The Battle Between Yama and Grasana

Verse 1 (skanda.1.52.1)

॥नारद उवाच॥ ततस्तयोः समायोगः सेनयोरुभयोरभूत्॥ युगांते समनुप्राप्ते यथा क्षुब्धसमुद्रयोः

nārada uvāca tatastayoḥ samāyogaḥ senayorubhayorabhūt yugāṁte samanuprāpte yathā kṣubdhasamudrayoḥ

Narada said: "Then came the clash of those two armies, as when two turbulent oceans meet at the end of an age.

Verse 2 (skanda.1.52.2)

सुरासुराणां संमर्दे तस्मिन्परमदारुणे॥ तुमुलं सुमहत्क्रांते सेनयोरुभयोरपि

surāsurāṇāṁ saṁmarde tasminparamadāruṇe tumulaṁ sumahatkrāṁte senayorubhayorapi

"In that most terrible clash of gods and demons, vast and tumultuous, as both armies advanced —

Verse 3 (skanda.1.52.3)

गर्जतां देवदैत्यानां शंखभेरीरवेण च॥ तूर्याणां चैव निर्घोषैर्मातंगानां च बृंहितैः

garjatāṁ devadaityānāṁ śaṁkhabherīraveṇa ca tūryāṇāṁ caiva nirghoṣairmātaṁgānāṁ ca bṛṁhitaiḥ

"with the roar of gods and demons, the blast of conch and war-drum, the din of trumpets, and the trumpeting of elephants,

Verse 4 (skanda.1.52.4)

हेषितैर्हयवृंदानां रथनेमिस्वनेन च॥ घोषेण चैव तूर्याणां युगांत इव चाभवत्

heṣitairhayavṛṁdānāṁ rathanemisvanena ca ghoṣeṇa caiva tūryāṇāṁ yugāṁta iva cābhavat

"with the neighing of hosts of horses, and the rumble of chariot-wheels, and the clamor of trumpets besides, it seemed as though the very end of an age had come.

Verse 5 (skanda.1.52.5)

रोषेणाबिपरीतांगास्त्यक्तजीवितचेतसः॥ समसज्जन्त तेन्योन्यं प्रक्रमेणातिलोहिताः

roṣeṇābiparītāṁgāstyaktajīvitacetasaḥ samasajjanta tenyonyaṁ prakrameṇātilohitāḥ

"With bodies contorted by rage, their minds already resigned to death, they fell upon one another in fierce assault, drenched wholly in blood —

Verse 6 (skanda.1.52.6)

रथा रथैः समासक्ता गजाश्चापि महागजैः॥ पत्तयः पत्तिभिश्चैव हयाश्चापि महाहयैः

rathā rathaiḥ samāsaktā gajāścāpi mahāgajaiḥ pattayaḥ pattibhiścaiva hayāścāpi mahāhayaiḥ

"chariots clashed with chariots, and elephants with mighty elephants; foot-soldiers with foot-soldiers, and horses with mighty horses.

Verse 7 (skanda.1.52.7)

ततः प्रासाशनिगदाभिंडिपालपरश्वधैः॥ शक्तिभिः पट्टिशैः शूलैर्मुद्गरैः कणयैर्गुडैः

tataḥ prāsāśanigadābhiṁḍipālaparaśvadhaiḥ śaktibhiḥ paṭṭiśaiḥ śūlairmudgaraiḥ kaṇayairguḍaiḥ

"Then, with lances, thunderbolts, maces, javelins, and axes, with spears, spiked clubs, tridents, hammers, darts, and stone balls,

Verse 8 (skanda.1.52.8)

चक्रैश्च शक्तिभिश्चैव तोमरैरंकुशैरपि॥ कर्णिनालीकनाराचवत्सदंतार्द्धचंद्रकैः

cakraiśca śaktibhiścaiva tomarairaṁkuśairapi karṇinālīkanārācavatsadaṁtārddhacaṁdrakaiḥ

"with discuses and lances, with iron darts and hooks too, with barbed arrows, straight shafts, tusk-headed and crescent-bladed arrows,

Verse 9 (skanda.1.52.9)

भल्लैर्वेतसपत्रैश्च शुकतुंडैश्च निर्मलैः॥ वृष्टिभिश्चाद्भुताकारैर्गगनं समपद्यत

bhallairvetasapatraiśca śukatuṁḍaiśca nirmalaiḥ vṛṣṭibhiścādbhutākārairgaganaṁ samapadyata

"and showers of gleaming weapons shaped like broad blades, cane leaves, and parrot beaks, in forms wondrous beyond telling, the very sky was filled,

Verse 10 (skanda.1.52.10)

संप्रच्छाद्य दिशः सर्वास्तमोमयमिवाभवत्॥ प्राज्ञायंत न तेऽन्योन्यं तस्मिंस्तमसि संकुले

saṁpracchādya diśaḥ sarvāstamomayamivābhavat prājñāyaṁta na te'nyonyaṁ tasmiṁstamasi saṁkule

"veiling every direction until it seemed made wholly of darkness. In that thick gloom they could not tell one another apart;

Verse 11 (skanda.1.52.11)

अदृश्यभूतास्तमसि न्यकृंतंत परस्परम्॥ ततो भुजैर्ध्वजैश्छत्रैः शिरोभिश्च सकुंडलैः

adṛśyabhūtāstamasi nyakṛṁtaṁta parasparam tato bhujairdhvajaiśchatraiḥ śirobhiśca sakuṁḍalaiḥ

"unseen to each other in that darkness, still they cut one another down. Then, with severed arms, banners, parasols, and heads still crowned with earrings,

Verse 12 (skanda.1.52.12)

गजैस्तुरंगैः पादातैः पतद्भिः पतितैरपि॥ आकाशशिरसो भ्रष्टैः पंकजैरिव भूश्चिता

gajaisturaṁgaiḥ pādātaiḥ patadbhiḥ patitairapi ākāśaśiraso bhraṣṭaiḥ paṁkajairiva bhūścitā

"with elephants, horses, and foot-soldiers, some falling and some already fallen, the earth lay strewn as if with lotuses dropped from the very brow of the sky.

Verse 13 (skanda.1.52.13)

भग्नदंता भिन्नकुंभाश्छिन्नदीर्घमहाकराः॥ गजाः शैलनिभाः पेतुर्धरण्यां रुधिरस्रवाः

bhagnadaṁtā bhinnakuṁbhāśchinnadīrghamahākarāḥ gajāḥ śailanibhāḥ peturdharaṇyāṁ rudhirasravāḥ

"Mountain-like elephants, their tusks broken, their crowns split open, their long, mighty trunks severed, fell to the ground, streaming with blood.

Verse 14 (skanda.1.52.14)

भग्नैषाश्च रथाः पेतुर्भग्नाक्षाः शकलीकृताः॥ पत्तयः कोटिशः पेतुस्तुरंगाश्च सहस्रशः

bhagnaiṣāśca rathāḥ peturbhagnākṣāḥ śakalīkṛtāḥ pattayaḥ koṭiśaḥ petusturaṁgāśca sahasraśaḥ

"Chariots fell, their yokes broken, their axles snapped, shattered into fragments; foot-soldiers fell by the millions, and horses by the thousands.

Verse 15 (skanda.1.52.15)

ततः शोणितनद्यश्च हर्षदाः पिशिताशिनाम्॥ वैतालानंददायिन्यो व्यजायंत सहस्रशः

tataḥ śoṇitanadyaśca harṣadāḥ piśitāśinām vaitālānaṁdadāyinyo vyajāyaṁta sahasraśaḥ

"Then rivers of blood, delighting the flesh-eaters, granting joy to spirits of the dead, sprang up by the thousand.

Verse 16 (skanda.1.52.16)

तस्मिंस्तथाविधे युद्धे सेनानीर्ग्रसनोऽरिहा॥ बाणवर्षेण महता देवसैन्यमकंपयत्

tasmiṁstathāvidhe yuddhe senānīrgrasano'rihā bāṇavarṣeṇa mahatā devasainyamakaṁpayat

"In that battle the general Grasana, slayer of foes, with a great shower of arrows, made the very army of the gods tremble.

Verse 17 (skanda.1.52.17)

ततो ग्रसनमालोक्य यमः क्रोधविमूर्छितः॥ ववर्ष शरवर्षेण विशेषादग्निवर्चसा

tato grasanamālokya yamaḥ krodhavimūrchitaḥ vavarṣa śaravarṣeṇa viśeṣādagnivarcasā

"Then, seeing Grasana, Yama, senseless with rage, rained down a shower of arrows blazing bright as fire.

Verse 18 (skanda.1.52.18)

स विद्धो बहुभिर्षाणैर्ग्रसनोऽतिपराक्रमः॥ कृतप्रतिकृताकांक्षी धनुरानम्य भैरवम्

sa viddho bahubhirṣāṇairgrasano'tiparākramaḥ kṛtapratikṛtākāṁkṣī dhanurānamya bhairavam

"Grasana, of exceeding valor, pierced by many an arrow, eager for retaliation, drawing his fearsome bow,

Verse 19 (skanda.1.52.19)

शरैः सहस्रैश्च पञ्चलक्षैश्चैव व्यताडयत्॥ ग्रसनेन विमुक्तांस्ताञ्छरान्सोपि निवार्य च

śaraiḥ sahasraiśca pañcalakṣaiścaiva vyatāḍayat grasanena vimuktāṁstāñcharānsopi nivārya ca

"pierced him with five hundred thousand arrows. Yama too, having warded off those arrows loosed by Grasana,

Verse 20 (skanda.1.52.20)

बाणवृष्टिभिरुग्राभिर्यमो ग्रसनमर्दयत्॥ कृतांतशरवृष्टीनां संततीः प्रतिसर्पतीः॥ चिच्छेद शरवर्षेण ग्रसनो दानवेश्वरः

bāṇavṛṣṭibhirugrābhiryamo grasanamardayat kṛtāṁtaśaravṛṣṭīnāṁ saṁtatīḥ pratisarpatīḥ ciccheda śaravarṣeṇa grasano dānaveśvaraḥ

"with a fierce hail of arrows harried Grasana in turn; and the lord of Danavas, Grasana, with his own shower of arrows, cut down the oncoming streams of Death's own shafts.

Verse 21 (skanda.1.52.21)

विफलां तां समालोक्य यमः स्वशरसंततिम्

viphalāṁ tāṁ samālokya yamaḥ svaśarasaṁtatim

Seeing his own stream of arrows go for nothing, Yama...

Verse 22 (skanda.1.52.22)

प्राहिणोन्मुद्गरं दीप्तं ग्रसनस्य रथं प्रति॥ स तं मुद्गरमायांतमुत्पत्य रथसत्तमात्

prāhiṇonmudgaraṁ dīptaṁ grasanasya rathaṁ prati sa taṁ mudgaramāyāṁtamutpatya rathasattamāt

...hurled a blazing mace toward Grasana's chariot. He, leaping up from his fine chariot, dodged that oncoming mace,

Verse 23 (skanda.1.52.23)

जग्राह वामहस्तेन लीलया ग्रसनोऽरिहा॥ तेनैव मुद्गरेणाथ यमस्य महिषं रुषा

jagrāha vāmahastena līlayā grasano'rihā tenaiva mudgareṇātha yamasya mahiṣaṁ ruṣā

and Grasana, slayer of foes, caught it with ease in his left hand. Then, with that same mace, in fury, upon Yama's very buffalo,

Verse 24 (skanda.1.52.24)

ताडयामास वेगेन स पपात महीतले॥ उत्पत्याथ यमस्तस्मान्महिषान्निपतिष्यतः

tāḍayāmāsa vegena sa papāta mahītale utpatyātha yamastasmānmahiṣānnipatiṣyataḥ

he struck with such force that the beast fell to the ground. Then, springing up from that falling buffalo, Yama,

Verse 25 (skanda.1.52.25)

प्रासेन ताडयामास ग्रसनं वदने दृढम्॥ स तु प्राप्तप्रहारेण मूर्छितो न्यपतद्भुवि

prāsena tāḍayāmāsa grasanaṁ vadane dṛḍham sa tu prāptaprahāreṇa mūrchito nyapatadbhuvi

with a lance, struck Grasana hard in the face. Struck by that blow, he fell fainting to the ground.

Verse 26 (skanda.1.52.26)

ग्रसनं पतित दृष्ट्वा जंभो भीमपराक्रमः॥ यमस्य भिंडिपालेन प्रहारमकरोद्धृदि

grasanaṁ patita dṛṣṭvā jaṁbho bhīmaparākramaḥ yamasya bhiṁḍipālena prahāramakaroddhṛdi

Seeing Grasana fallen, Jambha, of fearsome valor, struck Yama in the chest with a javelin.

Verse 27 (skanda.1.52.27)

यमस्तेन प्रहारेण सुस्राव रुधिरं मुखात्॥ अतिगाढ प्रहारार्त्तः कृतांतोमूर्छितोऽभवत्

yamastena prahāreṇa susrāva rudhiraṁ mukhāt atigāḍha prahārārttaḥ kṛtāṁtomūrchito'bhavat

Struck by that blow, blood began to pour freely from Yama's mouth; wracked by so deep a wound, Kritanta, Death himself, fell fainting.

Verse 28 (skanda.1.52.28)

कृतांतमर्दितं दृष्ट्वा गदापाणिर्धनादिपः॥ वृतो यक्षायुतगणैर्जंभं प्रत्युद्ययौ रुषआ

kṛtāṁtamarditaṁ dṛṣṭvā gadāpāṇirdhanādipaḥ vṛto yakṣāyutagaṇairjaṁbhaṁ pratyudyayau ruṣaā

Seeing Kritanta thus struck down, mace in hand, the lord of wealth, surrounded by ten thousand hosts of Yakshas, advanced in fury upon Jambha.

Verse 29 (skanda.1.52.29)

जंभो रुषा तमायांतं दानवा नीकसंवृतः॥ जग्राह वाक्यं राज्ञस्तु यता स्निग्धेन भाषितम्

jaṁbho ruṣā tamāyāṁtaṁ dānavā nīkasaṁvṛtaḥ jagrāha vākyaṁ rājñastu yatā snigdhena bhāṣitam

Jambha, surrounded by his own army of Danavas, turned in fury to face him as he came; he was heeding the word his king had spoken to him with such affection.

Verse 30 (skanda.1.52.30)

ग्रसनो लब्धसंज्ञोऽथ यमस्य प्राहिणोद्गदाम्॥ मणिहेमपरिष्कारां गुर्वी परिघमर्दिनीम्

grasano labdhasaṁjño'tha yamasya prāhiṇodgadām maṇihemapariṣkārāṁ gurvī parighamardinīm

Grasana, now come to his senses, hurled a mace at Yama, adorned with gems and gold, heavy, capable of shattering iron bars.

Verse 31 (skanda.1.52.31)

तामापतंतीं संप्रेक्ष्य गदां महिषवाहनः॥ गदायाः प्रतिघातार्थं जगज्ज्वलनभैरवम्

tāmāpataṁtīṁ saṁprekṣya gadāṁ mahiṣavāhanaḥ gadāyāḥ pratighātārthaṁ jagajjvalanabhairavam

Seeing that mace bearing down on him, that rider of the buffalo, to repel it, terrible as the fire that consumes the world,

Verse 32 (skanda.1.52.32)

दंडं मुमोच कोपेन ज्वालामालासमाकुलम्॥ स गदां वियति प्राप्य ररासांबुधरोद्धतम्

daṁḍaṁ mumoca kopena jvālāmālāsamākulam sa gadāṁ viyati prāpya rarāsāṁbudharoddhatam

hurled his own staff, in fury, wreathed in garlands of flame. That mace, meeting his staff in the sky, roared like a thundering cloud,

Verse 33 (skanda.1.52.33)

संवट्टश्चाभवत्ताभ्यां शैलाभ्यामिव दुःसहः॥ ताभ्यां निष्पेषनिर्ह्राद जडीकृतदिगंतरम्

saṁvaṭṭaścābhavattābhyāṁ śailābhyāmiva duḥsahaḥ tābhyāṁ niṣpeṣanirhrāda jaḍīkṛtadigaṁtaram

and between the two there arose a terrible, unbearable collision, as of two mountains crashing together, and at the roar of their grinding the very ends of the sky fell numb,

Verse 34 (skanda.1.52.34)

जगद्व्याकुलतां यातं प्रलयागमशंकया॥ क्षणात्प्रशांतनिर्ह्रादं ज्वलदुल्कासमाचितम्

jagadvyākulatāṁ yātaṁ pralayāgamaśaṁkayā kṣaṇātpraśāṁtanirhrādaṁ jvaladulkāsamācitam

and the world grew frantic with fear that dissolution itself had come; in a moment their roar subsided, though the sky remained filled with blazing meteors,

Verse 35 (skanda.1.52.35)

निष्पेषणं तयोर्भीमम भूद्गनगोचरम्॥ निहत्याथ गदां दण्डस्ततो ग्रसनमूर्धनि

niṣpeṣaṇaṁ tayorbhīmama bhūdganagocaram nihatyātha gadāṁ daṇḍastato grasanamūrdhani

and that fearsome grinding of the two was seen there in the heavens. Then, having shattered that mace, the staff fell upon Grasana's very head,

Verse 36 (skanda.1.52.36)

पपात पौरुषं हत्वा यथा दैवं पुरार्जितम्॥ सतु तेन प्रहारेण दृष्ट्वा सतिमिरादिशः

papāta pauruṣaṁ hatvā yathā daivaṁ purārjitam satu tena prahāreṇa dṛṣṭvā satimirādiśaḥ

crushing his manly pride, as fate long since earned falls upon a man; and he, struck by that blow, seeing the directions grow dark,

Verse 37 (skanda.1.52.37)

पपात भूमौ निःसंज्ञो भूमिरेणुविभूषितः॥ ततो हाहारवो घोरः सेनयोरुभयोरभूत्

papāta bhūmau niḥsaṁjño bhūmireṇuvibhūṣitaḥ tato hāhāravo ghoraḥ senayorubhayorabhūt

fell senseless to the ground, covered over with its dust. Then a terrible cry of dismay rose up from both armies.

Verse 38 (skanda.1.52.38)

ततो महूर्तमात्रेण ग्रसनः प्राप्य चेतनाम्॥ अपश्यत्स्वां तनुं ध्वस्तां विलोलाभरणांबराम्

tato mahūrtamātreṇa grasanaḥ prāpya cetanām apaśyatsvāṁ tanuṁ dhvastāṁ vilolābharaṇāṁbarām

Then, in but a moment, Grasana regained his senses; he saw his own body shattered, his ornaments and garments in disarray,

Verse 39 (skanda.1.52.39)

स चापि चिंतयामास कृतप्रतिकृतक्रियाम्॥ धिगस्तु पौरुषं मह्यं प्रभोरग्रेसरः कथम्

sa cāpi ciṁtayāmāsa kṛtapratikṛtakriyām dhigastu pauruṣaṁ mahyaṁ prabhoragresaraḥ katham

and he too thought of what retaliation he must take: "Shame on my own manhood! How can I still stand as my lord's foremost champion —

Verse 40 (skanda.1.52.40)

मय्याश्रितानि सैन्यानि जिते मयि जितानि च॥ असंभावितरूपो हि सज्जनो मोदते सुखम्

mayyāśritāni sainyāni jite mayi jitāni ca asaṁbhāvitarūpo hi sajjano modate sukham

"...when the armies that depend on me are conquered the moment I am conquered myself? Only the truly modest man of worth delights, at the end, in real happiness —

Verse 41 (skanda.1.52.41)

संभावितस्त्वशक्तश्चेत्तस्य नायं परोऽपि वा॥ एवं संचिंत्य वेगेन समुत्तस्थौ महाबलः

saṁbhāvitastvaśaktaścettasya nāyaṁ paro'pi vā evaṁ saṁciṁtya vegena samuttasthau mahābalaḥ

"and if one held to be capable proves incapable, that fault belongs to no one but himself." Thinking thus, that mighty one rose up swiftly.

Verse 42 (skanda.1.52.42)

मुद्गरं कालदण्डाभं गृहीत्वा गिरिसंनिभम्॥ ग्रसनो घोरसंकल्पः संदष्टौष्ठपुटच्छदः

mudgaraṁ kāladaṇḍābhaṁ gṛhītvā girisaṁnibham grasano ghorasaṁkalpaḥ saṁdaṣṭauṣṭhapuṭacchadaḥ

Taking up a mace like Yama's own staff, mountain-like, Grasana, his resolve now terrible, his lips bitten and trembling,

Verse 43 (skanda.1.52.43)

रथेन त्वरितोऽगच्छदाससादांतकं रणे॥ समासाद्य यमं युद्धे ग्रसनो भ्राम्य मुद्गरम्

rathena tvarito'gacchadāsasādāṁtakaṁ raṇe samāsādya yamaṁ yuddhe grasano bhrāmya mudgaram

went swiftly by chariot to face Death himself in that battle. Meeting Yama in combat, Grasana, whirling his mace,

Verse 44 (skanda.1.52.44)

वेगेन महता रौद्रं चिक्षेप यममूर्धनि॥ विलोक्य मुद्गरं दीप्तं यमः संभ्रांतलोचनः

vegena mahatā raudraṁ cikṣepa yamamūrdhani vilokya mudgaraṁ dīptaṁ yamaḥ saṁbhrāṁtalocanaḥ

hurled it with tremendous force, terribly, at Yama's very head. Seeing that blazing mace, Yama, his eyes wide with alarm,

Verse 45 (skanda.1.52.45)

वंचयामास दुर्द्धर्षं मुद्गरं तं महाबलः॥ तस्मिन्नपसृते दूरं चंडानां भीमकर्मणाम्

vaṁcayāmāsa durddharṣaṁ mudgaraṁ taṁ mahābalaḥ tasminnapasṛte dūraṁ caṁḍānāṁ bhīmakarmaṇām

that mighty one saved himself from that irresistible mace; and it, flying on far off, crushed a full ten thousand of Yama's own fierce, terrible-deeded servants.

Verse 46 (skanda.1.52.46)

याम्यानां किंकराणां च अयुतं निष्पिपेष ह॥ ततस्तदयुतं दृष्ट्वा हतं किंकरवाहिनी

yāmyānāṁ kiṁkarāṇāṁ ca ayutaṁ niṣpipeṣa ha tatastadayutaṁ dṛṣṭvā hataṁ kiṁkaravāhinī

Then, seeing that ten thousand slain, the army of Yama's own servants,

Verse 47 (skanda.1.52.47)

दशार्बुदमिता क्रुद्धा ग्रसनायान्वधावत॥ ग्रसनस्तु समालोक्य तां किंकरमयां शुभाम्

daśārbudamitā kruddhā grasanāyānvadhāvata grasanastu samālokya tāṁ kiṁkaramayāṁ śubhām

ten hundred million strong, rushed at Grasana in fury. Grasana, beholding that vast, servant-filled army,

Verse 48 (skanda.1.52.48)

मेने यमसहस्राणि तादृग्रूपबला हि सा॥ विगाह्य ग्रसनं सेना ववर्ष शरवृष्टिभिः

mene yamasahasrāṇi tādṛgrūpabalā hi sā vigāhya grasanaṁ senā vavarṣa śaravṛṣṭibhiḥ

took it for a thousand Yamas, so uniform was it in form and strength; and, plunging into it, Grasana rained down a shower of arrows —

Verse 49 (skanda.1.52.49)

कल्पांतघोरसंकाशो बभूव स महारणः॥ केचिच्छैलेन बिभिदुः केचिद्बाणैरजिह्यगैः

kalpāṁtaghorasaṁkāśo babhūva sa mahāraṇaḥ kecicchailena bibhiduḥ kecidbāṇairajihyagaiḥ

and that great battle became terrible as the very end of the age. Some he tore apart with rocks, some with straight-flying arrows,

Verse 50 (skanda.1.52.50)

पिपिषुर्गदया केचित्कोचिन्मुद्गरवृष्टिभिः॥ केचित्प्रासप्रहारैश्च ताडयामासुरुद्धताः

pipiṣurgadayā kecitkocinmudgaravṛṣṭibhiḥ kecitprāsaprahāraiśca tāḍayāmāsuruddhatāḥ

some he crushed with his mace, some with a hail of hammer-blows, and others still, wild with rage, he struck down with thrusts of his lance.

Verse 51 (skanda.1.52.51)

अपरे किंकरास्तस्य ललंबुर्बाहुमंडले॥ शिलाभिरपरे जघ्नुर्द्रुमैरन्ये महोच्छ्रयैः

apare kiṁkarāstasya lalaṁburbāhumaṁḍale śilābhirapare jaghnurdrumairanye mahocchrayaiḥ

And others of Yama's servants clung to the circle of his arms; some he slew with boulders, some with towering trees.

Verse 52 (skanda.1.52.52)

तस्यापरे च गात्रेषु दशनांश्चन्यपातयन्॥ अपरे मुष्टिभिः पृष्ठं किंकरास्ताडयंति च

tasyāpare ca gātreṣu daśanāṁścanyapātayan apare muṣṭibhiḥ pṛṣṭhaṁ kiṁkarāstāḍayaṁti ca

Others sank their teeth into his very limbs; others still struck at his back with their fists.

Verse 53 (skanda.1.52.53)

एवं चाभिद्रुतस्तैः स ग्रसनः क्रोधमूर्छितः॥ उत्साद्य गात्रं भूपृष्ठे निष्पिपेष सहस्रशः

evaṁ cābhidrutastaiḥ sa grasanaḥ krodhamūrchitaḥ utsādya gātraṁ bhūpṛṣṭhe niṣpipeṣa sahasraśaḥ

Assailed thus by them, Grasana, senseless now with rage, flung his own body upon the ground and crushed thousands of them there,

Verse 54 (skanda.1.52.54)

कांश्चिदुत्थाय जघ्नेऽसौ मुष्टिभिः किंकरान्रणे॥ कांश्चित्पादप्रहारेण धावन्नन्यानचूर्णयत्

kāṁścidutthāya jaghne'sau muṣṭibhiḥ kiṁkarānraṇe kāṁścitpādaprahāreṇa dhāvannanyānacūrṇayat

and, rising, struck down others of them with his fists in that battle; running on, he pounded still others to pieces with the blows of his feet.

Verse 55 (skanda.1.52.55)

क्षणैकेन स तान्निन्ये यमलोकायभारत॥ स च किंकरयुद्धेन ववृधेऽग्निरिवैधसा

kṣaṇaikena sa tānninye yamalokāyabhārata sa ca kiṁkarayuddhena vavṛdhe'gnirivaidhasā

In a single moment, O Bharata, he had sent them all to the world of Yama; and through that battle with the servants he grew mightier still, like fire fed with fuel.

Verse 56 (skanda.1.52.56)

तमालोक्य यमोऽश्रांतं श्रांतंस्तांश्च हतान्स्वकान्॥ आजगाम समुद्यम्य दंडं महिषवाहनः

tamālokya yamo'śrāṁtaṁ śrāṁtaṁstāṁśca hatānsvakān ājagāma samudyamya daṁḍaṁ mahiṣavāhanaḥ

Seeing him still unwearied, and his own servants slain, Yama, rider of the buffalo, raised his staff and came forward.

Verse 57 (skanda.1.52.57)

ग्रसनस्तु तमायांतमाजघ्ने गदयोरसि॥ अचिंतयित्वा तत्कर्म ग्रसनस्यांतकोऽरिहा

grasanastu tamāyāṁtamājaghne gadayorasi aciṁtayitvā tatkarma grasanasyāṁtako'rihā

As he came, Grasana struck him full in the chest with his mace; unheeding of that blow, that slayer of foes, Death himself,

Verse 58 (skanda.1.52.58)

व्याघ्रान्दंडेन संजघ्ने स रथान्न्य पतद्भुवि॥ ततः क्षणेन चोत्थाय संचिंत्यात्मानमुद्धतः

vyāghrāndaṁḍena saṁjaghne sa rathānnya patadbhuvi tataḥ kṣaṇena cotthāya saṁciṁtyātmānamuddhataḥ

struck with his staff at the tigers of his own chariot; and Grasana's chariot fell to the ground. Then, rising in a moment, deeming himself now bold enough,

Verse 59 (skanda.1.52.59)

वायुवेगेन सहसा ययौ यमरथं प्रति॥ पदातिः स रथं तं च समारुह्य यमं तदा

vāyuvegena sahasā yayau yamarathaṁ prati padātiḥ sa rathaṁ taṁ ca samāruhya yamaṁ tadā

he sped, swift as the wind, toward Yama's own chariot. On foot, mounting that very chariot, he then fought Yama,

Verse 60 (skanda.1.52.60)

योधयामास बाहुभ्यामाकृष्य बलिनां वरः॥ यमोऽपि शस्त्राण्युत्सृज्च बाहुयुद्धे प्रवर्तते

yodhayāmāsa bāhubhyāmākṛṣya balināṁ varaḥ yamo'pi śastrāṇyutsṛjca bāhuyuddhe pravartate

grappling him with his own arms, that finest of the mighty. Yama too cast aside his weapons and turned to combat hand to hand.

Verse 61 (skanda.1.52.61)

ग्रसनं कटिवस्त्रे तु यमं गृह्य बलोत्कटः॥ भ्रामयामास वेगेन संभ्रमाविष्टचेतसम्

grasanaṁ kaṭivastre tu yamaṁ gṛhya balotkaṭaḥ bhrāmayāmāsa vegena saṁbhramāviṣṭacetasam

Grasana, exceedingly strong, seized Yama by his waist-cloth and whirled him about with tremendous force, until his mind reeled in confusion.

Verse 62 (skanda.1.52.62)

विमोच्याथ यमः कष्टात्कंठेऽवष्टभ्य चासुरम्॥ बाहुभ्यां भ्रामयामास सोऽप्यात्मानममोचयत्

vimocyātha yamaḥ kaṣṭātkaṁṭhe'vaṣṭabhya cāsuram bāhubhyāṁ bhrāmayāmāsa so'pyātmānamamocayat

Then Yama, freeing himself with great effort, seized that demon by the throat; whirling him with both arms, but he too broke free.

Verse 63 (skanda.1.52.63)

ततो जघ्नतुरन्योन्यं मुष्टिभिर्निर्दयौ च तौ॥ दैत्येंद्रस्यातिवीर्यत्वात्परिश्रांततरो यमः

tato jaghnaturanyonyaṁ muṣṭibhirnirdayau ca tau daityeṁdrasyātivīryatvātpariśrāṁtataro yamaḥ

Then those two, showing no mercy, fell to striking one another with their fists; and because of that lord of Daityas' overwhelming strength, Yama grew utterly exhausted,

Verse 64 (skanda.1.52.64)

स्कंधे निधाय दैत्यस्य मुखं विश्रांतिमैच्छत॥ तमा लक्ष्य ततो दैत्यः श्रांतमुत्पाट्य चौजसा

skaṁdhe nidhāya daityasya mukhaṁ viśrāṁtimaicchata tamā lakṣya tato daityaḥ śrāṁtamutpāṭya caujasā

and, resting his face against that demon's very shoulder, sought a moment's respite. Noticing this, that demon, though weary himself, with all his remaining strength,

Verse 65 (skanda.1.52.65)

निष्पिपेष महीपृष्ठे विनिघ्नन्पार्ष्णिपाणिभिः॥ ततो यमस्य वदनात्सुस्राव रुधिरं बहु

niṣpipeṣa mahīpṛṣṭhe vinighnanpārṣṇipāṇibhiḥ tato yamasya vadanātsusrāva rudhiraṁ bahu

tore him loose and hurled him to the ground, striking him again and again with the heel of his palm. Then blood began to pour freely from Yama's mouth.

Verse 66 (skanda.1.52.66)

निर्जीवमिति तं दृष्ट्वा ततः संत्यज्य दानवः॥ जयं प्राप्योद्धतं नादं मुक्त्वा संत्रास्य देवताः

nirjīvamiti taṁ dṛṣṭvā tataḥ saṁtyajya dānavaḥ jayaṁ prāpyoddhataṁ nādaṁ muktvā saṁtrāsya devatāḥ

Taking him for lifeless, that Danava then let him go, and, having won the victory, raising a triumphant roar that terrified the gods,

Verse 67 (skanda.1.52.67)

स्वकं सैन्यं समासाद्य तस्थौ गिरिरिवाचलः

svakaṁ sainyaṁ samāsādya tasthau giririvācalaḥ

he returned to his own army and stood there, unmoving as a mountain.

Verse 68 (skanda.1.52.68)

नादेन तस्य ग्रसनस्य संख्ये महायुधैश्चार्दितसर्वगात्राः॥ गते कृथांते वसुधां च निष्प्रभे चकंपिरे कांदिशिकाः सुरास्ते

nādena tasya grasanasya saṁkhye mahāyudhaiścārditasarvagātrāḥ gate kṛthāṁte vasudhāṁ ca niṣprabhe cakaṁpire kāṁdiśikāḥ surāste

At the sound of that battle-cry of Grasana's, their every limb wracked by mighty weapons, when Kritanta had fallen senseless and lightless to the ground, the terrified gods, fleeing in every direction, trembled.