The Slaying of Shankhachuda's Army

Verse 1 (shiva.rudra.177.1)

व्यास उवाच । श्रुत्वा काल्युक्तमीशानो किं चकार किमुक्तवान् । तत्त्वं वद महाप्राज्ञ परं कौतूहलं मम

vyāsa uvāca śrutvā kālyuktamīśāno kiṁ cakāra kimuktavān tattvaṁ vada mahāprājña paraṁ kautūhalaṁ mama

Vyasa said: "Having heard what Kali told him, what did Ishana do, and what did he say? Tell me the truth of it, O most wise one — my curiosity is very great."

Verse 2 (shiva.rudra.177.2)

सनत्कुमार उवाच । काल्युक्तं वचनं श्रुत्वा शङ्करः परमेश्वरः । महालीलाकरः शम्भुर्जहासाश्वासयञ्च ताम्

sanatkumāra uvāca kālyuktaṁ vacanaṁ śrutvā śaṅkaraḥ parameśvaraḥ mahālīlākaraḥ śambhurjahāsāśvāsayañca tām

Sanatkumara said: "Hearing Kali's words, Shankara, the Supreme Lord, ever the maker of great sport, Shambhu laughed, and gave her comfort."

Verse 3 (shiva.rudra.177.3)

व्योमवाणीं समाकर्ण्य तत्त्वज्ञानविशारदः । ययौ स्वयं च समरे स्वगणैः सह शङ्करः

vyomavāṇīṁ samākarṇya tattvajñānaviśāradaḥ yayau svayaṁ ca samare svagaṇaiḥ saha śaṅkaraḥ

Having heard the voice from the sky, Shankara, that master of true knowledge, himself went into battle together with his own ganas.

Verse 4 (shiva.rudra.177.4)

महावृषभमारूढो वीरभद्रादिसंयुतः । भैरवैः क्षेत्रपालैश्च स्वसमानैः समन्वितः

mahāvṛṣabhamārūḍho vīrabhadrādisaṁyutaḥ bhairavaiḥ kṣetrapālaiśca svasamānaiḥ samanvitaḥ

Mounted upon his great bull, accompanied by Virabhadra and the rest, attended by the Bhairavas and Kshetrapalas, his own equals —

Verse 5 (shiva.rudra.177.5)

रणं प्राप्तो महेशश्च वीररूपं विधाय च । विरराजाधिकं तत्र रुद्रो मूर्त इवान्तकः

raṇaṁ prāpto maheśaśca vīrarūpaṁ vidhāya ca virarājādhikaṁ tatra rudro mūrta ivāntakaḥ

— Mahesha arrived at the battle, having assumed his heroic form; there Rudra shone forth exceedingly, like Death itself made manifest.

Verse 6 (shiva.rudra.177.6)

शङ्खचूडः शिवं दृष्ट्वा विमानादवरुह्य सः । ननाम परया भक्त्या शिरसा दण्डवद्भुवि

śaṅkhacūḍaḥ śivaṁ dṛṣṭvā vimānādavaruhya saḥ nanāma parayā bhaktyā śirasā daṇḍavadbhuvi

Seeing Shiva, Shankhachuda descended from his celestial chariot, and with the utmost devotion bowed, his head touching the ground in full prostration.

Verse 7 (shiva.rudra.177.7)

तं प्रणम्य तु योगेन विमानमारुरोह सः । तूर्णं चकार सन्नाहं धनुर्जग्राह सेषुकम्

taṁ praṇamya tu yogena vimānamāruroha saḥ tūrṇaṁ cakāra sannāhaṁ dhanurjagrāha seṣukam

Having bowed to him, by his yogic power he mounted his chariot once more; he swiftly donned his armor and took up his bow together with its arrows.

Verse 8 (shiva.rudra.177.8)

शिवदानवयोर्युद्धं शतमब्दं बभूव ह । बाणवर्षमिवोग्रं तद्वर्षतोर्मोघयोस्तदा

śivadānavayoryuddhaṁ śatamabdaṁ babhūva ha bāṇavarṣamivograṁ tadvarṣatormoghayostadā

The battle between Shiva and the danava went on for a hundred years; that fierce rain of arrows fell then as unfailing as the rains of the monsoon.

Verse 9 (shiva.rudra.177.9)

शङ्खचूडो महावीरः शरांश्चिक्षेप दारुणान् । चिच्छेद शङ्करस्तान्वै लीलया स्वशरोत्करैः

śaṅkhacūḍo mahāvīraḥ śarāṁścikṣepa dāruṇān ciccheda śaṅkarastānvai līlayā svaśarotkaraiḥ

The great hero Shankhachuda loosed terrible arrows; Shankara playfully cut them all down with his own showers of arrows.

Verse 10 (shiva.rudra.177.10)

तदङ्गेषु च शस्त्रौघैस्ताडयामास कोपतः । महारुद्रो विरूपाक्षो दुष्टदण्डः सतां गतिः

tadaṅgeṣu ca śastraughaistāḍayāmāsa kopataḥ mahārudro virūpākṣo duṣṭadaṇḍaḥ satāṁ gatiḥ

The great Rudra, the strange-eyed one, chastiser of the wicked and refuge of the virtuous, struck his limbs in fury with volleys of weapons.

Verse 11 (shiva.rudra.177.11)

दानवो निशितं खड्गं चर्म चादाय वेगवान् । वृषं जघान शिरसि शिवस्य वरवाहनम्

dānavo niśitaṁ khaḍgaṁ carma cādāya vegavān vṛṣaṁ jaghāna śirasi śivasya varavāhanam

The swift danava, taking up a sharp sword and shield, struck Shiva's excellent mount, the bull, upon the head.

Verse 12 (shiva.rudra.177.12)

ताडिते वाहने रुद्रस्तं क्षुरप्रेण लीलया । खड्गं चिच्छेद तस्याशु चर्म चापि महोज्ज्वलम्

tāḍite vāhane rudrastaṁ kṣurapreṇa līlayā khaḍgaṁ ciccheda tasyāśu carma cāpi mahojjvalam

When his mount was struck, Rudra, playfully, with a crescent-tipped arrow swiftly severed the danava's sword, and his gleaming shield as well.

Verse 13 (shiva.rudra.177.13)

छिन्नेऽसौ चर्मणि तदा शक्तिं चिक्षेप सोऽसुरः । द्विधा चक्रे स्वबाणेन हरस्तां सम्मुखागताम्

chinne'sau carmaṇi tadā śaktiṁ cikṣepa so'suraḥ dvidhā cakre svabāṇena harastāṁ sammukhāgatām

When his shield had been cut away, that asura hurled a spear; Hara, with his own arrow, split it in two as it came flying toward him.

Verse 14 (shiva.rudra.177.14)

कोपाध्मातः शङ्खचूडः चक्रं चिक्षेप दानवः । मुष्टिपातेन तच्चाप्यचूर्णयत्सहसा हरः

kopādhmātaḥ śaṅkhacūḍaḥ cakraṁ cikṣepa dānavaḥ muṣṭipātena taccāpyacūrṇayatsahasā haraḥ

Shankhachuda the danava, swollen with rage, hurled his discus; Hara, with a single blow of his fist, instantly shattered it as well.

Verse 15 (shiva.rudra.177.15)

गदामाविध्य तरसा सञ्चिक्षेप हरं प्रति । शम्भुना सापि सहसा भिन्ना भस्मत्वमागता

gadāmāvidhya tarasā sañcikṣepa haraṁ prati śambhunā sāpi sahasā bhinnā bhasmatvamāgatā

Whirling his mace with force, he hurled it at Hara; Shambhu, in an instant, shattered that too, reducing it to ash.

Verse 16 (shiva.rudra.177.16)

ततः परशुमादाय हस्तेन दानवेश्वरः । धावति स्म हरं वेगाच्छङ्खचूडः क्रुधाकुलः

tataḥ paraśumādāya hastena dānaveśvaraḥ dhāvati sma haraṁ vegācchaṅkhacūḍaḥ krudhākulaḥ

Then, taking an axe in hand, the lord of danavas, Shankhachuda, overwhelmed with rage, rushed swiftly at Hara.

Verse 17 (shiva.rudra.177.17)

समाहृत्य स्वबाणौघैरपातयत शङ्करः । द्रुतं परशुहस्तं तं भूतले लीलयासुरम्

samāhṛtya svabāṇaughairapātayata śaṅkaraḥ drutaṁ paraśuhastaṁ taṁ bhūtale līlayāsuram

Gathering his own volleys of arrows, Shankara swiftly and playfully felled that axe-wielding asura to the ground.

Verse 18 (shiva.rudra.177.18)

ततः क्षणेन सम्प्राप्य संज्ञामारुह्य सद्रथम् । धृतदिव्यायुधशरो बभौ व्याप्याखिलं नभः

tataḥ kṣaṇena samprāpya saṁjñāmāruhya sadratham dhṛtadivyāyudhaśaro babhau vyāpyākhilaṁ nabhaḥ

Then, regaining his senses in a moment, remounting his fine chariot, and taking up divine weapons and arrows, he shone forth, filling the entire sky.

Verse 19 (shiva.rudra.177.19)

आयान्तं तं निरीक्ष्यैव डमरुध्वनिमादरात् । चकार ज्यारवं चापि धनुषो दुःसहं हरः

āyāntaṁ taṁ nirīkṣyaiva ḍamarudhvanimādarāt cakāra jyāravaṁ cāpi dhanuṣo duḥsahaṁ haraḥ

Seeing him approach, Hara, with due regard, sounded his damaru, and made the unbearable twang of his bowstring ring out as well.

Verse 20 (shiva.rudra.177.20)

पूरयामास ककुभः शृङ्गनादेन च प्रभुः । स्वयं जगर्ज गिरिशस्त्रासयन्नसुरांस्तदा

pūrayāmāsa kakubhaḥ śṛṅganādena ca prabhuḥ svayaṁ jagarja giriśastrāsayannasurāṁstadā

The Lord filled all the quarters of the sky with the blast of his horn; Girisha himself roared, striking terror into the asuras.

Verse 21 (shiva.rudra.177.21)

त्याजितेभमहागर्वैर्महानादैर्वृषेश्वरः । पूरयामास सहसा खं गां वसुदिशस्तथा

tyājitebhamahāgarvairmahānādairvṛṣeśvaraḥ pūrayāmāsa sahasā khaṁ gāṁ vasudiśastathā

With mighty roars that shattered even the pride of great elephants, the Lord of the bull instantly filled the sky, the earth, and every quarter.

Verse 22 (shiva.rudra.177.22)

महाकालः समुत्पत्य ताडयद् गां तथा नभः । कराभ्यां तन्निनादेन क्षिप्ता आसन्पुरा रवाः

mahākālaḥ samutpatya tāḍayad gāṁ tathā nabhaḥ karābhyāṁ tanninādena kṣiptā āsanpurā ravāḥ

Mahakala, leaping up, struck the earth and the sky with both his hands; and by that resounding noise all the former sounds were drowned out.

Verse 23 (shiva.rudra.177.23)

अट्टाट्टहासमशिवं क्षेत्रपालश्चकार ह । भैरवोऽपि महानादं स चकार महाहवे

aṭṭāṭṭahāsamaśivaṁ kṣetrapālaścakāra ha bhairavo'pi mahānādaṁ sa cakāra mahāhave

Kshetrapala let out a terrible, ominous peal of laughter; Bhairava too raised a mighty roar in that great battle.

Verse 24 (shiva.rudra.177.24)

महाकोलाहलो जातो रणमध्ये भयङ्करः । वीरशब्दो बभूवाथ गणमध्ये समन्ततः

mahākolāhalo jāto raṇamadhye bhayaṅkaraḥ vīraśabdo babhūvātha gaṇamadhye samantataḥ

A great and terrifying tumult broke out in the midst of the battle; and the war-cry of the heroes rang out on every side among the ganas.

Verse 25 (shiva.rudra.177.25)

सन्त्रेसुर्दानवाःसर्वे तैः शब्दैर्भयदैः खरैः । चुकोपातीव तच्छ्रुत्वा दानवेन्द्रो महाबलः

santresurdānavāḥsarve taiḥ śabdairbhayadaiḥ kharaiḥ cukopātīva tacchrutvā dānavendro mahābalaḥ

All the danavas trembled at those harsh, terrifying sounds; and the mighty lord of danavas, hearing it, blazed into a towering rage.

Verse 26 (shiva.rudra.177.26)

तिष्ठ तिष्ठेति दुष्टात्मन् व्याजहार यदा हरः । देवैर्गणैश्च तैः शीघ्रमुक्तं जय जयेति च

tiṣṭha tiṣṭheti duṣṭātman vyājahāra yadā haraḥ devairgaṇaiśca taiḥ śīghramuktaṁ jaya jayeti ca

When Hara cried out, "Stand, stand, O wicked soul!" — the gods and the ganas at once cried out, "Victory! Victory!"

Verse 27 (shiva.rudra.177.27)

अथागत्य स दम्भस्य तनयः सुप्रतापवान् । शक्तिं चिक्षेप रुद्राय ज्वालामालातिभीषणाम्

athāgatya sa dambhasya tanayaḥ supratāpavān śaktiṁ cikṣepa rudrāya jvālāmālātibhīṣaṇām

Then that most mighty son of Dambha came forward and hurled at Rudra a spear, terrible with garlands of flame.

Verse 28 (shiva.rudra.177.28)

वह्निकूटप्रभायान्ती क्षेत्रपालेन सत्वरम् । निरस्तागत्य साजौ वै मुखोत्पन्नमहोल्कया

vahnikūṭaprabhāyāntī kṣetrapālena satvaram nirastāgatya sājau vai mukhotpannamaholkayā

Blazing with the splendor of a mass of fire as it came on, it was swiftly repelled in that battle by Kshetrapala with a great flaming meteor sprung from his own mouth.

Verse 29 (shiva.rudra.177.29)

पुनः प्रववृते युद्धं शिवदानवयोर्महत् । चकम्पे धरणी द्यौश्च सनगाब्धिजलाशया

punaḥ pravavṛte yuddhaṁ śivadānavayormahat cakampe dharaṇī dyauśca sanagābdhijalāśayā

Once more the great battle between Shiva and the danava resumed; the earth trembled, and the heavens too, together with the mountains and the waters of the oceans.

Verse 30 (shiva.rudra.177.30)

दाम्भिमुक्तान् शरान् शम्भुः शरांस्तत्प्रहितान्स च । सहस्रशः शरैरुग्रैश्चिच्छेद शतशस्तदा

dāmbhimuktān śarān śambhuḥ śarāṁstatprahitānsa ca sahasraśaḥ śarairugraiściccheda śataśastadā

The arrows loosed by Dambha's son and sent flying at him, Shambhu cut down by the hundreds and thousands with his own fierce arrows.

Verse 31 (shiva.rudra.177.31)

ततः शम्भुस्त्रिशूलेन सङ्क्रुद्धस्तं जघान ह । तत्प्रहारमसह्याशु कौ पपात स मूर्च्छितः

tataḥ śambhustriśūlena saṅkruddhastaṁ jaghāna ha tatprahāramasahyāśu kau papāta sa mūrcchitaḥ

Then Shambhu, in fury, struck him with his trident; unable to bear that blow, he swiftly fell to the ground, unconscious.

Verse 32 (shiva.rudra.177.32)

ततः क्षणेन सम्प्राप संज्ञां स च तदासुरः । आजघान शरै रुद्रं तान्सर्वानात्तकार्मुकः

tataḥ kṣaṇena samprāpa saṁjñāṁ sa ca tadāsuraḥ ājaghāna śarai rudraṁ tānsarvānāttakārmukaḥ

Then, in a moment, that asura regained consciousness; taking up his bow, he struck Rudra with a volley of arrows.

Verse 33 (shiva.rudra.177.33)

बाहूनामयुतं कृत्वा छादयामास शङ्करम् । चक्रायुतेन सहसा शङ्खचूडः प्रतापवान्

bāhūnāmayutaṁ kṛtvā chādayāmāsa śaṅkaram cakrāyutena sahasā śaṅkhacūḍaḥ pratāpavān

The mighty Shankhachuda, multiplying his arms into ten thousand, instantly enveloped Shankara with ten thousand discuses.

Verse 34 (shiva.rudra.177.34)

ततो दुर्गापतिः क्रुद्धो रुद्रो दुर्गार्तिनाशनः । तानि चक्राणि चिच्छेद स्वशरैरुत्तमैर्द्रुतम्

tato durgāpatiḥ kruddho rudro durgārtināśanaḥ tāni cakrāṇi ciccheda svaśarairuttamairdrutam

Then Rudra, the Lord of Durga, remover of affliction, enraged, swiftly cut down all those discuses with his own excellent arrows.

Verse 35 (shiva.rudra.177.35)

ततो वेगेन सहसा गदामादाय दानवः । अभ्यधावत वै हन्तुं बहुसेनावृतो हरम्

tato vegena sahasā gadāmādāya dānavaḥ abhyadhāvata vai hantuṁ bahusenāvṛto haram

Then the danava, swiftly taking up his mace, surrounded by a vast army, rushed forth at once to slay Hara.

Verse 36 (shiva.rudra.177.36)

गदां चिच्छेद तस्याश्वापततः सोऽसिना हरः । शितधारेण सङ्क्रुद्धो दुष्टगर्वापहारकः

gadāṁ ciccheda tasyāśvāpatataḥ so'sinā haraḥ śitadhāreṇa saṅkruddho duṣṭagarvāpahārakaḥ

As he charged forward, Hara, in fury, the one who strips away the pride of the wicked, cut down his mace with a sharp-edged sword.

Verse 37 (shiva.rudra.177.37)

छिन्नायां स्वगदायां च चुकोपातीव दानवः । शूलं जग्राह तेजस्वी परेषां दुःसहं ज्वलत्

chinnāyāṁ svagadāyāṁ ca cukopātīva dānavaḥ śūlaṁ jagrāha tejasvī pareṣāṁ duḥsahaṁ jvalat

When his mace was cut away, the danava blazed into a towering rage; that radiant one took up a trident, aflame and unbearable to his enemies.

Verse 38 (shiva.rudra.177.38)

सुदर्शनं शूलहस्तमायान्तं दानवेश्वरम् । स्वत्रिशूलेन विव्याध हृदि तं वेगतो हरः

sudarśanaṁ śūlahastamāyāntaṁ dānaveśvaram svatriśūlena vivyādha hṛdi taṁ vegato haraḥ

As that handsome lord of danavas, trident in hand, came rushing toward him, Hara swiftly pierced him through the heart with his own trident.

Verse 39 (shiva.rudra.177.39)

त्रिशूलभिन्नहृदयान्निष्क्रान्तः पुरुषः परः । तिष्ठ तिष्ठेति चोवाच शङ्खचूडस्य वीर्यवान्

triśūlabhinnahṛdayānniṣkrāntaḥ puruṣaḥ paraḥ tiṣṭha tiṣṭheti covāca śaṅkhacūḍasya vīryavān

From the heart split open by the trident, a supreme being emerged; and that mighty figure cried out, "Stand, stand!" toward Shankhachuda.

Verse 40 (shiva.rudra.177.40)

निष्क्रामतो हि तस्याशु प्रहस्य स्वनवत्ततः । चिच्छेद च शिरो भीममसिना सोऽपतद्भुवि

niṣkrāmato hi tasyāśu prahasya svanavattataḥ ciccheda ca śiro bhīmamasinā so'patadbhuvi

As he swiftly emerged, Hara, laughing and roaring, at once severed that terrible head with his sword, and it fell to the ground.

Verse 41 (shiva.rudra.177.41)

ततः कालीं चखादोग्रं दंष्ट्राक्षुण्णशिरोधरान् । असुरांस्तान् बहून् क्रोधात् प्रसार्य स्वमुखं तदा

tataḥ kālīṁ cakhādograṁ daṁṣṭrākṣuṇṇaśirodharān asurāṁstān bahūn krodhāt prasārya svamukhaṁ tadā

Then Kali, opening her mouth wide, fiercely devoured many of those asuras in fury, their necks crushed between her fangs.

Verse 42 (shiva.rudra.177.42)

क्षेत्रपालश्चखादान्यान्बहून्दैत्यान्क्रुधाकुलः । केचिन्नेशुर्भैरवास्त्रच्छिन्ना भिन्नास्तथापरे

kṣetrapālaścakhādānyānbahūndaityānkrudhākulaḥ kecinneśurbhairavāstracchinnā bhinnāstathāpare

Kshetrapala too, overwhelmed with rage, devoured many other daityas; some perished, cut down by Bhairava's missile, and others were torn apart.

Verse 43 (shiva.rudra.177.43)

वीरभद्रोऽपरान् वीरान् बहून् क्रोधादनाशयत् । नन्दीश्वरो जघानान्यान् बहूनमरमर्दकान्

vīrabhadro'parān vīrān bahūn krodhādanāśayat nandīśvaro jaghānānyān bahūnamaramardakān

Virabhadra, in his fury, destroyed many other heroes as well; Nandishvara slew many others, those crushers of the gods.

Verse 44 (shiva.rudra.177.44)

एवं बहुगणा वीरास्तदा सन्नह्य कोपतः । व्यनाशयन्बहून्दैत्यानसुरान् देवमर्दकान्

evaṁ bahugaṇā vīrāstadā sannahya kopataḥ vyanāśayanbahūndaityānasurān devamardakān

Thus many hero-ganas, arming themselves in fury, destroyed many daityas and asuras, those tormentors of the gods.

Verse 45 (shiva.rudra.177.45)

इत्थं बहुतरं तत्र तस्य सैन्यं ननाश तत् । विद्रुताश्चापरे वीरा बहवो भयकातराः

itthaṁ bahutaraṁ tatra tasya sainyaṁ nanāśa tat vidrutāścāpare vīrā bahavo bhayakātarāḥ

Thus a great part of his army perished there; and many other heroes, faint with fear, fled from the field.