The Swallowing of Shukra in the Battle with Andhaka

Verse 1 (shiva.rudra.185.1)

व्यास उवाच । तस्मिन्महति सङ्ग्रामे दारुणे लोमहर्षणे । शुक्रो दैत्यपतिर्विद्वान् भक्षितस्त्रिपुरारिणा

vyāsa uvāca tasminmahati saṅgrāme dāruṇe lomaharṣaṇe śukro daityapatirvidvān bhakṣitastripurāriṇā

Vyasa said: "In that great, terrible, hair-raising battle, the wise lord of the demons, Shukra, was swallowed by the slayer of Tripura."

Verse 2 (shiva.rudra.185.2)

इति श्रुतं समासान्मे तत्पुनर्ब्रूहि विस्तरात् । किं चकार महायोगी जठरस्थः पिनाकिनः

iti śrutaṁ samāsānme tatpunarbrūhi vistarāt kiṁ cakāra mahāyogī jaṭharasthaḥ pinākinaḥ

"This I have heard in brief; now tell it to me again at length — what did that great yogi do while dwelling within Shiva's belly?"

Verse 3 (shiva.rudra.185.3)

न ददाह कथं शम्भोः शुक्रं तं जठरानलः । कल्पान्तदहनः कालो दीप्ततेजाश्च भार्गवः

na dadāha kathaṁ śambhoḥ śukraṁ taṁ jaṭharānalaḥ kalpāntadahanaḥ kālo dīptatejāśca bhārgavaḥ

"Why did the fire of Shambhu's belly not consume that Shukra, who was himself like the fire of dissolution, blazing and radiant, that son of Bhrigu?"

Verse 4 (shiva.rudra.185.4)

विनिष्क्रान्तः कथं धीमान् शम्भोर्जठरपञ्जरात् । कथमाराधयामास कियत्कालं स भार्गवः

viniṣkrāntaḥ kathaṁ dhīmān śambhorjaṭharapañjarāt kathamārādhayāmāsa kiyatkālaṁ sa bhārgavaḥ

"How did that wise Bhargava emerge from the cage of Shambhu's belly? For how long, and in what manner, did he worship him there?"

Verse 5 (shiva.rudra.185.5)

कथं च लब्धवान्विद्यां तां मृत्युशमनीं पराम् । का सा विद्या परा तात यया मृत्युर्हि वार्यते

kathaṁ ca labdhavānvidyāṁ tāṁ mṛtyuśamanīṁ parām kā sā vidyā parā tāta yayā mṛtyurhi vāryate

"And how did he obtain that supreme lore which stills death itself? O father, what is that supreme lore by which even death can be held back?"

Verse 6 (shiva.rudra.185.6)

लेभेऽन्धको गाणपत्यं कथं शूलाद्विनिर्गतः । देवदेवस्य वै शम्भोर्मुनेर्लीलाविहारिणः

lebhe'ndhako gāṇapatyaṁ kathaṁ śūlādvinirgataḥ devadevasya vai śambhormunerlīlāvihāriṇaḥ

"How, emerging from the trident's grasp, did Andhaka obtain the lordship of the ganas from Shambhu, god of gods, that sage ever at play in manifold sports?"

Verse 7 (shiva.rudra.185.7)

एतत्सर्वमशेषेण महाधीमन् कृपां कुरु । शिवलीलामृतं तात शृण्वतः कथयस्व मे

etatsarvamaśeṣeṇa mahādhīman kṛpāṁ kuru śivalīlāmṛtaṁ tāta śṛṇvataḥ kathayasva me

"O most wise one, be gracious and tell me all of this in full — O father, tell this nectar-tale of Shiva's play to me, who am eager to hear it."

Verse 8 (shiva.rudra.185.8)

ब्रह्मोवाच । इति तस्य वचः श्रुत्वा व्यासस्यामिततेजसः । सनत्कुमारः प्रोवाच स्मृत्वा शिवपदाम्बुजम्

brahmovāca iti tasya vacaḥ śrutvā vyāsasyāmitatejasaḥ sanatkumāraḥ provāca smṛtvā śivapadāmbujam

Brahma said: Hearing these words of Vyasa, of boundless splendor, Sanatkumara, calling to mind Shiva's lotus feet, spoke.

Verse 9 (shiva.rudra.185.9)

सनत्कुमार उवाच । शृणु व्यास महाबुद्धे शिवलीलामृतं परम् । धन्यस्त्वं शैवमुख्योऽसि ममानन्दकरः स्वतः

sanatkumāra uvāca śṛṇu vyāsa mahābuddhe śivalīlāmṛtaṁ param dhanyastvaṁ śaivamukhyo'si mamānandakaraḥ svataḥ

Sanatkumara said: "Hear, O Vyasa, greatly wise one, this supreme nectar-tale of Shiva's play — you are blessed, foremost among devotees of Shiva, and, by your very nature, a source of joy to me."

Verse 10 (shiva.rudra.185.10)

प्रवर्तमाने समरे शङ्करान्धकयोस्तयोः । अनिर्भेद्यपविव्यूहगिरिव्यूहाधिनाथयोः

pravartamāne samare śaṅkarāndhakayostayoḥ anirbhedyapavivyūhagirivyūhādhināthayoḥ

"When war broke out between Shankara and Andhaka, both armies stood arrayed in a mountain-like formation, impenetrable on either side."

Verse 11 (shiva.rudra.185.11)

पुरा जयो बभूवापि दैत्यानां बलशालिनाम् । शिवप्रभावादभवत्प्रमथानां मुने जयः

purā jayo babhūvāpi daityānāṁ balaśālinām śivaprabhāvādabhavatpramathānāṁ mune jayaḥ

"O sage, at first victory belonged to the mighty demons, but afterward, by Shiva's own power, victory turned to the Pramathas."

Verse 12 (shiva.rudra.185.12)

तच्छ्रुत्वासीद्विषण्णो हि महादैत्योऽन्धकासुरः । कथं स्यान्मे जय इति विचारणपरोऽभवत्

tacchrutvāsīdviṣaṇṇo hi mahādaityo'ndhakāsuraḥ kathaṁ syānme jaya iti vicāraṇaparo'bhavat

"Hearing this, that great demon Andhaka grew despondent, and began to ponder how victory might yet be his."

Verse 13 (shiva.rudra.185.13)

अपसृत्य ततो युद्धादन्धकः परबुद्धिमान् । द्रुतमभ्यगमद्वीर एकलः शुक्रसन्निधिम्

apasṛtya tato yuddhādandhakaḥ parabuddhimān drutamabhyagamadvīra ekalaḥ śukrasannidhim

"Then that wise Andhaka, withdrawing from battle, a hero all alone, went swiftly to Shukra's presence."

Verse 14 (shiva.rudra.185.14)

प्रणम्य स्वगुरुं काव्यमवरुह्य रथाच्च सः । बभाषेदं विचार्याथ साञ्जलिर्नीतिवित्तमः

praṇamya svaguruṁ kāvyamavaruhya rathācca saḥ babhāṣedaṁ vicāryātha sāñjalirnītivittamaḥ

"Bowing to his guru Kavya, descending from his chariot, having thought it over, joining his palms, skilled in statecraft, he spoke thus."

Verse 15 (shiva.rudra.185.15)

अन्धक उवाच । भगवंस्त्वामुपाश्रित्य गुरोर्भावं वहामहे । पराजिता भवामो नो सर्वदा जयशालिनः

andhaka uvāca bhagavaṁstvāmupāśritya gurorbhāvaṁ vahāmahe parājitā bhavāmo no sarvadā jayaśālinaḥ

Andhaka said: "O lord, taking refuge in you, we bear a true devotion toward our guru — never are we defeated, ever have we remained victorious."

Verse 16 (shiva.rudra.185.16)

त्वत्प्रभावात्सदा देवान्समस्तान्सानुगान्वयम् । मन्यामहे हरोपेन्द्रमुखानपि हि कत्तृणान्

tvatprabhāvātsadā devānsamastānsānugānvayam manyāmahe haropendramukhānapi hi kattṛṇān

"By your power alone have we ever regarded all the gods, even Hari and Indra, as mere straw before us."

Verse 17 (shiva.rudra.185.17)

अस्मत्तो बिभ्यति सुराः तदा भवदनुग्रहात् । गजा इव हरिभ्यश्च तार्क्ष्येभ्य इव पन्नगाः

asmatto bibhyati surāḥ tadā bhavadanugrahāt gajā iva haribhyaśca tārkṣyebhya iva pannagāḥ

"By your grace alone the gods fear us, just as elephants fear lions, and serpents fear the garudas."

Verse 18 (shiva.rudra.185.18)

अनिर्भेद्यं पविव्यूहं विविशुर्दैत्यदानवाः । प्रमथानीकमखिलं विधूय त्वदनुग्रहात्

anirbhedyaṁ pavivyūhaṁ viviśurdaityadānavāḥ pramathānīkamakhilaṁ vidhūya tvadanugrahāt

"By your grace alone the asuras and demons, shattering the whole army of the Pramathas, have entered that impenetrable mountain-array."

Verse 19 (shiva.rudra.185.19)

वयं त्वच्छरणा भूत्वा सदा गा इव निश्चलाः । स्थित्वा चरामो निःशङ्कमाजावपि हि भार्गव

vayaṁ tvaccharaṇā bhūtvā sadā gā iva niścalāḥ sthitvā carāmo niḥśaṅkamājāvapi hi bhārgava

"Taking refuge in you, we move about, even in battle, unshaken as steady cattle, O Bhargava."

Verse 20 (shiva.rudra.185.20)

रक्षरक्षाभितो विप्र प्रव्रज्य शरणागतान् । असुरान् शत्रुभिर्वीरैरर्दितांश्च मृतानपि

rakṣarakṣābhito vipra pravrajya śaraṇāgatān asurān śatrubhirvīrairarditāṁśca mṛtānapi

"O brahmin, you protect on every side those who take refuge in you — behold now the demons afflicted and slain by our foes,"

Verse 21 (shiva.rudra.185.21)

प्रथमैर्भीमविक्रान्तैः क्रान्तान्मृत्युप्रमाथिभिः । सूदितान्पतितान्पश्य हुण्डादीन्मद्गणान्वरान्

prathamairbhīmavikrāntaiḥ krāntānmṛtyupramāthibhiḥ sūditānpatitānpaśya huṇḍādīnmadgaṇānvarān

"struck down and fallen by those foremost warriors of terrible might who deal death — behold my foremost troops, Hunda and the rest."

Verse 22 (shiva.rudra.185.22)

यः पीत्वा कणधूमं वै सहस्रं शरदां पुरा । त्वया प्राप्ता वरा विद्या तस्याः कालोऽयमागतः

yaḥ pītvā kaṇadhūmaṁ vai sahasraṁ śaradāṁ purā tvayā prāptā varā vidyā tasyāḥ kālo'yamāgataḥ

"That supreme lore which you, long ago, obtained by drinking the smoke of grain for a thousand years — the time for it has now arrived."

Verse 23 (shiva.rudra.185.23)

अद्य विद्याफलं तत्ते सर्वे पश्यन्तु भार्गव । प्रमथा असुरान्सर्वान् कृपया जीवयिष्यतः

adya vidyāphalaṁ tatte sarve paśyantu bhārgava pramathā asurānsarvān kṛpayā jīvayiṣyataḥ

"O Bhargava, let all today see the fruit of that lore — by your compassion, give life again to all these demons slain by the Pramathas."

Verse 24 (shiva.rudra.185.24)

सनत्कुमार उवाच । इत्थमन्धकवाक्यं स श्रुत्वा धीरो हि भार्गवः । तदा विचारयामास दूयमानेन चेतसा

sanatkumāra uvāca itthamandhakavākyaṁ sa śrutvā dhīro hi bhārgavaḥ tadā vicārayāmāsa dūyamānena cetasā

Sanatkumara said: Hearing these words of Andhaka, steadfast Bhargava, with a troubled mind, began to reflect.

Verse 25 (shiva.rudra.185.25)

किं कर्तव्यं मयाद्यापि क्षेमं मे स्यात्कथं त्विति । सन्निपातविधिर्जीवः सर्वथानुचितो मम

kiṁ kartavyaṁ mayādyāpi kṣemaṁ me syātkathaṁ tviti sannipātavidhirjīvaḥ sarvathānucito mama

"'What now should I do, and how shall my own good come about? To fall into such a dilemma is in no way fitting for me."

Verse 26 (shiva.rudra.185.26)

विद्येयं शङ्करात्प्राप्ता तद्गुणान् प्रति योजये । तद्रणे मर्दितान्वीरैः प्रमथैः शङ्करानुगैः

vidyeyaṁ śaṅkarātprāptā tadguṇān prati yojaye tadraṇe marditānvīraiḥ pramathaiḥ śaṅkarānugaiḥ

"'This lore I obtained from Shankara himself, and so I should apply it only to his glory — yet these demons have been crushed in battle by none other than the heroic Pramathas, Shankara's own followers."

Verse 27 (shiva.rudra.185.27)

शरणागतधर्मोऽथ प्रवरः सर्वतो हृदा । विचार्य शुक्रेण धिया तद्वाणी स्वीकृता तदा

śaraṇāgatadharmo'tha pravaraḥ sarvato hṛdā vicārya śukreṇa dhiyā tadvāṇī svīkṛtā tadā

"'Yet on the other hand, protecting one who has taken refuge is the highest dharma, to be upheld from the heart in every way.' Thus, weighing it with his wisdom, Shukra accepted Andhaka's plea."

Verse 28 (shiva.rudra.185.28)

किञ्चित्स्मितं तदा कृत्वा सोऽब्रवीद्दानवाधिपम् । भार्गवः शिवपादाब्जं स्मृत्वा स्वस्थेन चेतसा

kiñcitsmitaṁ tadā kṛtvā so'bravīddānavādhipam bhārgavaḥ śivapādābjaṁ smṛtvā svasthena cetasā

Then, smiling a little, calling to mind Shiva's lotus feet, with a composed mind, that Bhargava spoke to the lord of demons.

Verse 29 (shiva.rudra.185.29)

शुक्र उवाच । यत्त्वया भाषितं तात तत्सर्वं तथ्यमेव हि । एतद्विद्योपार्जनं हि दानवार्थं कृतं मया

śukra uvāca yattvayā bhāṣitaṁ tāta tatsarvaṁ tathyameva hi etadvidyopārjanaṁ hi dānavārthaṁ kṛtaṁ mayā

Shukra said: "O son, all that you have said is indeed true — I acquired this lore precisely for the benefit of the demons."

Verse 30 (shiva.rudra.185.30)

दुःसहं कणधूमं वै पीत्वा वर्षसहस्रकम् । विद्येयमीश्वरात्प्राप्ता बन्धूनां सुखदा सदा

duḥsahaṁ kaṇadhūmaṁ vai pītvā varṣasahasrakam vidyeyamīśvarātprāptā bandhūnāṁ sukhadā sadā

"Drinking the unbearable smoke of grain for a thousand years, I obtained this lore from the Lord — one that ever grants happiness to one's own kinsmen."

Verse 31 (shiva.rudra.185.31)

प्रमथैर्मथितान्दैत्यान् रणेऽहं विद्ययानया । उत्थापयिष्ये म्लानानि शस्यानि जलभुग्यथा

pramathairmathitāndaityān raṇe'haṁ vidyayānayā utthāpayiṣye mlānāni śasyāni jalabhugyathā

"With this lore, I myself shall raise up the demons crushed in battle by the Pramathas, just as a water-drinking cloud raises up wilted crops once more."

Verse 32 (shiva.rudra.185.32)

निर्व्रणान्नीरुजः स्वस्थान् सुप्त्वेव पुनरुत्थितान् । मुहूर्तेऽस्मिंश्च द्रष्टासि दैत्यांस्तानुत्थितान्निजान्

nirvraṇānnīrujaḥ svasthān suptveva punarutthitān muhūrte'smiṁśca draṣṭāsi daityāṁstānutthitānnijān

"Free of wounds, free of ailment, whole again, as though risen from mere sleep — this very moment you shall see your demons standing risen once more."

Verse 33 (shiva.rudra.185.33)

सनत्कुमार उवाच । इत्युक्त्वा सोऽधकं शुक्रो विद्यामावर्तयत्कविः । एकैकं दैत्यमुद्दिश्य स्मृत्वा विद्येशमादरात्

sanatkumāra uvāca ityuktvā so'dhakaṁ śukro vidyāmāvartayatkaviḥ ekaikaṁ daityamuddiśya smṛtvā vidyeśamādarāt

Sanatkumara said: Having said this to Andhaka, that seer Shukra, fixing his mind on each demon in turn, respectfully calling to mind the Lord of that Lore, applied that mantra-lore.

Verse 34 (shiva.rudra.185.34)

विद्यावर्तनमात्रेण ते सर्वे दैत्यदानवाः । उत्तस्थुर्युगपद्वीराः सुप्ता इव धृतायुधाः

vidyāvartanamātreṇa te sarve daityadānavāḥ uttasthuryugapadvīrāḥ suptā iva dhṛtāyudhāḥ

"By the mere application of that lore, all those demons, weapons still in hand, as though risen from sleep, stood up together as one."

Verse 35 (shiva.rudra.185.35)

सदाभ्यस्ता यथा वेदाः समये वा यथाम्बुदाः । श्रद्धयार्थास्तथा दत्ता ब्राह्मणेभ्यो यथापदि

sadābhyastā yathā vedāḥ samaye vā yathāmbudāḥ śraddhayārthāstathā dattā brāhmaṇebhyo yathāpadi

"As the Vedas are ever kept in practice, or as clouds gather when their season comes, or as wealth is given to brahmins with faith, or as aid is rightly given in time of trouble —"

Verse 36 (shiva.rudra.185.36)

उज्जीवितांस्तु तान्दृष्ट्वा हुण्डादींश्च महासुरान् । विनेदुरसुराः सर्वे जलपूर्णा इवाम्बुदाः

ujjīvitāṁstu tāndṛṣṭvā huṇḍādīṁśca mahāsurān vinedurasurāḥ sarve jalapūrṇā ivāmbudāḥ

"seeing Hunda and the other great demons thus risen, all the asuras roared with joy, like clouds heavy with rain."

Verse 37 (shiva.rudra.185.37)

रणोद्यताः पुनश्चासन्गर्जन्तो विकटान् रवान् । प्रमथैः सह निर्भीता महाबलपराक्रमाः

raṇodyatāḥ punaścāsangarjanto vikaṭān ravān pramathaiḥ saha nirbhītā mahābalaparākramāḥ

"Once more they rose ready for battle, roaring terrible roars, fearless before the Pramathas, of tremendous strength and valor."

Verse 38 (shiva.rudra.185.38)

शुक्रेणोज्जीवितान्दृष्ट्वा प्रमथा दैत्यदानवान् । विसिष्मिरे ततः सर्वे नन्द्याद्या युद्धदुर्मदाः

śukreṇojjīvitāndṛṣṭvā pramathā daityadānavān visiṣmire tataḥ sarve nandyādyā yuddhadurmadāḥ

"Seeing those demons and asuras revived by Shukra, Nandi and all the other Pramathas, reckless in war, were struck with astonishment."

Verse 39 (shiva.rudra.185.39)

विज्ञाप्यमेवं कर्मैतद्देवेशे शङ्करेऽखिलम् । विचार्य बुद्धिमन्तश्च ह्येवं तेऽन्योन्यमब्रुवन्

vijñāpyamevaṁ karmaitaddeveśe śaṅkare'khilam vicārya buddhimantaśca hyevaṁ te'nyonyamabruvan

"Informing the god of gods, Shankara, of this whole affair, those wise Pramathas began to speak among themselves in this manner."

Verse 40 (shiva.rudra.185.40)

आश्चर्यरूपे प्रमथेश्वराणां तस्मिंस्तथा वर्तति युद्धयज्ञे । अमर्षितो भार्गवकर्म दृष्ट्वा शिलादपुत्रोऽभ्यगमन्महेशम्

āścaryarūpe pramatheśvarāṇāṁ tasmiṁstathā vartati yuddhayajñe amarṣito bhārgavakarma dṛṣṭvā śilādaputro'bhyagamanmaheśam

"While that war-sacrifice thus took on so wondrous a form for the lords of the Pramathas, Nandi, son of Shilada, seeing Bhargava's deed, filled with indignation, went to Mahesha."

Verse 41 (shiva.rudra.185.41)

जयेति चोक्त्वा जययोनिमुग्र- मुवाच नन्दी कनकावदातम् । गणेश्वराणां रणकर्म देव देवैश्च सेन्द्रैरपि दुष्करं यत्

jayeti coktvā jayayonimugra- muvāca nandī kanakāvadātam gaṇeśvarāṇāṁ raṇakarma deva devaiśca sendrairapi duṣkaraṁ yat

"Crying 'Victory!' to that fierce, golden-hued Shiva, the very source of victory, Nandi said: \"O god, this feat of arms of the lords of the ganas — a feat difficult even for the gods and for Indra —"

Verse 42 (shiva.rudra.185.42)

तद्भार्गवेणाद्य कृतं वृथा नः सञ्जीवितांस्तान्हि मृतान्विपक्षान् । आवर्त्य विद्यां मृतजीवदात्री- मेकैकमुद्दिश्य सहेलमीश

tadbhārgaveṇādya kṛtaṁ vṛthā naḥ sañjīvitāṁstānhi mṛtānvipakṣān āvartya vidyāṁ mṛtajīvadātrī- mekaikamuddiśya sahelamīśa

"has today been rendered useless by Bhargava — those enemies whom we had slain, he has, one by one, revived again with the reviving lore, O Lord, with the utmost ease."

Verse 43 (shiva.rudra.185.43)

तुहुण्डहुण्डादिककुम्भजम्भ- विपाकपाकादिमहासुरेन्द्राः । यमालयादद्य पुनर्निवृत्ता विद्रावयन्तः प्रमथांश्चरन्ति

tuhuṇḍahuṇḍādikakumbhajambha- vipākapākādimahāsurendrāḥ yamālayādadya punarnivṛttā vidrāvayantaḥ pramathāṁścaranti

"Tuhunda, Hunda, and the rest, and great lords of demons like Kumbha, Jambha, Vipaka, and Paka, having returned this very day from the abode of Yama, now wander about, driving back the Pramathas once more."

Verse 44 (shiva.rudra.185.44)

यदि ह्यसौ दैत्यवरान्निरस्तान् सञ्जीवयेदत्र पुनः पुनस्तान् । जयः कुतो नो भविता महेश गणेश्वराणां कुत एव शान्तिः

yadi hyasau daityavarānnirastān sañjīvayedatra punaḥ punastān jayaḥ kuto no bhavitā maheśa gaṇeśvarāṇāṁ kuta eva śāntiḥ

"If he continues thus, again and again reviving these routed foremost demons, then, O Mahesha, whence shall victory come to us? Whence shall the lords of the ganas find any peace?"

Verse 45 (shiva.rudra.185.45)

सनत्कुमार उवाच । इत्येवमुक्तः प्रमथेश्वरेण स नन्दिना वै प्रमथेश्वरेशः । उवाच देवः प्रहसंस्तदानीं तं नन्दिनं सर्वगणेशराजम्

sanatkumāra uvāca ityevamuktaḥ pramatheśvareṇa sa nandinā vai pramatheśvareśaḥ uvāca devaḥ prahasaṁstadānīṁ taṁ nandinaṁ sarvagaṇeśarājam

Sanatkumara said: When the lord of the Pramathas, Nandi, had spoken thus, the Blessed Lord of the lords of the Pramathas, laughing, spoke to Nandi, king of all the ganeshvaras.

Verse 46 (shiva.rudra.185.46)

शिव उवाच । नन्दिन्प्रयाहि त्वरितोऽति मात्रं द्विजेन्द्रवर्यं दितिनन्दनानाम् । मध्यात्समुद्धृत्य तथानयाशु श्येनो यथा लावकमण्डजातम्

śiva uvāca nandinprayāhi tvarito'ti mātraṁ dvijendravaryaṁ ditinandanānām madhyātsamuddhṛtya tathānayāśu śyeno yathā lāvakamaṇḍajātam

Shiva said: "O Nandin, go at once with all speed, and, plucking that foremost guru of Diti's sons from their very midst — as a hawk snatches a young quail — bring him swiftly here."

Verse 47 (shiva.rudra.185.47)

सनत्कुमार उवाच । स एवमुक्तो वृषभध्वजेन ननाद नन्दी वृषसिंहनादः । जगाम तूर्णं च विगाह्य सेनां यत्राभवद्भार्गववंशदीपः

sanatkumāra uvāca sa evamukto vṛṣabhadhvajena nanāda nandī vṛṣasiṁhanādaḥ jagāma tūrṇaṁ ca vigāhya senāṁ yatrābhavadbhārgavavaṁśadīpaḥ

Sanatkumara said: Thus commanded by the bull-bannered Shiva, Nandi roared with the roar of both bull and lion, and, plunging into the army, swiftly reached the place where that lamp of the Bhargava lineage stood.

Verse 48 (shiva.rudra.185.48)

तं रक्ष्यमाणं दितिजैः समस्तैः पाशासिवृक्षोपलशैलहस्तैः । विक्षोभ्य दैत्यान् बलवान् जहार काव्यं स नन्दी शरभो यथेभम्

taṁ rakṣyamāṇaṁ ditijaiḥ samastaiḥ pāśāsivṛkṣopalaśailahastaiḥ vikṣobhya daityān balavān jahāra kāvyaṁ sa nandī śarabho yathebham

"That Bhargava, guarded by all the demons armed with noose, sword, tree, stone, and mountain in hand, mighty Nandi, throwing the demons into confusion, seized and carried off — as a sharabha carries off an elephant."

Verse 49 (shiva.rudra.185.49)

स्रस्ताम्बरं विच्युतभूषणं च विमुक्तकेशं बलिना गृहीतम् । विमोचयिष्यन्त इवानुजग्मुः सुरारयस्सिंहरवांस्त्यजन्तः

srastāmbaraṁ vicyutabhūṣaṇaṁ ca vimuktakeśaṁ balinā gṛhītam vimocayiṣyanta ivānujagmuḥ surārayassiṁharavāṁstyajantaḥ

"His garments slipping, his ornaments falling, his hair disheveled, seized by that mighty one — desiring to free him, those hostile asuras, roaring like lions, ran after him."

Verse 50 (shiva.rudra.185.50)

दम्भोलिशूलासिपरश्वधाना- मुद्दण्डचक्रोपलकम्पनानाम् । नन्दीश्वरस्योपरि दानवेन्द्रा वर्षं ववर्षुर्जलदा इवोग्रम्

dambholiśūlāsiparaśvadhānā- muddaṇḍacakropalakampanānām nandīśvarasyopari dānavendrā varṣaṁ vavarṣurjaladā ivogram

"A dreadful shower — vajra, trident, sword, axe, mighty discus, stone, and boulder — like the very clouds of dissolution, the lords of demons rained down upon Nandishvara."

Verse 51 (shiva.rudra.185.51)

तं भार्गवं प्राप्य गणाधिराजो मुखाग्निना शस्त्रशतानि दग्ध्वा । आयात्प्रवृद्धेऽसुरदेवयुद्धे भवस्य पार्श्वे व्यथितारिपक्षः

taṁ bhārgavaṁ prāpya gaṇādhirājo mukhāgninā śastraśatāni dagdhvā āyātpravṛddhe'suradevayuddhe bhavasya pārśve vyathitāripakṣaḥ

"Having secured that Bhargava, the sovereign of the ganas, burning hundreds of weapons with the fire of his own mouth, amid that raging war of gods and demons, distressing the ranks of the foe, arrived at last in Bhava's presence."

Verse 52 (shiva.rudra.185.52)

अयं स शुक्रो भगवन्नितीदं निवेदयामास भवाय शीघ्रम् । जग्राह शुक्रं स च देवदेवो यथोपहारं शुचिना प्रदत्तम्

ayaṁ sa śukro bhagavannitīdaṁ nivedayāmāsa bhavāya śīghram jagrāha śukraṁ sa ca devadevo yathopahāraṁ śucinā pradattam

"'O lord, this is that very Shukra' — having swiftly announced this, the lord of gods, Shiva, took hold of that Shukra, just as one accepts a pure offering brought to him."

Verse 53 (shiva.rudra.185.53)

न किञ्चिदुक्त्वा स हि भूतगोप्ता चिक्षेप वक्त्रे फलवत्कवीन्द्रम् । हाहारवस्तैरसुरैःसमस्तै- रुच्चैर्विमुक्तो हहहेति भूरि

na kiñciduktvā sa hi bhūtagoptā cikṣepa vaktre phalavatkavīndram hāhāravastairasuraiḥsamastai- ruccairvimukto hahaheti bhūri

"Without a word, that protector of beings, Shiva, cast that foremost seer into his own mouth, as one would a piece of fruit — then a great cry of woe arose among all the asuras, and, wailing 'Ha! Ha!' aloud, they scattered in every direction."