The Slaying of Hiranyaksha

Verse 1 (skanda.8.107.1)

तमापतन्तं वेगेन न शूलं दृष्टवान्मृगः । दैत्यसन्धे समासक्तः सर्वप्राणिभयङ्करम्

tamāpatantaṁ vegena na śūlaṁ dṛṣṭavānmṛgaḥ | daityasandhe samāsaktaḥ sarvaprāṇibhayaṅkaram

Intent upon the demon's vital point, the Boar did not see that trident - terror of all beings - hurtling toward him with speed.

Verse 2 (skanda.8.107.2)

अलक्षितेन तेनासौ शूलेनादितिनन्दनः । विभिन्नो हृदये व्यास मृतकल्पः पपात ह

alakṣitena tenāsau śūlenāditinandanaḥ | vibhinno hṛdaye vyāsa mṛtakalpaḥ papāta ha

O Vyasa, by that unseen trident the son of Aditi was pierced through the heart, and he fell to the ground as if dead.

Verse 3 (skanda.8.107.3)

ततो हाहा कृतं भूतैरदृश्यैर्मुनिसत्तम । उद्वेलाः सागराश्चासन् भास्करश्चाप्रभोभवत्

tato hāhā kṛtaṁ bhūtairadṛśyairmunisattama | udvelāḥ sāgarāścāsan bhāskaraścāprabhobhavat

O best of sages, then unseen beings cried out in dismay; the oceans surged beyond their bounds, and the sun grew dim.

Verse 4 (skanda.8.107.4)

उल्काः पेतुश्च सर्वत्र म्लानमाल्याः सुराभवन् । ग्रहाणामभवद्युद्धं विमानानि च पेतिरे

ulkāḥ petuśca sarvatra mlānamālyāḥ surābhavan | grahāṇāmabhavadyuddhaṁ vimānāni ca petire

Meteors fell everywhere, the gods' garlands withered, the planets clashed with one another, and heavenly cars fell from the sky.

Verse 5 (skanda.8.107.5)

जजपुर्मुनयः सर्वे वराहे पतिते तदा । महादेवं नमस्कृत्य ब्रह्मा सस्मार तं तदा

jajapurmunayaḥ sarve varāhe patite tadā | mahādevaṁ namaskṛtya brahmā sasmāra taṁ tadā

When the Boar fell, all the sages took up their muttered prayers, and Brahma, bowing to Mahadeva, called him to mind.

Verse 6 (skanda.8.107.6)

ततो वितिमिरं सर्वमभवत् पूर्ववच्छुभम् । महादेवं नमस्कृत्य वराहश्चोदतिष्ठत

tato vitimiraṁ sarvamabhavat pūrvavacchubham | mahādevaṁ namaskṛtya varāhaścodatiṣṭhata

Then all the darkness lifted and everything became auspicious as before, and, bowing to Mahadeva, the Boar rose up again.

Verse 7 (skanda.8.107.7)

तेजो माहेश्वरं दिव्यं विवेश मधुसूदनम् । सोप्यायिततनुस्तेन शूलं निष्कृष्य माधवः

tejo māheśvaraṁ divyaṁ viveśa madhusūdanam | sopyāyitatanustena śūlaṁ niṣkṛṣya mādhavaḥ

Mahesvara's divine radiance entered Madhusudana; strengthened by it, Madhava drew the trident out from his own body.

Verse 8 (skanda.8.107.8)

सहसानलसंकाशो बभूव स महाबलः । ततस्तेनैव शूलेन तं दैत्यं देवनन्दनः

sahasānalasaṁkāśo babhūva sa mahābalaḥ | tatastenaiva śūlena taṁ daityaṁ devanandanaḥ

In an instant that mighty one blazed like fire; and then, with that very trident, the son of the gods -

Verse 9 (skanda.8.107.9)

जघान हृदये क्रुद्धः क्रौञ्चं शक्त्या यथा गुहः । स भिन्नहृदयस्तेन वराहेण महासुरः

jaghāna hṛdaye kruddhaḥ krauñcaṁ śaktyā yathā guhaḥ | sa bhinnahṛdayastena varāheṇa mahāsuraḥ

- struck him full in the heart, enraged, as Guha once struck Mount Krauncha with his spear. Pierced through the heart by the Boar, that great asura -

Verse 10 (skanda.8.107.10)

नार्त्तिमानभवद् व्यास कृच्छ्रे विद्वानिव स्थितः । मध्ये भिन्नं स तच्छूलं निष्कृष्य च विसृज्य च

nārttimānabhavad vyāsa kṛcchre vidvāniva sthitaḥ | madhye bhinnaṁ sa tacchūlaṁ niṣkṛṣya ca visṛjya ca

- yet, O Vyasa, felt no anguish, standing firm in his distress like a man of wisdom; he drew out that trident, broken in the middle, and cast it away,

Verse 11 (skanda.8.107.11)

खङ्गं निष्कृष्य वेगेन वराहं मूर्ध्न्यताडयत् । स तेन सुप्रहारेण वराहो नन्दिवर्धनः

khaṅgaṁ niṣkṛṣya vegena varāhaṁ mūrdhnyatāḍayat | sa tena suprahāreṇa varāho nandivardhanaḥ

then, drawing his sword, struck the Boar violently upon the head. By that heavy blow, the Boar Nandivardhana -

Verse 12 (skanda.8.107.12)

नार्तिमानभवद् व्यास बभूव रुधिराप्लुतः । नानाधातुविचित्रोसौ हिमवानिव पर्वतः

nārtimānabhavad vyāsa babhūva rudhirāplutaḥ | nānādhātuvicitrosau himavāniva parvataḥ

- felt no anguish either, O Vyasa, but became drenched in blood, appearing like the Himalaya mountain streaked with many-coloured ores.

Verse 13 (skanda.8.107.13)

बभौ वराहो देवात्मा सर्वासुरविमर्दनः । पुनराहन्तुकामस्य तस्य दैत्यस्य सुव्रत

babhau varāho devātmā sarvāsuravimardanaḥ | punarāhantukāmasya tasya daityasya suvrata

Thus the Boar, divine self, destroyer of all asuras, shone forth, O good sage, even as that daitya sought once more to strike him down.

Verse 14 (skanda.8.107.14)

अपहस्तप्रहारेण खङ्गं हस्तादपातयत् । अकुर्वातां ततो युद्धं नियुद्धकुशलावुभौ

apahastaprahāreṇa khaṅgaṁ hastādapātayat | akurvātāṁ tato yuddhaṁ niyuddhakuśalāvubhau

With a single sweep of his hand he knocked the sword from the daitya's grip; then the two of them, both skilled in wrestling, fell to fighting hand to hand.

Verse 15 (skanda.8.107.15)

तौ गजाविव संक्रुद्धौ महिषाविव दर्पितौ । सिंहाविव च नर्दन्तौ संक्रुद्धौ वृषभाविव

tau gajāviva saṁkruddhau mahiṣāviva darpitau | siṁhāviva ca nardantau saṁkruddhau vṛṣabhāviva

The two of them fought like enraged elephants, like proud buffaloes, roaring like lions, like furious bulls.

Verse 16 (skanda.8.107.16)

शरभाविव चायस्तौ शार्दूलाविव निर्घृणौ । परस्परमयुध्येतां परस्परजयैषिणौ

śarabhāviva cāyastau śārdūlāviva nirghṛṇau | parasparamayudhyetāṁ parasparajayaiṣiṇau

Exhausting themselves like sharabhas, merciless like tigers, each seeking victory over the other, they battled on.

Verse 17 (skanda.8.107.17)

अंकुशैर्हस्तयोक्त्रैश्च क्षेपणैरपसर्पणैः । मण्डलैश्च पुनश्चित्रैः कर्षणैरपकर्षणैः

aṁkuśairhastayoktraiśca kṣepaṇairapasarpaṇaiḥ | maṇḍalaiśca punaścitraiḥ karṣaṇairapakarṣaṇaiḥ

With hooking grips of hand, with throws and retreats, with wondrous circling movements, with pulls and counter-pulls -

Verse 18 (skanda.8.107.18)

तलैश्च मुष्टिभिश्चैव भुजैस्स चरणैरपि । नखैश्च दशनैश्चैव तथान्यैश्च महाबलौ

talaiśca muṣṭibhiścaiva bhujaissa caraṇairapi | nakhaiśca daśanaiścaiva tathānyaiśca mahābalau

- and with slaps, fists, arms, feet, claws, teeth, and other means besides, those two mighty ones grappled with each other.

Verse 19 (skanda.8.107.19)

तयोरेवमभूद्युद्धमुभयोर्देवदैत्ययोः । अहानि दश चाष्टौ च तथान्यानि चतुर्दश

tayorevamabhūdyuddhamubhayordevadaityayoḥ | ahāni daśa cāṣṭau ca tathānyāni caturdaśa

Thus the battle raged between that god and that daitya for eighteen days, and then for fourteen more.

Verse 20 (skanda.8.107.20)

अन्यत्सहस्रमेवासीद्वर्षाणां तच्च मानुषम् । एष कालोभवत्तत्र ततो दैत्योबलोभवत्

anyatsahasramevāsīdvarṣāṇāṁ tacca mānuṣam | eṣa kālobhavattatra tato daityobalobhavat

In terms of human years, this amounted to another thousand years altogether. As this span of time passed, the daitya began to lose his strength.

Verse 21 (skanda.8.107.21)

तं हीयमानमालक्ष्य दैत्याधिपतिमूर्जितम् । आकाशे वागुवाचेदमशरीराति सुस्वना

taṁ hīyamānamālakṣya daityādhipatimūrjitam | ākāśe vāguvācedamaśarīrāti susvanā

Seeing that mighty lord of daityas thus failing, a bodyless voice of great sweetness spoke out from the sky, saying -

Verse 22 (skanda.8.107.22)

शृणु देव वराहेदं श्रुत्वा चैव समाचर । अशक्योयं त्वया ह्येवं हन्तुं दैत्यो महाबलः

śṛṇu deva varāhedaṁ śrutvā caiva samācara | aśakyoyaṁ tvayā hyevaṁ hantuṁ daityo mahābalaḥ

"Listen, O god, O Boar, to this, and act upon what you hear. This mighty daitya cannot be slain by you in this manner.

Verse 23 (skanda.8.107.23)

अबलोयं कृतः क्रूरो ध्रुवं माहेश्वरेण हि । तेजसा पश्य चैवैनमेष कालोस्य वर्तते

abaloyaṁ kṛtaḥ krūro dhruvaṁ māheśvareṇa hi | tejasā paśya caivainameṣa kālosya vartate

This cruel one has surely been made vulnerable now only by the power of Mahesvara himself; look, this is the very hour of his end.

Verse 24 (skanda.8.107.24)

मुक्त्वैनं दैत्यराजानं चक्रेण विनिसूदय । माहेश्वरेण वैकुण्ठ ततो मृत्युमवाप्स्यति

muktvainaṁ daityarājānaṁ cakreṇa vinisūdaya | māheśvareṇa vaikuṇṭha tato mṛtyumavāpsyati

Release him, O Vaikuntha, and strike down this king of daityas with your discus; it is through the power of Mahesvara that he shall now meet his death."

Verse 25 (skanda.8.107.25)

ततस्तमभिसंश्रुत्य भगवान्नन्दिवर्धनः । मुमोच दैत्यराजानं पादेनाहत्य वक्षसि

tatastamabhisaṁśrutya bhagavānnandivardhanaḥ | mumoca daityarājānaṁ pādenāhatya vakṣasi

Sanatkumara said: Hearing this, the blessed Nandivardhana struck the king of daityas on the chest with his foot and released him.

Verse 26 (skanda.8.107.26)

स मुक्तस्तेन देवेन विबभौ दैत्यपुंगवः । भुक्तमुक्तो यथा सूर्यः सैंहिकेयेन राहुणा

sa muktastena devena vibabhau daityapuṁgavaḥ | bhuktamukto yathā sūryaḥ saiṁhikeyena rāhuṇā

Released by that god, the bull among daityas shone forth, like the sun freed from the grasp of Rahu, son of Simhika.

Verse 27 (skanda.8.107.27)

भगवानपि दीप्यन्तं श्रिया दैत्यं समीक्ष्य तम् । सस्मार तत्तदा चक्रं नमस्कृत्य पिनाकिनम्

bhagavānapi dīpyantaṁ śriyā daityaṁ samīkṣya tam | sasmāra tattadā cakraṁ namaskṛtya pinākinam

The blessed lord too, beholding that daitya blazing with splendour, bowed to Pinaka-wielding Shiva and called to mind his discus.

Verse 28 (skanda.8.107.28)

ततः सर्वा दिशो व्यास वह्निकुण्डानिभा बभुः । शब्दश्च सुमहानासीद्युगान्ताम्बुदसन्निभः

tataḥ sarvā diśo vyāsa vahnikuṇḍānibhā babhuḥ | śabdaśca sumahānāsīdyugāntāmbudasannibhaḥ

O Vyasa, then all the quarters blazed like pits of fire, and a mighty sound arose, like that of the clouds of universal dissolution.

Verse 29 (skanda.8.107.29)

सिद्धाः पेतुश्च मेदिन्यां देवाँश्च भयमाविशत् । स्वस्त्यस्तु सर्वभूतानामित्यूचुर्मुनयस्तदा

siddhāḥ petuśca medinyāṁ devā~śca bhayamāviśat | svastyastu sarvabhūtānāmityūcurmunayastadā

The siddhas fell to the earth, fear seized the gods, and the sages then cried out: "May all beings be blessed."

Verse 30 (skanda.8.107.30)

सागराश्च व्यशुष्यन्त विनेशुर्नागपक्षिणः । दैत्याश्च दानवाश्चैव सर्वे ते विविशुर्विलम्

sāgarāśca vyaśuṣyanta vineśurnāgapakṣiṇaḥ | daityāśca dānavāścaiva sarve te viviśurvilam

The oceans began to dry up, serpents and birds perished, and all the daityas and danavas fled into hiding-holes.

Verse 31 (skanda.8.107.31)

भयत्रस्तानि भूतानि उल्काः पेतुर्नभस्तलात् । आगच्छति युगान्ताग्निकल्पे चक्रे सुभास्वरे

bhayatrastāni bhūtāni ulkāḥ peturnabhastalāt | āgacchati yugāntāgnikalpe cakre subhāsvare

Creatures were struck with terror, and meteors fell from the sky, as that exceedingly radiant discus, like the fire of universal dissolution, came on.

Verse 32 (skanda.8.107.32)

क्षुरान्तं तन्महाचक्रं मज्जज्जलचरान्तकम् । दुर्निरीक्ष्यं सर्वघाति अभेद्यं प्रतिघाति च

kṣurāntaṁ tanmahācakraṁ majjajjalacarāntakam | durnirīkṣyaṁ sarvaghāti abhedyaṁ pratighāti ca

That great discus, razor-edged, was the death even of creatures submerged deep in the waters - unbearable to look upon, all-slaying, unbreakable, and repelling every counter-blow.

Verse 33 (skanda.8.107.33)

तथाप्रतिहतं दिव्यं मोहनं सर्वदेहिनाम् । करमागाद्वराहस्य शताशनिसमस्वनम्

tathāpratihataṁ divyaṁ mohanaṁ sarvadehinām | karamāgādvarāhasya śatāśanisamasvanam

Thus unimpeded, divine, bewildering to all embodied beings, roaring like a hundred thunderbolts, it came into the Boar's hand.

Verse 34 (skanda.8.107.34)

तदापतन्तं संवीक्ष्य सर्वभूतानि सर्वतः । पेतुर्भूमौ महाघोरमपश्यन्न च किञ्चन

tadāpatantaṁ saṁvīkṣya sarvabhūtāni sarvataḥ | peturbhūmau mahāghoramapaśyanna ca kiñcana

Seeing that most terrible discus rushing forth, all beings everywhere fell to the ground, and could see nothing at all.

Verse 35 (skanda.8.107.35)

सोपि देवस्तदा कृत्वा रूपं सुमहदव्ययम् । त्रैलोक्यव्यापि चिक्षेप दानवं प्रति नादयन्

sopi devastadā kṛtvā rūpaṁ sumahadavyayam | trailokyavyāpi cikṣepa dānavaṁ prati nādayan

Then the god too, having given that imperishable discus a form vast enough to pervade the three worlds, hurled it at the danava, roaring as he did so.

Verse 36 (skanda.8.107.36)

तद्युगान्तानलप्रख्यं क्षुरान्तं स्फोटयन्नभः । जगाम दानवं क्षिप्रं दिशः सर्वा दहन्निव

tadyugāntānalaprakhyaṁ kṣurāntaṁ sphoṭayannabhaḥ | jagāma dānavaṁ kṣipraṁ diśaḥ sarvā dahanniva

That razor-edged discus, blazing like the fire of universal dissolution, splitting the very sky, sped swiftly toward the danava, seeming to set every quarter aflame.

Verse 37 (skanda.8.107.37)

तत् स दानवशार्दूल उपयान्तं महारवम् । जघानास्त्रैर्बहुविधैरव्यथः शक्तिनन्दन

tat sa dānavaśārdūla upayāntaṁ mahāravam | jaghānāstrairbahuvidhairavyathaḥ śaktinandana

O son of Shakti, that bull among danavas, undismayed, struck at that thunderously roaring discus as it approached, with weapons of many kinds.

Verse 38 (skanda.8.107.38)

तच्च तानि महाचक्रमस्त्राण्यनलसन्निभम् । चकार भस्मसाद् व्यास जगाम च विनादयन्

tacca tāni mahācakramastrāṇyanalasannibham | cakāra bhasmasād vyāsa jagāma ca vinādayan

But that great discus, blazing like fire, O Vyasa, reduced all those weapons to ashes and pressed onward, roaring.

Verse 39 (skanda.8.107.39)

अथ मायां समसृजत् तैजसीं पार्थिवीमपि । वायवीं वारुणीञ्चैव तामसीमिन्द्रियात्मिकाम्

atha māyāṁ samasṛjat taijasīṁ pārthivīmapi | vāyavīṁ vāruṇīñcaiva tāmasīmindriyātmikām

Then the danava conjured up illusions of fire, of earth, of wind and of water, and also a dark illusion that bewilders the very senses.

Verse 40 (skanda.8.107.40)

तथैवोत्पातकीं मायां मोहनीं स्तम्भनीमपि । निवर्तनीं जम्भनीं च चकारान्याश्च संयुगे

tathaivotpātakīṁ māyāṁ mohanīṁ stambhanīmapi | nivartanīṁ jambhanīṁ ca cakārānyāśca saṁyuge

Likewise he wrought illusions that bring calamity, that delude, that paralyse, that turn back, and that crush the jaws - and many others besides, in that battle.

Verse 41 (skanda.8.107.41)

ताः सर्वास्तत्तदा चक्रं नाशयद् भीमनादवत् । गत्वा तस्य शिरः कायादुन्ममाथ यथाचलम्

tāḥ sarvāstattadā cakraṁ nāśayad bhīmanādavat | gatvā tasya śiraḥ kāyādunmamātha yathācalam

That discus, roaring terribly, destroyed all those illusions, one by one, and then, going to him, tore his head from his body as though uprooting a mountain.

Verse 42 (skanda.8.107.42)

तत्तेन कृत्तं सुमहच्छिरोग्र्यं व्यात्ताननाग्निप्रतिमोग्रनेत्रम् । दंष्ट्रालमत्यद्भुतभीमनादं पपात मेरोरिव शृङ्गमुच्चम्

tattena kṛttaṁ sumahacchirogryaṁ vyāttānanāgnipratimogranetram | daṁṣṭrālamatyadbhutabhīmanādaṁ papāta meroriva śṛṅgamuccam

That great, foremost head, severed by it, its gaping mouth and eyes fierce as fire, its fangs still giving out a wondrous and terrible roar, fell like the lofty peak of Mount Meru.

Verse 43 (skanda.8.107.43)

रथाङ्गनिष्पीतवपुर्विरागं न भाति तद्वक्त्रमतीव दीनम् । निशाप्रहाणे विनिवृत्तरश्मि विम्बं यथा चन्द्रमसो विशोभम्

rathāṅganiṣpītavapurvirāgaṁ na bhāti tadvaktramatīva dīnam | niśāprahāṇe vinivṛttaraśmi vimbaṁ yathā candramaso viśobham

That face, crushed by the discus, lost its lustre and shone no more, utterly wretched - like the orb of the moon grown dull, its rays withdrawn at the ending of the night.

Verse 44 (skanda.8.107.44)

तद्दन्तपंक्तिच्छदमादशानं मुहुश्च दन्तानपि संदशानम् । पपात दैत्यस्य शिरो निकृत्तं यथा गिरेः शृङ्गमतिप्रवृद्धम्

taddantapaṁkticchadamādaśānaṁ muhuśca dantānapi saṁdaśānam | papāta daityasya śiro nikṛttaṁ yathā gireḥ śṛṅgamatipravṛddham

Gnawing at its own row of lips with its teeth, grinding tooth against tooth again and again, the daitya's severed head fell, like some vast and towering mountain peak.