The Special Battle

Verse 1 (shiva.rudra.159.1)

सनत्कुमार उवाच । ते गणाधिपतीन्दृष्ट्वा नन्दीभमुखषण्मुखान् । अमर्षादभ्यधावन्त द्वन्द्वयुद्धाय दानवाः

sanatkumāra uvāca te gaṇādhipatīndṛṣṭvā nandībhamukhaṣaṇmukhān amarṣādabhyadhāvanta dvandvayuddhāya dānavāḥ

Sanatkumara said: "Seeing those lords of the ganas — Nandi, the elephant-faced one, and the six-faced one — the danavas, in indignation, rushed forward for single combat."

Verse 2 (shiva.rudra.159.2)

नन्दिनं कालनेमिश्च शुम्भो लम्बोदरं तथा । निशुम्भः षण्मुखं देवमभ्यधावत शङ्कितः

nandinaṁ kālanemiśca śumbho lambodaraṁ tathā niśumbhaḥ ṣaṇmukhaṁ devamabhyadhāvata śaṅkitaḥ

Kalanemi rushed at Nandi, Shumbha likewise at Lambodara, and Nishumbha, apprehensive, rushed at the six-faced god.

Verse 3 (shiva.rudra.159.3)

निशुम्भः कार्तिकेयस्य मयूरं पञ्चभिः शरैः । हृदि विव्याध वेगेन मूर्छितः स पपात ह

niśumbhaḥ kārtikeyasya mayūraṁ pañcabhiḥ śaraiḥ hṛdi vivyādha vegena mūrchitaḥ sa papāta ha

Nishumbha, with five arrows, swiftly pierced the heart of Kartikeya's peacock; it fainted and fell.

Verse 4 (shiva.rudra.159.4)

ततः शक्तिधरः क्रुद्धो बाणैः पञ्चभिरेव च । विव्याध स्यन्दने तस्य हयान्यन्तारमेव च

tataḥ śaktidharaḥ kruddho bāṇaiḥ pañcabhireva ca vivyādha syandane tasya hayānyantārameva ca

Then the wielder of the shakti, enraged, with five more arrows, pierced the horses of his chariot, and the charioteer too.

Verse 5 (shiva.rudra.159.5)

शरेणान्येन तीक्ष्णेन निशुम्भं देववैरिणम् । जघान तरसा वीरो जगर्ज रणदुर्मदः

śareṇānyena tīkṣṇena niśumbhaṁ devavairiṇam jaghāna tarasā vīro jagarja raṇadurmadaḥ

With yet another sharp arrow, that hero, furious in battle, swiftly struck Nishumbha, the enemy of the gods, and roared.

Verse 6 (shiva.rudra.159.6)

असुरोऽपि निशुम्भाख्यो महावीरोऽतिवीर्यवान् । जघान कार्तिकेयं तं गर्जन्तं स्वेषुणा रणे

asuro'pi niśumbhākhyo mahāvīro'tivīryavān jaghāna kārtikeyaṁ taṁ garjantaṁ sveṣuṇā raṇe

The asura named Nishumbha too, a great hero of surpassing might, struck that roaring Kartikeya with his own arrow in battle.

Verse 7 (shiva.rudra.159.7)

ततः शक्तिं कार्तिकेयो यावज्जग्राह रोषतः । तावन्निशुम्भो वेगेन स्वशक्त्या तमपातयत्

tataḥ śaktiṁ kārtikeyo yāvajjagrāha roṣataḥ tāvanniśumbho vegena svaśaktyā tamapātayat

Then, just as Kartikeya, in fury, took hold of his shakti, Nishumbha, with speed, felled him with his own shakti.

Verse 8 (shiva.rudra.159.8)

एवं बभूव तत्रैव कार्तिकेयनिशुम्भयोः । आहवो हि महान्व्यास वीरशब्दं प्रगर्जतोः

evaṁ babhūva tatraiva kārtikeyaniśumbhayoḥ āhavo hi mahānvyāsa vīraśabdaṁ pragarjatoḥ

Thus, O Vyasa, right there a great battle raged between Kartikeya and Nishumbha, both roaring their heroic war-cries.

Verse 9 (shiva.rudra.159.9)

ततो नन्दीश्वरो बाणैः कालनेमिमविध्यत । सप्तभिश्च हयान्केतुं रथं सारथिमाच्छिनत्

tato nandīśvaro bāṇaiḥ kālanemimavidhyata saptabhiśca hayānketuṁ rathaṁ sārathimācchinat

Then Nandishvara pierced Kalanemi with arrows, and with seven more cut down his horses, banner, chariot, and charioteer.

Verse 10 (shiva.rudra.159.10)

कालनेमिश्च सङ्क्रुद्धो धनुश्चिच्छेद नन्दिनः । स्वशरासननिर्मुक्तैर्महातीक्ष्णैः शिलीमुखैः

kālanemiśca saṅkruddho dhanuściccheda nandinaḥ svaśarāsananirmuktairmahātīkṣṇaiḥ śilīmukhaiḥ

Kalanemi, greatly enraged, with exceedingly sharp arrows loosed from his own bow, cut Nandi's bow.

Verse 11 (shiva.rudra.159.11)

अथ नन्दीश्वरो वीरः कालनेमिं महासुरम् । तमपास्य च शूलेन वक्षस्यभ्यहनद् दृढम्

atha nandīśvaro vīraḥ kālanemiṁ mahāsuram tamapāsya ca śūlena vakṣasyabhyahanad dṛḍham

Then the hero Nandishvara, casting that bow aside, struck the great asura Kalanemi hard in the chest with his trident.

Verse 12 (shiva.rudra.159.12)

स शूलभिन्नहृदयो हताश्वो हतसारथिः । अद्रेः शिखरमुत्पाट्य नन्दिनं समताडयत्

sa śūlabhinnahṛdayo hatāśvo hatasārathiḥ adreḥ śikharamutpāṭya nandinaṁ samatāḍayat

He, his heart pierced by the trident, his horses and charioteer slain, tore up a mountain peak and struck Nandi with it.

Verse 13 (shiva.rudra.159.13)

अथ शुम्भो गणेशश्च रथमूषक वाहनौ । युध्यमानौ शरव्रातैः परस्परमविध्यताम्

atha śumbho gaṇeśaśca rathamūṣaka vāhanau yudhyamānau śaravrātaiḥ parasparamavidhyatām

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

Verse 14 (shiva.rudra.159.14)

गणेशस्तु तदा शुम्भं हृदि विव्याध पत्रिणा । सारथिं च त्रिभिर्बाणैः पातयामास भूतले

gaṇeśastu tadā śumbhaṁ hṛdi vivyādha patriṇā sārathiṁ ca tribhirbāṇaiḥ pātayāmāsa bhūtale

Ganesha then pierced Shumbha in the heart with a feathered arrow, and with three arrows felled his charioteer to the ground.

Verse 15 (shiva.rudra.159.15)

ततोऽतिक्रुद्धः शुम्भोऽपि बाणवृष्ट्या गणाधिपम् । मूषकं च त्रिभिर्विध्वा ननाद जलदस्वनः

tato'tikruddhaḥ śumbho'pi bāṇavṛṣṭyā gaṇādhipam mūṣakaṁ ca tribhirvidhvā nanāda jaladasvanaḥ

Then Shumbha too, exceedingly enraged, with a shower of arrows, pierced the lord of ganas and his mouse-mount with three arrows, and roared with a sound like thunderclouds.

Verse 16 (shiva.rudra.159.16)

मूषकः शरभिन्नाङ्गश्चचाल दृढवेदनः । लम्बोदरश्च पतितः पदातिरभवत्स हि

mūṣakaḥ śarabhinnāṅgaścacāla dṛḍhavedanaḥ lambodaraśca patitaḥ padātirabhavatsa hi

The mouse, its body pierced by arrows, in severe pain, staggered; and Lambodara, thrown down, became a foot-soldier.

Verse 17 (shiva.rudra.159.17)

ततो लम्बोदरः शुम्भं हत्वा परशुना हृदि । अपातयत्तदा भूमौ मूषकं चारुरोह सः

tato lambodaraḥ śumbhaṁ hatvā paraśunā hṛdi apātayattadā bhūmau mūṣakaṁ cāruroha saḥ

Then Lambodara, striking Shumbha in the heart with his axe, felled him to the ground, and then mounted his mouse again.

Verse 18 (shiva.rudra.159.18)

समरायोद्यतश्चाभूत्पुनर्गजमुखो विभुः । प्रहस्य जघ्नतुः क्रोधात्तोत्रेणैव महाद्विपम्

samarāyodyataścābhūtpunargajamukho vibhuḥ prahasya jaghnatuḥ krodhāttotreṇaiva mahādvipam

Then the mighty elephant-faced lord rose again, ready for battle; smiling, the two of them, in wrath, struck that 'great elephant' with nothing more than a goad.

Verse 19 (shiva.rudra.159.19)

कालनेमिर्निशुम्भश्च ह्युभौ लम्बोदरं शरैः । युगपच्चख्नतुः क्रोधादाशीविषसमैर्द्रुतम्

kālanemirniśumbhaśca hyubhau lambodaraṁ śaraiḥ yugapaccakhnatuḥ krodhādāśīviṣasamairdrutam

Kalanemi and Nishumbha, both together, in wrath, at once swiftly struck Lambodara with arrows like venomous serpents.

Verse 20 (shiva.rudra.159.20)

तं पीड्यमानमालोक्य वीरभद्रो महाबलः । अभ्यधावत वेगेन कोटिभूतयुतस्तथा

taṁ pīḍyamānamālokya vīrabhadro mahābalaḥ abhyadhāvata vegena koṭibhūtayutastathā

Seeing him thus afflicted, mighty Virabhadra rushed forward with speed, accompanied by ten million bhutas.

Verse 21 (shiva.rudra.159.21)

कूष्माण्डा भैरवाश्चापि वेताला योगिनीगणाः । पिशाचा डाकिनी सङ्घा गणाश्चापि समं ययुः

kūṣmāṇḍā bhairavāścāpi vetālā yoginīgaṇāḥ piśācā ḍākinī saṅghā gaṇāścāpi samaṁ yayuḥ

Kushmandas, Bhairavas, Vetalas, hosts of Yoginis, Pishachas, and troops of Dakinis, and the ganas too, went along together.

Verse 22 (shiva.rudra.159.22)

ततः किलकिला शब्दैः सिंहनादैः सघर्घरैः । विनादिता डमरुकैः पृथिवी समकम्पत

tataḥ kilakilā śabdaiḥ siṁhanādaiḥ saghargharaiḥ vināditā ḍamarukaiḥ pṛthivī samakampata

Then, resounding with shrill cries, lion-roars, gurgling sounds, and the beat of damarus, the earth trembled.

Verse 23 (shiva.rudra.159.23)

ततो भूताः प्रधावन्तो भक्षयन्ति स्म दानवान् । उत्पत्य पातयन्ति स्म ननृतुश्च रणाङ्गणे

tato bhūtāḥ pradhāvanto bhakṣayanti sma dānavān utpatya pātayanti sma nanṛtuśca raṇāṅgaṇe

Then the bhutas, rushing about, devoured the danavas; leaping upon them, they threw them down, and danced upon the field of battle.

Verse 24 (shiva.rudra.159.24)

एतस्मिन्नन्तरे व्यासाभूतां नन्दी गुहश्च तौ । उत्थितावाप्तसंज्ञौ हि जगर्जतुरलं रणे

etasminnantare vyāsābhūtāṁ nandī guhaśca tau utthitāvāptasaṁjñau hi jagarjaturalaṁ raṇe

Meanwhile, O Vyasa, Nandi and Guha, having recovered their senses, both rose up and roared mightily in battle.

Verse 25 (shiva.rudra.159.25)

स नन्दी कार्तिकेयश्च समायातौ त्वरान्वितौ । जघ्नतुश्च रणे दैत्यान्निरन्तरशरव्रजैः

sa nandī kārtikeyaśca samāyātau tvarānvitau jaghnatuśca raṇe daityānnirantaraśaravrajaiḥ

That Nandi and Kartikeya, coming together in haste, struck down the daityas in battle with unceasing volleys of arrows.

Verse 26 (shiva.rudra.159.26)

छिन्नैर्भिन्नैर्हतैर्दैत्यैः पातितैर्भक्षितैस्तथा । व्याकुला साभवत्सेना विषण्णवदना तदा

chinnairbhinnairhatairdaityaiḥ pātitairbhakṣitaistathā vyākulā sābhavatsenā viṣaṇṇavadanā tadā

With daityas cut down, pierced, slain, felled, and devoured, that army became distraught, its faces downcast.

Verse 27 (shiva.rudra.159.27)

एवं नन्दी कार्तिकेयो विकटश्च प्रतापवान् । वीरभद्रो गणाश्चान्ये जगर्जुःसमरेऽधिकम्

evaṁ nandī kārtikeyo vikaṭaśca pratāpavān vīrabhadro gaṇāścānye jagarjuḥsamare'dhikam

Thus Nandi, Kartikeya, the fearsome and mighty one, Virabhadra, and the other ganas roared all the more in battle.

Verse 28 (shiva.rudra.159.28)

निशुम्भशुम्भौ सेनान्यौ सिन्धुपुत्रस्य तौ तथा । कालनेमिर्महादैत्योऽसुराश्चान्ये पराजिताः

niśumbhaśumbhau senānyau sindhuputrasya tau tathā kālanemirmahādaityo'surāścānye parājitāḥ

Nishumbha and Shumbha, the two generals of the son of the ocean, and the great daitya Kalanemi, and the other asuras, were defeated.

Verse 29 (shiva.rudra.159.29)

प्रविध्वस्तां ततस्सेनां दृष्ट्वा सागरनन्दनः । रथेनातिपताकेन गणानभिययौ बली

pravidhvastāṁ tatassenāṁ dṛṣṭvā sāgaranandanaḥ rathenātipatākena gaṇānabhiyayau balī

Seeing his army thus utterly routed, the mighty son of the ocean advanced against the ganas in his chariot flying its lofty banner.

Verse 30 (shiva.rudra.159.30)

ततः पराजिता दैत्या अप्यभूवन्महोत्सवाः । जगर्जुरधिकं व्यास समरायोद्यतास्तदा

tataḥ parājitā daityā apyabhūvanmahotsavāḥ jagarjuradhikaṁ vyāsa samarāyodyatāstadā

Then the daityas, though defeated, became jubilant once more; O Vyasa, ready again for battle, they roared all the louder.

Verse 31 (shiva.rudra.159.31)

सर्वे रुद्रगणाश्चापि जगर्जुर्जयशालिनः । नन्दिकार्तिकदन्त्यास्यवीरभद्रादिका मुने

sarve rudragaṇāścāpi jagarjurjayaśālinaḥ nandikārtikadantyāsyavīrabhadrādikā mune

O sage, all the ganas of Rudra too, glorious in victory — Nandi, Kartikeya, the elephant-faced one, Virabhadra, and the rest — roared in return.

Verse 32 (shiva.rudra.159.32)

हस्त्यश्वरथसंह्रादः शङ्खभेरीरवस्तथा । अभवत्सिंहनादश्च सेनयोरुभयोस्तथा

hastyaśvarathasaṁhrādaḥ śaṅkhabherīravastathā abhavatsiṁhanādaśca senayorubhayostathā

The tumult of elephants, horses, and chariots, the sound of conches and drums, and the lion-roars — all arose from both armies alike.

Verse 33 (shiva.rudra.159.33)

जलन्धरशरव्रातैर्नीहारपटलैरिव । द्यावापृथिव्योराच्छन्नमन्तरं समपद्यत

jalandharaśaravrātairnīhārapaṭalairiva dyāvāpṛthivyorācchannamantaraṁ samapadyata

With floods of arrows from Jalandhara, the space between heaven and earth became covered over, as if by banks of mist.

Verse 34 (shiva.rudra.159.34)

शैलादिं पञ्चभिर्विध्वा गणेशं पञ्चभिश्शरैः । वीरभद्रं च विंशत्या ननाद जलदस्वनः

śailādiṁ pañcabhirvidhvā gaṇeśaṁ pañcabhiśśaraiḥ vīrabhadraṁ ca viṁśatyā nanāda jaladasvanaḥ

Piercing Shailadi with five arrows, Ganesha with five arrows, and Virabhadra with twenty, he roared with a sound like thunderclouds.

Verse 35 (shiva.rudra.159.35)

कार्तिकेयस्ततो दैत्यं शक्त्या विव्याध सत्वरम् । जलन्धरं महावीरो रुद्रपुत्रो ननाद च

kārtikeyastato daityaṁ śaktyā vivyādha satvaram jalandharaṁ mahāvīro rudraputro nanāda ca

Then Kartikeya, that great hero, the son of Rudra, swiftly pierced the daitya Jalandhara with his shakti, and roared.

Verse 36 (shiva.rudra.159.36)

स घूर्णनयनो दैत्यः शक्तिनिर्भिन्नदेहकः । पपात भूमौ त्वरितमुदतिष्ठन्महाबलः

sa ghūrṇanayano daityaḥ śaktinirbhinnadehakaḥ papāta bhūmau tvaritamudatiṣṭhanmahābalaḥ

That daitya, his eyes reeling, his body pierced through by the shakti, fell swiftly to the ground — but that mighty one rose up again at once.

Verse 37 (shiva.rudra.159.37)

ततः क्रोधपरीतात्मा कार्तिकेयं जलन्धरः । गदया ताडयामास हृदये दैत्यपुङ्गवः

tataḥ krodhaparītātmā kārtikeyaṁ jalandharaḥ gadayā tāḍayāmāsa hṛdaye daityapuṅgavaḥ

Then Jalandhara, that bull among daityas, his mind overcome with rage, struck Kartikeya in the heart with his mace.

Verse 38 (shiva.rudra.159.38)

गदाप्रभावं सफलं दर्शयन् शङ्करात्मजः । विधिदत्तवराद् व्यास स तूर्णं भूतलेऽपतत्

gadāprabhāvaṁ saphalaṁ darśayan śaṅkarātmajaḥ vidhidattavarād vyāsa sa tūrṇaṁ bhūtale'patat

O Vyasa, the son of Shankara, thereby showing the mace's power to be fruitful — owing to the boon Brahma had granted Jalandhara — swiftly fell to the ground.

Verse 39 (shiva.rudra.159.39)

तथैव नन्दी ह्यपतद्भूतले गदया हतः । महावीरोऽपि रिपुहा किञ्चिद्व्याकुलमानसः

tathaiva nandī hyapatadbhūtale gadayā hataḥ mahāvīro'pi ripuhā kiñcidvyākulamānasaḥ

Likewise Nandi too, struck by the mace, fell to the ground; that great hero, slayer of enemies, his mind somewhat troubled.

Verse 40 (shiva.rudra.159.40)

ततो गणेश्वरः क्रुद्धः स्मृत्वा शिवपदाम्बुजम् । सम्प्राप्यातिबलो दैत्यगदां परशुनाच्छिनत्

tato gaṇeśvaraḥ kruddhaḥ smṛtvā śivapadāmbujam samprāpyātibalo daityagadāṁ paraśunācchinat

Then the lord of ganas, enraged, calling to mind Shiva's lotus feet, coming close in his great strength, cut the daitya's mace with his axe.

Verse 41 (shiva.rudra.159.41)

वीरभद्रस्त्रिभिर्बाणैर्हृदि विव्याध दानवम् । सप्तभिश्च हयान्केतुं धनुश्छत्रं च चिच्छिदे

vīrabhadrastribhirbāṇairhṛdi vivyādha dānavam saptabhiśca hayānketuṁ dhanuśchatraṁ ca cicchide

Virabhadra pierced the danava's heart with three arrows, and with seven more cut down his horses, banner, bow, and parasol.

Verse 42 (shiva.rudra.159.42)

ततोऽतिक्रुद्धो दैत्येन्द्रः शक्तिमुद्यम्य दारुणाम् । गणेशं पातयामास रथमन्यं समारुहत्

tato'tikruddho daityendraḥ śaktimudyamya dāruṇām gaṇeśaṁ pātayāmāsa rathamanyaṁ samāruhat

Then the exceedingly enraged lord of daityas, raising a terrible shakti, felled Ganesha, and mounted another chariot.

Verse 43 (shiva.rudra.159.43)

अभ्यगादथ वेगेन स दैत्येन्द्रो महाबलः । विगणय्य हृदा तं वै वीरभद्रं रुषान्वितः

abhyagādatha vegena sa daityendro mahābalaḥ vigaṇayya hṛdā taṁ vai vīrabhadraṁ ruṣānvitaḥ

Then that mighty lord of daityas advanced with speed, and, filled with fury, disregarding him in his heart, went against Virabhadra.

Verse 44 (shiva.rudra.159.44)

वीरभद्रं जघानाशु तीक्ष्णेनाशीविषेण तम् । ननाद च महावीरो दैत्यराजो जलन्धरः

vīrabhadraṁ jaghānāśu tīkṣṇenāśīviṣeṇa tam nanāda ca mahāvīro daityarājo jalandharaḥ

He swiftly struck Virabhadra with a sharp, serpent-venomous arrow; and that great hero, the daitya king Jalandhara, roared.

Verse 45 (shiva.rudra.159.45)

वीरभद्रोऽपि सङ्क्रुद्धस्सितधारेण चेषुणा । चिच्छेद तच्छरं चैव तं विव्याध महेषुणा

vīrabhadro'pi saṅkruddhassitadhāreṇa ceṣuṇā ciccheda taccharaṁ caiva taṁ vivyādha maheṣuṇā

Virabhadra too, greatly enraged, with a white-edged arrow, cut down that shaft, and pierced him with a great arrow.

Verse 46 (shiva.rudra.159.46)

ततस्तौ सूर्यसङ्काशौ युयुधाते परस्परम् । नानाशस्त्रैस्तथास्त्रैश्च चिरं वीरवरोत्तमौ

tatastau sūryasaṅkāśau yuyudhāte parasparam nānāśastraistathāstraiśca ciraṁ vīravarottamau

Then those two, radiant as the sun, best of the best among heroes, fought each other for a long time with various weapons and missiles.

Verse 47 (shiva.rudra.159.47)

वीरभद्रस्ततस्तस्य हयान्बाणैरपातयत् । धनुश्चिच्छेद रथिनः पताकां चापि वेगतः

vīrabhadrastatastasya hayānbāṇairapātayat dhanuściccheda rathinaḥ patākāṁ cāpi vegataḥ

Then Virabhadra felled his horses with arrows, and swiftly cut down his bow and banner as well.

Verse 48 (shiva.rudra.159.48)

अथो स दैत्यराजो हि पुप्लुवे परिघायुधः । वीरभद्रोपकण्ठं स द्रुतमाप महाबलः

atho sa daityarājo hi pupluve parighāyudhaḥ vīrabhadropakaṇṭhaṁ sa drutamāpa mahābalaḥ

Then that king of daityas, armed with an iron mace, leapt down; that mighty one swiftly came near to Virabhadra.

Verse 49 (shiva.rudra.159.49)

परिघेनातिमहता वीरभद्रं जघान ह । महाबलोऽब्धितनयो मूर्ध्नि वीरो जगर्ज च

parighenātimahatā vīrabhadraṁ jaghāna ha mahābalo'bdhitanayo mūrdhni vīro jagarja ca

With his exceedingly massive iron mace he struck Virabhadra on the head; that mighty son of the ocean, that hero, roared.

Verse 50 (shiva.rudra.159.50)

परिघेनातिमहता भिन्नमूर्द्धा गणाधिपः । वीरभद्रः पपातोर्व्यां मुमोच रुधिरं बहु

parighenātimahatā bhinnamūrddhā gaṇādhipaḥ vīrabhadraḥ papātorvyāṁ mumoca rudhiraṁ bahu

His head split open by that exceedingly massive iron mace, the lord of ganas, Virabhadra, fell to the earth, shedding much blood.

Verse 51 (shiva.rudra.159.51)

पतितं वीरभद्रं तु दृष्ट्वा रुद्रगणा भयात् । अपागच्छन् रणं हित्वा क्रोशमाना महेश्वरम्

patitaṁ vīrabhadraṁ tu dṛṣṭvā rudragaṇā bhayāt apāgacchan raṇaṁ hitvā krośamānā maheśvaram

Seeing Virabhadra fallen, the ganas of Rudra, out of fear, left the battlefield, crying out for Maheshvara.

Verse 52 (shiva.rudra.159.52)

अथ कोलाहलं श्रुत्वा गणानां चन्द्रशेखरः । निजपार्श्वस्थितान् वीरानपृच्छद् गणसत्तमान्

atha kolāhalaṁ śrutvā gaṇānāṁ candraśekharaḥ nijapārśvasthitān vīrānapṛcchad gaṇasattamān

Then, hearing the uproar of the ganas, Chandrashekhara asked the excellent heroes among the ganas standing at his own side.

Verse 53 (shiva.rudra.159.53)

शङ्कर उवाच । किमर्थं मद्गणानां हि महाकोलाहलोऽभवत् । विचार्यतां महावीराः शान्तिः कार्या मया ध्रुवम्

śaṅkara uvāca kimarthaṁ madgaṇānāṁ hi mahākolāhalo'bhavat vicāryatāṁ mahāvīrāḥ śāntiḥ kāryā mayā dhruvam

Shankara said: "For what reason has this great uproar arisen among my ganas? Consider it, great heroes; surely I must set it right."

Verse 54 (shiva.rudra.159.54)

इति यावत्स देवेशो गणान्पप्रच्छ सादरम् । तावद्गणवरास्ते हि समायाताः प्रभुं प्रति

iti yāvatsa deveśo gaṇānpapraccha sādaram tāvadgaṇavarāste hi samāyātāḥ prabhuṁ prati

Just as the lord of gods was respectfully questioning the ganas thus, those foremost ganas arrived before the Lord.

Verse 55 (shiva.rudra.159.55)

तान्दृष्ट्वा विकलान् रुद्रः पप्रच्छ कुशलं प्रभुः । यथावत्ते गणा वृत्तं समाचख्युश्च विस्तरात्

tāndṛṣṭvā vikalān rudraḥ papraccha kuśalaṁ prabhuḥ yathāvatte gaṇā vṛttaṁ samācakhyuśca vistarāt

Seeing them in distress, Lord Rudra asked after their welfare; and the ganas duly related to him all that had happened, in full detail.

Verse 56 (shiva.rudra.159.56)

तच्छ्रुत्वा भगवान् रुद्रो महालीलाकरः प्रभुः । अभयं दत्तवांस्तेभ्यो महोत्साहं प्रवर्द्धयन्

tacchrutvā bhagavān rudro mahālīlākaraḥ prabhuḥ abhayaṁ dattavāṁstebhyo mahotsāhaṁ pravarddhayan

Hearing this, the illustrious Lord Rudra, of great and playful deeds, granted them fearlessness, kindling their courage anew.