The Destruction of Daksha's Sacrifice

Verse 1 (shiva.rudra.57.1)

ब्रह्मोवाच । वीरभद्रोऽथ युद्धे वै विष्णुना स महाबलः । संस्मृत्य शङ्करं चित्ते सर्वापद्विनिवारणम्

brahmovāca | vīrabhadro'tha yuddhe vai viṣṇunā sa mahābalaḥ | saṁsmṛtya śaṅkaraṁ citte sarvāpadvinivāraṇam

Brahma said: "Then, in that battle with Vishnu, the mighty Virabhadra called to mind in his heart Shankara, remover of all calamities."

Verse 2 (shiva.rudra.57.2)

आरुह्य स्यन्दनं दिव्यं सर्ववैरिविमर्दनः । गृहीत्वा परमास्त्राणि सिंहनादं जगर्ज ह

āruhya syandanaṁ divyaṁ sarvavairivimardanaḥ | gṛhītvā paramāstrāṇi siṁhanādaṁ jagarja ha

Mounting his divine chariot, the crusher of every foe, taking up his supreme weapons, he let out a lion's roar.

Verse 3 (shiva.rudra.57.3)

विष्णुश्चापि महाघोषं पाञ्चजन्याभिधं निजम् । दध्मौ बली महाशङ्खं स्वकीयान् हर्षयन्निव

viṣṇuścāpi mahāghoṣaṁ pāñcajanyābhidhaṁ nijam | dadhmau balī mahāśaṅkhaṁ svakīyān harṣayanniva

And mighty Vishnu too blew his own great conch named Panchajanya, as if gladdening his own hosts.

Verse 4 (shiva.rudra.57.4)

तच्छ्रुत्वा शङ्खनिर्ह्रादं देवा ये च पलायिताः । रणं हित्वा गताः पूर्वं ते द्रुतं पुनराययुः

tacchrutvā śaṅkhanirhrādaṁ devā ye ca palāyitāḥ | raṇaṁ hitvā gatāḥ pūrvaṁ te drutaṁ punarāyayuḥ

Hearing the roar of that conch, the gods who had earlier fled the battle and gone away quickly returned once more.

Verse 5 (shiva.rudra.57.5)

वीरभद्रगणैस्ते तु लोकपालाः सवासवाः । युद्धं चक्रुस्तथा सिंहनादं कृत्वा बलान्विताः

vīrabhadragaṇaiste tu lokapālāḥ savāsavāḥ | yuddhaṁ cakrustathā siṁhanādaṁ kṛtvā balānvitāḥ

Then the world-guardians, together with Vasava, full of strength, gave battle against Virabhadra's hosts, roaring lion-cries.

Verse 6 (shiva.rudra.57.6)

गणानां लोकपालानां द्वन्द्वयुद्धं भयावहम् । अभवत्तत्र तुमुलं गर्जतां सिंहनादतः

gaṇānāṁ lokapālānāṁ dvandvayuddhaṁ bhayāvaham | abhavattatra tumulaṁ garjatāṁ siṁhanādataḥ

Between the ganas and the world-guardians there arose a fearsome duel, tumultuous with their roaring lion-cries.

Verse 7 (shiva.rudra.57.7)

नन्दिना युयुधे शक्रोऽनलो वै चाश्मना तथा । कुबेरोऽपि हि कूष्माण्डपतिना युयुधे बली

nandinā yuyudhe śakro'nalo vai cāśmanā tathā | kubero'pi hi kūṣmāṇḍapatinā yuyudhe balī

Shakra fought with Nandi, and Agni fought with Ashman; and mighty Kubera fought with the lord of the Kushmandas.

Verse 8 (shiva.rudra.57.8)

तदेन्द्रेण हतो नन्दी वज्रेण शतपर्वणा

tadendreṇa hato nandī vajreṇa śataparvaṇā

Then Nandi was struck by Indra with his hundred-jointed thunderbolt.

Verse 9 (shiva.rudra.57.9)

नन्दिना च हतः शक्रस्त्रिशूलेन स्तनान्तरे

nandinā ca hataḥ śakrastriśūlena stanāntare

And Nandi, in turn, struck Shakra with his trident in the middle of the chest.

Verse 10 (shiva.rudra.57.10)

बलिनौ द्वावपि प्रीत्या युयुधाते परस्परम् । नानाघातांश्च कुर्वन्तौ नन्दिशक्रौ जिगीषया

balinau dvāvapi prītyā yuyudhāte parasparam | nānāghātāṁśca kurvantau nandiśakrau jigīṣayā

Both mighty ones, Nandi and Shakra, fought each other with zest, striking many blows, each eager for victory.

Verse 11 (shiva.rudra.57.11)

शक्त्या जघान चाश्मानं शुचिः परमकोपनः । सोऽपि शूलेन तं वेगाच्छितधारेण पावकम्

śaktyā jaghāna cāśmānaṁ śuciḥ paramakopanaḥ | so'pi śūlena taṁ vegācchitadhāreṇa pāvakam

Shuchi, greatly enraged, struck Ashman with his spear; and he, in turn, swiftly struck Pavaka with his sharp-edged trident.

Verse 12 (shiva.rudra.57.12)

यमेन सह सङ्ग्रामं महालोको गणाग्रणीः । चकार तुमुलं वीरो महादेवं स्मरन्मुदा

yamena saha saṅgrāmaṁ mahāloko gaṇāgraṇīḥ | cakāra tumulaṁ vīro mahādevaṁ smaranmudā

Mahaloka, foremost among the ganas, joined tumultuous battle with Yama, that hero calling Mahadeva to mind with joy.

Verse 13 (shiva.rudra.57.13)

नैरृतेन समागम्य चण्डश्च बलवत्तरः । युयुधे परमास्त्रैश्च नैरृतिं निविडम्बयन्

nairṛtena samāgamya caṇḍaśca balavattaraḥ | yuyudhe paramāstraiśca nairṛtiṁ niviḍambayan

Chanda, the mightier one, meeting Nairrita in battle, fought him with supreme weapons, utterly humbling him.

Verse 14 (shiva.rudra.57.14)

वरुणेन समं वीरो मुण्डश्चैव महाबलः । युयुधे परया शक्त्या त्रिलोकीं विस्मयन्निव

varuṇena samaṁ vīro muṇḍaścaiva mahābalaḥ | yuyudhe parayā śaktyā trilokīṁ vismayanniva

The mighty hero Munda fought against Varuna with supreme force, as though astonishing the three worlds.

Verse 15 (shiva.rudra.57.15)

वायुना च हतो भृङ्गी स्वास्त्रेण परमौजसा । भृङ्गिणा च हतो वायुस्त्रिशूलेन प्रतापिना

vāyunā ca hato bhṛṅgī svāstreṇa paramaujasā | bhṛṅgiṇā ca hato vāyustriśūlena pratāpinā

Bhringi was struck by Vayu with his own mighty weapon; and Vayu, in turn, was struck by glorious Bhringi with his trident.

Verse 16 (shiva.rudra.57.16)

कुबेरेणैव सङ्गम्य कूष्माण्डपतिरादरात् । युयुधे बलवान् वीरो ध्यात्वा हृदि महेश्वरम्

kubereṇaiva saṅgamya kūṣmāṇḍapatirādarāt | yuyudhe balavān vīro dhyātvā hṛdi maheśvaram

Meeting Kubera with due respect, and holding Maheshvara in his heart in meditation, the mighty lord of the Kushmandas fought him.

Verse 17 (shiva.rudra.57.17)

योगिनीचक्रसंयुक्तो भैरवीनायको महान् । विदार्य देवानखिलान् पपौ शोणितमद्भुतम्

yoginīcakrasaṁyukto bhairavīnāyako mahān | vidārya devānakhilān papau śoṇitamadbhutam

The great leader of the Bhairavis, joined by the circle of Yoginis, tore open all the gods and drank their wondrous blood.

Verse 18 (shiva.rudra.57.18)

क्षेत्रपालास्तथा तत्र बुभुक्षुः सुरपुङ्गवान् । काली चापि विदार्यैव तान्पपौ रुधिरं बहु

kṣetrapālāstathā tatra bubhukṣuḥ surapuṅgavān | kālī cāpi vidāryaiva tānpapau rudhiraṁ bahu

There the Kshetrapalas, hungering, fell upon the foremost gods; and Kali too tore them open and drank their blood in plenty.

Verse 19 (shiva.rudra.57.19)

अथ विष्णुर्महातेजा युयुधे तैश्च शत्रुहा । चक्रं चिक्षेप वेगेन दहन्निव दिशो दश

atha viṣṇurmahātejā yuyudhe taiśca śatruhā | cakraṁ cikṣepa vegena dahanniva diśo daśa

Then Vishnu, of great splendor, slayer of foes, fought with them, and hurled his discus with such speed it seemed to scorch the ten directions.

Verse 20 (shiva.rudra.57.20)

क्षेत्रपालः समायान्तं चक्रमालोक्य वेगतः । तत्रागत्यागतो वीरश्चाग्रसत्सहसा बली

kṣetrapālaḥ samāyāntaṁ cakramālokya vegataḥ | tatrāgatyāgato vīraścāgrasatsahasā balī

Seeing the discus rushing swiftly toward him, the mighty hero Kshetrapala came forward and at once swallowed it whole.

Verse 21 (shiva.rudra.57.21)

चक्रं ग्रसितमालोक्य विष्णुः परपुरञ्जयः । मुखं तस्य परामृज्य तमुद्गालितवानरिम्

cakraṁ grasitamālokya viṣṇuḥ parapurañjayaḥ | mukhaṁ tasya parāmṛjya tamudgālitavānarim

Seeing his discus swallowed, Vishnu, conqueror of enemy cities, stroked the foe's mouth and made him vomit it forth again.

Verse 22 (shiva.rudra.57.22)

स्वचक्रमादाय महानुभावः चुकोप चातीव भवैकभर्ता । महाबली तैर्युयुधे प्रवीरैः सङ्क्रुद्धनानायुधधारकोऽस्त्रैः

svacakramādāya mahānubhāvaḥ cukopa cātīva bhavaikabhartā | mahābalī tairyuyudhe pravīraiḥ saṅkruddhanānāyudhadhārako'straiḥ

Taking back his own discus, that glorious one, the sole sustainer of existence, grew exceedingly wrathful; mighty as he was, he fought against those great warriors, wielding many weapons in his fury.

Verse 23 (shiva.rudra.57.23)

चक्रे महारणं विष्णुः तैः सार्धं युयुधे मुदा । नानायुधानि सङ्क्षिप्य तुमुलं भीमविक्रमम्

cakre mahāraṇaṁ viṣṇuḥ taiḥ sārdhaṁ yuyudhe mudā | nānāyudhāni saṅkṣipya tumulaṁ bhīmavikramam

Vishnu waged a great war, fighting eagerly against them, hurling forth many weapons in that tumultuous battle of terrible valor.

Verse 24 (shiva.rudra.57.24)

अथ ते भैरवाद्याश्च युयुधुस्तेन भूरिशः । नानास्त्राणि विमुञ्चन्तः सङ्कुद्धाः परमौजसा

atha te bhairavādyāśca yuyudhustena bhūriśaḥ | nānāstrāṇi vimuñcantaḥ saṅkuddhāḥ paramaujasā

Then those led by Bhairava fought against him repeatedly, releasing various weapons, greatly enraged with supreme might.

Verse 25 (shiva.rudra.57.25)

इत्थं तेषां रणं दृष्ट्वा हरिणातुलतेजसा । विनिवृत्य समागम्य तान्स्वयं युयुधे बली

itthaṁ teṣāṁ raṇaṁ dṛṣṭvā hariṇātulatejasā | vinivṛtya samāgamya tānsvayaṁ yuyudhe balī

Seeing their battle thus, Hari, of matchless splendor, turned back, came to them himself, and, mighty, fought them in person.

Verse 26 (shiva.rudra.57.26)

अथ विष्णुर्महातेजाश्चक्रमुद्यम्य मूर्च्छितः । युयुधे भगवांस्तेन वीरभद्रेण माधवः

atha viṣṇurmahātejāścakramudyamya mūrcchitaḥ | yuyudhe bhagavāṁstena vīrabhadreṇa mādhavaḥ

Then Vishnu of great splendor, raising his discus and overcome with fury, that Lord Madhava fought against Virabhadra.

Verse 27 (shiva.rudra.57.27)

तयोः समभवद्युद्धं सुघोरं रोमहर्षणम् । महावीराब्धिपत्योस्तु नानास्त्रधरयोर्मुने

tayoḥ samabhavadyuddhaṁ sughoraṁ romaharṣaṇam | mahāvīrābdhipatyostu nānāstradharayormune

Between the two of them arose a battle most terrible, hair-raising — between those two great heroes, lords of oceans of might, O sage, each bearing many weapons.

Verse 28 (shiva.rudra.57.28)

विष्णोर्योगबलात्तस्य देहादेव सुदारुणाः । शङ्खचक्रगदाहस्ता असङ्ख्याताश्च जज्ञिरे

viṣṇoryogabalāttasya dehādeva sudāruṇāḥ | śaṅkhacakragadāhastā asaṅkhyātāśca jajñire

By the power of Vishnu's yoga, from his own body were born countless terrible warriors, bearing conch, discus, and mace in their hands.

Verse 29 (shiva.rudra.57.29)

ते चापि युयुधुस्तेन वीरभद्रेण भाषता । विष्णुवत् बलवन्तो हि नानायुधधरा गणाः

te cāpi yuyudhustena vīrabhadreṇa bhāṣatā | viṣṇuvat balavanto hi nānāyudhadharā gaṇāḥ

And those hosts too, mighty as Vishnu himself and bearing various weapons, fought against Virabhadra even as he spoke.

Verse 30 (shiva.rudra.57.30)

तान्सर्वानपि वीरोऽसौ नारायणसमप्रभान् । भस्मीचकार शूलेन हत्वा स्मृत्वा शिवं प्रभुम्

tānsarvānapi vīro'sau nārāyaṇasamaprabhān | bhasmīcakāra śūlena hatvā smṛtvā śivaṁ prabhum

That hero, calling Lord Shiva to mind, struck down all of them, equal in splendor to Narayana, and reduced them to ashes with his trident.

Verse 31 (shiva.rudra.57.31)

ततश्चोरसि तं विष्णुं लीलयैव रणाजिरे । जघान वीरभद्रो हि त्रिशूलेन महाबली

tataścorasi taṁ viṣṇuṁ līlayaiva raṇājire | jaghāna vīrabhadro hi triśūlena mahābalī

Then, right there on the battlefield, the mighty Virabhadra struck Vishnu himself upon the chest with his trident, as if in mere play.

Verse 32 (shiva.rudra.57.32)

तेन घातेन सहसा विहतः पुरुषोत्तमः । पपात च तदा भूमौ विसंज्ञोऽभून्मुने हरिः

tena ghātena sahasā vihataḥ puruṣottamaḥ | papāta ca tadā bhūmau visaṁjño'bhūnmune hariḥ

By that blow, Purushottama was struck down at once; Hari fell to the ground, O sage, and lost consciousness.

Verse 33 (shiva.rudra.57.33)

ततो जज्ञेऽद्भुतं तेजः प्रलयानलसन्निभम् । त्रैलोक्यदाहकं तीव्रं वीराणामपि भीकरम्

tato jajñe'dbhutaṁ tejaḥ pralayānalasannibham | trailokyadāhakaṁ tīvraṁ vīrāṇāmapi bhīkaram

Then there arose a wondrous radiance, resembling the fire of universal dissolution, fierce enough to scorch the three worlds, terrifying even to heroes.

Verse 34 (shiva.rudra.57.34)

क्रोधरक्तेक्षणः श्रीमान् पुनरुत्थाय स प्रभुः । प्रहर्तुं चक्रमुद्यम्य ह्यतिष्ठत्पुरुषर्षभः

krodharaktekṣaṇaḥ śrīmān punarutthāya sa prabhuḥ | prahartuṁ cakramudyamya hyatiṣṭhatpuruṣarṣabhaḥ

His eyes red with fury, that glorious Lord, foremost of men, rose up again, raised his discus to strike, and stood ready.

Verse 35 (shiva.rudra.57.35)

तस्य चक्रं महारौद्रं कालादित्यसमप्रभम् । व्यष्टम्भयददीनात्मा वीरभद्रः शिवः प्रभुः

tasya cakraṁ mahāraudraṁ kālādityasamaprabham | vyaṣṭambhayadadīnātmā vīrabhadraḥ śivaḥ prabhuḥ

That most terrible discus of his, radiant as the sun of dissolution, Lord Virabhadra — Shiva himself, undaunted in spirit — brought to a standstill.

Verse 36 (shiva.rudra.57.36)

मुने शम्भोः प्रभावात्तु मायेशस्य महाप्रभोः । न चचाल हरेश्चक्रं करस्थं स्तम्भितं ध्रुवम्

mune śambhoḥ prabhāvāttu māyeśasya mahāprabhoḥ | na cacāla hareścakraṁ karasthaṁ stambhitaṁ dhruvam

O sage, by the power of Shambhu, the great Lord and master of maya, Hari's discus, held fast in his hand, stood frozen and did not move at all.

Verse 37 (shiva.rudra.57.37)

अथ विष्णुर्गणेशेन वीरभद्रेण भाषता । अतिष्ठत् स्तम्भितस्तेन शृङ्गवानिव निश्चलः

atha viṣṇurgaṇeśena vīrabhadreṇa bhāṣatā | atiṣṭhat stambhitastena śṛṅgavāniva niścalaḥ

Then Vishnu, held motionless by Virabhadra, lord of the ganas, even as he spoke, stood still as a mountain peak.

Verse 38 (shiva.rudra.57.38)

ततो विष्णुः स्तम्भितो हि वीरभद्रेण नारद । यज्वोपमन्त्रणमनुं निःस्तम्भनकरं जपन्

tato viṣṇuḥ stambhito hi vīrabhadreṇa nārada | yajvopamantraṇamanuṁ niḥstambhanakaraṁ japan

O Narada, Vishnu, thus held immobile by Virabhadra, began to recite a mantra of release, once imparted to him by a sacrificing priest, that undoes such binding.

Verse 39 (shiva.rudra.57.39)

ततः स्तम्भननिर्मुक्तः शार्ङ्गधन्वा रमेश्वरः । शार्ङ्गं जग्राह स क्रुद्धः स्वधनुः सशरं मुने

tataḥ stambhananirmuktaḥ śārṅgadhanvā rameśvaraḥ | śārṅgaṁ jagrāha sa kruddhaḥ svadhanuḥ saśaraṁ mune

Then, freed from that paralysis, O sage, Rameshvara, wielder of the Sharnga bow, in his fury took up his own bow together with its arrows.

Verse 40 (shiva.rudra.57.40)

त्रिभिश्च धर्षितं बाणैस्तेन शार्ङ्गधनुर्हरेः । वीरभद्रेण तत्तात त्रिधाभूत्तत्क्षणान्मुने

tribhiśca dharṣitaṁ bāṇaistena śārṅgadhanurhareḥ | vīrabhadreṇa tattāta tridhābhūttatkṣaṇānmune

But Hari's Sharnga bow, struck by three arrows of Virabhadra, O dear one, O sage, broke into three pieces that very instant.

Verse 41 (shiva.rudra.57.41)

अथ विष्णुर्महावाण्या बोधितस्तं महागणम् । असह्यवर्चसं ज्ञात्वा ह्यन्तर्धातुं मनो दधे

atha viṣṇurmahāvāṇyā bodhitastaṁ mahāgaṇam | asahyavarcasaṁ jñātvā hyantardhātuṁ mano dadhe

Then Vishnu, roused by that great voice, and knowing that gana's splendor to be unbearable, resolved in his mind to disappear.

Verse 42 (shiva.rudra.57.42)

ज्ञात्वा च तत्सर्वमिदं भविष्यं सतीकृतं दुष्प्रसहं परेषाम् । गताः स्वलोकं स्वगणान्वितास्तु स्मृत्वा शिवं सर्वपतिं स्वतन्त्रम्

jñātvā ca tatsarvamidaṁ bhaviṣyaṁ satīkṛtaṁ duṣprasahaṁ pareṣām | gatāḥ svalokaṁ svagaṇānvitāstu smṛtvā śivaṁ sarvapatiṁ svatantram

And knowing all this to be what was destined — brought about by Sati, unbearable for others — they, together with their own hosts, calling Shiva, the independent lord of all, to mind, departed each to his own world.

Verse 43 (shiva.rudra.57.43)

सत्यलोकगतश्चाहं पुत्रशोकेन पीडितः । अचिन्तयं सुदुःखार्तो मया किं कार्यमद्य वै

satyalokagataścāhaṁ putraśokena pīḍitaḥ | acintayaṁ suduḥkhārto mayā kiṁ kāryamadya vai

I too, having gone to Satyaloka, afflicted with grief for my son, and stricken with deep sorrow, pondered: "What indeed is to be done by me now?"

Verse 44 (shiva.rudra.57.44)

विष्णौ मयि गते चैव देवाश्च मुनिभिः सह । विनिर्जिता गणैः सर्वे ये ते यज्ञोपजीविनः

viṣṇau mayi gate caiva devāśca munibhiḥ saha | vinirjitā gaṇaiḥ sarve ye te yajñopajīvinaḥ

When Vishnu and I had both departed, all the gods together with the sages, those who depended upon that sacrifice for their share, were utterly vanquished by the ganas.

Verse 45 (shiva.rudra.57.45)

तमुपद्रवमालक्ष्य विध्वस्तं च महामखम् । मृगस्वरूपो यज्ञो हि महाभीतोऽपि दुद्रुवे

tamupadravamālakṣya vidhvastaṁ ca mahāmakham | mṛgasvarūpo yajño hi mahābhīto'pi dudruve

Seeing that calamity and the great sacrifice destroyed, the Yajna himself, in the form of a deer, greatly terrified, fled away.

Verse 46 (shiva.rudra.57.46)

तं तदा मृगरूपेण धावन्तं गगनं प्रति । वीरभद्रः समादाय विशिरस्कमथाकरोत्

taṁ tadā mṛgarūpeṇa dhāvantaṁ gaganaṁ prati | vīrabhadraḥ samādāya viśiraskamathākarot

Then, as he fled in the form of a deer toward the sky, Virabhadra seized him and struck off his head.

Verse 47 (shiva.rudra.57.47)

ततः प्रजापतिं धर्मं कश्यपं च प्रगृह्य सः । अरिष्टनेमिनं वीरो बहुपुत्रं मुनीश्वरम्

tataḥ prajāpatiṁ dharmaṁ kaśyapaṁ ca pragṛhya saḥ | ariṣṭaneminaṁ vīro bahuputraṁ munīśvaram

Then that hero seized Prajapati Dharma, and Kashyapa, and Arishtanemi, the sage-lord blessed with many sons.

Verse 48 (shiva.rudra.57.48)

मुनिमङ्गिरसं चैव कृशाश्वं च महागणः । जघान मूर्ध्नि पादेन दत्तं च मुनिपुङ्गवम्

munimaṅgirasaṁ caiva kṛśāśvaṁ ca mahāgaṇaḥ | jaghāna mūrdhni pādena dattaṁ ca munipuṅgavam

And that great gana struck sage Angiras and Krishashva, and trampled the foremost sage Datta underfoot upon the head.

Verse 49 (shiva.rudra.57.49)

सरस्वत्याश्च नासाग्रं देवमातुस्तथैव च । चिच्छेद करजाग्रेण वीरभद्रः प्रतापवान्

sarasvatyāśca nāsāgraṁ devamātustathaiva ca | ciccheda karajāgreṇa vīrabhadraḥ pratāpavān

And the glorious Virabhadra sliced off with the tip of his nail the very tip of the nose of Sarasvati, and likewise of the mother of the gods.

Verse 50 (shiva.rudra.57.50)

ततोऽन्यानपि देवादीन् विदार्य पृथिवीतले । पातयामास सोऽयं वै क्रोधाक्रान्तातिलोचनः

tato'nyānapi devādīn vidārya pṛthivītale | pātayāmāsa so'yaṁ vai krodhākrāntātilocanaḥ

Then, his eyes overwhelmed with fury, he tore open the other gods as well and cast them down to the ground.

Verse 51 (shiva.rudra.57.51)

वीरभद्रो विदार्यापि देवान्मुख्यान्मुनीनपि । नाभूच्छान्तो द्रुतक्रोधः फणिराडिव मण्डितः

vīrabhadro vidāryāpi devānmukhyānmunīnapi | nābhūcchānto drutakrodhaḥ phaṇirāḍiva maṇḍitaḥ

Even after tearing open the chief gods and sages, Virabhadra's fury, still unabated, was not pacified — resplendent as he was like the very king of serpents.

Verse 52 (shiva.rudra.57.52)

वीरभद्रोद्धृतारातिः केसरीव वनद्विपान् । दिशो विलोकयामास कः कुत्रास्तीत्यनुक्षणम्

vīrabhadroddhṛtārātiḥ kesarīva vanadvipān | diśo vilokayāmāsa kaḥ kutrāstītyanukṣaṇam

Having thus uprooted his foes, Virabhadra, like a lion among forest elephants, looked about in every direction moment by moment, asking: "Who is where?"

Verse 53 (shiva.rudra.57.53)

व्यपोथयद् भृगुं यावन्मणिभद्रः प्रतापवान् । पदाक्रम्योरसि तदाकार्षीत्तच्छ्मश्रुलुञ्चनम्

vyapothayad bhṛguṁ yāvanmaṇibhadraḥ pratāpavān | padākramyorasi tadākārṣīttacchmaśruluñcanam

Meanwhile, the glorious Manibhadra crushed Bhrigu, and, planting his foot upon his chest, tore out his beard.

Verse 54 (shiva.rudra.57.54)

चण्डश्चोत्पाटयामास पूष्णो दन्तान् प्रवेगतः । शप्यमाने हरे पूर्वं योऽहसद्दर्शयन्दतः

caṇḍaścotpāṭayāmāsa pūṣṇo dantān pravegataḥ | śapyamāne hare pūrvaṁ yo'hasaddarśayandataḥ

And Chanda swiftly knocked out the teeth of Pushan, who had earlier laughed and bared his teeth when the Lord was being reviled.

Verse 55 (shiva.rudra.57.55)

नन्दी भगस्य नेत्रे हि पातितस्य रुषा भुवि । उज्जहार दक्षमक्ष्णा यः शपन्तमसूसुचत्

nandī bhagasya netre hi pātitasya ruṣā bhuvi | ujjahāra dakṣamakṣṇā yaḥ śapantamasūsucat

Nandi, in fury, tore out the two eyes of Bhaga, who had winked his approval when Daksha uttered his curse, and flung him down to the ground.

Verse 56 (shiva.rudra.57.56)

विडम्बिता स्वधा तत्र सा स्वाहा दक्षिणा तथा । मन्त्रास्तन्त्रास्तथा चान्ये तत्रस्था गणनायकैः

viḍambitā svadhā tatra sā svāhā dakṣiṇā tathā | mantrāstantrāstathā cānye tatrasthā gaṇanāyakaiḥ

There Svadha, Svaha, and Dakshina were mocked and humiliated, and so too were the Mantras, the Tantras, and other deities present, by the leaders of the ganas.

Verse 57 (shiva.rudra.57.57)

ववृषुस्ते पुरीषाणि वितानाग्नौ रुषा गणाः । अनिर्वाच्यं तदा चक्रुर्गणा वीरास्तमध्वरम्

vavṛṣuste purīṣāṇi vitānāgnau ruṣā gaṇāḥ | anirvācyaṁ tadā cakrurgaṇā vīrāstamadhvaram

In their fury the ganas rained filth upon the sacrificial canopy-fire; those heroic ganas rendered that sacrifice utterly defiled.

Verse 58 (shiva.rudra.57.58)

अन्तर्वेद्यन्तरगतं निलीनं तद्भयाद् बलात् । आनिनाय समाज्ञाय वीरभद्रः स्वभूःसुतम्

antarvedyantaragataṁ nilīnaṁ tadbhayād balāt | ānināya samājñāya vīrabhadraḥ svabhūḥsutam

Virabhadra, having sought him out, forcibly dragged out Svayambhu's son, who in fear had hidden himself within the sacrificial altar-enclosure.

Verse 59 (shiva.rudra.57.59)

कपोलेऽस्य गृहीत्वा तु खड्गेनोपहृतं शिरः । अभेद्यमभवत्तस्य तच्च योगप्रभावतः

kapole'sya gṛhītvā tu khaḍgenopahṛtaṁ śiraḥ | abhedyamabhavattasya tacca yogaprabhāvataḥ

Seizing him by the cheek, he struck at his head with his sword, but by the power of his yoga it proved unbreakable.

Verse 60 (shiva.rudra.57.60)

अभेद्यं तच्छिरो मत्वा शस्त्रास्त्रैश्च तु सर्वशः । करेण त्रोटयामास पद्भ्यामाक्रम्य चोरसि

abhedyaṁ tacchiro matvā śastrāstraiśca tu sarvaśaḥ | kareṇa troṭayāmāsa padbhyāmākramya corasi

Finding that head unbreakable by weapons or missiles of any kind, he trod upon his chest with his feet and tore it off with his bare hand.

Verse 61 (shiva.rudra.57.61)

तच्छिरस्तस्य दुष्टस्य दक्षस्य हरवैरिणः । अग्निकुण्डे प्रचिक्षेप वीरभद्रो गणाग्रणीः

tacchirastasya duṣṭasya dakṣasya haravairiṇaḥ | agnikuṇḍe pracikṣepa vīrabhadro gaṇāgraṇīḥ

Virabhadra, foremost of the ganas, then flung that head of wicked Daksha, the enemy of Hara, into the sacrificial fire-pit.

Verse 62 (shiva.rudra.57.62)

रेजे तदा वीरभद्रस्त्रिशूलं भ्रामयन्करे । क्रुद्धा रणाक्षसंवर्ताः प्रज्वाल्य पर्वतोपमाः

reje tadā vīrabhadrastriśūlaṁ bhrāmayankare | kruddhā raṇākṣasaṁvartāḥ prajvālya parvatopamāḥ

Then Virabhadra shone forth, whirling his trident in hand, while his enraged battle-fiends blazed like mountains set alight.

Verse 63 (shiva.rudra.57.63)

अनायासेन हत्वैतान् वीरभद्रस्ततोऽग्निना । ज्वालयामास सक्रोधो दीप्ताग्निः शलभानिव

anāyāsena hatvaitān vīrabhadrastato'gninā | jvālayāmāsa sakrodho dīptāgniḥ śalabhāniva

Virabhadra then slew them without effort and burned them with fire in his fury, like a blazing fire consuming moths.

Verse 64 (shiva.rudra.57.64)

वीरभद्रस्ततो दग्धान् दृष्ट्वा दक्षपुरोगमान् । अट्टाट्टहासमकरोत् पूरयंश्च जगत्त्रयम्

vīrabhadrastato dagdhān dṛṣṭvā dakṣapurogamān | aṭṭāṭṭahāsamakarot pūrayaṁśca jagattrayam

Seeing Daksha's chief followers thus burnt, Virabhadra let out a great, resounding laughter that filled all three worlds.

Verse 65 (shiva.rudra.57.65)

वीरश्रिया वृतस्तत्र ततो नन्दनसम्भवा । पुष्पवृष्टिरभूद्दिव्या वीरभद्रे गणान्विते

vīraśriyā vṛtastatra tato nandanasambhavā | puṣpavṛṣṭirabhūddivyā vīrabhadre gaṇānvite

Then, radiant with heroic splendor, a divine shower of flowers born of Nandana fell upon Virabhadra, surrounded by his hosts.

Verse 66 (shiva.rudra.57.66)

ववुर्गन्धवहाः शीताः सुगन्धाः सुखदाः शनैः । देवदुन्दुभयो नेदुः सममेव ततः परम्

vavurgandhavahāḥ śītāḥ sugandhāḥ sukhadāḥ śanaiḥ | devadundubhayo neduḥ samameva tataḥ param

Cool, fragrant, pleasant breezes blew gently, carrying sweet scents; and at that very moment the divine kettledrums resounded together.

Verse 67 (shiva.rudra.57.67)

कैलासं स ययौ वीरः कृतकार्यस्ततः परम् । विनाशितदृढध्वान्तो भानुमानिव सत्वरम्

kailāsaṁ sa yayau vīraḥ kṛtakāryastataḥ param | vināśitadṛḍhadhvānto bhānumāniva satvaram

Then that hero, his task accomplished, swiftly departed for Kailasa, like the sun that has dispelled the deepest darkness.

Verse 68 (shiva.rudra.57.68)

कृतकार्यं वीरभद्रं दृष्ट्वा सन्तुष्टमानसः । शम्भुर्वीरगणाध्यक्षं चकार परमेश्वरः

kṛtakāryaṁ vīrabhadraṁ dṛṣṭvā santuṣṭamānasaḥ | śambhurvīragaṇādhyakṣaṁ cakāra parameśvaraḥ

Seeing Virabhadra, his task accomplished, Lord Shambhu, supremely pleased at heart, made him the chief commander of his heroic hosts.