The Message to the Asuras

Verse 1 (skanda.8.102.1)

सनत्कुमार उवाच । अथ तान्निहतान् सर्वान् वराहेणाभिवीक्ष्य तु । एकः कृच्छ्राद्विनिर्मुक्तो ह्यश्मकं पुरमाविशत्

sanatkumāra uvāca | atha tānnihatān sarvān varāheṇābhivīkṣya tu | ekaḥ kṛcchrādvinirmukto hyaśmakaṁ puramāviśat

Sanatkumara said: Then, having seen all those slain by the Boar, one alone, escaping with great difficulty, entered the city of Ashmaka.

Verse 2 (skanda.8.102.2)

स गत्वा तत्सभाद्वारमिदं वचनमब्रवीत् । मुक्तकेशो रजोध्वस्तो रुधिरेणाभिसंप्लुतः

sa gatvā tatsabhādvāramidaṁ vacanamabravīt | muktakeśo rajodhvasto rudhireṇābhisaṁplutaḥ

He, going to the door of that assembly hall, his hair loose, covered with dust, drenched in blood, spoke this word:

Verse 3 (skanda.8.102.3)

निवेदयत भो दैत्या दानवेन्द्राय धीमते । द्वाःस्थो न्यवेदयद्राज्ञे प्रेरितः सोद्यतायुधः

nivedayata bho daityā dānavendrāya dhīmate | dvāḥstho nyavedayadrājñe preritaḥ sodyatāyudhaḥ

"O Daityas, announce this to the wise lord of the Danavas!" The gatekeeper, thus urged, weapon raised, reported it at once to the king.

Verse 4 (skanda.8.102.4)

ये ते गता मृगेन्द्रं तं द्रष्टुं ह्यसुरसत्तमाः । ते हतास्तेन विक्रम्य सर्व एव दितेः सुताः

ye te gatā mṛgendraṁ taṁ draṣṭuṁ hyasurasattamāḥ | te hatāstena vikramya sarva eva diteḥ sutāḥ

"Those best of Asuras who went to see that lord of beasts - all those sons of Diti - have been slain by his might."

Verse 5 (skanda.8.102.5)

मा गाः प्रमादं दैत्येन्द्र मावमँस्था मृगेश्वरम् । मा च कालं प्रतीक्षध्वं मृगं तं मा विजानत । महानसौ न सन्देहो जेतुं शक्यो न दानवैः

mā gāḥ pramādaṁ daityendra māvama~sthā mṛgeśvaram | mā ca kālaṁ pratīkṣadhvaṁ mṛgaṁ taṁ mā vijānata | mahānasau na sandeho jetuṁ śakyo na dānavaiḥ

"Do not fall into carelessness, O lord of the Daityas; do not hold that lord of beasts in contempt. Do not delay, and do not think him a mere deer - he is mighty, without doubt; he cannot be conquered by the Danavas."

Verse 6 (skanda.8.102.6)

सनत्कुमार उवाच । तस्य तद्वचनं श्रुत्वा हिरण्याक्षो महासुरः । स्वयमेवाभिसंक्रुद्ध उत्पपात तदासनात्

sanatkumāra uvāca | tasya tadvacanaṁ śrutvā hiraṇyākṣo mahāsuraḥ | svayamevābhisaṁkruddha utpapāta tadāsanāt

Sanatkumara said: Having heard those words, the great Asura Hiranyaksha, himself overcome with fury, leapt up at once from his seat.

Verse 7 (skanda.8.102.7)

सेन्द्रकेतुरिवोत्तस्थौ पयोद इव चोन्नदन् । भृकुटीदूषितमुखः सधूमोग्निरिव ज्वलन्

sendraketurivottasthau payoda iva connadan | bhṛkuṭīdūṣitamukhaḥ sadhūmogniriva jvalan

He rose up like Indra's banner-staff, roaring like a raincloud, his face contorted with frowning brows, blazing like fire wreathed in smoke.

Verse 8 (skanda.8.102.8)

अथोत्थितं ततो दैत्या विप्रचित्तिश्च दानवः । प्रणम्योचुस्तदा दैत्यमिदं श्लक्ष्णपदाक्षरम्

athotthitaṁ tato daityā vipracittiśca dānavaḥ | praṇamyocustadā daityamidaṁ ślakṣṇapadākṣaram

Then, as he rose, the Daityas and the Danava Vipracitti, bowing, spoke this word to that Daitya in soft and measured syllables:

Verse 9 (skanda.8.102.9)

त्वं राजा सर्वदैत्यानां भूतानां च जयावहः । तिष्ठत्स्वस्मासु नोद्यन्तुं स्वयमेव त्वमर्हसि

tvaṁ rājā sarvadaityānāṁ bhūtānāṁ ca jayāvahaḥ | tiṣṭhatsvasmāsu nodyantuṁ svayameva tvamarhasi

"You are the king of all the Daityas, the bringer of victory to all beings; while we stand ready, it is not fitting for you yourself to rise up to fight."

Verse 10 (skanda.8.102.10)

वयं तं सह देवैश्च ये च तस्याभिरक्षिणः । हत्वा मांसं महाराज छित्त्वा तस्यानयामहे

vayaṁ taṁ saha devaiśca ye ca tasyābhirakṣiṇaḥ | hatvā māṁsaṁ mahārāja chittvā tasyānayāmahe

"We shall slay him together with the gods and whoever protects him, and cut up his flesh and bring it to you, O great king."

Verse 11 (skanda.8.102.11)

आदित्यानां सरुद्राणां वसूनामश्विनोरपि । भृगूणां पितृभिः सार्धं तथैवाङ्गिरसामपि

ādityānāṁ sarudrāṇāṁ vasūnāmaśvinorapi | bhṛgūṇāṁ pitṛbhiḥ sārdhaṁ tathaivāṅgirasāmapi

"- of the Adityas together with the Rudras, of the Vasus and of the two Ashvins, of the Bhrigus together with the Pitris, and likewise of the Angirasas -"

Verse 12 (skanda.8.102.12)

विश्वेदेवाश्च ये केचित्साध्या देवास्तथैव च । यक्षाणां राक्षसानाञ्च पिशाचानां सहोरगैः

viśvedevāśca ye kecitsādhyā devāstathaiva ca | yakṣāṇāṁ rākṣasānāñca piśācānāṁ sahoragaiḥ

"- and of whatever Vishvedevas there be, and the Sadhya gods likewise, of the Yakshas and Rakshasas, and of the Pishachas together with the serpents -"

Verse 13 (skanda.8.102.13)

गन्धर्वपक्षिणाञ्चैव मनुष्याणाञ्च दानव । उद्युक्तानां समृत्यूनां लोकपालैस्सहैव च

gandharvapakṣiṇāñcaiva manuṣyāṇāñca dānava | udyuktānāṁ samṛtyūnāṁ lokapālaissahaiva ca

"- and of the Gandharvas and birds, and of men too, O Danava, all of them roused for battle together with Death himself and the world-guardians -"

Verse 14 (skanda.8.102.14)

शक्ता निवारणे दैत्या वधे चैव दुरात्मनाम् । निग्रहे च यथाकालं स्वयं मा त्वमितो गमः

śaktā nivāraṇe daityā vadhe caiva durātmanām | nigrahe ca yathākālaṁ svayaṁ mā tvamito gamaḥ

"- the Daityas are capable of restraining them, of slaying those evil ones, and of subduing them each in due course; you yourself need not go from here."

Verse 15 (skanda.8.102.15)

हतमस्माभिरुद्युक्तैः पश्याद्य दितिनन्दन । आज्ञापयति नो यत्र राजा स्वामी प्रजेश्वरः

hatamasmābhirudyuktaiḥ paśyādya ditinandana | ājñāpayati no yatra rājā svāmī prajeśvaraḥ

"O son of Diti, behold him slain today by us, thus roused for battle; wherever our king, our lord, the master of the people, commands us -"

Verse 16 (skanda.8.102.16)

तद्वयं शिरसा सर्वे करिष्याम न संशयः । यदशक्ता वयं कार्यं सर्वेप्यसुरपुंगव । कर्तुं तस्य भवान् कर्ता मा नः पश्य परानिव

tadvayaṁ śirasā sarve kariṣyāma na saṁśayaḥ | yadaśaktā vayaṁ kāryaṁ sarvepyasurapuṁgava | kartuṁ tasya bhavān kartā mā naḥ paśya parāniva

"- that we shall all carry out with bowed head, without doubt; but should we all, O bull among the Asuras, prove unable to accomplish the task, then you shall be its doer - do not look upon us as strangers."

Verse 17 (skanda.8.102.17)

मृगार्थे दनुदैत्यानां स्वयं राजा महाबलः । निर्गतो नास्ति दैत्यानां वक्ष्यन्ति बलमित्युत

mṛgārthe danudaityānāṁ svayaṁ rājā mahābalaḥ | nirgato nāsti daityānāṁ vakṣyanti balamityuta

"If the mighty king of the Danava-Daityas himself goes forth for the sake of a mere deer, people will say the Daityas have no strength of their own."

Verse 18 (skanda.8.102.18)

सनत्कुमार उवाच । ततः स राजा दैत्यानां सर्वानेव समादिशत् । काले जलधरानिन्द्रो यथा भिन्नाञ्जनत्विषः

sanatkumāra uvāca | tataḥ sa rājā daityānāṁ sarvāneva samādiśat | kāle jaladharānindro yathā bhinnāñjanatviṣaḥ

Sanatkumara said: Then that king of the Daityas gave command to all of them, as Indra, in season, commands the clouds gleaming like broken collyrium.

Verse 19 (skanda.8.102.19)

आज्ञां तस्य गृहीत्वैव तेपि दैत्या मुदान्विताः । सन्नह्यन्त महाकाया वाहनानि च भेजिरे

ājñāṁ tasya gṛhītvaiva tepi daityā mudānvitāḥ | sannahyanta mahākāyā vāhanāni ca bhejire

Having received his command, those Daityas of huge frame, filled with joy, armed themselves and mounted their vehicles.

Verse 20 (skanda.8.102.20)

प्रह्लादश्चानुह्लादश्च शिनिर्बाष्कल एव च । जम्भः कुजम्भो वातापी इल्वलोथ विरोचनः

prahlādaścānuhlādaśca śinirbāṣkala eva ca | jambhaḥ kujambho vātāpī ilvalotha virocanaḥ

Prahlada, and Anuhlada, and Shini, and Bashkala; Jambha, Kujambha, Vatapi, Ilvala, and Virochana;

Verse 21 (skanda.8.102.21)

बलिर्बाणश्च वातश्च शंभुः कश्यप एव च । शम्बरश्च महाकायः कालशम्बर एव च

balirbāṇaśca vātaśca śaṁbhuḥ kaśyapa eva ca | śambaraśca mahākāyaḥ kālaśambara eva ca

Bali, and Bana, and Vata; Shambhu, and Kashyapa; the huge-framed Shambara, and Kalashambara;

Verse 22 (skanda.8.102.22)

प्रदीप्तश्चासिलोमा च शिलिताश्चैव दानवाः । शरभः शलभश्चैव धुन्धुर्मूकश्च दानवः

pradīptaścāsilomā ca śilitāścaiva dānavāḥ | śarabhaḥ śalabhaścaiva dhundhurmūkaśca dānavaḥ

Pradipta, and Asiloma, and the Danava Shilita; Sharabha, and Shalabha; Dhundhu, and the Danava Muka;

Verse 23 (skanda.8.102.23)

शतोदरश्च विख्यातस्तथैवान्यो ह्रदोदरः । तारश्च तारकश्चैव मयो कालश्च विश्रुतः

śatodaraśca vikhyātastathaivānyo hradodaraḥ | tāraśca tārakaścaiva mayo kālaśca viśrutaḥ

The renowned Shatodara, and likewise another, Hradodara; Tara, and Taraka; Maya, and the famed Kala;

Verse 24 (skanda.8.102.24)

अजको नमुचिश्चैव व्यंसः कार्तस्वनः शुभः । इल्वको विल्वकश्चैव विपाकः पाक एव च

ajako namuciścaiva vyaṁsaḥ kārtasvanaḥ śubhaḥ | ilvako vilvakaścaiva vipākaḥ pāka eva ca

Ajaka, and Namuchi; Vyamsa, and the auspicious Kartasvana; Ilvaka, and Vilvaka; Vipaka, and Paka;

Verse 25 (skanda.8.102.25)

हस्ती दुर्योधनश्चैव विप्रचित्तिश्च दानवः । हयग्रीवो मुरश्चैव नरकः कुण्ड एव च

hastī duryodhanaścaiva vipracittiśca dānavaḥ | hayagrīvo muraścaiva narakaḥ kuṇḍa eva ca

Hasti, and Duryodhana; and the Danava Vipracitti; Hayagriva, and Mura; Naraka, and Kunda;

Verse 26 (skanda.8.102.26)

शकुनिर्वृषपर्वा च शतकेतुर्महारवः । सरकश्चैव राहुश्च स्वर्भानुः काल एव च

śakunirvṛṣaparvā ca śataketurmahāravaḥ | sarakaścaiva rāhuśca svarbhānuḥ kāla eva ca

Shakuni, and Vrishaparva; Shataketu, and Maharava; Saraka, and Rahu; Svarbhanu, and Kala;

Verse 27 (skanda.8.102.27)

विराधश्च कबन्धश्च दुन्दुभिः शतदुन्दुभिः । शाल्वो द्रुमश्च द्वावेतौ मयूरग्रीव एव च

virādhaśca kabandhaśca dundubhiḥ śatadundubhiḥ | śālvo drumaśca dvāvetau mayūragrīva eva ca

Viradha, and Kabandha; Dundubhi, and Shatadundubhi; Shalva and Druma - these two - and Mayuragriva;

Verse 28 (skanda.8.102.28)

कालनेमी मेघनादो महावीर्यस्स चान्धकः । महिषानन्दशमकावाटिश्च बक एव च

kālanemī meghanādo mahāvīryassa cāndhakaḥ | mahiṣānandaśamakāvāṭiśca baka eva ca

Kalanemi, and Meghanada, and that Andhaka of great might; Mahisha, Ananda, Shamaka, Vati, and Baka -

Verse 29 (skanda.8.102.29)

ततो दानवशार्दूला महामाया महाबलाः । सर्वे सर्वास्त्रविदुषो लब्धलक्षाश्च संयुगे

tato dānavaśārdūlā mahāmāyā mahābalāḥ | sarve sarvāstraviduṣo labdhalakṣāśca saṁyuge

- then those tigers among the Danavas, of great magical power and great might, all skilled in every weapon and expert marksmen in battle,

Verse 30 (skanda.8.102.30)

रथैर्हयैर्गजैश्चैव तथैवान्ये पदातयः । जग्मुर्वराहं तं व्यास हन्तुं देवा इवासुरम्

rathairhayairgajaiścaiva tathaivānye padātayaḥ | jagmurvarāhaṁ taṁ vyāsa hantuṁ devā ivāsuram

- with chariots, horses, and elephants, and likewise others on foot, went, O Vyasa, to slay that Boar, as the gods once went against an Asura.

Verse 31 (skanda.8.102.31)

स चापि हि महातेजा वराहो नन्दिवर्धनः । स्तुयमानस्तथात्मस्थैर्मुनिभिर्भगवान् बली

sa cāpi hi mahātejā varāho nandivardhanaḥ | stuyamānastathātmasthairmunibhirbhagavān balī

And he too, that Boar of great splendour, Nandivardhana, the blessed and mighty one, being praised likewise by the sages dwelling within him -

Verse 32 (skanda.8.102.32)

हत्वा तान् किङ्करान्सर्वानश्मकं पुरमागमत् । गर्जमानो यथा मेघो युगान्ते वृष्टिसर्जनः

hatvā tān kiṅkarānsarvānaśmakaṁ puramāgamat | garjamāno yathā megho yugānte vṛṣṭisarjanaḥ

- having slain all those Kinkaras, came to the city of Ashmaka, roaring like a cloud pouring rain at the end of an age.

Verse 33 (skanda.8.102.33)

स गत्वा तत्तदा व्यास पुरं लोकमयः प्रभुः । अपसव्यं परावृत्य दक्षिणं द्वारमागमत्

sa gatvā tattadā vyāsa puraṁ lokamayaḥ prabhuḥ | apasavyaṁ parāvṛtya dakṣiṇaṁ dvāramāgamat

Having gone there, O Vyasa, that lord composed of all the worlds, turning away from the left, came to the southern gate of that city.

Verse 34 (skanda.8.102.34)

दक्षिणद्वारिभिस्तत्र दानवैर्बहुभिर्भृशम् । कृतो हलाहलाशब्दो नगरं येन कोपितम्

dakṣiṇadvāribhistatra dānavairbahubhirbhṛśam | kṛto halāhalāśabdo nagaraṁ yena kopitam

There, by the many Danava guardians of the southern gate, a tremendous uproar was raised, by which the whole city was thrown into turmoil.

Verse 35 (skanda.8.102.35)

यो हि भित्वा शतघ्नीश्च कवाटं कूटमुद्गरान् । कालचक्राणि यन्त्राणि सोवाचूर्णयदव्ययः

yo hi bhitvā śataghnīśca kavāṭaṁ kūṭamudgarān | kālacakrāṇi yantrāṇi sovācūrṇayadavyayaḥ

That imperishable one, shattering the shataghnis, the door-panels, the war-hammers, the discs of time, and the war-engines, ground them all to powder.

Verse 36 (skanda.8.102.36)

अथाजग्मुर्भृशाविष्टास्ते दानवमहारथाः । शस्त्रवर्षेण चोग्रेण छादयन्तो मृगेश्वरम्

athājagmurbhṛśāviṣṭāste dānavamahārathāḥ | śastravarṣeṇa cogreṇa chādayanto mṛgeśvaram

Then those great Danava chariot-warriors came on, seized with intense fury, covering that lord of beasts with a fierce rain of weapons.

Verse 37 (skanda.8.102.37)

अथ तैस्तोमरैश्चक्रैर्भिन्दीपालैश्च ताडितः । द्वारं त्यक्त्वा विनिर्गम्य समां भूमिमुपाश्रितः

atha taistomaraiścakrairbhindīpālaiśca tāḍitaḥ | dvāraṁ tyaktvā vinirgamya samāṁ bhūmimupāśritaḥ

Then, struck by their lances, discuses, and javelins, he left the gateway, went forth, and took his stand upon level ground.

Verse 38 (skanda.8.102.38)

तेपि तं भग्नमित्येव विजानन्तोसुरास्तदा । पृष्ठतोनुययुर्व्यास तक्षयन्तो वरायुधैः

tepi taṁ bhagnamityeva vijānantosurāstadā | pṛṣṭhatonuyayurvyāsa takṣayanto varāyudhaiḥ

They too, the Asuras, believing him to be routed, pursued him then from behind, O Vyasa, hewing at him with their finest weapons.

Verse 39 (skanda.8.102.39)

स तक्ष्यमाणः शरवृष्टितोमरैर्महागदाभिर्मुशलैरयोमुखैः । तदाभिनिःसृत्य दितेः सुतानसावयोधयद्देवगणैरधिष्ठितः

sa takṣyamāṇaḥ śaravṛṣṭitomarairmahāgadābhirmuśalairayomukhaiḥ | tadābhiniḥsṛtya diteḥ sutānasāvayodhayaddevagaṇairadhiṣṭhitaḥ

Though hewn at with a shower of arrows and lances, with mighty maces and iron-tipped clubs, he then burst forth and fought against the sons of Diti, that lord inhabited by the hosts of the gods.