The Terrible Battle of Virabhadra and Vishnu with Taraka

Verse 1 (shiva.rudra.127.1)

ब्रह्मोवाच देवदेव गुह स्वामिन् शाङ्करे पार्वतीसुत । न शोभते रणो विष्णुतारकासुरयोर्वृथा

brahmovāca devadeva guha svāmin śāṅkare pārvatīsuta na śobhate raṇo viṣṇutārakāsurayorvṛthā

Brahma said: O God of gods, Guha, my lord, son of Shankara and Parvati -- this war between Vishnu and Tarakasura, dragging on in vain, is not fitting.

Verse 2 (shiva.rudra.127.2)

विष्णुना न हि वध्योऽसौ तारको बलवानति । मया दत्तवरस्तस्मात्सत्यं सत्यं वदाम्यहम्

viṣṇunā na hi vadhyo'sau tārako balavānati mayā dattavarastasmātsatyaṁ satyaṁ vadāmyaham

That immensely powerful Taraka cannot be slain by Vishnu, for it was I who granted him that very boon -- this I speak truly, truly.

Verse 3 (shiva.rudra.127.3)

नान्यो हन्तास्य पापस्य त्वां विना पार्वतीसुत । तस्मात्त्वया हि कर्तव्यं वचनं मे महाप्रभो

nānyo hantāsya pāpasya tvāṁ vinā pārvatīsuta tasmāttvayā hi kartavyaṁ vacanaṁ me mahāprabho

There is no slayer of this sinner other than you, O son of Parvati. Therefore, great lord, this word of mine must be fulfilled by you alone.

Verse 4 (shiva.rudra.127.4)

सन्नद्धो भव दैत्यस्य वधायाशु परन्तप । तद्वधार्थं समुत्पन्नः शङ्करात्त्वं शिवासुत

sannaddho bhava daityasya vadhāyāśu parantapa tadvadhārthaṁ samutpannaḥ śaṅkarāttvaṁ śivāsuta

Arm yourself, O scorcher of foes, to slay this demon swiftly. O son of Shiva, you were born from Shankara for the very purpose of his destruction.

Verse 5 (shiva.rudra.127.5)

रक्ष रक्ष महावीर त्रिदशान् व्यथितान् रणे । न बालस्त्वं युवा नैव किं तु सर्वेश्वरः प्रभुः

rakṣa rakṣa mahāvīra tridaśān vyathitān raṇe na bālastvaṁ yuvā naiva kiṁ tu sarveśvaraḥ prabhuḥ

Protect, protect, O great hero, the gods who are afflicted in this war. You are no child, nor merely a youth -- you are the Lord of all, the Master of everyone.

Verse 6 (shiva.rudra.127.6)

शक्रं पश्य तथा विष्णुं व्याकुलं च सुरान् गणान् । एनं जहि महादैत्यं त्रैलोक्यं सुखितं कुरु

śakraṁ paśya tathā viṣṇuṁ vyākulaṁ ca surān gaṇān enaṁ jahi mahādaityaṁ trailokyaṁ sukhitaṁ kuru

Behold Indra, behold Vishnu, and behold the gods thrown into confusion. Slay this great demon and make the three worlds happy.

Verse 7 (shiva.rudra.127.7)

अनेन विजितश्चेन्द्रो लोकपालैः पुरा सह । विष्णुश्चापि महावीरो तर्जितस्तपसो बलात्

anena vijitaścendro lokapālaiḥ purā saha viṣṇuścāpi mahāvīro tarjitastapaso balāt

By him Indra, together with the guardians of the world, was once defeated; and even the great hero Vishnu was overpowered by the strength of his austerity.

Verse 8 (shiva.rudra.127.8)

त्रैलोक्यं निर्जितं सर्वमसुरेण दुरात्मना । इदानीं तव सान्निध्यात्पुनर्युद्धं कृतं च तैः

trailokyaṁ nirjitaṁ sarvamasureṇa durātmanā idānīṁ tava sānnidhyātpunaryuddhaṁ kṛtaṁ ca taiḥ

That evil-souled demon had conquered all the three worlds. It is only because of your presence nearby that they have now dared to fight him again.

Verse 9 (shiva.rudra.127.9)

तस्मात्त्वया निहन्तव्यस्तारकः पापपूरुषः । अन्यवध्यो न चैवायं मद्वराच्छङ्करात्मज

tasmāttvayā nihantavyastārakaḥ pāpapūruṣaḥ anyavadhyo na caivāyaṁ madvarācchaṅkarātmaja

Therefore, O son of Shankara, that sinful Taraka must be slain by you alone; by my own boon he cannot be slain by anyone else.

Verse 10 (shiva.rudra.127.10)

इति श्रुत्वा मम वचः कुमारः शङ्करात्मजः । विजहास प्रसन्नात्मा तथास्त्विति वचोऽब्रवीत्

iti śrutvā mama vacaḥ kumāraḥ śaṅkarātmajaḥ vijahāsa prasannātmā tathāstviti vaco'bravīt

Hearing these words of mine, Kumara, the son of Shankara, laughed with a glad heart and said, 'So be it.'

Verse 11 (shiva.rudra.127.11)

विनिश्चित्यासुरवधं शाङ्करिःस महाप्रभुः । विमानादवतीर्याथ पदातिरभवत्तदा

viniścityāsuravadhaṁ śāṅkariḥsa mahāprabhuḥ vimānādavatīryātha padātirabhavattadā

Having resolved upon the demon's death, that great lord, the son of Shankara, descended from his aerial chariot and became, at that very moment, a foot-soldier.

Verse 12 (shiva.rudra.127.12)

पद्भ्यां तदासौ परिधावमानो रेजेऽतिवीरः शिवजः कुमारः । करे समादाय महाप्रभां तां शक्तिं महोल्कामिव दीप्तिदीप्ताम्

padbhyāṁ tadāsau paridhāvamāno reje'tivīraḥ śivajaḥ kumāraḥ kare samādāya mahāprabhāṁ tāṁ śaktiṁ maholkāmiva dīptidīptām

Running on his own two feet, Shiva's most heroic son Kumara shone forth in splendor, holding in his hand that mighty spear, blazing like a great meteor.

Verse 13 (shiva.rudra.127.13)

दृष्ट्वा तमायान्तमतिप्रचण्ड- मव्याकुलं षण्मुखमप्रमेयम् । दैत्यो बभाषे सुरसत्तमान्स कुमार एष द्विषतां प्रहन्ता

dṛṣṭvā tamāyāntamatipracaṇḍa- mavyākulaṁ ṣaṇmukhamaprameyam daityo babhāṣe surasattamānsa kumāra eṣa dviṣatāṁ prahantā

Seeing him approach -- utterly fierce, unperturbed, six-faced, and immeasurable -- the demon said to the foremost of the gods, 'This is that Kumara, the slayer of enemies.'

Verse 14 (shiva.rudra.127.14)

अनेन साकं ह्यहमेकवीरो योत्स्ये च सर्वानहमेव वीरान् । गणांश्च सर्वानपि घातयामि सलोकपालान् हरिनायकांश्च

anena sākaṁ hyahamekavīro yotsye ca sarvānahameva vīrān gaṇāṁśca sarvānapi ghātayāmi salokapālān harināyakāṁśca

Against him alone shall I, sole hero, do battle; and I alone shall slay all the heroes, together with the world-guardians and Vishnu their chief, and all their hosts.

Verse 15 (shiva.rudra.127.15)

इत्येवमुक्त्वा स तदा महाबलः कुमारमुद्दिश्य ययौ च योद्धुम् । जग्राह शक्तिं परमाद्भुतां च स तारको देववरान् बभाषे

ityevamuktvā sa tadā mahābalaḥ kumāramuddiśya yayau ca yoddhum jagrāha śaktiṁ paramādbhutāṁ ca sa tārako devavarān babhāṣe

Having said this, that mighty one advanced toward Kumara to do battle; and seizing his own supremely wondrous spear, Taraka spoke to the foremost of the gods.

Verse 16 (shiva.rudra.127.16)

तारक उवाच कुमारो मेऽग्रतश्चाद्य भवद्भिश्च कथं कृतः । यूयं गतत्रपा देवा विशेषाच्छक्रकेशवौ

tāraka uvāca kumāro me'grataścādya bhavadbhiśca kathaṁ kṛtaḥ yūyaṁ gatatrapā devā viśeṣācchakrakeśavau

Taraka said: Why have you set this Kumara before me today? You gods are utterly shameless -- you especially, Indra and Keshava (Vishnu).

Verse 17 (shiva.rudra.127.17)

पुरैताभ्यां कृतं कर्म विरुद्धं वेदमार्गतः । तच्छृणुध्वं मया प्रोक्तं वर्णयामि विशेषतः

puraitābhyāṁ kṛtaṁ karma viruddhaṁ vedamārgataḥ tacchṛṇudhvaṁ mayā proktaṁ varṇayāmi viśeṣataḥ

These two once did deeds contrary to the path of the Veda. Hear it as I tell it -- I shall relate it in full detail.

Verse 18 (shiva.rudra.127.18)

तत्र विष्णुश्छली दोषी ह्यविवेकी विशेषतः । बलिर्येन पुरा बद्धश्छलमाश्रित्य पापतः

tatra viṣṇuśchalī doṣī hyavivekī viśeṣataḥ baliryena purā baddhaśchalamāśritya pāpataḥ

Of these, Vishnu is the deceitful one, the guilty one, and above all the one without discernment -- it was he who once bound Bali by sinfully resorting to trickery.

Verse 19 (shiva.rudra.127.19)

तेनैव यत्नतः पूर्वमसुरौ मधुकैटभौ । शिरोहीनौ कृतौ धौर्त्याद्वेदमार्गो विवर्जितः

tenaiva yatnataḥ pūrvamasurau madhukaiṭabhau śirohīnau kṛtau dhaurtyādvedamārgo vivarjitaḥ

By that very one, quite deliberately and through deceit, the demons Madhu and Kaitabha were beheaded -- and the path of the Veda was abandoned.

Verse 20 (shiva.rudra.127.20)

मोहिनीरूपतोऽनेन पङ्क्तिभेदः कृतो हि वै । देवासुरसुधापाने वेदमार्गो विगर्हितः

mohinīrūpato'nena paṅktibhedaḥ kṛto hi vai devāsurasudhāpāne vedamārgo vigarhitaḥ

Taking the form of Mohini, he broke the ranks apart at the drinking of the nectar between gods and demons -- by which the path of the Veda was disgraced.

Verse 21 (shiva.rudra.127.21)

रामो भूत्वा हता नारी वाली विध्वंसितो हि सः । पुनर्वैश्रवणो विप्रो हतो नीतिर्हता श्रुतेः

rāmo bhūtvā hatā nārī vālī vidhvaṁsito hi saḥ punarvaiśravaṇo vipro hato nītirhatā śruteḥ

Becoming Rama, he slew a woman, and destroyed Vali. Again, he killed the brahmin Vaishravana [Ravana], and thus destroyed the moral order of scripture.

Verse 22 (shiva.rudra.127.22)

पापं विना स्वकीया स्त्री त्यक्ता पापरतेन यत् । तत्रापि श्रुतिमार्गश्च ध्वंसितः स्वार्थहेतवे

pāpaṁ vinā svakīyā strī tyaktā pāparatena yat tatrāpi śrutimārgaśca dhvaṁsitaḥ svārthahetave

Though she was without sin, that Vishnu, given over to sin, abandoned his own wife -- there too the path of scripture was destroyed for the sake of his own purpose.

Verse 23 (shiva.rudra.127.23)

स्वजनन्याः शिरश्छिन्नमवतारे रसाख्यके । गुरुपुत्रापमानश्च कृतोऽनेन दुरात्मना

svajananyāḥ śiraśchinnamavatāre rasākhyake guruputrāpamānaśca kṛto'nena durātmanā

In the incarnation called Rasa [Parashurama], that evil-souled one cut off his own mother's head, and likewise insulted the son of his own teacher.

Verse 24 (shiva.rudra.127.24)

कृष्णो भूत्वान्यनार्यश्च दूषिताः कुलधर्मतः । श्रुतिमार्गं परित्यज्य स्वविवाहाः कृतास्तथा

kṛṣṇo bhūtvānyanāryaśca dūṣitāḥ kuladharmataḥ śrutimārgaṁ parityajya svavivāhāḥ kṛtāstathā

Becoming Krishna, he corrupted other, ignoble women contrary to family dharma; and abandoning the path of scripture, he performed marriages according to his own will.

Verse 25 (shiva.rudra.127.25)

पुनश्च वेदमार्गो हि निन्दितो नवमे भवे । स्थापितं नास्तिकमतं वेदमार्गविरोधकृत्

punaśca vedamārgo hi nindito navame bhave sthāpitaṁ nāstikamataṁ vedamārgavirodhakṛt

And again, in his ninth incarnation, the path of the Veda was reviled, and a heretical doctrine, opposed to the path of the Veda, was established.

Verse 26 (shiva.rudra.127.26)

एवं येन कृतं पापं वेदमार्गं विसृज्य वै । स कथं विजयेद्युद्धे भवेद्धर्मवतां वरः

evaṁ yena kṛtaṁ pāpaṁ vedamārgaṁ visṛjya vai sa kathaṁ vijayedyuddhe bhaveddharmavatāṁ varaḥ

How, then, can he who has abandoned the path of the Veda and committed such sins prevail in battle, or be counted foremost among the righteous?

Verse 27 (shiva.rudra.127.27)

भ्राता ज्येष्ठश्च यस्तस्य शक्रः पापी महान्मतः । तेन पापान्यनेकानि कृतानि निजहेतुतः

bhrātā jyeṣṭhaśca yastasya śakraḥ pāpī mahānmataḥ tena pāpānyanekāni kṛtāni nijahetutaḥ

And he who is thought to be his elder brother, Shakra [Indra], is also a great sinner -- he too has committed many sins for the sake of his own interest.

Verse 28 (shiva.rudra.127.28)

निकृत्तो हि दितेर्गर्भः स्वार्थ हेतोर्विशेषतः । धर्षिता गौतमस्त्री वै हतो वृत्रश्च विप्रजः

nikṛtto hi ditergarbhaḥ svārtha hetorviśeṣataḥ dharṣitā gautamastrī vai hato vṛtraśca viprajaḥ

For his own purpose he specifically cut open Diti's womb, violated the wife of Gautama, and slew Vritra, who was born a brahmin.

Verse 29 (shiva.rudra.127.29)

विश्वरूपद्विजातेर्वै भागिनेयस्य यद्गुरोः । निकृत्तानि च शीर्षाणि तदध्वाध्वंसितः श्रुतेः

viśvarūpadvijātervai bhāgineyasya yadguroḥ nikṛttāni ca śīrṣāṇi tadadhvādhvaṁsitaḥ śruteḥ

The heads of the twice-born Vishvarupa -- his own sister's son and his priest -- were likewise cut off by him; by that very path the scripture was destroyed.

Verse 30 (shiva.rudra.127.30)

कृत्वा बहूनि पापानि हरिः शक्रः पुनःपुनः । तेजोभिर्विहतावेव नष्टवीर्यौ विशेषतः

kṛtvā bahūni pāpāni hariḥ śakraḥ punaḥpunaḥ tejobhirvihatāveva naṣṭavīryau viśeṣataḥ

Having committed many such sins again and again, Hari [Vishnu] and Indra have both now been struck down by my splendor, their strength especially destroyed.

Verse 31 (shiva.rudra.127.31)

तयोर्बलेन नो यूयं सङ्ग्रामे जयमाप्स्यथ । किमर्थं मूढतां प्राप्य प्राणांस्त्यक्तुमिहागताः

tayorbalena no yūyaṁ saṅgrāme jayamāpsyatha kimarthaṁ mūḍhatāṁ prāpya prāṇāṁstyaktumihāgatāḥ

By the strength of those two you shall not gain victory in this battle. Falling into folly, why have you come here only to give up your lives?

Verse 32 (shiva.rudra.127.32)

जानन्तौ धर्ममेतौ न स्वार्थलम्पटमानसौ । धर्मं विनाऽमराः कृत्यं निष्फलं सकलं भवेत्

jānantau dharmametau na svārthalampaṭamānasau dharmaṁ vinā'marāḥ kṛtyaṁ niṣphalaṁ sakalaṁ bhavet

These two do not know dharma; their minds are given over to self-interest. O gods, without dharma every deed becomes wholly fruitless.

Verse 33 (shiva.rudra.127.33)

महाधृष्टाविमौ मेऽद्य कृतवन्तौ पुरश्शिशुम् । अहं बालं वधिष्यामि तयोः सोऽपि भविष्यति

mahādhṛṣṭāvimau me'dya kṛtavantau puraśśiśum ahaṁ bālaṁ vadhiṣyāmi tayoḥ so'pi bhaviṣyati

These two, in their great insolence, have today set a mere child before me. I shall slay this boy, and the same fate shall befall these two as well.

Verse 34 (shiva.rudra.127.34)

किं तु बाल इतो यायाद् दूरं प्राणपरीप्सया । इत्युक्त्वोद्दिश्य च हरी वीरभद्रमुवाच सः

kiṁ tu bāla ito yāyād dūraṁ prāṇaparīpsayā ityuktvoddiśya ca harī vīrabhadramuvāca saḥ

'But if this boy wishes to save his life, let him go far away from here' -- so saying, and pointing toward Hari, he then spoke to Virabhadra.

Verse 35 (shiva.rudra.127.35)

पुरा हतास्त्वया विप्रा दक्षयज्ञे ह्यनेकशः । तत्कर्मणः फलं चाद्य दर्शयिष्यामि तेऽनघ

purā hatāstvayā viprā dakṣayajñe hyanekaśaḥ tatkarmaṇaḥ phalaṁ cādya darśayiṣyāmi te'nagha

'Long ago, at Daksha's sacrifice, you slew many brahmins, O sinless one -- the fruit of that deed I shall show you today.'

Verse 36 (shiva.rudra.127.36)

ब्रह्मोवाच इत्येवमुक्त्वा तु विधूय पुण्यं निजं स तन्निन्दनकर्मणा वै । जग्राह शक्तिं परमाद्भुतां च स तारको युद्धवतां वरिष्ठः

brahmovāca ityevamuktvā tu vidhūya puṇyaṁ nijaṁ sa tannindanakarmaṇā vai jagrāha śaktiṁ paramādbhutāṁ ca sa tārako yuddhavatāṁ variṣṭhaḥ

Brahma said: Having spoken thus, and shaking off his own merit through that very act of reviling, Taraka, foremost among warriors, seized his own supremely wondrous spear.

Verse 37 (shiva.rudra.127.37)

तं बालान्तिकमायान्तं तारकासुरमोजसा । आजघान च वज्रेण शक्रो गुहपुरस्सरः

taṁ bālāntikamāyāntaṁ tārakāsuramojasā ājaghāna ca vajreṇa śakro guhapurassaraḥ

As that Tarakasura advanced toward the boy with full force, Indra, with Guha [Kartikeya] going before him, struck him with his thunderbolt.

Verse 38 (shiva.rudra.127.38)

तेन वज्रप्रहारेण तारको जर्जरीकृतः । भूमौ पपात सहसा निन्दाहतबलः क्षणम्

tena vajraprahāreṇa tārako jarjarīkṛtaḥ bhūmau papāta sahasā nindāhatabalaḥ kṣaṇam

By that blow of the thunderbolt, Taraka was shattered, and, his strength broken for a moment, he suddenly fell to the ground.

Verse 39 (shiva.rudra.127.39)

पतितोऽपि समुत्थाय शक्त्या तं प्राहरद्रुषा । पुरन्दरं गजस्थं हि पातयामास भूतले

patito'pi samutthāya śaktyā taṁ prāharadruṣā purandaraṁ gajasthaṁ hi pātayāmāsa bhūtale

Though fallen, he rose again, and in fury struck Purandara [Indra], mounted on his elephant, with his spear, casting him down to the ground.

Verse 40 (shiva.rudra.127.40)

हाहाकारो महानासीत्पतिते च पुरन्दरे । सेनायां निर्जराणां हि तद् दृष्ट्वा क्लेश आविशत्

hāhākāro mahānāsītpatite ca purandare senāyāṁ nirjarāṇāṁ hi tad dṛṣṭvā kleśa āviśat

When Purandara fell, a great cry of woe arose; and seeing it, distress spread through the army of the immortal gods.

Verse 41 (shiva.rudra.127.41)

तारकेणाऽपि तत्रैव यत्कृतं कर्म दुःखदम् । स्वनाशकारणं धर्मविरुद्धं तन्निबोध मे

tārakeṇā'pi tatraiva yatkṛtaṁ karma duḥkhadam svanāśakāraṇaṁ dharmaviruddhaṁ tannibodha me

Now hear from me that sorrowful deed which Taraka did there -- the very cause of his own destruction, and contrary to dharma.

Verse 42 (shiva.rudra.127.42)

पतितं च पदाक्रम्य हस्ताद्वज्रं प्रगृह्य वै । पुनरुद्वज्रघातेन शक्रमाताडयद्भृशम्

patitaṁ ca padākramya hastādvajraṁ pragṛhya vai punarudvajraghātena śakramātāḍayadbhṛśam

Trampling the fallen Indra underfoot, and snatching the thunderbolt from his hand, he raised it again and struck Indra violently with his own weapon.

Verse 43 (shiva.rudra.127.43)

एवं तिरस्कृतं दृष्ट्वा शक्रं विष्णुः प्रतापवान् । चक्रमुद्यस्य भगवांस्तारकं स जघान ह

evaṁ tiraskṛtaṁ dṛṣṭvā śakraṁ viṣṇuḥ pratāpavān cakramudyasya bhagavāṁstārakaṁ sa jaghāna ha

Seeing Indra thus humiliated, the mighty Lord Vishnu raised his discus and struck Taraka with it.

Verse 44 (shiva.rudra.127.44)

चक्रप्रहाराभिहतो निपपात क्षितौ हि सः । पुनरुत्थाय दैत्येन्द्रः शक्त्या विष्णुं जघान तम्

cakraprahārābhihato nipapāta kṣitau hi saḥ punarutthāya daityendraḥ śaktyā viṣṇuṁ jaghāna tam

Struck by the blow of the discus, he fell to the earth; but the lord of the demons rose again and struck Vishnu with his spear.

Verse 45 (shiva.rudra.127.45)

तेन शक्तिप्रहारेण पतितो भुवि चाच्युतः । हाहाकरो महानासीच्चुक्रुशुश्चाऽतिनिर्जराः

tena śaktiprahāreṇa patito bhuvi cācyutaḥ hāhākaro mahānāsīccukruśuścā'tinirjarāḥ

By that blow of the spear, Achyuta [Vishnu] fell to the ground; a great cry of woe arose, and the immortal gods wailed greatly.

Verse 46 (shiva.rudra.127.46)

निमेषेण पुनर्विष्णुर्यावदुत्तिष्ठते स्वयम् । तावत्स वीरभद्रो हि तत्क्षणादागतोऽसुरम्

nimeṣeṇa punarviṣṇuryāvaduttiṣṭhate svayam tāvatsa vīrabhadro hi tatkṣaṇādāgato'suram

In but an instant, even as Vishnu himself was rising once more, Virabhadra at that very moment reached the demon.

Verse 47 (shiva.rudra.127.47)

त्रिशूलं च समुद्यम्य वीरभद्रः प्रतापवान् । तारकं दितिजाधीशं जघान प्रसभं बली

triśūlaṁ ca samudyamya vīrabhadraḥ pratāpavān tārakaṁ ditijādhīśaṁ jaghāna prasabhaṁ balī

Raising his trident, the mighty and powerful Virabhadra struck Taraka, lord of Diti's sons, with tremendous force.

Verse 48 (shiva.rudra.127.48)

तत्त्रिशूलप्रहारेण स पपात क्षितौ तदा । पतितोऽपि महातेजास्तारकः पुनरुत्थितः

tattriśūlaprahāreṇa sa papāta kṣitau tadā patito'pi mahātejāstārakaḥ punarutthitaḥ

By that blow of the trident he fell to the earth at once; but the greatly radiant Taraka, though fallen, rose again.

Verse 49 (shiva.rudra.127.49)

कृत्वा क्रोधं महावीरःसकलासुरनायकः । जघान परया शक्त्या वीरभद्रं तदोरसि

kṛtvā krodhaṁ mahāvīraḥsakalāsuranāyakaḥ jaghāna parayā śaktyā vīrabhadraṁ tadorasi

Filled with wrath, that great hero, leader of all the demons, struck Virabhadra full upon the chest with his mighty spear.

Verse 50 (shiva.rudra.127.50)

वीरभद्रोऽपि पतितो भूतले मूर्छितः क्षणम् । तच्छक्त्या परया क्रोधान्निहतो वक्षसि ध्रुवम्

vīrabhadro'pi patito bhūtale mūrchitaḥ kṣaṇam tacchaktyā parayā krodhānnihato vakṣasi dhruvam

Virabhadra too, struck upon the chest by that mighty spear hurled in anger, fell senseless to the ground for a moment.

Verse 51 (shiva.rudra.127.51)

सगणाश्चैव देवास्ते गन्धर्वोरगराक्षसाः । हाहाकारेण महता चुक्रुशुश्च मुहुर्मुहुः

sagaṇāścaiva devāste gandharvoragarākṣasāḥ hāhākāreṇa mahatā cukruśuśca muhurmuhuḥ

The gods together with their hosts, the gandharvas, serpents, and rakshasas, cried out again and again with a great wail of woe.

Verse 52 (shiva.rudra.127.52)

निमेषमात्रात्सहसा महौजाः स्स वीरभद्रो द्विषतां निहन्ता । त्रिशूलमुद्यम्य तडित्प्रकाशं जाज्वल्यमानं प्रभया विरेजे

nimeṣamātrātsahasā mahaujāḥ ssa vīrabhadro dviṣatāṁ nihantā triśūlamudyamya taḍitprakāśaṁ jājvalyamānaṁ prabhayā vireje

In the blink of an eye, that greatly powerful Virabhadra, slayer of his foes, rose up once more, and raising his trident, blazing bright as lightning, shone forth with radiance.

Verse 53 (shiva.rudra.127.53)

स्वरोचिषा भासितदिग्वितानं सूर्येन्दुबिम्बाग्निसमानमण्डलम् । महाप्रभं वीरभयावहं परं कालाख्यमत्यन्तकरं महोज्ज्वलम्

svarociṣā bhāsitadigvitānaṁ sūryendubimbāgnisamānamaṇḍalam mahāprabhaṁ vīrabhayāvahaṁ paraṁ kālākhyamatyantakaraṁ mahojjvalam

Lighting the canopy of the quarters with its own radiance, its disc like the combined orbs of sun, moon, and fire, that trident was of tremendous splendor, terrible even to heroes, supreme, the very form of Death, all-ending, and greatly blazing.

Verse 54 (shiva.rudra.127.54)

यावत्त्रिशूलेन तदा हन्तुकामो महाबलः । वीरभद्रोऽसुरं तावत्कुमारेण निवारितः

yāvattriśūlena tadā hantukāmo mahābalaḥ vīrabhadro'suraṁ tāvatkumāreṇa nivāritaḥ

But even as that mighty Virabhadra was about to slay the demon with that same trident, he was stopped by Kumara.