगणे

tato bhūtāni dhāvaṁti bhakṣayaṁti sma dānavān utpataṁti pataṁti sma nanṛtuścaraṇāṁgaṇe

Then the ghostly spirits rushed forth and began devouring the demons; they leapt up and fell, dancing about the battlefield as though it were a courtyard.

Verse 18 (padma.6.101.18)

नंदी च कार्तिकेयश्च समायातौ त्वरान्वितौ । निजघ्नतू रणे दैत्यान्निरंतर शरव्रजैः

naṁdī ca kārtikeyaśca samāyātau tvarānvitau nijaghnatū raṇe daityānniraṁtara śaravrajaiḥ

Nandi and Kartikeya, having recovered, also swiftly returned, and continually struck down the demons in battle with volleys of arrows.

Verse 19 (padma.6.101.19)

छिन्नभिन्नाह तैर्दैत्यैः पातितैर्भर्त्सितैस्तथा । व्याकुला सा भवत्सेना विषण्णवदना तदा

chinnabhinnāha tairdaityaiḥ pātitairbhartsitaistathā vyākulā sā bhavatsenā viṣaṇṇavadanā tadā

With demons cut down, slain, felled, and routed, that army became distraught and downcast.

Verse 20 (padma.6.101.20)

प्रविध्वस्तां ततः सेनां दृष्ट्वा सागरनंदनः । रथेनातिपताकेन गणानभिययौ बली

pravidhvastāṁ tataḥ senāṁ dṛṣṭvā sāgaranaṁdanaḥ rathenātipatākena gaṇānabhiyayau balī

Seeing his army thus scattered, the mighty ocean's son himself, mounted on a chariot with a towering banner, advanced toward the Pramathas.

Verse 21 (padma.6.101.21)

हस्त्यश्वरथसंह्रादः शंखभेरीरवस्तदा । अभवत्सिंहनादश्च सेनयोरुभयोस्तदा

hastyaśvarathasaṁhrādaḥ śaṁkhabherīravastadā abhavatsiṁhanādaśca senayorubhayostadā

Then the rumble of elephants, horses, and chariots, the sound of conches and war-drums, and lion-roars arose from both armies.

Verse 22 (padma.6.101.22)

जालंधरशरव्रातैर्नीहारपटलैरिव । द्यावापृथिव्योराच्छन्नमंतरं समपद्यत

jālaṁdharaśaravrātairnīhārapaṭalairiva dyāvāpṛthivyorācchannamaṁtaraṁ samapadyata

Jalandhara's volleys of arrows, like a curtain of mist, covered the space between heaven and earth.

Verse 23 (padma.6.101.23)

गणेशं पंचभिर्विध्वा शैलाद्रिमपि पंचभिः । वीरभद्रं च विंशत्या ननाद जलदस्वनः

gaṇeśaṁ paṁcabhirvidhvā śailādrimapi paṁcabhiḥ vīrabhadraṁ ca viṁśatyā nanāda jaladasvanaḥ

Piercing Ganesha with five arrows, Shailadri too with five, and Virabhadra with twenty, he roared like thunder.

Verse 24 (padma.6.101.24)

कार्तिकेयस्ततो दैत्यं शक्त्या विव्याध सत्वरः । व्याघूर्णः शक्तिनिर्भिन्नः किंचिद्व्याकुलमानसः

kārtikeyastato daityaṁ śaktyā vivyādha satvaraḥ vyāghūrṇaḥ śaktinirbhinnaḥ kiṁcidvyākulamānasaḥ

Then Kartikeya swiftly pierced that demon with his spear. Pierced by the spear, he reeled, his mind somewhat troubled.

Verse 25 (padma.6.101.25)

ततः क्रोधपरीताक्षः कार्तिकेयं जलंधरः । गदया ताडयामास स च भूमितलेऽपतत्

tataḥ krodhaparītākṣaḥ kārtikeyaṁ jalaṁdharaḥ gadayā tāḍayāmāsa sa ca bhūmitale'patat

Then Jalandhara, his eyes red with fury, struck Kartikeya with his mace, and he fell to the ground.

Verse 26 (padma.6.101.26)

तथैव नंदिनं वेगादपातयत भूतले । ततो गणेश्वरः क्रुद्धो गदां परशुनाच्छिनत्

tathaiva naṁdinaṁ vegādapātayata bhūtale tato gaṇeśvaraḥ kruddho gadāṁ paraśunācchinat

In the same way, he swiftly felled Nandi to the ground as well. Then the enraged lord of the Ganas (Ganesha) cut down his mace with his axe.

Verse 27 (padma.6.101.27)

वीरभद्रस्त्रिभिर्बाणैर्हृदि विव्याध दानवम् । सप्तभिश्च हयान्केतून्धनुश्छन्नं च चिच्छिदे

vīrabhadrastribhirbāṇairhṛdi vivyādha dānavam saptabhiśca hayānketūndhanuśchannaṁ ca cicchide

Virabhadra pierced that demon's heart with three arrows, and with seven arrows cut down his horses, his banners, and his covered bow.

Verse 28 (padma.6.101.28)

ततोऽतिक्रुद्धो दैत्येंद्रः शक्तिमुद्यम्य दारुणाम् । गणेशं पातयामास रथमन्यं समारुहत्

tato'tikruddho daityeṁdraḥ śaktimudyamya dāruṇām gaṇeśaṁ pātayāmāsa rathamanyaṁ samāruhat

Then that exceedingly enraged lord of the demons, raising a terrible spear, felled Ganesha, and himself mounted another chariot.

Verse 29 (padma.6.101.29)

अभ्ययादथ वेगेन वीरभद्रं रुषान्वितः । ततस्तौ सूर्यसंकाशौ युयुधाते परस्परम्

abhyayādatha vegena vīrabhadraṁ ruṣānvitaḥ tatastau sūryasaṁkāśau yuyudhāte parasparam

Then, filled with rage, he swiftly advanced toward Virabhadra. Then those two, radiant as the sun, began to fight one another.

Verse 30 (padma.6.101.30)

वीरभद्रस्तस्य हयांस्तथा बाणैरपातयत् । धनुश्चिच्छेद दैत्येंद्रो युयुधे परिघायुधः

vīrabhadrastasya hayāṁstathā bāṇairapātayat dhanuściccheda daityeṁdro yuyudhe parighāyudhaḥ

Virabhadra felled his horses with arrows, and cut down his bow as well. Then the lord of demons took up the iron bar as his weapon and continued fighting.

Verse 31 (padma.6.101.31)

स वीरभद्रं त्वरयाभिगम्य जघान दैत्यः परिघेन मूर्ध्नि । स चापि दैत्यः प्रविभिन्नमूर्द्धा पपात भूमौ रुधिरं समुद्गिरन्

sa vīrabhadraṁ tvarayābhigamya jaghāna daityaḥ parighena mūrdhni sa cāpi daityaḥ pravibhinnamūrddhā papāta bhūmau rudhiraṁ samudgiran

That demon, swiftly approaching Virabhadra, struck his head with the iron bar. But that demon too, his own skull split open, fell to the ground, vomiting blood.