Kumara's Victory Through the Slaying of Bana and Pralamba, and the Establishment of the Lingas

Verse 1 (shiva.rudra.129.1)

ब्रह्मोवाच एतस्मिन्नन्तरे तत्र क्रौञ्चनामाचलो मुने । आजगाम कुमारस्य शरणं बाणपीडितः

brahmovāca etasminnantare tatra krauñcanāmācalo mune ājagāma kumārasya śaraṇaṁ bāṇapīḍitaḥ

Meanwhile, O sage, the mountain named Krauncha, afflicted by Bana, came there seeking refuge with Kumara.

Verse 2 (shiva.rudra.129.2)

पलायमानो यो युद्धादसोढा तेज ऐश्वरम् । तुतोदातीव स क्रौञ्चं कोट्यायुतबलान्वितः

palāyamāno yo yuddhādasoḍhā teja aiśvaram tutodātīva sa krauñcaṁ koṭyāyutabalānvitaḥ

That demon, possessed of the strength of countless myriads, unable to bear the Lord's splendor, fled from the battle and struck at Krauncha most cruelly.

Verse 3 (shiva.rudra.129.3)

प्रणिपत्य कुमारस्य स भक्त्या चरणाम्बुजम् । प्रेमनिर्भरया वाचा तुष्टाव गुहमादरात्

praṇipatya kumārasya sa bhaktyā caraṇāmbujam premanirbharayā vācā tuṣṭāva guhamādarāt

Prostrating himself with devotion at Kumara's lotus feet, he praised Guha reverently, with words overflowing with love.

Verse 4 (shiva.rudra.129.4)

क्रौञ्च उवाच कुमार स्कन्द देवेश तारकासुरनाशक । पाहि मां शरणापन्नं बाणासुरनिपीडितम्

krauñca uvāca kumāra skanda deveśa tārakāsuranāśaka pāhi māṁ śaraṇāpannaṁ bāṇāsuranipīḍitam

Krauncha said: O Kumara, O Skanda, Lord of gods, destroyer of the demon Taraka -- protect me, who have come for refuge, afflicted by the demon Bana.

Verse 5 (shiva.rudra.129.5)

सङ्गरात्ते महासेन समुच्छिन्नः पलायितः । न्यपीडयच्च माऽऽगत्य हा नाथ करुणाकर

saṅgarātte mahāsena samucchinnaḥ palāyitaḥ nyapīḍayacca mā''gatya hā nātha karuṇākara

O great commander, that one, driven back and put to flight from your battle, came and afflicted me. Alas, O Lord, O fount of compassion.

Verse 6 (shiva.rudra.129.6)

तत्पीडितस्ते शरणमागतोऽहं सुदुःखितः । पलायमानो देवेश शरजन्मन् दयां कुरु

tatpīḍitaste śaraṇamāgato'haṁ suduḥkhitaḥ palāyamāno deveśa śarajanman dayāṁ kuru

Tormented by him, I have come to your refuge, greatly afflicted. O Lord of gods, born of the reeds, have mercy upon this fugitive.

Verse 7 (shiva.rudra.129.7)

दैत्यं तं नाशय विभो बाणाह्वं मां सुखीकुरु । दैत्यघ्नस्त्वं विशेषेण देवावनकरः स्वराट्

daityaṁ taṁ nāśaya vibho bāṇāhvaṁ māṁ sukhīkuru daityaghnastvaṁ viśeṣeṇa devāvanakaraḥ svarāṭ

Destroy that demon called Bana, O mighty one; make me happy again. You are the slayer of demons above all, the self-sovereign protector of the gods.

Verse 8 (shiva.rudra.129.8)

ब्रह्मोवाच इति क्रौञ्चस्तुतःस्कन्दः प्रसन्नो भक्तपालकः । गृहीत्वा शक्तिमतुलां स्वां सस्मार शिवो धिया

brahmovāca iti krauñcastutaḥskandaḥ prasanno bhaktapālakaḥ gṛhītvā śaktimatulāṁ svāṁ sasmāra śivo dhiyā

Brahma said: Thus praised by Krauncha, Skanda, protector of his devotees, was pleased; he took up his own peerless spear, and in his mind called Shiva to remembrance.

Verse 9 (shiva.rudra.129.9)

चिक्षेप तां समुद्दिश्य स बाणं शङ्करात्मजः । महाशब्दो बभूवाथ जज्वलुश्च दिशो नभः

cikṣepa tāṁ samuddiśya sa bāṇaṁ śaṅkarātmajaḥ mahāśabdo babhūvātha jajvaluśca diśo nabhaḥ

Shankara's son hurled it, aiming at Bana; a great roar arose, and the quarters and the sky blazed.

Verse 10 (shiva.rudra.129.10)

सबलं भस्मसात्कृत्वासुरं तं क्षणमात्रतः । गुहोपकण्ठं शक्तिः सा जगाम परमा मुने

sabalaṁ bhasmasātkṛtvāsuraṁ taṁ kṣaṇamātrataḥ guhopakaṇṭhaṁ śaktiḥ sā jagāma paramā mune

Reducing that demon, together with his army, to ashes in but a moment, that supreme spear returned to Guha's side, O sage.

Verse 11 (shiva.rudra.129.11)

ततः कुमारः प्रोवाच क्रौञ्चं गिरिवरं प्रभुः । निर्भयः स्वगृहं गच्छ नष्टः स सबलोऽसुरः

tataḥ kumāraḥ provāca krauñcaṁ girivaraṁ prabhuḥ nirbhayaḥ svagṛhaṁ gaccha naṣṭaḥ sa sabalo'suraḥ

Then that lord Kumara said to Krauncha, best of mountains: 'Go fearlessly to your own home; that demon, with his army, is destroyed.'

Verse 12 (shiva.rudra.129.12)

तच्छुत्वा स्वामिवचनं मुदितो गिरिराट् तदा । स्तुत्वा गुहं तदारातिं स्वधाम प्रत्यपद्यत

tacchutvā svāmivacanaṁ mudito girirāṭ tadā stutvā guhaṁ tadārātiṁ svadhāma pratyapadyata

Hearing his lord's words, the king of mountains, rejoicing, praised Guha, the enemy's destroyer, and returned to his own abode.

Verse 13 (shiva.rudra.129.13)

ततः स्कन्दो महेशस्य मुदा स्थापितवान्मुने । त्रीणि लिङ्गानि तत्रैव पापघ्नानि विधानतः

tataḥ skando maheśasya mudā sthāpitavānmune trīṇi liṅgāni tatraiva pāpaghnāni vidhānataḥ

Then, O sage, Skanda, with joy, established there three lingas of Mahesha, destroyers of sin, in due ritual order.

Verse 14 (shiva.rudra.129.14)

प्रतिज्ञेश्वरनामादौ कपालेश्वरमादरात् । कुमारेश्वरमेवाथ सर्वसिद्धिप्रदं त्रयम्

pratijñeśvaranāmādau kapāleśvaramādarāt kumāreśvaramevātha sarvasiddhipradaṁ trayam

First, called Pratijnesvara; then, with reverence, Kapaleshvara; and then Kumareshvara -- these three, granters of all accomplishment.

Verse 15 (shiva.rudra.129.15)

पुनःसर्वेश्वरस्तत्र जयस्तम्भसमीपतः । स्तम्भेश्वराभिधं लिङ्गं गुहः स्थापितवान्मुदा

punaḥsarveśvarastatra jayastambhasamīpataḥ stambheśvarābhidhaṁ liṅgaṁ guhaḥ sthāpitavānmudā

And again, near the pillar of victory, Guha joyfully established the linga of the Lord of All, called Stambheshvara.

Verse 16 (shiva.rudra.129.16)

ततः सर्वे सुरास्तत्र विष्णुप्रभृतयो मुदा । लिङ्गं स्थापितवन्तस्ते देवदेवस्य शूलिनः

tataḥ sarve surāstatra viṣṇuprabhṛtayo mudā liṅgaṁ sthāpitavantaste devadevasya śūlinaḥ

Then all the gods there, headed by Vishnu, joyfully established a linga of the trident-bearing God of gods.

Verse 17 (shiva.rudra.129.17)

सर्वेषां शिवलिङ्गानां महिमाभूत्तदाद्भुतः । सर्वकामप्रदश्चापि मुक्तिदो भक्तिकारिणाम्

sarveṣāṁ śivaliṅgānāṁ mahimābhūttadādbhutaḥ sarvakāmapradaścāpi muktido bhaktikāriṇām

Wondrous became the glory of all these Shiva-lingas -- granters of every desire, and bestowers of liberation upon those who worship them with devotion.

Verse 18 (shiva.rudra.129.18)

ततः सर्वे सुरा विष्णुप्रमुखाः प्रीतमानसाः । ऐच्छन्गिरिवरं गन्तुं पुरस्कृत्य गुहं मुदा

tataḥ sarve surā viṣṇupramukhāḥ prītamānasāḥ aicchangirivaraṁ gantuṁ puraskṛtya guhaṁ mudā

Then all the gods, headed by Vishnu, their hearts full of joy, wished to go to that best of mountains, placing Guha before them.

Verse 19 (shiva.rudra.129.19)

तस्मिन्नवसरे शेषपुत्रः कुमुदनामकः । आजगाम कुमारस्य शरणं दैत्यपीडितः

tasminnavasare śeṣaputraḥ kumudanāmakaḥ ājagāma kumārasya śaraṇaṁ daityapīḍitaḥ

At that time, Shesha's son, named Kumuda, afflicted by a demon, came seeking refuge with Kumara.

Verse 20 (shiva.rudra.129.20)

प्रलम्बाख्योऽसुरो यो हि रणादस्मात्पलायितः । स तत्रोपद्रवं चक्रे प्रबलस्तारकानुगः

pralambākhyo'suro yo hi raṇādasmātpalāyitaḥ sa tatropadravaṁ cakre prabalastārakānugaḥ

The demon named Pralamba, who had fled from this same battlefield, a powerful follower of Taraka, went and caused trouble there.

Verse 21 (shiva.rudra.129.21)

सोऽथ शेषस्य तनयः कुमुदोऽहिपतेर्महान् । कुमारशरणं प्राप्तस्तुष्टाव गिरिजात्मजम्

so'tha śeṣasya tanayaḥ kumudo'hipatermahān kumāraśaraṇaṁ prāptastuṣṭāva girijātmajam

Then that great one, Kumuda, son of Shesha, lord of serpents, having come to Kumara for refuge, praised the son of Girija.

Verse 22 (shiva.rudra.129.22)

कुमुद उवाच देवदेव महादेव वरतात महाप्रभो । पीडितोऽहं प्रलम्बेन त्वाऽहं शरणमागतः

kumuda uvāca devadeva mahādeva varatāta mahāprabho pīḍito'haṁ pralambena tvā'haṁ śaraṇamāgataḥ

Kumuda said: O God of gods, O Mahadeva, O best of fathers, O great lord -- I am tormented by Pralamba; I have come to you for refuge.

Verse 23 (shiva.rudra.129.23)

पाहि मां शरणापन्नं प्रलम्बासुरपीडितम् । कुमार स्कन्द देवेश तारकारे महाप्रभो

pāhi māṁ śaraṇāpannaṁ pralambāsurapīḍitam kumāra skanda deveśa tārakāre mahāprabho

Protect me, who have come for refuge, afflicted by the demon Pralamba -- O Kumara, O Skanda, Lord of gods, enemy of Taraka, great lord.

Verse 24 (shiva.rudra.129.24)

त्वं दीनबन्धुः करुणासिन्धुरानतवत्सलः । खलनिग्रहकर्ता हि शरण्यश्च सतां गतिः

tvaṁ dīnabandhuḥ karuṇāsindhurānatavatsalaḥ khalanigrahakartā hi śaraṇyaśca satāṁ gatiḥ

You are the friend of the wretched, the ocean of compassion, tender to those who bow before you, the restrainer of the wicked, the refuge and the very goal of the righteous.

Verse 25 (shiva.rudra.129.25)

कुमुदेनस्तुतश्चेत्थं विज्ञप्तस्तद्वधाय हि । स्वाश्च शक्तिं स जग्राह स्मृत्वा शिवपदाम्बुजौ

kumudenastutaścetthaṁ vijñaptastadvadhāya hi svāśca śaktiṁ sa jagrāha smṛtvā śivapadāmbujau

Thus praised and entreated by Kumuda for that demon's destruction, he took up his own spear, calling to mind the lotus feet of Shiva.

Verse 26 (shiva.rudra.129.26)

चिक्षेप तां समुद्दिश्य प्रलम्बं गिरिजासुतः । महाशब्दो बभूवाथ जज्वलुश्च दिशो नभः

cikṣepa tāṁ samuddiśya pralambaṁ girijāsutaḥ mahāśabdo babhūvātha jajvaluśca diśo nabhaḥ

Girija's son hurled it, aiming at Pralamba; a great roar arose, and the quarters and the sky blazed.

Verse 27 (shiva.rudra.129.27)

तं सायुतबलं शक्तिर्द्रुतं कृत्वा च भस्मसात् । गुहोपकण्ठं सहसाजगामाक्लिष्टकारिणी

taṁ sāyutabalaṁ śaktirdrutaṁ kṛtvā ca bhasmasāt guhopakaṇṭhaṁ sahasājagāmākliṣṭakāriṇī

Swiftly reducing him, with his army of ten thousand, to ashes, that spear -- which knows no fatigue in its work -- returned at once to Guha's side.

Verse 28 (shiva.rudra.129.28)

ततः कुमारः प्रोवाच कुमुदं नागबालकम् । निर्भयः स्वगृहं गच्छ नष्टः स सबलोऽसुरः

tataḥ kumāraḥ provāca kumudaṁ nāgabālakam nirbhayaḥ svagṛhaṁ gaccha naṣṭaḥ sa sabalo'suraḥ

Then Kumara said to Kumuda, child of the serpent-lord: 'Go fearlessly to your own home; that demon, with his army, is destroyed.'

Verse 29 (shiva.rudra.129.29)

तच्छुत्वा गुहवाक्यं स कुमुदोऽहिपतेः सुतः । स्तुत्वा कुमारं नत्वा च पातालं मुदितो ययौ

tacchutvā guhavākyaṁ sa kumudo'hipateḥ sutaḥ stutvā kumāraṁ natvā ca pātālaṁ mudito yayau

Hearing Guha's words, that Kumuda, son of the lord of serpents, praised Kumara, bowed to him, and joyfully went to the netherworld.

Verse 30 (shiva.rudra.129.30)

एवं कुमारविजयं वर्णितं ते मुनीश्वर । चरितं तारकवधं परमाश्चर्यकारकम्

evaṁ kumāravijayaṁ varṇitaṁ te munīśvara caritaṁ tārakavadhaṁ paramāścaryakārakam

Thus, O lord of sages, I have told you of Kumara's victory -- the tale of Taraka's slaying, a supremely wondrous deed.

Verse 31 (shiva.rudra.129.31)

सर्वपापहरं दिव्यं सर्वकामप्रदं नृणाम् । धन्यं यशस्यमायुष्यं भुक्तिमुक्तिप्रदं सताम्

sarvapāpaharaṁ divyaṁ sarvakāmapradaṁ nṛṇām dhanyaṁ yaśasyamāyuṣyaṁ bhuktimuktipradaṁ satām

It removes all sin, divine, granting to men every desire; it brings prosperity, fame, and long life, and grants to the virtuous both enjoyment and liberation.

Verse 32 (shiva.rudra.129.32)

ये कीर्तयन्ति सुयशोऽमितभाग्ययुता नराः । कुमारचरितं दिव्यं शिवलोकं प्रयान्ति ते

ye kīrtayanti suyaśo'mitabhāgyayutā narāḥ kumāracaritaṁ divyaṁ śivalokaṁ prayānti te

Those men, endowed with immeasurable fortune, who recite this glorious tale, this divine account of Kumara, attain to the world of Shiva.

Verse 33 (shiva.rudra.129.33)

श्रोष्यन्ति ये च तत्कीर्तिं भक्त्या श्रद्धान्विता जनाः । मुक्तिं प्राप्स्यन्ति ते दिव्यामिह भुक्त्वा परं सुखम्

śroṣyanti ye ca tatkīrtiṁ bhaktyā śraddhānvitā janāḥ muktiṁ prāpsyanti te divyāmiha bhuktvā paraṁ sukham

And those people, filled with faith and devotion, who hear that glory, having enjoyed the highest happiness in this world, shall attain divine liberation.