The Slaying of Jalandhara

Verse 1 (padma.6.104.1)

नारद उवाच । ततो जलंधरो दृष्ट्वा रुद्रमद्भुतविक्रमम् । चकार मायया गौरीं त्र्यबकं मोहयंस्तदा

nārada uvāca tato jalaṁdharo dṛṣṭvā rudramadbhutavikramam cakāra māyayā gaurīṁ tryabakaṁ mohayaṁstadā

Narada said: Then Jalandhara, seeing Rudra's wondrous valor, through his illusion, created the form of Gauri in order to bewilder Tryambaka (Shiva).

Verse 2 (padma.6.104.2)

रथोपरिगतां दृष्ट्वा रुदंतीं च तदा शिवः । शुंभनिशुंभदैत्यैश्च वध्यमानां ददर्श सः

rathoparigatāṁ dṛṣṭvā rudaṁtīṁ ca tadā śivaḥ śuṁbhaniśuṁbhadaityaiśca vadhyamānāṁ dadarśa saḥ

Shiva saw her seated upon a chariot, weeping, and being struck by the demons Shumbha and Nishumbha.

Verse 3 (padma.6.104.3)

गौरीं तथाविधां दृष्ट्वा शिवोऽप्युद्विग्नमानसः । अवाङ्मुखः स्थितस्तूष्णीं विस्मृत्य स्वपराक्रमम्

gaurīṁ tathāvidhāṁ dṛṣṭvā śivo'pyudvignamānasaḥ avāṅmukhaḥ sthitastūṣṇīṁ vismṛtya svaparākramam

Seeing Gauri thus in danger, Shiva too became agitated in mind, and, forgetting his own valor, stood silently with head bowed.

Verse 4 (padma.6.104.4)

ततो जलंधरो वेगात्त्रिभिर्विव्याध सायकैः । आपुंखमग्नैस्तं रुद्रं शिरस्युरसि चोदरे

tato jalaṁdharo vegāttribhirvivyādha sāyakaiḥ āpuṁkhamagnaistaṁ rudraṁ śirasyurasi codare

Then Jalandhara swiftly pierced Rudra with three arrows, sunk to the very feathers, in the head, chest, and belly.

Verse 5 (padma.6.104.5)

ततो जज्ञे स तां मायां विष्णुना संप्रबोधितः । रौद्ररूपधरो जातो ज्वालामालातिभीषणः

tato jajñe sa tāṁ māyāṁ viṣṇunā saṁprabodhitaḥ raudrarūpadharo jāto jvālāmālātibhīṣaṇaḥ

Then, roused by Vishnu, Shiva became aware of that illusion, and assumed a terrible, wrathful form, exceedingly frightful with its garlands of flame.

Verse 6 (padma.6.104.6)

तस्यातीवमहारौद्रं रूपं दृष्ट्वा महासुराः । न शेकुः प्रमुखे स्थातुं भेजिरे च दिशो दश

tasyātīvamahāraudraṁ rūpaṁ dṛṣṭvā mahāsurāḥ na śekuḥ pramukhe sthātuṁ bhejire ca diśo daśa

Seeing his exceedingly wrathful form, the great demons could not remain standing before him and fled in all ten directions.

Verse 7 (padma.6.104.7)

ततः शापं ददौ देवस्तयोः शुंभनिशुंभयोः । मम युद्धादपक्रांतौ गौर्यावध्यौ भविष्यथः

tataḥ śāpaṁ dadau devastayoḥ śuṁbhaniśuṁbhayoḥ mama yuddhādapakrāṁtau gauryāvadhyau bhaviṣyathaḥ

Then the god pronounced a curse upon Shumbha and Nishumbha: 'Having fled from my battle, you two shall be slain by a portion of Gauri.'

Verse 8 (padma.6.104.8)

पुनर्जलंधरो वेगाद्ववर्ष निशितैः शरैः । बांणांधकारसंच्छन्नं यथा भूमितलं महत्

punarjalaṁdharo vegādvavarṣa niśitaiḥ śaraiḥ bāṁṇāṁdhakārasaṁcchannaṁ yathā bhūmitalaṁ mahat

Then Jalandhara again swiftly rained down sharp arrows, until the whole vast earth was covered in a darkness of arrows.

Verse 9 (padma.6.104.9)

यावद्रुद्रः प्रचिच्छेद तस्यबाणांस्त्वरान्वितः । तावत्स परिघेणाशु जघान वृषभं बली

yāvadrudraḥ praciccheda tasyabāṇāṁstvarānvitaḥ tāvatsa parigheṇāśu jaghāna vṛṣabhaṁ balī

As soon as Rudra swiftly cut down his arrows, that mighty one at once struck Rudra's bull with the iron bar.

Verse 10 (padma.6.104.10)

वृषस्तेन प्रहारेण परावृत्तो रणांगणात् । रुद्रेणाकृष्यमाणोऽपि न तस्थौ रणभूमिषु

vṛṣastena prahāreṇa parāvṛtto raṇāṁgaṇāt rudreṇākṛṣyamāṇo'pi na tasthau raṇabhūmiṣu

By that blow, the bull turned away from the battlefield, and even though pulled back by Rudra, it would not remain standing on the field of battle.

Verse 11 (padma.6.104.11)

ततः परमसंक्रुद्धो रुद्रो रौद्रवपुर्द्धरः । चक्रं सुदर्शनं वेगाच्चिक्षेपादित्यवर्चसम्

tataḥ paramasaṁkruddho rudro raudravapurddharaḥ cakraṁ sudarśanaṁ vegāccikṣepādityavarcasam

Then Rudra, exceedingly enraged, in his wrathful form, swiftly hurled the Sudarshana discus, radiant as the sun.

Verse 12 (padma.6.104.12)

प्रदहद्रोदसी वेगात्तदासाद्य जलंधरम् । जहार तच्छिरः कायान्महदायतलोचनम्

pradahadrodasī vegāttadāsādya jalaṁdharam jahāra tacchiraḥ kāyānmahadāyatalocanam

Blazing forth with speed, scorching heaven and earth, it reached Jalandhara and severed his head, with its wide, large eyes, from his body.

Verse 13 (padma.6.104.13)

रथात्कायः पपातोर्व्यां नादयन्वसुधातलम् । तेजश्च निर्गतं देहात्तद्रुद्रे लयमागमत्

rathātkāyaḥ papātorvyāṁ nādayanvasudhātalam tejaśca nirgataṁ dehāttadrudre layamāgamat

His trunk fell from the chariot to the earth, making the ground resound. The splendor that issued forth from his body merged into Rudra.

Verse 14 (padma.6.104.14)

दृष्ट्वा देहोद्भवं तेजस्तद्गौरीशे लयं गतम् । अथ चेंद्रादयो देवा हर्षादुत्फुल्ललोचनाः

dṛṣṭvā dehodbhavaṁ tejastadgaurīśe layaṁ gatam atha ceṁdrādayo devā harṣādutphullalocanāḥ

Seeing that splendor born from the body merge into the Lord of Gauri (Shiva), then Indra and the other gods, their eyes brightening with joy —

Verse 15 (padma.6.104.15)

प्रणम्य शिरसा रुद्रं शशंसुर्विष्णुचेष्टितम् । देवा ऊचुः। महादेव त्वया देवा रक्षिताः शत्रुजाद्भयात्

praṇamya śirasā rudraṁ śaśaṁsurviṣṇuceṣṭitam devā ūcuḥ mahādeva tvayā devā rakṣitāḥ śatrujādbhayāt

— bowed their heads to Rudra and then reported to him the state of affairs concerning Vishnu. The gods said: 'O Mahadeva, you have saved us gods from the fear born of our enemy.'

Verse 16 (padma.6.104.16)

किंचिदन्यत्समुद्भूतं तत्र किं करवामहै । वृंदालावण्यसंभ्रांतो विष्णुस्तिष्ठति मोहितः

kiṁcidanyatsamudbhūtaṁ tatra kiṁ karavāmahai vṛṁdālāvaṇyasaṁbhrāṁto viṣṇustiṣṭhati mohitaḥ

'But something else has arisen there — what should we do about it? Vishnu remains bewildered, distraught over the memory of Vrinda's loveliness.'

Verse 17 (padma.6.104.17)

ईश्वर उवाच। गच्छध्वं शरणं देवा विष्णोर्मोहापनुत्तये । शरण्यां मोहिनीं मायां सा वः कार्यं करिष्यति

īśvara uvāca gacchadhvaṁ śaraṇaṁ devā viṣṇormohāpanuttaye śaraṇyāṁ mohinīṁ māyāṁ sā vaḥ kāryaṁ kariṣyati

Ishvara said: 'O gods, go for refuge, in order to dispel Vishnu's delusion, to the sheltering Mohini Maya (the illusive power). She shall accomplish your task.'

Verse 18 (padma.6.104.18)

नारद उवाच। इत्युक्त्वांतर्दधे देवः सहभूतगणैस्तथा । देवाश्च तुष्टुवुर्मूलप्रकृतिं भक्तवत्सलाम्

nārada uvāca ityuktvāṁtardadhe devaḥ sahabhūtagaṇaistathā devāśca tuṣṭuvurmūlaprakṛtiṁ bhaktavatsalām

Narada said: Having said this, the god vanished, together with his hosts of spirits. Then the gods offered praise to the primal Prakriti, ever gracious to her devotees.

Verse 19 (padma.6.104.19)

देवा ऊचुः । यदुद्भवाः सत्वरजस्तमोगुणाः सर्गस्थितिध्वंसनिदानकारणम् । यदिच्छया विश्वमिदं भवाभवौ तनोति शुद्धां प्रकृतिं नताः स्म ताम्

devā ūcuḥ yadudbhavāḥ satvarajastamoguṇāḥ sargasthitidhvaṁsanidānakāraṇam yadicchayā viśvamidaṁ bhavābhavau tanoti śuddhāṁ prakṛtiṁ natāḥ sma tām

The gods said: She from whom the gunas of sattva, rajas, and tamas arise, which are themselves the root cause of creation, preservation, and destruction; by whose will this universe unfolds becoming and unbecoming — to that pure Prakriti we bow.

Verse 20 (padma.6.104.20)

ये हि त्रयोविंशतिभेदिसंज्ञिता जगत्यशेषे समधिष्ठिता पुरा । यद्रूपकर्माणि जडास्त्रयोऽपि ते देवा विदुर्न प्रकृतिं नताः स्म ताम्

ye hi trayoviṁśatibhedisaṁjñitā jagatyaśeṣe samadhiṣṭhitā purā yadrūpakarmāṇi jaḍāstrayo'pi te devā vidurna prakṛtiṁ natāḥ sma tām

She who, known by the twenty-three distinct categories, has, since ancient times, been present throughout the entire universe; whose forms and workings not even the three gods (Brahma, Vishnu, Shiva) fully know — to that Prakriti we bow.

Verse 21 (padma.6.104.21)

यद्भक्तियुक्ताः पुरुषास्तु नित्यं दारिद्र्यव्यामोहपराभवादिकम् । न प्राप्नुवंत्येव हि भक्तवत्सलां सदैव विष्णोः प्रकृतिं नताः स्म ताम्

yadbhaktiyuktāḥ puruṣāstu nityaṁ dāridryavyāmohaparābhavādikam na prāpnuvaṁtyeva hi bhaktavatsalāṁ sadaiva viṣṇoḥ prakṛtiṁ natāḥ sma tām

Men endowed with devotion to her never attain poverty, delusion, defeat, or the like — to that ever-gracious Prakriti of Vishnu, forever his companion, we bow.

Verse 22 (padma.6.104.22)

नारद उवाच। स्तोत्रमेतत्त्रिसंध्यं यः पठेदेकाग्रमानसः । दारिद्र मोहदुःखानि न कदाचित्स्पृशंति तम्

nārada uvāca stotrametattrisaṁdhyaṁ yaḥ paṭhedekāgramānasaḥ dāridra mohaduḥkhāni na kadācitspṛśaṁti tam

Narada said: Whoever, with a concentrated mind, recites this hymn at the three twilights is never touched by poverty, delusion, or sorrow.

Verse 23 (padma.6.104.23)

इति स्तुवंतस्ते देवास्तेजोमंडलमास्थिताम् । ददृशुर्गगने तत्र ज्वालाव्याप्तदिगंतराम्

iti stuvaṁtaste devāstejomaṁḍalamāsthitām dadṛśurgagane tatra jvālāvyāptadigaṁtarām

While thus offering praise, those gods beheld in the sky a goddess established within a halo of splendor, the ends of the horizon pervaded by flames.

Verse 24 (padma.6.104.24)

तन्मध्याद्भारतीं सर्वे ददृशुर्व्योमचारिणीम् । अहमेव त्रिधा भिन्ना तिष्ठामि त्रिविधैर्गुणैः

tanmadhyādbhāratīṁ sarve dadṛśurvyomacāriṇīm ahameva tridhā bhinnā tiṣṭhāmi trividhairguṇaiḥ

From within it, all heard a voice moving through the sky: 'I alone stand differentiated into three forms, through the three gunas.'

Verse 25 (padma.6.104.25)

गौरीलक्ष्मीस्वरा चेति रजःसत्त्वतमोगुणैः । तत्र गच्छत तं कार्यं विधास्यंति च वः सुराः

gaurīlakṣmīsvarā ceti rajaḥsattvatamoguṇaiḥ tatra gacchata taṁ kāryaṁ vidhāsyaṁti ca vaḥ surāḥ

'Gauri, Lakshmi, and Sarasvati — in the forms of rajas, sattva, and tamas. O gods, go there; they shall accomplish that task for you.'

Verse 26 (padma.6.104.26)

नारद उवाच । शृण्वतामिति देवानामंतर्द्धानमगान्महः । देवानां विस्मयोत्फुल्लनेत्राणां तत्तदा नृप

nārada uvāca śṛṇvatāmiti devānāmaṁtarddhānamagānmahaḥ devānāṁ vismayotphullanetrāṇāṁ tattadā nṛpa

Narada said: Even as the gods listened, that radiance vanished, O king; then the eyes of the gods widened with astonishment.

Verse 27 (padma.6.104.27)

ततः सर्वेऽपि ते देवा गत्वा तद्वाक्यनोदिताः । गौरीं लक्ष्मीं स्वरां चैव प्रणेमुर्भक्तितत्पराः

tataḥ sarve'pi te devā gatvā tadvākyanoditāḥ gaurīṁ lakṣmīṁ svarāṁ caiva praṇemurbhaktitatparāḥ

Then, impelled by that voice, all the gods went and, devoted to devotion, bowed to Gauri, Lakshmi, and Sarasvati.

Verse 28 (padma.6.104.28)

ततस्तास्तान्सुरान्दृष्ट्वा प्रणतान्भक्तवत्सलाः । बीजानि प्रददुस्तेभ्यो वाक्यान्यूचुश्च भूमिप

tatastāstānsurāndṛṣṭvā praṇatānbhaktavatsalāḥ bījāni pradadustebhyo vākyānyūcuśca bhūmipa

O king, then those goddesses, ever gracious to their devotees, seeing those gods bowing before them, gave them seeds and spoke these words.

Verse 29 (padma.6.104.29)

देव्य ऊचुः। इमानि क्षेत्रबीजानि विष्णुर्यत्रावतिष्ठति । निर्वपध्वं ततः कार्यं भवतां सिद्धिमेष्यति

devya ūcuḥ imāni kṣetrabījāni viṣṇuryatrāvatiṣṭhati nirvapadhvaṁ tataḥ kāryaṁ bhavatāṁ siddhimeṣyati

The goddesses said: 'These are the seeds of the sacred field. Sow them where Vishnu abides; then your task shall be accomplished.'