Shukra's Return and the Curse of the Sea-Demons

Verse 1 (skanda.8.150.1)

मायावीर्यं च वीर्यं च अन्धकस्यामरद्विषः । सृष्टं भगवता सम्यग् देवरूपनिमित्तजम् ।।

māyāvīryaṁ ca vīryaṁ ca andhakasyāmaradviṣaḥ | sṛṣṭaṁ bhagavatā samyag devarūpanimittajam ||

Vyasa said: The illusory power and might of Andhaka, foe of the gods, which the Lord himself had fittingly bestowed upon him for the sake of his divine form —

Verse 2 (skanda.8.150.2)

निगीर्णो यस्य देवेन शरीरे भार्गवो मुनिः । कथं तु कृतवांस्तत्र देवदेवशरीरगः ।।

nigīrṇo yasya devena śarīre bhārgavo muniḥ | kathaṁ tu kṛtavāṁstatra devadevaśarīragaḥ ||

— the god in whose body the sage Bhargava was swallowed: what did he do there, lodged within the body of the god of gods?

Verse 3 (skanda.8.150.3)

कथं च तपसो वीर्याद्योगवीर्याच्च स द्विजः । श्वेताभ्रादिव वै चन्द्रो निःसृतो भृगुनन्दनः ।।

kathaṁ ca tapaso vīryādyogavīryācca sa dvijaḥ | śvetābhrādiva vai candro niḥsṛto bhṛgunandanaḥ ||

How did that brahmin, scion of Bhrigu, by the power of his austerity and yoga, emerge from there, like the moon emerging from a bank of white cloud?

Verse 4 (skanda.8.150.4)

एतत् कौतूहलं जातं ममाद्य मुनिसत्तम । कथयेशानचरितं भार्गवस्य च धीमतः ।।

etat kautūhalaṁ jātaṁ mamādya munisattama | kathayeśānacaritaṁ bhārgavasya ca dhīmataḥ ||

This curiosity has arisen in me today, O foremost of sages; relate to me the doings of the Lord and of the wise Bhargava.

Verse 5 (skanda.8.150.5)

स एवमुक्तो व्यासेन पद्मगर्भसुतः प्रभुः । सनत्कुमारोऽकथयच्छिवाच्छुक्रस्य निर्गमम् ।।

sa evamukto vyāsena padmagarbhasutaḥ prabhuḥ | sanatkumāro'kathayacchivācchukrasya nirgamam ||

Suta said: Thus questioned by Vyasa, the lord Sanatkumara, son of the lotus-born Brahma, related the account of Shukra's emergence from Shiva.

Verse 6 (skanda.8.150.6)

देहे तस्य तदा शम्भोः शुक्रो विनिहतद्युतिः । छिद्रान्वेषी भ्रमन्नेव अनिकेतो यथानिलः ।।

dehe tasya tadā śambhoḥ śukro vinihatadyutiḥ | chidrānveṣī bhramanneva aniketo yathānilaḥ ||

Within Shambhu's body, his radiance dimmed, Shukra wandered about like a homeless wind, searching for some opening to escape.

Verse 7 (skanda.8.150.7)

स लोकानग्निवर्णाभान् रुद्रकोटिशतैर्वृतान् । रुद्रकन्याविचरितान् रुद्रदेहेभ्यपश्यत ।।

sa lokānagnivarṇābhān rudrakoṭiśatairvṛtān | rudrakanyāvicaritān rudradehebhyapaśyata ||

Within Rudra's body he beheld worlds blazing fire-hued, thronged by hundreds of millions of rudras, roamed by the daughters of Rudra.

Verse 8 (skanda.8.150.8)

कुन्देन्दुशंखवर्णानां दंष्ट्रिणां नखिनामपि । दीर्घलाङ्गूलजुष्टानां सदर्पाणां क्षमावताम् ।।

kundenduśaṁkhavarṇānāṁ daṁṣṭriṇāṁ nakhināmapi | dīrghalāṅgūlajuṣṭānāṁ sadarpāṇāṁ kṣamāvatām ||

White as jasmine, moon and conch-shell, fanged and clawed, long-tailed, proud yet forbearing —

Verse 9 (skanda.8.150.9)

ज्वलनप्रभकेशानां नन्द्यावर्तकधारिणाम् । किंशुकप्रभजिह्वानां कैलासगिरिवर्ष्मणाम् ।।

jvalanaprabhakeśānāṁ nandyāvartakadhāriṇām | kiṁśukaprabhajihvānāṁ kailāsagirivarṣmaṇām ||

their manes blazing like fire, marked with the auspicious nandyavarta sign, tongues red as the kimshuka blossom, bodies vast as Mount Kailasa —

Verse 10 (skanda.8.150.10)

अग्निबन्धनबद्धानां सिंहानां भीमरूपिणाम् । सहस्रं ददृशे देहे देवदेवस्य भार्गवः ।।

agnibandhanabaddhānāṁ siṁhānāṁ bhīmarūpiṇām | sahasraṁ dadṛśe dehe devadevasya bhārgavaḥ ||

and bound with chains of fire, terrible in form — a thousand such lions did Bhargava behold within the body of the god of gods.

Verse 11 (skanda.8.150.11)

सुरांश्च सेन्द्रान् सादित्यान् साप्सरोगणमानवान् । गणेशासुरयुद्धं च सोऽपश्यद्धरदेहगः ।।

surāṁśca sendrān sādityān sāpsarogaṇamānavān | gaṇeśāsurayuddhaṁ ca so'paśyaddharadehagaḥ ||

Dwelling within Hara's body, he also beheld the gods with Indra, the Adityas, the hosts of apsaras and mankind, and the battle between the gana-lords and the demons.

Verse 12 (skanda.8.150.12)

वर्षाणां तु शतं कुक्षौ भ्रममाणो भवस्य सः । न तस्य ददृशे छिद्रं शुचेरिव यथा कलिः ।।

varṣāṇāṁ tu śataṁ kukṣau bhramamāṇo bhavasya saḥ | na tasya dadṛśe chidraṁ śuceriva yathā kaliḥ ||

Wandering for a hundred years within Bhava's belly, he found no opening, as the Kali age finds no flaw in a pure man.

Verse 13 (skanda.8.150.13)

योगमप्यस्य सैश्वर्यमणिमादिगुणान्वितम् । प्रजहार महादेवो मनोवाग्यतचेतसः ।।

yogamapyasya saiśvaryamaṇimādiguṇānvitam | prajahāra mahādevo manovāgyatacetasaḥ ||

Mahadeva had also stripped away his yogic power, replete with the mastery of the eight siddhis such as minuteness, though his mind and speech remained ever disciplined.

Verse 14 (skanda.8.150.14)

अथ शब्दो महानासीत् प्रमथासुरसैन्ययोः । तं श्रुत्वा शब्दमाविग्नो भार्गवः प्रतिबोधितः ।।

atha śabdo mahānāsīt pramathāsurasainyayoḥ | taṁ śrutvā śabdamāvigno bhārgavaḥ pratibodhitaḥ ||

Just then a great tumult arose from the armies of the pramathas and demons. Hearing that sound, agitated, Bhargava came to full awareness.

Verse 15 (skanda.8.150.15)

सोऽन्तर्गत उमाभर्तुर्ब्राह्मणस्तपसैधितः । तुष्टावेष्टैः स्तवैर्देवं सोमं सोमविभूषणम् ।।

so'ntargata umābharturbrāhmaṇastapasaidhitaḥ | tuṣṭāveṣṭaiḥ stavairdevaṁ somaṁ somavibhūṣaṇam ||

That brahmin, ripened in austerity, lodged within the lord of Uma, praised the moon-crowned god with fitting hymns of praise.

Verse 16 (skanda.8.150.16)

आपद्भावं प्रपन्नस्य तस्य देवेन शूलिना । लिङ्गेन निष्क्रमस्वेति प्रसादाभ्युदयः कृतः ।।

āpadbhāvaṁ prapannasya tasya devena śūlinā | liṅgena niṣkramasveti prasādābhyudayaḥ kṛtaḥ ||

To him, fallen into such distress, the trident-bearing god showed grace and said, 'Come forth through my linga' — thus his favour dawned upon him.

Verse 17 (skanda.8.150.17)

सूक्ष्मरूपस्ततो भूत्वा स शुक्रो मुनिसत्तमः । शुक्रवन्निःसृतो लिङ्गाद्देवदेवस्य धीमतः ।।

sūkṣmarūpastato bhūtvā sa śukro munisattamaḥ | śukravanniḥsṛto liṅgāddevadevasya dhīmataḥ ||

Then that greatest of sages, assuming a subtle form, emerged from the linga of the wise god of gods, in the manner of vital seed.

Verse 18 (skanda.8.150.18)

शुक्रवन्निःसृतो यस्माच्छिश्नाद्भार्गवनन्दनः । तस्माच्छुक्र इति ख्यातिं गतो गतिमतां वरः ।।

śukravanniḥsṛto yasmācchiśnādbhārgavanandanaḥ | tasmācchukra iti khyātiṁ gato gatimatāṁ varaḥ ||

Because that scion of Bhrigu had thus issued forth from the phallus in the manner of seed, he — foremost among all who move — became renowned by the name Shukra.

Verse 19 (skanda.8.150.19)

वन्दमानश्च तेनोक्तः पयोदपतिकेतुना । शुक्रवन्निःसृतो मद्य यस्मात्त्वं भृगुनन्दन ।।

vandamānaśca tenoktaḥ payodapatiketunā | śukravanniḥsṛto madya yasmāttvaṁ bhṛgunandana ||

As Bhargava bowed before him, the god whose banner bears the bull spoke: 'Since you, O son of Bhrigu, have issued from me like seed,'

Verse 20 (skanda.8.150.20)

कर्मणा तेन शुक्रोऽसि मम पुत्रश्च गम्यताम् । इत्येवमुक्तो देवेन शुक्रोऽर्कसदृशद्युतिः ।।

karmaṇā tena śukro'si mama putraśca gamyatām | ityevamukto devena śukro'rkasadṛśadyutiḥ ||

'— for that reason you are Shukra, and shall now go forth as my own son.' Thus addressed by the god, Shukra, radiant as the sun,

Verse 21 (skanda.8.150.21)

विवेश दानवानीकं मेघानीकं शशी यथा । तं दृष्ट्वा चन्द्रसंकाशं चन्द्रोदयनिभोदयम् ।।

viveśa dānavānīkaṁ meghānīkaṁ śaśī yathā | taṁ dṛṣṭvā candrasaṁkāśaṁ candrodayanibhodayam ||

— entered the army of the demons, as the moon enters a bank of clouds. Seeing him, moon-bright, his rising like the moon's own rising,

Verse 22 (skanda.8.150.22)

चन्द्रोदये यथा नॄणां प्रीतिरासीत् सुरद्विषाम् । ते दृष्ट्वा दनुदैतेयाः शुक्रं चन्द्रसमप्रभम् ।।

candrodaye yathā nṝṇāṁ prītirāsīt suradviṣām | te dṛṣṭvā danudaiteyāḥ śukraṁ candrasamaprabham ||

— the enemies of the gods felt the same delight men feel at moonrise. Seeing Shukra, bright as the moon, those sons of Danu —

Verse 23 (skanda.8.150.23)

सर्वे सिंहरवाँश्चक्रुः संप्रहृष्टा युयुत्सवः । निहता दानवा ये तु प्रमथैर्जितकाशिभिः ।।

sarve siṁharavā~ścakruḥ saṁprahṛṣṭā yuyutsavaḥ | nihatā dānavā ye tu pramathairjitakāśibhiḥ ||

— all, filled with joy and eager for battle once more, roared like lions. Those demons who had been slain by the triumphant pramathas —

Verse 24 (skanda.8.150.24)

तानागतान्मृत्युमुखान्मेनिरे भार्गवागमात् । ववन्दुस्तं ननन्दुश्च प्रसेदुश्च महासुराः ।।

tānāgatānmṛtyumukhānmenire bhārgavāgamāt | vavandustaṁ nananduśca praseduśca mahāsurāḥ ||

— through Bhargava's coming, felt themselves returned from the very jaws of death. The great demons bowed to him, rejoiced, and were filled with gladness.

Verse 25 (skanda.8.150.25)

शुक्रोदयमुदं लेभे स दानवमहार्णवः । यथा चन्द्रोदये नित्यं सागरो राक्षसैर्युतः ।।

śukrodayamudaṁ lebhe sa dānavamahārṇavaḥ | yathā candrodaye nityaṁ sāgaro rākṣasairyutaḥ ||

At Shukra's rising, that great ocean of demons swelled with joy, as the sea, teeming with sea-creatures, always swells at the rising of the moon.

Verse 26 (skanda.8.150.26)

अथ शाखो विशाखश्च छागवक्त्रश्चतुर्मुखः । नन्दी च सोमनन्दी च नन्दिषेणश्च वीर्यवान् ।।

atha śākho viśākhaśca chāgavaktraścaturmukhaḥ | nandī ca somanandī ca nandiṣeṇaśca vīryavān ||

Then Shakha, Vishakha, goat-faced four-headed Chaturmukha, Nandi, Somanandi and mighty Nandishena,

Verse 27 (skanda.8.150.27)

घण्टाकर्णः शंकुकर्णः कुण्डोदरमहोदरौ । विट्पतिर्वीरभद्रश्च स च देवः प्रभामयः ।।

ghaṇṭākarṇaḥ śaṁkukarṇaḥ kuṇḍodaramahodarau | viṭpatirvīrabhadraśca sa ca devaḥ prabhāmayaḥ ||

Ghantakarna, Shankukarna, Kundodara and Mahodara, Vitpati, Virabhadra, and the god Prabhamaya,

Verse 28 (skanda.8.150.28)

संवर्तकानलोर्वौ च यशोदीप्तो विभाकरः । वेगपश्च शिखण्डी च ताम्रचूडश्च कुक्कुटः ।।

saṁvartakānalorvau ca yaśodīpto vibhākaraḥ | vegapaśca śikhaṇḍī ca tāmracūḍaśca kukkuṭaḥ ||

Samvartaka, Anala, Urvi, glory-blazing Vibhakara, Vegapa, Shikhandi, Tamrachuda and Kukkuta,

Verse 29 (skanda.8.150.29)

अन्नदः पिङ्गलो यक्षः पिङ्गलश्च वटुः पटुः । विद्युत्केशः सुकेशश्च राक्षसौ चापराजितौ ।।

annadaḥ piṅgalo yakṣaḥ piṅgalaśca vaṭuḥ paṭuḥ | vidyutkeśaḥ sukeśaśca rākṣasau cāparājitau ||

Annada, Pingala the yaksha, another Pingala, Vatu, Patu, and Vidyutkesha and Sukesha — those two unconquered rakshasas,

Verse 30 (skanda.8.150.30)

एते चान्ये च गणपा लोकपालसमत्विषः । विविशुर्दानवानीकं शुक्रोदयसमुद्धतम् ।।

ete cānye ca gaṇapā lokapālasamatviṣaḥ | viviśurdānavānīkaṁ śukrodayasamuddhatam ||

— these and other gana-lords, splendid as the guardians of the world's quarters, plunged into the demon army, now emboldened by Shukra's rising.

Verse 31 (skanda.8.150.31)

अथ वादित्रशब्दास्तु सिंहनादरवैः सह । बभूवुः सेनयोरुग्राः सर्वभूतप्रकम्पनाः ।।

atha vāditraśabdāstu siṁhanādaravaiḥ saha | babhūvuḥ senayorugrāḥ sarvabhūtaprakampanāḥ ||

Then, in both armies, the fierce din of instruments mingled with lion-roars, terrifying enough to make every creature tremble.

Verse 32 (skanda.8.150.32)

ततः प्रहरणैर्घोरैस्तुण्डनिर्वापितैस्तलैः । परस्परं समासाद्य निर्जघ्नुस्ते परस्परम् ।।

tataḥ praharaṇairghoraistuṇḍanirvāpitaistalaiḥ | parasparaṁ samāsādya nirjaghnuste parasparam ||

Then, with dreadful weapons, and with slaps that shattered their very edges, they closed with one another and struck each other down.

Verse 33 (skanda.8.150.33)

नन्दीश्वरं पुरस्कृत्य कार्त्तिकेयञ्च षण्मुखम् । मृद्नन्ति प्रमथा दैत्यान् सर्पाँस्तार्क्ष्य इवाहवे ।।

nandīśvaraṁ puraskṛtya kārttikeyañca ṣaṇmukham | mṛdnanti pramathā daityān sarpā~stārkṣya ivāhave ||

Placing Nandishvara and six-faced Kartikeya at their head, the pramathas crushed the daityas in battle, as Garuda crushes serpents.

Verse 34 (skanda.8.150.34)

असिपातावलूनाग्रा मुशलाहतमस्तकाः । दानवाः शेरते भूमौ वज्रभिन्ना इवाचलाः ।।

asipātāvalūnāgrā muśalāhatamastakāḥ | dānavāḥ śerate bhūmau vajrabhinnā ivācalāḥ ||

Their limbs lopped off by sword-strokes, their heads shattered by maces, the demons lay strewn upon the ground, like mountains riven by thunderbolts.

Verse 35 (skanda.8.150.35)

शरनिर्भिन्ननिर्भग्नाः संभग्नोरुप्रबाहवः । रिरिङ्गुःसमरे दैत्याः सर्पास्तार्क्ष्यार्दिता इव ।।

śaranirbhinnanirbhagnāḥ saṁbhagnoruprabāhavaḥ | ririṅguḥsamare daityāḥ sarpāstārkṣyārditā iva ||

Torn apart by arrows, their thighs and arms broken, the daityas writhed and crawled about the battlefield, like serpents tormented by Garuda.

Verse 36 (skanda.8.150.36)

भग्नत्रिकोरुजघना घनबाणावपीडिताः । दैत्या विनिष्टनन्त्यार्त्तास्तोयपूर्णा इवाम्बुदाः ।।

bhagnatrikorujaghanā ghanabāṇāvapīḍitāḥ | daityā viniṣṭanantyārttāstoyapūrṇā ivāmbudāḥ ||

Their spines, thighs and hips shattered, battered by dense volleys of arrows, the daityas groaned in agony, like clouds heavy with rain rumbling on.

Verse 37 (skanda.8.150.37)

तस्मिन् गणपदैत्यानां मथने भृशदारुणे । बभूव पूर्णा दैत्यानां धरा द्यौरिव नीरदैः ।।

tasmin gaṇapadaityānāṁ mathane bhṛśadāruṇe | babhūva pūrṇā daityānāṁ dharā dyauriva nīradaiḥ ||

In that most ferocious clash between the gana-lords and the daityas, the earth grew as thick with daityas as the sky grows thick with clouds.

Verse 38 (skanda.8.150.38)

किरीटैर्मुकुटैर्हारैर्वलयाभरणाङ्गदैः । पारिहार्यैस्स केयूरैः श्रोणीसूत्रैस्सकुण्डलैः ।।

kirīṭairmukuṭairhārairvalayābharaṇāṅgadaiḥ | pārihāryaissa keyūraiḥ śroṇīsūtraissakuṇḍalaiḥ ||

With diadems, crowns, necklaces, bracelets, ornaments, armlets, girdles, waist-cords and earrings,

Verse 39 (skanda.8.150.39)

शिरस्त्रैर्मणिभिः शुभ्रैर्ग्रैवेयैरपि सुप्रभैः । स्रग्दामैश्चारुकुसुमैर्नेत्रै रत्नाग्रबाहुभिः ।।

śirastrairmaṇibhiḥ śubhrairgraiveyairapi suprabhaiḥ | sragdāmaiścārukusumairnetrai ratnāgrabāhubhiḥ ||

with helmets, bright gems, splendid neck-chains, garlands of lovely flowers, severed eyes, and gem-adorned arms —

Verse 40 (skanda.8.150.40)

अस्त्रैः शस्त्रैश्च वस्त्रैश्च छत्रैश्चेन्दुसमप्रभैः । रक्तकुंकुमचित्राङ्गी नानाभरणभूषणा ।।

astraiḥ śastraiśca vastraiśca chatraiścendusamaprabhaiḥ | raktakuṁkumacitrāṅgī nānābharaṇabhūṣaṇā ||

with missiles, weapons, garments, and parasols bright as the moon — her body painted with blood as with red saffron, adorned with ornaments of every kind —

Verse 41 (skanda.8.150.41)

धनाढ्या स्त्रीरिवाभाति तत्र तत्र रणावनिः । सिंहानामिव दृप्तानां हस्तिनामपि वा यथा ।।

dhanāḍhyā strīrivābhāti tatra tatra raṇāvaniḥ | siṁhānāmiva dṛptānāṁ hastināmapi vā yathā ||

the earth of the battlefield shone here and there like a wealthy woman decked out — as if adorned with the trappings of proud lions and elephants.

Verse 42 (skanda.8.150.42)

उत्साहोऽभूद्गणेशानां दानवान् संमर्दताम् । ते हन्यमानाऽशरणा भयार्त्ताः शरणार्थिनः ।।

utsāho'bhūdgaṇeśānāṁ dānavān saṁmardatām | te hanyamānā'śaraṇā bhayārttāḥ śaraṇārthinaḥ ||

The gana-lords' ardour grew as they crushed the demons. Struck down, defenceless, stricken with terror, the demons sought refuge.

Verse 43 (skanda.8.150.43)

प्रमथैरनुबद्धाश्च दानवाः सागरं श्रिताः । दृष्ट्वा तद्रेचितं सैन्यं दानवैः प्रमथार्दितैः ।।

pramathairanubaddhāśca dānavāḥ sāgaraṁ śritāḥ | dṛṣṭvā tadrecitaṁ sainyaṁ dānavaiḥ pramathārditaiḥ ||

Pursued by the pramathas, the demons took refuge in the ocean. Seeing his army thus emptied of demons routed by the pramathas —

Verse 44 (skanda.8.150.44)

प्रविष्टेषु च दैत्येषु सागरं मकरालयम् । भार्गवः सुमहातेजा यथाग्निरिव मूर्छितः ।।

praviṣṭeṣu ca daityeṣu sāgaraṁ makarālayam | bhārgavaḥ sumahātejā yathāgniriva mūrchitaḥ ||

— and seeing the daityas plunge into the ocean, home of sea-monsters, the mighty and radiant Bhargava blazed up in fury, as if consumed by fire.

Verse 45 (skanda.8.150.45)

स समुद्रालयान् दैत्याञ्छशाप कुपितो भृशम् । यस्मात्सहायानुत्सृज्य मां चापि पितृवद्धितम् ।।

sa samudrālayān daityāñchaśāpa kupito bhṛśam | yasmātsahāyānutsṛjya māṁ cāpi pitṛvaddhitam ||

In utter fury, he cursed those daityas who had fled into the ocean: 'Since you have abandoned your comrades, and me too, who cared for you as a father,'

Verse 46 (skanda.8.150.46)

प्राणत्राणार्थमबलाः प्रविष्टाः स्थ पयोनिधिम् । तस्मात्तत्रैव निर्ह्रीका मम शापपरिक्षताः ।।

prāṇatrāṇārthamabalāḥ praviṣṭāḥ stha payonidhim | tasmāttatraiva nirhrīkā mama śāpaparikṣatāḥ ||

'— entering the sea, weak and helpless, only to save your own lives, therefore, right there, shameless and blasted by my curse —'

Verse 47 (skanda.8.150.47)

मीनभावमनुप्राप्ता जाताजाता भविष्यथ । यावल्लोका भविष्यन्ति पर्वताश्च ससागराः ।।

mīnabhāvamanuprāptā jātājātā bhaviṣyatha | yāvallokā bhaviṣyanti parvatāśca sasāgarāḥ ||

'— you shall take the form of fish, and be born and reborn, as long as the worlds, the mountains and the oceans shall endure.'

Verse 48 (skanda.8.150.48)

तावद्यूयं जले मत्स्या भविष्यथ जलेचराः । नरमांसाशनाः पापा नरभक्ष्या भविष्यथ ।।

tāvadyūyaṁ jale matsyā bhaviṣyatha jalecarāḥ | naramāṁsāśanāḥ pāpā narabhakṣyā bhaviṣyatha ||

'For that entire span, you shall be fish, dwelling in the water — sinful, man-flesh-eating creatures who shall themselves become food for men.'

Verse 49 (skanda.8.150.49)

क्षपयिष्यथ मच्छापं वर्षकोटीशतान्युत । इति शापहतान्शेषान् कृत्वार्णवजलौकसः । विरराम महातेजाः शुक्रश्चन्द्रसमद्युतिः ।।

kṣapayiṣyatha macchāpaṁ varṣakoṭīśatānyuta | iti śāpahatānśeṣān kṛtvārṇavajalaukasaḥ | virarāma mahātejāḥ śukraścandrasamadyutiḥ ||

'You shall bear out this curse of mine for hundreds of millions of years.' Having thus cursed the remaining daityas, now dwellers of the ocean's waters, the mighty, moon-radiant Shukra fell silent.

Verse 50 (skanda.8.150.50)

ततस्ते वार्धितोयेषु गुरुशापहतासुराः । सायुधाः सतनुत्राश्च दृश्यन्ते दंशिताश्च ह ।।

tataste vārdhitoyeṣu guruśāpahatāsurāḥ | sāyudhāḥ satanutrāśca dṛśyante daṁśitāśca ha ||

Sanatkumara said: Thereafter those demons, struck down by their guru's curse, could still be seen in the ocean's waters, as if bearing weapons, armour and bristling scales.

Verse 51 (skanda.8.150.51)

अन्धकं तु ततः शुक्रः शुक्रारिभयविह्वलम् । उवाच पाणिना स्पृश्य जीवयन्निव तं गिरा ।।

andhakaṁ tu tataḥ śukraḥ śukrāribhayavihvalam | uvāca pāṇinā spṛśya jīvayanniva taṁ girā ||

Then Shukra touched Andhaka, who was overwhelmed with fear of Shukra's own foe, and, as if reviving him with his voice, said:

Verse 52 (skanda.8.150.52)

माभैस्त्वं दानवश्रेष्ठ प्रतियुध्यस्व शत्रुषु । अहं त्वां धारयिष्यामि आहार इव जीवितम् ।।

mābhaistvaṁ dānavaśreṣṭha pratiyudhyasva śatruṣu | ahaṁ tvāṁ dhārayiṣyāmi āhāra iva jīvitam ||

'Do not fear, O foremost of demons! Fight back against your foes; I shall sustain you, as food sustains life.'

Verse 53 (skanda.8.150.53)

इत्येवमुक्तः शुक्रेण सोऽन्धको दानवेश्वरः । एवमेतदिति प्रोच्य रुरोध प्रमथान् रणे ।।

ityevamuktaḥ śukreṇa so'ndhako dānaveśvaraḥ | evametaditi procya rurodha pramathān raṇe ||

Thus addressed by Shukra, Andhaka, lord of demons, said 'So be it,' and began to hold back the pramathas in battle.

Verse 54 (skanda.8.150.54)

ततः प्रविष्टेष्वसुरेषु सागरं निहन्यमानेषु च शङ्करानुगैः । दधार सर्वान्प्रमथान् तदान्धको नदीनदान्भूरिजलो यथार्णवः ।।

tataḥ praviṣṭeṣvasureṣu sāgaraṁ nihanyamāneṣu ca śaṅkarānugaiḥ | dadhāra sarvānpramathān tadāndhako nadīnadānbhūrijalo yathārṇavaḥ ||

Then, with the demons having fled into the sea and being cut down by Shankara's followers, Andhaka alone took on all the pramathas, as the vast, water-laden ocean absorbs every river and stream.

Verse 55 (skanda.8.150.55)

स नन्दिनं द्वादशभिः पराभिनत्तदान्धकः पञ्चभिरेव चाग्निजम् । विशाखशाखौ दशभिः शतेन च स नैगमेषं प्रतुतोद दानवः ।।

sa nandinaṁ dvādaśabhiḥ parābhinattadāndhakaḥ pañcabhireva cāgnijam | viśākhaśākhau daśabhiḥ śatena ca sa naigameṣaṁ pratutoda dānavaḥ ||

Then Andhaka pierced Nandi with twelve arrows, and Agni's son with five; he struck Vishakha and Shakha each with ten, and pierced Naigamesha with a hundred shafts.

Verse 56 (skanda.8.150.56)

स वीरभद्रं च तथा च विट्पतिं प्रभामयं यक्षवरं च पिङ्गलम् । विबभेद बाणैस्तपनीयभूषणैर्यथाङ्कुशाग्रैरिव हस्तिपो गजम् ।।

sa vīrabhadraṁ ca tathā ca viṭpatiṁ prabhāmayaṁ yakṣavaraṁ ca piṅgalam | vibabheda bāṇaistapanīyabhūṣaṇairyathāṅkuśāgrairiva hastipo gajam ||

He pierced Virabhadra, Vitpati, Prabhamaya and Pingala, prince of yakshas, with gold-adorned arrows, as a mahout goads an elephant with the point of his hook.

Verse 57 (skanda.8.150.57)

न सोऽस्ति तस्मिन् पुरतो न पृष्ठतो हयो गजो वा प्रमथोऽथवेतरः । शरान्न यो धारयतेऽन्धकेरितान् प्रदीप्तकालानलसूर्यसन्निभान् ।।

na so'sti tasmin purato na pṛṣṭhato hayo gajo vā pramatho'thavetaraḥ | śarānna yo dhārayate'ndhakeritān pradīptakālānalasūryasannibhān ||

There was no horse, elephant, pramatha or anyone else, before him or behind, who did not bear the brunt of Andhaka's shafts, blazing like the fire of doomsday and the sun.

Verse 58 (skanda.8.150.58)

विवृश्चिताश्चन्दनवद्गणेश्वरा भुजोदरे वक्षसि मूर्घ्नि चासकृत् । निरुद्यमास्तस्थुरमित्रनन्दना यथा गजाः पञ्जरबन्धबन्धनाः ।।

vivṛścitāścandanavadgaṇeśvarā bhujodare vakṣasi mūrghni cāsakṛt | nirudyamāstasthuramitranandanā yathā gajāḥ pañjarabandhabandhanāḥ ||

Gashed again and again on arm, belly, chest and head, like sandalwood trees being hacked, the gana-lords, foes of the enemy, stood immobilized, spiritless, like elephants bound fast in cages.

Verse 59 (skanda.8.150.59)

ततोऽसुरैः सिंहरवास्तदा कृताः सशंखभेरीशतदुन्दुभोत्कटाः । पुनश्च युद्धं प्रबभौ भयानकं गणेश्वराणां सह दानवेश्वरैः ।।

tato'suraiḥ siṁharavāstadā kṛtāḥ saśaṁkhabherīśatadundubhotkaṭāḥ | punaśca yuddhaṁ prababhau bhayānakaṁ gaṇeśvarāṇāṁ saha dānaveśvaraiḥ ||

Then the demons let out lion-roars, terrible with the blast of conches, kettledrums and a hundred war-drums, and once more a fearsome battle blazed up between the gana-lords and the lords of the demons.