The Origin of Bhringiriti: Shiva's Battle with Andhaka

Verse 1 (skanda.6.229.1)

सूत उवाच एतस्मिन्नंतरे शम्भुर्गणैः सर्वैः समावृतः इन्द्राद्यैश्च सुरैः सर्वेः क्रोधसंरक्तलोचनः जगाम वृषमारुह्य पुरीं चैवामरावतीम्

sūta uvāca etasminnaṁtare śambhurgaṇaiḥ sarvaiḥ samāvṛtaḥ indrādyaiśca suraiḥ sarveḥ krodhasaṁraktalocanaḥ jagāma vṛṣamāruhya purīṁ caivāmarāvatīm

Suta said: Meanwhile Shambhu, surrounded by all his hosts and by all the gods headed by Indra, his eyes reddened with wrath, mounted his bull and set out for the city of Amaravati.

Verse 2 (skanda.6.229.2)

अंधकोऽपि समालोक्य संप्राप्तां देववाहिनीम् सगणां च महादेवं परितोषं परं गतः

aṁdhako'pi samālokya saṁprāptāṁ devavāhinīm sagaṇāṁ ca mahādevaṁ paritoṣaṁ paraṁ gataḥ

Andhaka too, beholding the army of gods that had arrived, together with Mahadeva and his hosts, was filled with the greatest delight.

Verse 3 (skanda.6.229.3)

निश्चक्रामाथ युद्धाय बलेन चतुरंगिणा वरं स्यंदनमारुह्य सुश्वेताश्ववहं शुभम्

niścakrāmātha yuddhāya balena caturaṁgiṇā varaṁ syaṁdanamāruhya suśvetāśvavahaṁ śubham

He then sallied forth to battle with his fourfold army, mounted upon his excellent, auspicious chariot drawn by fine white horses.

Verse 4 (skanda.6.229.4)

ततः समभवद्युद्धं देवानां दानवैः सह गणैश्च विकृताकारैर्मृत्युं कृत्वा निवर्तनम्

tataḥ samabhavadyuddhaṁ devānāṁ dānavaiḥ saha gaṇaiśca vikṛtākārairmṛtyuṁ kṛtvā nivartanam

Then a battle broke out between the gods and the demons, and Shiva's misshapen hosts as well — a battle in which death alone marked one's retreat.

Verse 5 (skanda.6.229.5)

एकवर्षसहस्रांतं यावद्युद्धमवर्तत दिनेदिने क्षयं यांति तत्र देवा न दानवाः ततो वर्षसहस्रांते संक्रुद्धः शशिशेखरः त्रिशूलेन समुद्यम्य स्वहस्तेन व्यभेदयत्

ekavarṣasahasrāṁtaṁ yāvadyuddhamavartata dinedine kṣayaṁ yāṁti tatra devā na dānavāḥ tato varṣasahasrāṁte saṁkruddhaḥ śaśiśekharaḥ triśūlena samudyamya svahastena vyabhedayat

The battle went on for a full thousand years; day by day it was the gods, not the demons, who dwindled there. Then, at the end of that thousand years, the moon-crested Lord, greatly enraged, lifted his trident with his own hand and pierced him.

Verse 6 (skanda.6.229.6)

स विद्धोऽपि स्वयं तेन त्रिशूलेन महासुरः ब्रह्मणो वरमाहात्म्यान्नैव प्राणैर्वियुज्यते

sa viddho'pi svayaṁ tena triśūlena mahāsuraḥ brahmaṇo varamāhātmyānnaiva prāṇairviyujyate

That great demon, though pierced by that very trident, did not part with his life, by the power of Brahma's boon.

Verse 7 (skanda.6.229.7)

ततो भूयोऽपि चोत्थाय चक्रे युद्धं महात्मना जघान च स संक्रुद्धो विशेषेण बहून्गणान्

tato bhūyo'pi cotthāya cakre yuddhaṁ mahātmanā jaghāna ca sa saṁkruddho viśeṣeṇa bahūngaṇān

Then, rising up again, he fought once more with the great-souled Shiva, and in his fury he slew many of Shiva's hosts especially.

Verse 8 (skanda.6.229.8)

शंकरं ताडयामास गदाघातैर्मुहुर्मुहुः

śaṁkaraṁ tāḍayāmāsa gadāghātairmuhurmuhuḥ

He struck at Shankara again and again with blows of his mace.

Verse 9 (skanda.6.229.9)

एवं वर्षसहस्रांतमभूत्सार्द्धं पिनाकिना रौद्रं युद्धमन्धकस्य सर्वलोकभयावहम्

evaṁ varṣasahasrāṁtamabhūtsārddhaṁ pinākinā raudraṁ yuddhamandhakasya sarvalokabhayāvaham

Thus, for a thousand years, Andhaka's terrible battle with the wielder of the Pinaka continued, striking fear into all the worlds.

Verse 10 (skanda.6.229.10)

त्रिशूलभिन्नो दैत्यः स यदा मृत्युं न गच्छति उत्थायोत्थाय कुरुते प्रहारान्गदया बली

triśūlabhinno daityaḥ sa yadā mṛtyuṁ na gacchati utthāyotthāya kurute prahārāngadayā balī

When that trident-pierced demon would not go to his death, the mighty one, rising up again and again, kept striking blows with his mace.

Verse 11 (skanda.6.229.11)

तथा तं शंकरो ज्ञात्वा मृत्युना परिवर्जितम् ब्रह्मणो वरदानेन सर्वेषां च दिवौकसाम्

tathā taṁ śaṁkaro jñātvā mṛtyunā parivarjitam brahmaṇo varadānena sarveṣāṁ ca divaukasām

Then Shankara understood, in the sight of all the dwellers of heaven, that he had been rendered exempt from death by the gift of Brahma's boon.

Verse 12 (skanda.6.229.12)

ततो निर्भिद्य शूलाग्रैः प्रोत्क्षिप्य गगनांगणे छत्रवद्धारयामास लंबमानमधोमुखम् अक्षरद्रुधिरं भूमौ गात्रेभ्यो वर्ष्मसंभवम्

tato nirbhidya śūlāgraiḥ protkṣipya gaganāṁgaṇe chatravaddhārayāmāsa laṁbamānamadhomukham akṣaradrudhiraṁ bhūmau gātrebhyo varṣmasaṁbhavam

Then, piercing him through with the points of the trident, he tossed him up into the courtyard of the sky and held him there like a parasol, hanging head-downward; blood, born of his own limbs, streamed down to the earth.

Verse 13 (skanda.6.229.13)

यावद्वर्षसहस्रांते चर्मास्थि स्नायुरेव च धातुत्रयं स्थितं तस्य नष्टमन्यच्चतुष्टयम्

yāvadvarṣasahasrāṁte carmāsthi snāyureva ca dhātutrayaṁ sthitaṁ tasya naṣṭamanyaccatuṣṭayam

Until, at the end of a thousand years, only skin, bone, and sinew — these three constituents — remained in him; the other four had perished.

Verse 14 (skanda.6.229.14)

स ज्ञात्वा बल संहीनमात्मानं धातुसंक्षयात् सामोपायं ततश्चके स्तुत्वा सार्धं पिनाकिना

sa jñātvā bala saṁhīnamātmānaṁ dhātusaṁkṣayāt sāmopāyaṁ tataścake stutvā sārdhaṁ pinākinā

He, knowing himself deprived of strength through the wasting of his bodily constituents, then resorted to the strategy of conciliation, praising the wielder of the Pinaka.

Verse 15 (skanda.6.229.15)

अन्धक उवाच न त्वं देवो मया ज्ञातो वाग्दुष्टेन दुरात्मना ईदृग्वीर्यसमोपेतस्तद्युक्तं भवता कृतम्

andhaka uvāca na tvaṁ devo mayā jñāto vāgduṣṭena durātmanā īdṛgvīryasamopetastadyuktaṁ bhavatā kṛtam

Andhaka said: I, foul-mouthed and evil-souled, did not recognize you as a god endowed with such valour; what you have done to me is entirely just.

Verse 16 (skanda.6.229.16)

अनुरूपं मदांधस्याविवेकस्य सुरोत्तम स्ववीर्यमदयुक्तस्य विवेकरहितस्य च

anurūpaṁ madāṁdhasyāvivekasya surottama svavīryamadayuktasya vivekarahitasya ca

It is fitting, O best of gods, for one blinded by pride, devoid of discernment, intoxicated by the arrogance of his own strength, and lacking all discrimination.

Verse 17 (skanda.6.229.17)

दुर्विनीतः श्रियं प्राप्य विद्यामैश्वर्यमेवच न तिष्ठति चिरं कालं यथाऽहं मदगर्वितः

durvinītaḥ śriyaṁ prāpya vidyāmaiśvaryamevaca na tiṣṭhati ciraṁ kālaṁ yathā'haṁ madagarvitaḥ

An ill-disciplined man, having obtained fortune, learning, or lordship, does not endure for long — even as I did not, puffed up as I was with pride.

Verse 18 (skanda.6.229.18)

पापोऽहं पापकर्माऽहं पापात्मा पापसंभवः त्राहि मां देव ईशान सर्वपापहरो भव

pāpo'haṁ pāpakarmā'haṁ pāpātmā pāpasaṁbhavaḥ trāhi māṁ deva īśāna sarvapāpaharo bhava

I am sinful, my deeds are sinful, my soul is sinful, my very origin is sinful — save me, O Lord Ishana, become the remover of all my sins.

Verse 19 (skanda.6.229.19)

दुःखितोऽहं वराकोऽहं दीनोऽहं शक्तिवर्जितः त्रातुमर्हसि मां देव प्रपन्नं शरणं विभो

duḥkhito'haṁ varāko'haṁ dīno'haṁ śaktivarjitaḥ trātumarhasi māṁ deva prapannaṁ śaraṇaṁ vibho

I am wretched, I am pitiable, I am helpless, I am bereft of strength — O God, O Lord, it is you who ought to save me, who have taken refuge with you.

Verse 20 (skanda.6.229.20)

दुष्टोऽहं पापयुक्तोऽहं सांप्रतं परमेश्वर तेन बुद्धिरियं जाता तवोपरि ममानघ

duṣṭo'haṁ pāpayukto'haṁ sāṁprataṁ parameśvara tena buddhiriyaṁ jātā tavopari mamānagha

I am wicked, I am steeped in sin even now, O supreme Lord; that is why, O sinless one, this understanding regarding you has arisen within me.

Verse 21 (skanda.6.229.21)

सर्वपापक्षये जाते शिवे भवति भावना

sarvapāpakṣaye jāte śive bhavati bhāvanā

Only when all sin has been destroyed does devotion toward Shiva arise.

Verse 22 (skanda.6.229.22)

नाममात्रमपि त्र्यक्ष यस्ते कीर्तयति प्रभो सोऽपि मुक्तिमवाप्नोति किं पुनः पूजने रतः

nāmamātramapi tryakṣa yaste kīrtayati prabho so'pi muktimavāpnoti kiṁ punaḥ pūjane rataḥ

O three-eyed Lord, even one who merely utters your name attains liberation — how much more, then, one devoted to your worship!

Verse 23 (skanda.6.229.23)

तव पूजा विहीनानां दिनान्यायांति यांति च यानि देव मृतानां च तानि यांति न जीवताम्

tava pūjā vihīnānāṁ dinānyāyāṁti yāṁti ca yāni deva mṛtānāṁ ca tāni yāṁti na jīvatām

The days that come and go for those devoid of your worship, O god, are like the days of the dead, not of the living.

Verse 24 (skanda.6.229.24)

कुष्ठी वा रोगयुक्तो वा पंगुर्वा बधिरोऽपि वा मा भूत्तस्य कुले जन्म शंभुर्यत्र न देवता

kuṣṭhī vā rogayukto vā paṁgurvā badhiro'pi vā mā bhūttasya kule janma śaṁbhuryatra na devatā

Let one be born a leper, or diseased, or lame, or even deaf — but let there never be birth in a lineage where Shambhu is not the worshipped deity.

Verse 25 (skanda.6.229.25)

तस्मान्मोचय मां देव स्वागतं कुरु सांप्रतम् गतो मे दानवो भावस्त्यक्तं राज्यं तथा विभो

tasmānmocaya māṁ deva svāgataṁ kuru sāṁpratam gato me dānavo bhāvastyaktaṁ rājyaṁ tathā vibho

Therefore, O god, release me, and welcome me now; my demonic nature has departed from me, and I have likewise renounced my kingdom, O Lord.

Verse 26 (skanda.6.229.26)

त्यक्ताः पुत्राश्च पौत्राश्च पत्न्यश्च विभवैः सह त्रिः सत्येन सुरश्रेष्ठ तव पादौ स्पृशाम्यहम्

tyaktāḥ putrāśca pautrāśca patnyaśca vibhavaiḥ saha triḥ satyena suraśreṣṭha tava pādau spṛśāmyaham

I have renounced my sons, grandsons, and wives, together with all my possessions; in true earnest, thrice over, O best of gods, I touch your feet.

Verse 27 (skanda.6.229.27)

तस्य तद्वचनं श्रुत्वा ज्ञात्वा तं गतकल्मषम् उत्तार्य शनकैः शूलाद्विनयावनतं स्थितम्

tasya tadvacanaṁ śrutvā jñātvā taṁ gatakalmaṣam uttārya śanakaiḥ śūlādvinayāvanataṁ sthitam

Having heard his words, and knowing him to be free of impurity, the Lord gently lifted him down from the trident, as he stood there bowed low in humility.

Verse 28 (skanda.6.229.28)

ततो नाम स्वयं चक्रे भृंगिरीटिरिति प्रभुः अब्रवीच्च सदा मे त्वं वल्लभः संभविष्यसि

tato nāma svayaṁ cakre bhṛṁgirīṭiriti prabhuḥ abravīcca sadā me tvaṁ vallabhaḥ saṁbhaviṣyasi

Then the Lord himself gave him the name Bhringiriti, and said: 'You shall ever be dear to me.'

Verse 29 (skanda.6.229.29)

नन्दिनोऽपि गजास्यस्य महाकालस्य पुत्रक तिष्ठ सौम्य मया सौख्यं न स्मरिष्यसि बांधवान्

nandino'pi gajāsyasya mahākālasya putraka tiṣṭha saumya mayā saukhyaṁ na smariṣyasi bāṁdhavān

'You shall be as one to Nandin, to the elephant-faced one, and as a son to Mahakala. Remain here, gentle one — you shall dwell in happiness with me, and shall no longer remember your kinsmen.'

Verse 30 (skanda.6.229.30)

स तथेति प्रतिज्ञाय प्रणम्य शशिशेखरम् तस्थौ सर्वगणैर्युक्तः प्रभुसंश्रयसंयुतः

sa tatheti pratijñāya praṇamya śaśiśekharam tasthau sarvagaṇairyuktaḥ prabhusaṁśrayasaṁyutaḥ

He, saying 'So be it,' making his vow and bowing to the moon-crested Lord, remained there united with all the hosts, taking refuge in the Lord.