Shankhachuda's Battle with the Army

Verse 1 (shiva.rudra.175.1)

सनत्कुमार उवाच । तदा देवगणाः सर्वे दानवैश्च पराजिताः । दुद्रुवुर्भयभीताश्च शस्त्रास्त्रक्षतविग्रहाः

sanatkumāra uvāca tadā devagaṇāḥ sarve dānavaiśca parājitāḥ dudruvurbhayabhītāśca śastrāstrakṣatavigrahāḥ

Sanatkumara said: "Then, defeated by the danavas, all the hosts of gods fled in terror, their bodies wounded by weapons and missiles."

Verse 2 (shiva.rudra.175.2)

ते परावृत्य विश्वेशं शङ्करं शरणं ययुः । त्राहि त्राहीति सर्वेशेत्यूचुर्विह्वलया गिरा

te parāvṛtya viśveśaṁ śaṅkaraṁ śaraṇaṁ yayuḥ trāhi trāhīti sarveśetyūcurvihvalayā girā

Turning back, they went for refuge to Shankara, the Lord of the universe, crying out in a trembling voice, 'Save us, save us, O Lord of all!'

Verse 3 (shiva.rudra.175.3)

दृष्ट्वा पराजयं तेषां देवादीनां स शङ्करः । सभयं वचनं श्रुत्वा कोपमुच्चैश्चकार ह

dṛṣṭvā parājayaṁ teṣāṁ devādīnāṁ sa śaṅkaraḥ sabhayaṁ vacanaṁ śrutvā kopamuccaiścakāra ha

Seeing the defeat of the gods and the others, and hearing their fear-filled cry, Shankara blazed into great anger.

Verse 4 (shiva.rudra.175.4)

निरीक्ष्य स कृपादृष्ट्या देवेभ्यश्चाभयं ददौ । बलं च स्वगणानां वै वर्द्धयामास तेजसा

nirīkṣya sa kṛpādṛṣṭyā devebhyaścābhayaṁ dadau balaṁ ca svagaṇānāṁ vai varddhayāmāsa tejasā

Looking upon them with a glance of compassion, he granted the gods fearlessness, and with his own splendor increased the strength of his ganas.

Verse 5 (shiva.rudra.175.5)

शिवाज्ञप्तस्तदा स्कन्दो दानवानां गणैः सह । युयुधे निर्भयः सङ्ख्ये महावीरो हरात्मजः

śivājñaptastadā skando dānavānāṁ gaṇaiḥ saha yuyudhe nirbhayaḥ saṅkhye mahāvīro harātmajaḥ

Then, commanded by Shiva, Skanda, the great hero, son of Hara, fought fearlessly in that battle against the hosts of danavas.

Verse 6 (shiva.rudra.175.6)

कृत्वा क्रोधं वीरशब्दं देवो यस्तारकान्तकः । अक्षौहिणीनां शतकं समरे स जघान ह

kṛtvā krodhaṁ vīraśabdaṁ devo yastārakāntakaḥ akṣauhiṇīnāṁ śatakaṁ samare sa jaghāna ha

That god, the slayer of Taraka, roaring his battle-cry in fury, struck down a hundred akshauhinis of the enemy in that fight.

Verse 7 (shiva.rudra.175.7)

रुधिरं पातयामास काली कमललोचना । तेषां शिरांसि सञ्छिद्य बभक्ष सहसा च सा

rudhiraṁ pātayāmāsa kālī kamalalocanā teṣāṁ śirāṁsi sañchidya babhakṣa sahasā ca sā

Lotus-eyed Kali sent blood flowing; severing their heads, she suddenly devoured them.

Verse 8 (shiva.rudra.175.8)

पपौ रक्तानि तेषां च दानवानां समन्ततः । युद्धं चकार विविधं सुरदानवभीषणम्

papau raktāni teṣāṁ ca dānavānāṁ samantataḥ yuddhaṁ cakāra vividhaṁ suradānavabhīṣaṇam

She drank the blood of those danavas on every side, and waged a battle of many kinds, terrible to gods and danavas alike.

Verse 9 (shiva.rudra.175.9)

शतलक्षं गजेन्द्राणां दानवानां तथा रणे । समादायैकहस्तेन मुखे चिक्षेप लीलया

śatalakṣaṁ gajendrāṇāṁ dānavānāṁ tathā raṇe samādāyaikahastena mukhe cikṣepa līlayā

In that battle she seized ten million of the danavas' finest war-elephants with a single hand, and cast them playfully into her mouth.

Verse 10 (shiva.rudra.175.10)

कबन्धानां सहस्रं च सन्ननर्त रणे बहु । महान् कोलाहलो जातः क्लीबानां च भयङ्करः

kabandhānāṁ sahasraṁ ca sannanarta raṇe bahu mahān kolāhalo jātaḥ klībānāṁ ca bhayaṅkaraḥ

A thousand headless trunks danced wildly about in that battle; a great and terrifying tumult broke out among the faint-hearted.

Verse 11 (shiva.rudra.175.11)

पुनः स्कन्दः प्रकुप्योच्चैः शरवर्षां चकार ह । पातयामास क्षणतः कोटिशोऽसुरनायकान्

punaḥ skandaḥ prakupyoccaiḥ śaravarṣāṁ cakāra ha pātayāmāsa kṣaṇataḥ koṭiśo'suranāyakān

Again Skanda, blazing with fury, poured down a shower of arrows, and in a single moment felled crores of asura chieftains.

Verse 12 (shiva.rudra.175.12)

दानवाः शरजालेन स्कन्दस्य क्षतविग्रहाः । भीताः प्रदुद्रुवुः सर्वे शेषा मरणतस्तदा

dānavāḥ śarajālena skandasya kṣatavigrahāḥ bhītāḥ pradudruvuḥ sarve śeṣā maraṇatastadā

The danavas, their bodies torn by Skanda's net of arrows, all fled in terror, the rest trembling in fear of death.

Verse 13 (shiva.rudra.175.13)

वृषपर्वा विप्रचित्तिर्दण्डश्चापि विकम्पनः । स्कन्देन युयुधुः सार्द्धं तेन सर्वे क्रमेण च

vṛṣaparvā vipracittirdaṇḍaścāpi vikampanaḥ skandena yuyudhuḥ sārddhaṁ tena sarve krameṇa ca

Vrishaparvan, Vipracitti, Danda, and Vikampana — all of these fought against Skanda, one after another in turn.

Verse 14 (shiva.rudra.175.14)

महामारी च युयुधे न बभूव पराङ्मुखी । बभूवुस्ते क्षताङ्गाश्च स्कन्दशक्तिप्रपीडिताः

mahāmārī ca yuyudhe na babhūva parāṅmukhī babhūvuste kṣatāṅgāśca skandaśaktiprapīḍitāḥ

Mahamari too fought on, never once turning away; and they, the danavas, grew wounded in body, tormented by Skanda's might.

Verse 15 (shiva.rudra.175.15)

महामारीस्कन्दयोश्च विजयोऽभूत्तदा मुने । नेदुर्दुन्दुभयः स्वर्गे पुष्पवृष्टिः पपात ह

mahāmārīskandayośca vijayo'bhūttadā mune nedurdundubhayaḥ svarge puṣpavṛṣṭiḥ papāta ha

Then, O sage, victory belonged to Mahamari and Skanda; kettledrums sounded in heaven, and a shower of flowers fell.

Verse 16 (shiva.rudra.175.16)

स्कन्दस्य समरं दृष्ट्वा महारौद्रं तमद्भुतम् । दानवानां क्षयकरं यथा प्रकृतिकल्पकम्

skandasya samaraṁ dṛṣṭvā mahāraudraṁ tamadbhutam dānavānāṁ kṣayakaraṁ yathā prakṛtikalpakam

Beholding Skanda's battle — so fierce and wondrous, destroying the danavas as if it were the very dissolution of Prakriti —

Verse 17 (shiva.rudra.175.17)

महामारीकृतं तच्चोपद्रवं क्षयहेतुकम् । चुकोपातीव सहसा सनद्धोऽभूत्स्वयं तदा

mahāmārīkṛtaṁ taccopadravaṁ kṣayahetukam cukopātīva sahasā sanaddho'bhūtsvayaṁ tadā

— and the destructive havoc wrought by Mahamari, Shankhachuda suddenly flew into a towering rage, and himself made ready for battle.

Verse 18 (shiva.rudra.175.18)

वरं विमानमारुह्य नानाशस्त्रास्त्रसंयुतम् । अभयं सर्ववीराणां नानारत्नपरिच्छदम्

varaṁ vimānamāruhya nānāśastrāstrasaṁyutam abhayaṁ sarvavīrāṇāṁ nānāratnaparicchadam

Mounting a splendid chariot, equipped with many weapons and missiles, fearless before every hero, and adorned with a variety of jewels —

Verse 19 (shiva.rudra.175.19)

महावीरैः शङ्खचूडो जगाम रथमध्यतः । धनुर्विकृष्य कर्णान्तं चकार शरवर्षणम्

mahāvīraiḥ śaṅkhacūḍo jagāma rathamadhyataḥ dhanurvikṛṣya karṇāntaṁ cakāra śaravarṣaṇam

Shankhachuda, together with his mighty heroes, advanced from the midst of the chariots; drawing his bow back to his ear, he loosed a shower of arrows.

Verse 20 (shiva.rudra.175.20)

तस्य सा शरवृष्टिश्च दुर्निवार्या भयङ्करी । महाघोरान्धकारश्च वधस्थाने बभूव ह

tasya sā śaravṛṣṭiśca durnivāryā bhayaṅkarī mahāghorāndhakāraśca vadhasthāne babhūva ha

That terrible, irresistible rain of his arrows turned into a great and dreadful darkness over the field of battle.

Verse 21 (shiva.rudra.175.21)

देवाः प्रदुद्रुवुः सर्वे येऽन्ये नन्दीश्वरादयः । एक एव कार्त्तिकेयस्तस्थौ समरमूर्द्धनि

devāḥ pradudruvuḥ sarve ye'nye nandīśvarādayaḥ eka eva kārttikeyastasthau samaramūrddhani

All the gods fled, and the others too — Nandishvara and the rest — but Karttikeya alone remained standing at the forefront of the battle.

Verse 22 (shiva.rudra.175.22)

पर्वतानां च सर्पाणां नागानां शाखिनां तथा । राजा चकार वृष्टिं च दुर्निवार्यां भयङ्करीम्

parvatānāṁ ca sarpāṇāṁ nāgānāṁ śākhināṁ tathā rājā cakāra vṛṣṭiṁ ca durnivāryāṁ bhayaṅkarīm

The king then sent down a terrible, irresistible rain of mountains, serpents, nagas, and trees.

Verse 23 (shiva.rudra.175.23)

तद्दृष्ट्या प्रहतः स्कन्दो बभूव शिवनन्दनः । नीहारेण च सान्द्रेण संवृतो भास्करो यथा

taddṛṣṭyā prahataḥ skando babhūva śivanandanaḥ nīhāreṇa ca sāndreṇa saṁvṛto bhāskaro yathā

Struck by that onslaught, Skanda, Shiva's son, became like the sun veiled beneath a thick mist.

Verse 24 (shiva.rudra.175.24)

नानाविधां स्वमायां च चकार मयदर्शिताम् । तां नाविदन् सुराः केऽपि गणाश्च मुनिसत्तम

nānāvidhāṁ svamāyāṁ ca cakāra mayadarśitām tāṁ nāvidan surāḥ ke'pi gaṇāśca munisattama

He wielded his own manifold illusion, taught to him by Maya; and, O best of sages, not one of the gods or ganas could see through it.

Verse 25 (shiva.rudra.175.25)

तदैव शङ्खचूडश्च महामायी महाबलः । शरेणैकेन दिव्येन धनुश्चिच्छेद तस्य वै

tadaiva śaṅkhacūḍaśca mahāmāyī mahābalaḥ śareṇaikena divyena dhanuściccheda tasya vai

At that very moment, Shankhachuda, mighty in illusion and mighty in strength, severed Skanda's bow with a single divine arrow.

Verse 26 (shiva.rudra.175.26)

बभञ्ज तद्रथं दिव्यं चिच्छेद रथरक्षकान् । मयूरं जर्जरीभूतं दिव्यास्त्रेण चकार सः

babhañja tadrathaṁ divyaṁ ciccheda ratharakṣakān mayūraṁ jarjarībhūtaṁ divyāstreṇa cakāra saḥ

He shattered that divine chariot, cut down its guardians, and with a divine missile battered Skanda's peacock mount until it lay shattered.

Verse 27 (shiva.rudra.175.27)

शक्तिं चिक्षेप सूर्याभां तस्य वक्षसि घातिनीम् । मूर्च्छामवाप सहसा तत्प्रहारेण स क्षणम्

śaktiṁ cikṣepa sūryābhāṁ tasya vakṣasi ghātinīm mūrcchāmavāpa sahasā tatprahāreṇa sa kṣaṇam

He hurled a deadly spear, radiant as the sun, at Skanda's chest; from that blow Skanda instantly fell into a swoon.

Verse 28 (shiva.rudra.175.28)

पुनश्च चेतनां प्राप्य कार्तिकः परवीरहा । रत्नेन्द्रसारनिर्माणमारुरोह स्ववाहनम्

punaśca cetanāṁ prāpya kārtikaḥ paravīrahā ratnendrasāranirmāṇamāruroha svavāhanam

Regaining consciousness once again, Kartika, slayer of enemy heroes, remounted his own chariot, fashioned of the finest gems.

Verse 29 (shiva.rudra.175.29)

स्मृत्वा पादौ महेशस्य साम्बिकस्य च षण्मुखः । शस्त्रास्त्राणि गृहीत्वैव चकार रणमुल्बणम्

smṛtvā pādau maheśasya sāmbikasya ca ṣaṇmukhaḥ śastrāstrāṇi gṛhītvaiva cakāra raṇamulbaṇam

Remembering the feet of Maheshvara together with Ambika, the six-faced Skanda took up his weapons and fought a fierce and terrible battle.

Verse 30 (shiva.rudra.175.30)

सर्पांश्च पर्वतांश्चैव वृक्षांश्च प्रस्तरांस्तथा । सर्वांश्चिच्छेद कोपेन दिव्यास्त्रेण शिवात्मजः

sarpāṁśca parvatāṁścaiva vṛkṣāṁśca prastarāṁstathā sarvāṁściccheda kopena divyāstreṇa śivātmajaḥ

Serpents, mountains, trees, and boulders alike — Shiva's son, in fury, cut them all down with his divine missile.

Verse 31 (shiva.rudra.175.31)

वह्निं निवारयामास पार्जन्येन शरेण ह । रथं धनुश्च चिच्छेद शङ्खचूडस्य लीलया

vahniṁ nivārayāmāsa pārjanyena śareṇa ha rathaṁ dhanuśca ciccheda śaṅkhacūḍasya līlayā

He warded off the fire-missile with a Parjanya arrow, and playfully cut down Shankhachuda's chariot and bow.

Verse 32 (shiva.rudra.175.32)

सन्नाहं सर्ववाहांश्च किरीटं मुकुटोज्ज्वलम् । वीरशब्दं चकारासौ जगर्ज च पुनः पुनः

sannāhaṁ sarvavāhāṁśca kirīṭaṁ mukuṭojjvalam vīraśabdaṁ cakārāsau jagarja ca punaḥ punaḥ

He cut down his armor and all his mounts, and his gleaming crowned diadem as well; and he sounded his war-cry, roaring again and again.

Verse 33 (shiva.rudra.175.33)

चिक्षेप शक्तिं सूर्याभां दानवेन्द्रस्य वक्षसि । तत्प्रहारेण सम्प्राप मूर्च्छां दीर्घतमेन च

cikṣepa śaktiṁ sūryābhāṁ dānavendrasya vakṣasi tatprahāreṇa samprāpa mūrcchāṁ dīrghatamena ca

He hurled a spear, bright as the sun, at the chest of the lord of danavas; from that blow, Shankhachuda fell into a very deep swoon.

Verse 34 (shiva.rudra.175.34)

मुहूर्तमात्रं तत्क्लेशं विनीय स महाबलः । चेतनां प्राप्य चोत्तस्थौ जगर्ज हरिवर्चसः

muhūrtamātraṁ tatkleśaṁ vinīya sa mahābalaḥ cetanāṁ prāpya cottasthau jagarja harivarcasaḥ

That mighty one, having borne that anguish for but a moment, regained consciousness, rose up, and roared, blazing with a splendor like Hari's.

Verse 35 (shiva.rudra.175.35)

शक्त्या जघान तं चापि कार्तिकेयं महाबलम् । स पपात महीपृष्ठेऽमोघां कुर्वन् विधिप्रदाम्

śaktyā jaghāna taṁ cāpi kārtikeyaṁ mahābalam sa papāta mahīpṛṣṭhe'moghāṁ kurvan vidhipradām

He struck the mighty Karttikeya with a spear, unfailing and fate-appointed, and Karttikeya fell to the ground.

Verse 36 (shiva.rudra.175.36)

काली गृहीत्वा तं क्रोडे निनाय शिवसन्निधौ । ज्ञानेन तं शिवश्चापि जीवयामास लीलया

kālī gṛhītvā taṁ kroḍe nināya śivasannidhau jñānena taṁ śivaścāpi jīvayāmāsa līlayā

Kali took him up in her arms and carried him into Shiva's presence; and Shiva, by his own knowledge, playfully restored him to life.

Verse 37 (shiva.rudra.175.37)

ददौ बलमनन्तं च समुत्तस्थौ प्रतापवान् । गमनाय मतिं चक्रे पुनस्तत्र शिवात्मजः

dadau balamanantaṁ ca samuttasthau pratāpavān gamanāya matiṁ cakre punastatra śivātmajaḥ

Shiva bestowed on him boundless strength; and the mighty one rose up, and Shiva's son resolved once again to return to the battle.

Verse 38 (shiva.rudra.175.38)

एतस्मिन्नन्तरे वीरो वीरभद्रो महाबलः । शङ्खचूडेन युयुधे समरे बलशालिना

etasminnantare vīro vīrabhadro mahābalaḥ śaṅkhacūḍena yuyudhe samare balaśālinā

Meanwhile the mighty hero Virabhadra engaged in battle against the powerful Shankhachuda.

Verse 39 (shiva.rudra.175.39)

ववर्ष समरेऽस्त्राणि यानि यानि च दानवः । चिच्छेद लीलया वीरस्तानि तानि निजैः शरैः

vavarṣa samare'strāṇi yāni yāni ca dānavaḥ ciccheda līlayā vīrastāni tāni nijaiḥ śaraiḥ

Whatever missiles the danava rained down in that battle, the hero cut down each one, playfully, with his own arrows.

Verse 40 (shiva.rudra.175.40)

दिव्यान्यस्त्राणि शतशो मुमुचे दानवेश्वरः । तानि चिच्छेद तं बाणैर्वीरभद्रः प्रतापवान्

divyānyastrāṇi śataśo mumuce dānaveśvaraḥ tāni ciccheda taṁ bāṇairvīrabhadraḥ pratāpavān

The lord of danavas loosed hundreds of divine missiles; the mighty Virabhadra cut them all down with his arrows.

Verse 41 (shiva.rudra.175.41)

अथातीव चुकोपोच्चैः शङ्खचूडः प्रतापवान् । शक्त्या जघानोरसि तं स चकम्पे पपात कौ

athātīva cukopoccaiḥ śaṅkhacūḍaḥ pratāpavān śaktyā jaghānorasi taṁ sa cakampe papāta kau

Then the mighty Shankhachuda, in towering fury, struck him upon the chest with a spear; Virabhadra trembled and fell to the ground.

Verse 42 (shiva.rudra.175.42)

क्षणेन चेतनां प्राप्य समुत्तस्थौ गणेश्वरः । जग्राह च धनुर्भूयो वीरभद्रो गणाग्रणीः

kṣaṇena cetanāṁ prāpya samuttasthau gaṇeśvaraḥ jagrāha ca dhanurbhūyo vīrabhadro gaṇāgraṇīḥ

In an instant that lord of the ganas regained consciousness and rose up; Virabhadra, foremost among the ganas, took up his bow once more.

Verse 43 (shiva.rudra.175.43)

एतस्मिन्नन्तरे काली जगाम समरं पुनः । भक्षितुं दानवान् स्वांश्च रक्षितुं कार्तिकेच्छया

etasminnantare kālī jagāma samaraṁ punaḥ bhakṣituṁ dānavān svāṁśca rakṣituṁ kārtikecchayā

Meanwhile Kali went once more into the fray, to devour the danavas and, at Karttikeya's wish, to protect her own.

Verse 44 (shiva.rudra.175.44)

वीरास्तामनुजग्मुश्च ते च नन्दीश्वरादयः । सर्वे देवाश्च गन्धर्वा यक्षा रक्षांसि पन्नगाः

vīrāstāmanujagmuśca te ca nandīśvarādayaḥ sarve devāśca gandharvā yakṣā rakṣāṁsi pannagāḥ

The heroes followed her — Nandishvara and the rest; and all the gods, gandharvas, yakshas, rakshasas, and serpents as well.

Verse 45 (shiva.rudra.175.45)

मद्यभाण्डाश्च बहुशः शतशो वाद्यवाहकाः । पुनः समुद्यताश्चासन् वीरा उभयतोऽखिलाः

madyabhāṇḍāśca bahuśaḥ śataśo vādyavāhakāḥ punaḥ samudyatāścāsan vīrā ubhayato'khilāḥ

Many jars of wine, and hundreds of musicians with their instruments — once again all the heroes on both sides stood ready for battle.