The Battle over the Nectar

Verse 1 (skanda.8.115.1)

व्यास उवाच । अमृतेपहृते तस्मिन् विष्णुना छद्मरूपिणा । दैत्याश्च दानवाश्चैव किं चक्रु स्तदन्तरम्

vyāsa uvāca | amṛtepahṛte tasmin viṣṇunā chadmarūpiṇā | daityāśca dānavāścaiva kiṁ cakru statantaram

Vyasa said: When that nectar had been carried off by Vishnu in his disguised form, what did the demons and danavas do thereafter?

Verse 2 (skanda.8.115.2)

सनत्कुमार उवाच । ते क्रोधाद्वञ्चिताः सर्वे विष्णुना दानवेश्वराः । सन्नह्य युद्धाय तदा गर्हन्तो विष्णुमूचिरे

sanatkumāra uvāca | te krodhādvañcitāḥ sarve viṣṇunā dānaveśvarāḥ | sannahya yuddhāya tadā garhanto viṣṇumūcire

Sanatkumara said: Enraged at having been deceived by Vishnu, all those lords of the danavas, arming themselves for battle, spoke, reviling Vishnu -

Verse 3 (skanda.8.115.3)

धिग्बल धिक् च ते शौर्यं पाप धिक् ते पराक्रमम् । विश्रम्भघाती नित्यं त्वन्नीचकर्मा दुरात्मवान्

dhigbala dhik ca te śauryaṁ pāpa dhik te parākramam | viśrambhaghātī nityaṁ tvannīcakarmā durātmavān

Fie upon your strength, fie upon your valour, O sinner, fie upon your prowess! You are ever a betrayer of trust, an evil-souled one given to base deeds.

Verse 4 (skanda.8.115.4)

त्वया निकृत्या निहतो हिरण्यकशिपुः पुरा । हिरण्याक्षश्च दैत्येन्द्रोमृतं चेदमपाहृतम्

tvayā nikṛtyā nihato hiraṇyakaśipuḥ purā | hiraṇyākṣaśca daityendromṛtaṁ cedamapāhṛtam

By you, through deceit, was Hiranyakashipu slain of old, and the lord of demons Hiranyaksha too; and now this nectar also has been carried off by deceit.

Verse 5 (skanda.8.115.5)

न तवास्ति बलं युद्धे निकृत्या हि बली भवान् । युद्धे स्थितो भवानस्तु न नो मोक्षमवाप्स्यति

na tavāsti balaṁ yuddhe nikṛtyā hi balī bhavān | yuddhe sthito bhavānastu na no mokṣamavāpsyati

You have no strength in open battle - it is only through deceit that you are mighty. Now stand and face us in battle - you shall not escape from us.

Verse 6 (skanda.8.115.6)

सनत्कुमार उवाच । ततः स दैत्याराट् क्रुद्ध उद्गिरन् पावकार्चिषः । रथेनाम्बुदनादेन विष्णुमेवाभिदुद्रुवे

sanatkumāra uvāca | tataḥ sa daityārāṭ kruddha udgiran pāvakārciṣaḥ | rathenāmbudanādena viṣṇumevābhidudruve

Sanatkumara said: Then that king of the demons, enraged, belching forth flames of fire, mounted on a chariot that rumbled like thunderclouds, charged straight at Vishnu.

Verse 7 (skanda.8.115.7)

विप्रचितिश्च दैत्येन्द्रो गजेन गजिनं तदा । समाह्वयत् सहस्राक्षं गजिनं वज्रपाणिनम्

vipracitiśca daityendro gajena gajinaṁ tadā | samāhvayat sahasrākṣaṁ gajinaṁ vajrapāṇinam

The demon lord Vipracitti, mounted on his elephant, then challenged thousand-eyed, thunderbolt-wielding Indra, likewise mounted on his elephant.

Verse 8 (skanda.8.115.8)

विरोचनस्तु संक्रुद्धो धनेशं राक्षसाधिपम् । गजेनैवाभिदुद्राव जलदो भास्करं यथा

virocanastu saṅkruddho dhaneśaṁ rākṣasādhipam | gajenaivābhidudrāva jalado bhāskaraṁ yathā

Virochana, greatly enraged, mounted on his elephant, charged at Dhanesha, lord of the rakshasas, just as a raincloud rushes upon the sun.

Verse 9 (skanda.8.115.9)

बलिर्वैरोचनिश्चापि यमं पितृगणाधिपम् । रथेनैवाभिदुद्राव विघ्नो विघ्नमिवापरम्

balirvairocaniścāpi yamaṁ pitṛgaṇādhipam | rathenaivābhidudrāva vighno vighnamivāparam

Bali, son of Virochana, too, mounted on his chariot, charged at Yama, lord of the ancestral hosts, like one calamity rushing upon another.

Verse 10 (skanda.8.115.10)

अनुह्राश्च दैत्येन्द्रो हिरण्यकशिपोः सुतः । वरुणं प्रति दुद्राव नदीवेगो यथार्णवम्

anuhrāśca daityendro hiraṇyakaśipoḥ sutaḥ | varuṇaṁ prati dudrāva nadīvego yathārṇavam

Anuhrada, the lord of demons and son of Hiranyakashipu, charged toward Varuna, like the surging force of a river rushing toward the ocean.

Verse 11 (skanda.8.115.11)

मयस्तु दानवश्रेष्ठस्तारस्तारक एव च । आदित्यैस्सह संसक्ता गजा इव महागजैः

mayastu dānavaśreṣṭhastārastāraka eva ca | ādityaissaha saṁsaktā gajā iva mahāgajaiḥ

Maya, best of danavas, and Tara and Taraka too, locked in combat with the Adityas, like elephants clashing with mighty elephants.

Verse 12 (skanda.8.115.12)

शरभः शतकेतुश्च बलो मूकश्च दानवः । रुद्रानेवाभ्यभावन्त सिंहाः सिंहानिवाजने

śarabhaḥ śataketuśca balo mūkaśca dānavaḥ | rudrānevābhyabhāvanta siṁhāḥ siṁhānivājane

Sharabha, Shataketu, Bala, and the danava Muka fell upon the Rudras, just as lions fall upon lions in the wild.

Verse 13 (skanda.8.115.13)

शम्भुः कार्तस्वनश्चैव महामायश्च शम्बरः । वसुभिः सह संसक्ता व्यसनानीव साधुभिः

śambhuḥ kārtasvanaścaiva mahāmāyaśca śambaraḥ | vasubhiḥ saha saṁsaktā vyasanānīva sādhubhiḥ

Shambhu, Karttasvana, and the great illusionist Shambara clashed with the Vasus, as calamities clash with virtuous men.

Verse 14 (skanda.8.115.14)

नरकोथ हयग्रीवस्तथेन्द्रदमनोसुरः । अश्विभ्यां सह संसक्ता ग्रहाभ्यामिव तारकाः

narakotha hayagrīvastathendradamanosuraḥ | aśvibhyāṁ saha saṁsaktā grahābhyāmiva tārakāḥ

Naraka, Hayagriva, and the demon Indradamana clashed with the two Ashvins, like stars clashing with planets.

Verse 15 (skanda.8.115.15)

अन्ये चान्यैस्सुरैस्सार्धं महामाया महाबलाः । आहूयाहूय युध्यन्ते सर्वे क्रोधेन दानवाः

anye cānyaissuraissārdhaṁ mahāmāyā mahābalāḥ | āhūyāhūya yudhyante sarve krodhena dānavāḥ

And the other great illusionist, mighty danavas too, each challenging some other god, all fought on, every one of them, in fury.

Verse 16 (skanda.8.115.16)

विप्रचित्तिर्महामायः सहस्राक्षं त्रिभिः शरैः । अर्दयामास नादेन नादयानो दिशो दश

vipracittirmahāmāyaḥ sahasrākṣaṁ tribhiḥ śaraiḥ | ardayāmāsa nādena nādayāno diśo daśa

The great illusionist Vipracitti afflicted thousand-eyed Indra with three arrows, and with his roar set all ten directions echoing.

Verse 17 (skanda.8.115.17)

तस्येन्द्रः कार्मुकं चित्रमस्यतो लघुहस्तवान् । वज्रेण शतधारेण शतधा व्यभजद्बली

tasyendraḥ kārmukaṁ citramasyato laghuhastavān | vajreṇa śatadhāreṇa śatadhā vyabhajadbalī

Indra, swift of hand, with his mighty thunderbolt of a hundred edges, shattered into a hundred pieces that wondrous bow, even as it loosed its arrows.

Verse 18 (skanda.8.115.18)

ततोस्य गजमाघोरे कार्मुकं गृह्णतोपरम् । गजेन पोथयामास स पपात यथा गिरिः

tatosya gajamāghore kārmukaṁ gṛhṇatoparam | gajena pothayāmāsa sa papāta yathā giriḥ

Then, as he was seizing another bow in that terrible fray, Indra crushed his elephant with his own elephant, and it fell like a mountain.

Verse 19 (skanda.8.115.19)

तमाप्लुतं गजाच्चैव दानवं देवराड् बली । वज्रेणाताडयत् क्रौञ्चं शक्त्या गुह इवाहवे

tamāplutaṁ gajāccaiva dānavaṁ devarāḍ balī | vajreṇātāḍayat krauñcaṁ śaktyā guha ivāhave

That danava, having leapt clear of his elephant, the mighty king of gods struck down with his thunderbolt, just as Guha once struck Mount Kraunucha with his spear in battle.

Verse 20 (skanda.8.115.20)

स तेन वज्रघातेन दानवो मूढचेतनः । अपतद् भूतले क्षिप्रं वातरुग्ण इव द्रुमः

sa tena vajraghātena dānavo mūḍhacetanaḥ | apatad bhūtale kṣipraṁ vātarugṇa iva drumaḥ

By that blow of the thunderbolt, the danava, his senses reeling, fell swiftly to the ground, like a tree broken by the wind.

Verse 21 (skanda.8.115.21)

ततो हाहाकृतमभूद्दानवानां बले तदा । साधुसाध्विति देवानां सिंहनादाश्च बृंहिताः

tato hāhākṛtamabhūddānavānāṁ bale tadā | sādhusādhviti devānāṁ siṁhanādāśca bṛṁhitāḥ

Then a cry of dismay arose in the army of the danavas, while among the gods rose cries of 'well done, well done,' lion-roars, and the trumpeting of elephants.

Verse 22 (skanda.8.115.22)

प्रतिलभ्य ततः संज्ञां स शक्त्या भीमरूपया । मातङ्गस्तस्य संमत्तमनयद्यमसादनम्

pratilabhya tataḥ saṁjñāṁ sa śaktyā bhīmarūpayā | mātaṅgastasya saṁmattamanayadyamasādanam

Regaining his senses, with his terrible spear he sent Indra's own maddened elephant to the abode of Yama.

Verse 23 (skanda.8.115.23)

ततोस्य पृष्ठरक्षाँश्च कवचञ्च महाप्रभम् । शातयामास देवाग्र्यस्स हित्वा संयुगं ययौ

tatosya pṛṣṭharakṣām̐śca kavacañca mahāprabham | śātayāmāsa devāgryassa hitvā saṁyugaṁ yayau

Then he cut down Indra's rear-guard and his exceedingly splendid armour as well. Whereupon that foremost of the gods abandoned the field and departed.

Verse 24 (skanda.8.115.24)

बलिर्यमस्य पुण्ड्रं च कृतान्तं कलहं तथा । कालञ्च नियतिञ्चैव किङ्करान् पाशमेव च

baliryamasya puṇḍraṁ ca kṛtāntaṁ kalahaṁ tathā | kālañca niyatiñcaiva kiṅkarān pāśameva ca

Bali, while Yama looked on, assailed - one by one - Yama's very Punda, Kritanta, Kalaha (strife), Kala (time), Niyati (destiny), his attendants, and even his noose -

Verse 25 (skanda.8.115.25)

एकैकं पश्यतस्तीक्ष्णैः पञ्चभिः पञ्चभिः शरैः । यमञ्चैव चतुष्षष्ट्या हृदये समविध्यत

ekaikaṁ paśyatastīkṣṇaiḥ pañcabhiḥ pañcabhiḥ śaraiḥ | yamañcaiva catuṣṣaṣṭyā hṛdaye samavidhyat

- pierced each of them with five sharp arrows apiece, and struck Yama himself with sixty-four arrows full in the heart.

Verse 26 (skanda.8.115.26)

तस्य चानदतः क्षिप्रं यमः क्रुद्धो हसँस्तदा । दण्डेन रथमाहत्य भस्मसायुज्यमानयत्

tasya cānadataḥ kṣipraṁ yamaḥ kruddho hasam̐stadā | daṇḍena rathamāhatya bhasmasāyujyamānayat

As he roared on, Yama, enraged, laughing, swiftly struck his chariot with his rod and reduced it instantly to ashes.

Verse 27 (skanda.8.115.27)

हते रथे ससूते तु साश्वे सह पदानुगैः । तिष्ठतिष्ठेति सन्नद्य यमं बलिरधावत

hate rathe sasūte tu sāśve saha padānugaiḥ | tiṣṭhatiṣṭheti sannadya yamaṁ baliradhāvat

His chariot destroyed, with its charioteer, horses, and foot-attendants all lost, Bali, arming himself and crying 'Stand, stand!', charged at Yama.

Verse 28 (skanda.8.115.28)

तस्यापतत एवाशु यमो दण्डमवासृजत् । मूर्ध्नि तेन प्रहारेण ततः सोगान्महीतलम्

tasyāpatata evāśu yamo daṇḍamavāsṛjat | mūrdhni tena prahāreṇa tataḥ sogānmahītalam

Even as he rushed upon him, Yama swiftly hurled his rod; struck upon the head by that blow, Bali then sank to the ground.

Verse 29 (skanda.8.115.29)

ततो हाहाकृतमभूद्दानवानां बले तदा । गृहण गृहणेति चाप्यूचुः कष्टं कष्टं तथापरे

tato hāhākṛtamabhūddānavānāṁ bale tadā | gṛhaṇa gṛhaṇeti cāpyūcuḥ kaṣṭaṁ kaṣṭaṁ tathāpare

Then again a cry of dismay arose in the army of the danavas; some shouted 'Seize him, seize him!' while others cried, 'Alas, alas, how terrible!'

Verse 30 (skanda.8.115.30)

अनुह्रादस्तु वरुणं नाराचेन महाबलः । आहत्य हृदये क्रुद्धो रथोपस्थे न्यपातयत्

anuhrādastu varuṇaṁ nārācena mahābalaḥ | āhatya hṛdaye kruddho rathopasthe nyapātayat

The mighty Anuhrada, enraged, struck Varuna full in the heart with an iron shaft and felled him upon the floor of his own chariot.

Verse 31 (skanda.8.115.31)

स उत्थाय क्षणाद्देवो विकृष्य बलवद्धनुः । सायकाँस्तस्य संधार्य धनुश्चिच्छेद वीर्यवान्

sa utthāya kṣaṇāddevo vikṛṣya balavaddhanuḥ | sāyakām̐stasya saṁdhārya dhanuścicheda vīryavān

That god, rising in an instant, drawing his mighty bow, fitting his arrows, that valorous one cut through his opponent's bow.

Verse 32 (skanda.8.115.32)

अश्वाञ्जघान सूतस्य शिरः कायादपातयत् । तस्य प्रस्कन्दतश्चापि हताश्वाद्रथसत्तमात्

aśvāñjaghāna sūtasya śiraḥ kāyādapātayat | tasya praskandataścāpi hatāśvādrathasattamāt

He slew his horses, and struck the charioteer's head from his body. As Anuhrada then leapt down from his splendid chariot, its horses now dead,

Verse 33 (skanda.8.115.33)

बिभेद हृदयं शीघ्रं स पपात यथा मृतः । मयस्तारस्तारकश्च आदित्यान् दृढमार्दयन्

bibheda hṛdayaṁ śīghraṁ sa papāta yathā mṛtaḥ | mayastārastārakaśca ādityān dṛḍhamārdayan

Varuna at once pierced his heart, and he fell as though dead. Meanwhile Maya, Tara, and Taraka were sorely afflicting the Adityas.

Verse 34 (skanda.8.115.34)

तेपि तान् विरथाञ्चक्रुः सर्वाञ्छरशतैस्त्रिभिः । शरभः शतकेतुश्च बलो मूकश्च दानवः

tepi tān virathāñcakruḥ sarvāñcharaśataistribhiḥ | śarabhaḥ śataketuśca balo mūkaśca dānavaḥ

But the Adityas, in turn, with three hundred arrows apiece, stripped every one of them of their chariots. Meanwhile Sharabha, Shataketu, Bala, and the danava Muka -

Verse 35 (skanda.8.115.35)

रुद्रानस्त्रैर्बहुविधैर्नादयन्तोर्दयन्युधि । तेषामस्त्राणि तानि स्म प्रतिवार्य महाबलाः

rudrānastrairbahuvidhairnādayantordayanyudhi | teṣāmastrāṇi tāni sma prativārya mahābalāḥ

- roaring with weapons of many kinds, tormented the Rudras in the fray. Those mighty Rudras, warding off their weapons in turn -

Verse 36 (skanda.8.115.36)

शलभा इव केदारान् मुहूर्तेन व्यनाशयन् । ते काल्यमानास्तै रुद्रैर्बहुभिर्विरथास्तदा

śalabhā iva kedārān muhūrtena vyanāśayan | te kālyamānāstai rudrairbahubhirvirathāstadā

- destroyed them in an instant, as locusts consume a field of grain. Driven back by those many Rudras, stripped now of their chariots,

Verse 37 (skanda.8.115.37)

रणं त्यक्त्वा महामाया विपलायन्त सर्वशः । शम्भुः कार्तस्वनश्चैव महामायश्च शम्बरः

raṇaṁ tyaktvā mahāmāyā vipalāyanta sarvaśaḥ | śambhuḥ kārtasvanaścaiva mahāmāyaśca śambaraḥ

- those great illusionists abandoned the field and fled in every direction. Meanwhile Shambhu, Karttasvana, and the great illusionist Shambara -

Verse 38 (skanda.8.115.38)

वसूनभ्यद्रवन् युद्धे गजाः प्रतिगजानिव । तेषान्तु वसवः सर्वे स्वापनास्त्रं ससर्जिरे

vasūnabhyadravan yuddhe gajāḥ pratigajāniva | teṣāntu vasavaḥ sarve svāpanāstraṁ sasarjire

- rushed upon the Vasus in battle, like elephants charging opposing elephants. But all the Vasus then loosed upon them the weapon of sleep,

Verse 39 (skanda.8.115.39)

रथेष्ववस्थिता येन बभुः सुप्ता यथा मृगाः । तान् सुप्तान् रथयन्तारो रणात्तस्मादपाहरन्

ratheṣvavasthitā yena babhuḥ suptā yathā mṛgāḥ | tān suptān rathayantāro raṇāttasmādapāharan

whereby, as they sat upon their chariots, they fell asleep like deer. Their charioteers then removed those sleeping warriors from the field of battle,

Verse 40 (skanda.8.115.40)

हरतां चैव सूतानामुत्तमाङ्गान्यपातयन् । ते हतेष्वथ सूतेषु उद्भ्रान्तैर्वाजिभिस्तदा

haratāṁ caiva sūtānāmuttamāṅgānyapātayan | te hateṣvatha sūteṣu udbhrāntairvājibhistadā

but even as they carried them off, the heads of those charioteers themselves were struck down. With the charioteers thus slain, then, with the horses running wild and uncontrolled -

Verse 41 (skanda.8.115.41)

सुप्ता एव रणे सर्वे भ्राम्यन्ते दितिसूनवः । नरकोथ हयग्रीवस्तथेन्द्रदमनोपि च

suptā eva raṇe sarve bhrāmyante ditisūnavaḥ | narakotha hayagrīvastathendradamanopi ca

- all those sons of Diti, still asleep, were dragged wandering about the battlefield. Meanwhile Naraka, Hayagriva, and the demon Indradamana as well -

Verse 42 (skanda.8.115.42)

अश्विनौ द्वौ सुसंयत्ता युयुधुस्ते सुरेश्वराः । तानापतत एवाथ तौ देवौ भिषजां वरौ

aśvinau dvau susaṁyattā yuyudhuste sureśvarāḥ | tānāpatata evātha tau devau bhiṣajāṁ varau

- fought, well-prepared, against the two Ashvin gods, foremost among the divinities. But as they charged upon them, those two gods, best of physicians -

Verse 43 (skanda.8.115.43)

दण्डेनास्त्रेण विरथान् सर्वानेव प्रचक्रतुः । पुनश्चापततः सर्वान् गदिनः क्रोधमूर्छितान्

daṇḍenāstreṇa virathān sarvāneva pracakratuḥ | punaścāpatataḥ sarvān gadinaḥ krodhamūrchitān

- with the rod-weapon stripped every one of them of their chariots. Then, when all of them, wielding maces, senseless with rage, charged again -

Verse 44 (skanda.8.115.44)

वायव्यास्त्रेण सहसा संचिक्षिपतुराहवे । अन्ये चान्याँस्तदा देवा दितिपुत्रान् व्यपोथयन्

vāyavyāstreṇa sahasā saṁcikṣipaturāhave | anye cānyām̐stadā devā ditiputrān vyapothayan

- with the weapon of Vayu they instantly swept them away in the fray. And elsewhere the other gods likewise crushed the other sons of Diti,

Verse 45 (skanda.8.115.45)

अभज्यन्त यथा सिंहैर्मृगारण्येभिसंहताः । प्रह्लादश्चापि दैत्येन्द्रो विष्णुना सह संगतः

abhajyanta yathā siṁhairmṛgāraṇyebhisaṁhatāḥ | prahlādaścāpi daityendro viṣṇunā saha saṅgataḥ

so that they scattered as forest deer scatter, hemmed in by lions. Meanwhile Prahlada too, lord of the demons, was locked in combat with Vishnu.

Verse 46 (skanda.8.115.46)

महत् कृत्वा तदा युद्धं विरथः समपद्यत । स चक्रेण हताश्वस्तु हतसूतपदानुगः

mahat kṛtvā tadā yuddhaṁ virathaḥ samapadyata | sa cakreṇa hatāśvastu hatasūtapadānugaḥ

After waging a great battle, he was stripped of his chariot - his horses slain by the discus, his charioteer and foot-attendants slain as well.

Verse 47 (skanda.8.115.47)

गदां गृहीत्वा प्रस्कन्द्य जनार्दनमुपाद्रवत् । तस्योद्यतकरस्याथ धावतश्च महामुने

gadāṁ gṛhītvā praskandya janārdanamupādravat | tasyodyatakarasyātha dhāvataśca mahāmune

Seizing his mace and leaping forward, he rushed at Janardana. O great sage, as he ran, his hand raised to strike,

Verse 48 (skanda.8.115.48)

चिच्छेद तां गदामाशु चक्रेणैव जनार्दनः । अथ ते दानवाः शूरस्तैर्देवैर्भग्नविक्रमाः

cicheda tāṁ gadāmāśu cakreṇaiva janārdanaḥ | atha te dānavāḥ śūrastairdevairbhagnavikramāḥ

Janardana at once severed that mace with his very discus. Then those heroic danavas, their prowess broken by those gods,

Verse 49 (skanda.8.115.49)

अभज्यन्त यथा सिंहैर्वने मृगगणा भयात् । तान्भग्नान् भज्यमानाँश्च दृष्टवा त्यक्त्वा रणं ययुः

abhajyanta yathā siṁhairvane mṛgagaṇā bhayāt | tānbhagnān bhajyamānām̐śca dṛṣṭavā tyaktvā raṇaṁ yayuḥ

scattered like herds of deer in a forest, fleeing in terror before lions. Seeing them thus broken and fleeing, the rest too abandoned the battle and departed.

Verse 50 (skanda.8.115.50)

प्रह्लादोपि रणं त्यक्त्वा तानेवानुजगाम ह । तेषु भग्नेष्वथेन्द्रस्य जयशब्दं सुपूजितम्

prahlādopi raṇaṁ tyaktvā tānevānujagāma ha | teṣu bhagneṣvathendrasya jayaśabdaṁ supūjitam

Prahlada too abandoned the battle and followed after them. When they had been thus routed, the joyous cry proclaiming Indra's victory, well honoured, rose up,

Verse 51 (skanda.8.115.51)

समं चक्रुस्तदा देवाः सनारायणलोकपाः । सिंहनादांश्च विविधान् वादित्राणि न्यवादयन्

samaṁ cakrustadā devāḥ sanārāyaṇalokapāḥ | siṁhanādāṁśca vividhān vāditrāṇi nyavādayan

and all the gods, together with Narayana and the guardians of the quarters, raised it together with one voice, roaring diverse lion-roars and sounding their instruments.