The Battle Between Andhaka and Nandi

Verse 1 (skanda.8.151.1)

सनत्कुमार उवाच । वर्तमानेन्धके युद्धे विद्रवत्सु गणेषु च । त्रिदशाधिपतिं शक्रमित्युवाच पितामहः

sanatkumāra uvāca | vartamānendhake yuddhe vidravatsu gaṇeṣu ca | tridaśādhipatiṁ śakramityuvāca pitāmahaḥ

Sanatkumara said: While the battle with Andhaka was raging and the pramatha-hosts were fleeing, Grandsire Brahma spoke thus to Indra, lord of the thirty gods.

Verse 2 (skanda.8.151.2)

विमुखान्पश्य भद्रन्ते प्रमथानमरधिप । काल्यमानान् रणे घोरैर्दानवैरन्धकेन

vimukhānpaśya bhadrante pramathānamaradhipa | kālyamānān raṇe ghorairdānavairandhakena

Behold, good lord of the immortals - your pramathas are turning their backs, driven in battle by Andhaka's terrible danavas.

Verse 3 (skanda.8.151.3)

निहतान्निहतानेष प्रथमैर्दानवान् युधि । शुक्र उज्जीवयन्नास्ते सस्यानि जलदो यथा

nihatānnihatāneṣa prathamairdānavān yudhi | śukra ujjīvayannāste sasyāni jalado yathā

As fast as the danavas are slain, Shukra revives them again on the field, as a raincloud revives withered crops.

Verse 4 (skanda.8.151.4)

असौ विकृष्टचापश्च सेन्द्रायुधघनोपमः । सृजतीषुमयं वर्षमन्धकः क्षपयन् रिपून्

asau vikṛṣṭacāpaśca sendrāyudhaghanopamaḥ | sṛjatīṣumayaṁ varṣamandhakaḥ kṣapayan ripūn

This Andhaka, his bow drawn like a rainbow-crowned raincloud, pours down a rain of arrows, destroying his foes.

Verse 5 (skanda.8.151.5)

प्रमथाभ्यर्दनं ह्येतदहितं ह्ययशस्करम् । क्षममाणा ह्यतिष्ठध्वं कस्मादेतत् पराजयम्

pramathābhyardanaṁ hyetadahitaṁ hyayaśaskaram | kṣamamāṇā hyatiṣṭhadhvaṁ kasmādetat parājayam

This harrying of the pramathas is harmful to us and brings us disgrace. Why do you sit there enduring this defeat?

Verse 6 (skanda.8.151.6)

जित्वा ह्येष गणन्सर्वानन्धको दानवेश्वरः । अस्माकमपि मूलानि निर्मूलानि करिष्यति

jitvā hyeṣa gaṇansarvānandhako dānaveśvaraḥ | asmākamapi mūlāni nirmūlāni kariṣyati

Once this lord of danavas has conquered all the ganas, he will tear out our roots as well.

Verse 7 (skanda.8.151.7)

तद्यावदेष नो बाणैः प्रमथान्नयति क्षयम् । तावदेव वयं पार्ष्णिं गृह्णाम कृत्तिवाससः

tadyāvadeṣa no bāṇaiḥ pramathānnayati kṣayam | tāvadeva vayaṁ pārṣṇiṁ gṛhṇāma kṛttivāsasaḥ

So, before it destroys the pramathas with its arrows, let us at once take refuge at the heel of Kritivasa, the hide-clad Shiva.

Verse 8 (skanda.8.151.8)

एवं तव च कार्यार्थः सेत्स्यते देवताधिप । रुद्रस्य च कृतं ह्येवं भविष्यति महत् प्रियम्

evaṁ tava ca kāryārthaḥ setsyate devatādhipa | rudrasya ca kṛtaṁ hyevaṁ bhaviṣyati mahat priyam

Thus, lord of the gods, your purpose too will be accomplished, and this deed will be greatly pleasing to Rudra as well.

Verse 9 (skanda.8.151.9)

स्वयम्भुवचनं श्रुत्वा बलवृत्रनिबर्हणः । युक्तमेतदिति प्रोच्य सुरान् सुरपतिर्जगौ

svayambhuvacanaṁ śrutvā balavṛtranibarhaṇaḥ | yuktametaditi procya surān surapatirjagau

Hearing the Self-born One's words, Indra, slayer of Bala and Vritra, declared 'This is right,' and spoke thus to the gods.

Verse 10 (skanda.8.151.10)

गृहीतवर्मशस्त्रास्त्राः शीघ्रं शीघ्रपराक्रमाः । साहाय्यं करवामाद्य गणानां युध्यतां रणे

gṛhītavarmaśastrāstrāḥ śīghraṁ śīghraparākramāḥ | sāhāyyaṁ karavāmādya gaṇānāṁ yudhyatāṁ raṇe

Taking up our armour, weapons, and missiles, swift in valour, let us today go to the aid of the ganas fighting in battle.

Verse 11 (skanda.8.151.11)

ततो नारायणानन्तौ नरेन्द्रौ चन्द्र एव च । स्वयम्भुरनलो वायुः सूर्यो धनद एव च

tato nārāyaṇānantau narendrau candra eva ca | svayambhuranalo vāyuḥ sūryo dhanada eva ca

Then Narayana and Ananta, the two lords among men, and the Moon, the Self-born One, Fire, Wind, the Sun, and Kubera -

Verse 12 (skanda.8.151.12)

पूषार्यमा भगो मित्रो यमश्च रविनन्दनः । अंशस्त्वष्टा जयश्चैव जयन्तश्चैव शक्रजः

pūṣāryamā bhago mitro yamaśca ravinandanaḥ | aṁśastvaṣṭā jayaścaiva jayantaścaiva śakrajaḥ

Pusha, Aryaman, Bhaga, Mitra, Yama and the Sun's son Shani, Amsha, Tvashta, Jaya, and Jayanta, Indra's own son -

Verse 13 (skanda.8.151.13)

मरुतो वसवः साध्यास्तथाश्विगरुडोरगाः । तुषिताश्चैव लेखाश्च विश्वेदेवाश्च गुह्यकाः

maruto vasavaḥ sādhyāstathāśvigaruḍoragāḥ | tuṣitāścaiva lekhāśca viśvedevāśca guhyakāḥ

the Maruts, the Vasus, the Sadhyas, the Ashvins, Garuda, the serpent-folk, the Tushitas, the Lekhas, the Vishvedevas, and the Guhyakas -

Verse 14 (skanda.8.151.14)

गन्धर्वाश्चैव यक्षाश्च ये चान्ये देवपक्षिणः । ते सर्वे वातरन् युद्धे हन्तुकामास्तथान्धकम्

gandharvāścaiva yakṣāśca ye cānye devapakṣiṇaḥ | te sarve vātaran yuddhe hantukāmāstathāndhakam

Gandharvas, Yakshas, and whatever other divine bird-folk there were - all of them plunged into the battle, eager to slay Andhaka.

Verse 15 (skanda.8.151.15)

अथ दुन्दुभिशब्दाश्च सिंहनादाश्च भैरवाः । बभूवुर्देवसैन्येषु प्रमथानां प्रियंकराः

atha dundubhiśabdāśca siṁhanādāśca bhairavāḥ | babhūvurdevasainyeṣu pramathānāṁ priyaṁkarāḥ

Then in the armies of the gods there arose fearsome kettledrum-rolls and lion-roars, gladdening to the pramathas.

Verse 16 (skanda.8.151.16)

देवैः पतद्भिस्तत्सैन्यं दानवानां विलोडितम् । प्रभूतमीनं क्षीणाम्बु राजहंसैर्यथा सरः

devaiḥ patadbhistatsainyaṁ dānavānāṁ viloḍitam | prabhūtamīnaṁ kṣīṇāmbu rājahaṁsairyathā saraḥ

As the gods fell upon it, that army of danavas was churned up, like a shallow lake teeming with fish being churned by royal swans.

Verse 17 (skanda.8.151.17)

ततो हलहलाशब्दः संजज्ञेतीवभैरवः । देवताध्युषिते सैन्ये दानवानां समाकुले

tato halahalāśabdaḥ saṁjajñetīvabhairavaḥ | devatādhyuṣite sainye dānavānāṁ samākule

Then, in that army thronged with gods and thrown into confusion by the danavas, an utterly terrifying uproar arose.

Verse 18 (skanda.8.151.18)

सामुद्रमम्भस्तिमिभिर्घनैरिव यथा नभः । कफपित्तैर्यथा देहो गरुडैर्भोगिनो यथा

sāmudramambhastimibhirghanairiva yathā nabhaḥ | kaphapittairyathā deho garuḍairbhogino yathā

As the ocean's waters are stirred by great sea-creatures, the sky by clouds, the body by phlegm and bile, and serpents by garudas -

Verse 19 (skanda.8.151.19)

तथा तदन्धकबलं बलेन त्रिदिवौकसाम् । मुहूर्तेन कृतं सर्वं विहस्तकवचध्वजम्

tathā tadandhakabalaṁ balena tridivaukasām | muhūrtena kṛtaṁ sarvaṁ vihastakavacadhvajam

so was Andhaka's army, in but a moment, thrown into utter disarray by the might of the gods, its armour and banners scattered.

Verse 20 (skanda.8.151.20)

एकतः सेन्द्रकैर्देवैरेकतश्च गणेश्वरैः । हन्यते दानवानीकमजा वृकशतैरिव

ekataḥ sendrakairdevairekataśca gaṇeśvaraiḥ | hanyate dānavānīkamajā vṛkaśatairiva

Struck from one side by the gods with Indra, and from the other by the lords of the ganas, the danava host was slaughtered like a flock of goats by hundreds of wolves.

Verse 21 (skanda.8.151.21)

वज्रोद्यतकरो देवो देवानां देवपुङ्गवः । ओङ्कार इव वेदानां तेषामासीत् पुरस्सरः

vajrodyatakaro devo devānāṁ devapuṅgavaḥ | oṅkāra iva vedānāṁ teṣāmāsīt purassaraḥ

Indra, foremost of the gods, his hand raised with the thunderbolt, went before them, as the syllable Om goes before the Vedas.

Verse 22 (skanda.8.151.22)

वज्रास्त्रपावकेनेन्द्रो ददाह समरे रिपून् । दुरितानि तु सर्वाणि प्रायश्चित्तानलो यथा

vajrāstrapāvakenendro dadāha samare ripūn | duritāni tu sarvāṇi prāyaścittānalo yathā

With the fire of his thunderbolt-weapon Indra burned up his foes in battle, as the fire of penance burns away every sin.

Verse 23 (skanda.8.151.23)

देवैश्च प्रमथैश्चैव हन्यमाने बलेन्धकः । उवाच क्रोधरागान्धो दानवान्दानवाधिपः

devaiśca pramathaiścaiva hanyamāne balendhakaḥ | uvāca krodharāgāndho dānavāndānavādhipaḥ

As his army was being slaughtered by gods and pramathas alike, Andhaka, lord of the danavas, blinded by wrath and passion, spoke to the danavas.

Verse 24 (skanda.8.151.24)

उत्पाद्य वैरं रुद्रेण सर्वलोकाभिरक्षिणा । न शक्यं प्रमथान् जेतुमनिर्विण्णैः सहामरान्

utpādya vairaṁ rudreṇa sarvalokābhirakṣiṇā | na śakyaṁ pramathān jetumanirviṇṇaiḥ sahāmarān

Having provoked the enmity of Rudra, protector of all the worlds, we can conquer the pramathas together with the gods only if we remain undaunted.

Verse 25 (skanda.8.151.25)

मरणाच्च न भेतव्यं युध्यध्वं दैत्यदानवाः । भार्गवस्तिष्ठति ह्येष यो नः संजीवयिष्यति

maraṇācca na bhetavyaṁ yudhyadhvaṁ daityadānavāḥ | bhārgavastiṣṭhati hyeṣa yo naḥ saṁjīvayiṣyati

Do not fear death, O daityas and danavas - fight on! Here stands Bhargava, who will bring us back to life.

Verse 26 (skanda.8.151.26)

तत् प्राणेष्वदयन्तो वै यूयं देवगणेश्वरान् । यथाबलं यथोत्साहं वारयध्वमशङ्किताः

tat prāṇeṣvadayanto vai yūyaṁ devagaṇeśvarān | yathābalaṁ yathotsāhaṁ vārayadhvamaśaṅkitāḥ

So, sparing no thought for your own lives, hold back the gods and the lords of the ganas, each to the utmost of his strength and zeal, without hesitation.

Verse 27 (skanda.8.151.27)

मायाभिरेतान् बह्वीभिर्गूढाभिर्गूढरूपिणः । निवारयत युद्धेन सर्वान् देवान् समागतान्

māyābhiretān bahvībhirgūḍhābhirgūḍharūpiṇaḥ | nivārayata yuddhena sarvān devān samāgatān

O shape-shifting ones, with your many hidden powers of illusion, and with battle too, hold back all these gods who have come against us.

Verse 28 (skanda.8.151.28)

इत्युक्ता चक्रुर्घोराणि कल्पान्ते नीरदा इव

ityuktā cakrurghorāṇi kalpānte nīradā iva

Thus commanded - the surviving text breaks off here - they wrought terrible deeds, like storm-clouds at the dissolution of an aeon.

Verse 29 (skanda.8.151.29)

धनुःशब्दान् प्रकुर्वाणाः सिंहनादरवांस्तथा । दुद्रुवुर्दानवा देवानन्धकेन प्रचोदिताः

dhanuḥśabdān prakurvāṇāḥ siṁhanādaravāṁstathā | dudruvurdānavā devānandhakena pracoditāḥ

Twanging their bows and roaring like lions, the danavas, urged on by Andhaka, charged upon the gods.

Verse 30 (skanda.8.151.30)

विकृष्य तु महाचापं सागराम्बुदनर्दनम् । रुद्रमुद्दिश्य वेगेन ससारान्धकदानवः

vikṛṣya tu mahācāpaṁ sāgarāmbudanardanam | rudramuddiśya vegena sasārāndhakadānavaḥ

Drawing his great bow that roared like the thundering ocean, the danava Andhaka rushed swiftly straight at Rudra.

Verse 31 (skanda.8.151.31)

तं दानवेन्द्रं दुर्वारं धावमानम् वारयामास शैलादिर्धर्मचित्तमिवाशुभम्

taṁ dānavendraṁ durvāraṁ dhāvamānam vārayāmāsa śailādirdharmacittamivāśubham

That irresistible lord of danavas, as he charged, was blocked by Shailadi, Nandi, just as a righteous mind checks an unworthy thought. A further line is lost in the source here.

Verse 32 (skanda.8.151.32)

स नन्दिनं त्रिभिर्बाणैर्ज्वलनादित्यसन्निभैः । निबिभेदान्धकः क्रोधाद् बाहुमध्ये निपीडयन्

sa nandinaṁ tribhirbāṇairjvalanādityasannibhaiḥ | nibibhedāndhakaḥ krodhād bāhumadhye nipīḍayan

In his fury Andhaka pierced Nandi with three arrows blazing like fire and sun, striking him hard between the arms.

Verse 33 (skanda.8.151.33)

गाढं विदारितस्तेन दानवेन गणेश्वरः । सं जुघूर्ण तदा नन्दी वायुनुन्नो यथा द्रुमः

gāḍhaṁ vidāritastena dānavena gaṇeśvaraḥ | saṁ jughūrṇa tadā nandī vāyununno yathā drumaḥ

Gashed deeply by that danava, the lord of the ganas, Nandi, reeled, as a tree reels when shaken by the wind.

Verse 34 (skanda.8.151.34)

घूर्णमानो बभौ नन्दी मृष्टकुण्डलभूषणः । चलत्पल्लवपुष्पाढ्यो यथाशोकतरुस्तथा

ghūrṇamāno babhau nandī mṛṣṭakuṇḍalabhūṣaṇaḥ | calatpallavapuṣpāḍhyo yathāśokatarustathā

Reeling, his bright earrings gleaming, Nandi shone like an ashoka tree laden with swaying young leaves and blossoms.

Verse 35 (skanda.8.151.35)

ततश्चिरात्समाश्वस्य सुयशाः सुयशापतिः । वज्रमूर्जितमुत्क्षिप्य सोन्धकाय ससर्ज ह

tataścirātsamāśvasya suyaśāḥ suyaśāpatiḥ | vajramūrjitamutkṣipya sondhakāya sasarja ha

Then, after a long while, having steadied himself, the glorious Nandi raised his mighty thunderbolt-mace and hurled it at Andhaka.

Verse 36 (skanda.8.151.36)

तत्पावकरविप्रख्यं वज्रमागतमूर्जितम् । व्यष्टम्भयत बाणौघैरन्धकः प्रजहास च

tatpāvakaraviprakhyaṁ vajramāgatamūrjitam | vyaṣṭambhayata bāṇaughairandhakaḥ prajahāsa ca

That mighty thunderbolt, blazing like fire and sun, came flying at him; Andhaka checked it with a hail of arrows, and laughed aloud.

Verse 37 (skanda.8.151.37)

हसतस्तस्य नेत्राभ्यां सुभ्रूभ्यामश्रुबिन्दवः । न्यस्रवन्त यथार्कस्य किरणा दीप्तमण्डलात्

hasatastasya netrābhyāṁ subhrūbhyāmaśrubindavaḥ | nyasravanta yathārkasya kiraṇā dīptamaṇḍalāt

As he laughed, tear-drops streamed from his fine-browed eyes, as rays stream from the blazing disc of the sun.

Verse 38 (skanda.8.151.38)

भूतराजस्ततोत्पाट्य द्रुमं व्याकुलपल्लवम् । हतोसि हेन्धकेत्युक्त्वा ससर्ज च जगर्ज च

bhūtarājastatotpāṭya drumaṁ vyākulapallavam | hatosi hendhaketyuktvā sasarja ca jagarja ca

Then the lord of the bhutas tore up a tree with its leaves tossing wildly, cried 'Now you are slain, Andhaka!', hurled it, and roared.

Verse 39 (skanda.8.151.39)

तं धावमानमाकाशे तरुमारुतवीजिताः । अनुव्रजन्ति भ्रमरा मित्रं व्यसनगं यथा

taṁ dhāvamānamākāśe tarumārutavījitāḥ | anuvrajanti bhramarā mitraṁ vyasanagaṁ yathā

As that tree flew through the sky, bees stirred loose by the wind followed after it, as a friend follows a friend fallen into distress.

Verse 40 (skanda.8.151.40)

तमप्यस्यान्धको बाणैश्चारुकाञ्चनभूषणैः । चकर्त धर्ता लोकानां दितिगर्भं यथाहिहा

tamapyasyāndhako bāṇaiścārukāñcanabhūṣaṇaiḥ | cakarta dhartā lokānāṁ ditigarbhaṁ yathāhihā

Andhaka cut that tree to pieces as well with arrows fair-wrought in gold, as the serpent-slayer might rend the world-bearing womb of Diti.

Verse 41 (skanda.8.151.41)

वृक्षे कृते ततो नन्दी समृगव्यालपन्नगम् । मन्दराग्रं समुत्पाट्य दुद्रावान्धकमाहवे

vṛkṣe kṛte tato nandī samṛgavyālapannagam | mandarāgraṁ samutpāṭya dudrāvāndhakamāhave

When his tree was thus cut down, Nandi tore up the very peak of Mount Mandara, with its deer, serpents and snakes, and charged at Andhaka in battle.

Verse 42 (skanda.8.151.42)

गिरिकूटं तु तं नन्दी गिरिकूटवनालयः । अपातयद्रथे तस्य विन्ध्ये वज्रमिवाहिहा

girikūṭaṁ tu taṁ nandī girikūṭavanālayaḥ | apātayadrathe tasya vindhye vajramivāhihā

Nandi, whose home is the forests of mountain peaks, dropped that mountain-crag upon Andhaka's chariot, as the serpent-slaying Indra might hurl his thunderbolt upon the Vindhya.

Verse 43 (skanda.8.151.43)

स रथस्तेन शृङ्गेण नन्दिना दृढमाहतः । सचक्रकूबरहयः पांसुसायुज्यमागमत्

sa rathastena śṛṅgeṇa nandinā dṛḍhamāhataḥ | sacakrakūbarahayaḥ pāṁsusāyujyamāgamat

That chariot, struck hard by Nandi with that crag, was reduced to dust, wheels, pole, and horses together.

Verse 44 (skanda.8.151.44)

ततोन्धकरथं दृष्ट्वा सचक्राक्षं विचूर्णितम् । नेदुर्देवाः सगन्धर्वाः प्रमथाश्च सगुह्यकाः

tatondhakarathaṁ dṛṣṭvā sacakrākṣaṁ vicūrṇitam | nedurdevāḥ sagandharvāḥ pramathāśca saguhyakāḥ

Seeing Andhaka's chariot, wheels and axle and all, ground to powder, the gods with the gandharvas and the pramathas with the guhyakas roared out in joy.

Verse 45 (skanda.8.151.45)

ततोन्धकस्त्रिशूलेन नदित्वा कालमेघवत् । नन्दिनं ताडयामास गजेन्द्र इव पादपम्

tatondhakastriśūlena naditvā kālameghavat | nandinaṁ tāḍayāmāsa gajendra iva pādapam

Then Andhaka, roaring like a storm-cloud at the world's end, struck Nandi with his trident, as a lordly elephant strikes a tree.

Verse 46 (skanda.8.151.46)

त्रिशूलिदयितस्तेन त्रिशूलेनाभिताडितः । नन्दी विह्वलसर्वाङ्गश्चकम्पेन्तर्जलेन्दुवत्

triśūlidayitastena triśūlenābhitāḍitaḥ | nandī vihvalasarvāṅgaścakampentarjalenduvat

Nandi, the beloved of the trident-bearer, struck by that trident, his whole body shaken, trembled like the moon's reflection quivering in water.

Verse 47 (skanda.8.151.47)

नन्दीश्वरे घूर्णमाने प्रहारेण भृशार्दिते । असुराणां बले जज्ञे सिंहनादरवो मुहुः

nandīśvare ghūrṇamāne prahāreṇa bhṛśārdite | asurāṇāṁ bale jajñe siṁhanādaravo muhuḥ

As Lord Nandi reeled, sorely wounded by the blow, a lion-roar of triumph again and again rose up in the ranks of the asuras.

Verse 48 (skanda.8.151.48)

सिंहनादेन शत्रूणां तेन नन्दी प्रबोधितः । परश्वधेनाभ्यहनदन्धकं भूतबान्धवः

siṁhanādena śatrūṇāṁ tena nandī prabodhitaḥ | paraśvadhenābhyahanadandhakaṁ bhūtabāndhavaḥ

Roused by that lion-roar of his enemies, Nandi, kinsman of the bhutas, struck Andhaka with his battle-axe.

Verse 49 (skanda.8.151.49)

परश्वधहतो रक्तं चक्षरान्धकदानवः । गजदन्ताहतो रक्तं स्वरसं चन्दनो यथा

paraśvadhahato raktaṁ cakṣarāndhakadānavaḥ | gajadantāhato raktaṁ svarasaṁ candano yathā

Struck by the axe, the danava Andhaka streamed blood, as a sandal tree, gashed by an elephant's tusk, streams its own sap.

Verse 50 (skanda.8.151.50)

अन्धकं विरथं दृष्ट्वा ररक्षुरमरद्विषः । आशास्ववस्थिता देवा यथा लोकमिमं तथा

andhakaṁ virathaṁ dṛṣṭvā rarakṣuramaradviṣaḥ | āśāsvavasthitā devā yathā lokamimaṁ tathā

Seeing Andhaka without his chariot, the foes of the immortals rallied to guard him, as the guardians stationed in the quarters protect this world.

Verse 51 (skanda.8.151.51)

अथ बाणो बलेः पुत्रो बाणपुष्पसमप्रभः । अन्धकं रथयानेन संपादयत दानवः

atha bāṇo baleḥ putro bāṇapuṣpasamaprabhaḥ | andhakaṁ rathayānena saṁpādayata dānavaḥ

Then Bana, son of Bali, radiant as the bana-flower, that danava, brought up a chariot and set Andhaka upon it.

Verse 52 (skanda.8.151.52)

स तं रथं दानवेन्द्र आरुरोह तदान्धकः । यथोदयं तु भगवान् दिनकृत् पूर्णमण्डलः

sa taṁ rathaṁ dānavendra āruroha tadāndhakaḥ | yathodayaṁ tu bhagavān dinakṛt pūrṇamaṇḍalaḥ

Then that lord of danavas, Andhaka, mounted that chariot, as the blessed Sun, his orb full, mounts the eastern peak at rising.

Verse 53 (skanda.8.151.53)

ततः पुनर्युज्यत देवदानवैः प्रकर्तुकामैः कलहं सुदारुणम् । त्रिशूलवज्राशनिःसायकै रणे प्रधूपितोग्निर्ज्वलितस्तरां बभौ

tataḥ punaryujyata devadānavaiḥ prakartukāmaiḥ kalahaṁ sudāruṇam | triśūlavajrāśaniḥsāyakai raṇe pradhūpitognirjvalitastarāṁ babhau

Then once more the gods and danavas, eager for savage combat, locked in a most terrible struggle, and with tridents, thunderbolts, lightning-bolts, and arrows the battlefield blazed up like a fire fanned to fierce flame.