The Seizure of Bhargava

Verse 1 (skanda.8.147.1)

उत्थापितेषु दैत्येषु भार्गवेणोग्रकर्मणा । नेदुर्देवाः सगन्धर्वा दानवाश्च सहान्धकाः ।।

utthāpiteṣu daityeṣu bhārgaveṇograkarmaṇā | nedurdevāḥ sagandharvā dānavāśca sahāndhakāḥ ||

When the daityas were raised up by fierce-acting Bhargava, both the gods with the gandharvas, and the demons with Andhaka, roared out together.

Verse 2 (skanda.8.147.2)

ततः शंखरवोन्मिश्रा माडुकानकनिस्वनाः । बभूवुः सिंहनादाश्च रथहस्तिरवैस्सह ।।

tataḥ śaṁkharavonmiśrā māḍukānakanisvanāḥ | babhūvuḥ siṁhanādāśca rathahastiravaissaha ||

Then, mingled with the blare of conches, the boom of drums and kettle-drums arose, along with lion-roars amid the din of chariots and elephants.

Verse 3 (skanda.8.147.3)

हुण्डस्तुहुण्डो जम्भश्च कुजम्भश्च महासुरः । शैलशूलशिलाघातैर्युयुधुर्देवतारयः ।।

huṇḍastuhuṇḍo jambhaśca kujambhaśca mahāsuraḥ | śailaśūlaśilāghātairyuyudhurdevatārayaḥ ||

Hunda, Tuhunda, Jambha and the great demon Kujambha, foes of the gods, fought on, striking with mountains, tridents and boulders.

Verse 4 (skanda.8.147.4)

पाकेन्द्रदमनौ तौ च स च कार्तस्वनो बलिः । ममर्दुः प्रमथानीकं वैरं प्रतिचिकीर्षया ।।

pākendradamanau tau ca sa ca kārtasvano baliḥ | mamarduḥ pramathānīkaṁ vairaṁ praticikīrṣayā ||

Paka and Indradamana, together with Kartasvana and Bali, eager for revenge, began trampling the pramatha army.

Verse 5 (skanda.8.147.5)

तेषां वेगं सन्निवार्य प्रमथा अपि दर्पिताः । शिलातरुकराः सर्वे दानवानभिदुद्रुवुः ।।

teṣāṁ vegaṁ sannivārya pramathā api darpitāḥ | śilātarukarāḥ sarve dānavānabhidudruvuḥ ||

Checking their onrush, the proud pramathas too, rocks and trees in hand, charged at the demons.

Verse 6 (skanda.8.147.6)

गणेश्वराः सुराणां तु तस्मिन्युद्धे तु भैरवे । श्रूयन्ते धनुषां शब्दा रथशब्दाश्च भैरवाः ।।

gaṇeśvarāḥ surāṇāṁ tu tasminyuddhe tu bhairave | śrūyante dhanuṣāṁ śabdā rathaśabdāśca bhairavāḥ ||

In that terrible battle, the twang of the gana-lords' bows and the fearsome rumble of chariots could be heard.

Verse 7 (skanda.8.147.7)

प्रमथानां जये सक्ता दानवानां तथापरे । चक्रुः कोलाहलं घोरं पक्षवादांस्तथाम्बरे ।।

pramathānāṁ jaye saktā dānavānāṁ tathāpare | cakruḥ kolāhalaṁ ghoraṁ pakṣavādāṁstathāmbare ||

Those partisan to the pramathas' victory, and those to the demons', both raised a great uproar in the sky, shouting for their own side.

Verse 8 (skanda.8.147.8)

गर्जतां धावतां चैव बलानां समभूत्स्वनः । गर्जतां धावतां चैव समुद्राणामिवात्यये ।।

garjatāṁ dhāvatāṁ caiva balānāṁ samabhūtsvanaḥ | garjatāṁ dhāvatāṁ caiva samudrāṇāmivātyaye ||

The roaring, charging armies made a sound like the roaring, surging oceans at the world's dissolution.

Verse 9 (skanda.8.147.9)

युद्धातिशयमत्ताश्च सिद्धगन्धर्वचारणाः । नेदुश्चैवोत्ससर्जुश्च नानाकुसुमसञ्चयान् ।।

yuddhātiśayamattāśca siddhagandharvacāraṇāḥ | neduścaivotsasarjuśca nānākusumasañcayān ||

Siddhas, gandharvas and charanas, exhilarated by the intensity of the battle, roared out and showered down heaps of many-hued flowers.

Verse 10 (skanda.8.147.10)

नानाविधानि पुष्पाणि पतमानानि रेजिरे । सिद्धचारणमुक्तानि नक्षत्राणि यथात्यये ।।

nānāvidhāni puṣpāṇi patamānāni rejire | siddhacāraṇamuktāni nakṣatrāṇi yathātyaye ||

The many-hued blossoms, falling from the hands of siddhas and charanas, glittered like stars falling at the world's end.

Verse 11 (skanda.8.147.11)

देवगन्धर्वतूर्याणि प्रसस्वनुरनेकशः । युद्धसंसक्तभावानां विरेमुश्च पुनः पुनः ।।

devagandharvatūryāṇi prasasvanuranekaśaḥ | yuddhasaṁsaktabhāvānāṁ viremuśca punaḥ punaḥ ||

The instruments of the gods and gandharvas sounded again and again, and fell silent again and again, as the fighters grew absorbed in combat.

Verse 12 (skanda.8.147.12)

विनायकेन स्मृत्वा तु जम्भो युधि पराभवम् । तं सक्रोधोऽभिदुद्राव गजं गज इवापरः ।।

vināyakena smṛtvā tu jambho yudhi parābhavam | taṁ sakrodho'bhidudrāva gajaṁ gaja ivāparaḥ ||

Remembering his earlier defeat at Vinayaka's hands, Jambha charged at him in fury, as one elephant charges another.

Verse 13 (skanda.8.147.13)

तमापतन्तं दृष्ट्वा तु दानवं जम्भमाहवे । सिंहो गजमिव क्रुद्धो रुरुधे स विनायकः ।।

tamāpatantaṁ dṛṣṭvā tu dānavaṁ jambhamāhave | siṁho gajamiva kruddho rurudhe sa vināyakaḥ ||

Seeing the demon Jambha charging thus in battle, Vinayaka, enraged as a lion, blocked him, as a lion blocks an elephant.

Verse 14 (skanda.8.147.14)

ऐरावतकरप्रख्यं करं करिनिभाननः । उत्क्षिप्य दानवं युद्धे तताड स विनायकः ।।

airāvatakaraprakhyaṁ karaṁ karinibhānanaḥ | utkṣipya dānavaṁ yuddhe tatāḍa sa vināyakaḥ ||

Elephant-faced Vinayaka raised his trunk, huge as Airavata's, and struck at the demon in battle.

Verse 15 (skanda.8.147.15)

कुम्भयोरन्तरे तं तु जम्भो दानवकुञ्जरः । बिभेद शरमुख्येन यथा सिद्धोऽर्कमण्डलम् ।।

kumbhayorantare taṁ tu jambho dānavakuñjaraḥ | bibheda śaramukhyena yathā siddho'rkamaṇḍalam ||

Jambha, elephant among demons, pierced him between his temples with a fine arrow, as some siddha might pierce the very disc of the sun.

Verse 16 (skanda.8.147.16)

कुम्भयोरन्तरे तस्य निममज्ज स वै शरः । शृङ्गयोरचलेन्द्रस्य तडित्वानिव चाम्बुदः ।।

kumbhayorantare tasya nimamajja sa vai śaraḥ | śṛṅgayoracalendrasya taḍitvāniva cāmbudaḥ ||

That arrow sank between his two temples, as a lightning-charged cloud sinks between the twin peaks of a great mountain.

Verse 17 (skanda.8.147.17)

स शरारोषितमना विधूय सशिरःकरम् । कराग्रेण महादैत्यमानम्य आहत्य सोनदत् ।।

sa śarāroṣitamanā vidhūya saśiraḥkaram | karāgreṇa mahādaityamānamya āhatya sonadat ||

Enraged by that arrow, Vinayaka shook his head and trunk together, then with the tip of his trunk bent and struck the great daitya down, roaring as he did.

Verse 18 (skanda.8.147.18)

प्रस्पन्दमानो जम्भस्तु विनायककराहतः । विनायकं शरैरुग्रैरवतस्तार रोषितः ।।

praspandamāno jambhastu vināyakakarāhataḥ | vināyakaṁ śarairugrairavatastāra roṣitaḥ ||

Reeling from the blow of Vinayaka's trunk, Jambha, enraged, tore into Vinayaka with fierce arrows.

Verse 19 (skanda.8.147.19)

शलभा इव केदारं भ्रमरा इव पादपम् । जम्भेषवस्तदा देवं विविशुस्ते विनायकम् ।।

śalabhā iva kedāraṁ bhramarā iva pādapam | jambheṣavastadā devaṁ viviśuste vināyakam ||

As locusts swarm into a field, as bees swarm into a tree, so Jambha's arrows sank into the body of the god Vinayaka.

Verse 20 (skanda.8.147.20)

रुधिरं क्षरमाणास्ते त्रिवृत्तैर्दारिताननाः । शरा विनायके रेजुः सर्पा मेरुमिवाश्रिताः ।।

rudhiraṁ kṣaramāṇāste trivṛttairdāritānanāḥ | śarā vināyake rejuḥ sarpā merumivāśritāḥ ||

Streaming blood, their triple-barbed heads tearing his flesh, those arrows lodged in Vinayaka's body and gleamed there, like serpents coiled about Mount Meru.

Verse 21 (skanda.8.147.21)

स जम्भबाणैरतिभिन्नगात्रः कुम्भास्रुतावाप्लुतरक्तनेत्रः । धुन्वन्कराग्रं च शिरश्च देवो दुद्राव जम्भं तृषितो यथाम्भः ।।

sa jambhabāṇairatibhinnagātraḥ kumbhāsrutāvāplutaraktanetraḥ | dhunvankarāgraṁ ca śiraśca devo dudrāva jambhaṁ tṛṣito yathāmbhaḥ ||

His body gashed all over by Jambha's arrows, his eyes drowned in blood streaming from his temples, the god, shaking his trunk-tip and head, charged at Jambha, as a thirsty man rushes toward water.

Verse 22 (skanda.8.147.22)

स तं कराग्रेण दृढं दृढेन मुहुः समाहत्य मुहुर्विनद्य । रथं गृहीत्वा बलवाँस्तदाजौ चिक्षेप साश्वध्वजशस्त्रचक्रम् ।।

sa taṁ karāgreṇa dṛḍhaṁ dṛḍhena muhuḥ samāhatya muhurvinadya | rathaṁ gṛhītvā balavā~stadājau cikṣepa sāśvadhvajaśastracakram ||

Striking him again and again fiercely with the tip of his mighty trunk, and roaring again and again, that strong god seized Jambha's chariot in battle and hurled it away, horses, banner, weapons, wheels and all.

Verse 23 (skanda.8.147.23)

सोद्धूतभग्नातिपताककेतुश्च्युतासिशक्त्यृष्टिसहस्रबाणः । रथः पपातासुरनन्दनस्य मनोरथस्तीव्र इवाधनस्य ।।

soddhūtabhagnātipatākaketuścyutāsiśaktyṛṣṭisahasrabāṇaḥ | rathaḥ papātāsuranandanasya manorathastīvra ivādhanasya ||

Its banner and standard torn and broken, its sword, spear, lance and thousand arrows scattered, the demon-son's chariot crashed down, like the intense, cherished dream of a poor man dashed to nothing.

Verse 24 (skanda.8.147.24)

पतीष्यमाणं तु रथं विहाय प्रह्रादिरिन्द्राम्बुधरप्रभावः । स्थितोऽम्बरे शक्तिधरो रराज स्थितोऽम्बरे शक्तिधरो यथैव ।।

patīṣyamāṇaṁ tu rathaṁ vihāya prahrādirindrāmbudharaprabhāvaḥ | sthito'mbare śaktidharo rarāja sthito'mbare śaktidharo yathaiva ||

Leaving the falling chariot behind, Jambha, scion of Prahlada, mighty as thundering Indra, stood poised in the sky, spear in hand, radiant as Kumara himself standing in the heavens with his spear.

Verse 25 (skanda.8.147.25)

स तां सघण्टां कनकावदातां कृशानुलेखामिव दीप्यमानाम् । विनायकायासुरराजपुत्रश्चिक्षेप शक्तिं समुदीर्णशक्तिः ।।

sa tāṁ saghaṇṭāṁ kanakāvadātāṁ kṛśānulekhāmiva dīpyamānām | vināyakāyāsurarājaputraścikṣepa śaktiṁ samudīrṇaśaktiḥ ||

That mighty demon-prince hurled at Vinayaka his spear, bell-hung and burnished gold, blazing like a streak of fire.

Verse 26 (skanda.8.147.26)

सा खात्पतन्ती भुजगाङ्गनेव शस्त्राङ्गना प्रज्वलमानवक्त्रा । शराहता विट्पतिना पपात शक्तिर्यथाग्र्या पुरुषे हताशे ।।

sā khātpatantī bhujagāṅganeva śastrāṅganā prajvalamānavaktrā | śarāhatā viṭpatinā papāta śaktiryathāgryā puruṣe hatāśe ||

Falling from the sky like a serpent-woman, its face ablaze, that weapon-maiden of a spear, struck by an arrow of Vitpati, fell to earth, like the fondest hope of a hopeless man dashed down.

Verse 27 (skanda.8.147.27)

आश्चर्यभूते प्रमथासुराणां तस्मिन्तथा वर्तति युद्धयज्ञे । अमर्षितो भार्गवकर्म दृष्ट्वा शिलादपुत्रोऽभ्यगमन्महेशम् ।।

āścaryabhūte pramathāsurāṇāṁ tasmintathā vartati yuddhayajñe | amarṣito bhārgavakarma dṛṣṭvā śilādaputro'bhyagamanmaheśam ||

As that wondrous sacrifice of battle between pramathas and demons thus continued, Nandi, son of Shilada, indignant at Bhargava's deed, went to Maheshvara.

Verse 28 (skanda.8.147.28)

जयेति सोक्त्वा जययोनिमुग्रमुवाच नन्दी कनकावदातम् । गणेश्वराणां रणकर्म देव देवैः सहेन्द्रैरपि दुष्करं यत् ।।

jayeti soktvā jayayonimugramuvāca nandī kanakāvadātam | gaṇeśvarāṇāṁ raṇakarma deva devaiḥ sahendrairapi duṣkaraṁ yat ||

Saying 'Victory to you!' Nandi addressed the fierce, golden-hued source of all victory: 'O god, that feat of arms which even the gods with Indra would find hard to accomplish, the gana-lords have achieved —

Verse 29 (skanda.8.147.29)

तद्भार्गवेणाद्य कृतं वृथा न संजीवयानेन हि दानवेन्द्रान् । एते हि ते दानवयूथपाला यमालयादद्य पुनर्निवृत्ताः ।।

tadbhārgaveṇādya kṛtaṁ vṛthā na saṁjīvayānena hi dānavendrān | ete hi te dānavayūthapālā yamālayādadya punarnivṛttāḥ ||

— and today Bhargava has made it all vain by reviving the demon-lords; these captains of the demon host have returned this very day from the abode of Death.'

Verse 30 (skanda.8.147.30)

विद्रावयन्तः प्रमथाँश्चरन्ति नागानिवाजौ शरभाः सदर्पाः । यदि ह्यसौ दैत्यवरान्निरस्तानुज्जीवयत्येव पुनः सदैव ।।

vidrāvayantaḥ pramathā~ścaranti nāgānivājau śarabhāḥ sadarpāḥ | yadi hyasau daityavarānnirastānujjīvayatyeva punaḥ sadaiva ||

'Proudly they roam, scattering the pramathas, as sharabhas scatter elephants in battle. If this Bhargava keeps reviving the fallen daitya champions again and again,'

Verse 31 (skanda.8.147.31)

जयः कुतो वै भविता महेश गणेश्वराणां कुत एव शान्तिः । वक्रस्थितश्चैष न चैष वध्यो अयुध्यमानो वृषवाह शुक्रः ।।

jayaḥ kuto vai bhavitā maheśa gaṇeśvarāṇāṁ kuta eva śāntiḥ | vakrasthitaścaiṣa na caiṣa vadhyo ayudhyamāno vṛṣavāha śukraḥ ||

'— then how, O Maheshvara, shall the gana-lords ever win, and how shall they find peace? O rider of the bull, this Shukra, though not himself fighting and so not liable to be slain, still lurks there causing all this harm.'

Verse 32 (skanda.8.147.32)

नैवाभिनाशोस्ति तव प्रसादाद्धतं च तं त्वं कुरुषे प्रसादम् । भवेत्तवेशान मतं स वध्यो यथा जयस्ते समरेनिशं स्यात् तथा कुरुष्वोत्तमबुद्धिबुद्ध न ते महेशान समोस्ति बुद्ध्या ।।

naivābhināśosti tava prasādāddhataṁ ca taṁ tvaṁ kuruṣe prasādam | bhavettaveśāna mataṁ sa vadhyo yathā jayaste samareniśaṁ syāt tathā kuruṣvottamabuddhibuddha na te maheśāna samosti buddhyā ||

'Through your grace we cannot truly be destroyed — yet you continue to show that same grace even to him. O Ishana, if it please you, let him be judged one who deserves death, so that your victory in this battle may be assured forever. Do as your supreme wisdom directs, O Maheshvara — none is your equal in judgment.'

Verse 33 (skanda.8.147.33)

इत्येवमुक्तः प्रमथेश्वरेण नन्दीश्वरेणेश्वरदेवदेवः । उवाच देवः प्रहसस्तदानीं स नन्दिनम् सर्वगणेशनायकम् ।।

ityevamuktaḥ pramatheśvareṇa nandīśvareṇeśvaradevadevaḥ | uvāca devaḥ prahasastadānīṁ sa nandinam sarvagaṇeśanāyakam ||

Thus addressed by Nandishvara, lord of the pramathas, the god of gods, the Lord, smiled and spoke to Nandi, leader of all the gana-lords:

Verse 34 (skanda.8.147.34)

नन्दिन् प्रयाहि त्वरितोतिमात्रं द्विजेन्द्रबन्धुं दितिनन्दनानाम् । मध्यात्समुत्पाट्य तमानयस्व यथोपहारं धनवान् मनुष्यः ।।

nandin prayāhi tvaritotimātraṁ dvijendrabandhuṁ ditinandanānām | madhyātsamutpāṭya tamānayasva yathopahāraṁ dhanavān manuṣyaḥ ||

'Nandi, go at once, with all speed; snatch that foremost of brahmins, friend of Diti's sons, from their midst, and bring him here — as a wealthy man brings a gift.'

Verse 35 (skanda.8.147.35)

स एवमुक्तो वृषभध्वजेन वृषध्वजो वै वृषसिंहनादः । जगाम तूर्णं प्रविगाह्य सेनां यत्राभवद्भार्गववंशदीपः ।।

sa evamukto vṛṣabhadhvajena vṛṣadhvajo vai vṛṣasiṁhanādaḥ | jagāma tūrṇaṁ pravigāhya senāṁ yatrābhavadbhārgavavaṁśadīpaḥ ||

Thus commanded by the bull-bannered Shiva, Nandi, himself bull-bannered, roaring like a bull-lion, swiftly plunged into that army and went straight to where the lamp of the Bhargava lineage stood.

Verse 36 (skanda.8.147.36)

तं रक्ष्यमाणं दितिनन्दनैस्तैः पाशासिवृक्षोपलशूलहस्तैः । विक्षोभ्य दैत्यान् वृषराड्जहार शुक्रं स नन्दी शरभो यथेभम् ।।

taṁ rakṣyamāṇaṁ ditinandanaistaiḥ pāśāsivṛkṣopalaśūlahastaiḥ | vikṣobhya daityān vṛṣarāḍjahāra śukraṁ sa nandī śarabho yathebham ||

Though guarded by the sons of Diti, nooses, swords, trees, rocks and tridents in hand, that bull-lord Nandi, throwing the daityas into confusion, snatched Shukra away, as a sharabha snatches an elephant.

Verse 37 (skanda.8.147.37)

स्रस्ताम्बरं तं च्युतभूषणं च विमुक्तकेशं रिपुणा गृहीतम् । विमोक्षयिष्यन्त इवाभ्यधावन्सुरारयः सिंहरवान्सृजन्तः ।।

srastāmbaraṁ taṁ cyutabhūṣaṇaṁ ca vimuktakeśaṁ ripuṇā gṛhītam | vimokṣayiṣyanta ivābhyadhāvansurārayaḥ siṁharavānsṛjantaḥ ||

Seeing him seized by the foe — his robes disheveled, his ornaments fallen, his hair unbound — the enemies of the gods rushed forward, roaring like lions, as though to free him.

Verse 38 (skanda.8.147.38)

ते वज्रशूलेषुपरश्वधानां सचक्रदण्डोपलकम्पनानाम् । नन्दीश्वरस्योपरि दानवेन्द्रा वर्षं ववर्षुर्जलदा इवोग्राः ।।

te vajraśūleṣuparaśvadhānāṁ sacakradaṇḍopalakampanānām | nandīśvarasyopari dānavendrā varṣaṁ vavarṣurjaladā ivogrāḥ ||

Those demon-lords rained down thunderbolts, tridents, arrows, axes, discs, clubs and rocks upon Nandishvara, as fierce clouds rain down torrents.

Verse 39 (skanda.8.147.39)

स भार्गवं प्राप्य गणाधिपाग्र्यो वक्त्राग्निना शस्त्रशतानि दग्ध्वा । आयात्स शुक्रन्तु करे गृहीत्वा नन्दीश्वरो दानवयूथपालम् ।।

sa bhārgavaṁ prāpya gaṇādhipāgryo vaktrāgninā śastraśatāni dagdhvā | āyātsa śukrantu kare gṛhītvā nandīśvaro dānavayūthapālam ||

Having seized Bhargava, Nandishvara, foremost of the gana-lords, burned away hundreds of weapons with the fire of his mouth, and made off with the demon-host's leader, Shukra, gripped fast in his hand.

Verse 40 (skanda.8.147.40)

तेषां च तेषां च ततो बभूव प्रमुक्तशस्त्रास्त्रसुभीमपातः । जहीति गृह्णेति च वादिनां वै महाहवो देवमनःप्रतोषः ।।

teṣāṁ ca teṣāṁ ca tato babhūva pramuktaśastrāstrasubhīmapātaḥ | jahīti gṛhṇeti ca vādināṁ vai mahāhavo devamanaḥpratoṣaḥ ||

Then, between the two sides, weapons and missiles fell with terrible violence, and, amid cries of 'Kill him!' 'Seize him!', a great battle blazed up, delighting the hearts of the gods.

Verse 41 (skanda.8.147.41)

तेनान्तरेणैत्य भवस्य पार्श्वं नन्दीश्वरः क्रोधविवर्णनेत्रः । अयं स शुक्रो भगवन्नितीशे निवेदयामास भवाय शीघ्रम् ।।

tenāntareṇaitya bhavasya pārśvaṁ nandīśvaraḥ krodhavivarṇanetraḥ | ayaṁ sa śukro bhagavannitīśe nivedayāmāsa bhavāya śīghram ||

Meanwhile Nandishvara, his eyes red with fury, came to Shiva's side and swiftly announced to him: 'Lord, here is that very Shukra!'

Verse 42 (skanda.8.147.42)

जग्राह शुक्रं स च देवदेवो यथोपहारं शुचिना प्रदत्तम् । वक्रस्थितं शुक्रमरिं जगार न किञ्चिदुक्त्वा स हि भूतगोप्ता ।।

jagrāha śukraṁ sa ca devadevo yathopahāraṁ śucinā pradattam | vakrasthitaṁ śukramariṁ jagāra na kiñciduktvā sa hi bhūtagoptā ||

The god of gods received Shukra as one receives an offering given by a pure hand, and, protector of all beings, without a word, swallowed that hostile, evasive Shukra whole.

Verse 43 (skanda.8.147.43)

ततः पुनर्दानवदैत्यसैन्यं गणेश्वरास्तस्य तदा विजघ्नुः ।।

tataḥ punardānavadaityasainyaṁ gaṇeśvarāstasya tadā vijaghnuḥ ||

After that, the gana-lords once more fell upon the army of the demons and daityas and began cutting them down.