Narada's Arrival at Jalandhara's Court

Verse 1 (skanda.2.113.1)

नारद उवाच । पुनर्दैत्यं समायांतं दृष्ट्वा देवाः सवासवाः । भयप्रकंपिताः सर्वे विष्णुं स्तोतुं प्रचक्रमुः

nārada uvāca punardaityaṁ samāyāṁtaṁ dṛṣṭvā devāḥ savāsavāḥ bhayaprakaṁpitāḥ sarve viṣṇuṁ stotuṁ pracakramuḥ

Narada said: Seeing the demon approaching again, the gods together with Indra, all trembling with fear, began to praise Vishnu.

Verse 2 (skanda.2.113.2)

नमो मत्स्यकूर्मादिनानास्वरूपैः सदाभक्तकार्योद्यतायाऽर्तिहंत्रे । विधात्रादिसर्गस्थितिध्वंसकर्त्रे गदाशंखपद्मारिहस्ताय तेस्तु

namo matsyakūrmādinānāsvarūpaiḥ sadābhaktakāryodyatāyā'rtihaṁtre vidhātrādisargasthitidhvaṁsakartre gadāśaṁkhapadmārihastāya testu

Salutation to you, who through the various forms of fish, tortoise and the rest are ever ready for the tasks of your devotees, the remover of suffering; who, through Brahma and the others, are the agent of creation, preservation, and destruction; whose hands hold the mace, conch, lotus, and discus — salutation to you.

Verse 3 (skanda.2.113.3)

रमा वल्लभायाऽसुराणां निहंत्रे भुजंगारियानाय पीतांबराय । मखादिक्रियापाककर्त्रे विकर्त्रे शरण्याय तस्मै नताः स्मो नताः स्मः

ramā vallabhāyā'surāṇāṁ nihaṁtre bhujaṁgāriyānāya pītāṁbarāya makhādikriyāpākakartre vikartre śaraṇyāya tasmai natāḥ smo natāḥ smaḥ

To the beloved of Rama, the destroyer of demons, whose vehicle is the enemy of serpents, clad in yellow garments; the doer and undoer of the fruit of sacrifices and other rites, the giver of refuge — to him we bow, we bow.

Verse 4 (skanda.2.113.4)

नमो दैत्यसंतापितामर्त्यदुःखाचलध्वंसदंभोलये विष्णवे ते । भुजंगेशतल्पेशयायार्कचंद्रद्विनेत्राय तस्मै नताः स्मो नताः स्मः

namo daityasaṁtāpitāmartyaduḥkhācaladhvaṁsadaṁbholaye viṣṇave te bhujaṁgeśatalpeśayāyārkacaṁdradvinetrāya tasmai natāḥ smo natāḥ smaḥ

Salutation to you, O Vishnu, who are the thunderbolt shattering the mountain of the immortals' suffering caused by the demons; who rest upon the couch of the king of serpents, whose two eyes are the sun and moon — to him we bow, we bow.

Verse 5 (skanda.2.113.5)

नारद उवाच । संकष्टनाशनंनाम स्तोत्रमेतत्पठेन्नरः । स कदाचिन्न संकष्टैः पीड्यते कृपया हरेः

nārada uvāca saṁkaṣṭanāśanaṁnāma stotrametatpaṭhennaraḥ sa kadācinna saṁkaṣṭaiḥ pīḍyate kṛpayā hareḥ

Narada said: The man who recites this hymn named the Destroyer of Calamity is never afflicted by calamities, by the grace of Hari.

Verse 6 (skanda.2.113.6)

इति देवाः स्तुतिं यावत्कुर्वंति दनुजद्विषः । तावत्सुराणामापत्तिर्विज्ञाता विष्णुना तदा

iti devāḥ stutiṁ yāvatkurvaṁti danujadviṣaḥ tāvatsurāṇāmāpattirvijñātā viṣṇunā tadā

While the gods, hating the demons, were thus offering this praise, the calamity of the gods was then known to Vishnu.

Verse 7 (skanda.2.113.7)

सहसोत्थाय दैत्यारिः सक्रोधः खिन्नमानसः । आरूढो गरुडं वेगाल्लक्ष्मीं वचनमब्रवीत्

sahasotthāya daityāriḥ sakrodhaḥ khinnamānasaḥ ārūḍho garuḍaṁ vegāllakṣmīṁ vacanamabravīt

Suddenly rising, the enemy of demons, filled with anger, his mind troubled, mounted swiftly upon Garuda and spoke these words to Lakshmi:

Verse 8 (skanda.2.113.8)

श्रीभगवानुवाच । जलंधरेण ते भ्रात्रा देवानां कदनं कृतम् । तैराहूतो गमिष्यामि युद्धायाद्य त्वरान्वितः

śrībhagavānuvāca jalaṁdhareṇa te bhrātrā devānāṁ kadanaṁ kṛtam tairāhūto gamiṣyāmi yuddhāyādya tvarānvitaḥ

The blessed Lord said: Jalandhara, your brother, has caused destruction among the gods; summoned by them, I shall go today to battle, without delay.

Verse 9 (skanda.2.113.9)

श्रीरुवाच । अहं ते वल्लभा नाथ भक्त्या च यदि सर्वदा । तत्कथं ते मम भ्राता युद्धे वध्यः कृपानिधे

śrīruvāca ahaṁ te vallabhā nātha bhaktyā ca yadi sarvadā tatkathaṁ te mama bhrātā yuddhe vadhyaḥ kṛpānidhe

Shri said: O Lord, if I am ever your beloved through devotion, then how, O ocean of mercy, can my brother be slain by you in battle?

Verse 10 (skanda.2.113.10)

श्रीभगवानुवाच । रुद्रांशसंभवत्वाच्च ब्रह्मणो वचनादपि । प्रीत्या च तव नैवायं मम वध्यो जलंधरः

śrībhagavānuvāca rudrāṁśasaṁbhavatvācca brahmaṇo vacanādapi prītyā ca tava naivāyaṁ mama vadhyo jalaṁdharaḥ

The blessed Lord said: Because he is born of a portion of Rudra, and because of Brahma's word, and out of love for you, this Jalandhara shall not be slain by me.

Verse 11 (skanda.2.113.11)

नारद उवाच । इत्युक्त्वा गरुडारूढः शंखचक्रगदासिभृत् । विष्णुर्वेगाद्ययौ योद्धुं यत्र देवाः स्तुवंति ते

nārada uvāca ityuktvā garuḍārūḍhaḥ śaṁkhacakragadāsibhṛt viṣṇurvegādyayau yoddhuṁ yatra devāḥ stuvaṁti te

Narada said: Having said this, Vishnu, mounted on Garuda, bearing conch, discus, mace, and sword, went swiftly to fight, to where those gods were offering praise.

Verse 12 (skanda.2.113.12)

अथाऽरुणानुजात्युग्रपक्षवातप्रपीडिताः । वात्या विमर्दिता दैत्या बभ्रमुः खे यथा घनाः

athā'ruṇānujātyugrapakṣavātaprapīḍitāḥ vātyā vimarditā daityā babhramuḥ khe yathā ghanāḥ

Then, tormented by the exceedingly fierce wind from the wings of Garuda, the demons, buffeted by the whirlwind, whirled about in the sky like clouds.

Verse 13 (skanda.2.113.13)

ततो जलंधरो दृष्ट्वा दैत्यान्वात्याप्रपीडितान् । उद्वृत्तनयनः क्रोधात्ततोविष्णुं समभ्ययात्

tato jalaṁdharo dṛṣṭvā daityānvātyāprapīḍitān udvṛttanayanaḥ krodhāttatoviṣṇuṁ samabhyayāt

Then Jalandhara, seeing the demons tormented by the whirlwind, his eyes rolling with rage, advanced upon Vishnu.

Verse 14 (skanda.2.113.14)

ततः समभवद्युद्धं विष्णुदैत्येंद्रयोर्महत् । आकाशं कुर्वतोर्बाणैस्तदा निरवकाशवत्

tataḥ samabhavadyuddhaṁ viṣṇudaityeṁdrayormahat ākāśaṁ kurvatorbāṇaistadā niravakāśavat

Then a great battle took place between Vishnu and the lord of demons; as both filled the sky with arrows, it became as if there were no space left.

Verse 15 (skanda.2.113.15)

विष्णुर्दैत्यस्य बाणौघैर्ध्वजं छत्रं धनुर्हयान् । चिच्छेद तं च हृदये बाणेनैकेन ताडयत्

viṣṇurdaityasya bāṇaughairdhvajaṁ chatraṁ dhanurhayān ciccheda taṁ ca hṛdaye bāṇenaikena tāḍayat

Vishnu, with floods of arrows, cut down the demon's banner, umbrella, bow, and horses, and struck him in the chest with a single arrow.

Verse 16 (skanda.2.113.16)

ततो दैत्यः समुत्पत्य गदापाणिस्त्वरान्वितः । आहत्य गरुडं मूर्ध्नि पातयामास भूतले

tato daityaḥ samutpatya gadāpāṇistvarānvitaḥ āhatya garuḍaṁ mūrdhni pātayāmāsa bhūtale

Then the demon, leaping up swiftly, mace in hand, striking Garuda on the head, made him fall to the ground.

Verse 17 (skanda.2.113.17)

विष्णुर्गदां स्वखङ्गेन चिच्छेद प्रहसन्निव । तावत्स हृदये विष्णुं जघान दृढमुष्टिना

viṣṇurgadāṁ svakhaṅgena ciccheda prahasanniva tāvatsa hṛdaye viṣṇuṁ jaghāna dṛḍhamuṣṭinā

Vishnu, as if laughing, cut the mace with his own sword; at that moment he struck Vishnu in the chest with a firm fist.

Verse 18 (skanda.2.113.18)

ततस्तौ बाहुयुद्धेन युयुधाते महाबलौ । बाहुभिर्मुष्टिभिश्चैव जानुभिर्नादयन्महीम्

tatastau bāhuyuddhena yuyudhāte mahābalau bāhubhirmuṣṭibhiścaiva jānubhirnādayanmahīm

Then those two mighty ones fought in hand-to-hand combat, making the earth resound with their arms, fists, and knees.

Verse 19 (skanda.2.113.19)

एवं तौ सुचिरं युद्धं कृत्वा विष्णुः प्रतापवान् । उवाच दैत्यराजानं मेघगंभीरनिस्वनः

evaṁ tau suciraṁ yuddhaṁ kṛtvā viṣṇuḥ pratāpavān uvāca daityarājānaṁ meghagaṁbhīranisvanaḥ

Having thus fought for a long time, the mighty Vishnu, his voice deep as thunder, spoke to the king of demons:

Verse 20 (skanda.2.113.20)

विष्णुरुवाच । वरं वरय दैत्येंद्र प्रीतोऽस्मि तव विक्रमात् । अदेयमपि ते दद्मि यत्ते मनसि वर्तते

viṣṇuruvāca varaṁ varaya daityeṁdra prīto'smi tava vikramāt adeyamapi te dadmi yatte manasi vartate

Vishnu said: Choose a boon, O lord of demons; I am pleased by your valor. Even what should not be given, I shall give you — whatever is in your mind.

Verse 21 (skanda.2.113.21)

जलंधर उवाच । यदि भावुक तुष्टोऽसि वरमेनं ददस्व मे । मद्भगिन्या सहाऽद्य त्वं मद्गृहे सगणो वस

jalaṁdhara uvāca yadi bhāvuka tuṣṭo'si varamenaṁ dadasva me madbhaginyā sahā'dya tvaṁ madgṛhe sagaṇo vasa

Jalandhara said: If, O gracious one, you are pleased, grant me this boon: dwell today, together with your retinue, with my sister in my house.

Verse 22 (skanda.2.113.22)

नारद उवाच । तथेत्युक्ता स भगवान्सर्वदेवगणैः सह । तदा जलंधरपुरमगमद्रमया सह

nārada uvāca tathetyuktā sa bhagavānsarvadevagaṇaiḥ saha tadā jalaṁdharapuramagamadramayā saha

Narada said: Having agreed 'so be it,' the Lord, together with all the hosts of gods, then went to the city of Jalandhara, together with Rama.

Verse 23 (skanda.2.113.23)

जलंधरस्तु देवानामधिकारेषु दानवान् । स्थापयित्वा महाबाहुः पुनरागान्महीतलम्

jalaṁdharastu devānāmadhikāreṣu dānavān sthāpayitvā mahābāhuḥ punarāgānmahītalam

Jalandhara, the mighty-armed, having installed demons in the offices of the gods, returned again to the surface of the earth.

Verse 24 (skanda.2.113.24)

देवगंधर्वसिद्धेषु यत्किंचिद्रत्नसंयुतम् । तदात्मवशगं कृत्वाऽतिष्ठत्सागरनंदनः

devagaṁdharvasiddheṣu yatkiṁcidratnasaṁyutam tadātmavaśagaṁ kṛtvā'tiṣṭhatsāgaranaṁdanaḥ

Whatever jewels there were among the gods, gandharvas, and siddhas, the son of the ocean, having brought them under his own control, remained in power.

Verse 25 (skanda.2.113.25)

पातालभुवने दैत्यं निशुंभं स महाबलम् । स्थापयित्वा स शेषादीनानयद्भूतलं बली

pātālabhuvane daityaṁ niśuṁbhaṁ sa mahābalam sthāpayitvā sa śeṣādīnānayadbhūtalaṁ balī

Having installed the greatly powerful demon Nishumbha in the netherworld of Patala, that powerful one brought Shesha and the others up to the earth's surface.

Verse 26 (skanda.2.113.26)

देवगंधर्वसिद्धाऽऽद्यान्सर्पराक्षसमानुषान् । स्वपुरे नागरान्कृत्वा शशास भुवनत्रयम्

devagaṁdharvasiddhā''dyānsarparākṣasamānuṣān svapure nāgarānkṛtvā śaśāsa bhuvanatrayam

Having made the gods, gandharvas, siddhas and the rest, serpents, rakshasas, and men into citizens of his own city, he ruled the three worlds.

Verse 27 (skanda.2.113.27)

एवं जलंधरः कृत्वा देवान्स्ववशवर्तिनः । धर्मेण पालयामास प्रजाः पुत्रानिवौरसान्

evaṁ jalaṁdharaḥ kṛtvā devānsvavaśavartinaḥ dharmeṇa pālayāmāsa prajāḥ putrānivaurasān

Thus Jalandhara, having made the gods subject to his own will, righteously protected his subjects like his own true sons.

Verse 28 (skanda.2.113.28)

न कश्चिद्व्याधितो नैव दुःखी नैव कृतस्तथा । न दीनो दृश्यते तस्मिन्धर्माद्राज्यं प्रशासति

na kaścidvyādhito naiva duḥkhī naiva kṛtastathā na dīno dṛśyate tasmindharmādrājyaṁ praśāsati

No one was seen to be diseased, nor sorrowful, nor wronged, nor wretched, while he righteously governed the kingdom.

Verse 29 (skanda.2.113.29)

एवं महीं शासति दानवेंद्रे धर्मेण सम्यक्च दिदृक्षयाऽहम् । कदाचिदागामथ तस्य लक्ष्मीं विलोकितुं श्रीरमणं च सेवितुम्

evaṁ mahīṁ śāsati dānaveṁdre dharmeṇa samyakca didṛkṣayā'ham kadācidāgāmatha tasya lakṣmīṁ vilokituṁ śrīramaṇaṁ ca sevitum

While the lord of the demons was thus righteously and properly ruling the earth, I, out of a desire to see, once came there, to behold his glory and to attend upon the beloved of Shri.