The Battle Array of the Gods and Daityas

Verse 1 (skanda.1.28.1)

॥लोमश उवाच॥ कुमारं स्वांकमारोप्य उवाच जगदीश्वरः॥ देवान्प्रति तदा रुद्रः सेंद्रान्भर्गः प्रतापवान्

||lomaśa uvāca|| kumāraṃ svāṃkamāropya uvāca jagadīśvaraḥ|| devānprati tadā rudraḥ seṃdrānbhargaḥ pratāpavān

Lomasha said: Then the mighty and glorious Rudra, lord of the universe, seated Kumara upon his own lap and spoke to the gods, Indra among them.

Verse 2 (skanda.1.28.2)

किं कार्यं कथ्यतां देवाः कुमारेणाधुना मम॥ तदोचुः सहिताः सर्वे देवं पशुपतिं प्रति

kiṃ kāryaṃ kathyatāṃ devāḥ kumāreṇādhunā mama|| tadocuḥ sahitāḥ sarve devaṃ paśupatiṃ prati

'O gods, tell me now what task there is for Kumara.' Then all of them together spoke to Pashupati, the lord of creatures:

Verse 3 (skanda.1.28.3)

तारकाद्भयमुत्पन्नं सर्वेषां जगतां विभो॥ त्राता त्वं जगतां स्वामी तस्मात्त्राणं विधीयताम्

tārakādbhayamutpannaṃ sarveṣāṃ jagatāṃ vibho|| trātā tvaṃ jagatāṃ svāmī tasmāttrāṇaṃ vidhīyatām

O Lord, fear born of Taraka has arisen for all the worlds. You alone are the protector and master of the worlds; therefore grant us protection.

Verse 4 (skanda.1.28.4)

कुमारेण हतोऽद्यैव तारको भविता प्रभो॥ तस्मादद्यैव यास्यामस्तारकं हंतुमुद्यताः

kumāreṇa hato'dyaiva tārako bhavitā prabho|| tasmādadyaiva yāsyāmastārakaṃ haṃtumudyatāḥ

This very day, O lord, Taraka shall be slain by Kumara; therefore this day itself we shall go forth, resolved to destroy him.

Verse 5 (skanda.1.28.5)

तथेति मत्वा सहसा निर्जग्मुस्ते तदा सुराः॥ कार्त्तिकेयं पुरस्कृत्य शंकरातमजमेव हि

tatheti matvā sahasā nirjagmuste tadā surāḥ|| kārttikeyaṃ puraskṛtya śaṃkarātamajameva hi

'So be it,' they resolved, and at once the gods set forth, placing Karttikeya, the very son of Shankara, at their head.

Verse 6 (skanda.1.28.6)

सर्वे मिलित्वा सहसा ब्रह्मविष्णुपुरोगमाः॥ देवानामुद्यमं श्रुत्वा तारकोऽपि महाबलः

sarve militvā sahasā brahmaviṣṇupurogamāḥ|| devānāmudyamaṃ śrutvā tārako'pi mahābalaḥ

All of them together, with Brahma and Vishnu leading, set out at once; and hearing of the gods' resolve, mighty Taraka too

Verse 7 (skanda.1.28.7)

सैन्येन महता चैव ययौ योद्धुं सुरान्प्रति॥ देवैर्दृष्टं समायातं तारकस्य महद्बलम्

sainyena mahatā caiva yayau yoddhuṃ surānprati|| devairdṛṣṭaṃ samāyātaṃ tārakasya mahadbalam

...advanced with a mighty army to give battle to the gods; and the gods beheld that great host of Taraka approaching.

Verse 8 (skanda.1.28.8)

तदा नभोगता वाणी ह्युवाच परिसांत्व्य तान्॥ शांकरिं च पुरस्कृत्य सर्वे यूय प्रतिष्ठिताः

tadā nabhogatā vāṇī hyuvāca parisāṃtvya tān|| śāṃkariṃ ca puraskṛtya sarve yūya pratiṣṭhitāḥ

Then a voice from the sky spoke, comforting them: 'Placing Shankara's son at your head, all of you stand firm...'

Verse 9 (skanda.1.28.9)

दैत्यान्विजित्य संग्रामे जयिनो हि भविष्यथ

daityānvijitya saṃgrāme jayino hi bhaviṣyatha

'...for having conquered the daityas in battle, you shall surely be victorious.'

Verse 10 (skanda.1.28.10)

वाचं तु खेचरीं श्रुत्वा देवाः सर्वे समुत्सुकाः॥ कुमारं च पुरस्कृत्य सर्वे ते गतसाध्वसाः

vācaṃ tu khecarīṃ śrutvā devāḥ sarve samutsukāḥ|| kumāraṃ ca puraskṛtya sarve te gatasādhvasāḥ

Hearing that voice from the sky, all the gods grew eager, and, placing Kumara at their head, they all cast off their fear.

Verse 11 (skanda.1.28.11)

युद्धकामाः सुरा यावत्तावत्सर्वे समागताः॥ वरणार्थं कुमारस्य सुता मृत्योर्दुरत्यया

yuddhakāmāḥ surā yāvattāvatsarve samāgatāḥ|| varaṇārthaṃ kumārasya sutā mṛtyorduratyayā

While the gods, eager for battle, were thus gathering, the unassailable daughter of Mrityu arrived, to choose Kumara as her lord.

Verse 12 (skanda.1.28.12)

ब्रह्मणा नोदिता पूर्वं तपः परममाश्रिता॥ तपसा तेन महता कुमारं प्रति वै तदा॥ आगता दुहिता मृत्योः सेना नामैकसुंदरी

brahmaṇā noditā pūrvaṃ tapaḥ paramamāśritā|| tapasā tena mahatā kumāraṃ prati vai tadā|| āgatā duhitā mṛtyoḥ senā nāmaikasuṃdarī

Long ago, urged on by Brahma, she had undertaken the most severe austerity; and by that great penance, Mrityu's daughter, named Sena, matchless in beauty, now came before Kumara.

Verse 13 (skanda.1.28.13)

तां दृष्ट्वा तेऽब्रुवन्सर्वे देवं पशुपतिं प्रति॥ एनं कुमारमुद्दिश्य आगता ह्यतिसुंदरी

tāṃ dṛṣṭvā te'bruvansarve devaṃ paśupatiṃ prati|| enaṃ kumāramuddiśya āgatā hyatisuṃdarī

Seeing her, all of them said to the lord Pashupati: 'This exceedingly beautiful maiden has come here for the sake of this Kumara.'

Verse 14 (skanda.1.28.14)

ब्रह्मणो वचनाच्चैव कुमारेण तदा वृता॥ अथ सेनापतिर्जातः कुमारः शांकरिस्तदा

brahmaṇo vacanāccaiva kumāreṇa tadā vṛtā|| atha senāpatirjātaḥ kumāraḥ śāṃkaristadā

By the word of Brahma, Kumara then chose her; and thus Shankara's son Kumara was established as commander of the army.

Verse 15 (skanda.1.28.15)

तदा शंखाश्च भेर्यश्च पटहानकगोमुखाः॥ तथा दुंदुभयो नेदुर्मृदंगाश्च महास्वनाः

tadā śaṃkhāśca bheryaśca paṭahānakagomukhāḥ|| tathā duṃdubhayo nedurmṛdaṃgāśca mahāsvanāḥ

Then conches, kettledrums, patahas, anakas and gomukhas sounded, and dundubhis and mridangas resounded with their mighty roar.

Verse 16 (skanda.1.28.16)

तेन नादेन महता पूरितं च नभस्तलम्॥ तदा गौरी च गंगा च कृत्तिका मातरस्तथा॥ परस्परमथोचुस्ताः सुतो मम ममेति च

tena nādena mahatā pūritaṃ ca nabhastalam|| tadā gaurī ca gaṃgā ca kṛttikā mātarastathā|| parasparamathocustāḥ suto mama mameti ca

With that mighty roar the whole vault of the sky was filled; and then Gauri, Ganga and the Krittikas, the foster-mothers, said to one another, 'He is my son, my very own.'

Verse 17 (skanda.1.28.17)

एवं विवादमापन्नाः सर्वास्ता मातृकादयः॥ निवारिता नारदेन मौढ्यं मा कुरुतेति च

evaṃ vivādamāpannāḥ sarvāstā mātṛkādayaḥ|| nivāritā nāradena mauḍhyaṃ mā kuruteti ca

Thus all those mother-goddesses fell into dispute, until Narada restrained them, saying, 'Do not act with such folly.'

Verse 18 (skanda.1.28.18)

पार्वत्यां शंकराज्जातो देवकार्यार्थसिद्धये॥ तूष्णींभूतास्तदा सर्वाः कृत्तिका मातृभिः सह

pārvatyāṃ śaṃkarājjāto devakāryārthasiddhaye|| tūṣṇīṃbhūtāstadā sarvāḥ kṛttikā mātṛbhiḥ saha

'He was born of Shankara through Parvati solely for the accomplishment of the gods' purpose.' Hearing this, the Krittikas, together with the other mothers, fell silent.

Verse 19 (skanda.1.28.19)

गुहेनोक्तास्तदा सर्वा ऋषिपत्न्यश्च कृत्तिकाः॥ नक्षत्राणि समाश्रित्य भवद्भिः स्थीयतां चिरम्

guhenoktāstadā sarvā ṛṣipatnyaśca kṛttikāḥ|| nakṣatrāṇi samāśritya bhavadbhiḥ sthīyatāṃ ciram

Then Guha said to all of them, the wives of sages who were the Krittikas: 'Taking your place among the constellations, dwell there forever.'

Verse 20 (skanda.1.28.20)

तथा मातृगणस्तेन स्वामिना स्थापितो दिवि॥ मृत्योः कन्यां च संगृह्य कार्त्तिकेयस्त्वरान्वितः

tathā mātṛgaṇastena svāminā sthāpito divi|| mṛtyoḥ kanyāṃ ca saṃgṛhya kārttikeyastvarānvitaḥ

Thus that lord established the company of mothers in heaven; and Karttikeya, having accepted Mrityu's daughter, then swiftly

Verse 21 (skanda.1.28.21)

इंद्रं प्रोवाच भगवान्कुमारः शंकरात्मजः॥ दिवं याहि सुरैः सार्द्धं राज्यं कुरु निरन्तरम्

iṃdraṃ provāca bhagavānkumāraḥ śaṃkarātmajaḥ|| divaṃ yāhi suraiḥ sārddhaṃ rājyaṃ kuru nirantaram

...spoke to Indra: the lord Kumara, son of Shankara, said, 'Go to heaven with the gods, and rule your kingdom without interruption.'

Verse 22 (skanda.1.28.22)

इंद्रेणोक्तः कुमारो हि तारकेण प्रपीडिताः॥ स्वर्गाद्विद्राविताः सर्वे वयं याता दिशो दश

iṃdreṇoktaḥ kumāro hi tārakeṇa prapīḍitāḥ|| svargādvidrāvitāḥ sarve vayaṃ yātā diśo daśa

Indra then said to Kumara: 'Tormented by Taraka, all of us were driven out from heaven and scattered to the ten directions.'

Verse 23 (skanda.1.28.23)

किं पृच्छसि महाभाग अस्मान्पदपरिच्युतान्॥ एवमुक्तस्तदा तेन वज्रिणाशंकरात्मजः॥ प्रहस्येंद्रं प्रति तदा मा भैषीत्यभयं ददौ

kiṃ pṛcchasi mahābhāga asmānpadaparicyutān|| evamuktastadā tena vajriṇāśaṃkarātmajaḥ|| prahasyeṃdraṃ prati tadā mā bhaiṣītyabhayaṃ dadau

'Why do you ask us, O great one, who have fallen from our very place?' Thus addressed by the wielder of the thunderbolt, Shankara's son smiled, and said to him, 'Fear not' — thus granting him assurance.

Verse 24 (skanda.1.28.24)

यावत्कथयतस्तस्य शांकरेश्च महात्नः॥ कैलासं तु गते रुद्रे पार्वत्या प्रमथैः सह

yāvatkathayatastasya śāṃkareśca mahātnaḥ|| kailāsaṃ tu gate rudre pārvatyā pramathaiḥ saha

While Shankara's great-souled son was thus speaking — and Rudra himself had already gone to Kailasa together with Parvati and his ganas —

Verse 25 (skanda.1.28.25)

आजगाम महादैत्यो दैत्यसेनाभिरावृतः॥ रणदुंदुभयो नेदुस्तता प्रलयभीषणाः

ājagāma mahādaityo daityasenābhirāvṛtaḥ|| raṇaduṃdubhayo nedustatā pralayabhīṣaṇāḥ

— the great daitya Taraka arrived, surrounded by his army of daityas, and war-drums resounded, terrible as at the world's dissolution.

Verse 26 (skanda.1.28.26)

रणकर्कशतूर्याणि डिंडिमान्यद्भुतानि च॥ गोमुखाः खरश्रृंगाणि काहलान्येव भूरिशः

raṇakarkaśatūryāṇi ḍiṃḍimānyadbhutāni ca|| gomukhāḥ kharaśrṛṃgāṇi kāhalānyeva bhūriśaḥ

Harsh war-trumpets, wondrous kettle-drums, gomukhas, ass-horns, and countless kahalas —

Verse 27 (skanda.1.28.27)

वाद्यभेदा आवाद्यंत तस्मिन्दैत्यसमागमे॥ गर्जमानास्तदा वीरस्तारकेण सहैव तु

vādyabhedā āvādyaṃta tasmindaityasamāgame|| garjamānāstadā vīrastārakeṇa sahaiva tu

— various instruments were sounded at that gathering of daityas, while the warriors roared aloud alongside Taraka himself.

Verse 28 (skanda.1.28.28)

उवाच नारदो वाक्यं तारकं देवकण्टकम्

uvāca nārado vākyaṃ tārakaṃ devakaṇṭakam

Narada then spoke a word to Taraka, that very thorn in the gods' side.

Verse 29 (skanda.1.28.29)

॥नारद उवाच॥ पुरा देवैः कृतो यत्नो वधार्थं नात्र संशयः॥ तवैव चासुरश्रेष्ठ मयोक्तं नान्यथा भवेत्

||nārada uvāca|| purā devaiḥ kṛto yatno vadhārthaṃ nātra saṃśayaḥ|| tavaiva cāsuraśreṣṭha mayoktaṃ nānyathā bhavet

Narada said: 'Long ago the gods made their effort for your destruction alone, O foremost of asuras — of this there is no doubt; what I say shall not prove otherwise.'

Verse 30 (skanda.1.28.30)

कुमारोऽयं च शर्वस्य तवार्थं चोपपादितः॥ एवं ज्ञात्वा महाबाहो कुरु यत्नं समाहितः

kumāro'yaṃ ca śarvasya tavārthaṃ copapāditaḥ|| evaṃ jñātvā mahābāho kuru yatnaṃ samāhitaḥ

'This Kumara, Shiva's son, has been brought into being for your sake alone; knowing this, O mighty-armed one, make your effort with a composed mind.'

Verse 31 (skanda.1.28.31)

नारदोक्तं निशम्याथ तारकः प्रहसन्निव॥ उवाच वाक्यं मेधावी गच्छ त्वं च पुरंदरम्

nāradoktaṃ niśamyātha tārakaḥ prahasanniva|| uvāca vākyaṃ medhāvī gaccha tvaṃ ca puraṃdaram

Hearing Narada's words, Taraka, laughing as it were, that clever one said: 'Go now to Purandara himself.'

Verse 32 (skanda.1.28.32)

मम वाक्यं महर्षे त्वं वद शीघ्रं यथातथम्॥ कुमारं च पुरस्कृत्य मया योद्धुं त्वमिच्छसि

mama vākyaṃ maharṣe tvaṃ vada śīghraṃ yathātatham|| kumāraṃ ca puraskṛtya mayā yoddhuṃ tvamicchasi

'O great sage, go quickly and tell him this word of mine exactly: is it that, placing Kumara at your head, you wish to fight with me?'

Verse 33 (skanda.1.28.33)

मूढभावं समाश्रित्य कर्तुमिच्छसि नान्यथा॥ मनुष्यमेकमाश्रित्य मुचुकुन्दाख्यमेव च

mūḍhabhāvaṃ samāśritya kartumicchasi nānyathā|| manuṣyamekamāśritya mucukundākhyameva ca

'You wish to do this only out of folly, and for no other reason — relying merely on a single mortal man named Muchukunda.'

Verse 34 (skanda.1.28.34)

तत्प्रभावेऽमरावत्यां स्थितोऽसि त्वं न चान्यथा॥ कौमारं बलमाश्रित्य तिष्ठसे त्वं ममाग्रतः

tatprabhāve'marāvatyāṃ sthito'si tvaṃ na cānyathā|| kaumāraṃ balamāśritya tiṣṭhase tvaṃ mamāgrataḥ

'It is only by his power that you remain in Amaravati, in no other way; relying on Kumara's strength alone do you stand before me.'

Verse 35 (skanda.1.28.35)

त्वां हनिष्याम्यहं मन्दलोकपालैः सहैव हि॥ एवं कथय देवेन्द्रं देवर्षे नान्यथा वद

tvāṃ haniṣyāmyahaṃ mandalokapālaiḥ sahaiva hi|| evaṃ kathaya devendraṃ devarṣe nānyathā vada

'I shall slay you, along with your feeble guardians of the quarters — go, tell this to Devendra exactly so, O divine sage, and say nothing else.'

Verse 36 (skanda.1.28.36)

तथेति मत्वा भगवान्स नारदो ययौ सुराञ्छक्रपुरोगमांश्च॥ आचष्ट सर्वं ह्यसुरेन्द्रभाषितं सहोपहासं मतिमांस्तथैव

tatheti matvā bhagavānsa nārado yayau surāñchakrapurogamāṃśca|| ācaṣṭa sarvaṃ hyasurendrabhāṣitaṃ sahopahāsaṃ matimāṃstathaiva

'So be it,' resolved the blessed Narada, and he went to the gods headed by Shakra, and, wise as he was, related all that the lord of the asuras had said, together with his scorn.

Verse 37 (skanda.1.28.37)

॥नारद उवाच॥ भवद्भिः श्रूयतां देवा वचनं मम नान्यथा॥ तारकेण यदुक्तं च सानुगे नावधार्यताम्

||nārada uvāca|| bhavadbhiḥ śrūyatāṃ devā vacanaṃ mama nānyathā|| tārakeṇa yaduktaṃ ca sānuge nāvadhāryatām

Narada said: 'Listen, O gods, to my words exactly as they are; let what Taraka has said, together with his followers, be well understood.'

Verse 38 (skanda.1.28.38)

॥तारक उवाच॥ त्वां हनिष्यामि रे मूढ नान्यथा मम भाषितम्

||tāraka uvāca|| tvāṃ haniṣyāmi re mūḍha nānyathā mama bhāṣitam

Taraka said: 'I shall slay you, O fool — my word shall not prove otherwise.'

Verse 39 (skanda.1.28.39)

मुचुकुन्दं समासाद्य लोकपालैश्च पूजितः॥ न त्वया भीरुणा योत्स्ये देवो भूत्वा नराश्रितः

mucukundaṃ samāsādya lokapālaiśca pūjitaḥ|| na tvayā bhīruṇā yotsye devo bhūtvā narāśritaḥ

'Relying on Muchukunda, honoured though you are by the guardians of the quarters — I will not fight with you, a coward who, though a god, has taken refuge in a man.'

Verse 40 (skanda.1.28.40)

तस्य वाक्यं निशम्योचुः सर्वे देवाः सवासवाः॥ कुमारं च पुरस्कृत्य नारदं चर्षिसत्तमम्

tasya vākyaṃ niśamyocuḥ sarve devāḥ savāsavāḥ|| kumāraṃ ca puraskṛtya nāradaṃ carṣisattamam

Hearing his words, all the gods, Vasava among them, placing Kumara before them, said to Narada, that foremost of sages:

Verse 41 (skanda.1.28.41)

जानासि त्वं हि देवर्षे कुमारस्य बलाबलम्॥ अज्ञो भूत्वा कथं वाक्यमुक्तं तस्य ममाग्रतः

jānāsi tvaṃ hi devarṣe kumārasya balābalam|| ajño bhūtvā kathaṃ vākyamuktaṃ tasya mamāgrataḥ

'O divine sage, you well know the strength or weakness of Kumara; then how, feigning ignorance, could you speak his words before me?'

Verse 42 (skanda.1.28.42)

प्रहस्य नारदो वाक्यमुवाच तस्य सन्निधौ॥ अहमप्युपहासं च वाक्यं तारकमुक्तवान्

prahasya nārado vākyamuvāca tasya sannidhau|| ahamapyupahāsaṃ ca vākyaṃ tārakamuktavān

Narada, laughing, spoke in his presence: 'I too, in mockery, said those very words to Taraka.'

Verse 43 (skanda.1.28.43)

जानीध्वममराः सर्वे कुमारं जयिनं सुराः॥ भविष्यत्यत्र मे वाक्यं नात्र कार्याविचारणा

jānīdhvamamarāḥ sarve kumāraṃ jayinaṃ surāḥ|| bhaviṣyatyatra me vākyaṃ nātra kāryāvicāraṇā

'Know, O immortals, all you gods, that Kumara alone shall be victorious; my word in this matter shall prove true — there is no need for any doubt.'

Verse 44 (skanda.1.28.44)

नारदस्य वचः श्रुत्वा सर्वे देवा मुदान्विताः॥ ऐकपद्येन चोत्तस्थुर्योद्धुकामाश्च तारकम्

nāradasya vacaḥ śrutvā sarve devā mudānvitāḥ|| aikapadyena cottasthuryoddhukāmāśca tārakam

Hearing Narada's words, all the gods, filled with joy, rose up as one, eager to fight against Taraka.

Verse 45 (skanda.1.28.45)

कुमारं गजमारोप्य देवेन्द्रो ह्यग्रगोऽभवत्॥ सुरसैन्येन महता लोकपालैः समावृतः

kumāraṃ gajamāropya devendro hyagrago'bhavat|| surasainyena mahatā lokapālaiḥ samāvṛtaḥ

Seating Kumara upon his elephant, Devendra himself went at the head, surrounded by the vast host of the gods and by the guardians of the quarters.

Verse 46 (skanda.1.28.46)

तदा दुन्दुभयो नेदुर्भेरीतूर्याण्यनेकशः॥ वीणावेणुमृदंगानि तथा गन्धर्वनि स्वनाः

tadā dundubhayo nedurbherītūryāṇyanekaśaḥ|| vīṇāveṇumṛdaṃgāni tathā gandharvani svanāḥ

Then dundubhis resounded, and countless bheris and trumpets; vinas, flutes and mridangas sounded too, along with the songs of the gandharvas.

Verse 47 (skanda.1.28.47)

गजं दत्त्वा महेंद्राय कुमारो यानमारुहत्॥ अनेकरत्नसंवीतं नानाश्चर्यसमन्वितम्॥ विचित्रचित्रं सुमहत्तथाश्चर्यसमन्वितम्

gajaṃ dattvā maheṃdrāya kumāro yānamāruhat|| anekaratnasaṃvītaṃ nānāścaryasamanvitam|| vicitracitraṃ sumahattathāścaryasamanvitam

Giving the elephant to Mahendra, Kumara mounted his own chariot, adorned with countless jewels, filled with wonders of every kind, vast, marvellously wrought and full of astonishing beauty.

Verse 48 (skanda.1.28.48)

विमानमारुह्य तदा महायशाः स शांकरिः सर्वगणैरुपेतः॥ श्रिया समेतः परया बभौ महान्स वीज्यमानश्चमरैर्महाप्रभैः

vimānamāruhya tadā mahāyaśāḥ sa śāṃkariḥ sarvagaṇairupetaḥ|| śriyā sametaḥ parayā babhau mahānsa vījyamānaścamarairmahāprabhaiḥ

Mounted upon that chariot, the greatly renowned son of Shankara, accompanied by all his ganas, shone forth mightily, endowed with supreme splendour, fanned by radiant chowries.

Verse 49 (skanda.1.28.49)

प्राचे तसं छत्र महामणिप्रभं रत्नैरुपेतं बहुभिर्विराजितम्॥ धृतं तदा तेन कुमारमूर्द्धनि चन्द्रैः किरणैः सुशोभितम्

prāce tasaṃ chatra mahāmaṇiprabhaṃ ratnairupetaṃ bahubhirvirājitam|| dhṛtaṃ tadā tena kumāramūrddhani candraiḥ kiraṇaiḥ suśobhitam

A great umbrella, radiant as a mighty jewel and adorned with many gems, was carefully held above Kumara's head, shining beautifully as moonbeams.

Verse 50 (skanda.1.28.50)

संमीलितास्तदा सव देवा इन्द्रपुरोगमाः॥ बलैः स्वैः स्वैः परिक्रांता योद्धुकामा महाबलाः

saṃmīlitāstadā sava devā indrapurogamāḥ|| balaiḥ svaiḥ svaiḥ parikrāṃtā yoddhukāmā mahābalāḥ

Then all the gods, with Indra at their head, assembled together, each surrounded by his own forces, mighty and eager for battle.

Verse 51 (skanda.1.28.51)

यमेऽपि स्वगणैः सार्द्धं मरुद्भिश्च सदागतिः॥ पाथोभिर्वरुणस्तत्र कुबेरो गुह्यकैः सह॥ ईशोऽपि प्रमथैः सार्द्धं नैर्ऋतो व्याधिभिः सह

yame'pi svagaṇaiḥ sārddhaṃ marudbhiśca sadāgatiḥ|| pāthobhirvaruṇastatra kubero guhyakaiḥ saha|| īśo'pi pramathaiḥ sārddhaṃ nairṛto vyādhibhiḥ saha

Yama too came with his own hosts, and the ever-moving Maruts; Varuna came there with the waters, and Kubera with the guhyakas; Ishana too with his ganas, and Nairrita with his attendants.

Verse 52 (skanda.1.28.52)

एवं तेऽष्टौ लोकपा योद्धुकामाः सर्वे मिलित्वा तारकं हंतुमेव॥ पुरस्कृत्वा शांकरिं विश्ववंद्यं सेनापतिं चात्मविदां वरिष्ठम्

evaṃ te'ṣṭau lokapā yoddhukāmāḥ sarve militvā tārakaṃ haṃtumeva|| puraskṛtvā śāṃkariṃ viśvavaṃdyaṃ senāpatiṃ cātmavidāṃ variṣṭham

Thus all those eight guardians of the quarters, eager for battle, gathered together solely to slay Taraka, placing at their head Shankara's son — worshipped by the whole universe — as their commander, foremost among the knowers of the Self.

Verse 53 (skanda.1.28.53)

एवं ते योद्धुकामा हि अवतेरुश्च भूतलम्॥ अंतर्वेद्यां स्थिताः सर्वे गंगा यमुनमध्यगाः

evaṃ te yoddhukāmā hi avateruśca bhūtalam|| aṃtarvedyāṃ sthitāḥ sarve gaṃgā yamunamadhyagāḥ

Thus, eager for battle, they descended to the earth, and all of them took their stand upon the Antarvedi, the land lying between the Ganga and the Yamuna.

Verse 54 (skanda.1.28.54)

पातालाच्च समायातास्तारकस्योपजीविनः॥ चेरुरंगबलोपेता हन्तुकामाः सुरान्रणे

pātālācca samāyātāstārakasyopajīvinaḥ|| ceruraṃgabalopetā hantukāmāḥ surānraṇe

From Patala too came Taraka's dependents, and, equipped with full battle-strength, they moved about, eager to slay the gods in war.

Verse 55 (skanda.1.28.55)

तारको हि समायातो विमानेन विराजितः॥ छत्रेण च महातेजा ध्रियमाणेन मूर्द्धनि

tārako hi samāyāto vimānena virājitaḥ|| chatreṇa ca mahātejā dhriyamāṇena mūrddhani

Taraka himself arrived, resplendent upon his chariot, that mighty one radiant with the great umbrella held above his head.

Verse 56 (skanda.1.28.56)

चामरैर्विज्यमानो हि शुशुभे दैत्यराट् स्वयम्

cāmarairvijyamāno hi śuśubhe daityarāṭ svayam

Fanned by chowries, the lord of the daityas himself shone forth in splendour.

Verse 57 (skanda.1.28.57)

एवं देवाश्च दैत्याश्च अंतर्वेद्यां स्थितास्तदा॥ सैन्येन महता तत्र व्यूहान्कृत्वा पृथक्पृथक्

evaṃ devāśca daityāśca aṃtarvedyāṃ sthitāstadā|| sainyena mahatā tatra vyūhānkṛtvā pṛthakpṛthak

Thus both the gods and the daityas stood there upon the Antarvedi, each with their mighty armies, having formed their separate battle arrays.

Verse 58 (skanda.1.28.58)

गजान्कृत्वा ह्येकतश्च हयांश्च विविधांस्तथा॥ स्यंदनानिविचित्राणि नानारत्नयुतानि च

gajānkṛtvā hyekataśca hayāṃśca vividhāṃstathā|| syaṃdanānivicitrāṇi nānāratnayutāni ca

They arrayed the elephants on one side, and various kinds of horses, and wondrous chariots adorned with many jewels.

Verse 59 (skanda.1.28.59)

पदाता बहवस्तत्र शक्तिशूलपरश्वधैः॥ खड्गतोमरनाराचैः पाशमुद्गरशोभिताः

padātā bahavastatra śaktiśūlaparaśvadhaiḥ|| khaḍgatomaranārācaiḥ pāśamudgaraśobhitāḥ

Many foot-soldiers stood there, armed with spears, tridents and axes, adorned with swords, javelins, iron arrows, nooses and maces.

Verse 60 (skanda.1.28.60)

ते सेने सुरदैत्यानां शुशुभाते परस्परम्॥ हंतुकामास्तदा ते वै स्तूयमानाश्च बन्धुभिः

te sene suradaityānāṃ śuśubhāte parasparam|| haṃtukāmāstadā te vai stūyamānāśca bandhubhiḥ

Those two armies of gods and daityas shone gloriously, facing one another, both eager to destroy the other, while their kinsmen sang their praises.