The Slaying of Kartasvana

Verse 1 (skanda.8.142.1)

तस्मिन् वर्तति संग्रामे प्रमथासुरसैन्ययोः । धनुषां श्रूयते शब्दः प्रावृडम्बुधरोपमः ।।

tasmin vartati saṁgrāme pramathāsurasainyayoḥ | dhanuṣāṁ śrūyate śabdaḥ prāvṛḍambudharopamaḥ ||

In that battle between the armies of the pramathas and the demons, the twang of bows resounded like the roar of monsoon clouds.

Verse 2 (skanda.8.142.2)

गर्जताञ्च गजेन्द्राणां ह्रेषताञ्चैव वाजिनाम् । युद्धगान्धर्वरक्तानां नादाश्चामररक्षसाम् ।।

garjatāñca gajendrāṇāṁ hreṣatāñcaiva vājinām | yuddhagāndharvaraktānāṁ nādāścāmararakṣasām ||

The trumpeting of great elephants, the neighing of horses, the cries of gandharvas thrilled by battle, and the shouts of gods and demons alike could all be heard.

Verse 3 (skanda.8.142.3)

श्रोत्रायासकरा घोरा वज्राशनिरवा इव । श्रूयन्ते हि विवर्धन्ते ह्यर्था ह्यधर्मिणामिव ।।

śrotrāyāsakarā ghorā vajrāśaniravā iva | śrūyante hi vivardhante hyarthā hyadharmiṇāmiva ||

Terrible sounds, wearying to the ear like the crash of thunder and lightning, could be heard, swelling ever louder — as the ill-gotten gains of the unrighteous keep swelling.

Verse 4 (skanda.8.142.4)

ततः कार्तस्वनो नाम दानवो मेघनिस्वनः । जघान प्रमथान् युद्धे कालो मर्त्यानिवागतः ।।

tataḥ kārtasvano nāma dānavo meghanisvanaḥ | jaghāna pramathān yuddhe kālo martyānivāgataḥ ||

Then the demon named Kartasvana, thundering like a cloud, began slaying the pramathas in battle, as Death comes to slay mortal men.

Verse 5 (skanda.8.142.5)

स रथी कार्मुकी बाणी कवची कुण्डली तथा । प्रमथानीकमदहच्छुष्कं तृणमिवानलः ।।

sa rathī kārmukī bāṇī kavacī kuṇḍalī tathā | pramathānīkamadahacchuṣkaṁ tṛṇamivānalaḥ ||

Mounted on his chariot, bow and arrows in hand, clad in armour, adorned with earrings, he consumed the pramatha army, as fire consumes dry grass.

Verse 6 (skanda.8.142.6)

कार्तस्वनधनुर्मुक्ताः कार्तस्वरमहाशराः । प्रमथान्दार्य निस्सङ्गं दारयन्ति रणावनिम् ।।

kārtasvanadhanurmuktāḥ kārtasvaramahāśarāḥ | pramathāndārya nissaṅgaṁ dārayanti raṇāvanim ||

The great golden shafts loosed from Kartasvana's bow tore through the pramathas without mercy, and gouged even the battle-ground itself.

Verse 7 (skanda.8.142.7)

शलभा इव केदाराननया इव मानवान् । खगा इव तरून् पक्वान गरुडः पन्नगानिव ।।

śalabhā iva kedārānanayā iva mānavān | khagā iva tarūn pakvāna garuḍaḥ pannagāniva ||

As locusts descend on a field, as famine on men, as birds on a fruit-laden tree, as Garuda on serpents —

Verse 8 (skanda.8.142.8)

तथा ते पृथवो बाणाः कार्तस्वनधनुश्च्युताः । प्रमथान् व्याकुलीचक्रुर्वासवृक्षानिवाण्डजाः ।।

tathā te pṛthavo bāṇāḥ kārtasvanadhanuścyutāḥ | pramathān vyākulīcakrurvāsavṛkṣānivāṇḍajāḥ ||

— so those broad shafts loosed from Kartasvana's bow threw the pramathas into confusion, as birds swarm and unsettle the trees they roost in.

Verse 9 (skanda.8.142.9)

शरव्राता गणानीके निपतन्ति गिराविव ।।

śaravrātā gaṇānīke nipatanti girāviva ||

[one line of the source text is lost here] Showers of arrows fell upon the army of the ganas, as rain falls upon the mountains.

Verse 10 (skanda.8.142.10)

प्रशान्तवाद्यनिनदं शरघातातिवेजितम् । गणेश्वरबलं जज्ञे बन्धुजीववनं यथा ।।

praśāntavādyaninadaṁ śaraghātātivejitam | gaṇeśvarabalaṁ jajñe bandhujīvavanaṁ yathā ||

Battered relentlessly by that hail of arrows, the martial music of the gana-lords' army fell silent, like a grove of bandhujiva trees stilled after a gale.

Verse 11 (skanda.8.142.11)

घनानिव यथा वायुर्वैनतेय इवोरगान् । पृषतानिव शार्दूलस्तमौघानिव भास्करः ।।

ghanāniva yathā vāyurvainateya ivoragān | pṛṣatāniva śārdūlastamaughāniva bhāskaraḥ ||

As the wind scatters clouds, as Garuda scatters serpents, as a tiger scatters deer, as the sun scatters masses of darkness —

Verse 12 (skanda.8.142.12)

तथा कार्तस्वनः क्रुद्धः शरवज्रैः सुदारुणैः । निर्ददाह गणाध्यक्षान् लोकान् संवर्तको यथा ।।

tathā kārtasvanaḥ kruddhaḥ śaravajraiḥ sudāruṇaiḥ | nirdadāha gaṇādhyakṣān lokān saṁvartako yathā ||

— so enraged Kartasvana scorched the chiefs of the ganas with terrible thunderbolt-like arrows, as the fire of dissolution consumes the worlds.

Verse 13 (skanda.8.142.13)

गणेश्वरबलं दृष्ट्वा दग्धं जग्धं रुजातुरम् । विट्पतिः कुपितो देवः कार्तस्वनमथाब्रवीत् ।।

gaṇeśvarabalaṁ dṛṣṭvā dagdhaṁ jagdhaṁ rujāturam | viṭpatiḥ kupito devaḥ kārtasvanamathābravīt ||

Seeing the gana-lords' army burnt, devoured, and racked with pain, the god Vitpati, enraged, addressed Kartasvana:

Verse 14 (skanda.8.142.14)

शरपातेथ संस्थित्या रुद्रो रुद्रपराक्रमः । दानवेन्द्रं प्रकुपितो निषङ्गादुद्धरञ्छरम् ।।

śarapātetha saṁsthityā rudro rudraparākramaḥ | dānavendraṁ prakupito niṣaṅgāduddharañcharam ||

Standing firm amid the rain of arrows, Rudra-mighty Vitpati, in a towering rage, drew an arrow from his quiver and spoke to the demon-lord —

Verse 15 (skanda.8.142.15)

कार्तस्वन बलं वीर्यं प्रतापश्च तवोत्तमः । किमेतानबलान् हंसि दानवेन्द्र गणेश्वरान् ।।

kārtasvana balaṁ vīryaṁ pratāpaśca tavottamaḥ | kimetānabalān haṁsi dānavendra gaṇeśvarān ||

'O Kartasvana, your strength, valour and majesty are indeed great — but why, O lord of demons, do you strike down these helpless gana-lords?'

Verse 16 (skanda.8.142.16)

आगच्छ यदि ते शक्तिर्यदि वा विद्यते बलम् । मया कुरुष्व संमर्दं मानद पश्य मे बलम् ।।

āgaccha yadi te śaktiryadi vā vidyate balam | mayā kuruṣva saṁmardaṁ mānada paśya me balam ||

'If you have strength, if you have power, come, grapple with me instead, O bestower of honour — and behold my strength as well!'

Verse 17 (skanda.8.142.17)

कुण्डलालंकृतं तेऽद्य दंष्ट्रांकुरविभूषणम् । पातयामि शिरो दैत्य तालाद्वातः फलं यथा ।।

kuṇḍalālaṁkṛtaṁ te'dya daṁṣṭrāṁkuravibhūṣaṇam | pātayāmi śiro daitya tālādvātaḥ phalaṁ yathā ||

'O daitya, today I shall bring down that head of yours, adorned with earrings and bristling with young tusks, as the wind brings down fruit from a palm tree.'

Verse 18 (skanda.8.142.18)

यद्यपि त्वाद्य रक्षन्ति दानवाः सान्धका रणे । तथापि ते हरिष्यामि प्राणानसुरपांसन ।।

yadyapi tvādya rakṣanti dānavāḥ sāndhakā raṇe | tathāpi te hariṣyāmi prāṇānasurapāṁsana ||

'Though the demons, with Andhaka among them, guard you today, still, O vilest of asuras, I shall take your life!'

Verse 19 (skanda.8.142.19)

इत्येवं नर्दमानस्य विट्पतेर्दानवो नदन् । ससर्ज बाणं मुक्त्वा च जगर्ज जलदो यथा ।।

ityevaṁ nardamānasya viṭpaterdānavo nadan | sasarja bāṇaṁ muktvā ca jagarja jalado yathā ||

As Vitpati thus roared his challenge, the demon roared back, loosed an arrow, and thundered like a storm-cloud.

Verse 20 (skanda.8.142.20)

ज्वलमानः स तु शरो घृतसिक्त इवानलः । घर्मार्कसदृशो भासा प्राधावद्विट्पतिं प्रति ।।

jvalamānaḥ sa tu śaro ghṛtasikta ivānalaḥ | gharmārkasadṛśo bhāsā prādhāvadviṭpatiṁ prati ||

Blazing like fire fed with ghee, radiant as the summer sun, that arrow sped straight at Vitpati.

Verse 21 (skanda.8.142.21)

निष्प्रभोऽर्कोऽभवत्तत्र तस्य भासा पतत्रिणः । कार्तस्वननिनादेन पतन्ति विहगाः क्षितौ ।।

niṣprabho'rko'bhavattatra tasya bhāsā patatriṇaḥ | kārtasvananinādena patanti vihagāḥ kṣitau ||

The sun himself grew dim before the brightness of that winged shaft, and birds fell from the sky at the roar of Kartasvana.

Verse 22 (skanda.8.142.22)

सोऽपि भासायुतो वाणः संवर्तक इवानलः । विट्पतेः कंकणे मग्नो निरये दुष्कृती यथा ।।

so'pi bhāsāyuto vāṇaḥ saṁvartaka ivānalaḥ | viṭpateḥ kaṁkaṇe magno niraye duṣkṛtī yathā ||

That arrow too, radiant as the fire of dissolution, sank harmlessly into Vitpati's bracelet, as a sinner sinks into hell.

Verse 23 (skanda.8.142.23)

ततस्तमेव निष्कृष्य दानवप्रहितं शरम् । कार्तस्वनाय चिक्षेप विट्पतिर्विननाद च ।।

tatastameva niṣkṛṣya dānavaprahitaṁ śaram | kārtasvanāya cikṣepa viṭpatirvinanāda ca ||

Then, pulling out that very shaft the demon had loosed, Vitpati hurled it back at Kartasvana with a roar.

Verse 24 (skanda.8.142.24)

स विट्पतिविनिर्मुक्तः शरो दानवनाशकृत् । दानवस्य शिरो यन्तुर्जहारेषुपथान् दश ।।

sa viṭpativinirmuktaḥ śaro dānavanāśakṛt | dānavasya śiro yanturjahāreṣupathān daśa ||

Loosed by Vitpati, that demon-slaying arrow tore off the head of the demon's charioteer and carried it ten bowshots away.

Verse 25 (skanda.8.142.25)

हते यन्तरि तस्याश्वाश्चपलाः शबलाः रणे । उद्भ्रान्ता रथमादाय श्येना इव यथामिषम् ।।

hate yantari tasyāśvāścapalāḥ śabalāḥ raṇe | udbhrāntā rathamādāya śyenā iva yathāmiṣam ||

With the charioteer slain, his skittish, dappled horses bolted, dragging the chariot away in wild confusion, like a hawk making off with its prey.

Verse 26 (skanda.8.142.26)

कार्तस्वनरथं यात किमासत निगृह्णत । इत्येवं दानवेन्द्राणां बभूव निनदो महान् ।।

kārtasvanarathaṁ yāta kimāsata nigṛhṇata | ityevaṁ dānavendrāṇāṁ babhūva ninado mahān ||

'Go after Kartasvana's chariot! Why do you sit idle? Seize it!' — such was the great uproar that arose among the demon-lords.

Verse 27 (skanda.8.142.27)

विस्तीर्णे मन्दरप्रस्थे भ्रमन् भाति रथोत्तमः । सादित्य इव सप्ताश्वो मेरौ रथवरो भ्रमन् ।।

vistīrṇe mandaraprasthe bhraman bhāti rathottamaḥ | sāditya iva saptāśvo merau rathavaro bhraman ||

Wheeling wildly over the broad plateau of Mount Mandara, that splendid chariot looked like the sun's own seven-horsed chariot circling Mount Meru.

Verse 28 (skanda.8.142.28)

अवप्लुत्य ततस्तस्माद्द्रुताश्वाद्रथसत्तमात् । कार्तस्वनो धनुष्पाणिरभिदुद्राव विट्पतिम् ।।

avaplutya tatastasmāddrutāśvādrathasattamāt | kārtasvano dhanuṣpāṇirabhidudrāva viṭpatim ||

Then, leaping down from that splendid, swift-horsed chariot, Kartasvana, bow in hand, charged straight at Vitpati.

Verse 29 (skanda.8.142.29)

बलयोस्तु ततो नादः साधुसाध्विति संबभौ । कार्तस्वने योद्धुकामे भूयो विट्पतिना सह ।।

balayostu tato nādaḥ sādhusādhviti saṁbabhau | kārtasvane yoddhukāme bhūyo viṭpatinā saha ||

As Kartasvana thus showed his will to fight Vitpati once more, a cry of 'well done!' rose from both armies.

Verse 30 (skanda.8.142.30)

स विट्पतिं वज्रनिभैर्बहुभिर्निशितैः शरैः । दानवोऽवाकिरन्मेघो यथा धारोत्करैर्गिरिम् ।।

sa viṭpatiṁ vajranibhairbahubhirniśitaiḥ śaraiḥ | dānavo'vākiranmegho yathā dhārotkarairgirim ||

That demon showered Vitpati with a multitude of sharp, thunderbolt-like arrows, as a cloud drenches a mountain with torrents of rain.

Verse 31 (skanda.8.142.31)

स कार्तस्वनबाणौघैर्घनौघैरिव सागरः । विट्पतिः पूर्यमाणोऽपि व्यथां नैव तदागमत् ।।

sa kārtasvanabāṇaughairghanaughairiva sāgaraḥ | viṭpatiḥ pūryamāṇo'pi vyathāṁ naiva tadāgamat ||

Though inundated by the flood of Kartasvana's arrows, as the sea is filled by masses of clouds, Vitpati felt no distress at all.

Verse 32 (skanda.8.142.32)

आकर्णात्कार्मुकं सोऽथ विकृष्य बलवान् बलात् । चिच्छेद दैत्येन्द्रशरान् द्विधैकैकं त्रिधा तथा ।।

ākarṇātkārmukaṁ so'tha vikṛṣya balavān balāt | ciccheda daityendraśarān dvidhaikaikaṁ tridhā tathā ||

Then mighty Vitpati, drawing his bow back to his ear with all his strength, cut each of the demon-lord's arrows into two or three pieces.

Verse 33 (skanda.8.142.33)

तानिषून्शातयित्वा तु पत्रिभिः प्राणभोजनैः । कार्तस्वनं सहस्रेण बिभेद च ननाद च ।।

tāniṣūnśātayitvā tu patribhiḥ prāṇabhojanaiḥ | kārtasvanaṁ sahasreṇa bibheda ca nanāda ca ||

Having cut down those shafts, he pierced Kartasvana with a thousand feathered, life-devouring arrows, and roared.

Verse 34 (skanda.8.142.34)

पृष्ठतो दृश्यमानास्यैः शरैस्तैर्दानवो बभौ । यथाचलो नागवरैर्विवरार्धविनिर्गतैः ।।

pṛṣṭhato dṛśyamānāsyaiḥ śaraistairdānavo babhau | yathācalo nāgavarairvivarārdhavinirgataiḥ ||

Pierced through by those arrows, their tips showing at his back, the demon looked like a mountain honeycombed with great serpents half-emerged from their burrows.

Verse 35 (skanda.8.142.35)

अथास्य कार्मुकं खड्गं शरावापञ्च पञ्चकम् । चिच्छेद रुद्रः संक्रुद्धस्तं च सोऽभ्यर्दयद्बली ।।

athāsya kārmukaṁ khaḍgaṁ śarāvāpañca pañcakam | ciccheda rudraḥ saṁkruddhastaṁ ca so'bhyardayadbalī ||

Rudra-fierce Vitpati, in utter fury and full of strength, cut away his bow, his sword and his five quivers, and battered him grievously.

Verse 36 (skanda.8.142.36)

अथ बाणमिन्द्रकुलिशेन समं कुपितं श्वसन्तमिव नागपतिम् । विससर्ज विट्पतिरुदारबलोदितिनन्दनार्दनमजिह्मगतिम् ।।

atha bāṇamindrakuliśena samaṁ kupitaṁ śvasantamiva nāgapatim | visasarja viṭpatirudārabaloditinandanārdanamajihmagatim ||

Then Vitpati, of noble strength, loosed an arrow equal to Indra's thunderbolt, hissing like an enraged king of serpents, unerring in its flight, a scourge to the sons of Diti.

Verse 37 (skanda.8.142.37)

शरराट् स रुद्रवरसंप्रहितः समराङ्गणे विसृतधूमलवः । असुराननं युधि जहार बलात् कमलं यथा मुनिरुदारमतिः ।।

śararāṭ sa rudravarasaṁprahitaḥ samarāṅgaṇe visṛtadhūmalavaḥ | asurānanaṁ yudhi jahāra balāt kamalaṁ yathā munirudāramatiḥ ||

That king of arrows, loosed by the noble Rudra, trailing wisps of smoke across the battlefield, tore off the demon's head as easily as a noble-minded sage plucks a lotus.

Verse 38 (skanda.8.142.38)

अथ दैवतैर्मुनिवरैश्च कृतः प्रमथैश्च भीमनिनदैर्निनदः । तदरेर्मुखं हृतमुदीक्ष्य तदा वडवामुखाग्निदमनेन रणे ।।

atha daivatairmunivaraiśca kṛtaḥ pramathaiśca bhīmaninadairninadaḥ | tadarermukhaṁ hṛtamudīkṣya tadā vaḍavāmukhāgnidamanena raṇe ||

Seeing the enemy's head thus taken in battle by Vitpati, tamer of the submarine fire, the gods, the great sages and the pramathas raised a mighty, thunderous shout.

Verse 39 (skanda.8.142.39)

स तु विट्पतिः प्रमथसैन्यपतिस्त्वभिसृत्य भूतपतिना सुचिरम् । अभिपूजितः समरकर्मपटुस्त्रिदशारिसिंहदमनो दमनः ।।

sa tu viṭpatiḥ pramathasainyapatistvabhisṛtya bhūtapatinā suciram | abhipūjitaḥ samarakarmapaṭustridaśārisiṁhadamano damanaḥ ||

Then Vitpati, lord of the pramatha army, skilled in the works of war, tamer of that lion among the enemies of the gods, went before Bhutapati and was long and richly honoured by him.