The Fall of Virabhadra

Verse 1 (skanda.2.116.1)

॥नारद उवाच॥ ते गणाधिपतीन्दृष्ट्वा नंदीभमुखषण्मुखान् ॥ अमर्षादभ्यधावंत द्वंद्वयुद्धाय दानवाः

nārada uvāca te gaṇādhipatīndṛṣṭvā nandībhamukhaṣaṇmukhān || amarṣādabhyadhāvaṁta dvaṁdvayuddhāya dānavāḥ

Narada said: Seeing those lords of the ganas — Nandi, elephant-faced Ganesha, and six-faced Kartikeya — the danavas rushed forward in fury, eager for single combat.

Verse 2 (skanda.2.116.2)

नन्दिनं कालनेमिश्च शुम्भो लंबोदरं तथा ॥ निशुम्भः षण्मुखं वेगादभ्यधावत दंशितः

nandinaṁ kālanemiśca śumbho laṁbodaraṁ tathā || niśumbhaḥ ṣaṇmukhaṁ vegādabhyadhāvata daṁśitaḥ

Kalanemi charged at Nandi, Shumbha at Lambodara, and armored Nishumbha swiftly attacked Shanmukha (Kartikeya).

Verse 3 (skanda.2.116.3)

निशुम्भः कार्तिकेयस्य मयूरं पंचभिः शरैः ॥ हृदि विव्याध वेगेन मूर्च्छितः स पपात च

niśumbhaḥ kārtikeyasya mayūraṁ paṁcabhiḥ śaraiḥ || hṛdi vivyādha vegena mūrcchitaḥ sa papāta ca

Nishumbha swiftly pierced the chest of Kartikeya's peacock-mount with five arrows; stunned, it fell.

Verse 4 (skanda.2.116.4)

ततः शक्तिधरः शक्तिं यावज्जग्राह रोषितः ॥ तावन्निशुंभो वेगेन स्वशक्त्या तमपातयत्

tataḥ śaktidharaḥ śaktiṁ yāvajjagrāha roṣitaḥ || tāvanniśuṁbho vegena svaśaktyā tamapātayat

Then, just as the spear-bearer Kartikeya angrily seized his spear, Nishumbha swiftly felled him with his own spear.

Verse 5 (skanda.2.116.5)

नंदीश्वरः शरव्रातैः कालनेमिमवध्यत ॥ सप्तभिश्च हयान्केतुं त्रिभिः सारथिमच्छिनत्

nandīśvaraḥ śaravrātaiḥ kālanemimavadhyata || saptabhiśca hayānketuṁ tribhiḥ sārathimacchinat

Nandishvara wounded Kalanemi with volleys of arrows; with seven arrows he cut down his horses and banner, and with three, his charioteer.

Verse 6 (skanda.2.116.6)

कालनेमिस्तु संक्रुद्धो धनुश्चिच्छेद नंदिनः ॥ तदपास्य स शूलेन तं वक्षस्यहनद्बली

kālanemistu saṁkruddho dhanuściccheda nandinaḥ || tadapāsya sa śūlena taṁ vakṣasyahanadbalī

Kalanemi, enraged, cut Nandi's bow; casting the bow aside, the mighty one struck him in the chest with his trident.

Verse 7 (skanda.2.116.7)

स शूलभिन्नहृदयो हताश्वो हतसारथिः ॥ अद्रेः शिखरमामुच्य शैलादिं सोऽप्यपातयत्

sa śūlabhinnahṛdayo hatāśvo hatasārathiḥ || adreḥ śikharamāmucya śailādiṁ so'pyapātayat

His heart pierced by the trident, his horses and charioteer slain, Kalanemi then hurled a mountain peak and felled Shailadi (Nandi) as well.

Verse 8 (skanda.2.116.8)

अथ शुंभो गणेशश्च रथमूषकवाहनौ ॥ युध्यमानौ शरव्रातैः परस्परमविध्यताम्

atha śuṁbho gaṇeśaśca rathamūṣakavāhanau || yudhyamānau śaravrātaiḥ parasparamavidhyatām

Then Shumbha and Ganesha, one chariot-borne and the other mounted on his mouse, fighting each other, pierced one another with volleys of arrows.

Verse 9 (skanda.2.116.9)

गणेशस्तु तदा शुंभं हृदि विव्याध पत्रिणा ॥ सारथिं च त्रिभिर्बाणैः पातयामास भूतले

gaṇeśastu tadā śuṁbhaṁ hṛdi vivyādha patriṇā || sārathiṁ ca tribhirbāṇaiḥ pātayāmāsa bhūtale

Ganesha then pierced Shumbha's chest with a feathered arrow, and with three more arrows felled his charioteer to the ground.

Verse 10 (skanda.2.116.10)

ततोऽतिक्रुद्धः शुंभोऽपि बाणषष्ट्या गणाधिपम् ॥ मूषकं च त्रिभिर्विद्ध्वा ननाद जलदस्वनः

tato'tikruddhaḥ śuṁbho'pi bāṇaṣaṣṭyā gaṇādhipam || mūṣakaṁ ca tribhirviddhvā nanāda jaladasvanaḥ

Then Shumbha, greatly enraged, pierced the lord of the ganas with sixty arrows and his mouse-mount with three, and roared like a thundercloud.

Verse 11 (skanda.2.116.11)

मूषकः शरभिन्नांगश्चचाल दृढवेदनः ॥ लंबोदरश्च पतितः पदातिरभवन्नृप

mūṣakaḥ śarabhinnāṁgaścacāla dṛḍhavedanaḥ || laṁbodaraśca patitaḥ padātirabhavannṛpa

The mouse, its body pierced by arrows, reeled in sharp pain; Lambodara fell and became a foot-soldier, O king.

Verse 12 (skanda.2.116.12)

ततो लंबोदरः शुंभं हत्वा परशुना हृदि ॥ अपातयत्तदा भूमौ मूषकं चारुहत्पुनः

tato laṁbodaraḥ śuṁbhaṁ hatvā paraśunā hṛdi || apātayattadā bhūmau mūṣakaṁ cāruhatpunaḥ

Then Lambodara struck Shumbha in the chest with his axe, felled him to the ground, and mounted his mouse once more.

Verse 13 (skanda.2.116.13)

कालनेमिर्निशुंभश्चाऽप्युभौ लंबोदरं शरैः ॥ युगपज्जघ्नतुः क्रोधात्तोत्रैरिव महाद्विपम्

kālanemirniśuṁbhaścā'pyubhau laṁbodaraṁ śaraiḥ || yugapajjaghnatuḥ krodhāttotrairiva mahādvipam

Kalanemi and Nishumbha together struck Lambodara with arrows at once, in fury, as goads are driven into a great elephant.

Verse 14 (skanda.2.116.14)

तं पीडयमानमालोक्य वीरभद्रो महाबलः ॥ अभ्यधावत वेगेन भूतकोटियुतस्तदा

taṁ pīḍayamānamālokya vīrabhadro mahābalaḥ || abhyadhāvata vegena bhūtakoṭiyutastadā

Seeing him thus afflicted, the mighty Virabhadra rushed forward swiftly, accompanied by tens of millions of spirit-hosts.

Verse 15 (skanda.2.116.15)

कूष्मांडभैरवाश्चाऽपि वेताला योगिनीगणाः ॥ पिशाचयोगिनीसंघा गणाश्चाऽपि तमन्वयुः

kūṣmāṁḍabhairavāścā'pi vetālā yoginīgaṇāḥ || piśācayoginīsaṁghā gaṇāścā'pi tamanvayuḥ

Kushmanda-bhairavas, vetalas, hosts of yoginis, throngs of pishachas and yoginis, and other ganas followed him.

Verse 16 (skanda.2.116.16)

ततः किलकिलाशब्दैः सिंहनादैः सुघर्घरैः ॥ भेरीतालमृदंगैश्च पृथिवी समकंपत

tataḥ kilakilāśabdaiḥ siṁhanādaiḥ sughargharaiḥ || bherītālamṛdaṁgaiśca pṛthivī samakaṁpata

Then, with tumultuous cries, lion-roars, and deep rumblings, and with the sound of kettledrums, cymbals, and mridangas, the earth shook.

Verse 17 (skanda.2.116.17)

ततो भूतान्यधावंत भक्षयंतिस्म दानवान् ॥ उत्पतंत्यापतंति स्म ननृतुश्च रणांगणे

tato bhūtānyadhāvaṁta bhakṣayaṁtisma dānavān || utpataṁtyāpataṁti sma nanṛtuśca raṇāṁgaṇe

Then the spirit-hosts rushed forth, devouring the danavas; they leapt about and danced upon the battlefield.

Verse 18 (skanda.2.116.18)

नन्दी च कार्तिकेयश्च समाश्वस्य त्वरत्वितौ ॥ निजघ्नतू रणे दैत्यान्निरंतरशरव्रजैः

nandī ca kārtikeyaśca samāśvasya tvaratvitau || nijaghnatū raṇe daityānniraṁtaraśaravrajaiḥ

Nandi and Kartikeya, recovering their strength, quickly slew the daityas in battle with ceaseless volleys of arrows.

Verse 19 (skanda.2.116.19)

छिन्नभिन्ना हतैर्देत्यैः पतितैर्भक्षितैस्तदा ॥ व्याकुला साऽभवत्सेना विषण्णवदना तदा

chinnabhinnā hatairdetyaiḥ patitairbhakṣitaistadā || vyākulā sā'bhavatsenā viṣaṇṇavadanā tadā

Cut and torn by the slain, fallen, and devoured daityas, that army became bewildered and downcast.

Verse 20 (skanda.2.116.20)

प्रविध्वस्तां तदा सेनां दृष्ट्वा सागरनंदनः ॥ रथेनाऽतिपताकेन गणानभिययौ बली

pravidhvastāṁ tadā senāṁ dṛṣṭvā sāgaranaṁdanaḥ || rathenā'tipatākena gaṇānabhiyayau balī

Seeing his army thus shattered, the mighty son of the ocean, Jalandhara, advanced against the ganas on a chariot adorned with a great banner.

Verse 21 (skanda.2.116.21)

हस्त्यश्वरथसंह्रादाः शंखभेरीस्वनास्तथा ॥ अभवन्सिंहनादाश्च सेनयोरुभयोस्तदा

hastyaśvarathasaṁhrādāḥ śaṁkhabherīsvanāstathā || abhavansiṁhanādāśca senayorubhayostadā

Then there arose, from both armies, the din of elephants, horses, and chariots, the blare of conches and drums, and lion-roars.

Verse 22 (skanda.2.116.22)

जलंधरशरव्रातैर्नीहारपटलैरिव ॥ द्यावापृथिव्योराच्छिन्नमंतरं समपद्यत

jalaṁdharaśaravrātairnīhārapaṭalairiva || dyāvāpṛthivyorācchinnamaṁtaraṁ samapadyata

With Jalandhara's volleys of arrows, as if with sheets of mist, the very space between heaven and earth became blotted out.

Verse 23 (skanda.2.116.23)

गणेशं पंचभिर्विद्ध्वा शैलादिं नवभिः शरैः ॥ वीरभद्रं च विंशत्या ननाद जलदस्वनः

gaṇeśaṁ paṁcabhirviddhvā śailādiṁ navabhiḥ śaraiḥ || vīrabhadraṁ ca viṁśatyā nanāda jaladasvanaḥ

Piercing Ganesha with five arrows, Shailadi (Nandi) with nine, and Virabhadra with twenty, he roared like a thundercloud.

Verse 24 (skanda.2.116.24)

कार्तिकेयस्तदा दैत्यं शक्त्या विव्याध सत्वरः ॥ युयुधे शक्तिनिर्भिन्नः किंचिद्व्याकुलमानसः

kārtikeyastadā daityaṁ śaktyā vivyādha satvaraḥ || yuyudhe śaktinirbhinnaḥ kiṁcidvyākulamānasaḥ

Kartikeya swiftly pierced the daitya with his spear; pierced by the daitya's spear in turn, he fought on, his mind somewhat shaken.

Verse 25 (skanda.2.116.25)

ततः क्रोधपरीताक्षः कार्तिकेयं जलंधरः ॥ गदया ताडयामास स च भूमितलेऽपतत्

tataḥ krodhaparītākṣaḥ kārtikeyaṁ jalaṁdharaḥ || gadayā tāḍayāmāsa sa ca bhūmitale'patat

Then Jalandhara, his eyes red with rage, struck Kartikeya with his mace, and he fell to the ground.

Verse 26 (skanda.2.116.26)

तथैव नंदिनं वेगादपातयत भूतले ॥ ततो गणेश्वरः क्रुद्धो गदां परशुनाऽहनत्

tathaiva nandinaṁ vegādapātayata bhūtale || tato gaṇeśvaraḥ kruddho gadāṁ paraśunā'hanat

In the same way he swiftly felled Nandi to the ground; then the enraged lord of the ganas struck his mace with an axe.

Verse 27 (skanda.2.116.27)

वीरभद्रस्त्रिभिर्बाणैर्हृदि विव्याध दानवम् ॥ सप्तभिश्च हयान्केतुं धनुश्छत्रं च चिच्छिदे

vīrabhadrastribhirbāṇairhṛdi vivyādha dānavam || saptabhiśca hayānketuṁ dhanuśchatraṁ ca cicchide

Virabhadra pierced the danava's chest with three arrows, and with seven more cut down his horses, banner, bow, and parasol.

Verse 28 (skanda.2.116.28)

ततोऽतिक्रुद्धो दैत्येंद्रः शक्तिमुद्यम्य दारुणाम् ॥ गणेशं पातयामास रथं चाऽन्यमथाऽऽरुहत्

tato'tikruddho daityeṁdraḥ śaktimudyamya dāruṇām || gaṇeśaṁ pātayāmāsa rathaṁ cā'nyamathā'āruhat

Then the lord of the daityas, greatly enraged, raised his terrible spear, felled Ganesha, and mounted another chariot.

Verse 29 (skanda.2.116.29)

अभ्ययादथ वेगेन वीरभद्रं रुषान्वितः ॥ ततस्तौ सूर्यसंकाशौ युयुधाते परस्परम्

abhyayādatha vegena vīrabhadraṁ ruṣānvitaḥ || tatastau sūryasaṁkāśau yuyudhāte parasparam

Filled with fury, he then swiftly advanced upon Virabhadra; and the two, blazing like suns, fought against each other.

Verse 30 (skanda.2.116.30)

वीरभद्रः पुनस्तस्य हयान्बाणैरपातयत् ॥ धनुश्चिच्छेद दैत्येंद्रः पुप्लुवे परिघायुधः

vīrabhadraḥ punastasya hayānbāṇairapātayat || dhanuściccheda daityeṁdraḥ pupluve parighāyudhaḥ

Virabhadra again felled his horses with arrows and cut his bow; the lord of the daityas leapt down, armed with an iron club.

Verse 31 (skanda.2.116.31)

स वीरभद्रं त्वरयाऽभिगम्य जघान दैत्यः परिघेण मूर्ध्नि ॥ स चाऽपि वीरः प्रविभिन्नमूर्द्धा पपात भूमौ रुधिरं समुद्गिरन्

sa vīrabhadraṁ tvarayā'bhigamya jaghāna daityaḥ parighena mūrdhni || sa cā'pi vīraḥ pravibhinnamūrddhā papāta bhūmau rudhiraṁ samudgiran

The daitya swiftly rushed at Virabhadra and struck him on the head with his iron club; and that hero, his skull split open, fell to the ground, vomiting blood.