The Felling of Vipracitti

Verse 1 (skanda.8.104.1)

सनत्कुमार उवाच । अथ ते तं मृगं व्यास दानवा भीमगर्जनाः । आयुधैः समभिक्रुद्धाः संततक्षुस्तदा भृशम्

sanatkumāra uvāca | atha te taṁ mṛgaṁ vyāsa dānavā bhīmagarjanāḥ | āyudhaiḥ samabhikruddhāḥ saṁtatakṣustadā bhṛśam

Sanatkumara said: Then, O Vyasa, those Danavas of terrible roar, greatly enraged, struck violently at that deer with their weapons.

Verse 2 (skanda.8.104.2)

ते मृगा इव शार्दूलं सिंहपोतं गजा इव । आजघ्नुर्दानवाः क्रुद्धा वराहं शस्त्रवृष्टिभिः

te mṛgā iva śārdūlaṁ siṁhapotaṁ gajā iva | ājaghnurdānavāḥ kruddhā varāhaṁ śastravṛṣṭibhiḥ

Those enraged Danavas struck the Boar with showers of weapons, as deer might strike a tiger, or elephants a lion cub.

Verse 3 (skanda.8.104.3)

स चापि मृगशार्दूल उपविश्य महोदधिम् । अपोपिबत् समाविश्य वह्निवद्वडवामुखम्

sa cāpi mṛgaśārdūla upaviśya mahodadhim | apopibat samāviśya vahnivadvaḍavāmukham

And he too, that tiger among beasts, settling upon the great ocean, entered it like the submarine fire, and drank up its waters.

Verse 4 (skanda.8.104.4)

तथेरितानि तैर्दैत्यैरायुधानि सहस्रशः । व्यादाय सुमहद्वक्त्रं जग्रास च ररास च

tatheritāni tairdaityairāyudhāni sahasraśaḥ | vyādāya sumahadvaktraṁ jagrāsa ca rarāsa ca

And likewise the weapons hurled by those Daityas by the thousands, opening his vast mouth, he devoured, and he roared.

Verse 5 (skanda.8.104.5)

ग्रसित्वा तानि सर्वाणि शस्त्राणि स महाबलः । दानवान्प्रति संचक्रे वेगं सिन्धुरिवापरः

grasitvā tāni sarvāṇi śastrāṇi sa mahābalaḥ | dānavānprati saṁcakre vegaṁ sindhurivāparaḥ

Having swallowed all those weapons, that mighty one made a charge against the Danavas, like a second ocean surging forth.

Verse 6 (skanda.8.104.6)

गजान्प्रति यथा सिंहः सिंहान् शरभराडिव । गरुत्मान् भुजगान् यद्वच्छार्दूलश्च मृगानिव

gajānprati yathā siṁhaḥ siṁhān śarabharāḍiva | garutmān bhujagān yadvacchārdūlaśca mṛgāniva

As a lion against elephants, as a sharabha-king against lions, as Garutmat against serpents, as a tiger against deer,

Verse 7 (skanda.8.104.7)

मेघवृन्दं यथा वायुः कपोतानिव पक्षिराट् । तथा स भगवान् व्यास दानवान्प्रति लोकपः

meghavṛndaṁ yathā vāyuḥ kapotāniva pakṣirāṭ | tathā sa bhagavān vyāsa dānavānprati lokapaḥ

As the wind against a mass of clouds, as the king of birds against doves - even so, O Vyasa, did that blessed guardian of the world charge against the Danavas.

Verse 8 (skanda.8.104.8)

वेगं चक्रे यथा क्षिप्रमिन्द्रियं प्रति वै मनः । आसाद्य च स तान्दैत्यान् महाजलदनिःस्वनः

vegaṁ cakre yathā kṣipramindriyaṁ prati vai manaḥ | āsādya ca sa tāndaityān mahājaladaniḥsvanaḥ

He made his charge as swift as the mind moving toward the senses; and having reached those Daityas, that one whose voice was like a great raincloud -

Verse 9 (skanda.8.104.9)

सर्वान् विद्रावयामास रुद्रः पशुगणानिव । कांश्चित् पद्भ्यां सुसंक्रुद्धो हस्ताभ्यामपरानिति

sarvān vidrāvayāmāsa rudraḥ paśugaṇāniva | kāṁścit padbhyāṁ susaṁkruddho hastābhyāmaparāniti

- the opening line of this verse is lost in the source manuscript - he put them all to flight, as Rudra scatters herds of beasts; greatly enraged, some he struck with his feet, others with his hands,

Verse 10 (skanda.8.104.10)

दंष्ट्राभिश्चापरांस्तत्र स प्रैषीद्यमसादनम् । तुण्डेन शम्बरं भूमौ कालशम्बरमेव च

daṁṣṭrābhiścāparāṁstatra sa praiṣīdyamasādanam | tuṇḍena śambaraṁ bhūmau kālaśambarameva ca

and others there with his tusks, he sent to the abode of Yama; with his snout he felled Shambara upon the ground, and Kalashambara likewise,

Verse 11 (skanda.8.104.11)

नरकं पादघातेन हयग्रीवं च मुष्टिना । उरसा नमुचिं चापि महामायं च सत्वरः

narakaṁ pādaghātena hayagrīvaṁ ca muṣṭinā | urasā namuciṁ cāpi mahāmāyaṁ ca satvaraḥ

- Naraka with a kick of his foot, and Hayagriva with his fist; and swiftly, with his chest, he felled Namuchi and Mahamaya as well,

Verse 12 (skanda.8.104.12)

आहत्याहत्य संक्रुद्धः पातयामास देवपः । तांस्तथा द्रावयानञ्च गर्जमानञ्च सिंहवत्

āhatyāhatya saṁkruddhaḥ pātayāmāsa devapaḥ | tāṁstathā drāvayānañca garjamānañca siṁhavat

- striking again and again, that guardian of the gods, enraged, felled them, thus putting them to flight and roaring like a lion.

Verse 13 (skanda.8.104.13)

विप्रचितिर्वराहं तं मुष्टिनोरस्यताडयत् । विप्रचित्तिं जघानोग्रं पार्श्वदेशे स मुष्टिना

vipracitirvarāhaṁ taṁ muṣṭinorasyatāḍayat | vipracittiṁ jaghānograṁ pārśvadeśe sa muṣṭinā

Vipracitti struck that Boar on the chest with his fist; he in turn struck the fierce Vipracitti in the side with his fist.

Verse 14 (skanda.8.104.14)

स आहतो वराहेण वराहं क्रोधमूर्छितः । पुनर्जघान खङ्गेन वक्षस्येनं विनादयन्

sa āhato varāheṇa varāhaṁ krodhamūrchitaḥ | punarjaghāna khaṅgena vakṣasyenaṁ vinādayan

He, struck by the Boar, overcome with fury, struck the Boar again with his sword upon the chest, roaring.

Verse 15 (skanda.8.104.15)

अमृष्यमाणस्तं घातं वराहः सुमहाबलः । मुष्टिना मूर्ध्नि तं दैत्यं वज्राभेन व्यताडयत्

amṛṣyamāṇastaṁ ghātaṁ varāhaḥ sumahābalaḥ | muṣṭinā mūrdhni taṁ daityaṁ vajrābhena vyatāḍayat

Unable to tolerate that blow, the exceedingly mighty Boar struck that Daitya on the head with his fist, resembling a thunderbolt.

Verse 16 (skanda.8.104.16)

स दैत्यस्तेन घातेन भ्रमित्वा चक्रवत्तदा । पपात भूमौ वेगेन वाताहत इव द्रुमः

sa daityastena ghātena bhramitvā cakravattadā | papāta bhūmau vegena vātāhata iva drumaḥ

That Daitya, from that blow, spinning like a wheel, then fell to the ground with force, like a tree struck down by the wind.

Verse 17 (skanda.8.104.17)

पतितं तं तदाभ्येत्य विप्रचित्तिं प्रजेश्वरः । जग्राह पद्भ्यां देवेशो द्रावमाणं दितेः सुतम्

patitaṁ taṁ tadābhyetya vipracittiṁ prajeśvaraḥ | jagrāha padbhyāṁ deveśo drāvamāṇaṁ diteḥ sutam

Then that lord of creatures, that god of gods, approaching Vipracitti as he lay fallen, seized that son of Diti by the feet as he tried to flee.

Verse 18 (skanda.8.104.18)

भ्रामयित्वा ततश्चैनं नदित्वा चासकृद्बली । पुरं प्रति विचिक्षेप महात्मा नन्दिवर्धनः

bhrāmayitvā tataścainaṁ naditvā cāsakṛdbalī | puraṁ prati vicikṣepa mahātmā nandivardhanaḥ

Then, whirling him around, and roaring again and again, that mighty, great-souled Nandivardhana hurled him toward the city.

Verse 19 (skanda.8.104.19)

स क्षिप्तस्तेन विबभौ दानबाधिपतिर्बली । सबलाकतडिज्ज्वाल परिच्छिन्न इवाम्बुदः

sa kṣiptastena vibabhau dānabādhipatirbalī | sabalākataḍijjvāla paricchinna ivāmbudaḥ

Hurled by him, that powerful lord of the Danavas shone forth like a cloud torn apart, flashing with lightning amid its cranes.

Verse 20 (skanda.8.104.20)

स्रस्तहाराम्बरधरश्च्युतमाल्यविभूषणः । पपातोपरि वेगेन हिरण्याक्षस्य वेश्मनि

srastahārāmbaradharaścyutamālyavibhūṣaṇaḥ | papātopari vegena hiraṇyākṣasya veśmani

With his necklace and garment loosened and falling away, his garlands and ornaments cast off, he fell with great force upon the palace of Hiranyaksha.

Verse 21 (skanda.8.104.21)

सौधमट्टालकं तस्य विमानमिव संस्थितम् । चूर्णयानोपतद् व्यास पर्वतेन्द्रमिवाशनिः

saudhamaṭṭālakaṁ tasya vimānamiva saṁsthitam | cūrṇayānopatad vyāsa parvatendramivāśaniḥ

Crushing to powder the mansion's tower, which stood there like a celestial chariot, he fell, O Vyasa, like a thunderbolt upon a king of mountains.

Verse 22 (skanda.8.104.22)

महता तस्य शब्देन हिरण्याक्षः स्वयं तदा । वेगेनागत्य ददृशे दानवेन्द्रं दितेः सुतः

mahatā tasya śabdena hiraṇyākṣaḥ svayaṁ tadā | vegenāgatya dadṛśe dānavendraṁ diteḥ sutaḥ

At the great sound of that fall, Hiranyaksha, that son of Diti, himself came swiftly and beheld that lord of the Danavas.

Verse 23 (skanda.8.104.23)

सोपि दानवशार्दूलो वराहेणावपीडितः । तेन चैव विघातेन मुहूर्त्तमभवज्जडः

sopi dānavaśārdūlo varāheṇāvapīḍitaḥ | tena caiva vighātena muhūrttamabhavajjaḍaḥ

That tiger among the Danavas too, so battered by the Boar, remained stunned and senseless for a moment from that very blow.

Verse 24 (skanda.8.104.24)

तं समाश्वासयद्राजा तदा शीतेन वारिणा । तालवृन्तैश्च बहुभिर्मणिभिश्च दितेः सुतः

taṁ samāśvāsayadrājā tadā śītena vāriṇā | tālavṛntaiśca bahubhirmaṇibhiśca diteḥ sutaḥ

Then that son of Diti, the king, revived him with cool water, with many palm-leaf fans, and with jewels.

Verse 25 (skanda.8.104.25)

समाश्वस्योत्थितञ्चैव उपविष्टं वरासने । राजा पप्रच्छ तं दैत्यं परं विस्मयमागतः

samāśvasyotthitañcaiva upaviṣṭaṁ varāsane | rājā papraccha taṁ daityaṁ paraṁ vismayamāgataḥ

Once he had revived and risen, and had been seated upon a fine throne, the king, filled with the greatest astonishment, questioned that Daitya:

Verse 26 (skanda.8.104.26)

हिरण्याक्ष उवाच । केनाद्य हिमवान् दैत्य पृथिवी वा ससागरा । महाबलेन सहसा तुलिता विश्वकर्मणा

hiraṇyākṣa uvāca | kenādya himavān daitya pṛthivī vā sasāgarā | mahābalena sahasā tulitā viśvakarmaṇā

Hiranyaksha said: "By whom today, O Daitya, has the Himalaya, or the earth together with its oceans, been suddenly weighed in the balance, as though by the mighty maker of the universe himself?"

Verse 27 (skanda.8.104.27)

केनाद्य मन्दरः स्रस्तो मृत्युः केन पराजितः । केन त्वं दानवेशान क्षिप्तः को बलवान्भुवि

kenādya mandaraḥ srasto mṛtyuḥ kena parājitaḥ | kena tvaṁ dānaveśāna kṣiptaḥ ko balavānbhuvi

"By whom today has Mount Mandara been dislodged? By whom has Death been defeated? By whom, O lord of the Danavas, have you been hurled down? Who is this powerful one on earth?"

Verse 28 (skanda.8.104.28)

पृथिव्यास्तुलनं यादृग् मन्दरस्य च चालनम् । मृत्योश्च मरण तादृक् तवेदं क्षपणं महत्

pṛthivyāstulanaṁ yādṛg mandarasya ca cālanam | mṛtyośca maraṇa tādṛk tavedaṁ kṣapaṇaṁ mahat

"Such as the weighing of the earth, and the shaking of Mandara, and such as the death of Death itself - such is this great humbling of yours."

Verse 29 (skanda.8.104.29)

रुद्रेन्द्रमृत्युप्रतिमो लोकपालभयङ्करः । केन त्वं तुलितः संख्ये बलवानबलो यथा

rudrendramṛtyupratimo lokapālabhayaṅkaraḥ | kena tvaṁ tulitaḥ saṁkhye balavānabalo yathā

"You, who resemble Rudra, Indra, and Death, a terror to the world-guardians - by whom have you, though mighty, been weighed as though powerless, in this contest?"

Verse 30 (skanda.8.104.30)

कस्येदं बलमक्षय्यं केन बाह्वोर्बलं महत् । ख्यापितं त्रिषु लोकेषु दानवेश्वर कथ्यताम्

kasyedaṁ balamakṣayyaṁ kena bāhvorbalaṁ mahat | khyāpitaṁ triṣu lokeṣu dānaveśvara kathyatām

"Whose is this imperishable strength? By whom has the great strength of arms been proclaimed throughout the three worlds? Tell me, O lord of the Danavas."

Verse 31 (skanda.8.104.31)

सनत्कुमार उवाच । तस्य तद्वचनं श्रुत्वा दानवः स महाबलः । तमाह दीर्घं निःश्वस्य निरीक्ष्य च पुनः पुनः

sanatkumāra uvāca | tasya tadvacanaṁ śrutvā dānavaḥ sa mahābalaḥ | tamāha dīrghaṁ niḥśvasya nirīkṣya ca punaḥ punaḥ

Sanatkumara said: Having heard those words, that mighty Danava, sighing deeply and gazing at him again and again, said to him:

Verse 32 (skanda.8.104.32)

विप्रचित्तिरुवाच । अमानुषमिदं राजन्नतिदेवं तथापि च । अतिदैत्यञ्च दैत्येन्द्र न दृष्टं न श्रुतं क्वचित्

vipracittiruvāca | amānuṣamidaṁ rājannatidevaṁ tathāpi ca | atidaityañca daityendra na dṛṣṭaṁ na śrutaṁ kvacit

Vipracitti said: "This, O king, is not human, and yet it surpasses even the gods; and it surpasses the Daityas too, O lord of the Daityas - never before seen nor heard of anywhere."

Verse 33 (skanda.8.104.33)

वराहस्य बलं यादृग् न च तादृक् क्वचित् क्वचित् । न हि तुल्यं प्रपश्यामि तस्य राजन्महात्मनः

varāhasya balaṁ yādṛg na ca tādṛk kvacit kvacit | na hi tulyaṁ prapaśyāmi tasya rājanmahātmanaḥ

"Such is the strength of that Boar as exists nowhere else, anywhere at all; indeed, O king, I see nothing equal to that great soul."

Verse 34 (skanda.8.104.34)

अस्त्रैः शस्त्रैश्च बहुभिस्तक्ष्यमाणस्य संयुगे । नार्त्तिर्न दुःखं दैत्येन्द्र न च संज्ञा प्रहीयते

astraiḥ śastraiśca bahubhistakṣyamāṇasya saṁyuge | nārttirna duḥkhaṁ daityendra na ca saṁjñā prahīyate

"Though hewn at with many missiles and weapons in that combat, O lord of the Daityas, no anguish, no pain, and no loss of consciousness befalls him."

Verse 35 (skanda.8.104.35)

भवेत्तस्याभिदष्टस्य मशकेनाप्यनिर्वृतिः । न दैत्यदानवै राजन् निघ्नस्य भयमित्युत

bhavettasyābhidaṣṭasya maśakenāpyanirvṛtiḥ | na daityadānavai rājan nighnasya bhayamityuta

"There might be, to him, as much discomfort from being struck as from the bite of a mosquito; there is, O king, no fear in him at all of being struck by the Daityas and Danavas."

Verse 36 (skanda.8.104.36)

यथा क्षुद्रमृगान् सिंहो मण्डूकानिव वोरगः । तथा स कलयामास सर्वान् दैत्येन्द्रदानवान्

yathā kṣudramṛgān siṁho maṇḍūkāniva voragaḥ | tathā sa kalayāmāsa sarvān daityendradānavān

As a lion deals with small deer, or a serpent with frogs - even so did he handle all the lords of the Daityas and the Danavas.

Verse 37 (skanda.8.104.37)

न तं मृगमहं मन्ये न देवं नापि चासुरम् । कोप्यसौ दितिपुत्राणामनयः समुपस्थितः

na taṁ mṛgamahaṁ manye na devaṁ nāpi cāsuram | kopyasau ditiputrāṇāmanayaḥ samupasthitaḥ

"I do not think him a mere deer, nor a god, nor even an Asura; he is some embodied ruin that has come upon the sons of Diti."

Verse 38 (skanda.8.104.38)

तेनास्मि मुष्टिना मूर्ध्नि ताडितो भूतलं गतः । गृहीत्वा सहसोत्क्षिप्तः पतितस्त्वद्गृहोपरि

tenāsmi muṣṭinā mūrdhni tāḍito bhūtalaṁ gataḥ | gṛhītvā sahasotkṣiptaḥ patitastvadgṛhopari

"Struck by him with his fist upon my head, I fell to the ground; seized and suddenly hurled up, I fell down upon your very palace."

Verse 39 (skanda.8.104.39)

दानवानां सदैत्यानामितरेषाञ्च दानव । न जाने समवस्थानं मन्ये ते सर्वशो हताः

dānavānāṁ sadaityānāmitareṣāñca dānava | na jāne samavasthānaṁ manye te sarvaśo hatāḥ

"O Danava, of the Danavas together with the Daityas, and of the rest, I know not their state; I think they have all been slain."

Verse 40 (skanda.8.104.40)

अवध्यस्स महातेजा बलवान् दुर्बला वयम् । श्रुत्वैतद् दितिपुत्राणां हितं यत्तत्समाचर

avadhyassa mahātejā balavān durbalā vayam | śrutvaitad ditiputrāṇāṁ hitaṁ yattatsamācara

"He, of great splendour, mighty, is unslayable; we are weak. Having heard this, do that which is truly for the good of the sons of Diti."

Verse 41 (skanda.8.104.41)

तस्याङ्गे मुनयः सर्वे दृश्यन्ते सह दैवतैः । कृत्या सेति मतं मेद्य तव हेतोर्विनिर्मिता

tasyāṅge munayaḥ sarve dṛśyante saha daivataiḥ | kṛtyā seti mataṁ medya tava hetorvinirmitā

"In his body all the sages are seen, together with the gods; my opinion today is that this is some magical contrivance, fashioned expressly for your destruction."

Verse 42 (skanda.8.104.42)

मनश्च तव दैत्येन्द्र युद्धाय कृतनिश्चयम् । विनिवर्तय तच्चैव दैत्यानां हितमाचर

manaśca tava daityendra yuddhāya kṛtaniścayam | vinivartaya taccaiva daityānāṁ hitamācara

"And your mind, O lord of the Daityas, which is resolved on battle - turn it back from that resolve, and act for the good of the Daityas."

Verse 43 (skanda.8.104.43)

बलवान् सोबला दैत्या वयं मर्त्याः स चामरः । अजय्योसौ जिता दैत्या मा नो युद्धेन योजय

balavān sobalā daityā vayaṁ martyāḥ sa cāmaraḥ | ajayyosau jitā daityā mā no yuddhena yojaya

"He is mighty, and we Daityas are weak; we are mortal, and he is immortal. He is invincible; we, the Daityas, are already conquered - do not engage us in battle with him."

Verse 44 (skanda.8.104.44)

हित्वाश्मकं पुरं सर्वे समुद्रस्तम्भमाश्रिताः । तिष्ठाम राजन् मा युद्ध तेन साकं पुनः कृथाः

hitvāśmakaṁ puraṁ sarve samudrastambhamāśritāḥ | tiṣṭhāma rājan mā yuddha tena sākaṁ punaḥ kṛthāḥ

- the opening line of this verse is lost in the source manuscript - "let us all abandon the city of Ashmaka and take refuge at the Pillar of the Ocean, and dwell there, O king; do not make war with him again."

Verse 45 (skanda.8.104.45)

मावमंस्था मृगं दैत्य मृगोसाविति सर्वशः । नरसिंहोप्यभूत्पूर्वं मृगस्तद्विनिबृंहितः

māvamaṁsthā mṛgaṁ daitya mṛgosāviti sarvaśaḥ | narasiṁhopyabhūtpūrvaṁ mṛgastadvinibṛṁhitaḥ

"Do not despise him as a mere deer, O Daitya, thinking, 'he is only a deer,' in every way; of old there was also Narasimha, who too seemed but an enlarged form of a beast."

Verse 46 (skanda.8.104.46)

यावत्त्वं ध्रियसे दैत्य दानवानां सुखावहः । तावत्सर्वे सुरा जीवा भविष्यन्ति न संशयः

yāvattvaṁ dhriyase daitya dānavānāṁ sukhāvahaḥ | tāvatsarve surā jīvā bhaviṣyanti na saṁśayaḥ

- the opening line of this verse is lost in the source manuscript - "as long as you, O Daitya, the bringer of joy to the Danavas, continue to live, so long shall all the gods remain alive - of this there is no doubt."

Verse 47 (skanda.8.104.47)

मा रुशन्तु दितेः पुत्रा दनोश्चैव सुबालिशाः । अपयाम पुरादस्मादसुरेश्वर सर्वशः

mā ruśantu diteḥ putrā danoścaiva subāliśāḥ | apayāma purādasmādasureśvara sarvaśaḥ

"Let not the foolish sons of Diti and of Danu grow more enraged; let us all depart entirely from this city, O lord of the Asuras."

Verse 48 (skanda.8.104.48)

सनत्कुमार उवाच । तस्य तद्वचनं श्रुत्वा हिरण्याक्षः प्रतापवान् । उवाच दानवेशानं भीतं तस्मान्महात्मनः

sanatkumāra uvāca | tasya tadvacanaṁ śrutvā hiraṇyākṣaḥ pratāpavān | uvāca dānaveśānaṁ bhītaṁ tasmānmahātmanaḥ

Sanatkumara said: Having heard those words, the mighty Hiranyaksha spoke to that lord of the Danavas, who was frightened of that great soul:

Verse 49 (skanda.8.104.49)

असंशयं महात्मासौ मृगो दानवसत्तम । येन मन्दरकल्पस्त्वं तुलितः सुमहाबलः

asaṁśayaṁ mahātmāsau mṛgo dānavasattama | yena mandarakalpastvaṁ tulitaḥ sumahābalaḥ

"Without doubt, O best of the Danavas, that deer is a great soul, by whom you, exceedingly mighty and resembling Mount Mandara, have been weighed and found wanting."

Verse 50 (skanda.8.104.50)

अद्य वर्षसहस्राणि दिव्यान्यसुरपुंगव । चत्वारि भुञ्जतो राज्यं गतानि सुमहान्ति मे

adya varṣasahasrāṇi divyānyasurapuṁgava | catvāri bhuñjato rājyaṁ gatāni sumahānti me

"Today, O bull among the Asuras, four thousand great divine years have passed for me while enjoying this kingdom."

Verse 51 (skanda.8.104.51)

पञ्चपञ्चा तु संप्राप्तन्तावद्देवाश्च नाशिताः । सबला बहुभिर्घोरैः संग्रामैरबला इव

pañcapañcā tu saṁprāptantāvaddevāśca nāśitāḥ | sabalā bahubhirghoraiḥ saṁgrāmairabalā iva

- the reading of this line is itself uncertain in the source - and in that further span, the gods too, mighty as they were, were destroyed as though powerless, in many dreadful battles.

Verse 52 (skanda.8.104.52)

सोहं तथा बलोपेतो भुक्त्वा राज्यमकण्टकम् । भीतः प्रविश्य सलिलं कथं स्थास्ये भुजङ्गवत्

sohaṁ tathā balopeto bhuktvā rājyamakaṇṭakam | bhītaḥ praviśya salilaṁ kathaṁ sthāsye bhujaṅgavat

"I, thus endowed with strength, having enjoyed an unchallenged kingdom - how, out of fear, should I now enter the water and dwell there like a serpent?"

Verse 53 (skanda.8.104.53)

मृगरूपी स विष्णुश्च वाराहं रूपमास्थितः । यदि स्यात्तच्च कृत्यं मे दानवेश्वर मा भयम्

mṛgarūpī sa viṣṇuśca vārāhaṁ rūpamāsthitaḥ | yadi syāttacca kṛtyaṁ me dānaveśvara mā bhayam

"Even if that deer-formed one is indeed Vishnu, who has taken the form of a boar, and even if this is truly a magical device against me, O lord of the Danavas - have no fear."

Verse 54 (skanda.8.104.54)

ममापि बलमक्षय्यं तस्माच्च बलवानहम् । यो मे भयात् परित्यज्य स्वं रूपं मृगतां गतः

mamāpi balamakṣayyaṁ tasmācca balavānaham | yo me bhayāt parityajya svaṁ rūpaṁ mṛgatāṁ gataḥ

"My own strength too is imperishable, and so I am more powerful than he, who, out of fear of me, abandoned his own form and took on the state of a deer."

Verse 55 (skanda.8.104.55)

यो हन्याद्धस्तिनं संख्ये सिंहं शरभमेव च । तस्य कास्था भवेद्दैत्य मृगे ह्यस्मिन्महाबल

yo hanyāddhastinaṁ saṁkhye siṁhaṁ śarabhameva ca | tasya kāsthā bhaveddaitya mṛge hyasminmahābala

"For one who can slay an elephant in battle, a lion, or even a sharabha - what regard, O Daitya, O mighty one, need he have for this mere deer?"

Verse 56 (skanda.8.104.56)

मद्भयात् स वराहश्च सर्वदेवैरधिष्ठितः । मामाह्वयति दैत्येन्द्र जय एव ततो हि मे

madbhayāt sa varāhaśca sarvadevairadhiṣṭhitaḥ | māmāhvayati daityendra jaya eva tato hi me

"That Boar, inhabited by all the gods, out of fear of me, challenges me to battle, O lord of the Daityas - therefore victory is indeed mine."

Verse 57 (skanda.8.104.57)

भवानेव हि मे दैत्य तेन दूतः । त्वरता मृत्युलोकन्तु गत्वा दानवपुंगव

bhavāneva hi me daitya tena dūtaḥ | tvaratā mṛtyulokantu gatvā dānavapuṁgava

"You yourself, O Daitya, have through that encounter become, as it were, a messenger to me" - the remainder of this verse is lost in the source manuscript - "hasten now, O bull among the Danavas, toward the world of Death."

Verse 58 (skanda.8.104.58)

यदहं म्रातृहन्तारं दानवानां भयङ्करम् । अहत्वा न निवर्तिष्ये शपे सत्येन दानव

yadahaṁ mrātṛhantāraṁ dānavānāṁ bhayaṅkaram | ahatvā na nivartiṣye śape satyena dānava

"I swear by truth, O Danava: unless I slay the killer of my brother, the terror of the Danavas, I shall not return."

Verse 59 (skanda.8.104.59)

सनत्कुमार उवाच । सूतं ततः समादिश्य रथं सज्जमचीकरत् । समाश्वासयितुं पत्नीः स विवेश पुनर्गृहान्

sanatkumāra uvāca | sūtaṁ tataḥ samādiśya rathaṁ sajjamacīkarat | samāśvāsayituṁ patnīḥ sa viveśa punargṛhān

Sanatkumara said: Then, having commanded his charioteer, he had his chariot made ready; and, to console his wives, he went once more into his private chambers.

Verse 60 (skanda.8.104.60)

स तत्र ताभिः कृतमङ्गलस्तदा दितेः सुताँस्ताँश्च निरीक्ष्य सर्वशः । गृहाण सर्वं रणयोग्यमुज्ज्वलं महाबलः शत्रुनिवारणक्षमम्

sa tatra tābhiḥ kṛtamaṅgalastadā diteḥ sutā~stā~śca nirīkṣya sarvaśaḥ | gṛhāṇa sarvaṁ raṇayogyamujjvalaṁ mahābalaḥ śatrunivāraṇakṣamam

There, blessed by them with auspicious rites, and beholding those sons of Diti on every side, that mighty one said: "Take up all the gleaming battle-gear, capable of repelling the enemy."