Andhaka's Ascendancy in Battle

Verse 1 (skanda.8.154.1)

सनत्कुमार उवाच । हन्यमाने बले तस्मिन् देवैः सप्रमथेश्वरैः । चुक्रुधुर्दानवा घोराश्चतुर्विंशतिदर्पिताः

sanatkumāra uvāca | hanyamāne bale tasmin devaiḥ sapramatheśvaraiḥ | cukrudhurdānavā ghorāścaturviṁśatidarpitāḥ

Sanatkumara said: As that army was being cut down by the gods together with the lords of the pramathas, twenty-four terrible danavas, swollen with pride, flew into rage.

Verse 2 (skanda.8.154.2)

प्रह्रादश्चानुह्रादश्च संह्रादः शिनिबाष्कलौ । जम्भो विरोचनो वृत्रो बलिर्बाणोवनिञ्जयः

prahrādaścānuhrādaśca saṁhrādaḥ śinibāṣkalau | jambho virocano vṛtro balirbāṇovaniñjayaḥ

Prahrada, Anuhrada, Samhrada, Shini and Bashkala, Jambha, Virochana, Vritra, Bali, Bana, and Avininjaya -

Verse 3 (skanda.8.154.3)

तथा तुहुण्डो हुण्डश्च शम्भुः कार्तस्वनः कुभः । शम्बरो विप्रचित्तिश्च इल्वकः पिल्वकस्तथा

tathā tuhuṇḍo huṇḍaśca śambhuḥ kārtasvanaḥ kubhaḥ | śambaro vipracittiśca ilvakaḥ pilvakastathā

and Tuhunda, Hunda, Shambhu, Kartasvana, Kubha, Shambara, Viprachitti, Ilvaka, and Pilvaka -

Verse 4 (skanda.8.154.4)

मयस्तारस्तारकाक्षो विद्युन्माली प्रमोहनः । एते मर्षवशं प्राप्ताश्चतुर्विंशतिदानवाः

mayastārastārakākṣo vidyunmālī pramohanaḥ | ete marṣavaśaṁ prāptāścaturviṁśatidānavāḥ

Maya, Tara, Tarakaksha, Vidyunmali, and Pramohana - these twenty-four danavas fell under the sway of fury.

Verse 5 (skanda.8.154.5)

दुद्रुवुः सायुधं देवं नन्दिनं समवस्थितम् । तेञ्जनाचलसंकाशाः काञ्चनाचलसन्निभम्

dudruvuḥ sāyudhaṁ devaṁ nandinaṁ samavasthitam | teñjanācalasaṁkāśāḥ kāñcanācalasannibham

Dark as the mountain of collyrium, they charged at the weapon-bearing god Nandi, who stood there like a mountain of gold.

Verse 6 (skanda.8.154.6)

नन्दिनं ताडयामासुः शूलशक्त्यृष्टिपट्टिशैः । तथा तैररिभिः शस्त्रैस्ताडितो वारितश्च वै

nandinaṁ tāḍayāmāsuḥ śūlaśaktyṛṣṭipaṭṭiśaiḥ | tathā tairaribhiḥ śastraistāḍito vāritaśca vai

They struck Nandi with tridents, javelins, spears, and pattisha-blades; struck by those weapons of the enemy, he still held his ground.

Verse 7 (skanda.8.154.7)

नाक्षुभ्यत तदा नन्दी नार्त्तिमापन्न च व्यथाम् । ततो विकृष्य भगवानाततं कार्मुकं महत्

nākṣubhyata tadā nandī nārttimāpanna ca vyathām | tato vikṛṣya bhagavānātataṁ kārmukaṁ mahat

Not then did Nandi flinch, nor did pain overcome him. Then the lord drew back his great taut bow.

Verse 8 (skanda.8.154.8)

त्रिभिस्त्रिभिर्बिभेदाशु सर्वान्दानवसत्तमान् । ते बाणमार्गनिस्रावै दानवाः शोणितक्षराः

tribhistribhirbibhedāśu sarvāndānavasattamān | te bāṇamārganisrāvai dānavāḥ śoṇitakṣarāḥ

With three arrows apiece he swiftly pierced every one of those foremost danavas. Streaming blood from the paths cut by his arrows, those danavas -

Verse 9 (skanda.8.154.9)

क्षरन्त इव शैलेन्द्रास्तपनीयरसान् बभुः । ततो रोषोद्धतो नन्दी शुक्रेणोज्जीवितं पुनः

kṣaranta iva śailendrāstapanīyarasān babhuḥ | tato roṣoddhato nandī śukreṇojjīvitaṁ punaḥ

shone like great mountains streaming molten gold. Then Nandi, roused to fury, struck one who had been revived once more by Shukra -

Verse 10 (skanda.8.154.10)

कार्त्तस्वनं शरैर्घोरैरनयद्यमसादनम् । जीवितस्रंसनं प्राप्य स दानवमहाचलः

kārttasvanaṁ śarairghorairanayadyamasādanam | jīvitasraṁsanaṁ prāpya sa dānavamahācalaḥ

Kartasvana, sending him with terrible arrows to Yama's abode. Having lost his life, that danava, huge as a mountain -

Verse 11 (skanda.8.154.11)

शीर्णोपलः पपाताशु वज्राहत इवाचलः । पतमाने क्षितौ तस्मिन्नन्दिबाणाहते हते

śīrṇopalaḥ papātāśu vajrāhata ivācalaḥ | patamāne kṣitau tasminnandibāṇāhate hate

fell at once, his rocks scattering, like a peak struck by the thunderbolt. As he, slain and struck down by Nandi's arrow, was thus falling to the earth -

Verse 12 (skanda.8.154.12)

बलिरुत्पाट्य शैलाग्रं चिक्षेपोद्दिश्य नन्दिनम् । तत् सधातुमृगव्यालं सर्क्षवृक्षं गिरेस्तटम्

balirutpāṭya śailāgraṁ cikṣepoddiśya nandinam | tat sadhātumṛgavyālaṁ sarkṣavṛkṣaṁ girestaṭam

just then Bali tore up a mountain-crag, laden with ores, deer and serpents, and thick with bears and trees, and hurled it straight at Nandi.

Verse 13 (skanda.8.154.13)

निर्भ्रान्तोपलवृक्षालमभ्यधावद् गणेश्वरम् । शृङ्गस्य बलिमुक्तस्य तस्य व्यालादयो जवात्

nirbhrāntopalavṛkṣālamabhyadhāvad gaṇeśvaram | śṛṅgasya balimuktasya tasya vyālādayo javāt

Scattering rocks and trees, it rushed toward the lord of the ganas; and the serpents and other creatures on that crag, hurled by Bali, swiftly -

Verse 14 (skanda.8.154.14)

अपक्रान्तानयार्त्तस्य पुरुषस्येव बान्धवाः । तदापतत् तद् गिर्यग्रं नन्दी बाणेन वीर्यवान् । मेघानिव महावायुर्बिभेद च ननाद च

apakrāntānayārttasya puruṣasyeva bāndhavāḥ | tadāpatat tad giryagraṁ nandī bāṇena vīryavān | meghāniva mahāvāyurbibheda ca nanāda ca

fled, as a distressed man's own kinsfolk desert him. As that mountain-crag came hurtling down, mighty Nandi split it apart with an arrow and roared, as a great wind rends and roars through the clouds.

Verse 15 (skanda.8.154.15)

तद्विदार्य गिरेः शृङ्गं गिरिशृङ्गनिकेतनः । बलिं बिभेद बाणेन बलिर्विघ्नमिवोत्थितम्

tadvidārya gireḥ śṛṅgaṁ giriśṛṅganiketanaḥ | baliṁ bibheda bāṇena balirvighnamivotthitam

Splitting that mountain-crag, Nandi, whose home is among the peaks, pierced Bali with an arrow, as one might strike down an obstacle risen in his path.

Verse 16 (skanda.8.154.16)

सोभ्याहतो गणेशेन प्राह्लादितनयोवशः । पपात सहसा भूमौ वाताहत इव द्रुमः

sobhyāhato gaṇeśena prāhlāditanayovaśaḥ | papāta sahasā bhūmau vātāhata iva drumaḥ

Struck down by that blow of the lord of the ganas, Bali, son of Prahlada, helpless, fell suddenly to the ground, as a tree falls, struck by a gale.

Verse 17 (skanda.8.154.17)

ततो बलौ निपतिते नन्दीषुवरताडिते । जहुः समरमारात्तं दानवाः शरपीडिताः

tato balau nipatite nandīṣuvaratāḍite | jahuḥ samaramārāttaṁ dānavāḥ śarapīḍitāḥ

When Bali fell, pierced by Nandi's fine arrow, the arrow-tormented danavas abandoned the field of battle in dismay.

Verse 18 (skanda.8.154.18)

प्रसृताम्बुदसंकाशाँस्ततोम्बुदनिभाकृतिः । अन्धकः खात् क्षितिं प्राप्य दानवानिदमब्रवीत्

prasṛtāmbudasaṁkāśā~statombudanibhākṛtiḥ | andhakaḥ khāt kṣitiṁ prāpya dānavānidamabravīt

Then Andhaka, cloud-shaped himself, descending from the sky to earth, seeing those danavas scattered like drifting clouds, spoke to them thus.

Verse 19 (skanda.8.154.19)

अद्य दाक्षायणीपुत्रा निबोधध्वं वचो मम । मया चोक्तानि पथ्यानि कुरुध्वं यदि मन्यत

adya dākṣāyaṇīputrā nibodhadhvaṁ vaco mama | mayā coktāni pathyāni kurudhvaṁ yadi manyata

O sons of Daksha's daughter, hear my words this day. If you honour me, do as I bid, for it is for your own good.

Verse 20 (skanda.8.154.20)

कुलेषु जाता वीराश्च सर्वास्त्रकृतनिश्चयाः । द्रवध्वे वै किमुद्दिश्य पटुनाराचवेजिताः

kuleṣu jātā vīrāśca sarvāstrakṛtaniścayāḥ | dravadhve vai kimuddiśya paṭunārācavejitāḥ

Born in noble lineages, resolved masters of every weapon - why, heroes, do you flee, unnerved by keen-edged shafts?

Verse 21 (skanda.8.154.21)

जल्पितानि क्व वस्तानि कथितानि च संसदि । क्व वस्तद्वैरबाहुल्यं दैवतैस्सह सांप्रतम्

jalpitāni kva vastāni kathitāni ca saṁsadi | kva vastadvairabāhulyaṁ daivataissaha sāṁpratam

Where now are those boasts you uttered, spoken in the assembly? Where now is that fierce enmity of yours against the gods?

Verse 22 (skanda.8.154.22)

एकेन नन्दिना भग्नाः शतशोथ सहस्रशः । ह्रीः कथं वै न भवति जल्पतां वो गृहाजिरे

ekena nandinā bhagnāḥ śataśotha sahasraśaḥ | hrīḥ kathaṁ vai na bhavati jalpatāṁ vo gṛhājire

Broken by Nandi alone, by the hundred and by the thousand - do you feel no shame, you who talked so grandly in the courtyards of your own homes?

Verse 23 (skanda.8.154.23)

निवर्तध्वमधर्मज्ञा युध्यध्वं किं सृतेन वै । भवेन्न नो यत्र मृत्युः सोवकाशो न विद्यते

nivartadhvamadharmajñā yudhyadhvaṁ kiṁ sṛtena vai | bhavenna no yatra mṛtyuḥ sovakāśo na vidyate

Turn back, you who know no righteous restraint, and fight - what use is flight? There is no refuge anywhere where death does not reach.

Verse 24 (skanda.8.154.24)

प्राश्निकाः पार्श्वतः स्थित्वा निर्वैरा वीतमत्सराः । द्वैरथं नन्दिना सार्धमेतत् पश्यत साम्प्रतम्

prāśnikāḥ pārśvataḥ sthitvā nirvairā vītamatsarāḥ | dvairathaṁ nandinā sārdhametat paśyata sāmpratam

Stand aside as impartial witnesses, free of enmity and envy, and now watch this single combat of mine with Nandi.

Verse 25 (skanda.8.154.25)

इत्यन्धकवचः श्रुत्वा सर्वे ते दानवा रणे । पुनर्निवृत्ता युद्धाय प्रगृहीतवरायुधाः

ityandhakavacaḥ śrutvā sarve te dānavā raṇe | punarnivṛttā yuddhāya pragṛhītavarāyudhāḥ

Hearing Andhaka's words, all those danavas on the field, taking up their finest weapons, turned back once more to the fight.

Verse 26 (skanda.8.154.26)

ततोन्यं रथमास्थाय नल्वमात्रं पताकिनम् । अन्धकः सोभ्ययान्नन्दिं सार्धं दानवपुङ्गवैः

tatonyaṁ rathamāsthāya nalvamātraṁ patākinam | andhakaḥ sobhyayānnandiṁ sārdhaṁ dānavapuṅgavaiḥ

Then, mounting another chariot, a nalva in length and adorned with banners, Andhaka, together with the foremost danavas, advanced upon Nandi.

Verse 27 (skanda.8.154.27)

शिताग्ररुक्मविकृताः पृथवः प्रियदर्शनाः । अन्धकस्य धनुःसृष्टा निष्पतन्ति महेषवः

śitāgrarukmavikṛtāḥ pṛthavaḥ priyadarśanāḥ | andhakasya dhanuḥsṛṣṭā niṣpatanti maheṣavaḥ

Keen-tipped, wrought with gold, broad-headed, fair to behold - Andhaka's great arrows sped forth in a flood from his bow.

Verse 28 (skanda.8.154.28)

शलभैरिव केदारा भ्रमरैरिव पादपाः । तोयदैरिव नागेन्द्राः सागरा मकरैरिव

śalabhairiva kedārā bhramarairiva pādapāḥ | toyadairiva nāgendrāḥ sāgarā makarairiva

As fields are overrun by locusts, as trees are thronged with bees, as mountains are wreathed in clouds, and as oceans teem with crocodiles -

Verse 29 (skanda.8.154.29)

महेषुभिर्विनिर्मुक्तैर्नागादित्यसमप्रभैः । अन्धकेन कृता देवाः शतघ्नय इवोत्तमाः

maheṣubhirvinirmuktairnāgādityasamaprabhaiḥ | andhakena kṛtā devāḥ śataghnaya ivottamāḥ

so, with his great arrows loosed, bright as serpents and suns, Andhaka made the gods look like great posts studded thick with shataghni-spikes.

Verse 30 (skanda.8.154.30)

वायवोप्रतिघा यद्वद् यथा मृत्युर्यथा जरा । यथा चाप्रतिघाः सूक्ता नियतं ब्राह्मणाशिषः

vāyavopratighā yadvad yathā mṛtyuryathā jarā | yathā cāpratighāḥ sūktā niyataṁ brāhmaṇāśiṣaḥ

As the wind meets no barrier, as death and old age meet none, and as the well-spoken blessings of brahmins are ever unfailing -

Verse 31 (skanda.8.154.31)

तथा ते निशिता ह्युग्रा ब्रह्मदण्डा इवोद्यताः । अनिवार्या ह्यमोघाश्च तेन्धकस्य महेषवः

tathā te niśitā hyugrā brahmadaṇḍā ivodyatāḥ | anivāryā hyamoghāśca tendhakasya maheṣavaḥ

so Andhaka's sharp, fierce great shafts, raised like a brahmin's curse-staff, were likewise unstoppable and unfailing.

Verse 32 (skanda.8.154.32)

यतो यतोसुरास्सर्वे सोन्धकश्च रणे रिपुः । ततस्ततः स्म दीर्यन्ते प्रमथा विबुधैस्सह

yato yatosurāssarve sondhakaśca raṇe ripuḥ | tatastataḥ sma dīryante pramathā vibudhaissaha

Wherever, in that battle, the foe Andhaka and all the asuras pressed forward, there and then the pramathas, together with the gods, were torn apart.

Verse 33 (skanda.8.154.33)

सोपि नित्यायतधनुः परिवेषीव भास्करः । असृजद्बाणनिकरान् किरणान् भास्करो यथा

sopi nityāyatadhanuḥ pariveṣīva bhāskaraḥ | asṛjadbāṇanikarān kiraṇān bhāskaro yathā

He too, his bow forever drawn, like the sun ringed with its halo, poured out streams of arrows as the sun pours out its rays.

Verse 34 (skanda.8.154.34)

तस्य बाणरुजः प्राप्य नदीतीर इव द्रुमाः । सीदन्ति गणपास्सर्वे देवाश्च सहवासवाः

tasya bāṇarujaḥ prāpya nadītīra iva drumāḥ | sīdanti gaṇapāssarve devāśca sahavāsavāḥ

Struck by the anguish of his arrows, all the lords of the ganas and the gods, with Indra among them, sank down like trees undercut on a riverbank.

Verse 35 (skanda.8.154.35)

स विष्णुमेकेन शरेण विद्ध्वा द्वाभ्यामनन्तं त्रिभिरेव शक्रम् । यमञ्च सोमञ्च जलाधिपञ्च वसूँश्च निर्दार्य ररास घोरम्

sa viṣṇumekena śareṇa viddhvā dvābhyāmanantaṁ tribhireva śakram | yamañca somañca jalādhipañca vasū~śca nirdārya rarāsa ghoram

Piercing Vishnu with a single shaft, Ananta with two, and Indra with three alone, and rending Yama, the Moon, the lord of waters, and the Vasus too, he roared a terrible roar.

Verse 36 (skanda.8.154.36)

अश्विद्वयञ्चापि शरद्वयेन विद्ध्वा भगांशार्यमचन्द्रपूष्णः । ततोथ नन्दीश्वरमुग्रकर्मा गणेश्वराँश्चापि शरैस्ततक्ष

aśvidvayañcāpi śaradvayena viddhvā bhagāṁśāryamacandrapūṣṇaḥ | tatotha nandīśvaramugrakarmā gaṇeśvarā~ścāpi śaraistatakṣa

Piercing the two Ashvins with two arrows, and Bhaga, Amsha, Aryaman, the Moon, and Pusha as well, the terrible Andhaka pierced Lord Nandi and the lords of the ganas too with his shafts.

Verse 37 (skanda.8.154.37)

तथा दहत्यन्धक आततायी थथा पतङ्गान् भगवान् हुताशः । निवारितास्ते शरदारिताश्च तदान्धकेनामरयोधमुख्याः

tathā dahatyandhaka ātatāyī thathā pataṅgān bhagavān hutāśaḥ | nivāritāste śaradāritāśca tadāndhakenāmarayodhamukhyāḥ

As the blessed fire consumes moths, so the violent Andhaka consumed the gods; and torn by his arrows, the foremost of the divine warriors were driven back.

Verse 38 (skanda.8.154.38)

न स्पन्दितुं शेकुरुदीक्षितुं वा रणेन्धकं खे मनुजा इवार्कम् । यशांसि दीप्तानि ततः प्रहाय देवाः सनारायणदेवपालाः । शरार्दितास्तेन्धकदावेन प्रदुद्रुवुर्दानववेधखिन्नाः

na spandituṁ śekurudīkṣituṁ vā raṇendhakaṁ khe manujā ivārkam | yaśāṁsi dīptāni tataḥ prahāya devāḥ sanārāyaṇadevapālāḥ | śarārditāstendhakadāvena pradudruvurdānavavedhakhinnāḥ

As men cannot stir or even gaze upon the blazing sun in the sky, so they could neither move nor look upon Andhaka in that battle. Then the gods, with Narayana and the world-guardians, abandoning their blazing glory, tormented by his arrow-fire, worn down by the danava's assault, fled in rout.

Verse 39 (skanda.8.154.39)

विष्णुः पितामहश्चैव अनन्तोथ शतक्रतुः । अन्धकेन रणे भग्नाः शरैरग्निशिखोपमैः

viṣṇuḥ pitāmahaścaiva anantotha śatakratuḥ | andhakena raṇe bhagnāḥ śarairagniśikhopamaiḥ

Vishnu, the Grandsire, Ananta, and Indra of the hundred sacrifices - all were broken in battle by Andhaka's flame-tipped shafts.

Verse 40 (skanda.8.154.40)

आदित्या वसवः साध्या अश्विनौ च सुरोत्तमौ । अन्धकेन रणे भग्ना वज्राघातैः पतत्त्रिवत्

ādityā vasavaḥ sādhyā aśvinau ca surottamau | andhakena raṇe bhagnā vajrāghātaiḥ patattrivat

The Adityas, the Vasus, the Sadhyas, and the two noble Ashvins were likewise felled in battle, struck down like birds by his thunderbolt-blows.

Verse 41 (skanda.8.154.41)

तुषिताश्चैव विश्वाश्च देवाश्चैव स्वधाभुजः । अन्धकेन शरैर्भग्ना मारुतेन यथा द्रुमाः

tuṣitāścaiva viśvāśca devāścaiva svadhābhujaḥ | andhakena śarairbhagnā mārutena yathā drumāḥ

The Tushitas, the Vishvedevas, and the gods who feed on the svadha-offering were shattered by Andhaka's shafts, as trees are shattered by a gale.

Verse 42 (skanda.8.154.42)

चन्द्रमा भगवान् वह्निर्वित्तपालश्च राक्षसः । अन्धकेन रणे भग्नाः शरैराशीविषोपमैः

candramā bhagavān vahnirvittapālaśca rākṣasaḥ | andhakena raṇe bhagnāḥ śarairāśīviṣopamaiḥ

The blessed Moon, Fire, and Kubera with his rakshasas were broken in battle by Andhaka's shafts venomous as serpents.

Verse 43 (skanda.8.154.43)

गन्धर्वा गुह्यकाः सर्पा गरुडाश्च महोरगाः । अन्धकेन रणे भग्ना विद्धानलसमैः शरैः

gandharvā guhyakāḥ sarpā garuḍāśca mahoragāḥ | andhakena raṇe bhagnā viddhānalasamaiḥ śaraiḥ

The gandharvas, guhyakas, serpents, garudas, and great nagas too were broken in battle, pierced by his fire-like shafts.

Verse 44 (skanda.8.154.44)

विट्पतिः शंकुकर्णश्च सोमनन्दी प्रभामयः । पिङ्गलो नन्दिषेणश्च घण्टाकर्णो महोदरः

viṭpatiḥ śaṁkukarṇaśca somanandī prabhāmayaḥ | piṅgalo nandiṣeṇaśca ghaṇṭākarṇo mahodaraḥ

Vitpati, Shankukarna, Somanandi, Prabhamaya, Pingala, Nandishena, Ghantakarna, and Mahodara -

Verse 45 (skanda.8.154.45)

विद्युत्केशः सुकेशश्च स च देवो विनायकः । अन्ये च प्रमथाः शूरा वीरभद्रपुरोगमाः

vidyutkeśaḥ sukeśaśca sa ca devo vināyakaḥ | anye ca pramathāḥ śūrā vīrabhadrapurogamāḥ

Vidyutkesha, Sukesha, and the god Vinayaka, and other valiant pramathas headed by Virabhadra -

Verse 46 (skanda.8.154.46)

अन्धकेन रणे भग्नाः शतशोथ सहस्रशः । त्रैलोक्यं प्रसभं सर्वमुद्युक्तं सचराचरम्

andhakena raṇe bhagnāḥ śataśotha sahasraśaḥ | trailokyaṁ prasabhaṁ sarvamudyuktaṁ sacarācaram

were all broken in battle by Andhaka, by the hundred and by the thousand. Thus the entire triple world of moving and unmoving things, for all its mustered strength, was forcibly overwhelmed.

Verse 47 (skanda.8.154.47)

अन्धकेन रणे भग्नं सनारायणदेवपम् । तस्मिन्सुरबले देवं विमुच्यैकं गणाधिपम्

andhakena raṇe bhagnaṁ sanārāyaṇadevapam | tasminsurabale devaṁ vimucyaikaṁ gaṇādhipam

The whole army of the gods, with Narayana and the world-guardians, was broken in battle by Andhaka. In that host, save for one god, the lord of the ganas -

Verse 48 (skanda.8.154.48)

महामणिशिरोमौलिं न कश्चिदवतस्थिवान् । ततोसुरबले घोरस्सर्वप्राणिकृतो महान् । सिंहनादरवो जज्ञे सवादित्ररवोद्भुतः

mahāmaṇiśiromauliṁ na kaścidavatasthivān | tatosurabale ghorassarvaprāṇikṛto mahān | siṁhanādaravo jajñe savāditraravodbhutaḥ

none stood their ground there save Nandi, crowned with his great jewelled diadem. Then in the army of the asuras a mighty, terrible lion-roar, raised by every living thing there, arose wondrously, mingled with the sound of instruments.