The Battle of Shiva and Jalandhara

Verse 1 (skanda.2.117.1)

॥नारद उवाच॥ पतितं वीरभद्रं तु दृष्ट्वा रुद्रगणा भयात् ॥ अगमंस्ते रणं हित्वा क्रोशमाना महेश्वरम्

nārada uvāca patitaṁ vīrabhadraṁ tu dṛṣṭvā rudragaṇā bhayāt || agamaṁste raṇaṁ hitvā krośamānā maheśvaram

Narada said: Seeing Virabhadra fallen, Rudra's ganas, in fear, abandoned the battlefield and went crying out to Maheshvara.

Verse 2 (skanda.2.117.2)

अथ कोलाहलं श्रुत्वा गणानां चंद्रशेखरः ॥ अभ्ययाद्वृषभारूढः संग्रामं प्रहसन्निव

atha kolāhalaṁ śrutvā gaṇānāṁ caṁdraśekharaḥ || abhyayādvṛṣabhārūḍhaḥ saṁgrāmaṁ prahasanniva

Then, hearing the uproar of the ganas, Chandrashekhara, mounted on his bull, advanced toward the battle almost laughing.

Verse 3 (skanda.2.117.3)

रुद्रमायांतमालोक्य सिंहनादैर्गणाः पुनः ॥ निवृत्ताः संगरे दैत्यान्निर्जघ्नुः शरवृष्टिभिः

rudramāyāṁtamālokya siṁhanādairgaṇāḥ punaḥ || nivṛttāḥ saṁgare daityānnirjaghnuḥ śaravṛṣṭibhiḥ

Seeing Rudra approaching, the ganas, roaring like lions, returned to the battle and began slaying the daityas with showers of arrows.

Verse 4 (skanda.2.117.4)

दैत्याश्च भीषणं दृष्ट्वा सर्वे चैव विदुद्रुवुः ॥ कार्तिकव्रतिनं दृष्ट्वा पातकानीव तद्भयात्

daityāśca bhīṣaṇaṁ dṛṣṭvā sarve caiva vidudruvuḥ || kārtikavratinaṁ dṛṣṭvā pātakānīva tadbhayāt

Seeing that terrifying form, all the daityas fled in fear — just as sins flee at the very sight of one who keeps the Kartika vow.

Verse 5 (skanda.2.117.5)

जलंधरोथ तान्दैत्यान्निवृत्तान्प्रेक्ष्य संगरे ॥ रोषादधावच्चंडीशं मुंचन्बाणान्सहस्रशः

jalaṁdharotha tāndaityānnivṛttānprekṣya saṁgare || roṣādadhāvaccaṁḍīśaṁ muṁcanbāṇānsahasraśaḥ

Then Jalandhara, seeing those daityas retreating from the fight, charged in fury at Chandisha, releasing thousands of arrows.

Verse 6 (skanda.2.117.6)

शुंभो निशुंभोऽश्वमुखः कालनेमिर्बलाहकः ॥ खड्गरोमा प्रचंडश्च घस्मराद्याः शिवं ययुः

śuṁbho niśuṁbho'śvamukhaḥ kālanemirbalāhakaḥ || khaḍgaromā pracaṁḍaśca ghasmarādyāḥ śivaṁ yayuḥ

Shumbha, Nishumbha, Ashvamukha, Kalanemi, Balahaka, Khadgaroma, Prachanda, Ghasmara, and others advanced upon Shiva.

Verse 7 (skanda.2.117.7)

बाणांधकारसंछन्नं दृष्ट्वा गणबलं शिवः ॥ बाणजालमवाच्छिद्य स्वबाणैरावृणोन्नभः

bāṇāṁdhakārasaṁchannaṁ dṛṣṭvā gaṇabalaṁ śivaḥ || bāṇajālamavācchidya svabāṇairāvṛṇonnabhaḥ

Seeing the army of ganas enveloped in a darkness of arrows, Shiva cut through that net of arrows and covered the sky with his own.

Verse 8 (skanda.2.117.8)

दैत्यांश्च बाणवात्याभिः पीडितानकरोत्तदा ॥ प्रचंडबाणजालौघैरपातयत भूतले

daityāṁśca bāṇavātyābhiḥ pīḍitānakarottadā || pracaṁḍabāṇajālaughairapātayata bhūtale

He afflicted the daityas with storms of arrows and, with torrents of fierce arrow-clusters, felled them to the ground.

Verse 9 (skanda.2.117.9)

खड्गरोम्णः शिरः कायात्तदा परशुनाऽच्छिनत् ॥ बलाहकस्य च शिरः खट्वांगेनाऽकरोद्द्विधा

khaḍgaromṇaḥ śiraḥ kāyāttadā paraśunā'cchinat || balāhakasya ca śiraḥ khaṭvāṁgenā'karoddvidhā

With his axe he cut off Khadgaroma's head from his body, and with his skull-topped staff he split Balahaka's head in two.

Verse 10 (skanda.2.117.10)

बद्ध्वा च घस्मरं दैत्यं पाशेनाभ्यहनद्भुवि ॥ वृषभेण हताः केचित्केचिद्बाणैर्निपातिताः

baddhvā ca ghasmaraṁ daityaṁ pāśenābhyahanadbhuvi || vṛṣabheṇa hatāḥ kecitkecidbāṇairnipātitāḥ

Binding the daitya Ghasmara with his noose, he threw him to the ground; some daityas were killed by the bull, others felled by arrows.

Verse 11 (skanda.2.117.11)

न शेकुरसुराः स्थातुं गजाः सिंहार्दिता इव ॥ ततः क्रोधपरीतात्मा वेगाद्रुद्रं जलंधरः

na śekurasurāḥ sthātuṁ gajāḥ siṁhārditā iva || tataḥ krodhaparītātmā vegādrudraṁ jalaṁdharaḥ

Like elephants harried by a lion, the asuras could not hold their ground. Then Jalandhara, overcome with rage, swiftly —

Verse 12 (skanda.2.117.12)

आह्वयामास समरे तीव्राशनिसमस्वनः ॥ ॥जलंधर उवाच॥ युध्यस्व च मया सार्द्धं किमेभिर्निहितैस्तव

āhvayāmāsa samare tīvrāśanisamasvanaḥ || jalaṁdhara uvāca yudhyasva ca mayā sārddhaṁ kimebhirnihitaistava

challenged him in battle, roaring like fierce thunder. Jalandhara said: "Fight with me — what use are these underlings of yours?

Verse 13 (skanda.2.117.13)

यच्च किंचिद्बलं तेऽस्ति तद्दर्शय जटाधर ॥ इत्युक्त्वा बाणसप्तत्या जघान वृषभध्वजम्

yacca kiṁcidbalaṁ te'sti taddarśaya jaṭādhara || ityuktvā bāṇasaptatyā jaghāna vṛṣabhadhvajam

Whatever strength you have, O matted-haired one, show it now!" So saying, he struck the Bull-bannered one with seventy arrows.

Verse 14 (skanda.2.117.14)

तान्प्राप्तान्निशितैर्बाणैश्चिच्छेद प्रहसन्निव ॥ ततो हयान्ध्वजं छत्रं धनुश्चिच्छेद शक्तिभिः

tānprāptānniśitairbāṇaiściccheda prahasanniva || tato hayāndhvajaṁ chatraṁ dhanuściccheda śaktibhiḥ

Shiva, almost laughing, cut down those incoming arrows with his own sharp shafts, and then with his weapons severed his horses, banner, parasol, and bow.

Verse 15 (skanda.2.117.15)

स च्छिन्नधन्वा विरथो गदामुद्यम्य वेगवान् ॥ अभ्यधावच्छिवस्तावद्गदां बाणैर्द्विधाऽच्छिनत्

sa cchinnadhanvā virātho gadāmudyamya vegavān || abhyadhāvacchivastāvadgadāṁ bāṇairdvidhā'cchinat

His bow cut and his chariot lost, he swiftly seized a mace and rushed forward; but Shiva split that mace in two with his arrows as well.

Verse 16 (skanda.2.117.16)

तथाऽपि मुष्टिमुद्यम्य ययौ रुद्रं जिघांसया ॥ तावच्छिवेन बाणौघैः क्रोशमात्रमपाकृतः

tathā'pi muṣṭimudyamya yayau rudraṁ jighāṁsayā || tāvacchivena bāṇaughaiḥ krośamātramapākṛtaḥ

Still he advanced, fist raised, intent on killing Rudra; but Shiva, with a shower of arrows, drove him back a full league.

Verse 17 (skanda.2.117.17)

ततो जलंधरो दैत्यो मत्वा रुद्रं बलाधिकम् ॥ ससर्ज मायां गांधर्वीमद्भुतां रुद्रमोहिनीम्

tato jalaṁdharo daityo matvā rudraṁ balādhikam || sasarja māyāṁ gāṁdharvīmadbhutāṁ rudramohinīm

Then the daitya Jalandhara, realizing Rudra's strength surpassed his own, conjured a wondrous Gandharva-illusion meant to bewilder Rudra.

Verse 18 (skanda.2.117.18)

ततो जगुश्च ननृतुर्गंधर्वाप्सरसां गणाः ॥ तालवेणुमृदंगाद्यान्वादयंति स्म चाऽपरे

tato jaguśca nanṛturgaṁdharvāpsarasāṁ gaṇāḥ || tālaveṇumṛdaṁgādyānvādayaṁti sma cā'pare

Then troupes of gandharvas and apsaras began to sing and dance, while others played cymbals, flutes, and mridangas.

Verse 19 (skanda.2.117.19)

तद्दृष्ट्वा महदाश्चर्यं रुद्रो नादविमोहितः ॥ पतितान्यपि शस्त्राणि करेभ्यो न विवेद सः

taddṛṣṭvā mahadāścaryaṁ rudro nādavimohitaḥ || patitānyapi śastrāṇi karebhyo na viveda saḥ

Beholding this great wonder, Rudra became entranced by the sound, and did not even notice the weapons falling from his hands.

Verse 20 (skanda.2.117.20)

एकाग्रीभूतमालोक्य रुद्रं दैत्यो जलंधरः ॥ कामार्तः स जगामाशु यत्र गौरी स्थिताऽभवत्

ekāgrībhūtamālokya rudraṁ daityo jalaṁdharaḥ || kāmārtaḥ sa jagāmāśu yatra gaurī sthitā'bhavat

Seeing Rudra thus completely absorbed, the daitya Jalandhara, tormented by lust, swiftly went to where Gauri was seated.

Verse 21 (skanda.2.117.21)

युद्धे शुंभनिशुंभाख्यौ स्थापयित्वा महाबली ॥ दशदोर्दंडपंचास्यस्त्रिनेत्रश्च जटाधरः

yuddhe śuṁbhaniśuṁbhākhyau sthāpayitvā mahābalī || daśadordaṁḍapaṁcāsyastrinetraśca jaṭādharaḥ

The mighty Jalandhara, leaving Shumbha and Nishumbha stationed in the battle, himself assumed a form with ten arms, five faces, three eyes, and matted hair,

Verse 22 (skanda.2.117.22)

महावृषभमारूढः स बभूव जलंधरः ॥ अथो रुद्रं समायांतमालोक्य भववल्लभा

mahāvṛṣabhamārūḍhaḥ sa babhūva jalaṁdharaḥ || atho rudraṁ samāyāṁtamālokya bhavavallabhā

and, thus disguised, mounted a great bull — this was Jalandhara himself. Then, seeing what appeared to be Bhava approaching, Shiva's beloved —

Verse 23 (skanda.2.117.23)

अभ्याययौ सखीमध्यात्तद्दर्शनपथेऽभवत् ॥ यावद्ददर्श चार्वंगी पार्वती दनुजेश्वरः

abhyāyayau sakhīmadhyāttaddarśanapathe'bhavat || yāvaddadarśa cārvaṁgī pārvatī danujeśvaraḥ

came forward from among her companions into his line of sight. But the very moment the lovely Parvati looked at that lord of demons —

Verse 24 (skanda.2.117.24)

तावत्स्ववीर्यं मुमुचे जडांगश्चाऽभवत्तदा ॥ अथ ज्ञात्वा तदा गौरी दानवं भयविह्वला

tāvatsvavīryaṁ mumuce jaḍāṁgaścā'bhavattadā || atha jñātvā tadā gaurī dānavaṁ bhayavihvalā

he lost his seed at that very instant and his limbs went numb. Then Gauri, recognizing the danava, became overwhelmed with fear.

Verse 25 (skanda.2.117.25)

जगामाऽन्तर्हिता वेगात्सा तदोत्तरमानसे ॥ तामदृष्ट्वा ततो दैत्यः क्षणाद्विद्युल्लतामिव

jagāmā'ntarhitā vegātsā tadottaramānase || tāmadṛṣṭvā tato daityaḥ kṣaṇādvidyullatāmiva

She swiftly vanished and went to the northern Manasa lake. Failing to find her, the daitya, in an instant, like a streak of lightning —

Verse 26 (skanda.2.117.26)

जवेनाऽऽगात्पुनर्युद्धं यत्र देवो वृषध्वजः ॥ पार्वत्यपि भयाद्विष्णुं सस्मार मनसा तदा

javenā'āgātpunaryuddhaṁ yatra devo vṛṣadhvajaḥ || pārvatyapi bhayādviṣṇuṁ sasmāra manasā tadā

rushed swiftly back to the battle where the Bull-bannered god was. Meanwhile Parvati, in fear, called Vishnu to mind.

Verse 27 (skanda.2.117.27)

तावद्ददर्श तं देवं सूपविष्टं समीपगम् ॥ ॥पार्वत्युवाच॥ विष्णो जलंधरो दैत्यः कृतवान्परमाद्भुतम्

tāvaddadarśa taṁ devaṁ sūpaviṣṭaṁ samīpagam || pārvatyuvāca viṣṇo jalaṁdharo daityaḥ kṛtavānparamādbhutam

At once she saw that god Vishnu seated close beside her, at ease. Parvati said: "O Vishnu, the daitya Jalandhara has done a most astonishing thing.

Verse 28 (skanda.2.117.28)

तत्किं न विदितं तेऽस्ति चेष्टितं तस्य दुर्मतेः ॥ ॥विष्णुरुवाच॥ तेनैव दर्शितः पंथा वयमप्यन्वयामहे

tatkiṁ na viditaṁ te'sti ceṣṭitaṁ tasya durmateḥ || viṣṇuruvāca tenaiva darśitaḥ paṁthā vayamapyanvayāmahe

Do you not know what that evil-minded one has done?" Vishnu said: "He himself has shown us the way; we too shall follow it.

Verse 29 (skanda.2.117.29)

नाऽन्यथा स भवेद्वध्यः पातिव्रत्यसुरक्षितः ॥ ॥नारद उवाच॥ जगाम विष्णुरित्युक्त्वा पुनर्जालंधरं पुरम्

nā'nyathā sa bhavedvadhyaḥ pātivratyasurakṣitaḥ || nārada uvāca jagāma viṣṇurityuktvā punarjālaṁdharaṁ puram

For otherwise, protected as he is by his wife's chastity, he cannot be slain." Narada said: So saying, Vishnu departed once more for the city of Jalandhara.

Verse 30 (skanda.2.117.30)

अथ रुद्रश्च गंधर्वाऽनुगतः संगरे स्थितः ॥ अंतर्धानं गतां मायां दृष्ट्वा स बुबुधे तदा

atha rudraśca gaṁdharvā'nugataḥ saṁgare sthitaḥ || aṁtardhānaṁ gatāṁ māyāṁ dṛṣṭvā sa bubudhe tadā

Meanwhile Rudra, still held by the gandharva-illusion, had remained standing on the battlefield; when that illusion vanished, he came to his senses.

Verse 31 (skanda.2.117.31)

ततो भवो विस्मितमानसः पुनर्जगाम युद्धाय जलंधरं रुषा ॥ स चाऽपि दैत्यः पुनरागतं शिवं दृष्ट्वा शरौघैः समवाकिरद्रणे

tato bhavo vismitamānasaḥ punarjagāma yuddhāya jalaṁdharaṁ ruṣā || sa cā'pi daityaḥ punarāgataṁ śivaṁ dṛṣṭvā śaraughaiḥ samavākiradraṇe

Then Bhava, astonished, went once more in fury to do battle with Jalandhara; and that daitya too, seeing Shiva return, covered him again with a shower of arrows on the field.