The Messenger's Dialogue at the Outset of War

Verse 1 (shiva.rudra.183.1)

सनत्कुमार उवाच । गतस्ततो मत्तगजेन्द्रगामी पीत्वा सुरां घूर्णितलोचनश्च । महानुभावो बहुसैन्ययुक्तः प्रचण्डवीरो वरवीरयायी

sanatkumāra uvāca gatastato mattagajendragāmī pītvā surāṁ ghūrṇitalocanaśca mahānubhāvo bahusainyayuktaḥ pracaṇḍavīro varavīrayāyī

Sanatkumara said: "Then that demon, walking with the gait of a rutting elephant-king, his eyes reeling with strong drink, of great majesty, accompanied by a vast army, a fierce hero, foremost among heroes, went there."

Verse 2 (shiva.rudra.183.2)

ददर्श दैत्यः स्मरबाणविद्धो गुहां ततो वीरकरुद्धमार्गाम् । स्निग्धं यथा वीक्ष्य पतङ्गसंज्ञः दशाप्रदीपं च कृमिर्ह्युपेत्य

dadarśa daityaḥ smarabāṇaviddho guhāṁ tato vīrakaruddhamārgām snigdhaṁ yathā vīkṣya pataṅgasaṁjñaḥ daśāpradīpaṁ ca kṛmirhyupetya

"That demon, pierced by the arrows of the god of love, came to see that cave whose path Viraka had barred — as a moth, seeing an oil-fed lamp's flame, or a worm drawn toward a light spread across the ten directions."

Verse 3 (shiva.rudra.183.3)

तथा प्रदर्श्याशु पुनः पुनश्च सम्पीड्यमानोऽपि स वीरकेण । बभूव कामाग्निसुदग्धदेहोऽ न्धको महादैत्यपतिः स मूढः

tathā pradarśyāśu punaḥ punaśca sampīḍyamāno'pi sa vīrakeṇa babhūva kāmāgnisudagdhadeho' ndhako mahādaityapatiḥ sa mūḍhaḥ

"Though that cave appeared to him again and again, and though Viraka checked him again and again, that foolish great lord of demons, Andhaka, was thoroughly consumed by the fire of desire."

Verse 4 (shiva.rudra.183.4)

पाषाणवृक्षाशनितोयवह्नि- भुजङ्गशस्त्रास्त्रबिभीषिकाभिः । सम्पीडितोऽसौ न पुनः प्रपीड्यः पृष्टश्च कस्त्वं समुपागतोऽसि

pāṣāṇavṛkṣāśanitoyavahni- bhujaṅgaśastrāstrabibhīṣikābhiḥ sampīḍito'sau na punaḥ prapīḍyaḥ pṛṣṭaśca kastvaṁ samupāgato'si

"Though assailed with terrifying threats of stone, tree, thunderbolt, water, fire, serpent, weapon, and missile, he was pressed no further — then he was asked, \"Who are you, that have come here?\""

Verse 5 (shiva.rudra.183.5)

निशम्य तद् गां स्वमतं स तस्मै चकार युद्धं स तु वीरकेण । मुहूर्तमाश्चर्यवदप्रमेयं सङ्ख्ये जितो वीरतरेण दैत्यः

niśamya tad gāṁ svamataṁ sa tasmai cakāra yuddhaṁ sa tu vīrakeṇa muhūrtamāścaryavadaprameyaṁ saṅkhye jito vīratareṇa daityaḥ

"Holding fast to his own resolve, he waged war upon Viraka — but that demon was defeated in but a moment by that astonishing, unimaginable, and mightier hero Viraka."

Verse 6 (shiva.rudra.183.6)

ततस्तु सङ्ग्रामशिरो विहाय क्षुत्क्षामकण्ठस्तृषितो गतोऽभूत् । चूर्णीकृते खड्गवरे च खिन्ने पलायमानो गतविस्मयः सः

tatastu saṅgrāmaśiro vihāya kṣutkṣāmakaṇṭhastṛṣito gato'bhūt cūrṇīkṛte khaḍgavare ca khinne palāyamāno gatavismayaḥ saḥ

"Then, abandoning the front of battle, his throat parched with hunger and thirst, his fine sword shattered to pieces, dejected and stripped of all his former astonishment, he fled from there."

Verse 7 (shiva.rudra.183.7)

चक्रुस्तदाजिं सह वीरकेण प्रह्लादमुख्या दितिजप्रधानाः । लज्जाङ्कुशाकृष्टधियो बभूवुः सुदारुणाः शस्त्रशतैरनेकैः

cakrustadājiṁ saha vīrakeṇa prahlādamukhyā ditijapradhānāḥ lajjāṅkuśākṛṣṭadhiyo babhūvuḥ sudāruṇāḥ śastraśatairanekaiḥ

"Then Prahlada and the other foremost demons, their minds goaded by the sting of shame, waged a most terrible battle with Viraka using hundreds of dreadful weapons."

Verse 8 (shiva.rudra.183.8)

विरोचनस्तत्र चकार युद्धं बलिश्च बाणश्च सहस्रबाहुः । भजिः कुजम्भस्त्वथ शम्बरश्च वृत्रादयश्चाप्यथ वीर्यवन्तः

virocanastatra cakāra yuddhaṁ baliśca bāṇaśca sahasrabāhuḥ bhajiḥ kujambhastvatha śambaraśca vṛtrādayaścāpyatha vīryavantaḥ

"There Virochana, Bali, Bana, the thousand-armed one, Bhaji, Kujambha, Shambara, Vritra, and other mighty demons fought."

Verse 9 (shiva.rudra.183.9)

ते युद्ध्यमाना विजिताः समन्ताद् द्विधाकृता वै गणवीरकेण । शेषे हतानां बहुदानवाना- मुक्तं जयत्येव हि सिद्धसङ्घैः

te yuddhyamānā vijitāḥ samantād dvidhākṛtā vai gaṇavīrakeṇa śeṣe hatānāṁ bahudānavānā- muktaṁ jayatyeva hi siddhasaṅghaiḥ

"Fighting on every side, they were all defeated by Viraka, cut clean in two — and among the many demons who survived, the hosts of siddhas proclaimed that the victory was Viraka's alone."

Verse 10 (shiva.rudra.183.10)

भेरुण्डजानाभिनयप्रवृत्ते मेदोवसामांससुपूयमध्ये । क्रव्यादसङ्घातसमाकुले तु भयङ्करे शोणितकर्दमे तु

bheruṇḍajānābhinayapravṛtte medovasāmāṁsasupūyamadhye kravyādasaṅghātasamākule tu bhayaṅkare śoṇitakardame tu

"Amid a scene of leaping and swooping like the great bherunda birds, filled with fat, marrow, flesh, and pus, crowded with packs of flesh-eating creatures, in that terrible field of battle sodden with a mire of blood,"

Verse 11 (shiva.rudra.183.11)

भग्नैस्तु दैत्यैर्भगवान् पिनाकी व्रतं महापाशुपतं सुघोरम् । प्रिये मया यत्कृतपूर्वमासी- द्दाक्षायणीं प्राह सुसान्त्वयित्वा

bhagnaistu daityairbhagavān pinākī vrataṁ mahāpāśupataṁ sughoram priye mayā yatkṛtapūrvamāsī- ddākṣāyaṇīṁ prāha susāntvayitvā

"When the demons had broken, that Blessed Shiva, bearer of the Pinaka bow, who long ago had, true to his word, undertaken with Daksha's daughter the terrible Mahapashupata vow, well consoling his beloved, spoke."

Verse 12 (shiva.rudra.183.12)

शिव उवाच । तस्माद्बलं यन्मम तत्प्रणष्टं मर्त्यैरमर्त्यस्य यतः प्रपातः । पुण्यक्षयाही ग्रह एव जातो दिवानिशं देवि तव प्रसङ्गात्

śiva uvāca tasmādbalaṁ yanmama tatpraṇaṣṭaṁ martyairamartyasya yataḥ prapātaḥ puṇyakṣayāhī graha eva jāto divāniśaṁ devi tava prasaṅgāt

Shiva said: "Whatever strength was mine has been undone by that very being, for even mortal creatures can become the cause of an immortal's fall — O goddess, this has arisen, like a baleful planet, from the merit spent day and night in your very company."

Verse 13 (shiva.rudra.183.13)

उत्पाद्य दिव्यं परमाद्भुतं तु पुनर्वरं घोरतरं च गत्वा । तस्माद् व्रतं घोरतरं चरामि सुनिर्भया सुन्दरि वै विशोका

utpādya divyaṁ paramādbhutaṁ tu punarvaraṁ ghorataraṁ ca gatvā tasmād vrataṁ ghorataraṁ carāmi sunirbhayā sundari vai viśokā

"Producing anew some most wondrous and formidable divine boon, going now toward an exceedingly terrible state, I therefore, O lovely one, undertake a yet more terrible vow, free of fear and free of sorrow."

Verse 14 (shiva.rudra.183.14)

सनत्कुमार उवाच । एतावदुक्त्वा वचनं महात्मा उत्पाद्य घोषं शनकैश्चकार । स तत्र गत्वा व्रतमुग्रदीप्तो गतो वनं पुण्यतमं सुघोरम्

sanatkumāra uvāca etāvaduktvā vacanaṁ mahātmā utpādya ghoṣaṁ śanakaiścakāra sa tatra gatvā vratamugradīpto gato vanaṁ puṇyatamaṁ sughoram

Sanatkumara said: Having said this, that great-souled Shiva, slowly raising up a roar, going there, blazing with fierce splendor, began to keep his vow in that most sacred and terrible forest.

Verse 15 (shiva.rudra.183.15)

चर्तुं हि शक्यं तु सुरासुरैर्य- न्न तादृशं वर्षसहस्रमात्रम् । सा पार्वती मन्दरपर्वतस्था प्रतीक्ष्यमाणाऽऽगमनं भवस्य

cartuṁ hi śakyaṁ tu surāsurairya- nna tādṛśaṁ varṣasahasramātram sā pārvatī mandaraparvatasthā pratīkṣyamāṇā''gamanaṁ bhavasya

"That very vow, which even gods and demons could not keep for even a thousand years, Shiva was thus keeping — and meanwhile Parvati, dwelling on Mount Mandara, waited for Bhava's return."

Verse 16 (shiva.rudra.183.16)

पतिव्रता शीलगुणोपपन्ना एकाकिनी नित्यमथो विभीता । गुहान्तरे दुःखपरा बभूव संरक्षिता सा सुतवीरकेण

pativratā śīlaguṇopapannā ekākinī nityamatho vibhītā guhāntare duḥkhaparā babhūva saṁrakṣitā sā sutavīrakeṇa

"That faithful wife, endowed with virtue and every good quality, alone, ever fearful, remained sunk in sorrow within the cave, guarded only by her own son Viraka."

Verse 17 (shiva.rudra.183.17)

ततः स दैत्यो वरदानमत्तः तैर्योधमुख्यैः सहितो गुहां ताम् । विभिन्नधैर्यः पुनराजगाम शिलीमुखैर्मारसमुद्भवैश्च

tataḥ sa daityo varadānamattaḥ tairyodhamukhyaiḥ sahito guhāṁ tām vibhinnadhairyaḥ punarājagāma śilīmukhairmārasamudbhavaiśca

"Then that demon, drunk with his boon, together with those foremost warriors, his composure shattered though it was, came once more toward that cave, like arrows loosed by the god of love himself."

Verse 18 (shiva.rudra.183.18)

अत्यद्भुतं तत्र चकार युद्धं हित्वा तदा भोजनपाननिद्राः । रात्रिं दिवं पञ्चशतानि पञ्च क्रुद्धः ससैन्यैः सह वीरकेण

atyadbhutaṁ tatra cakāra yuddhaṁ hitvā tadā bhojanapānanidrāḥ rātriṁ divaṁ pañcaśatāni pañca kruddhaḥ sasainyaiḥ saha vīrakeṇa

"There he waged a most astonishing war — abandoning food, drink, and sleep, for a full five hundred days and nights he fought on in fury, together with his army, against Viraka."

Verse 19 (shiva.rudra.183.19)

खड्गैः सकुन्तैः सह भिन्दिपालैः गदाभुशुण्डीभिरथो प्रकाण्डैः । शिलीमुखैरर्द्धशशीभिरुग्रै- र्वितस्तिभिः कूर्ममुखैर्ज्वलद्भिः

khaḍgaiḥ sakuntaiḥ saha bhindipālaiḥ gadābhuśuṇḍībhiratho prakāṇḍaiḥ śilīmukhairarddhaśaśībhirugrai- rvitastibhiḥ kūrmamukhairjvaladbhiḥ

"With swords and spears and axes, with maces and clubs, with great staffs, with ordinary shafts and sharp crescent-headed arrows, and with blazing arrows shaped like a tortoise's mouth,"

Verse 20 (shiva.rudra.183.20)

नाराचमुख्यैर्निशितैश्च शूलैः परश्वधैस्तोमरमुद्गरैश्च । खड्गैर्गुडैः पर्वतपादपैश्च दिव्यै रथास्त्रैरपि दैत्यसङ्घैः

nārācamukhyairniśitaiśca śūlaiḥ paraśvadhaistomaramudgaraiśca khaḍgairguḍaiḥ parvatapādapaiśca divyai rathāstrairapi daityasaṅghaiḥ

"with the foremost sharp arrows called naracas, with tridents, with axes, javelins, and clubs, with swords and maces, with mountains and trees, and even with the divine chariot-weapons of the demon hosts —"

Verse 21 (shiva.rudra.183.21)

नदीधितिर्भिन्नतनुः पपात द्वारं गुहायाः पिहितं समस्तम् । तैरायुधैर्दैत्यभुजप्रयुक्तै- र्गुहामुखे मूर्छित एव पश्चात्

nadīdhitirbhinnatanuḥ papāta dvāraṁ guhāyāḥ pihitaṁ samastam tairāyudhairdaityabhujaprayuktai- rguhāmukhe mūrchita eva paścāt

"the mouth of the cave was completely covered; and Viraka, struck senseless by those weapons hurled by the demons' arms, his body worn as by the sun's heat, collapsed there at the cave's mouth."

Verse 22 (shiva.rudra.183.22)

आच्छादितं वीरकमस्त्रजालै- र्दैत्यैश्च सर्वैस्तु मुहूर्तमात्रम् । अपावृतं कर्तुमशक्यमासी- न्निरीक्ष्य देवी दितिजान् सुघोरान्

ācchāditaṁ vīrakamastrajālai- rdaityaiśca sarvaistu muhūrtamātram apāvṛtaṁ kartumaśakyamāsī- nnirīkṣya devī ditijān sughorān

"Covered by that whole net of weapons from all those demons, it became impossible in an instant to uncover Viraka — then the goddess beheld those terrible demons."

Verse 23 (shiva.rudra.183.23)

भयेन सस्मार पितामहं तु देवी सखीभिः सहिता च विष्णुम् । सैन्यं च मद्वीरवरस्य सर्वं सस्मारयामास गुहान्तरस्था

bhayena sasmāra pitāmahaṁ tu devī sakhībhiḥ sahitā ca viṣṇum sainyaṁ ca madvīravarasya sarvaṁ sasmārayāmāsa guhāntarasthā

"Overcome with fear, the goddess, together with her companions, called to mind Brahma the Grandsire and Vishnu; and from within the cave she also called to mind the whole army of her own heroic son."

Verse 24 (shiva.rudra.183.24)

ब्रह्मा तया संस्मृतमात्र एव स्त्रीरूपधारी भगवांश्च विष्णुः । इन्द्रैश्च सर्वैः सह सैन्यकैश्च स्त्रीरूपमास्थाय समागतास्ते

brahmā tayā saṁsmṛtamātra eva strīrūpadhārī bhagavāṁśca viṣṇuḥ indraiśca sarvaiḥ saha sainyakaiśca strīrūpamāsthāya samāgatāste

"The moment that goddess called to mind, Brahma and the Blessed Vishnu, taking the form of women, together with Indra and all the gods and their hosts likewise clad in the form of women, came there."

Verse 25 (shiva.rudra.183.25)

भूत्वा स्त्रियस्ते विविशुस्तदानीं मुनीन्द्रसङ्घाश्च महानुभावाः । सिद्धाश्च नागास्त्वथ गुह्यकाश्च गुहान्तरं पर्वतराजपुत्र्याः

bhūtvā striyaste viviśustadānīṁ munīndrasaṅghāśca mahānubhāvāḥ siddhāśca nāgāstvatha guhyakāśca guhāntaraṁ parvatarājaputryāḥ

"Having become women, they entered there at that time — hosts of foremost sages, great-souled beings, siddhas and nagas, and the guhyakas too entered the cave of the mountain-king's daughter."

Verse 26 (shiva.rudra.183.26)

यस्मात्सुराज्यासनसंस्थिताना- मन्तःपुरे सङ्गमनं विरुद्धम् । ततः सहस्राणि नितम्बिनीना- मनन्तसङ्ख्यान्यपि दर्शयन्त्यः

yasmātsurājyāsanasaṁsthitānā- mantaḥpure saṅgamanaṁ viruddham tataḥ sahasrāṇi nitambinīnā- manantasaṅkhyānyapi darśayantyaḥ

"For it is forbidden that men seated upon a well-ruled throne should enter an inner chamber — therefore they came there displaying the forms of thousands upon thousands of women."

Verse 27 (shiva.rudra.183.27)

रूपाणि दिव्यानि महाद्भुतानि गौर्यै गुहायां तु सवीरकार्यैः । स्त्रियः प्रहृष्टा गिरिराजकन्या गुहान्तरं पर्वतराजपुत्र्याः

rūpāṇi divyāni mahādbhutāni gauryai guhāyāṁ tu savīrakāryaiḥ striyaḥ prahṛṣṭā girirājakanyā guhāntaraṁ parvatarājaputryāḥ

"Within the mountain-king's daughter's cave, becoming helpers in Viraka's task, they showed Gauri their divine, wondrous forms without number — and seeing those women, the mountain-king's daughter rejoiced greatly."

Verse 28 (shiva.rudra.183.28)

स्त्रीभिःसहस्रैश्च शतैरनेकै- र्नेदुश्च कल्पान्तरमेघघोषाः । भेर्यश्च सङ्ग्रामजयप्रदास्तु ध्माताःसुशङ्खाः सुनितम्बिनीभिः

strībhiḥsahasraiśca śatairanekai- rneduśca kalpāntarameghaghoṣāḥ bheryaśca saṅgrāmajayapradāstu dhmātāḥsuśaṅkhāḥ sunitambinībhiḥ

"With thousands upon hundreds of women together, a roar arose like the thunder of the clouds at the world's end, and those lovely women sounded conches and war-drums that grant victory in battle."

Verse 29 (shiva.rudra.183.29)

मूर्छां विहायाद्भुत चण्डवीर्यः स वीरको वै पुरतः स्थितस्तु । प्रगृह्य शस्त्राणि महारथानां तैरेव शस्त्रैर्दितिजान् जघान

mūrchāṁ vihāyādbhuta caṇḍavīryaḥ sa vīrako vai purataḥ sthitastu pragṛhya śastrāṇi mahārathānāṁ taireva śastrairditijān jaghāna

"That astonishing and fiercely powerful Viraka, casting off his stupor, rose and stood before them all; taking up the weapons of the great chariot-warriors, with those very weapons he struck down the demons."

Verse 30 (shiva.rudra.183.30)

ब्राह्मी ततो दण्डकरा विरुद्धा गौरी तदा क्रोधपरीतचेताः । नारायणी शङ्खगदासुचक्र- धनुर्द्धरा पूरितबाहुदण्डा

brāhmī tato daṇḍakarā viruddhā gaurī tadā krodhaparītacetāḥ nārāyaṇī śaṅkhagadāsucakra- dhanurddharā pūritabāhudaṇḍā

"Then Brahmi, wielding her staff, and Gauri, filled with fury, and Narayani, bearing conch, mace, discus, and bow, her arms filled with weapons —"

Verse 31 (shiva.rudra.183.31)

विनिर्ययौ लाङ्गलदण्डहस्ता व्योमालका काञ्चनतुल्यवर्णा । धारासहस्राकुलमुग्रवेगं बैडौजसी वज्रकरा तदानीम्

viniryayau lāṅgaladaṇḍahastā vyomālakā kāñcanatulyavarṇā dhārāsahasrākulamugravegaṁ baiḍaujasī vajrakarā tadānīm

"and Vaishnavi, plough and pestle in hand, her hair like the sky, of golden hue, and Aindri, thunderbolt-armed, terrible in her rushing speed, filled with a thousand torrents, went forth at that time —"

Verse 32 (shiva.rudra.183.32)

सहस्रनेत्रा युधि सुस्थिरा च सुदुर्जया दैत्यशतैरधृष्या । वैश्वानरी शक्तिरसौम्यवक्त्रा याम्या च दण्डोद्यतपाणिरुग्रा

sahasranetrā yudhi susthirā ca sudurjayā daityaśatairadhṛṣyā vaiśvānarī śaktirasaumyavaktrā yāmyā ca daṇḍodyatapāṇirugrā

"that thousand-eyed one, steadfast in war, unassailable and unconquerable even by hundreds of demons, and fiery Vaishvanari of stern face, and terrible Yami, staff raised in her hand —"

Verse 33 (shiva.rudra.183.33)

सुतीक्ष्णखङ्गोद्यतपाणिरूपा समाययौ नैरृतिघोरचापा । तोयालिका वारणपाशहस्ता विनिर्गता युद्धमभीप्समाना

sutīkṣṇakhaṅgodyatapāṇirūpā samāyayau nairṛtighoracāpā toyālikā vāraṇapāśahastā vinirgatā yuddhamabhīpsamānā

"and Nairriti, sharp sword and terrible bow raised, and Varuni, noose of water in hand, all issued forth eager for battle,"

Verse 34 (shiva.rudra.183.34)

प्रचण्डवातप्रभवा च देवी क्षुधावपुस्त्वङ्कुशपाणिरेव । कल्पान्तवह्निप्रतिमां गदां च पाणौ गृहीत्वा धनदोद्भवा च

pracaṇḍavātaprabhavā ca devī kṣudhāvapustvaṅkuśapāṇireva kalpāntavahnipratimāṁ gadāṁ ca pāṇau gṛhītvā dhanadodbhavā ca

"and the goddess born of the raging wind, her body famine itself, ankusha in hand, and she who sprang from Kubera, mace like the fire of dissolution in her grip,"

Verse 35 (shiva.rudra.183.35)

यक्षेश्वरी तीक्ष्णमुखा विरूपा नखायुधा नागभयङ्करी च । एतास्तथान्याः शतशो हि देव्यः सुनिर्गताः सङ्कुलयुद्धभूमिम्

yakṣeśvarī tīkṣṇamukhā virūpā nakhāyudhā nāgabhayaṅkarī ca etāstathānyāḥ śataśo hi devyaḥ sunirgatāḥ saṅkulayuddhabhūmim

"and Yakshesvari, sharp-faced, misshapen, her very claws her weapons, terrifying even to serpents — these and hundreds like them, goddesses all, poured out into that turbulent field of war."

Verse 36 (shiva.rudra.183.36)

दृष्ट्वा च तत्सैन्यमनन्तपारं विवर्णवर्णाश्च सुविस्मिताश्च । समाकुलाः सञ्चकिता भयाद्वै देव्यो बभूवुर्हृदि दीनसत्त्वाः

dṛṣṭvā ca tatsainyamanantapāraṁ vivarṇavarṇāśca suvismitāśca samākulāḥ sañcakitā bhayādvai devyo babhūvurhṛdi dīnasattvāḥ

"Seeing that boundless host, they, their faces gone pale, filled with utter astonishment, thrown into fear and confusion, grew faint of heart within."

Verse 37 (shiva.rudra.183.37)

चक्रुः समाधाय मनः समस्ताः ता देववध्वो विधिशक्तिमुख्याः । सुसम्मतत्वेन गिरीशपुत्र्याः सेनापतिर्वीरसुघोरवीर्यः

cakruḥ samādhāya manaḥ samastāḥ tā devavadhvo vidhiśaktimukhyāḥ susammatatvena girīśaputryāḥ senāpatirvīrasughoravīryaḥ

"Then all those wives of the gods, foremost in ordinance and power, composing their minds, and, deeply devoted to Girisha's daughter, made the fiercely mighty hero Viraka their commander."

Verse 38 (shiva.rudra.183.38)

चक्रुर्महायुद्धमभूतपूर्वं निधाय बुद्धौ दितिजाः प्रधानाः । निवर्तनं मृत्युमथात्मनश्च नारीभिरन्ये वरदानसत्त्वाः

cakrurmahāyuddhamabhūtapūrvaṁ nidhāya buddhau ditijāḥ pradhānāḥ nivartanaṁ mṛtyumathātmanaśca nārībhiranye varadānasattvāḥ

"The foremost demons too, resolved in mind, waged a great and unprecedented war — while other demons, relying on their boons, fought on, holding it certain that death or retreat at women's hands could never come to them."

Verse 39 (shiva.rudra.183.39)

अत्यद्भुतं तत्र चकार युद्धं गौरी तदानीं सहिता सखीभिः । कृत्वा रणे चाद्भुतबुद्धिशौण्डं सेनापतिं वीरकघोरवीर्यम्

atyadbhutaṁ tatra cakāra yuddhaṁ gaurī tadānīṁ sahitā sakhībhiḥ kṛtvā raṇe cādbhutabuddhiśauṇḍaṁ senāpatiṁ vīrakaghoravīryam

"There Gauri too, together with her companions, displayed astonishing valor in that battle, and, placing her terribly mighty commander Viraka before her on the field, she waged that most wondrous war."

Verse 40 (shiva.rudra.183.40)

हिरण्यनेत्रात्मज एव भूप- श्चक्रे महाव्यूहमरं सुकर्मा । सम्भाव्य विष्णुं च निरीक्ष्य याम्यां सुदारुणं तद्गिलनामधेयम्

hiraṇyanetrātmaja eva bhūpa- ścakre mahāvyūhamaraṁ sukarmā sambhāvya viṣṇuṁ ca nirīkṣya yāmyāṁ sudāruṇaṁ tadgilanāmadheyam

"That son of Hiranyanetra, the king, skilled in his craft, seeing Vishnu before him, arrayed a vast military formation, and stationed in the southern quarter that most dreadful, devouring host called Gilana."

Verse 41 (shiva.rudra.183.41)

मुखं करालं विधिसेवयाऽस्य तस्मिन् कृते भगवानाजगाम । कल्पान्तघोरार्कसहस्रकान्ति- कीर्णञ्च वै कुपितः कृत्तिवासाः

mukhaṁ karālaṁ vidhisevayā'sya tasmin kṛte bhagavānājagāma kalpāntaghorārkasahasrakānti- kīrṇañca vai kupitaḥ kṛttivāsāḥ

"That gaping mouth of his had been fashioned by ritual observance; and once that mouth was made, the Blessed one clad in hides, radiant as a million suns terrible at the dissolution of the world, and now enraged, arrived there."

Verse 42 (shiva.rudra.183.42)

गते ततो वर्षसहस्रमात्रे तमागतं प्रेक्ष्य महेश्वरं च । चक्रुर्महायुद्धमतीवमात्रं नार्यः प्रहृष्टाः सह वीरकेण

gate tato varṣasahasramātre tamāgataṁ prekṣya maheśvaraṁ ca cakrurmahāyuddhamatīvamātraṁ nāryaḥ prahṛṣṭāḥ saha vīrakeṇa

"When a thousand years had passed, seeing Maheshvara thus arrived, those women, rejoicing together with Viraka, engaged once more in that vast and mighty war."

Verse 43 (shiva.rudra.183.43)

प्रणम्य गौरी गिरिशं च मूर्ध्ना सन्दर्शयन् भर्तुरतीव शौर्यमम् । गौरी प्रयुद्धं च चकार हृष्टा हरस्ततः पर्वतराजपुत्रीम्

praṇamya gaurī giriśaṁ ca mūrdhnā sandarśayan bharturatīva śauryamam gaurī prayuddhaṁ ca cakāra hṛṣṭā harastataḥ parvatarājaputrīm

"Gauri bowed her head to Girisha, and, displaying to her husband her own extraordinary valor, joyfully fought once more — then Hara, taking the mountain-king's daughter,"

Verse 44 (shiva.rudra.183.44)

कण्ठे गृहीत्वा तु गुहां प्रविष्टो रमासहस्राणि विसर्जितानि । गौरी च सम्मानशतैः प्रपूज्य गुहामुखे वीरकमेव स्थापयन्

kaṇṭhe gṛhītvā tu guhāṁ praviṣṭo ramāsahasrāṇi visarjitāni gaurī ca sammānaśataiḥ prapūjya guhāmukhe vīrakameva sthāpayan

"embracing her by the neck, entered the cave, and dismissed those thousands of women; and Gauri, honoring him with a hundred marks of respect, appointed Viraka himself to keep the mouth of the cave."

Verse 45 (shiva.rudra.183.45)

ततो न गौरीं गिरिशं च दृष्ट्वा- सुरेश्वरो नीतिविचक्षणो हि । द्रुतं स्वदूतं विधसाख्यमेव स प्रेषयामास शिवोपकण्ठम्

tato na gaurīṁ giriśaṁ ca dṛṣṭvā- sureśvaro nītivicakṣaṇo hi drutaṁ svadūtaṁ vidhasākhyameva sa preṣayāmāsa śivopakaṇṭham

"Then, no longer seeing Gauri and Girisha, that lord of demons, skilled in statecraft, at once sent his own messenger, named Vidhasa, into Shiva's presence."

Verse 46 (shiva.rudra.183.46)

तैस्तैः प्रहारैरपि जर्जराङ्ग- स्तस्मिन् रणे देवगणेरितैर्यः । जगाद वाक्यं तु सगर्वमुग्रं प्रविश्य शम्भुं प्रणिपत्य मूर्ध्ना

taistaiḥ prahārairapi jarjarāṅga- stasmin raṇe devagaṇeritairyaḥ jagāda vākyaṁ tu sagarvamugraṁ praviśya śambhuṁ praṇipatya mūrdhnā

"Battered even by the blows dealt him by the gods in that battle, speaking proudly and harshly still, that messenger, entering Shambhu's presence, bowed his head and spoke."

Verse 47 (shiva.rudra.183.47)

दूत उवाच । सम्प्रेषितोऽहं विविशे गुहां तु ह्येषोऽन्धकस्त्वां समुवाच वाक्यम् । नार्या न कार्यं तव किञ्चिदस्ति- विमुञ्च नारीं तरुणीं सुरूपाम्

dūta uvāca sampreṣito'haṁ viviśe guhāṁ tu hyeṣo'ndhakastvāṁ samuvāca vākyam nāryā na kāryaṁ tava kiñcidasti- vimuñca nārīṁ taruṇīṁ surūpām

The messenger said: "I am sent, and I have entered this cave — Andhaka has bid me speak this word to you: you have no need of this woman — release this beautiful young lady."

Verse 48 (shiva.rudra.183.48)

प्रायो भवांस्तापसस्तज्जुषस्व क्षान्तं मया यत्कमनीयमन्तः । मुनिर्विरोधव्य इति प्रचिन्त्य न त्वं मुनिस्तापस किं तु शत्रुः

prāyo bhavāṁstāpasastajjuṣasva kṣāntaṁ mayā yatkamanīyamantaḥ munirvirodhavya iti pracintya na tvaṁ munistāpasa kiṁ tu śatruḥ

"You are, it seems, an ascetic — devote yourself to your own austerities alone; I bore what seemed charming within, thinking, 'A sage is not to be opposed' — but you are no sage, you are an enemy."

Verse 49 (shiva.rudra.183.49)

अतीव दैत्येषु महाविरोधी युध्यस्व वेगेन मया प्रमथ्य । नयामि पातालतलानुरूपं यमक्षयं तापस धूर्त्त हि त्वाम्

atīva daityeṣu mahāvirodhī yudhyasva vegena mayā pramathya nayāmi pātālatalānurūpaṁ yamakṣayaṁ tāpasa dhūrtta hi tvām

"You are utterly hostile to the demons; churned by my own force, fight with me — O cunning ascetic, I shall lead you down to the abode of Yama, fit for the depths of the netherworld."

Verse 50 (shiva.rudra.183.50)

सनत्कुमार उवाच । एतद्वचो दूतमुखान्निशम्य कपालमाली तमुवाच कोपात् । ज्वलन्विषादेन महांस्त्रिनेत्रः सतां गतिर्दुष्टमदप्रहर्ता

sanatkumāra uvāca etadvaco dūtamukhānniśamya kapālamālī tamuvāca kopāt jvalanviṣādena mahāṁstrinetraḥ satāṁ gatirduṣṭamadaprahartā

Sanatkumara said: Hearing this word from the messenger's mouth, three-eyed Shiva, wearer of the garland of skulls, blazing with the fury of that insult, mighty, destroyer of the wicked's pride, refuge of the good, spoke.

Verse 51 (shiva.rudra.183.51)

शिव उवाच । व्यक्तं वचस्ते तदतीव चोग्रं प्रोक्तं हि तत्त्वं त्वरितं प्रयाहि । कुरुष्व युद्धं हि मया प्रसह्य यदि प्रशक्तोऽसि बलेन हि त्वम्

śiva uvāca vyaktaṁ vacaste tadatīva cograṁ proktaṁ hi tattvaṁ tvaritaṁ prayāhi kuruṣva yuddhaṁ hi mayā prasahya yadi praśakto'si balena hi tvam

Shiva said: "Your words were plain and exceedingly harsh; here is the true answer to them — go swiftly, and if you are truly capable in strength, then wage war upon me with all your force."

Verse 52 (shiva.rudra.183.52)

यः स्यादशक्तो भुवि तस्य कोऽर्थो दारैर्धनैर्वा सुमनोहरैश्च । आयान्तु दैत्याश्च बलेन मत्ता विचार्यमेवं तु कृतं मयैतत्

yaḥ syādaśakto bhuvi tasya ko'rtho dārairdhanairvā sumanoharaiśca āyāntu daityāśca balena mattā vicāryamevaṁ tu kṛtaṁ mayaitat

"What use has one who is powerless in this world for a wife, or for beautiful wealth? Let the demons come, drunk with their own strength — I have done all this only after due consideration."

Verse 53 (shiva.rudra.183.53)

शरीरयात्रापि कुतस्त्वशक्तेः कुर्वन्तु यद्यद्विहितं तु तेषाम् । ममापि यद्यत्करणीयमस्ति तत्तत्करिष्यामि न संशयोऽत्र

śarīrayātrāpi kutastvaśakteḥ kurvantu yadyadvihitaṁ tu teṣām mamāpi yadyatkaraṇīyamasti tattatkariṣyāmi na saṁśayo'tra

"Where there is no power, how can even the mere business of living proceed? Let them do whatever is fitting for them; and I too shall do all that is fitting for me — of this there is no doubt."

Verse 54 (shiva.rudra.183.54)

सनत्कुमार उवाच । एतद्वचस्तद्विधसोऽपि तस्मा- च्छ्रुत्वा हरान्निर्गत एव हृष्टः । प्रागात्ततो गर्जितहुङ्कृतानि कुर्वंस्ततो दैत्यपतेः सकाशम्

sanatkumāra uvāca etadvacastadvidhaso'pi tasmā- cchrutvā harānnirgata eva hṛṣṭaḥ prāgāttato garjitahuṅkṛtāni kurvaṁstato daityapateḥ sakāśam

Sanatkumara said: Vidhasa too, hearing this word from Hara, went forth from there rejoicing; and, roaring and bellowing all the way, he came at last into the presence of the lord of demons.