The Abduction of Shachi

Verse 1 (skanda.5.201.1)

स दानवो वरं लब्ध्वा जगाम स्वपुरं प्रति। ददर्श स्वपुरं राजञ्छोभितं चित्रचत्वरैः

sa dānavo varaṁ labdhvā jagāma svapuraṁ prati| dadarśa svapuraṁ rājañchobhitaṁ citracatvaraiḥ

Having obtained the boon, that danava set out toward his own city; O king, he saw his city adorned with beautifully decorated squares.

Verse 2 (skanda.5.201.2)

उद्यानैश्चैव विविधैः कदलीखण्डमण्डितैः। पनसैर्बकुलैश्चैवाम्रातैराम्रैश्च चम्पकैः

udyānaiścaiva vividhaiḥ kadalīkhaṇḍamaṇḍitaiḥ| panasairbakulaiścaivāmrātairāmraiśca campakaiḥ

adorned with various gardens, decked with clusters of banana trees, filled with jackfruit, bakula, hog-plum, mango, and champaka trees,

Verse 3 (skanda.5.201.3)

अशोकैर्नालिकेरैश्च मातुलिङ्गैः सदाडिमैः। नानावृक्षैश्च शोभाढ्यं तडागैरुपशोभितम्

aśokairnālikeraiśca mātuliṅgaiḥ sadāḍimaiḥ| nānāvṛkṣaiśca śobhāḍhyaṁ taḍāgairupaśobhitam

with ashoka, coconut, citron, and pomegranate trees, rich in the splendour of many kinds of trees, and beautified with ponds,

Verse 4 (skanda.5.201.4)

देवतायतनैर्दिव्यैर्ध्वजमालासुशोभितैः। वेदाध्ययननिर्घोषैर्मङ्गलाद्यैर्विनादितम्

devatāyatanairdivyairdhvajamālāsuśobhitaiḥ| vedādhyayananirghoṣairmaṅgalādyairvināditam

with divine temples adorned with garlands of banners, resounding with the chant of Vedic study and auspicious songs,

Verse 5 (skanda.5.201.5)

प्राविशद्भवने दिव्ये काञ्चने रुक्ममालिनि। अपश्यत्स सुतान् भार्याममात्यान् दासभृत्यकान्

prāviśadbhavane divye kāñcane rukmamālini| apaśyatsa sutān bhāryāmamātyān dāsabhṛtyakān

He entered his divine, golden mansion, adorned with a golden garland; and he beheld his sons, his wife, his ministers, and his servants and attendants.

Verse 6 (skanda.5.201.6)

ततो जयप्रदान् सर्वानितश्चेतश्च धावतः। हृच्छोभां च प्रकुर्वाणान् वै जयन्तीभिरुच्चकैः

tato jayapradān sarvānitaścetaśca dhāvataḥ| hṛcchobhāṁ ca prakurvāṇān vai jayantībhirucchakaiḥ

Then all the people ran here and there, shouting cries of victory, gladdening the heart with their loud proclamations of triumph,

Verse 7 (skanda.5.201.7)

केचित्तोरणमाबध्य केचित्पुष्पाण्यवाकिरन्। मातुलिङ्गकराश्चान्ये धावन्ति ह्यन्धकं प्रति

kecittoraṇamābadhya kecitpuṣpāṇyavākiran| mātuliṅgakarāścānye dhāvanti hyandhakaṁ prati

some were tying up festive archways, some were scattering flowers, and others, holding citrons in their hands, ran toward Andhaka.

Verse 8 (skanda.5.201.8)

पुरे जनाश्च दृश्यन्ते भाजनैरन्नपूरितैः। पूर्णहस्ताः प्रदृश्यन्ते तत्रैव बहवो जनाः

pure janāśca dṛśyante bhājanairannapūritaiḥ| pūrṇahastāḥ pradṛśyante tatraiva bahavo janāḥ

In the city, people were seen carrying vessels full of grain; many people there were seen with their hands full of offerings.

Verse 9 (skanda.5.201.9)

साक्षतैर्भाजनैस्तत्र शतसाहस्रयोषितः। मन्त्रान् पठन्ति विप्राश्च मङ्गलान्यपि योषितः

sākṣatairbhājanaistatra śatasāhasrayoṣitaḥ| mantrān paṭhanti viprāśca maṅgalānyapi yoṣitaḥ

Hundreds and thousands of women were there with vessels full of unbroken rice; brahmins recited mantras, and women sang auspicious songs.

Verse 10 (skanda.5.201.10)

अमात्याश्चैव भृत्याश्च गजांश्चाढौकयन्ति च। वर्धापयन्ति ते सर्वे ये केचित्पुरवासिनः

amātyāścaiva bhṛtyāśca gajāṁścāḍhaukayanti ca| vardhāpayanti te sarve ye kecitpuravāsinaḥ

Ministers and servants brought forth elephants; all the residents of the city, whoever they were, offered him their congratulations.

Verse 11 (skanda.5.201.11)

हृष्टस्तुष्टोऽवसत्तत्र सचिवैः सह सोऽन्धकः। ददर्श स जगत्सर्वं तुरङ्गांश्च पदातिकान्

hṛṣṭastuṣṭo'vasattatra sacivaiḥ saha so'ndhakaḥ| dadarśa sa jagatsarvaṁ turaṅgāṁśca padātikān

That Andhaka, delighted and content, dwelt there with his ministers; he surveyed the whole world, his horses, and his foot-soldiers.

Verse 12 (skanda.5.201.12)

तथैव विविधान् कोशांस्तत्र काञ्चनपूरितान्। महिषीर्गा वृषांश्चैवापश्यच्छत्राण्यनेकधा

tathaiva vividhān kośāṁstatra kāñcanapūritān| mahiṣīrgā vṛṣāṁścaivāpaśyacchatrāṇyanekadhā

Likewise, he beheld there various treasuries filled with gold, buffaloes, cows, bulls, and parasols of many kinds.

Verse 13 (skanda.5.201.13)

स एवमन्धकस्तत्र कियन्तं कालमावसत्। हृष्टस्तुष्टो वसन्मर्त्ये स सुरैर्नाभ्यभूयत

sa evamandhakastatra kiyantaṁ kālamāvasat| hṛṣṭastuṣṭo vasanmartye sa surairnābhyabhūyata

Thus that Andhaka dwelt there for some time; delighted and content, living in the mortal world, he was not to be overcome even by the gods.

Verse 14 (skanda.5.201.14)

वरं लब्धं तु तं ज्ञात्वा शङ्किताः स्वर्गवासिनः। एकीभूताश्च ते सर्वे वासवं शरणं गताः

varaṁ labdhaṁ tu taṁ jñātvā śaṅkitāḥ svargavāsinaḥ| ekībhūtāśca te sarve vāsavaṁ śaraṇaṁ gatāḥ

Learning that he had obtained the boon, the dwellers of heaven grew apprehensive; all of them, gathering together, went for refuge to Vasava, Indra.

Verse 15 (skanda.5.201.15)

शक्र उवाच। कथमागमनं वोऽत्र सर्वेषामपि नाकिनाम्। कस्माद्वो भयमुत्पन्नमागताः शरणं कथम्। ततस्ते ह्यमराः सर्वे शक्रमेतद्वचोऽब्रुवन्

śakra uvāca| kathamāgamanaṁ vo'tra sarveṣāmapi nākinām| kasmādvo bhayamutpannamāgatāḥ śaraṇaṁ katham| tataste hyamarāḥ sarve śakrametadvaco'bruvan

Shakra said: For what reason have all of you, dwellers of heaven, come here? From what has fear arisen in you, and why have you come seeking refuge? Then all those immortals spoke these words to Shakra.

Verse 16 (skanda.5.201.16)

देवा ऊचुः। सुरनाथान्धको नाम दैत्यः शम्भुवरोर्जितः। अजेयः सर्वदेवानां किं नु कार्यमतः परम्

devā ūcuḥ| suranāthāndhako nāma daityaḥ śambhuvarorjitaḥ| ajeyaḥ sarvadevānāṁ kiṁ nu kāryamataḥ param

The gods said: O lord of the gods, the daitya named Andhaka, empowered by Shambhu's boon, has become unconquerable by all the gods; what then should be done now?

Verse 17 (skanda.5.201.17)

तत्त्वं चिन्तय देवेश क उपायो विधीयताम्। इत्थं वदन्ति ते देवाः शक्राग्रे मन्त्रणोद्यताः

tattvaṁ cintaya deveśa ka upāyo vidhīyatām| itthaṁ vadanti te devāḥ śakrāgre mantraṇodyatāḥ

O lord of gods, consider what measure should be taken. Thus spoke those gods, standing before Shakra, intent on deliberation.

Verse 18 (skanda.5.201.18)

मन्त्रयन्ति च यावद्वै तावच्चारमुखेरितम्। ज्ञात्वा तत्र स देवौघं दानवो निर्गतो गृहात्

mantrayanti ca yāvadvai tāvaccāramukheritam| jñātvā tatra sa devaughaṁ dānavo nirgato gṛhāt

While they were still deliberating, learning of that host of gods through the mouths of his spies, the danava set out from his home.

Verse 19 (skanda.5.201.19)

एकाकी स्यन्दनारूढ आयुर्धैबहुभिर्वृतः। दुर्गमं मेरुपृष्ठं स लीलयैव गतो नृप

ekākī syandanārūḍha āyurdhaibahubhirvṛtaḥ| durgamaṁ merupṛṣṭhaṁ sa līlayaiva gato nṛpa

O king, alone, mounted on his chariot, surrounded by many weapons, he made his way with mere ease to the inaccessible summit of Meru.

Verse 20 (skanda.5.201.20)

स्वर्णप्राकारसंयुक्तं शोभितं विविधाश्रमैः। दुर्गमं शत्रुवर्गस्य तदा पार्थिवसत्तम

svarṇaprākārasaṁyuktaṁ śobhitaṁ vividhāśramaiḥ| durgamaṁ śatruvargasya tadā pārthivasattama

O best of kings, it was a place enclosed by golden ramparts, adorned with various hermitages, and inaccessible to enemies.

Verse 21 (skanda.5.201.21)

प्रविवेशासुरस्तत्र लीलया स्वगृहे यथा। वृत्रहा भयमापन्नः स्वकीयं चासनं ददौ

praviveśāsurastatra līlayā svagṛhe yathā| vṛtrahā bhayamāpannaḥ svakīyaṁ cāsanaṁ dadau

The asura entered there with as much ease as if it were his own home; Vritrahan, seized with fear, offered him his very own throne.

Verse 22 (skanda.5.201.22)

उपविष्टोऽन्धकस्तत्र शक्रस्यैवासने शुभे। आस्थानं कलयामास सर्वतस्त्रिदशावृतम्

upaviṣṭo'ndhakastatra śakrasyaivāsane śubhe| āsthānaṁ kalayāmāsa sarvatastridaśāvṛtam

Andhaka seated himself on that very auspicious throne of Shakra, and surveyed the assembly hall, surrounded on all sides by the gods.

Verse 23 (skanda.5.201.23)

शक्र उवाच। किं तवागमनं चात्र किं कार्यं कथयस्व मे। यदस्मदीयं वित्तं हि तत्ते दास्यामि दानव

śakra uvāca| kiṁ tavāgamanaṁ cātra kiṁ kāryaṁ kathayasva me| yadasmadīyaṁ vittaṁ hi tatte dāsyāmi dānava

Shakra said: For what reason have you come here? Tell me your purpose; O danava, whatever wealth is mine, that I shall give to you.

Verse 24 (skanda.5.201.24)

अन्धक उवाच। नाहं वै कामये कोशं न गजांश्च सुरेश्वर। स्वकीयं दर्शयस्वाद्य स्वर्गशृङ्गारभूषितम्

andhaka uvāca| nāhaṁ vai kāmaye kośaṁ na gajāṁśca sureśvara| svakīyaṁ darśayasvādya svargaśṛṅgārabhūṣitam

Andhaka said: O lord of gods, I desire neither treasury nor elephants; show me today your own splendour, with which heaven itself is adorned.

Verse 25 (skanda.5.201.25)

ऐरावतं महानागं तं चैवोच्चैःश्रवोहयम्। उर्वश्यादीनि रत्नानि मम दर्शय गोपते

airāvataṁ mahānāgaṁ taṁ caivoccaiḥśravohayam| urvaśyādīni ratnāni mama darśaya gopate

Show me Airavata, the great elephant, and Ucchaihshravas, the horse, and the jewels beginning with Urvashi, O guardian of the herd.

Verse 26 (skanda.5.201.26)

पारिजातकपुष्पाणि वृक्षजातीननेकशः। वादित्राणि च सर्वाणि दर्शयस्व शचीपते

pārijātakapuṣpāṇi vṛkṣajātīnanekaśaḥ| vāditrāṇi ca sarvāṇi darśayasva śacīpate

The flowers of the Parijata tree, the many varieties of celestial trees, and all the musical instruments, O lord of Shachi, show me.

Verse 27 (skanda.5.201.27)

तस्य तद्वचनं श्रुत्वा शक्रश्चिन्तितवानिदम्। योऽमुं निहन्ति पाप्मानं न तं पश्यामि कर्हिचित्

tasya tadvacanaṁ śrutvā śakraścintitavānidam| yo'muṁ nihanti pāpmānaṁ na taṁ paśyāmi karhicit

Hearing his words, Shakra thought to himself: I see no one anywhere who could slay this sinful being.

Verse 28 (skanda.5.201.28)

नास्ति रक्षाप्रदः कश्चित्स्वर्गलोकस्य दुःखिनः। भयत्रस्तो ददावन्यद्वादित्राद्यप्सरोगणैः

nāsti rakṣāpradaḥ kaścitsvargalokasya duḥkhinaḥ| bhayatrasto dadāvanyadvāditrādyapsarogaṇaiḥ

There is no one to protect the suffering heaven-world — thinking thus, terrified, he showed him the rest — the musical instruments and the hosts of apsaras.

Verse 29 (skanda.5.201.29)

रङ्गभूमावुपाविश्य कारयामास ताण्डवम्। उपविष्टाः सुराः सर्वे यममारुतकिन्नराः

raṅgabhūmāvupāviśya kārayāmāsa tāṇḍavam| upaviṣṭāḥ surāḥ sarve yamamārutakinnarāḥ

Seated in that dance arena, he had the tandava dance performed; all the gods, together with Yama, the wind-god, and the kinnaras, sat watching.

Verse 30 (skanda.5.201.30)

उर्वश्याद्या अप्सरसो गीतवादित्रयोगतः। ननृतुः पुरतस्तस्य सर्वा एकैकशो नृप

urvaśyādyā apsaraso gītavāditrayogataḥ| nanṛtuḥ puratastasya sarvā ekaikaśo nṛpa

O king, the apsaras led by Urvashi, accompanied by song and instrument, danced before him one after another.

Verse 31 (skanda.5.201.31)

न व्यश्राम्यत तच्चित्तं दृष्ट्वा चाप्सरसस्तदा। शचीं प्रति मनस्तस्य सकाममभवन्नृप

na vyaśrāmyata taccittaṁ dṛṣṭvā cāpsarasastadā| śacīṁ prati manastasya sakāmamabhavannṛpa

Even seeing those apsaras, his mind did not find rest; O king, his heart became inflamed with desire for Shachi.

Verse 32 (skanda.5.201.32)

गृहीत्वा शक्रभार्यां स प्रस्थितः स्वपुरं प्रति। ततः प्रववृते युद्धमन्धकस्य सुरैः सह

gṛhītvā śakrabhāryāṁ sa prasthitaḥ svapuraṁ prati| tataḥ pravavṛte yuddhamandhakasya suraiḥ saha

Seizing Shakra's wife, he set out toward his own city; then a battle broke out between Andhaka and the gods.

Verse 33 (skanda.5.201.33)

तेन देवगणाः सर्वे ध्वस्ताः पार्थिवसत्तम। संग्रामे विविधैः शस्त्रैश्चक्रवज्रादिभिर्घनैः

tena devagaṇāḥ sarve dhvastāḥ pārthivasattama| saṁgrāme vividhaiḥ śastraiścakravajrādibhirghanaiḥ

O best of kings, by him, in battle, with various massed weapons such as the discus and thunderbolt, all the hosts of gods were shattered.

Verse 34 (skanda.5.201.34)

संतापिताः सुराः सर्वे क्षयं नीता ह्यनेकशः। सर्वेऽपि मरुतस्तेन भग्नाः संग्राममूर्धनि

santāpitāḥ surāḥ sarve kṣayaṁ nītā hyanekaśaḥ| sarve'pi marutastena bhagnāḥ saṁgrāmamūrdhani

All the gods, tormented, were reduced to ruin in many ways; and all the Maruts too were broken by him at the very front of battle.

Verse 35 (skanda.5.201.35)

यथा सिंहोगजान् सर्वान् विचित्य विचरेद्वनम्। तद्वदेकेन ते देवा जिताः सर्वे पराङ्मुखाः

yathā siṁho gajān sarvān vicitya vicaredvanam| tadvadekena te devā jitāḥ sarve parāṅmukhāḥ

Just as a lion, singling out all the elephants, roams through the forest, so too, by that lone being, all the gods were defeated and turned their backs in flight.

Verse 36 (skanda.5.201.36)

बालोऽधिपो यथा ग्रामे स्वेच्छया पीडयेज्जनान्। स्वैरमाक्रम्य गृह्णाति कोशवासांसि चासकृत्

bālo'dhipo yathā grāme svecchayā pīḍayejjanān| svairamākramya gṛhṇāti kośavāsāṁsi cāsakṛt

Just as a boy-ruler in a village torments the people at his own whim, freely raiding and repeatedly seizing their treasuries and garments,

Verse 37 (skanda.5.201.37)

गतं न पश्यत्यात्मानं प्रजासंतापनेन च। गृहीत्वा शक्रभार्यां स गतो वै दानवोत्तमः

gataṁ na paśyatyātmānaṁ prajāsantāpanena ca| gṛhītvā śakrabhāryāṁ sa gato vai dānavottamaḥ

and, in tormenting his subjects, fails to see his own downfall — in just this way did that foremost of danavas depart, taking Shakra's wife with him.