The Birth of the Demon Taraka

Verse 1 (skanda.1.50.1)

॥वरांग्युवाच॥ नाशितास्म्यपविद्धास्मि त्रासिता पीडितास्मि च॥ रौद्रोण देवनाथेन नष्टनाथेन भूरिशः

varāṁgyuvāca nāśitāsmyapaviddhāsmi trāsitā pīḍitāsmi ca raudroṇa devanāthena naṣṭanāthena bhūriśaḥ

Varangi said: "I have been ruined, cast aside, terrified, and greatly afflicted by that fierce lord of the gods — my own protector lost.

Verse 2 (skanda.1.50.2)

दुःखपारमपश्यंती प्राणांस्त्यक्तुं व्यवस्थिता॥ पुत्रं मे घोरदुःखस्य तारकं देहि चेत्कृपा

duḥkhapāramapaśyaṁtī prāṇāṁstyaktuṁ vyavasthitā putraṁ me ghoraduḥkhasya tārakaṁ dehi cetkṛpā

"Seeing no end to my sorrow, I have resolved to give up my life; if you have any compassion, grant me, for this terrible grief, a son named Taraka."

Verse 3 (skanda.1.50.3)

एवमुक्तस्तु दैत्येंद्रो दुःखितोऽचिंतयद्धृदि॥ आसुरेष्वपि भावेषु स्पृहा यद्यपि नास्ति मे

evamuktastu daityeṁdro duḥkhito'ciṁtayaddhṛdi āsureṣvapi bhāveṣu spṛhā yadyapi nāsti me

Thus addressed, that lord of Daityas, sorrowful, reflected in his heart: "Though I hold no desire even for demonic states,

Verse 4 (skanda.1.50.4)

तथापि मन्ये शास्त्रैभ्यस्त्वनुकंप्या प्रियेति यत्॥ सर्वाश्रमानुपादाय स्वाश्रमेण कलत्रवान्

tathāpi manye śāstraibhyastvanukaṁpyā priyeti yat sarvāśramānupādāya svāśrameṇa kalatravān

"still I hold, from the scriptures, that a wife is worthy of compassion, being so dear. A man with a wife, holding to his own stage of life alone and no other,

Verse 5 (skanda.1.50.5)

व्यसनार्णवमत्येति जलयानैरिवार्णवम्॥ यामाश्रित्येंद्रियारातीन्दुर्जयानितराश्रयैः

vyasanārṇavamatyeti jalayānairivārṇavam yāmāśrityeṁdriyārātīndurjayānitarāśrayaiḥ

"crosses the ocean of misfortune, as ships cross the sea. Taking refuge in her, unconquerable foes of the senses, otherwise beyond any other refuge,

Verse 6 (skanda.1.50.6)

गेहिनो हेलया जिग्युर्दस्यून्दूर्ग पतिर्यथा॥ न केऽपि प्रभवस्तां चाप्यनुकर्तुं गृहेश्वरीम्

gehino helayā jigyurdasyūndūrga patiryathā na ke'pi prabhavastāṁ cāpyanukartuṁ gṛheśvarīm

"a householder conquers with ease, as the lord of a fortress conquers robbers. None indeed have the power to match such a mistress of the house.

Verse 7 (skanda.1.50.7)

अथायुषा वा कार्त्स्न्येन धर्मे दित्सुर्यथैव च॥ यस्यां भवति चात्मैव ततो जाया निगद्यते

athāyuṣā vā kārtsnyena dharme ditsuryathaiva ca yasyāṁ bhavati cātmaiva tato jāyā nigadyate

"Whether through the whole span of life, or in giving toward dharma — she in whom one's own self dwells is therefore called Jaya, the wife;

Verse 8 (skanda.1.50.8)

भर्तव्या एव यस्माच्च तस्माद्भार्येति सा स्मृता॥ सा एव गृहमुक्तं च गृहीणी सा ततः स्मृता

bhartavyā eva yasmācca tasmādbhāryeti sā smṛtā sā eva gṛhamuktaṁ ca gṛhīṇī sā tataḥ smṛtā

"and because she must be maintained, she is remembered as Bharya; and she herself is called Grihini, mistress of the house,

Verse 9 (skanda.1.50.9)

संसारकल्मषात्त्रात्री कलत्रमिति सा ततः॥ एवंविधां प्रियां को वै नानुकंपितुमर्हति

saṁsārakalmaṣāttrātrī kalatramiti sā tataḥ evaṁvidhāṁ priyāṁ ko vai nānukaṁpitumarhati

"and, protecting one from the sin of samsara, she is then called Kalatra. Who indeed would not feel compassion for such a beloved one?

Verse 10 (skanda.1.50.10)

त्रीणि ज्योतींषि पुरुष इति वै देवलोऽब्रवीत्॥ भार्या कर्म च विद्या च संसाध्यं यत्नतस्त्रयम्

trīṇi jyotīṁṣi puruṣa iti vai devalo'bravīt bhāryā karma ca vidyā ca saṁsādhyaṁ yatnatastrayam

"'Three are the lights of a man' — so Devala once said — wife, action, and knowledge; these three must be attained through diligent effort.

Verse 11 (skanda.1.50.11)

तदेनां पीडितां चेद्यः पतिर्भूत्वा न पालये॥ ततो यास्ये शास्त्रवादान्नरकांतं न संशयः

tadenāṁ pīḍitāṁ cedyaḥ patirbhūtvā na pālaye tato yāsye śāstravādānnarakāṁtaṁ na saṁśayaḥ

"If, then, being her husband, I do not protect her in her suffering, then, by the very word of scripture, I shall go to hell, without doubt,

Verse 12 (skanda.1.50.12)

अह मप्येनमिंद्रं वै शक्तो जेतुं यथाऽनृणाम्॥ पुनः कामं करिष्येऽस्या दास्ये पुत्रऊं महाबलम्

aha mapyenamiṁdraṁ vai śakto jetuṁ yathā'nṛṇām punaḥ kāmaṁ kariṣye'syā dāsye putraūṁ mahābalam

"and I too am able to conquer this very Indra, as a man free of debt. Therefore I shall fulfill her wish once more — I shall give her a mighty son."

Verse 13 (skanda.1.50.13)

इति संचिंत्य वज्रांगः कोपव्याकुललोचनः॥ प्रतिकर्तुं महेंद्राय तपो भूयो व्यवस्यत

iti saṁciṁtya vajrāṁgaḥ kopavyākulalocanaḥ pratikartuṁ maheṁdrāya tapo bhūyo vyavasyata

Reflecting thus, Vajranga, his eyes wild with anger, resolved once more upon austerity, to take vengeance on great Indra.

Verse 14 (skanda.1.50.14)

ज्ञात्वा तु तस्य संकल्पं ब्रह्मा क्रूरतरं पुनः॥ आजगाम त्वरायुक्तो यत्राऽसौ दितिनंदनः

jñātvā tu tasya saṁkalpaṁ brahmā krūrataraṁ punaḥ ājagāma tvarāyukto yatrā'sau ditinaṁdanaḥ

Knowing his resolve, more terrible now than before, Brahma came again in haste, to where that son of Diti dwelt,

Verse 15 (skanda.1.50.15)

उवाचैनं स भगवान्प्रभुर्मधुरया गिरा

uvācainaṁ sa bhagavānprabhurmadhurayā girā

and that blessed lord spoke to him in a sweet voice —

Verse 16 (skanda.1.50.16)

॥ब्रह्मोवाच॥ किमर्थं भूय एव त्वं नियमं क्रूरमिच्छसि॥ आहाराभिमुखो दैत्य तन्मे ब्रूहि महाव्रतः

brahmovāca kimarthaṁ bhūya eva tvaṁ niyamaṁ krūramicchasi āhārābhimukho daitya tanme brūhi mahāvrataḥ

Brahma said: "Why do you again desire such fierce discipline? You have only just eaten, O demon of great vow — tell me this.

Verse 17 (skanda.1.50.17)

यावदब्दसहस्रेण निराहारेण वै फलम्॥ त्यजता प्राप्तमाहारं लब्धं ते क्षणमात्रतः

yāvadabdasahasreṇa nirāhāreṇa vai phalam tyajatā prāptamāhāraṁ labdhaṁ te kṣaṇamātrataḥ

"The fruit you gained through a thousand years without food — that very food you have just won, you now abandon for a moment's cause.

Verse 18 (skanda.1.50.18)

त्यागो ह्यप्राप्तकामानां न तथा च गुरुः स्मृतः॥ यथा प्राप्तं परित्यज्य कामं कमललोचन॥ श्रुत्वैतद्ब्रह्मणो वाक्यं दैत्यः प्रांजलिरब्रवीत्

tyāgo hyaprāptakāmānāṁ na tathā ca guruḥ smṛtaḥ yathā prāptaṁ parityajya kāmaṁ kamalalocana śrutvaitadbrahmaṇo vākyaṁ daityaḥ prāṁjalirabravīt

"Giving up what one has never attained is not held so grave; far graver, lotus-eyed one, is giving up what has been attained, on desire alone." Hearing this word of Brahma, the demon, hands folded, said —

Verse 19 (skanda.1.50.19)

॥दैत्य उवाच॥ पत्न्यर्थेऽहं करिष्यामि तपो घोरं पितामह॥ पुत्रार्थमुद्यतश्चाहं यः स्याद्गीर्वाणदर्पहा

daitya uvāca patnyarthe'haṁ kariṣyāmi tapo ghoraṁ pitāmaha putrārthamudyataścāhaṁ yaḥ syādgīrvāṇadarpahā

The demon said: "For my wife's sake, O grandfather, I shall perform terrible austerity; I am resolved upon a son who shall be the crusher of the pride of the gods."

Verse 20 (skanda.1.50.20)

एतच्छ्रुत्वा वचो देवः पद्मगर्भोद्भवस्तदा॥ उवाच दैत्यराजानं प्रसन्नश्चतुराननः

etacchrutvā vaco devaḥ padmagarbhodbhavastadā uvāca daityarājānaṁ prasannaścaturānanaḥ

Hearing this word, that god sprung from the lotus-womb, pleased, the four-faced one, said to the king of the Daityas —

Verse 21 (skanda.1.50.21)

॥ब्रह्मोवाच॥ अलं ते तपसा वत्स मा क्लेशे विस्तरे विश॥ पुत्रस्ते तारकोनाम भविष्यति महाबलः

brahmovāca alaṁ te tapasā vatsa mā kleśe vistare viśa putraste tārakonāma bhaviṣyati mahābalaḥ

Brahma said: "Enough of this austerity, dear child; do not enter into such vast suffering. A mighty son named Taraka shall be born to you —

Verse 22 (skanda.1.50.22)

देवसीमंतिनीकाम्यधम्मिल्लकविमोक्षणः॥ इत्युक्तो दैत्यराजस्तु प्रणम्य प्रपितामहम्

devasīmaṁtinīkāmyadhammillakavimokṣaṇaḥ ityukto daityarājastu praṇamya prapitāmaham

"one who shall loosen the braided hair so cherished by the wives of the gods." Thus addressed, that king of Daityas, bowing to his great-grandfather,

Verse 23 (skanda.1.50.23)

विसृज्य गत्वा महिषीं नंदया मास तां मुदा॥ तौ दंपती कृतार्थौ च जग्मतुश्चाश्रमं तदा

visṛjya gatvā mahiṣīṁ naṁdayā māsa tāṁ mudā tau daṁpatī kṛtārthau ca jagmatuścāśramaṁ tadā

took his leave, went, and delighted his queen. Those two, husband and wife, their purpose fulfilled, then returned to their hermitage.

Verse 24 (skanda.1.50.24)

आहितं च ततो गर्भं वरांगी वरवर्णिनी॥ पूर्णं वर्षसहस्रं तु दधारोदर एव हि

āhitaṁ ca tato garbhaṁ varāṁgī varavarṇinī pūrṇaṁ varṣasahasraṁ tu dadhārodara eva hi

Then that conceived seed Varangi, fair of form, bore within her womb for a full thousand years.

Verse 25 (skanda.1.50.25)

ततो वर्षसहस्रांते वरांगी समसूयत॥ जायमाने तु दैत्येंद्रे तस्मिँल्लोकभयंकरे

tato varṣasahasrāṁte varāṁgī samasūyata jāyamāne tu daityeṁdre tasmi~llokabhayaṁkare

Then, at the end of that thousand years, Varangi gave birth, and that world-terrifying lord of Daityas was born.

Verse 26 (skanda.1.50.26)

चचाल सकला पृथ्वी प्रोद्धूताश्च महार्णवा॥ चेलुर्धराधराश्चापि ववुर्वाता विभीषणाः

cacāla sakalā pṛthvī proddhūtāśca mahārṇavā celurdharādharāścāpi vavurvātā vibhīṣaṇāḥ

The whole earth trembled, and the great oceans surged up; the mountains too shook, and terrifying winds blew forth.

Verse 27 (skanda.1.50.27)

जेपुर्जप्यं मुनिवरा व्याधविद्धा मृगा इव॥ जहुः कांतिं च सूर्याद्या नीहाराश्छांदयन्दिशः

jepurjapyaṁ munivarā vyādhaviddhā mṛgā iva jahuḥ kāṁtiṁ ca sūryādyā nīhārāśchāṁdayandiśaḥ

The finest sages muttered their recitations, like deer pierced by a hunter's arrow; the sun and others lost their brightness, and mist veiled every direction.

Verse 28 (skanda.1.50.28)

जाते महासुरे तस्मिन्सर्व एव महासुराः॥ आजग्मुर्हर्षितास्तत्र तथा चासुरयोषितः

jāte mahāsure tasminsarva eva mahāsurāḥ ājagmurharṣitāstatra tathā cāsurayoṣitaḥ

At that great demon's birth, all the great demons came there, delighted, and the women of the Asuras too.

Verse 29 (skanda.1.50.29)

जगुर्हर्षसमाविष्टा ननृतुश्चासुरांगनाः॥ ततो महोत्सवे जाते दानवानां पृथासुत

jagurharṣasamāviṣṭā nanṛtuścāsurāṁganāḥ tato mahotsave jāte dānavānāṁ pṛthāsuta

Filled with joy, they sang, and the demon-maidens danced. Then, at that great festival of the Danavas, O son of Pritha,

Verse 30 (skanda.1.50.30)

विषण्णमनसो देवाः समहेंद्रास्तदाभवन्॥ जातामात्रस्तु दैत्येंद्रस्तारकश्चंडविक्रमः

viṣaṇṇamanaso devāḥ samaheṁdrāstadābhavan jātāmātrastu daityeṁdrastārakaścaṁḍavikramaḥ

the gods, with great Indra among them, grew heavy of heart. That lord of the Daityas, Taraka, of fierce valor, the very moment he was born,

Verse 31 (skanda.1.50.31)

अभिषिक्तोऽसुरो दैत्यैः कुरंगमहिषादिभिः॥ सर्वासुरमहाराज्ये युतः सर्वैर्महासुरैः

abhiṣikto'suro daityaiḥ kuraṁgamahiṣādibhiḥ sarvāsuramahārājye yutaḥ sarvairmahāsuraiḥ

was anointed by the Daityas, with lions and buffaloes and the like; that demon, joined with all the great demons, ruling over the whole great realm of the Asuras,

Verse 32 (skanda.1.50.32)

स तु प्राप्तमहाराज्यस्तारकः पांडुसत्तम॥ उवाच दानवश्रेष्ठान्युक्तियुक्तमिदं वचः

sa tu prāptamahārājyastārakaḥ pāṁḍusattama uvāca dānavaśreṣṭhānyuktiyuktamidaṁ vacaḥ

having attained that great kingdom, Taraka, O best of the Pandus, spoke this well-reasoned word to the foremost of the Danavas —

Verse 33 (skanda.1.50.33)

श्रृणुध्वमसुराः सर्वे वाक्यं मम महाबलाः॥ श्रुत्वा वः स्थेयसी बुद्धिः क्रियतां वचने मम

śrṛṇudhvamasurāḥ sarve vākyaṁ mama mahābalāḥ śrutvā vaḥ stheyasī buddhiḥ kriyatāṁ vacane mama

"Listen, all you mighty Asuras, to my word; having heard it, let your resolve stand firm, and act as I say.

Verse 34 (skanda.1.50.34)

अस्माकं जातिधर्मेण विरूढं वैरमक्षयम्॥ करिष्याम्यहं तद्वैरं तेषां च विजयाय च

asmākaṁ jātidharmeṇa virūḍhaṁ vairamakṣayam kariṣyāmyahaṁ tadvairaṁ teṣāṁ ca vijayāya ca

"By our very nature of birth, an undying enmity has arisen; that very enmity I shall pursue, for the victory of the demons.

Verse 35 (skanda.1.50.35)

किं तु तत्तपसा साध्यं मन्येहं सुरसंगमम्॥ तस्मादादौ करिष्यामि तपो घोरं दनोः सुताः

kiṁ tu tattapasā sādhyaṁ manyehaṁ surasaṁgamam tasmādādau kariṣyāmi tapo ghoraṁ danoḥ sutāḥ

"But I believe this contest with the gods can be won only through austerity. Therefore, sons of Danu, I shall first perform terrible austerity;

Verse 36 (skanda.1.50.36)

ततः सुरान्विजेष्यामो भोक्ष्यामोऽथ जगत्त्रयम्॥ युक्तोपायोऽहि पुरुषः स्थिरश्रीरेव जायते

tataḥ surānvijeṣyāmo bhokṣyāmo'tha jagattrayam yuktopāyo'hi puruṣaḥ sthiraśrīreva jāyate

"then we shall conquer the gods and enjoy the three worlds. Only the man of sound plan attains a stable fortune;

Verse 37 (skanda.1.50.37)

अयुक्तश्चपलः प्राप्तामपि रक्षितुमक्षमः॥ तच्छ्रुत्वा दानवाः सर्वे वाक्यं तस्यासुरस्य तु

ayuktaścapalaḥ prāptāmapi rakṣitumakṣamaḥ tacchrutvā dānavāḥ sarve vākyaṁ tasyāsurasya tu

"the reckless, fickle man cannot protect even what he has already gained." Hearing this word of that demon, all the Danavas —

Verse 38 (skanda.1.50.38)

साधुसाध्वित्यथोचुस्ते वचनं तस्य विस्मिताः॥ सोऽगच्छत्पारियात्रस्य गिरेः कंदरमुत्तमम्

sādhusādhvityathocuste vacanaṁ tasya vismitāḥ so'gacchatpāriyātrasya gireḥ kaṁdaramuttamam

astonished, cried "well said, well said" to that word of his. He then went to an excellent cavern of Mount Pariyatra,

Verse 39 (skanda.1.50.39)

सर्वर्तुकुसुमाकीर्णनानौषधिविदिपितम्॥ नानाधातुरसस्राविचित्रनानागृहाश्रयम्

sarvartukusumākīrṇanānauṣadhividipitam nānādhāturasasrāvicitranānāgṛhāśrayam

strewn with the flowers of every season, illumined by many herbs, colored with the flowing sap of many minerals, home to dwellings of many kinds —

Verse 40 (skanda.1.50.40)

अनेकाकारबहुलं पृथक्पक्षिकुलाकुलम्॥ नानाप्रस्रवणोपेतं नानाविधजलाशयम्

anekākārabahulaṁ pṛthakpakṣikulākulam nānāprasravaṇopetaṁ nānāvidhajalāśayam

teeming with creatures of every form, thronged with distinct flocks of birds, adorned with many springs, filled with pools of many kinds.

Verse 41 (skanda.1.50.41)

प्राप्य तत्कंदरं दैत्यश्चकार विपुलं तपः॥ वहन्पाशुपतीं दीक्षां पंच मंत्राञ्जजाप सः

prāpya tatkaṁdaraṁ daityaścakāra vipulaṁ tapaḥ vahanpāśupatīṁ dīkṣāṁ paṁca maṁtrāñjajāpa saḥ

Reaching that cavern, that demon performed vast austerity; taking up the Pashupata initiation, he recited its five mantras,

Verse 42 (skanda.1.50.42)

निराहारः पंचतपा वर्षायुतमभूत्किल॥ ततः स्वदेहादुत्कृत्त्य कर्षंकर्षं दिनेदिने

nirāhāraḥ paṁcatapā varṣāyutamabhūtkila tataḥ svadehādutkṛttya karṣaṁkarṣaṁ dinedine

and, fasting, practicing the discipline of the five fires, he remained so, without doubt, for ten thousand years. Then, cutting from his own body, portion by portion, day by day,

Verse 43 (skanda.1.50.43)

मांसस्याग्नौ जुहावैव ततो निर्मांसतां गतः॥ ततो निर्मांसदेहः स तपोराशिरजायत

māṁsasyāgnau juhāvaiva tato nirmāṁsatāṁ gataḥ tato nirmāṁsadehaḥ sa taporāśirajāyata

he offered his own flesh into the fire, until he became a body free of flesh; and that fleshless body became a very mountain of austerity,

Verse 44 (skanda.1.50.44)

जज्वलुः सर्वभूतानि तेजसा तस्य सर्वतः॥ उद्विग्नाश्च सुराः सर्वे तपसा तस्य भीषिताः

jajvaluḥ sarvabhūtāni tejasā tasya sarvataḥ udvignāśca surāḥ sarve tapasā tasya bhīṣitāḥ

and by his splendor every creature on every side began to burn. All the gods, terrified by his austerity, grew agitated.

Verse 45 (skanda.1.50.45)

एतस्मिन्नंतरे ब्रह्मा परमं तोषमागतः॥ तारकस्य वरं दातुं जगाम शिखरं गिरेः

etasminnaṁtare brahmā paramaṁ toṣamāgataḥ tārakasya varaṁ dātuṁ jagāma śikharaṁ gireḥ

Meanwhile Brahma, come to the fullest satisfaction, went to the mountain's peak to grant a boon to Taraka.

Verse 46 (skanda.1.50.46)

प्राप्य तं शैलराजानं हंसस्यंदनमास्थितः॥ उवाच तारकं देवो गिरा मधुरया तदा

prāpya taṁ śailarājānaṁ haṁsasyaṁdanamāsthitaḥ uvāca tārakaṁ devo girā madhurayā tadā

Reaching that king of mountains, mounted upon his own swan-drawn chariot, the god then spoke to Taraka in a sweet voice —

Verse 47 (skanda.1.50.47)

॥ब्रह्मोवाच॥ उत्तिष्ठ पुत्र तपसो नास्त्यसाध्यं तवाधुना॥ वरं वृणीष्वाभिमतं यत्ते मनसि वर्तते

brahmovāca uttiṣṭha putra tapaso nāstyasādhyaṁ tavādhunā varaṁ vṛṇīṣvābhimataṁ yatte manasi vartate

Brahma said: "Rise, my son; nothing at all remains beyond your austerity now. Choose the boon you desire, whatever it is that stands in your mind."

Verse 48 (skanda.1.50.48)

इत्युक्तस्तारको दैत्यः प्रांजलिः प्राह तं विभुम्

ityuktastārako daityaḥ prāṁjaliḥ prāha taṁ vibhum

Thus addressed, the demon Taraka, hands folded, spoke to that mighty lord —

Verse 49 (skanda.1.50.49)

॥तारक उवाच॥ वयं प्रभो जातिधर्माः कृतवैराः सहमरैः॥ तैश्च निःशेषिता दैत्याः कृताः क्रूरैनृशं सवत्

tāraka uvāca vayaṁ prabho jātidharmāḥ kṛtavairāḥ sahamaraiḥ taiśca niḥśeṣitā daityāḥ kṛtāḥ krūrainṛśaṁ savat

Taraka said: "O Lord, by our very birth-nature we bear enmity with the immortals; and they have utterly destroyed the Daityas, with the greatest cruelty.

Verse 50 (skanda.1.50.50)

तेषामहं समुद्धर्ता भवेयमिति मे मतिः॥ अवध्यः सर्वभूतानामस्त्राणां च महौजसाम्

teṣāmahaṁ samuddhartā bhaveyamiti me matiḥ avadhyaḥ sarvabhūtānāmastrāṇāṁ ca mahaujasām

"Let me become their deliverer — such is my resolve; let me be unassailable by every being and by the mightiest of weapons,

Verse 51 (skanda.1.50.51)

स्यामहं चामरैश्चैष वरो मम हृदिस्थितः॥ एतन्मे देहि देवेश नान्यं वै रोचये वरम्

syāmahaṁ cāmaraiścaiṣa varo mama hṛdisthitaḥ etanme dehi deveśa nānyaṁ vai rocaye varam

"and by the immortals too — this boon lies fixed within my heart. Grant me this, O lord of gods; no other boon do I desire."

Verse 52 (skanda.1.50.52)

तमुवाच ततो दैत्यं विरंचोऽमरनायकः॥ न युज्यते विना मृत्युं देहिनो देहधारणम्॥ जातस्य हि ध्रुवो मृत्युः सत्यमेतच्छ्रुतीरितम्

tamuvāca tato daityaṁ viraṁco'maranāyakaḥ na yujyate vinā mṛtyuṁ dehino dehadhāraṇam jātasya hi dhruvo mṛtyuḥ satyametacchrutīritam

Then Virinchi, lord of the immortals, said to that demon: "It is not fitting that any embodied being sustain a body without death; for whoever is born, death is certain — this is true, declared in scripture —

Verse 53 (skanda.1.50.53)

इति संचिंत्य वरय वरं यस्मान्न शंकसे॥ ततः संचिंत्य दैत्येंद्रः शिशुतः सप्तवासरात्

iti saṁciṁtya varaya varaṁ yasmānna śaṁkase tataḥ saṁciṁtya daityeṁdraḥ śiśutaḥ saptavāsarāt

"considering this, choose a boon such that nothing at all need frighten you." Then that lord of Daityas, reflecting, excepting only a child of seven days —

Verse 54 (skanda.1.50.54)

॥तारक उवाच॥ वासराणां च सप्तानां वर्जयित्वा तु बालकम्॥ देवानामप्यवध्योऽहं भूयासं तेन याचितः

tāraka uvāca vāsarāṇāṁ ca saptānāṁ varjayitvā tu bālakam devānāmapyavadhyo'haṁ bhūyāsaṁ tena yācitaḥ

Taraka said: "Excepting a seven-day-old child, let me be unassailable even by the gods." Thus he asked; and that great demon, deluded by his own pride, chose death only at such a hand —

Verse 55 (skanda.1.50.55)

वव्रे महासुरो मृत्युं ब्रह्माणं मानमोहितः॥ ब्रह्मा प्रोचे ततस्तं च तथेति हरवाक्यतः

vavre mahāsuro mṛtyuṁ brahmāṇaṁ mānamohitaḥ brahmā proce tatastaṁ ca tatheti haravākyataḥ

and Brahma said to him, "So be it," by Hara's own word; the god went to heaven, and the demon too went to his own abode.

Verse 56 (skanda.1.50.56)

जगाम त्रिदिवं देवो दैत्योऽपि स्वकमालयम्॥ उत्तीर्णं तपसस्तं च दैत्यं दैत्येश्वरास्तदा

jagāma tridivaṁ devo daityo'pi svakamālayam uttīrṇaṁ tapasastaṁ ca daityaṁ daityeśvarāstadā

That demon, risen from his austerity, was then surrounded by the lords of the Daityas, as birds surround a fruit-laden tree.

Verse 57 (skanda.1.50.57)

परिवव्रुः फलाकीर्णं वृक्षं शकुनयो यथा॥ तस्मिन्महति राज्यस्थे तारके दितिनंदने

parivavruḥ phalākīrṇaṁ vṛkṣaṁ śakunayo yathā tasminmahati rājyasthe tārake ditinaṁdane

When that Taraka, son of Diti, was thus established in that great kingdom, at the very place Brahma had shown him, upon the northern shore of the great ocean,

Verse 58 (skanda.1.50.58)

ब्रह्मणाभिहि तस्थाने महार्णवतटोत्तरे॥ तरवो जज्ञिरे पार्थ तत्र सर्वर्तवः शुभाः

brahmaṇābhihi tasthāne mahārṇavataṭottare taravo jajñire pārtha tatra sarvartavaḥ śubhāḥ

trees of every blessed season sprang up there, O Partha. Splendor, radiance, steadfastness, wisdom, and unbroken fortune —

Verse 59 (skanda.1.50.59)

कांतिर्द्युतिर्धृतिर्मेधा श्रीरखंडा च दानवम्॥ परिवव्रुर्गुणा कीर्णं निश्छिद्राः सर्व एव हि

kāṁtirdyutirdhṛtirmedhā śrīrakhaṁḍā ca dānavam parivavrurguṇā kīrṇaṁ niśchidrāḥ sarva eva hi

these virtues, unbroken, every one of them, encircled that Danava, filled as he was with them all.

Verse 60 (skanda.1.50.60)

कालागरुविलिप्तांगं महामुकुटमंडितम्॥ रुचिरांगदसन्नद्धं महासिंहासने स्थितम्

kālāgaruviliptāṁgaṁ mahāmukuṭamaṁḍitam rucirāṁgadasannaddhaṁ mahāsiṁhāsane sthitam

His limbs were anointed with black aloe-wood, adorned with a great crown, fitted with beautiful armlets; he sat enthroned upon a great seat,

Verse 61 (skanda.1.50.61)

नृत्यंत्यप्सरसः श्रेष्ठा गन्धर्वा गाययंति च॥ चन्द्रार्कौ दीपमार्गेषु व्यजनेषु च मारुतः॥ ग्रहा अग्रेसरास्तस्य जीवादेशप्रभाषिणः

nṛtyaṁtyapsarasaḥ śreṣṭhā gandharvā gāyayaṁti ca candrārkau dīpamārgeṣu vyajaneṣu ca mārutaḥ grahā agresarāstasya jīvādeśaprabhāṣiṇaḥ

while the finest Apsaras danced, and the Gandharvas sang; sun and moon stood as his lamps upon the way, the wind as his fan; the very planets went before him, speaking as bidden by his own life-breath.

Verse 62 (skanda.1.50.62)

एवं स्वकाद्बाहुबलात्स दैत्यः संप्राप्य राज्यं परिमोदमानः॥ कदाचिदाभाष्य जगाद मंत्रिणः प्रोद्धृत्तसर्वांगबलेन दर्पितः

evaṁ svakādbāhubalātsa daityaḥ saṁprāpya rājyaṁ parimodamānaḥ kadācidābhāṣya jagāda maṁtriṇaḥ proddhṛttasarvāṁgabalena darpitaḥ

Thus that demon, having won his kingdom by the strength of his own arms, delighting in it, once addressed his ministers — every limb of him swollen with pride at his own power — and spoke: