The Jalandhara Episode: The Defeat of Rudra's Army

Verse 1 (skanda.2.115.1)

नारद उवाच । जलंधरस्तु तच्छुत्वा कोपाकुलितविग्रहः । निर्जगामाऽऽशु दैत्यानां कोटिभिः परिवारितः

nārada uvāca jalaṁdharastu tacchutvā kopākulitavigrahaḥ nirjagāmā''śu daityānāṁ koṭibhiḥ parivāritaḥ

Narada said: Jalandhara, having heard that, his body agitated with rage, immediately set out, surrounded by crores of demons.

Verse 2 (skanda.2.115.2)

गच्छतोऽस्याऽग्रतः शुक्रो राहुर्दृष्टिपथेऽभवत् । मुकुटश्चाऽपतद्भूमौ वेगात्प्रस्खलितस्तदा

gacchato'syā'grataḥ śukro rāhurdṛṣṭipathe'bhavat mukuṭaścā'patadbhūmau vegātpraskhalitastadā

As he went, Shukra was in front of him, and Rahu came into his sight; and his crown, dislodged by the speed, then fell to the ground.

Verse 3 (skanda.2.115.3)

दैत्यसैन्याऽऽवृतैस्तस्य विमानानां शतैस्तदा । व्यराजत नभःपूर्णं प्रावृषीव यथा घनैः

daityasainyā''vṛtaistasya vimānānāṁ śataistadā vyarājata nabhaḥpūrṇaṁ prāvṛṣīva yathā ghanaiḥ

The sky, filled with hundreds of his celestial chariots, thronged with the demon army, shone then as if filled with monsoon clouds.

Verse 4 (skanda.2.115.4)

तस्योद्योगं तदा दृष्ट्वा देवाः शक्रपुरोगमाः । अलक्षितास्तदा जग्मुः शूलिनं तं व्यजिज्ञपुः

tasyodyogaṁ tadā dṛṣṭvā devāḥ śakrapurogamāḥ alakṣitāstadā jagmuḥ śūlinaṁ taṁ vyajijñapuḥ

Seeing his mobilization, the gods, headed by Indra, went there unseen, and petitioned the trident-bearer:

Verse 5 (skanda.2.115.5)

देवा ऊचुः । न जानासि कथं स्वामिन्देवापत्तिमिमां विभो । तदस्मद्रक्षणार्थाय जहि सागरनंदनम्

devā ūcuḥ na jānāsi kathaṁ svāmindevāpattimimāṁ vibho tadasmadrakṣaṇārthāya jahi sāgaranaṁdanam

The gods said: 'How is it, O Lord, O master, that you do not know of this calamity of the gods? Therefore, for our protection, slay the son of the ocean.'

Verse 6 (skanda.2.115.6)

नारद उवाच । इति देववचः श्रुत्वा प्रहस्य वृषभध्वजः । महाविष्णुं समाहूय वचनं चेदमब्रवीत्

nārada uvāca iti devavacaḥ śrutvā prahasya vṛṣabhadhvajaḥ mahāviṣṇuṁ samāhūya vacanaṁ cedamabravīt

Narada said: Hearing these words of the gods, the bull-bannered one, smiling, summoned the great Vishnu and spoke these words:

Verse 7 (skanda.2.115.7)

ईश्वर उवाच । जलंधरः कथं विष्णो न हतः संगरे त्वया । तद्गृहं चाऽपि यातोऽसि त्यक्त्वा वैकुंठमात्मनः

īśvara uvāca jalaṁdharaḥ kathaṁ viṣṇo na hataḥ saṁgare tvayā tadgṛhaṁ cā'pi yāto'si tyaktvā vaikuṁṭhamātmanaḥ

Ishvara said: 'How is it, O Vishnu, that Jalandhara was not slain by you in the encounter? And you even went to his house, having abandoned your own Vaikuntha!'

Verse 8 (skanda.2.115.8)

विष्णुरुवाच । तवांशसंभवत्वाच्च भ्रातृत्वाच्च तथा श्रियः । न मया निहतः संख्ये त्वमेनं जहि दानवम्

viṣṇuruvāca tavāṁśasaṁbhavatvācca bhrātṛtvācca tathā śriyaḥ na mayā nihataḥ saṁkhye tvamenaṁ jahi dānavam

Vishnu said: 'Because he is born of your portion, and because he is the brother of Shri, he was not slain by me in battle; you slay this demon.'

Verse 9 (skanda.2.115.9)

ईश्वर उवाच । नायमेभिर्महातेजाः शस्त्रास्त्रैर्वध्यते मया । देवैः सह स्वतेजोंशं शस्त्रार्थं दीयतां मम

īśvara uvāca nāyamebhirmahātejāḥ śastrāstrairvadhyate mayā devaiḥ saha svatejoṁśaṁ śastrārthaṁ dīyatāṁ mama

Ishvara said: 'This being of great splendor cannot be slain by me with these ordinary weapons and missiles; let the gods, together with you, give a portion of their own splendor to me, for the purpose of making a weapon.'

Verse 10 (skanda.2.115.10)

नारद उवाच । अथ विष्णुमुखा देवाः स्वतेजांसि ददुस्तदा । तान्यैक्यमागतानीशो दृष्ट्वा स्वं चामुचन्महः

nārada uvāca atha viṣṇumukhā devāḥ svatejāṁsi dadustadā tānyaikyamāgatānīśo dṛṣṭvā svaṁ cāmucanmahaḥ

Narada said: Then the gods, headed by Vishnu, gave their own splendors; and the Lord, seeing them come together into one, released his own radiance too.

Verse 11 (skanda.2.115.11)

तेनाकरोन्महादेवो महसा शस्त्रमुत्तमम् । चक्रं सुदर्शनं नाम ज्वालामालातिभीषणम्

tenākaronmahādevo mahasā śastramuttamam cakraṁ sudarśanaṁ nāma jvālāmālātibhīṣaṇam

With that combined splendor, Mahadeva fashioned a supreme weapon, the discus named Sudarshana, exceedingly terrible with its garland of flames.

Verse 12 (skanda.2.115.12)

ततः शेषेण च तदा वज्रं च कृतवान्हरिः । तावज्जलंधरो दृष्टः कैलासतलभूमिषु

tataḥ śeṣeṇa ca tadā vajraṁ ca kṛtavānhariḥ tāvajjalaṁdharo dṛṣṭaḥ kailāsatalabhūmiṣu

Then, with the aid of Shesha, Hari also fashioned a thunderbolt at that time. Meanwhile Jalandhara was seen at the foot of Kailasa,

Verse 13 (skanda.2.115.13)

हस्त्यश्वरथपत्तीनां कोटिभिः परिवारितः । तं दृष्ट्वा लक्षिता जग्मुर्देवाः सर्वे यथागताः

hastyaśvarathapattīnāṁ koṭibhiḥ parivāritaḥ taṁ dṛṣṭvā lakṣitā jagmurdevāḥ sarve yathāgatāḥ

surrounded by crores of elephants, horses, chariots, and foot-soldiers. Seeing him, all the gods, now openly visible, went forth as they had come.

Verse 14 (skanda.2.115.14)

गणाश्च समसज्जंत युद्धायाऽतित्वरान्विताः । नन्दीभवक्त्रसेनानीमुखाः सर्वे शिवाज्ञया

gaṇāśca samasajjaṁta yuddhāyā'titvarānvitāḥ nandībhavaktrasenānīmukhāḥ sarve śivājñayā

And Shiva's attendants armed themselves with great haste for battle, headed by Nandi, Bhringi, and the general, all by Shiva's command.

Verse 15 (skanda.2.115.15)

अवतेरुर्गणा वेगात्कैलासाद्युद्धदुर्मदाः । ततः समभवद्युद्धं कैलासोपत्यकाभुवि

avaterurgaṇā vegātkailāsādyuddhadurmadāḥ tataḥ samabhavadyuddhaṁ kailāsopatyakābhuvi

The ganas, intoxicated with the desire for battle, swiftly descended from Kailasa; then a battle took place on the lower slopes of Kailasa,

Verse 16 (skanda.2.115.16)

प्रमथाधिपदैत्यानां घोरशस्त्रास्त्रसंकुलम् । भेरीमृदंगशंखौघ निःस्वनैर्वीरहर्षणैः

pramathādhipadaityānāṁ ghoraśastrāstrasaṁkulam bherīmṛdaṁgaśaṁkhaugha niḥsvanairvīraharṣaṇaiḥ

between the lord of the Pramathas and the demons, thick with terrible weapons and missiles, with the sounds of kettledrums, drums, and floods of conch-blasts, thrilling to warriors,

Verse 17 (skanda.2.115.17)

गजाश्वरथशब्दैश्च नादिता भूर्व्यकंपत । शक्तितोमरबाणौघमुसलप्रासपट्टिशैः

gajāśvarathaśabdaiśca nāditā bhūrvyakaṁpata śaktitomarabāṇaughamusalaprāsapaṭṭiśaiḥ

and with the sounds of elephants, horses, and chariots — the resounding earth trembled; with spears, javelins, floods of arrows, clubs, lances, and battle-axes,

Verse 18 (skanda.2.115.18)

व्यराजत नभः पूर्णमुल्काभिरिव संवृतम् । निहतैरथनागाश्वपत्तिभिर्भूर्व्यराजत

vyarājata nabhaḥ pūrṇamulkābhiriva saṁvṛtam nihatairathanāgāśvapattibhirbhūrvyarājata

the sky, filled with these missiles, shone as though covered with meteors; the earth shone, covered with slain chariots, elephants, horses, and foot-soldiers,

Verse 19 (skanda.2.115.19)

वज्राहताचलशिरःशकलैरिव संवृता । प्रमथाहतदैत्यौघैर्दैत्याहतगणैस्तथा

vajrāhatācalaśiraḥśakalairiva saṁvṛtā pramathāhatadaityaughairdaityāhatagaṇaistathā

as though covered with fragments of mountain-peaks shattered by thunderbolts; it was covered with hosts of demons slain by the Pramathas, and likewise with ganas slain by the demons —

Verse 20 (skanda.2.115.20)

वसासृङ्मांसपंकाढ्या भूरगम्याऽभवत्तदा । प्रमथाहतदैत्यौघान्भार्गवः समजीवयत्

vasāsṛṅmāṁsapaṁkāḍhyā bhūragamyā'bhavattadā pramathāhatadaityaughānbhārgavaḥ samajīvayat

the earth, thick with a mire of fat, blood, and flesh, then became impassable. Shukra revived the hosts of demons slain by the Pramathas,

Verse 21 (skanda.2.115.21)

युद्धे पुनः पुनस्तत्र मृतसंजीविनीबलात् । तं दृष्ट्वा व्याकुलीभूता गणाः सर्वे भयान्विताः । शशंसुर्देवदेवाय तत्सर्वं शुक्रचेष्टितम्

yuddhe punaḥ punastatra mṛtasaṁjīvinībalāt taṁ dṛṣṭvā vyākulībhūtā gaṇāḥ sarve bhayānvitāḥ śaśaṁsurdevadevāya tatsarvaṁ śukraceṣṭitam

again and again there in the battle, by the power of the Mrita-sanjivani spell. Seeing this, all the ganas became distressed, filled with fear, and reported that entire doing of Shukra to the God of gods.

Verse 22 (skanda.2.115.22)

अथ रुद्रमुखात्कृत्या बभूवाऽतीवभीषणा । तालजंघा दरीवक्त्रा स्तनापीडितभूरुहा

atha rudramukhātkṛtyā babhūvā'tīvabhīṣaṇā tālajaṁghā darīvaktrā stanāpīḍitabhūruhā

Then, from Rudra's mouth, a female spirit arose, exceedingly terrible, with legs like palm-trees, a mouth like a cave, and trees crushed by her breasts,

Verse 23 (skanda.2.115.23)

सा युद्धभूमिमासाद्य भक्षयंती महासुरान् । भार्गवं स्वभगे धृत्वा जगामांतर्हिता नभः

sā yuddhabhūmimāsādya bhakṣayaṁtī mahāsurān bhārgavaṁ svabhage dhṛtvā jagāmāṁtarhitā nabhaḥ

she, arriving on the battlefield, devouring the great demons, seized Bhargava and held him within her womb, and, vanishing, went into the sky.

Verse 24 (skanda.2.115.24)

विधृतं भार्गवं दृष्ट्वा दैत्यसैन्यं गणास्तदा । अम्लानवदना हर्षान्निजघ्नुर्युद्धदुर्मदाः

vidhṛtaṁ bhārgavaṁ dṛṣṭvā daityasainyaṁ gaṇāstadā amlānavadanā harṣānnijaghnuryuddhadurmadāḥ

Seeing Bhargava thus seized, the ganas, their faces unflagging, intoxicated with the joy of battle, then struck down the demon army.

Verse 25 (skanda.2.115.25)

अथाभज्यत दैत्यानां सेना गणभयार्दिता । वायुवेगेनाहतेव प्रकीर्णा तृणसंततिः । भग्नां गणभयात्सेनां दृष्ट्वामर्षयुता ययुः । निशुंभशुंभौ सेनान्यौ कालनेमिश्च वीर्यवान्

athābhajyata daityānāṁ senā gaṇabhayārditā vāyuvegenāhateva prakīrṇā tṛṇasaṁtatiḥ bhagnāṁ gaṇabhayātsenāṁ dṛṣṭvāmarṣayutā yayuḥ niśuṁbhaśuṁbhau senānyau kālanemiśca vīryavān

Then the army of demons, tormented by fear of the ganas, broke, scattered like a mass of grass struck by a gust of wind. Seeing the army broken through fear of the ganas, filled with indignation, the two generals Nishumbha and Shumbha, and the mighty Kalanemi, advanced.

Verse 26 (skanda.2.115.26)

त्रयस्ते वारयामासुर्गणसेनां महाबलाः । मुञ्चतः शरवर्षाणि प्रावृषीव बलाहकाः

trayaste vārayāmāsurgaṇasenāṁ mahābalāḥ muñcataḥ śaravarṣāṇi prāvṛṣīva balāhakāḥ

Those three, of great strength, checked the army of the ganas, releasing showers of arrows like rain-clouds in the monsoon.

Verse 27 (skanda.2.115.27)

ततो दैत्यशरौघास्ते शलभानामिव व्रजाः । रुरुधुः खं दिशः सर्वा गणसेनामकंपयन्

tato daityaśaraughāste śalabhānāmiva vrajāḥ rurudhuḥ khaṁ diśaḥ sarvā gaṇasenāmakaṁpayan

Then those floods of demon-arrows, like swarms of locusts, blocked the sky in all directions, and made the army of the ganas tremble.

Verse 28 (skanda.2.115.28)

गणाः शरशतैर्भिन्ना रुधिरासारवर्षिणः । वसंते किंशुकाभासा न प्राज्ञायत किंचन

gaṇāḥ śaraśatairbhinnā rudhirāsāravarṣiṇaḥ vasaṁte kiṁśukābhāsā na prājñāyata kiṁcana

The ganas, pierced by hundreds of arrows, streaming showers of blood, appeared like the crimson kimshuka flowers in spring; nothing could be discerned any longer.

Verse 29 (skanda.2.115.29)

पतिताः पात्यमानाश्च भिन्नाश्छिन्नास्तदा गणाः । त्यक्त्वा संग्रामभूमिं ते सर्वेपि विमुखाऽभवन्

patitāḥ pātyamānāśca bhinnāśchinnāstadā gaṇāḥ tyaktvā saṁgrāmabhūmiṁ te sarvepi vimukhā'bhavan

Falling and being felled, pierced and cut down, the ganas then all abandoned the battlefield and turned back in defeat.

Verse 30 (skanda.2.115.30)

ततः प्रभग्नं स्वबलं विलोक्य शैलादिलंबोदरकार्तिकेयाः । त्वरान्विता दैत्यवरान्प्रसह्य निवारयामासुरमर्षिणस्ते

tataḥ prabhagnaṁ svabalaṁ vilokya śailādilaṁbodarakārtikeyāḥ tvarānvitā daityavarānprasahya nivārayāmāsuramarṣiṇaste

Then, seeing their own army broken, Shailadi, Lambodara, and Kartikeya, filled with indignation, swiftly and forcibly checked the excellent demons.