The Clash of Armies

Verse 1 (shiva.rudra.174.1)

सनत्कुमार उवाच । स दूतस्तत्र गत्वा च शिववाक्यं जगाद ह । सविस्तरं यथार्थं च निश्चयं तस्य तत्त्वतः

sanatkumāra uvāca sa dūtastatra gatvā ca śivavākyaṁ jagāda ha savistaraṁ yathārthaṁ ca niścayaṁ tasya tattvataḥ

Sanatkumara said: "That messenger, having gone there, related Shiva's words in full and exact detail, together with his firm resolve."

Verse 2 (shiva.rudra.174.2)

तच्छुत्वा शङ्खचूडोऽसौ दानवेन्द्रः प्रतापवान् । अङ्गीचकार सुप्रीत्या रणमेव स दानवः

tacchutvā śaṅkhacūḍo'sau dānavendraḥ pratāpavān aṅgīcakāra suprītyā raṇameva sa dānavaḥ

Hearing this, the mighty lord of the danavas, Shankhachuda, gladly accepted nothing but war.

Verse 3 (shiva.rudra.174.3)

समारुरोह यानं च सहामात्यैश्च सत्वरः । आदिदेश स्वसैन्यं च युद्धार्थं शङ्करेण च

samāruroha yānaṁ ca sahāmātyaiśca satvaraḥ ādideśa svasainyaṁ ca yuddhārthaṁ śaṅkareṇa ca

He swiftly mounted his chariot together with his ministers, and commanded his own army to make war upon Shankara.

Verse 4 (shiva.rudra.174.4)

शिवः स्वसैन्यं देवांश्च प्रेरयामास सत्वरः । स्वयमप्यखिलेशोऽपि सन्नद्धोऽभूच्च लीलया

śivaḥ svasainyaṁ devāṁśca prerayāmāsa satvaraḥ svayamapyakhileśo'pi sannaddho'bhūcca līlayā

Shiva too swiftly urged forward his own army and the gods; and he himself, though the Lord of all, made himself ready for battle as if in play.

Verse 5 (shiva.rudra.174.5)

युद्धारम्भो बभूवाशु नेदुर्वाद्यानि भूरिशः । कोलाहलश्च सञ्जातो वीरशब्दस्तथैव च

yuddhārambho babhūvāśu nedurvādyāni bhūriśaḥ kolāhalaśca sañjāto vīraśabdastathaiva ca

The battle began at once; countless instruments sounded forth, a great tumult arose, and with it the war-cries of the heroes.

Verse 6 (shiva.rudra.174.6)

देवदानवयोर्युद्धं परस्परमभून्मुने । धर्मतो युयुधे तत्र देवदानवयोर्गणः

devadānavayoryuddhaṁ parasparamabhūnmune dharmato yuyudhe tatra devadānavayorgaṇaḥ

Then, O sage, a battle broke out between the gods and the danavas; there the hosts of gods and danavas fought each other in due order.

Verse 7 (shiva.rudra.174.7)

स्वयं महेन्द्रो युयुधे सार्धं च वृषपर्वणा । भास्करो युयुधे विप्रचित्तिना सह धर्मतः

svayaṁ mahendro yuyudhe sārdhaṁ ca vṛṣaparvaṇā bhāskaro yuyudhe vipracittinā saha dharmataḥ

Mahendra himself fought against Vrishaparvan; Bhaskara duly fought against Vipracitti.

Verse 8 (shiva.rudra.174.8)

दम्भेन सह विष्णुश्च चकार परमं रणम् । कालासुरेण कालश्च गोकर्णेन हुताशनः

dambhena saha viṣṇuśca cakāra paramaṁ raṇam kālāsureṇa kālaśca gokarṇena hutāśanaḥ

Vishnu waged a fierce battle against Dambha; Kala fought against the asura Kala, and Fire against Gokarna.

Verse 9 (shiva.rudra.174.9)

कुबेरः कालकेयेन विश्वकर्मा मयेन च । भयङ्करेण मृत्युश्च संहारेण यमस्तथा

kuberaḥ kālakeyena viśvakarmā mayena ca bhayaṅkareṇa mṛtyuśca saṁhāreṇa yamastathā

Kubera fought against Kalakeya, Vishvakarma against Maya; Death against Bhayankara, and Yama likewise against Samhara.

Verse 10 (shiva.rudra.174.10)

कालम्बिकेन वरुणश्चञ्चलेन समीरणः । बुधश्च घटपृष्ठेन रक्ताक्षेण शनैश्चरः

kālambikena varuṇaścañcalena samīraṇaḥ budhaśca ghaṭapṛṣṭhena raktākṣeṇa śanaiścaraḥ

Varuna fought against Kalambika, Vayu against Chanchala; Budha against Ghatapristha, and Shanaishchara against Raktaksha.

Verse 11 (shiva.rudra.174.11)

जयन्तो रत्नसारेण वसवो वर्चसां गणैः । अश्विनौ दीप्तिमद्भ्यां च धूम्रेण नलकूबरः

jayanto ratnasāreṇa vasavo varcasāṁ gaṇaiḥ aśvinau dīptimadbhyāṁ ca dhūmreṇa nalakūbaraḥ

Jayanta fought against Ratnasara, the Vasus against the hosts of Varchas; the two Ashvins against the two Diptimats, and Nalakubara against Dhumra.

Verse 12 (shiva.rudra.174.12)

धुरन्धरेण धर्मश्च गणकाक्षेण मङ्गलः । शोभाकरेण वैश्वानः पिपिटेन च मन्मथः

dhurandhareṇa dharmaśca gaṇakākṣeṇa maṅgalaḥ śobhākareṇa vaiśvānaḥ pipiṭena ca manmathaḥ

Dharma fought against Dhurandhara, Mangala against Ganakaksha; Vaishvana against Shobhakara, and Manmatha against Pipita.

Verse 13 (shiva.rudra.174.13)

गोकामुखेन चूर्णेन खड्गनाम्नासुरेण च । धूम्रेण संहलेनापि विश्वेन च प्रतापिना

gokāmukhena cūrṇena khaḍganāmnāsureṇa ca dhūmreṇa saṁhalenāpi viśvena ca pratāpinā

Other warriors likewise engaged Gokamukha, Churna, the asura named Khadga, Dhumra, Sahala, and the mighty Vishva.

Verse 14 (shiva.rudra.174.14)

द्वादशार्का पलाशेन युयुधुर्धर्मतः परे । असुरैरमराः सार्द्धं शिवसाहाय्यशालिनः

dvādaśārkā palāśena yuyudhurdharmataḥ pare asurairamarāḥ sārddhaṁ śivasāhāyyaśālinaḥ

The twelve Adityas fought against Palasha in due order; and the other gods, allies aiding Shiva, fought against the remaining asuras.

Verse 15 (shiva.rudra.174.15)

एकादश महारुद्राश्चैकादशभयङ्करैः । असुरैर्युयुधुर्वीरैर्महाबलपराक्रमैः

ekādaśa mahārudrāścaikādaśabhayaṅkaraiḥ asurairyuyudhurvīrairmahābalaparākramaiḥ

The eleven great Rudras likewise fought against eleven fearsome asuras, heroes of mighty strength and valor.

Verse 16 (shiva.rudra.174.16)

महामणिश्च युयुधे चोग्रचण्डादिभिः सह । राहुणा सह चन्द्रश्च जीवः शुक्रेण धर्मतः

mahāmaṇiśca yuyudhe cogracaṇḍādibhiḥ saha rāhuṇā saha candraśca jīvaḥ śukreṇa dharmataḥ

Mahamani fought against Ugrachanda and his companions; the Moon against Rahu, and Jupiter duly against Venus.

Verse 17 (shiva.rudra.174.17)

नन्दीश्वरादयः सर्वे दानवप्रवरैः सह । युयुधुश्च महायुद्धे नोक्ता विस्तरतः पृथक्

nandīśvarādayaḥ sarve dānavapravaraiḥ saha yuyudhuśca mahāyuddhe noktā vistarataḥ pṛthak

Nandishvara and all the rest likewise fought in that great battle against the foremost of the danavas — too numerous to be named separately, one by one.

Verse 18 (shiva.rudra.174.18)

वटमूले तदा शम्भुस्तस्थौ काल्याः सुतेन च । सर्वे च युयुधुः सैन्यसमूहाः सततं मुने

vaṭamūle tadā śambhustasthau kālyāḥ sutena ca sarve ca yuyudhuḥ sainyasamūhāḥ satataṁ mune

At that time Shambhu remained beneath the banyan tree, together with Kali's son; and, O sage, all the hosts of the two armies fought on without ceasing.

Verse 19 (shiva.rudra.174.19)

रत्नसिंहासने रम्ये कोटिदानवसंयुते । उवास शङ्खचूडश्च रत्नभूषणभूषितः

ratnasiṁhāsane ramye koṭidānavasaṁyute uvāsa śaṅkhacūḍaśca ratnabhūṣaṇabhūṣitaḥ

And Shankhachuda, adorned with jeweled ornaments, sat upon a lovely jeweled throne, surrounded by a crore of danavas.

Verse 20 (shiva.rudra.174.20)

महायुद्धो बभूवाथ देवासुरविमर्दनः । नानायुधानि दिव्यानि चलन्ति स्म महामृधे

mahāyuddho babhūvātha devāsuravimardanaḥ nānāyudhāni divyāni calanti sma mahāmṛdhe

Then a great battle broke out, a crushing clash between gods and asuras; many divine weapons flew about in that mighty conflict.

Verse 21 (shiva.rudra.174.21)

गदर्ष्टिपट्टिशाश्चक्रभुशुण्डिप्रासमुद्गराः । निस्त्रिंशभल्लपरिघाः शक्त्युन्मुखपरश्वधाः

gadarṣṭipaṭṭiśāścakrabhuśuṇḍiprāsamudgarāḥ nistriṁśabhallaparighāḥ śaktyunmukhaparaśvadhāḥ

Maces, spears, battle-axes, discuses, bhushundis, lances, and hammers; swords, javelins, iron clubs, uplifted spears, and axes —

Verse 22 (shiva.rudra.174.22)

शरतोमरखड्गाश्च शतघ्न्यश्च सहस्रशः । भिन्दिपालादयश्चान्ये वीरहस्तेषु शोभिताः

śaratomarakhaḍgāśca śataghnyaśca sahasraśaḥ bhindipālādayaścānye vīrahasteṣu śobhitāḥ

— arrows, tomaras, swords, and shataghnis by the thousand; bhindipalas and other weapons besides, all shining in the hands of the heroes.

Verse 23 (shiva.rudra.174.23)

शिरांसि चिच्छिदुश्चैभिर्वीरास्तत्र महोत्सवाः । वीराणामुभयोश्चैव सैन्ययोर्गर्जतो रणे

śirāṁsi cicchiduścaibhirvīrāstatra mahotsavāḥ vīrāṇāmubhayoścaiva sainyayorgarjato raṇe

With these the heroes, exulting as though at a great festival, severed heads; and the warriors of both armies roared aloud in that battle.

Verse 24 (shiva.rudra.174.24)

गजास्तुरङ्गा बहवः स्यन्दनाश्च पदातयः । सारोहवाहा विविधास्तत्रासन् सुविखण्डिताः

gajāsturaṅgā bahavaḥ syandanāśca padātayaḥ sārohavāhā vividhāstatrāsan suvikhaṇḍitāḥ

Many elephants, horses, chariots, and foot-soldiers, together with their various riders and mounts, lay there hacked to pieces.

Verse 25 (shiva.rudra.174.25)

निकृत्तबाहूरुकरकटिकर्णयुगाङ्घ्रयः । सञ्छिन्नध्वजबाणासितनुत्रवरभूषणाः

nikṛttabāhūrukarakaṭikarṇayugāṅghrayaḥ sañchinnadhvajabāṇāsitanutravarabhūṣaṇāḥ

Severed arms, thighs, hands, waists, pairs of ears, and feet lay scattered; cut banners, arrows, swords, armor, and fine ornaments lay strewn about as well.

Verse 26 (shiva.rudra.174.26)

समुद्धतकिरीटैश्च शिरोभिः सह कुण्डलैः । संरम्भनष्टैरास्तीर्णा बभौ भूः करभोरुभिः

samuddhatakirīṭaiśca śirobhiḥ saha kuṇḍalaiḥ saṁrambhanaṣṭairāstīrṇā babhau bhūḥ karabhorubhiḥ

The ground, strewn with severed heads still crowned and adorned with earrings, lost in the fury of the fray, and with thighs like elephant-trunks, presented a strange, gleaming sight.

Verse 27 (shiva.rudra.174.27)

महाभुजैः साभरणैः सञ्छिन्नैः सायुधैस्तथा । अङ्गैरन्यैश्च सहसा पटलैर्वा ससारघैः

mahābhujaiḥ sābharaṇaiḥ sañchinnaiḥ sāyudhaistathā aṅgairanyaiśca sahasā paṭalairvā sasāraghaiḥ

With mighty arms, still adorned and gripping their weapons, hacked away; with other limbs suddenly severed, and with streams of blood flowing over all —

Verse 28 (shiva.rudra.174.28)

मृधे भटाः प्रधावन्तः कबन्धान् स्वशिरोक्षिभिः । पश्यन्तस्तत्र चोत्पेतुरुद्यतायुधसद्भुजैः

mṛdhe bhaṭāḥ pradhāvantaḥ kabandhān svaśirokṣibhiḥ paśyantastatra cotpeturudyatāyudhasadbhujaiḥ

In that battle, headless trunks — still gripping their weapons in upraised arms — leapt up and rushed about, gazing, it seemed, through the eyes of their own severed heads.

Verse 29 (shiva.rudra.174.29)

वल्गन्तोऽतितरां वीरा युयुधुश्च परस्परम् । शस्त्रास्त्रैर्विविधैस्तत्र महाबलपराक्रमाः

valganto'titarāṁ vīrā yuyudhuśca parasparam śastrāstrairvividhaistatra mahābalaparākramāḥ

Leaping about with tremendous vigor, those heroes of mighty strength and valor fought one another there with a great variety of weapons and missiles.

Verse 30 (shiva.rudra.174.30)

केचित्स्वर्णमुखैर्बाणैर्विनिहत्य भटान्मृधे । व्यनदन् वीरसन्नादं सतोया इव तोयदाः

kecitsvarṇamukhairbāṇairvinihatya bhaṭānmṛdhe vyanadan vīrasannādaṁ satoyā iva toyadāḥ

Some, having struck down warriors in the fray with gold-tipped arrows, roared out with the war-cry of heroes, like clouds heavy with rain.

Verse 31 (shiva.rudra.174.31)

सर्वतः शरकूटेन वीरः सरथसारथिम् । वीरं सञ्छादयामास प्रावृट्सूर्यमिवाम्बुदः

sarvataḥ śarakūṭena vīraḥ sarathasārathim vīraṁ sañchādayāmāsa prāvṛṭsūryamivāmbudaḥ

With a mass of arrows from every side, one hero completely enveloped another, chariot and charioteer together, as a monsoon cloud veils the sun.

Verse 32 (shiva.rudra.174.32)

अन्योऽन्यमभिसंसृत्य युयुधुर्द्वन्द्वयोधिनः । आह्वयन्तो विशन्तोऽग्रे क्षिपन्तो मर्मभिर्मिथः

anyo'nyamabhisaṁsṛtya yuyudhurdvandvayodhinaḥ āhvayanto viśanto'gre kṣipanto marmabhirmithaḥ

Those skilled in single combat closed upon one another and fought, calling out challenges, pressing forward, and striking each other at the vital points.

Verse 33 (shiva.rudra.174.33)

सर्वतो वीरसङ्घाश्च नानाबाहुध्वजायुधाः । व्यदृश्यन्त महासङ्ख्ये कुर्वन्तः सिंहसंरवम्

sarvato vīrasaṅghāśca nānābāhudhvajāyudhāḥ vyadṛśyanta mahāsaṅkhye kurvantaḥ siṁhasaṁravam

On every side, in that great encounter, hosts of heroes, with their many arms, banners, and weapons, could be seen roaring like lions.

Verse 34 (shiva.rudra.174.34)

महारवान् स्वशङ्खांश्च विदध्मुर्वै पृथक् पृथक् । वल्गनं चक्रिरे तत्र महावीराः प्रहर्षिताः

mahāravān svaśaṅkhāṁśca vidadhmurvai pṛthak pṛthak valganaṁ cakrire tatra mahāvīrāḥ praharṣitāḥ

Each of them blew his own conch with a mighty blast, one after another; and there the great heroes, overjoyed, leapt about in the fray.

Verse 35 (shiva.rudra.174.35)

एवं चिरतरं कालं देवदानवयोर्महत् । बभूव युद्धं विकटं करालं वीरहर्षदम्

evaṁ cirataraṁ kālaṁ devadānavayormahat babhūva yuddhaṁ vikaṭaṁ karālaṁ vīraharṣadam

Thus, for a very long time, this great battle between gods and danavas raged on — terrible and fearsome, yet a delight to the hearts of heroes.

Verse 36 (shiva.rudra.174.36)

महाप्रभोश्च लीलेयं शङ्करस्य परात्मनः । यया समोहितं सर्वं सदेवासुरमानुषम्

mahāprabhośca līleyaṁ śaṅkarasya parātmanaḥ yayā samohitaṁ sarvaṁ sadevāsuramānuṣam

All this was but the play of the great Lord Shankara, the Supreme Self, by which gods, asuras, and men alike were all held spellbound.