Virabhadra's Journey

Verse 1 (shiva.rudra.53.1)

ब्रह्मोवाच । इत्युक्तं श्रीमहेशस्य श्रुत्वा वचनमादरात् । वीरभद्रोऽतिसन्तुष्टः प्रणनाम महेश्वरम्

brahmovāca | ityuktaṁ śrīmaheśasya śrutvā vacanamādarāt | vīrabhadro'tisantuṣṭaḥ praṇanāma maheśvaram

Brahma said: "Having thus heard, with such regard, the word of the glorious Mahesha, Virabhadra, greatly delighted, bowed down to the great Lord."

Verse 2 (shiva.rudra.53.2)

शासनं शिरसा धृत्वा देवदेवस्य शूलिनः । प्रचचाल ततः शीघ्रं वीरभद्रो मखं प्रति

śāsanaṁ śirasā dhṛtvā devadevasya śūlinaḥ | pracacāla tataḥ śīghraṁ vīrabhadro makhaṁ prati

"Bearing upon his head the command of the trident-bearing God of gods, Virabhadra then set out at once, swiftly, toward the sacrifice."

Verse 3 (shiva.rudra.53.3)

शिवोऽथ प्रेषयामास शोभार्थं कोटिशो गणान् । तेन सार्धं महावीरान्प्रलयानलसन्निभान्

śivo'tha preṣayāmāsa śobhārthaṁ koṭiśo gaṇān | tena sārdhaṁ mahāvīrānpralayānalasannibhān

"Then Shiva sent forth, to accompany and adorn him, ganas by the tens of millions — mighty heroes blazing like the fire of universal dissolution."

Verse 4 (shiva.rudra.53.4)

अथ ते वीरभद्रस्य पुरतः प्रबला गणाः । पश्चादपि ययुर्वीराः कुतूहलकरा गणाः

atha te vīrabhadrasya purataḥ prabalā gaṇāḥ | paścādapi yayurvīrāḥ kutūhalakarā gaṇāḥ

"Then those mighty ganas went before Virabhadra, and other eager, wonder-struck heroic hosts followed behind him as well."

Verse 5 (shiva.rudra.53.5)

वीरभद्रसमेता ये गणाः शतसहस्रशः । पार्षदाः कालकालस्य सर्वे रुद्रस्वरूपिणः

vīrabhadrasametā ye gaṇāḥ śatasahasraśaḥ | pārṣadāḥ kālakālasya sarve rudrasvarūpiṇaḥ

"The ganas who accompanied Virabhadra numbered in the hundreds of thousands — all attendants of the Conqueror of Death, all sharing Rudra's own form."

Verse 6 (shiva.rudra.53.6)

गणैः समेतः किल तैर्महात्मा स वीरभद्रो हरवेषभूषणः । सहस्रबाहुर्भुजगाधिपाढ्यो ययौ रथस्थः प्रबलोऽतिभीकरः

gaṇaiḥ sametaḥ kila tairmahātmā sa vīrabhadro haraveṣabhūṣaṇaḥ | sahasrabāhurbhujagādhipāḍhyo yayau rathasthaḥ prabalo'tibhīkaraḥ

"Attended by all those hosts, the great-souled Virabhadra, adorned with Hara's own emblems, thousand-armed, richly ornamented with serpent-lords, went forth mounted on his chariot — mighty, and utterly terrifying."

Verse 7 (shiva.rudra.53.7)

नल्वानं च सहस्रे द्वे प्रमाणं स्यन्दनस्य हि । अयुतेनैव सिंहानां वाहनानां प्रयत्नतः

nalvānaṁ ca sahasre dve pramāṇaṁ syandanasya hi | ayutenaiva siṁhānāṁ vāhanānāṁ prayatnataḥ

"The measure of his chariot was two thousand nalvas [a unit of length], and it was drawn, with great effort, by ten thousand lions as its steeds."

Verse 8 (shiva.rudra.53.8)

तथैव प्रबलाः सिंहा बहवः पार्श्वरक्षकाः । शार्दूला मकरा मत्स्या गजास्तत्र सहस्रशः

tathaiva prabalāḥ siṁhā bahavaḥ pārśvarakṣakāḥ | śārdūlā makarā matsyā gajāstatra sahasraśaḥ

"Likewise many mighty lions guarded his flanks, along with tigers, sea-monsters, fish, and elephants, there in their thousands."

Verse 9 (shiva.rudra.53.9)

वीरभद्रे प्रचलिते दक्षनाशाय सत्वरम् । कल्पवृक्षसमुत्सृष्टा पुष्पवृष्टिरभूत्तदा

vīrabhadre pracalite dakṣanāśāya satvaram | kalpavṛkṣasamutsṛṣṭā puṣpavṛṣṭirabhūttadā

"As Virabhadra set out swiftly for the destruction of Daksha, a shower of flowers, released from the wish-fulfilling trees, then fell from the sky."

Verse 10 (shiva.rudra.53.10)

तुष्टुवुश्च गणा वीरं शिपिविष्टे प्रचेष्टितम् । चक्रुः कुतूहलं सर्वे तस्मिंश्च गमनोत्सवे

tuṣṭuvuśca gaṇā vīraṁ śipiviṣṭe praceṣṭitam | cakruḥ kutūhalaṁ sarve tasmiṁśca gamanotsave

"The ganas praised the hero, radiant and striving mightily, and all took joyous delight at that triumphant setting-forth."

Verse 11 (shiva.rudra.53.11)

काली कात्यायनीशानी चामुण्डा मुण्डमर्दिनी । भद्रकाली तथा भद्रा त्वरिता वैष्णवी तथा

kālī kātyāyanīśānī cāmuṇḍā muṇḍamardinī | bhadrakālī tathā bhadrā tvaritā vaiṣṇavī tathā

"Kali, Katyayani, Ishani, Chamunda the crusher of Munda, Bhadrakali, Bhadra, Tvarita, and Vaishnavi too —"

Verse 12 (shiva.rudra.53.12)

एताभिर्नवदुर्गाभिर्महाकाली समन्विता । ययौ दक्षविनाशाय सर्वभूतगणैः सह

etābhirnavadurgābhirmahākālī samanvitā | yayau dakṣavināśāya sarvabhūtagaṇaiḥ saha

"— accompanied by these nine forms of Durga, Mahakali too went forth for the destruction of Daksha, together with all the hosts of spirits."

Verse 13 (shiva.rudra.53.13)

डाकिनी शाकिनी चैव भूतप्रमथगुह्यकाः । कूष्माण्डाः पर्पटाश्चैव चटका ब्रह्मराक्षसाः

ḍākinī śākinī caiva bhūtapramathaguhyakāḥ | kūṣmāṇḍāḥ parpaṭāścaiva caṭakā brahmarākṣasāḥ

"Dakinis and Shakinis, spirits, Pramathas, and Guhyakas, Kushmandas, Parpatas, Chatakas, and Brahmarakshasas —"

Verse 14 (shiva.rudra.53.14)

भैरवाः क्षेत्रपालाश्च दक्षयज्ञविनाशकाः । निर्ययुस्त्वरितं वीराः शिवाज्ञाप्रतिपालकाः

bhairavāḥ kṣetrapālāśca dakṣayajñavināśakāḥ | niryayustvaritaṁ vīrāḥ śivājñāpratipālakāḥ

"— the Bhairavas and the Kshetrapalas, all bent on the destruction of Daksha's sacrifice, marched forth swiftly, those heroes upholding Shiva's own command."

Verse 15 (shiva.rudra.53.15)

तथैव योगिनीचक्रं चतुःषष्टिगणान्वितम् । निर्ययौ सहसा क्रुद्धं दक्षयज्ञं विनाशितुम्

tathaiva yoginīcakraṁ catuḥṣaṣṭigaṇānvitam | niryayau sahasā kruddhaṁ dakṣayajñaṁ vināśitum

"Likewise the circle of Yoginis, numbering sixty-four hosts, went forth at once, enraged, to destroy Daksha's sacrifice."

Verse 16 (shiva.rudra.53.16)

तेषां गणानां सर्वेषां सङ्ख्यानं शृणु नारद । महाबलवतां सङ्घो मुख्यानां धैर्यशालिनाम्

teṣāṁ gaṇānāṁ sarveṣāṁ saṅkhyānaṁ śṛṇu nārada | mahābalavatāṁ saṅgho mukhyānāṁ dhairyaśālinām

"Hear now, Narada, the tally of all those hosts — that assembly of the mighty, foremost among them, steadfast in courage."

Verse 17 (shiva.rudra.53.17)

अभ्ययाच्छङ्कुकर्णश्च दशकोट्या गणेश्वरः । दशभिः केकराक्षश्च विकृतोऽष्टाभिरेव च

abhyayācchaṅkukarṇaśca daśakoṭyā gaṇeśvaraḥ | daśabhiḥ kekarākṣaśca vikṛto'ṣṭābhireva ca

"Shankukarna, lord of the ganas, advanced with ten crore; Kekaraksha too with ten crore; and Vikrita with eight crore."

Verse 18 (shiva.rudra.53.18)

चतुःषष्ट्या विशाखश्च नवभिः पारियात्रिकः । षड्भिः सर्वाङ्कको वीरस्तथैव विकृताननः

catuḥṣaṣṭyā viśākhaśca navabhiḥ pāriyātrikaḥ | ṣaḍbhiḥ sarvāṅkako vīrastathaiva vikṛtānanaḥ

"Vishakha with sixty-four crore; Pariyatrika with nine crore; the hero Sarvangaka with six crore, and likewise Vikritanana."

Verse 19 (shiva.rudra.53.19)

ज्वालकेशो द्वादशभिः कोटिभिर्गणपुङ्गवः । सप्तभिः समदज्जीमान् दुद्रभोऽष्टाभिरेव च

jvālakeśo dvādaśabhiḥ koṭibhirgaṇapuṅgavaḥ | saptabhiḥ samadajjīmān dudrabho'ṣṭābhireva ca

"Jvalakesha, foremost of the ganas, with twelve crore; the mighty Samadajjiman with seven crore; and Dudrabha with eight crore."

Verse 20 (shiva.rudra.53.20)

पञ्चभिश्च कपालीशः षड्भिः सन्दारको गणः । कोटिकोटिभिरेवेह कोटिकुण्डस्तथैव च

pañcabhiśca kapālīśaḥ ṣaḍbhiḥ sandārako gaṇaḥ | koṭikoṭibhireveha koṭikuṇḍastathaiva ca

"Kapalisha with five crore; the gana Sandaraka with six crore; and Kotikunda here with a crore of crores."

Verse 21 (shiva.rudra.53.21)

विष्टम्भोऽष्टाष्टभिर्वीरैः कोटिभिर्गणसत्तमः । सहस्रकोटिभिस्तात सन्नादः पिप्पलस्तथा

viṣṭambho'ṣṭāṣṭabhirvīraiḥ koṭibhirgaṇasattamaḥ | sahasrakoṭibhistāta sannādaḥ pippalastathā

"Vishtambha, foremost among the ganas, with sixty-four crore heroes; Sannada, O son, with a thousand crore, and likewise Pippala."

Verse 22 (shiva.rudra.53.22)

आवेशनस्तथाष्टाभिरष्टाभिश्चन्द्रतापनः । महावेशः सहस्रेण कोटिना गणपो वृतः

āveśanastathāṣṭābhiraṣṭābhiścandratāpanaḥ | mahāveśaḥ sahasreṇa koṭinā gaṇapo vṛtaḥ

"Avesana likewise with eight crore, and Chandratapana with eight crore; Mahavesha, lord of the ganas, surrounded by a thousand crore."

Verse 23 (shiva.rudra.53.23)

कुण्डी द्वादशकोटीभिस्तथा पर्वतको मुने । विनाशितुं दक्षयज्ञं निर्ययौ गणसत्तमः

kuṇḍī dvādaśakoṭībhistathā parvatako mune | vināśituṁ dakṣayajñaṁ niryayau gaṇasattamaḥ

"Kundi with twelve crore, and likewise, O sage, Parvataka, foremost of the ganas, marched forth to destroy Daksha's sacrifice."

Verse 24 (shiva.rudra.53.24)

कालश्च कालकश्चैव महाकालस्तथैव च । कोटीनां शतकेनैव दक्षयज्ञं ययौ प्रति

kālaśca kālakaścaiva mahākālastathaiva ca | koṭīnāṁ śatakenaiva dakṣayajñaṁ yayau prati

"Kala, and Kalaka, and Mahakala too, each with a hundred crore, advanced against Daksha's sacrifice."

Verse 25 (shiva.rudra.53.25)

अग्निकृच्छतकोट्या च कोट्याग्निमुख एव च । आदित्यमूर्धा कोट्या च तथा चैव घनावहः

agnikṛcchatakoṭyā ca koṭyāgnimukha eva ca | ādityamūrdhā koṭyā ca tathā caiva ghanāvahaḥ

"Agnikrit with a hundred crore, and Agnimukha with one crore; Adityamurdha with one crore, and likewise Ghanavaha."

Verse 26 (shiva.rudra.53.26)

सन्नाहः शतकोट्या च कोट्या च कुमुदो गणः । अमोघः कोकिलश्चैव कोटिकोट्या गणाधिपः

sannāhaḥ śatakoṭyā ca koṭyā ca kumudo gaṇaḥ | amoghaḥ kokilaścaiva koṭikoṭyā gaṇādhipaḥ

"Sannaha with a hundred crore, and the gana Kumuda with one crore; Amogha and Kokila, lords of the ganas, each with a crore of crores."

Verse 27 (shiva.rudra.53.27)

काष्ठागूढश्चतुःषष्ट्या सुकेशो वृषभस्तथा । सुमन्त्रको गणाधीशस्तथा तात सुनिर्ययौ

kāṣṭhāgūḍhaścatuḥṣaṣṭyā sukeśo vṛṣabhastathā | sumantrako gaṇādhīśastathā tāta suniryayau

"Kashthagudha with sixty-four crore, and likewise Sukesha and Vrishabha; and Sumantraka too, lord of the ganas, marched forth, O son."

Verse 28 (shiva.rudra.53.28)

काकपादोदरः षष्टिकोटिभिर्गणसत्तमः । तथा सन्तानकः षष्टिकोटिभिर्गणपुङ्गवः

kākapādodaraḥ ṣaṣṭikoṭibhirgaṇasattamaḥ | tathā santānakaḥ ṣaṣṭikoṭibhirgaṇapuṅgavaḥ

"Kakapadodara, foremost of the ganas, with sixty crore; and likewise Santanaka, chief among the ganas, with sixty crore."

Verse 29 (shiva.rudra.53.29)

महाबलश्च नवभिः कोटिभिः पुङ्गवस्तथा

mahābalaśca navabhiḥ koṭibhiḥ puṅgavastathā

"And the mighty Pungava too, with nine crore."

Verse 30 (shiva.rudra.53.30)

मधुपिङ्गस्तथा तात गणाधीशो हि निर्ययौ । नीलो नवत्या कोटीनां पूर्णभद्रस्तथैव च

madhupiṅgastathā tāta gaṇādhīśo hi niryayau | nīlo navatyā koṭīnāṁ pūrṇabhadrastathaiva ca

"Madhupinga too, O son, lord of the ganas, marched forth; and Nila with ninety crore, and likewise Purnabhadra."

Verse 31 (shiva.rudra.53.31)

निर्ययौ शतकोटीभिश्चतुर्वक्त्रो गणाधिपः

niryayau śatakoṭībhiścaturvaktro gaṇādhipaḥ

"Chaturvaktra, lord of the ganas, marched forth with a hundred crore."

Verse 32 (shiva.rudra.53.32)

विरूपाक्षश्च कोटीनां चतुःषष्ट्या गणेश्वरः । तालकेतुः षडास्यश्च पञ्चास्यश्च गणाधिपः

virūpākṣaśca koṭīnāṁ catuḥṣaṣṭyā gaṇeśvaraḥ | tālaketuḥ ṣaḍāsyaśca pañcāsyaśca gaṇādhipaḥ

"Virupaksha, lord of the ganas, with sixty-four crore; and Talaketu, Shadasya, and Panchasya, all lords of the ganas."

Verse 33 (shiva.rudra.53.33)

संवर्तकस्तथा चैव कुलीशश्च स्वयं प्रभुः । लोकान्तकश्च दीप्तात्मा तथा दैत्यान्तको मुने

saṁvartakastathā caiva kulīśaśca svayaṁ prabhuḥ | lokāntakaśca dīptātmā tathā daityāntako mune

"Samvartaka too, and Kulisha, himself a lord; Lokantaka, blazing in spirit, and Daityantaka too, O sage."

Verse 34 (shiva.rudra.53.34)

गणो भृङ्गीरिटिः श्रीमान् देवदेवप्रियस्तथा । अशनिर्भालकश्चैव चतुःषष्ट्या सहस्रकः

gaṇo bhṛṅgīriṭiḥ śrīmān devadevapriyastathā | aśanirbhālakaścaiva catuḥṣaṣṭyā sahasrakaḥ

"The illustrious gana Bhringiriti, beloved of the God of gods; and Ashani and Bhalaka too, with sixty-four thousand."

Verse 35 (shiva.rudra.53.35)

कोटिकोटिसहस्राणां शतैर्विंशतिभिर्वृतः । वीरेशो ह्यभ्ययाद्वीरः वीरभद्रः शिवाज्ञया

koṭikoṭisahasrāṇāṁ śatairviṁśatibhirvṛtaḥ | vīreśo hyabhyayādvīraḥ vīrabhadraḥ śivājñayā

"Surrounded by an incalculable host — two thousand thousand-crore-of-crores — the lord of heroes, the hero Virabhadra, advanced by Shiva's own command."

Verse 36 (shiva.rudra.53.36)

भूतकोटिसहस्रैस्तु प्रययौ कोटिभिस्त्रिभिः । रोमजैः श्वगणैश्चैव तथा वीरो ययौ द्रुतम्

bhūtakoṭisahasraistu prayayau koṭibhistribhiḥ | romajaiḥ śvagaṇaiścaiva tathā vīro yayau drutam

"He advanced with thousands of crores of spirits, and with three crore more besides; and the hero went swiftly too with packs of hounds sprung from his own body-hairs."

Verse 37 (shiva.rudra.53.37)

तदा भेरीमहानादः शङ्खाश्च विविधस्वनाः । जटाहरो मुखाश्चैव शृङ्गाणि विविधानि च

tadā bherīmahānādaḥ śaṅkhāśca vividhasvanāḥ | jaṭāharo mukhāścaiva śṛṅgāṇi vividhāni ca

"Then there arose the mighty sound of war-drums, conch-shells with their many notes, faces framed with matted hair, and horns of every kind."

Verse 38 (shiva.rudra.53.38)

ते तानि विततान्येव बन्धनानि सुखानि च । वादित्राणि विनेदुश्च विविधानि महोत्सवे

te tāni vitatānyeva bandhanāni sukhāni ca | vāditrāṇi vineduśca vividhāni mahotsave

"In that great celebration, those far-reaching, joyous festive adornments and many kinds of musical instruments resounded together."

Verse 39 (shiva.rudra.53.39)

वीरभद्रस्य यात्रायां सबलस्य महामुने । शकुनान्यभवंस्तत्र भूरीणि सुखदानि च

vīrabhadrasya yātrāyāṁ sabalasya mahāmune | śakunānyabhavaṁstatra bhūrīṇi sukhadāni ca

"On the march of Virabhadra with his army, O great sage, many auspicious omens appeared there, bringing great joy."