The Battle of Darkness

Verse 1 (skanda.8.129.1)

सनत्कुमार उवाच । अतः परं प्रवक्ष्यामि हालाहलमशेषतः । संग्रामं दितिपुत्राणां देवानां च भयावहम्

sanatkumāra uvāca | ataḥ paraṁ pravakṣyāmi hālāhalamaśeṣataḥ | saṁgrāmaṁ ditiputrāṇāṁ devānāṁ ca bhayāvaham

Sanatkumara said: Hereafter I shall relate in full the tale of Halahala, the terror-causing battle of the sons of Diti and the gods.

Verse 2 (skanda.8.129.2)

हालाहल इति ख्यातो गणो विक्रान्तपौरुषः । असुराणां बभौ व्यास दारुणो ब्रह्मकण्टकः

hālāhala iti khyāto gaṇo vikrāntapauruṣaḥ | asurāṇāṁ babhau vyāsa dāruṇo brahmakaṇṭakaḥ

O Vyasa, there was a troop of the Asuras, known as Halahala, of valorous manhood, terrible, a thorn to dharma.

Verse 3 (skanda.8.129.3)

गतेषु दनुपुत्रेषु स गणः क्रोधमूर्च्छितः । बलं कृत्वा मुखं सर्वान् देवान्युद्धे समाह्वयत्

gateṣu danuputreṣu sa gaṇaḥ krodhamūrcchitaḥ | balaṁ kṛtvā mukhaṁ sarvān devānyuddhe samāhvayat

When the sons of Danu had departed, that troop, overcome with rage, having gathered its forces to the fore, challenged all the gods to battle.

Verse 4 (skanda.8.129.4)

तेषां तेषाञ्च संग्रामः सुघोरः समवर्तत । असुराणां जयश्चैव सदैव समपद्यत

teṣāṁ teṣāñca saṁgrāmaḥ sughoraḥ samavartata | asurāṇāṁ jayaścaiva sadaiva samapadyata

A very terrible battle took place between them, and victory always fell to the Asuras.

Verse 5 (skanda.8.129.5)

ततस्ते विबुधाः सर्वे विदर्पा हतविक्रमाः । हृतराज्याभ्यगच्छन्त ब्रह्माणं लोककारणम्

tataste vibudhāḥ sarve vidarpā hatavikramāḥ | hṛtarājyābhyagacchanta brahmāṇaṁ lokakāraṇam

Then all those gods, their pride crushed, their valor destroyed, their kingdom lost, went to Brahma, the cause of the world.

Verse 6 (skanda.8.129.6)

ते तमूचूश्च संहत्य हृतराज्याः स्म सांप्रतम । कथं राज्यं पुनर्देव लभेम तव तेजसा

te tamūcūśca saṁhatya hṛtarājyāḥ sma sāṁpratama | kathaṁ rājyaṁ punardeva labhema tava tejasā

Gathered together, they said to him: 'We have lost our kingdom now; how, O god, may we regain our kingdom through your power?'

Verse 7 (skanda.8.129.7)

तेषां श्रुत्वा वचस्तद्वै देवः सलिलसम्भवः । उवाच देवान् देवेशं प्रसादयत मा चिरम्

teṣāṁ śrutvā vacastadvai devaḥ salilasambhavaḥ | uvāca devān deveśaṁ prasādayata mā ciram

Hearing their words, the god born of the waters said to the gods: 'Propitiate the Lord of gods, without delay.'

Verse 8 (skanda.8.129.8)

स वो दाता महावीर्यो बलं देवस्त्रिलोचनः । येन तान् समरे सर्वान् विक्रमेण विजेष्यथ

sa vo dātā mahāvīryo balaṁ devastrilocanaḥ | yena tān samare sarvān vikrameṇa vijeṣyatha

'He, the three-eyed god of great valor, is the giver of strength to you, by which you shall conquer all of them in battle through valor.'

Verse 9 (skanda.8.129.9)

सनत्कुमार उवाच । त एवमुक्ता देवेशं तपसाराध्य शङ्करम् । ऊचुः प्राञ्जलयो देवा बलं नो देहि यज्ञहन्

sanatkumāra uvāca | ta evamuktā deveśaṁ tapasārādhya śaṅkaram | ūcuḥ prāñjalayo devā balaṁ no dehi yajñahan

Sanatkumara said: Thus addressed, having propitiated Shankara, Lord of gods, through austerity, the gods, with joined palms, said: 'Give us strength, O Yajnahan.'

Verse 10 (skanda.8.129.10)

तेषां तु जपतामेवं तपसा तोषितो हरः । ददौ मन्त्रमनाधृष्यं सर्वमन्त्रोत्तमं तदा

teṣāṁ tu japatāmevaṁ tapasā toṣito haraḥ | dadau mantramanādhṛṣyaṁ sarvamantrottamaṁ tadā

As they thus recited, Hara, pleased by their austerity, then gave them an unassailable mantra, the best of all mantras.

Verse 11 (skanda.8.129.11)

तं ते संप्राप्य विप्रर्षे कृतरक्षा दिवौकसः । अमूढा मूढवत् सर्वे असुरेष्वचरन् ततः

taṁ te saṁprāpya viprarṣe kṛtarakṣā divaukasaḥ | amūḍhā mūḍhavat sarve asureṣvacaran tataḥ

O sage among brahmins, having obtained it, the gods, protected by it, though not deluded, all moved among the Asuras as if deluded.

Verse 12 (skanda.8.129.12)

असुरास्तु तदा मूढान् दृष्ट्वा सर्वान्दिवौकसः । अमन्यन्त दुराचारा मूढा इति यथातथम्

asurāstu tadā mūḍhān dṛṣṭvā sarvāndivaukasaḥ | amanyanta durācārā mūḍhā iti yathātatham

The evil-natured Asuras, seeing all the gods as if deluded, truly believed them to be deluded, exactly as they appeared.

Verse 13 (skanda.8.129.13)

हृतरज्या इमे देवाः सर्वे मूढेन चेतसा । उन्मत्ता विभ्रमन्त्येवं पश्यतैतान् सुरेतराः

hṛtarajyā ime devāḥ sarve mūḍhena cetasā | unmattā vibhramantyevaṁ paśyataitān suretarāḥ

'These gods, having lost their kingdom, all with deluded minds, wander about like madmen — look at them,' said the Asuras.

Verse 14 (skanda.8.129.14)

आक्रोशन्तोपरे ताँस्तु अभिजघ्नुश्च दारुणम् । बबन्धुश्च यथाकामं मुमुचुश्च तथापरे

ākrośantopare tā~stu abhijaghnuśca dāruṇam | babandhuśca yathākāmaṁ mumucuśca tathāpare

Some, jeering at them, struck them cruelly; some bound them at will, while others released them.

Verse 15 (skanda.8.129.15)

एवं तेषां तदा व्यास वर्ततां शुभकर्मणाम् । सुमहानभवद् धर्मः असुराणां व्यनीनशत्

evaṁ teṣāṁ tadā vyāsa vartatāṁ śubhakarmaṇām | sumahānabhavad dharmaḥ asurāṇāṁ vyanīnaśat

O Vyasa, thus, while they conducted themselves well, a very great store of dharma accumulated for them, which destroyed the Asuras.

Verse 16 (skanda.8.129.16)

तेषां तेनापचारेण असुराणां दुरात्मनान् । धर्मनाशाद् बलं क्षीणं बुबुधुर्देवतागणाः

teṣāṁ tenāpacāreṇa asurāṇāṁ durātmanān | dharmanāśād balaṁ kṣīṇaṁ bubudhurdevatāgaṇāḥ

Through that offense of theirs, the strength of those evil-souled Asuras waned as their dharma was lost — and the hosts of gods perceived this.

Verse 17 (skanda.8.129.17)

सनत्कुमार उवाच । ततस्ते ब्रह्मणाभ्युक्ताः सर्वे दिव्यास्त्रधारिणः । आहूयासुरशार्दूलान् युद्धे सर्वान्न्यसूदयत्

sanatkumāra uvāca | tataste brahmaṇābhyuktāḥ sarve divyāstradhāriṇaḥ | āhūyāsuraśārdūlān yuddhe sarvānnyasūdayat

Sanatkumara said: Then, instructed by Brahma, all wielding divine weapons, having summoned the tigers among the Asuras, they slew all of them in battle.

Verse 18 (skanda.8.129.18)

बलो यत्र हतः संख्ये वज्रेण शतपर्वणा । देवेन्द्रेणाभिविक्रम्य बलहा स यतः स्मृतः

balo yatra hataḥ saṁkhye vajreṇa śataparvaṇā | devendreṇābhivikramya balahā sa yataḥ smṛtaḥ

Where Bala was slain in battle by the hundred-jointed thunderbolt, through Devendra's valorous onslaught — hence he is remembered as Balaha, 'slayer of Bala.'

Verse 19 (skanda.8.129.19)

सनत्कुमार उवाच । अन्धकारकमन्यच्च युद्धमासीत् सुभैरवम् । दशवर्षसहस्राणि शतानि च पुनर्दश

sanatkumāra uvāca | andhakārakamanyacca yuddhamāsīt subhairavam | daśavarṣasahasrāṇi śatāni ca punardaśa

Sanatkumara said: There was another most terrible battle bringing darkness, lasting ten thousand years and again ten hundred more.

Verse 20 (skanda.8.129.20)

आसीद् दनुसुतः श्रीमान् देवतान्तक इत्युत । स मायां संपरीप्सन् वै रुद्रमाराधयत् पुरा

āsīd danusutaḥ śrīmān devatāntaka ityuta | sa māyāṁ saṁparīpsan vai rudramārādhayat purā

There was a glorious son of Danu named Devatantaka; desiring to obtain magic power, he formerly propitiated Rudra.

Verse 21 (skanda.8.129.21)

तस्मै वर्षसहस्रेण वरकाल उपस्थिते । ब्रह्मा ददौ वरं व्यास दनोः पुत्राय धीमते

tasmai varṣasahasreṇa varakāla upasthite | brahmā dadau varaṁ vyāsa danoḥ putrāya dhīmate

After a thousand years, when the time for the boon arrived, O Vyasa, Brahma granted a boon to that wise son of Danu.

Verse 22 (skanda.8.129.22)

स वव्रे तामसीं मायां सर्वभूतप्रबाधनीम् । अभेद्यामनिवार्याञ्च यां तु वेत्ति न कश्चन

sa vavre tāmasīṁ māyāṁ sarvabhūtaprabādhanīm | abhedyāmanivāryāñca yāṁ tu vetti na kaścana

He chose a dark magic power, afflicting all beings, unbreakable and irresistible, which no one at all can know or counter.

Verse 23 (skanda.8.129.23)

तस्मै प्रादात् स तां मायामिदं चोवाच तं तदा । भविष्यति हि मायेयं यथोक्ता ते महाबल । करिष्यसि न चेच्छब्दं यथाकामं दनोः सुत

tasmai prādāt sa tāṁ māyāmidaṁ covāca taṁ tadā | bhaviṣyati hi māyeyaṁ yathoktā te mahābala | kariṣyasi na cecchabdaṁ yathākāmaṁ danoḥ suta

He granted him that magic power and said this to him: 'This magic power shall indeed be as described to you, O mighty one, O son of Danu — provided you make no sound, it will work as you wish.'

Verse 24 (skanda.8.129.24)

सनत्कुमार उवाच । अथ लब्धवरो व्यास मायाच्छन्तोसुरस्ततः । बहुभिर्दानवैः सार्धं सर्वाँल्लोकानबाधत

sanatkumāra uvāca | atha labdhavaro vyāsa māyācchantosurastataḥ | bahubhirdānavaiḥ sārdhaṁ sarvā~llokānabādhata

Sanatkumara said: O Vyasa, then, having obtained the boon, that Asura, concealed by magic, together with many Danavas, began to oppress all the worlds.

Verse 25 (skanda.8.129.25)

देवा अपि भयात्तस्य नावतिष्ठन् तदग्रतः । देवाः सर्वे भयोद्विग्नास्तस्थुर्नैव तदग्रतः । स्थानानि ते परित्यज्य यत्र तत्रावतस्थिरे

devā api bhayāttasya nāvatiṣṭhan tadagrataḥ | devāḥ sarve bhayodvignāstasthurnaiva tadagrataḥ | sthānāni te parityajya yatra tatrāvatasthire

Even the gods, out of fear of him, would not stand before him; all the gods, distressed with fear, never stood before him, and, abandoning their own places, settled here and there.

Verse 26 (skanda.8.129.26)

आहूताः क्रूरशब्देन दानवैर्बलदर्पितैः । तथापि नावतिष्ठन्त तेषामग्रे दिवौकसः

āhūtāḥ krūraśabdena dānavairbaladarpitaiḥ | tathāpi nāvatiṣṭhanta teṣāmagre divaukasaḥ

Though summoned with cruel shouts by the Danavas, proud of their strength, the gods still would not stand before them.

Verse 27 (skanda.8.129.27)

ऋषयस्तानिदं प्राप्य ऊचुः सर्वे प्रमन्यवः । रक्षां कुरुत लोकानां मावलीनावतिष्ठत

ṛṣayastānidaṁ prāpya ūcuḥ sarve pramanyavaḥ | rakṣāṁ kuruta lokānāṁ māvalīnāvatiṣṭhata

The sages, finding them in this state, all said, indignant: 'Protect the worlds; do not remain hidden.'

Verse 28 (skanda.8.129.28)

वयं च तपसा देवा धारयिष्याम संयताः । मा भयं वोस्तु युध्यध्वं कुरुध्वं विज्वरं जगत्

vayaṁ ca tapasā devā dhārayiṣyāma saṁyatāḥ | mā bhayaṁ vostu yudhyadhvaṁ kurudhvaṁ vijvaraṁ jagat

'And we, self-restrained, shall sustain you with our austerity, O gods. Have no fear; fight, and free the world from its affliction.'

Verse 29 (skanda.8.129.29)

त एवमुक्तास्तैर्व्यास ऋषिभिर्लोककारणात् । भयान्नैवावतिष्ठन्त तस्य दस्योस्तदाग्रतः

ta evamuktāstairvyāsa ṛṣibhirlokakāraṇāt | bhayānnaivāvatiṣṭhanta tasya dasyostadāgrataḥ

O Vyasa, thus addressed by those sages for the sake of the world, still, out of fear, they would not stand before that plunderer.

Verse 30 (skanda.8.129.30)

सनत्कुमार उवाच । यदा नैवावतिष्ठन्ते तथाप्युक्ता दिवौकसः । उपायमपरं प्राहुस्तदा ते मुनिसत्तमाः

sanatkumāra uvāca | yadā naivāvatiṣṭhante tathāpyuktā divaukasaḥ | upāyamaparaṁ prāhustadā te munisattamāḥ

Sanatkumara said: When, even though so urged, the gods still would not stand, those best of sages then proposed another method.

Verse 31 (skanda.8.129.31)

आहूयाप्सरसः सर्वा विसृज्यन्तां सुरोत्तमाः । कामेनाविष्टमनसामसुराणामुपान्तिकम्

āhūyāpsarasaḥ sarvā visṛjyantāṁ surottamāḥ | kāmenāviṣṭamanasāmasurāṇāmupāntikam

'Let all the Apsaras be summoned, O best of gods, and sent forth into the presence of the Asuras, whose minds are to be possessed by desire.'

Verse 32 (skanda.8.129.32)

ताँस्तास्वासक्तहृदयान् पीतमैरेयविह्वलान् । विक्रम्य हंस्यथ सुरा बलाद्युद्धे बलीयसः

tā~stāsvāsaktahṛdayān pītamaireyavihvalān | vikramya haṁsyatha surā balādyuddhe balīyasaḥ

'When their hearts are attached to them, and they are overcome, having drunk wine, then you gods, advancing with valor, shall by force slay those mightier in battle.'

Verse 33 (skanda.8.129.33)

सनत्कुमार उवाच । ततस्ताः प्रहिता देवैर्वञ्चनार्थं सुरद्विषाम् । क्वणन्नूपुरनिर्ह्रादकूजितोत्कर्णसारसाः

sanatkumāra uvāca | tatastāḥ prahitā devairvañcanārthaṁ suradviṣām | kvaṇannūpuranirhrādakūjitotkarṇasārasāḥ

Sanatkumara said: Then those Apsaras, sent forth by the gods for the deception of the gods' enemies, their anklets' tinkling rousing the attentive cranes,

Verse 34 (skanda.8.129.34)

पीनोत्तुङ्गस्तनाभोगहारविक्षिप्तयष्टयः । वित्रस्तबालहरिणीसदृशायतलोचनाः

pīnottuṅgastanābhogahāravikṣiptayaṣṭayaḥ | vitrastabālahariṇīsadṛśāyatalocanāḥ

with slender waists set off by the fullness and necklaces of their high, round breasts, with long eyes like those of a startled young doe,

Verse 35 (skanda.8.129.35)

चलत्कुण्डलसंघृष्टपाण्डरागण्डमण्डलाः । शिखिकण्ठच्छविहरश्लक्ष्णवासोधराः पराः

calatkuṇḍalasaṁghṛṣṭapāṇḍarāgaṇḍamaṇḍalāḥ | śikhikaṇṭhacchaviharaślakṣṇavāsodharāḥ parāḥ

with pale, round cheeks rubbed by swaying earrings, wearing smooth garments the color of a peacock's throat, most excellent,

Verse 36 (skanda.8.129.36)

प्रत्यग्रविद्रुमच्छेदताम्रोष्ठाधरपंक्तयः । वस्त्रान्तकुसुमापीडसंसक्तकरपल्लवाः

pratyagravidrumacchedatāmroṣṭhādharapaṁktayaḥ | vastrāntakusumāpīḍasaṁsaktakarapallavāḥ

with lips red as freshly-cut coral, their sprout-like hands linked with flower-garlands at the border of their garments,

Verse 37 (skanda.8.129.37)

नैकरत्नप्रभाकीर्ण्णकेयूराबद्धबाहवः । मयूरबर्हसंकाशचारुकुञ्चितमूर्धजाः

naikaratnaprabhākīrṇṇakeyūrābaddhabāhavaḥ | mayūrabarhasaṁkāśacārukuñcitamūrdhajāḥ

their arms bound with armlets scattered with the radiance of many jewels, their beautiful curling hair like a peacock's plumage,

Verse 38 (skanda.8.129.38)

कल्पद्रुमसमुद्भूतकुसुमस्रग्विभूषणाः । शुकाङ्गहरिताकारकञ्चुकोत्तंसितस्तनाः

kalpadrumasamudbhūtakusumasragvibhūṣaṇāḥ | śukāṅgaharitākārakañcukottaṁsitastanāḥ

adorned with garlands of flowers sprung from the wish-fulfilling tree, their breasts crowned with bodices green as a parrot's body,

Verse 39 (skanda.8.129.39)

मत्तमातङ्गविक्रान्तलीलाविभ्रमरेचकाः । मत्तकोकिलदात्यूह कलनिस्वनभाषिताः

mattamātaṅgavikrāntalīlāvibhramarecakāḥ | mattakokiladātyūha kalanisvanabhāṣitāḥ

with the swaying, playful gait of intoxicated elephants, speaking with the sweet sounds of intoxicated cuckoos and Datyuha birds,

Verse 40 (skanda.8.129.40)

महतामप्युपात्तानां तपसां विघ्नहेतवः । दर्शयामासुरात्मानं विद्विषां वधहेतवः

mahatāmapyupāttānāṁ tapasāṁ vighnahetavaḥ | darśayāmāsurātmānaṁ vidviṣāṁ vadhahetavaḥ

causing obstruction even to great austerities already accumulated, they showed themselves — the cause of the enemies' death.

Verse 41 (skanda.8.129.41)

अथ तेप्सरसो दृष्टवा दैतेयाः काममोहिताः । तासामर्थे वराङ्गीनामभिजघ्नुः परस्परम्

atha tepsaraso dṛṣṭavā daiteyāḥ kāmamohitāḥ | tāsāmarthe varāṅgīnāmabhijaghnuḥ parasparam

Then the Daityas, seeing those Apsaras, deluded by desire, struck one another for the sake of those lovely women.

Verse 42 (skanda.8.129.42)

गदा परिघचक्रासिशूलमुद्गरशक्तिभिः । धनुःकुलिशतीक्ष्णाग्र भिन्दिपालपरश्वधैः

gadā parighacakrāsiśūlamudgaraśaktibhiḥ | dhanuḥkuliśatīkṣṇāgra bhindipālaparaśvadhaiḥ

with maces, iron bars, discuses, swords, tridents, clubs, and spears; with bows, sharp-tipped thunder-weapons, javelins, and axes,

Verse 43 (skanda.8.129.43)

ममेयञ्चारुसर्वाङ्गी न तवेयं सुमध्यमा । अथवा युद्धशुल्कास्तु मुञ्चैनां प्रहरस्व माम्

mameyañcārusarvāṅgī na taveyaṁ sumadhyamā | athavā yuddhaśulkāstu muñcaināṁ praharasva mām

'This lovely one, perfect in every limb, is mine, not yours, this slender-waisted one; or else, let her be the prize of battle — release her, strike me instead,'

Verse 44 (skanda.8.129.44)

इत्युक्त्वा विविधा वाचो दैतेयाः कालचोदिताः । अन्योन्यवधमासाद्य प्रजग्मुस्ते यमक्षयम्

ityuktvā vividhā vāco daiteyāḥ kālacoditāḥ | anyonyavadhamāsādya prajagmuste yamakṣayam

having spoken various such words, the Daityas, driven by Time, having brought about mutual slaughter, went to the abode of Yama.

Verse 45 (skanda.8.129.45)

हतशिष्टास्तु ये तत्र दानवाः शान्तपौरुषाः । विबुधैरुग्रतेजोभिस्तेपि सर्वे रणे हताः

hataśiṣṭāstu ye tatra dānavāḥ śāntapauruṣāḥ | vibudhairugratejobhistepi sarve raṇe hatāḥ

And those Danavas who survived the slaughter there, their manhood spent, were also all slain in battle by the gods of fierce splendor.

Verse 46 (skanda.8.129.46)

य इदं पठते विशुद्धबुद्धिर्निधनं संसदि दानवेश्वराणाम् । मनुजो युवतीरिहैव लोके स लभेदप्सरसां समानरूपाः

ya idaṁ paṭhate viśuddhabuddhirnidhanaṁ saṁsadi dānaveśvarāṇām | manujo yuvatīrihaiva loke sa labhedapsarasāṁ samānarūpāḥ

Whatever man of pure understanding recites this account of the destruction of the lords of the Danavas in an assembly, he obtains, right here in this world, young women resembling Apsaras in beauty.