The Slaying of the Demon Lolajihva and the Establishment of Satyamandira

Verse 1 (skanda.3.63.1)

युधिष्ठिर उवाच । अतः परं किमभवद्ब्रवीतु द्विजसत्तम । त्वद्वचनामृतं पीत्वा तृप्तिर्नास्ति मम प्रभो

yudhiṣṭhira uvāca ataḥ paraṁ kimabhavadbravītu dvijasattama tvadvacanāmṛtaṁ pītvā tṛptirnāsti mama prabho

Yudhishthira said: What happened after this? Tell me, O best of the twice-born. Having drunk the nectar of your words, O lord, I still find no satisfaction.

Verse 2 (skanda.3.63.2)

व्यास उवाच । अथ किंचिद्गते काले युगांतसमये सति । त्रेतादौ लोलजिह्वाक्ष अभवद्राक्षसेश्वरः

vyāsa uvāca atha kiṁcidgate kāle yugāṁtasamaye sati tretādau lolajihvākṣa abhavadrākṣaseśvaraḥ

Vyasa said: Then, after some time had passed, at the turning of the age, at the dawn of the Treta yuga, there arose a lord of rakshasas named Lolajihva.

Verse 3 (skanda.3.63.3)

तेन विद्रावितं सर्वं त्रैलोक्यं सचराचरम् । जित्वा स सकलाँल्लोकान्धर्मारण्ये समागतः

tena vidrāvitaṁ sarvaṁ trailokyaṁ sacarācaram jitvā sa sakalā̐llokāndharmāraṇye samāgataḥ

By him, the entire three worlds, moving and unmoving, were thrown into rout; having conquered all the worlds, he then arrived at Dharmaranya.

Verse 4 (skanda.3.63.4)

तद्दृष्ट्वा सकलं पुण्यं रम्यं द्विजनिषे वितम् । ब्रह्मद्वेषाच्च तेनैव दाहितं च पुरं शुभम्

taddṛṣṭvā sakalaṁ puṇyaṁ ramyaṁ dvijaniṣe vitam brahmadveṣācca tenaiva dāhitaṁ ca puraṁ śubham

Seeing that wholly meritorious, beautiful place frequented by brahmins, out of hatred for Brahman he set fire to that auspicious city.

Verse 5 (skanda.3.63.5)

दह्यमानं पुरं दृष्ट्वा प्रणष्टा द्विजसत्तमाः । यथागतं प्रजग्मुस्ते धर्मारण्यनिवासिनः

dahyamānaṁ puraṁ dṛṣṭvā praṇaṣṭā dvijasattamāḥ yathāgataṁ prajagmuste dharmāraṇyanivāsinaḥ

Seeing the city burning, the best of the twice-born fled in terror; the dwellers of Dharmaranya scattered back to wherever they had come from.

Verse 6 (skanda.3.63.6)

श्रीमाताद्यास्तदा देव्यः कोपिता राक्षसेन वै । घातयंत्येव शब्देन तर्जयित्वा च राक्षसम्

śrīmātādyāstadā devyaḥ kopitā rākṣasena vai ghātayaṁtyeva śabdena tarjayitvā ca rākṣasam

Then the goddesses, Shrimata and the rest, enraged at the rakshasa, began to strike him down with their very battle-cries, thundering threats at the demon.

Verse 7 (skanda.3.63.7)

समुच्छ्रितास्तदा देव्यः शतशोऽथ सह स्रशः । त्रिशूलवरधारिण्यः शंखचक्रगदाधराः

samucchritāstadā devyaḥ śataśo'tha saha sraśaḥ triśūlavaradhāriṇyaḥ śaṁkhacakragadādharāḥ

Then the goddesses rose up, by the hundreds and by the thousands, bearing splendid tridents, holding conch, discus, and mace.

Verse 8 (skanda.3.63.8)

कमंडलुधराः काश्चित्कशाखङ्गधराः पराः । पाशांकुशधरा काचित्खड्गखेटकधारिणी

kamaṁḍaludharāḥ kāścitkaśākhaṅgadharāḥ parāḥ pāśāṁkuśadharā kācitkhaḍgakheṭakadhāriṇī

Some bore water-pots, others held whips and swords; one bore noose and goad, another held sword and shield.

Verse 9 (skanda.3.63.9)

काचित्परशुहस्ता च दिव्यायुधधरा परा । नानाभरणभूषाढ्या नानारत्नाभिशोभिता

kācitparaśuhastā ca divyāyudhadharā parā nānābharaṇabhūṣāḍhyā nānāratnābhiśobhitā

One held an axe, another bore divine weapons; richly adorned with various ornaments, and shining with various jewels.

Verse 10 (skanda.3.63.10)

राक्षसानां विनाशाय ब्राह्मणानां हिताय च । आजग्मुस्तत्र यत्रास्ते लोलजिह्वो हि राक्षसः

rākṣasānāṁ vināśāya brāhmaṇānāṁ hitāya ca ājagmustatra yatrāste lolajihvo hi rākṣasaḥ

For the destruction of the rakshasas and for the benefit of the brahmins, they went there, to where the demon Lolajihva stood.

Verse 11 (skanda.3.63.11)

महादंष्ट्रो महाकायो विद्युज्जिह्वो भयंकरः । दृष्ट्वा ता राक्षसो घोरं सिंहनादमथाकरोत्

mahādaṁṣṭro mahākāyo vidyujjihvo bhayaṁkaraḥ dṛṣṭvā tā rākṣaso ghoraṁ siṁhanādamathākarot

Great of fang, huge of body, his tongue like lightning, terrifying to behold — seeing them, that rakshasa let out a dreadful lion's roar.

Verse 12 (skanda.3.63.12)

तेन नादेन महता त्रासितं भुवनत्रयम् । आपूरिता दिशः सर्वाः क्षुभितानेकसागराः

tena nādena mahatā trāsitaṁ bhuvanatrayam āpūritā diśaḥ sarvāḥ kṣubhitānekasāgarāḥ

By that mighty roar, the three worlds were struck with terror; every direction was filled with it, and many oceans were thrown into turmoil.

Verse 13 (skanda.3.63.13)

कोलाहलो महानासीद्धर्मारण्ये तदा नृप । तच्छ्रुत्वा वासवेनाथ प्रेषितो नलकूबरः

kolāhalo mahānāsīddharmāraṇye tadā nṛpa tacchrutvā vāsavenātha preṣito nalakūbaraḥ

A great uproar then arose in Dharmaranya, O king; and hearing it, Vasava (Indra) then sent forth Nalakubara.

Verse 14 (skanda.3.63.14)

किमिदं पश्य गत्वा त्वं दृष्ट्वा मह्यं निवेदय । तत्तस्य वचनं श्रुत्वा गतो वै नलकूबरः

kimidaṁ paśya gatvā tvaṁ dṛṣṭvā mahyaṁ nivedaya tattasya vacanaṁ śrutvā gato vai nalakūbaraḥ

"Go and see what this is, and, having seen it, report back to me." Hearing his command, Nalakubara went there.

Verse 15 (skanda.3.63.15)

दृष्ट्वा तत्र महायुद्धं श्रीमातालोलजिह्वयोः । यथादृष्टं यथाजातं शक्राग्रे स न्यवेदयत्

dṛṣṭvā tatra mahāyuddhaṁ śrīmātālolajihvayoḥ yathādṛṣṭaṁ yathājātaṁ śakrāgre sa nyavedayat

Having seen there the great battle raging between Shrimata and Lolajihva, he reported it all before Shakra exactly as he had seen it and exactly as it had occurred.

Verse 16 (skanda.3.63.16)

उद्वेजयति लोकांस्त्रीन्धर्मारण्यमितो गतः । तच्छ्रुत्वा वासवो विष्णुं निवेद्य क्षितिमागमत्

udvejayati lokāṁstrīndharmāraṇyamito gataḥ tacchrutvā vāsavo viṣṇuṁ nivedya kṣitimāgamat

"He terrifies the three worlds, and has now gone to Dharmaranya." Hearing this, Vasava, having informed Vishnu, came down to the earth.

Verse 17 (skanda.3.63.17)

दाहितं तत्पुरं रम्यं देवानामपि दुर्लभम् । न दृष्टा वाडवास्तत्र गताः सर्वे दिशो दश

dāhitaṁ tatpuraṁ ramyaṁ devānāmapi durlabham na dṛṣṭā vāḍavāstatra gatāḥ sarve diśo daśa

That beautiful city, rare even for the gods to obtain, had been set ablaze; no brahmins were to be seen there — all had scattered in the ten directions.

Verse 18 (skanda.3.63.18)

श्रीमाता योगिनी तत्र कुरुते युद्धमुत्तमम् । हाहाभूता प्रजा सर्वा इतश्चेतश्च धावति

śrīmātā yoginī tatra kurute yuddhamuttamam hāhābhūtā prajā sarvā itaścetaśca dhāvati

There the yogini Shrimata was waging a mighty battle; and all the people, crying out in distress, ran here and there.

Verse 19 (skanda.3.63.19)

तच्छ्रुत्वा वासुदेवो हि गृहीत्वा च सुदर्शनम् । सत्यलोकात्तदा राजन्समागच्छन्महीतले

tacchrutvā vāsudevo hi gṛhītvā ca sudarśanam satyalokāttadā rājansamāgacchanmahītale

Hearing this, Vasudeva took up the Sudarshana discus, and then, O king, descended from Satyaloka down to the surface of the earth.

Verse 20 (skanda.3.63.20)

धर्मारण्यं ततो गत्वा तच्चक्रं प्रमुमोच ह । लोलजिह्वस्तदा रक्षो मूर्च्छितो निपपात ह

dharmāraṇyaṁ tato gatvā taccakraṁ pramumoca ha lolajihvastadā rakṣo mūrcchito nipapāta ha

Then, having arrived at Dharmaranya, he released that discus. Lolajihva, that rakshasa, then fell to the ground, senseless.

Verse 21 (skanda.3.63.21)

त्रिशूलेन ततो भिन्नः शक्तिभिः क्रोधमूर्च्छितः । हन्यमानस्तदा रक्षः प्राणांस्त्यक्त्वा दिवं गतः

triśūlena tato bhinnaḥ śaktibhiḥ krodhamūrcchitaḥ hanyamānastadā rakṣaḥ prāṇāṁstyaktvā divaṁ gataḥ

Then, pierced by the trident and by spears, and overwhelmed with wrath, that rakshasa, thus struck down, gave up his life and departed to heaven.

Verse 22 (skanda.3.63.22)

ततो देवाः सगंधर्वा हर्षनिर्भरमानसाः । तुष्टुवुस्तं जगन्नाथं सत्यलोकात्समागताः

tato devāḥ sagaṁdharvā harṣanirbharamānasāḥ tuṣṭuvustaṁ jagannāthaṁ satyalokātsamāgatāḥ

Then the gods, together with the gandharvas, their hearts full of joy, who had come down from Satyaloka, praised that Lord of the universe.

Verse 23 (skanda.3.63.23)

उद्वसं तत्समालोक्य विष्णुर्वचनमब्रवीत् । क्व च ते ब्राह्मणाः सर्वे ऋषीणामाश्रमे पुनः

udvasaṁ tatsamālokya viṣṇurvacanamabravīt kva ca te brāhmaṇāḥ sarve ṛṣīṇāmāśrame punaḥ

Seeing that place deserted, Vishnu spoke these words: "Where indeed are all those brahmins? Bring them back once more to the hermitages of the sages."

Verse 24 (skanda.3.63.24)

ततो देवाः सगं धर्वा इतस्ततः पलायितान् । संशोध्य तरसा राजन्ब्राह्मणानिदमब्रुवन्

tato devāḥ sagaṁ dharvā itastataḥ palāyitān saṁśodhya tarasā rājanbrāhmaṇānidamabruvan

Then the gods, together with the gandharvas, swiftly sought out, O king, the brahmins who had fled here and there, and spoke to them these words.

Verse 25 (skanda.3.63.25)

श्रूयतां नो वचो विप्रा निहतो राक्षसाधमः । वासुदेवेन देवेन चक्रेण निरकृंतत

śrūyatāṁ no vaco viprā nihato rākṣasādhamaḥ vāsudevena devena cakreṇa nirakṛṁtata

"Hear our word, O brahmins: that vile rakshasa has been slain; by the god Vasudeva he was cut down with his discus."

Verse 26 (skanda.3.63.26)

तच्छ्रुत्वा वाडवाः सर्वे प्रहर्षोत्फुल्ललोचनाः । समाजग्मुस्तदा राजन्स्वस्वस्थाने समाविशन्

tacchrutvā vāḍavāḥ sarve praharṣotphullalocanāḥ samājagmustadā rājansvasvasthāne samāviśan

Hearing this, all the brahmins, their eyes wide with great joy, then, O king, gathered together and returned each to his own place.

Verse 27 (skanda.3.63.27)

श्रीकांताय तदा राजन्वाक्यमुक्तं मनोरमम् । यस्मात्त्वं सत्यलोकाच्च आगतोऽसि जगत्प्रभुः । स्थापितं च पुरं चेदं हिताय च द्विजात्मनाम्

śrīkāṁtāya tadā rājanvākyamuktaṁ manoramam yasmāttvaṁ satyalokācca āgato'si jagatprabhuḥ sthāpitaṁ ca puraṁ cedaṁ hitāya ca dvijātmanām

Then, O king, delightful words were spoken to Shrikanta: "Since you, O Lord of the universe, have come here from Satyaloka, and have re-established this city for the good of the brahmins —"

Verse 28 (skanda.3.63.28)

सत्यमंदिरमिति ख्यातं तदा लोके भविष्यति । कृते युगे धर्मारण्यं त्रेतायां सत्यमंदिरम्

satyamaṁdiramiti khyātaṁ tadā loke bhaviṣyati kṛte yuge dharmāraṇyaṁ tretāyāṁ satyamaṁdiram

"— it shall henceforth be known in the world as Satyamandira. In the Krita age it was Dharmaranya; in the Treta age, it shall be Satyamandira."

Verse 29 (skanda.3.63.29)

तच्छ्रुत्वा वासुदेवेन तथेति प्रतिपद्य च । ततस्ते वाडवाः सर्वे पुत्रपौत्रसमन्विताः

tacchrutvā vāsudevena tatheti pratipadya ca tataste vāḍavāḥ sarve putrapautrasamanvitāḥ

Hearing this, Vasudeva agreed, saying "so be it." Then all those brahmins, together with their sons and grandsons —

Verse 30 (skanda.3.63.30)

सपत्नीकाः सानुचरा यथापूर्वं न्यवात्सिषुः । तपोयज्ञक्रियाद्येषु वर्तंतेऽध्ययनादिषु

sapatnīkāḥ sānucarā yathāpūrvaṁ nyavātsiṣuḥ tapoyajñakriyādyeṣu vartaṁte'dhyayanādiṣu

— together with their wives and attendants, dwelt there as before, engaged in austerity, sacrificial rites, and study, and in all such observances.

Verse 31 (skanda.3.63.31)

एवं ते सर्वमाख्यातं धर्म वै सत्यमंदिरे

evaṁ te sarvamākhyātaṁ dharma vai satyamaṁdire

Thus, O Dharma, has this entire account of Satyamandira been told to you.