The Slaying of Jamadagni

Verse 1 (skanda.6.66.1)

सूत उवाच॥ तथा तत्रास्ति विख्यातं रामह्रद इति स्मृतम्॥ यत्र ते पितरस्तेन रुधिरेण प्रतर्पिताः

sūta uvāca tathā tatrāsti vikhyātaṁ rāmahrada iti smṛtam yatra te pitarastena rudhireṇa pratarpitāḥ

Suta said: There too is a renowned place known as Ramahrada, where he satisfied his ancestors with blood.

Verse 2 (skanda.6.66.2)

तत्र भाद्रपदे मासि योऽमावास्यामवाप्य च॥ पितॄन्संतर्पयेद्भक्त्या सोऽश्वमेधफलं लभेत्

tatra bhādrapade māsi yo'māvāsyāmavāpya ca pitṝnsaṁtarpayedbhaktyā so'śvamedhaphalaṁ labhet

Whoever, in the month of Bhadrapada, arrives there on the new-moon day and satisfies his ancestors with devotion obtains the fruit of the Ashvamedha sacrifice.

Verse 3 (skanda.6.66.3)

ऋषय ऊचुः॥ अत्याश्चर्यमिदं सूत यद्ब्रवीषि महामते॥ यत्तेन पितरस्तत्र रुधिरेण प्रतर्पिताः

ṛṣaya ūcuḥ atyāścaryamidaṁ sūta yadbravīṣi mahāmate yattena pitarastatra rudhireṇa pratarpitāḥ

The sages said: This is a very great wonder, O Suta, O greatly wise one, what you tell us — that the ancestors were satisfied there with blood.

Verse 4 (skanda.6.66.4)

पितृणां तर्पणार्थाय मेध्याः संकीर्तिता बुधैः॥ पदार्था रुधिरं प्रोक्तं राक्षसानां प्रतर्पणे

pitṛṇāṁ tarpaṇārthāya medhyāḥ saṁkīrtitā budhaiḥ padārthā rudhiraṁ proktaṁ rākṣasānāṁ pratarpaṇe

For the satisfaction of ancestors, the wise have prescribed only pure substances; blood, however, is spoken of only for satisfying rakshasas.

Verse 5 (skanda.6.66.5)

श्रुतिस्मृतिविरुद्धं च कर्म सद्भिर्विगर्हितम्॥ जामदग्न्येन तच्चीर्णं कस्मात्सूत वदस्व नः

śrutismṛtiviruddhaṁ ca karma sadbhirvigarhitam jāmadagnyena taccīrṇaṁ kasmātsūta vadasva naḥ

Such an act runs contrary to the Shruti and Smriti and is condemned by the virtuous — why, then, was it performed by the son of Jamadagni? Tell us, O Suta.

Verse 6 (skanda.6.66.6)

सूत उवाच॥ तेन कोपवशात्कर्म प्रतिज्ञां परिरक्षता॥ तत्कृतं तर्पिता येन पितरो रुधिरेण ते

sūta uvāca tena kopavaśātkarma pratijñāṁ parirakṣatā tatkṛtaṁ tarpitā yena pitaro rudhireṇa te

Suta said: That act was performed by him, overcome by wrath, in order to fulfill his own vow — and by it those ancestors were satisfied with blood.

Verse 7 (skanda.6.66.7)

पिता तस्य पुरा विप्रा जमदग्निर्निपातितः॥ क्षत्रियेण स्वधर्मस्थो विना दोषं द्विजोत्तमाः

pitā tasya purā viprā jamadagnirnipātitaḥ kṣatriyeṇa svadharmastho vinā doṣaṁ dvijottamāḥ

O brahmins, his father Jamadagni — though firmly established in his own dharma and entirely without fault — was long ago struck down by a kshatriya, O best of the twice-born.

Verse 8 (skanda.6.66.8)

ततः कोपपरीतेन तेन प्रोक्तं महात्मना॥ रक्तेन क्षत्रियोत्थेन संतर्प्याः पितरो मया

tataḥ kopaparītena tena proktaṁ mahātmanā raktena kṣatriyotthena saṁtarpyāḥ pitaro mayā

Then, overcome with fury, that great soul declared: 'I shall satisfy my ancestors with blood drawn from the kshatriyas themselves.'

Verse 9 (skanda.6.66.9)

एतस्मात्कारणात्तेन रुधिरेण महात्मना॥ पितरस्तर्पिता सम्यक्तिलमिश्रेण भक्तितः

etasmātkāraṇāttena rudhireṇa mahātmanā pitarastarpitā samyaktilamiśreṇa bhaktitaḥ

For this reason, that great soul satisfied his ancestors fully with that blood, mixed with sesame seeds and offered with devotion.

Verse 10 (skanda.6.66.10)

ऋषय ऊचुः॥ जमदग्निर्हतः कस्मात्क्षत्रियेण महामुनिः॥ किंनामा स च भूपालो विस्तराद्वद सूत तत्

ṛṣaya ūcuḥ jamadagnirhataḥ kasmātkṣatriyeṇa mahāmuniḥ kiṁnāmā sa ca bhūpālo vistarādvada sūta tat

The sages said: Why was the great sage Jamadagni slain by a kshatriya? What was that king's name? Tell us all of this in detail, O Suta.

Verse 11 (skanda.6.66.11)

सूत उवाच॥ ऋचीकतनयः पूर्वं जमदग्निरिति स्मृतः॥ हाटकेश्वरजे क्षेत्रे तत्रासीद्दग्धकल्मषः

sūta uvāca ṛcīkatanayaḥ pūrvaṁ jamadagniriti smṛtaḥ hāṭakeśvaraje kṣetre tatrāsīddagdhakalmaṣaḥ

Suta said: Jamadagni, known as the son of Richika, once dwelt — his sins entirely burnt away — in that very field born of Hatakeshvara.

Verse 12 (skanda.6.66.12)

चत्वारस्तस्य पुत्राश्च बभूवुर्गुणसंयुताः॥ जघन्योऽपि गुणज्येष्ठस्तेषां रामो बभूव ह

catvārastasya putrāśca babhūvurguṇasaṁyutāḥ jaghanyo'pi guṇajyeṣṭhasteṣāṁ rāmo babhūva ha

He had four sons, all endowed with virtue; among them, Rama, though the youngest, became foremost in excellence.

Verse 13 (skanda.6.66.13)

कदाचिद्वसतस्तस्य जमदग्नेर्महावने॥ पुत्रेषु कन्दमूलार्थं निर्गतेषु वनाद्बहिः

kadācidvasatastasya jamadagnermahāvane putreṣu kandamūlārthaṁ nirgateṣu vanādbahiḥ

Once, while Jamadagni was dwelling in that great forest, and his sons had gone out of it in search of edible roots and bulbs —

Verse 14 (skanda.6.66.14)

एतस्मिन्नंतरे प्राप्तो हैहयाधिपतिर्बली॥ सहस्रार्जुन इत्येव विख्यातो यो महीतले

etasminnaṁtare prāpto haihayādhipatirbalī sahasrārjuna ityeva vikhyāto yo mahītale

— meanwhile there arrived the powerful lord of the Haihayas, he who was renowned throughout the earth by the very name Sahasrarjuna.

Verse 15 (skanda.6.66.15)

मृगलिप्सुर्वने तस्मिन्भ्रममाण इतस्ततः॥ श्रमार्तो वृषराशिस्थे भास्करे दिनमध्यगे

mṛgalipsurvane tasminbhramamāṇa itastataḥ śramārto vṛṣarāśisthe bhāskare dinamadhyage

Desiring to hunt deer, wandering here and there through that forest, he grew weary as the sun stood at midday in the sign of Taurus.

Verse 16 (skanda.6.66.16)

ततस्तमाश्रमं दृष्ट्वा नानाद्रुम समाकुलम्॥ चतुरंगेन सैन्येन सहितः प्रविवेश ह

tatastamāśramaṁ dṛṣṭvā nānādruma samākulam caturaṁgena sainyena sahitaḥ praviveśa ha

Then, seeing that hermitage, thick with all manner of trees, he entered it, accompanied by his fourfold army.

Verse 17 (skanda.6.66.17)

अथापश्यत्स तत्रस्थं जमदग्निं महामुनिम्॥ उपविष्टं कृतस्नानं देवार्चनपरायणम्

athāpaśyatsa tatrasthaṁ jamadagniṁ mahāmunim upaviṣṭaṁ kṛtasnānaṁ devārcanaparāyaṇam

There he saw the great sage Jamadagni seated, having bathed, absorbed in the worship of the gods.

Verse 18 (skanda.6.66.18)

अथ तं पार्थिवं दृष्ट्वा स मुनिस्तुष्टिसंयुतः॥ अर्घं दत्त्वा यथान्यायं स्वागतेनाभिनंद्य च

atha taṁ pārthivaṁ dṛṣṭvā sa munistuṣṭisaṁyutaḥ arghaṁ dattvā yathānyāyaṁ svāgatenābhinaṁdya ca

Then, seeing that king, the sage, filled with delight, offered him the customary welcome-water and greeted him with hospitality.

Verse 19 (skanda.6.66.19)

सोऽपि तं प्रणिपत्योच्चैर्विनयेन समन्वितः॥ प्रतिसंभाषयामास कुशलं पर्यपृच्छत

so'pi taṁ praṇipatyoccairvinayena samanvitaḥ pratisaṁbhāṣayāmāsa kuśalaṁ paryapṛcchata

He too, bowing low with great humility, conversed with him in return and inquired after his welfare.

Verse 20 (skanda.6.66.20)

राजोवाच॥ कच्चित्ते कुशलं विप्र पुत्रशिष्यान्वितस्य च॥ साग्निहोत्र कलत्रस्य परिवारयुतस्य च

rājovāca kaccitte kuśalaṁ vipra putraśiṣyānvitasya ca sāgnihotra kalatrasya parivārayutasya ca

The king said: 'O brahmin, I trust all is well with you — surrounded as you are by sons and disciples, engaged in the fire-sacrifice, and accompanied by wife and family.'

Verse 21 (skanda.6.66.21)

अद्य मे सफलं जन्म जीवितं सफलं च मे॥ यत्त्वं तपोनिधिर्दृष्टः सर्वलोकनमस्कृतः

adya me saphalaṁ janma jīvitaṁ saphalaṁ ca me yattvaṁ taponidhirdṛṣṭaḥ sarvalokanamaskṛtaḥ

'Today my birth has become fruitful, and my life too has become fruitful, for I have beheld you — a treasury of austerity, revered by the whole world.'

Verse 22 (skanda.6.66.22)

एवमुक्त्वा स राजर्षिर्विश्रम्य सुचिरं ततः॥ पीत्वापस्तमुवाचेदं प्रणिपत्य महामुनिम्

evamuktvā sa rājarṣirviśramya suciraṁ tataḥ pītvāpastamuvācedaṁ praṇipatya mahāmunim

Having spoken thus, that royal sage, after resting there for a long while and taking water, bowed to the great sage and spoke these words.

Verse 23 (skanda.6.66.23)

अनुज्ञां देहि मे ब्रह्मन्प्रयास्यामि निजं गृहम्॥ मम कृत्यं समादेश्यं येन ते स्यात्प्रयोजनम्

anujñāṁ dehi me brahmanprayāsyāmi nijaṁ gṛham mama kṛtyaṁ samādeśyaṁ yena te syātprayojanam

'O brahmin, grant me your leave; I shall now return to my own home. If there is any task of mine that could serve your purpose, command me.'

Verse 24 (skanda.6.66.24)

जमदग्निरुवाच॥ देवतार्चनवेलायां त्वं मे गृहमुपागतः॥ मनोरथ इव ध्यातः सर्वदेवमयोऽतिथिः

jamadagniruvāca devatārcanavelāyāṁ tvaṁ me gṛhamupāgataḥ manoratha iva dhyātaḥ sarvadevamayo'tithiḥ

Jamadagni said: 'You have come to my home at the very hour of my worship of the gods — a guest embodying all the gods, as though summoned by my own heart's desire.'

Verse 25 (skanda.6.66.25)

तस्मान्मेऽस्ति परा प्रीतिर्भक्तिश्च नृपसत्तम॥ तत्कुरुष्व मया दत्तं स्वहस्तेनैव भोजनम्

tasmānme'sti parā prītirbhaktiśca nṛpasattama tatkuruṣva mayā dattaṁ svahastenaiva bhojanam

'Therefore, O best of kings, I feel the greatest delight and devotion; accept, then, this meal offered to you by my own hand.'

Verse 26 (skanda.6.66.26)

राजा वा ब्राह्मणो वाथ शूद्रो वाप्यंत्यजोऽपि वा॥ वैश्वदेवान्तसंप्राप्तः सोऽतिथिः स्वर्गसंक्रमः

rājā vā brāhmaṇo vātha śūdro vāpyaṁtyajo'pi vā vaiśvadevāntasaṁprāptaḥ so'tithiḥ svargasaṁkramaḥ

'Whether a king, a brahmin, a shudra, or even an outcaste — whatever guest arrives just as the Vaishvadeva rite concludes becomes a very passage to heaven.'

Verse 27 (skanda.6.66.27)

राजोवाच॥ ममैते सैनिका ब्रह्मञ्छतशोऽथ सहस्रशः॥ तैरभुक्तैः कथं भोक्तुं युज्यते मम कीर्तय

rājovāca mamaite sainikā brahmañchataśo'tha sahasraśaḥ tairabhuktaiḥ kathaṁ bhoktuṁ yujyate mama kīrtaya

The king said: 'O brahmin, these soldiers of mine number in their hundreds and thousands; how could it be right for me to eat while they remain unfed? Tell me this.'

Verse 28 (skanda.6.66.28)

जमदग्निरुवाच॥ सर्वेषां सैनिकानां ते संप्रदास्यामि भोजनम्॥ नात्र चिंता त्वया कार्या मुनिर्निष्किंचनो ह्यहम्

jamadagniruvāca sarveṣāṁ sainikānāṁ te saṁpradāsyāmi bhojanam nātra ciṁtā tvayā kāryā munirniṣkiṁcano hyaham

Jamadagni said: 'I shall provide a meal for all your soldiers; you need not worry over this at all — even though I am a sage possessing nothing.'

Verse 29 (skanda.6.66.29)

यैषा पश्यति राजेंद्र धेनुर्बद्धा ममांतिके॥ एषा सूते मनोभीष्टं प्रार्थिता सर्वदैव हि

yaiṣā paśyati rājeṁdra dhenurbaddhā mamāṁtike eṣā sūte manobhīṣṭaṁ prārthitā sarvadaiva hi

'O lord of kings, this cow you see tethered here beside me brings forth whatever the heart desires, whenever it is asked of her.'

Verse 30 (skanda.6.66.30)

सूत उवाच॥ ततश्च कौतुकाविष्टः स नृपो द्विजसत्तमाः॥ बाढमित्येव संप्रोच्य तस्मिन्नेवाश्रमे स्थितः

sūta uvāca tataśca kautukāviṣṭaḥ sa nṛpo dvijasattamāḥ bāḍhamityeva saṁprocya tasminnevāśrame sthitaḥ

Suta said: O best of the twice-born, then that king, filled with curiosity, simply said, 'so be it,' and remained there in that very hermitage.

Verse 31 (skanda.6.66.31)

ततः संतर्प्य देवांश्च पितॄंश्च तदनंतरम्॥ पूजयित्वा हविर्वाहं ब्राह्मणांश्च ततः परम्

tataḥ saṁtarpya devāṁśca pitṝṁśca tadanaṁtaram pūjayitvā havirvāhaṁ brāhmaṇāṁśca tataḥ param

Then, having satisfied the gods, and thereafter the ancestors, and having honored the fire that carries the oblation, and then the brahmins —

Verse 32 (skanda.6.66.32)

उपविष्टस्ततः सार्धं सर्वैर्भृत्यैर्बुभुक्षितैः॥ श्रमार्तैर्विस्मयाविष्टैः कृते तस्य द्विजोत्तमाः

upaviṣṭastataḥ sārdhaṁ sarvairbhṛtyairbubhukṣitaiḥ śramārtairvismayāviṣṭaiḥ kṛte tasya dvijottamāḥ

— O best of the twice-born, he then sat down together with all his hungry, weary attendants, filled with wonder at what had been done for him.

Verse 33 (skanda.6.66.33)

ततः स प्रार्थयामास तां धेनुं मुनिसत्तमः॥ यो यत्प्रार्थयते देहि भोज्यार्थं तस्य तच्छुभे

tataḥ sa prārthayāmāsa tāṁ dhenuṁ munisattamaḥ yo yatprārthayate dehi bhojyārthaṁ tasya tacchubhe

Then that foremost of sages entreated the cow: 'O auspicious one, give to each whatever he asks, whatever is wanted, for the sake of food.'

Verse 34 (skanda.6.66.34)

ततः सा सुषुवे धेनुरन्नमुच्चावचं शुभम्॥ पक्वान्नं च विशेषेण चित्ताह्लादकरं परम्

tataḥ sā suṣuve dhenurannamuccāvacaṁ śubham pakvānnaṁ ca viśeṣeṇa cittāhlādakaraṁ param

Then that cow brought forth food of every kind, auspicious, and, in particular, cooked delicacies most delightful to the mind.

Verse 35 (skanda.6.66.35)

ततः खाद्यं च चव्यं च लेह्यं चोष्यं तथैव च॥ व्यंजनानि विचित्राणि कषायकटुकानि च॥ अम्लानि मधुराण्येव तिक्तानि गुणवंति च

tataḥ khādyaṁ ca cavyaṁ ca lehyaṁ coṣyaṁ tathaiva ca vyaṁjanāni vicitrāṇi kaṣāyakaṭukāni ca amlāni madhurāṇyeva tiktāni guṇavaṁti ca

Then foods to be chewed and foods to be sucked, foods to be licked and foods to be drunk; delicacies of every variety — astringent and pungent, sour and sweet, bitter, and rich with every flavor.

Verse 36 (skanda.6.66.36)

एवं प्राप्य परां तृप्तिं तया धेन्वा स भूपतिः॥ सेवकैः सबलैः सार्ध मन्नैरमृतसंभवैः

evaṁ prāpya parāṁ tṛptiṁ tayā dhenvā sa bhūpatiḥ sevakaiḥ sabalaiḥ sārdha mannairamṛtasaṁbhavaiḥ

Thus, gaining supreme satisfaction from that cow, that king, together with his soldiers and attendants, was fed on foods that seemed to spring from very ambrosia.

Verse 37 (skanda.6.66.37)

ततो भुक्त्यवसाने तु प्रार्थयामास भूपतिः॥ तां धेनुं विस्मयाविष्टो जमदग्निं महामुनिम्

tato bhuktyavasāne tu prārthayāmāsa bhūpatiḥ tāṁ dhenuṁ vismayāviṣṭo jamadagniṁ mahāmunim

Then, once the meal was over, the king, overcome with astonishment, entreated the great sage Jamadagni for that very cow.

Verse 38 (skanda.6.66.38)

कामधेनुरियं ब्रह्मन्नार्हारण्यनिवासिनाम्॥ मुनीनां शान्तचित्तानां तस्माद्यच्छ मम स्वयम्

kāmadhenuriyaṁ brahmannārhāraṇyanivāsinām munīnāṁ śāntacittānāṁ tasmādyaccha mama svayam

'O brahmin, this wish-fulfilling cow is not fitting for forest-dwelling sages of a tranquil mind; therefore give her to me yourself.'

Verse 39 (skanda.6.66.39)

येनाऽकरान्करोम्यद्य लोकांस्तस्याः प्रभावतः॥ साधयामि च दुर्गस्थाञ्छत्रून्भूरिबलान्वितान्

yenā'karānkaromyadya lokāṁstasyāḥ prabhāvataḥ sādhayāmi ca durgasthāñchatrūnbhūribalānvitān

'By her power I might today free every land from taxation, and subdue my enemies, however fortified and mighty their forces may be.'

Verse 40 (skanda.6.66.40)

एवं कृते तव श्रेयो भविष्यति च सद्यशः॥ इह लोके परे चैव तस्मात्कुरु मयोदितम्

evaṁ kṛte tava śreyo bhaviṣyati ca sadyaśaḥ iha loke pare caiva tasmātkuru mayoditam

'If this is done, good fortune and fair renown shall come to you, in this world and in the next as well; therefore, do as I have asked.'

Verse 41 (skanda.6.66.41)

जमदग्निरुवाच॥ होमधेनुरियं राजन्ममैका प्राणसंमता॥ अदेया सर्वदा पूज्या तस्मान्नार्हसि याचितुम्

jamadagniruvāca homadhenuriyaṁ rājanmamaikā prāṇasaṁmatā adeyā sarvadā pūjyā tasmānnārhasi yācitum

Jamadagni said: 'O king, this is my one and only sacrificial cow, dear to me as my own life; she is never to be given away, ever to be revered — you ought not ask for her.'

Verse 42 (skanda.6.66.42)

राजोवाच॥ अहं शतसहस्रं ते यच्छाम्यस्याः कृते द्विज॥ धेनूनामपरं वित्तं यावन्मात्रं प्रवांछसि

rājovāca ahaṁ śatasahasraṁ te yacchāmyasyāḥ kṛte dvija dhenūnāmaparaṁ vittaṁ yāvanmātraṁ pravāṁchasi

The king said: 'O brahmin, I shall give you a hundred thousand cows in exchange for her, and whatever other wealth you desire, in whatever amount you wish.'

Verse 43 (skanda.6.66.43)

जमदग्निरुवाच॥ अविक्रेया महाराज सामान्यापि हि गौः स्मृता॥ किं पुनर्होमधेनुर्या प्रभावैरीदृशैर्युता

jamadagniruvāca avikreyā mahārāja sāmānyāpi hi gauḥ smṛtā kiṁ punarhomadhenuryā prabhāvairīdṛśairyutā

Jamadagni said: 'O great king, even an ordinary cow is declared to be beyond sale — how much more so a sacrificial cow endowed with powers such as hers!'

Verse 44 (skanda.6.66.44)

विमोहाद्ब्राह्मणो यो गां विक्रीणाति धनेच्छया॥ विक्रीणाति न सन्देहः स निजां जननीमिह

vimohādbrāhmaṇo yo gāṁ vikrīṇāti dhanecchayā vikrīṇāti na sandehaḥ sa nijāṁ jananīmiha

'Whatever brahmin, out of delusion, sells a cow for the sake of wealth, sells thereby, without any doubt, his very own mother.'

Verse 45 (skanda.6.66.45)

सुरां पीत्वा द्विजं हत्वा द्विजानां निष्कृतिः स्मृता॥ धेनुविक्रयकर्तॄणां प्रायश्चित्तं न विद्यते

surāṁ pītvā dvijaṁ hatvā dvijānāṁ niṣkṛtiḥ smṛtā dhenuvikrayakartṝṇāṁ prāyaścittaṁ na vidyate

'For brahmins who have drunk liquor, or even slain a fellow brahmin, an expiation is prescribed; but for those who sell a cow, no expiation exists at all.'

Verse 46 (skanda.6.66.46)

राजोवाच॥ यदि यच्छसि नो विप्र साम्ना धेनुमिमां मम॥ बलादपि हरिष्यामि तस्मात्साम्ना प्रदीयताम्

rājovāca yadi yacchasi no vipra sāmnā dhenumimāṁ mama balādapi hariṣyāmi tasmātsāmnā pradīyatām

The king said: 'If you will not give me this cow peacefully, O brahmin, then I shall take her by force; therefore let her be given to me willingly instead.'

Verse 47 (skanda.6.66.47)

सूत उवाच॥ तच्छ्रुत्वा कोपसंयुक्तो जमदग्निर्द्विजोत्तमाः॥ अस्त्रमस्त्रमिति प्रोच्य समुत्तस्थौ सभातलात्

sūta uvāca tacchrutvā kopasaṁyukto jamadagnirdvijottamāḥ astramastramiti procya samuttasthau sabhātalāt

Suta said: O best of the twice-born, hearing this, Jamadagni, filled with anger, cried out 'my weapon! my weapon!' and rose up at once from the floor of the assembly.

Verse 48 (skanda.6.66.48)

ततस्ते सेवकास्तस्य नृपतेश्चित्तवेदिनः॥ अप्राप्तशस्त्रं तं विप्रं निजघ्नुर्निशितायुधैः

tataste sevakāstasya nṛpateścittavedinaḥ aprāptaśastraṁ taṁ vipraṁ nijaghnurniśitāyudhaiḥ

Then those attendants of the king, reading his mind, struck down that brahmin with their sharpened weapons before he could even reach his own.

Verse 49 (skanda.6.66.49)

तस्यैवं वध्यमानस्य जमदग्नेर्महात्मनः॥ रेणुकाख्या प्रिया भार्या पपातोपरि दुःखिता

tasyaivaṁ vadhyamānasya jamadagnermahātmanaḥ reṇukākhyā priyā bhāryā papātopari duḥkhitā

As that great-souled Jamadagni was thus being struck down, his beloved wife, Renuka, fell upon him in sorrow.

Verse 50 (skanda.6.66.50)

साऽपि नानाविधैस्तीक्ष्णैः खण्डिता वरवर्णिनी॥ आयुःशेषतया प्राणैर्न कथंचिद्वियोजिता

sā'pi nānāvidhaistīkṣṇaiḥ khaṇḍitā varavarṇinī āyuḥśeṣatayā prāṇairna kathaṁcidviyojitā

She too, that woman of lovely complexion, was wounded by various sharp weapons, yet, because some span of life still remained to her, her life-breath was in no way severed from her.

Verse 51 (skanda.6.66.51)

एवं हत्वा स विप्रेन्द्रं जमदग्निं महीपतिः॥ तां धेनुं कालयामास यत्र माहिष्मती पुरी

evaṁ hatvā sa viprendraṁ jamadagniṁ mahīpatiḥ tāṁ dhenuṁ kālayāmāsa yatra māhiṣmatī purī

Thus, having slain that foremost brahmin, Jamadagni, the king drove that cow away toward the city of Mahishmati.

Verse 52 (skanda.6.66.52)

अथ सा काल्यमाना च धेनुः कोपसमन्विता॥ जमदग्निं हतं दृष्ट्वा ररम्भ करुणं मुहुः

atha sā kālyamānā ca dhenuḥ kopasamanvitā jamadagniṁ hataṁ dṛṣṭvā rarambha karuṇaṁ muhuḥ

Then that cow, being driven off and filled with rage, seeing Jamadagni slain, began to bellow again and again in piteous grief.

Verse 53 (skanda.6.66.53)

तस्याः संरम्भमाणाया वक्त्रमार्गेण निर्गताः॥ पुलिन्दा दारुणा मेदाः शतशोऽथ सहस्रशः

tasyāḥ saṁrambhamāṇāyā vaktramārgeṇa nirgatāḥ pulindā dāruṇā medāḥ śataśo'tha sahasraśaḥ

From the mouth of that raging cow there poured forth fierce Pulinda and Meda tribesmen, by the hundreds and thousands.

Verse 54 (skanda.6.66.54)

नानाशस्त्रधराः सर्वे यमदूता इवापराः॥ प्रोचुस्तां सादरं धेनुमाज्ञां देहि द्रुतं हि नः

nānāśastradharāḥ sarve yamadūtā ivāparāḥ procustāṁ sādaraṁ dhenumājñāṁ dehi drutaṁ hi naḥ

All of them, bearing weapons of every kind, like so many messengers of Yama, spoke respectfully to the cow: 'Give us your command at once.'

Verse 55 (skanda.6.66.55)

साऽब्रवीद्धन्यतामेतद्धैहयाधिपतेर्बलम्॥ अथ तैः कोपसंयुक्तैर्दारुणैर्म्लेच्छजातिभिः॥ विनाशयितुमारब्धं शितैः शस्त्रैर्निरर्गलम्

sā'bravīddhanyatāmetaddhaihayādhipaterbalam atha taiḥ kopasaṁyuktairdāruṇairmlecchajātibhiḥ vināśayitumārabdhaṁ śitaiḥ śastrairnirargalam

She said: 'Let this army of the Haihaya king be destroyed!' Then those furious, fearsome barbarian tribes began, without restraint, to annihilate it with their sharpened weapons.

Verse 56 (skanda.6.66.56)

न कश्चित्पुरुषस्तेषां सम्मुखोऽप्यभवद्रणे॥ किं पुनः सहसा योद्धुं भयेन महतान्वितः

na kaścitpuruṣasteṣāṁ sammukho'pyabhavadraṇe kiṁ punaḥ sahasā yoddhuṁ bhayena mahatānvitaḥ

Not a single one of them dared even stand facing them in that battle — how much less fight, overcome as they all were with overwhelming fear!

Verse 57 (skanda.6.66.57)

अथ भग्नं बलं दृष्ट्वा वध्यमानं समंततः॥ पुलिन्दैर्दारुणाकारैः प्रोचुस्तं मन्त्रिणो नृपम्

atha bhagnaṁ balaṁ dṛṣṭvā vadhyamānaṁ samaṁtataḥ pulindairdāruṇākāraiḥ procustaṁ mantriṇo nṛpam

Then, seeing their army broken and being slaughtered on every side by those terrible-formed Pulindas, his ministers spoke to the king.

Verse 58 (skanda.6.66.58)

तेजोहानिः परा तेऽद्य जाता ब्रह्मवधाद्विभो॥ तस्माद्धेनुं परित्यज्य गम्यतां निजमंदिरम्

tejohāniḥ parā te'dya jātā brahmavadhādvibho tasmāddhenuṁ parityajya gamyatāṁ nijamaṁdiram

'O lord, today, through this killing of a brahmin, the greatest loss of your very power has come upon you; therefore abandon the cow and let us return to our own home.'

Verse 59 (skanda.6.66.59)

यावन्नागच्छते तस्य रामोनाम सुतो बली॥ नो चेत्तेन हतोऽत्रैव सबलो वधमेष्यसि

yāvannāgacchate tasya rāmonāma suto balī no cettena hato'traiva sabalo vadhameṣyasi

'Let us leave before that mighty son of his, named Rama, arrives; otherwise you, together with your entire army, shall meet death right here at his hands.'

Verse 60 (skanda.6.66.60)

नैषा शक्या बलान्नेतुं कामधेनुर्महोदया॥ शक्तिरूपा करोत्येवं या सृष्टिं स्वयमेव हि

naiṣā śakyā balānnetuṁ kāmadhenurmahodayā śaktirūpā karotyevaṁ yā sṛṣṭiṁ svayameva hi

'This wish-fulfilling cow of such great glory cannot be carried off by force; she is power itself embodied, capable of creating such things entirely on her own.'

Verse 61 (skanda.6.66.61)

ततः स पार्थिवो भीतस्तेषां वाक्याद्विशेषतः॥ जगाम हित्वा तां धेनुं स्वस्थानं हतसेवकः

tataḥ sa pārthivo bhītasteṣāṁ vākyādviśeṣataḥ jagāma hitvā tāṁ dhenuṁ svasthānaṁ hatasevakaḥ

Then that king, frightened above all by their words, abandoned the cow and, his soldiers slain, returned to his own place.