The Invigoration of Varaha

Verse 1 (skanda.8.105.1)

सनत्कुमार उवाच । स धन्वी कवची भूत्वा बद्धगोधांगुलित्रवान् । बद्धपृष्ठेषुधी चैव शरी खङ्गी महाबलः

sanatkumāra uvāca | sa dhanvī kavacī bhūtvā baddhagodhāṅgulitravān | baddhapṛṣṭheṣudhī caiva śarī khaṅgī mahābalaḥ

Sanatkumara said: Taking up his bow, clad in armor, with the archer's leather guard bound on, two quivers fastened to his back, furnished with arrows and a sword, that mighty one -

Verse 2 (skanda.8.105.2)

हरिश्मश्रुश्चतुर्दंष्ट्रः शंकुकर्णो महाहनुः । आजानुबाहुर्दीर्घाक्षो न्यग्रोधपरिमण्डलः

hariśmaśruścaturdaṁṣṭraḥ śaṅkukarṇo mahāhanuḥ | ājānubāhurdīrghākṣo nyagrodhaparimaṇḍalaḥ

- tawny-bearded, four-fanged, spike-eared, great-jawed, his arms reaching to his knees, long-eyed, his form well-rounded like a banyan tree -

Verse 3 (skanda.8.105.3)

हस्तयोः पद्मशंखौ च चक्रमत्स्यौ च पादयोः । दधानो जालहस्तश्च जालपादोल्पमेहनः

hastayoḥ padmaśaṅkhau ca cakramatsyau ca pādayoḥ | dadhāno jālahastaśca jālapādolpamehanaḥ

- bearing on his two hands the marks of lotus and conch, and on his two feet those of the discus and the fish, his hands and feet webbed, his organ small and concealed -

Verse 4 (skanda.8.105.4)

बालादित्यनिभाक्षश्च अञ्जनाचलसन्निभः । स निर्ययौ तदा व्यास भृकुटीभूषिताननः

bālādityanibhākṣaśca añjanācalasannibhaḥ | sa niryayau tadā vyāsa bhṛkuṭībhūṣitānanaḥ

- his eyes like the newly-risen sun, and his hue dark as a mountain of collyrium - he then, O Vyasa, went forth, his face adorned with a frown.

Verse 5 (skanda.8.105.5)

द्वार्यपश्यच्च सूतेन रथं समुपकल्पितम् । सहस्रनल्वमात्रञ्च हयैर्दिव्यैस्समन्वितम्

dvāryapaśyacca sūtena rathaṁ samupakalpitam | sahasranalvamātrañca hayairdivyaissamanvitam

At the gate he beheld the chariot made ready by his charioteer, extending a thousand nalvas [a measure of length], and furnished with divine horses.

Verse 6 (skanda.8.105.6)

सहस्रैर्दशभिर्व्यास सर्वोपकरणान्वितम् । खट्वाङ्गेन च संयुक्तं ध्वजेनादित्यवर्चसा

sahasrairdaśabhirvyāsa sarvopakaraṇānvitam | khaṭvāṅgena ca saṁyuktaṁ dhvajenādityavarcasā

It was furnished, O Vyasa, with every kind of war-equipment in their tens of thousands, joined with a khatvanga [a mace-like weapon], and adorned with a banner blazing like the sun.

Verse 7 (skanda.8.105.7)

आरुरोह जयेत्युक्तो दानवैर्बहुभिस्तदा । दिवाकरो रथं यद्वद् भगवान् तेजसां पतिः

āruroha jayetyukto dānavairbahubhistadā | divākaro rathaṁ yadvad bhagavān tejasāṁ patiḥ

Hailed by many Danavas with cries of "Victory!" he then mounted it, even as the blessed sun, lord of all radiance, mounts his own chariot.

Verse 8 (skanda.8.105.8)

विबभौ स तदारूढो रथं तं दितिनन्दनः । सौवर्णे भाजने यद्वदिन्द्रनीलं समर्पितम्

vibabhau sa tadārūḍho rathaṁ taṁ ditinandanaḥ | sauvarṇe bhājane yadvadindranīlaṁ samarpitam

Mounted upon that chariot, the son of Diti shone forth like a sapphire set within a vessel of gold.

Verse 9 (skanda.8.105.9)

किरीटस्त्वाबभौ तस्य शिरस्थः सुमहाद्युतिः । यथाञ्जनगिरेः शृङ्गे दावाग्निः समवस्थितः

kirīṭastvābabhau tasya śirasthaḥ sumahādyutiḥ | yathāñjanagireḥ śṛṅge dāvāgniḥ samavasthitaḥ

The crown of exceeding splendor upon his head shone like a wildfire ablaze on the peak of a mountain of black collyrium.

Verse 10 (skanda.8.105.10)

सञ्चोदयच्च यन्तारं स दैत्यो गमनं प्रति । तस्य पार्श्वेभवद् व्यास विप्रचित्तिरवस्थितः

sañcodayacca yantāraṁ sa daityo gamanaṁ prati | tasya pārśvebhavad vyāsa vipracittiravasthitaḥ

The Daitya then urged his charioteer to set forth; and at his side, O Vyasa, stood Vipracitti -

Verse 11 (skanda.8.105.11)

केतोरिव यथा व्योम्नि प्रतिकेतुरवस्थितः । शंखभेरीमृदङ्गैश्च मुरजैर्वेणुभिस्तथा

ketoriva yathā vyomni pratiketuravasthitaḥ | śaṅkhabherīmṛdaṅgaiśca murajairveṇubhistathā

- standing there as a rival standard stands beside a banner in the sky - and, amid the sounding of conches, kettledrums, mridangas, murajas, and flutes,

Verse 12 (skanda.8.105.12)

वाद्यमानैर्ययौ राजा हिरण्याक्षोश्मकात्पुरात् । अग्रतः पृष्ठतश्चैव पार्श्वयोरुभयोरपि

vādyamānairyayau rājā hiraṇyākṣośmakātpurāt | agrataḥ pṛṣṭhataścaiva pārśvayorubhayorapi

as those instruments sounded, King Hiranyaksha set forth from the city of Ashmaka, [surrounded by his host] in front, behind, and on both flanks.

Verse 13 (skanda.8.105.13)

जग्मुः सर्वेसुरा व्यास भास्करस्य यथा ग्रहाः । निर्गच्छमानश्च पुरात् शकुन्तान् भयशंसिनः

jagmuḥ sarvesurā vyāsa bhāskarasya yathā grahāḥ | nirgacchamānaśca purāt śakuntān bhayaśaṁsinaḥ

All the Asuras marched, O Vyasa, like planets attending the sun; and as he issued from the city, he beheld birds that boded ill -

Verse 14 (skanda.8.105.14)

अपश्यद् व्यास दैत्येन्द्रो न च तानकरोदधृदि । आच्छिनत् तस्य पन्थानं भुजङ्गः कृष्णदेहवान्

apaśyad vyāsa daityendro na ca tānakarodadhṛdi | ācchinat tasya panthānaṁ bhujaṅgaḥ kṛṣṇadehavān

- the lord of the Daityas saw them, O Vyasa, but took no heed of them in his heart; [then] a black-bodied serpent crossed his path,

Verse 15 (skanda.8.105.15)

गृध्रश्च रक्तवक्त्रोस्य निलिल्ये ध्वजमूर्धनि । गृध्रश्चक्रायते चास्य रथस्योपरि गच्छतः

gṛdhraśca raktavaktrosya nililye dhvajamūrdhani | gṛdhraścakrāyate cāsya rathasyopari gacchataḥ

a red-beaked vulture settled upon the crest of his banner, and [another] vulture wheeled in circles above his moving chariot,

Verse 16 (skanda.8.105.16)

ध्वजश्चाभज्यत महान् रथस्य सुमहाप्रभः । वामं चाङ्गं स्फुरत्यस्य शरीरस्य मुहुर्मुहुः

dhvajaścābhajyata mahān rathasya sumahāprabhaḥ | vāmaṁ cāṅgaṁ sphuratyasya śarīrasya muhurmuhuḥ

the great and most-splendid banner of his chariot snapped, and the left side of his body throbbed again and again.

Verse 17 (skanda.8.105.17)

हेषन्ते न हया दीना हस्तिनो विमदाभवन् । एतान्यन्यानि च बहूनि दैत्यो मुनिसत्तम

heṣante na hayā dīnā hastino vimadābhavan | etānyanyāni ca bahūni daityo munisattama

the disheartened horses ceased to neigh, the elephants lost their must - these, O best of sages, and many other [ill omens] -

Verse 18 (skanda.8.105.18)

सोवैक्षत निमित्तानि भयदान्यात्मनोसकृत् । नातिदूरे स निर्गत्य नगरस्य मृगेश्वरम्

sovaikṣata nimittāni bhayadānyātmanosakṛt | nātidūre sa nirgatya nagarasya mṛgeśvaram

the Daitya beheld, again and again, as fearful omens concerning himself; and having gone forth not far from the city, he saw the lord of beasts [Varaha] -

Verse 19 (skanda.8.105.19)

अपश्यद् दानवः संख्ये युध्यमानमभीतवत् । सोपि दैत्यवरः श्रीमान् क्रोधसंरक्तलोचनः

apaśyad dānavaḥ saṁkhye yudhyamānamabhītavat | sopi daityavaraḥ śrīmān krodhasaṁraktalocanaḥ

- fighting fearlessly in the midst of battle; and he too, the glorious lord of Daityas, his eyes reddened with fury,

Verse 20 (skanda.8.105.20)

विस्फारयन्महाचापं रथेनाभ्यपतद्बली । वराहोपि महाबाहुर्विद्राव्य दितिनन्दनान् । सुवर्णाक्षं प्रति रुषा वेगेनैवाभ्यधावत

visphārayanmahācāpaṁ rathenābhyapatadbalī | varāhopi mahābāhurvidrāvya ditinandanān | suvarṇākṣaṁ prati ruṣā vegenaivābhyadhāvata

- twanging his great bow, that mighty one bore down upon him with his chariot; while the mighty-armed Boar, having scattered the sons of Diti, charged with fury and speed straight toward Suvarnaksha [Hiranyaksha].

Verse 21 (skanda.8.105.21)

तस्यापतत एवाशु दानवः सुमहाबलः । सर्वसन्धिषु तीक्ष्णाग्रान्निचखान बहूञ्छरान्

tasyāpatata evāśu dānavaḥ sumahābalaḥ | sarvasandhiṣu tīkṣṇāgrānnicakhāna bahūñcharān

As he thus swiftly rushed upon him, that Danava of immense strength drove many sharp-tipped arrows into all his joints.

Verse 22 (skanda.8.105.22)

सायकैस्तैर्विनिर्भिन्नः सर्वसन्धिषु सुव्रत । न चचाल मृगेन्द्रोसौ विष्टब्धः समतिष्ठत

sāyakaistairvinirbhinnaḥ sarvasandhiṣu suvrata | na cacāla mṛgendrosau viṣṭabdhaḥ samatiṣṭhata

Pierced through every joint by those shafts, O sage of noble vows, that lord of beasts did not waver, but stood firm, transfixed.

Verse 23 (skanda.8.105.23)

तं स्तम्भितं तदा व्यास दृष्टवा देवा महाबलम् । विशल्यकरणैर्मन्त्रैर्विशल्यमभिचक्रिरे

taṁ stambhitaṁ tadā vyāsa dṛṣṭavā devā mahābalam | viśalyakaraṇairmantrairviśalyamabhicakrire

Seeing that mighty one thus rendered motionless, O Vyasa, the gods, by mantras of extraction, drew forth the shafts and made him free of them.

Verse 24 (skanda.8.105.24)

स विशल्यस्तदा देवैः कृतो मृगपतिर्महान् । पुनर्वेगं महत् कृत्वा जगाम दितिजं प्रति

sa viśalyastadā devaiḥ kṛto mṛgapatirmahān | punarvegaṁ mahat kṛtvā jagāma ditijaṁ prati

That great lord of beasts, thus freed of the shafts by the gods, once more gathering great speed, advanced upon the son of Diti.

Verse 25 (skanda.8.105.25)

स वध्यमानो बहुभिश्शरैर्मृगपतिर्महान् । दैत्येन्द्ररथमासाद्य इयेष रथमव्ययः

sa vadhyamāno bahubhiśśarairmṛgapatirmahān | daityendrarathamāsādya iyeṣa rathamavyayaḥ

That great and imperishable lord of beasts, though assailed by many arrows, closing upon the chariot of the lord of Daityas, sought to seize it.

Verse 26 (skanda.8.105.26)

ग्रहीतुं नादयन् व्यास बहुधा विश्वरूपधृक् । यन्ता च मण्डलं कृत्वा भ्रामयामास तं रथम्

grahītuṁ nādayan vyāsa bahudhā viśvarūpadhṛk | yantā ca maṇḍalaṁ kṛtvā bhrāmayāmāsa taṁ ratham

- roaring loudly in many ways, O Vyasa, he who bore a form of many shapes [rushed] to seize it; but the charioteer, wheeling the chariot in a circle, made it whirl about.

Verse 27 (skanda.8.105.27)

प्रसारितकरं दैत्यो मृगं तं सुमहाबलम् । बबन्धास्त्रेण नागानां स बद्धो न्यपतद् भुवि

prasāritakaraṁ daityo mṛgaṁ taṁ sumahābalam | babandhāstreṇa nāgānāṁ sa baddho nyapatad bhuvi

The Daitya bound that mighty lord of beasts, his hand outstretched, with the serpent-noose weapon; and thus bound, he fell to the earth.

Verse 28 (skanda.8.105.28)

पतितं तञ्च दैत्येन्द्रा विविधायुधपाणयः । विजघ्नुर्भृशमायस्ता बहुधा क्रोधमूर्छिताः

patitaṁ tañca daityendrā vividhāyudhapāṇayaḥ | vijaghnurbhṛśamāyastā bahudhā krodhamūrchitāḥ

As he lay fallen, the lords of the Daityas, weapons of every kind in hand, struck him fiercely and repeatedly, exerting themselves greatly, overcome with rage.

Verse 29 (skanda.8.105.29)

तं बद्धं वध्यमानञ्च पतितं नन्दिवर्धनम् । गरुत्मान् भुजगेन्द्रेभ्यः क्षिप्रमेव व्यमोचयत्

taṁ baddhaṁ vadhyamānañca patitaṁ nandivardhanam | garutmān bhujagendrebhyaḥ kṣiprameva vyamocayat

Him - thus bound, being struck, fallen, that gladdener [Varaha] - Garuda swiftly freed from the bonds of the serpent-lords.

Verse 30 (skanda.8.105.30)

मुक्तश्च स तदोत्पत्य द्रावयाणो दितेः सुतान् । हिरण्याक्षरथं तूर्णमभ्यधावन्महायशाः

muktaśca sa tadotpatya drāvayāṇo diteḥ sutān | hiraṇyākṣarathaṁ tūrṇamabhyadhāvanmahāyaśāḥ

Freed, he then leapt up and, putting the sons of Diti to flight, the greatly renowned one swiftly charged upon Hiranyaksha's chariot.

Verse 31 (skanda.8.105.31)

तं धावन्तं पुनर्दैत्यः शरेणानतपर्वणा । विव्याध हृदये व्यास नर्दमानो यथाम्बुदः

taṁ dhāvantaṁ punardaityaḥ śareṇānataparvaṇā | vivyādha hṛdaye vyāsa nardamāno yathāmbudaḥ

As he charged forth once more, the Daitya, roaring like a thundercloud, pierced him in the heart with a straight-jointed arrow, O Vyasa.

Verse 32 (skanda.8.105.32)

मृगेश्वरश्च भिन्नोसौ हृदये मोहमास्थितः । पपात भूमौ निर्वृत्ते शक्रध्वज इवोत्सवे

mṛgeśvaraśca bhinnosau hṛdaye mohamāsthitaḥ | papāta bhūmau nirvṛtte śakradhvaja ivotsave

That lord of beasts, pierced through the heart, sank into a swoon and fell to the ground, like the banner of Indra taken down when its festival has ended.

Verse 33 (skanda.8.105.33)

ततो हाहा कृतं सर्वैः समेतैर्देवपुंगवैः । ऋषयस्तुष्टुवुश्चैनं भास्करश्चाप्रभोभवत्

tato hāhā kṛtaṁ sarvaiḥ sametairdevapuṁgavaiḥ | ṛṣayastuṣṭuvuścainaṁ bhāskaraścāprabhobhavat

Then a cry of "Alas! Alas!" arose from all the assembled chiefs of the gods; the sages extolled him with hymns, and the sun itself grew dim.

Verse 34 (skanda.8.105.34)

अथ सोप्यायितस्तत्र ऋषिभिर्ब्रह्मवित्तमैः । प्रतिलभ्य तदा संज्ञामिदं वचनमब्रवीत्

atha sopyāyitastatra ṛṣibhirbrahmavittamaiḥ | pratilabhya tadā saṁjñāmidaṁ vacanamabravīt

Then, revived there by the sages most learned in sacred wisdom, and having regained his senses, he spoke these words:

Verse 35 (skanda.8.105.35)

आप्याययध्वं मां क्षिप्रं मूढोहं सर्वशः सुराः । नाल्पवीर्येण शक्योयं दैत्यो योधयितुं रणे

āpyāyayadhvaṁ māṁ kṣipraṁ mūḍhohaṁ sarvaśaḥ surāḥ | nālpavīryeṇa śakyoyaṁ daityo yodhayituṁ raṇe

"Revive me swiftly, O gods - I was altogether overcome with confusion! This Daitya cannot be fought in battle by one of feeble strength."

Verse 36 (skanda.8.105.36)

ततस्ते दैवतास्सर्वे ऋषयश्च तपोधनाः । तपसा स्वेन तं देवं सर्व एवाभ्यपूरयन्

tataste daivatāssarve ṛṣayaśca tapodhanāḥ | tapasā svena taṁ devaṁ sarva evābhyapūrayan

Then all those deities, together with the sages rich in austerity, filled that god entirely with the power of their own penance.

Verse 37 (skanda.8.105.37)

तस्य त्वाप्यायमोनस्य ऋषिभिर्दैवतैश्च ह । बभौ रूपं युगान्ताग्निकालमृत्युसमप्रभम्

tasya tvāpyāyamonasya ṛṣibhirdaivataiśca ha | babhau rūpaṁ yugāntāgnikālamṛtyusamaprabham

As he was thus being replenished by the sages and the gods, his form blazed with a splendor equal to the fire of universal dissolution, to Time, and to Death.

Verse 38 (skanda.8.105.38)

स दीप्यमानो विबभौ महात्मा देवैश्च सर्वैर्ऋषिभिः स्तुतश्च । दीप्तस्तदा भास्करसप्तकल्पो लोकान्दहिष्यन्निव देवदेवः

sa dīpyamāno vibabhau mahātmā devaiśca sarvairṛṣibhiḥ stutaśca | dīptastadā bhāskarasaptakalpo lokāndahiṣyanniva devadevaḥ

That great-souled one, blazing forth, shone resplendent, praised by all the gods and the sages; ablaze then like seven suns together, the god of gods seemed as though about to consume the worlds in fire.