The Slaying of Taraka

Verse 1 (skanda.8.165.1)

सनत्कुमार उवाच स्कन्दं पुरोधाय सुराः समस्ताः सन्नाहयामासुरनीकमाशु । आहत्य भेरीः शतशो महद्भिर्दण्डैर्दृढं हाटकरत्नचित्रैः

sanatkumāra uvāca skandaṁ purodhāya surāḥ samastāḥ sannāhayāmāsuranīkamāśu | āhatya bherīḥ śataśo mahadbhirdaṇḍairdṛḍhaṁ hāṭakaratnacitraiḥ

Sanatkumara said: Placing Skanda at their head, all the gods swiftly made their army ready for war, striking hundreds of war-drums with heavy, gold-and-gem-studded drumsticks.

Verse 2 (skanda.8.165.2)

दिग्वारणान् भूधरकूटकल्पान् मन्दाकिनीवारिभिराप्लुताङ्गान् । आनाय्य गन्धैर्विविधैश्च माल्यैरभ्यर्च्चयाञ्चक्रुरनीकमुख्याः

digvāraṇān bhūdharakūṭakalpān mandākinīvāribhirāplutāṅgān | ānāyya gandhairvividhaiśca mālyairabhyarccayāñcakruranīkamukhyāḥ

The elephants of the quarters, vast as mountain peaks, their bodies bathed in the waters of the Mandakini, were brought forth, and the army's chiefs worshipped them with various scents and garlands.

Verse 3 (skanda.8.165.3)

चित्राणि वर्माणि ततो बबन्धुर्बद्घ्वा प्रयत्नातिशयेन कक्षे । तेषां सुयत्नाद् गजवाजिमुख्यान हैमानि यन्त्राणि तयायुधानाम्

citrāṇi varmāṇi tato babandhurbadghvā prayatnātiśayena kakṣe | teṣāṁ suyatnād gajavājimukhyāna haimāni yantrāṇi tayāyudhānām

Then with great effort they bound colourful armour tightly at the girth, and with utmost care fitted golden weapon-harnesses onto the chief elephants and horses.

Verse 4 (skanda.8.165.4)

चित्राः समुच्छिश्रियिरे पताका ध्वजाश्च चामीकरचारुदण्डाः । क्षुरप्रमाला विविधा बबन्धुः पक्षेषु घण्टाश्च समाससर्ज्जुः

citrāḥ samucchiśriyire patākā dhvajāśca cāmīkaracārudaṇḍāḥ | kṣurapramālā vividhā babandhuḥ pakṣeṣu ghaṇṭāśca samāsasarjjuḥ

Colourful pennants were raised, and beautiful banners with golden shafts; rows of razor-arrows of many kinds were fastened to the quivers, and bells were hung.

Verse 5 (skanda.8.165.5)

रथञ्च कार्तस्वरचारुचक्रं सांग्रामिकं रत्नमरीचिचित्रम् । संयोजयामासुरुदारवेषैः प्रहृष्टचित्तैः खगमैस्तुरङ्गै द्वे

rathañca kārtasvaracārucakraṁ sāṁgrāmikaṁ ratnamarīcicitram | saṁyojayāmāsurudāraveṣaiḥ prahṛṣṭacittaiḥ khagamaisturaṅgai dve

A war-chariot with beautiful golden wheels, dazzling with the sheen of gems, was yoked; two sky-coursing horses, joyful of heart and richly caparisoned, were harnessed to it.

Verse 6 (skanda.8.165.6)

पर्यच्छमम्भोरुहगर्भगौरं बबन्ध शक्रः कवचं महार्हम् । वक्षस्यभेद्ये हरिचन्दनाक्ते वज्रप्रभाप्रज्वलितप्रकाशम्

paryacchamambhoruhagarbhagauraṁ babandha śakraḥ kavacaṁ mahārham | vakṣasyabhedye haricandanākte vajraprabhāprajvalitaprakāśam

Shakra (Indra) bound on his precious armour, pale as the lotus's inner whorl, unbreakable, its chest smeared with red sandal-paste, blazing with the splendour of the thunderbolt.

Verse 7 (skanda.8.165.7)

बबन्धुरुच्चैर्विनियम्य पिङ्गा जटा भुजङ्गैर्बृहतीः श्वसद्भिः । चित्राणि हृष्टाः कवचानि रुद्रा वक्षस्सु दैत्यद्विपविक्षतेषु

babandhuruccairviniyamya piṅgā jaṭā bhujaṅgairbṛhatīḥ śvasadbhiḥ | citrāṇi hṛṣṭāḥ kavacāni rudrā vakṣassu daityadvipavikṣateṣu

The Rudras, binding their tawny matted locks tightly with great hissing serpents, joyfully donned colourful armour upon chests already scarred by the tusks of demon-elephants.

Verse 8 (skanda.8.165.8)

चित्रं दधानः कवचं महाद्युतिर्निबद्धनिस्त्रिंशतलाङ्गुलित्रवान् । बिभ्रद्धनुः सज्जमपीद्धपौरुषो जहौ शशाङ्कः सहजां न सौम्यताम्

citraṁ dadhānaḥ kavacaṁ mahādyutirnibaddhanistriṁśatalāṅgulitravān | bibhraddhanuḥ sajjamapīddhapauruṣo jahau śaśāṅkaḥ sahajāṁ na saumyatām

Bearing wondrous armour, greatly radiant, his sword firmly girded and finger-guards bound on, his bow made ready, the valiant Moon, even so, did not lose his innate gentleness.

Verse 9 (skanda.8.165.9)

यत्नाद् बन्द्बधुः कवचानि सूर्याः किञ्चित्प्रदीप्तानि तदा स्वदीप्त्या । लौहान्यभेद्यानि शरैः परास्तैश्चारूणि चामीकरचित्रितानि

yatnād bandbadhuḥ kavacāni sūryāḥ kiñcitpradīptāni tadā svadīptyā | lauhānyabhedyāni śaraiḥ parāstaiścārūṇi cāmīkaracitritāni

The Adityas too carefully bound on their armour - slightly ablaze with their own inner radiance, unbreakable even by arrows, and beautifully wrought with gold.

Verse 10 (skanda.8.165.10)

निबद्धभास्वत्कवचः सुधन्वा सुपीननिस्त्रिंशनिबद्धपार्श्वः । गृहीतदण्डो विनिबद्धमौलिर्भयानकोभूत् सुतरां यमोपि

nibaddhabhāsvatkavacaḥ sudhanvā supīnanistriṁśanibaddhapārśvaḥ | gṛhītadaṇḍo vinibaddhamaulirbhayānakobhūt sutarāṁ yamopi

Sudhanvan - the mighty-bowed Yama - having bound on gleaming armour, a stout sword firmly girt at his side, grasping his staff and his crown tied fast, became exceedingly fearsome, more terrible than ever.

Verse 11 (skanda.8.165.11)

रुचा परीतः परयातिमात्रं स्फुरन्मुहुः प्रोन्नतपूर्वकायः । पराभवं विद्विषतां समाजे प्रचेतसः ख्यापयतीव पाशः

rucā parītaḥ parayātimātraṁ sphuranmuhuḥ pronnatapūrvakāyaḥ | parābhavaṁ vidviṣatāṁ samāje pracetasaḥ khyāpayatīva pāśaḥ

Wreathed in its own radiance, quivering repeatedly as he merely advanced, chest held high - Varuna's noose seemed, in the very midst of the foe, to proclaim their coming defeat.

Verse 12 (skanda.8.165.12)

दृष्टिं धनेशोपि हुताशपिङ्गां दधद् गदायां परिघोरुबाहुः । ईशप्रसादेन निजेन वेति सुरद्विषामाहनने विनाशम्

dṛṣṭiṁ dhaneśopi hutāśapiṅgāṁ dadhad gadāyāṁ parighorubāhuḥ | īśaprasādena nijena veti suradviṣāmāhanane vināśam

Kubera too, his fire-tawny gaze fixed upon his mace, his thick-armed club at the ready, seemed, by Ishvara's own grace, to foretell doom in the slaying of the enemies of the gods.

Verse 13 (skanda.8.165.13)

सैन्येथ देवद्विषतां निपेतुरुल्काः स्फुरद्वह्निकणा बृहत्यः । विना घनैर्व्योम ररास भीमं सवृक्षशैला विचचाल चोर्वी

sainyetha devadviṣatāṁ nipeturulkāḥ sphuradvahnikaṇā bṛhatyaḥ | vinā ghanairvyoma rarāsa bhīmaṁ savṛkṣaśailā vicacāla corvī

Then huge meteors, scattering sparks of blazing fire, fell upon the army of the gods' enemies; the sky roared terribly though cloudless, and the earth, with its trees and mountains, shook.

Verse 14 (skanda.8.165.14)

रजो नभस्तः परितः पपात वातेरितं रासभपृष्ठधूस्रम् । ध्वजा निपेतुर्दृढहेमदण्ढा रक्ताम्बुवृष्टिं ससृजुः पयोदाः

rajo nabhastaḥ paritaḥ papāta vāteritaṁ rāsabhapṛṣṭhadhūsram | dhvajā nipeturdṛḍhahemadaṇḍhā raktāmbuvṛṣṭiṁ sasṛjuḥ payodāḥ

Dust, ash-grey as a donkey's hide, stirred by the wind, fell on every side; banners with their sturdy golden staffs toppled, and clouds poured down showers of blood-red water.

Verse 15 (skanda.8.165.15)

मुहुर्मुहुर्दैन्यपरितचिताः कदुष्णमस्रं मुमुचुस्तुरङ्गाः । कपोलभित्तीः प्रजहौ गजानां मदश्च पारावतकण्ठनीलः

muhurmuhurdainyaparitacitāḥ kaduṣṇamasraṁ mumucusturaṅgāḥ | kapolabhittīḥ prajahau gajānāṁ madaśca pārāvatakaṇṭhanīlaḥ

Again and again, distressed with fear, the horses shed hot tears; and from the elephants' cheeks flowed rut-fluid, dark as a dove's throat.

Verse 16 (skanda.8.165.16)

स्थानेषु दीप्तेषु विनेदुरुच्चैर्दीप्तस्वराः पक्षिमृगाश्वसंघाः । प्रसादमालाः परितो विमृद्रन् ववौ विवृद्धः परुषो नभस्वान्

sthāneṣu dīpteṣu vineduruccairdīptasvarāḥ pakṣimṛgāśvasaṁghāḥ | prasādamālāḥ parito vimṛdran vavau vivṛddhaḥ paruṣo nabhasvān

In the blazing quarters, birds, beasts and horses shrieked loudly in shrill voices; auspicious garlands were crushed all about, and a fierce, exceedingly violent wind began to blow.

Verse 17 (skanda.8.165.17)

सेना प्रहृष्टा महती सुराणामभ्याययौ दैत्यपतिं रराणा । दैत्योपि देवागमनं विदित्वा सन्नाहयामास तदा स्वसैन्यम्

senā prahṛṣṭā mahatī surāṇāmabhyāyayau daityapatiṁ rarāṇā | daityopi devāgamanaṁ viditvā sannāhayāmāsa tadā svasainyam

The vast, joyful army of the gods advanced roaring toward the lord of the demons; and the Daitya, learning of the gods' approach, likewise made his own army ready.

Verse 18 (skanda.8.165.18)

सैन्यानि तानि त्रिदशासुराणामन्योन्यमासेदुरुदायुधानि । क्षुब्धान्यतीव प्रलये महाब्धेः पूर्वापराणीव तदा जलानि

sainyāni tāni tridaśāsurāṇāmanyonyamāsedurudāyudhāni | kṣubdhānyatīva pralaye mahābdheḥ pūrvāparāṇīva tadā jalāni

Those armies of gods and demons, weapons raised, closed upon one another - as violently agitated as the eastern and western waters of the great ocean at the hour of dissolution.

Verse 19 (skanda.8.165.19)

निशाम्य दैत्या रणतूर्यनिस्वनं प्ररूढगर्वा बलिनो जयोत्सुकाः । अतिप्रहर्षादसमाप्तमङ्गला गृहीतशस्त्राः समराय निर्ययुः

niśāmya daityā raṇatūryanisvanaṁ prarūḍhagarvā balino jayotsukāḥ | atipraharṣādasamāptamaṅgalā gṛhītaśastrāḥ samarāya niryayuḥ

Hearing the din of the war-trumpets, the demons - proud, mighty, eager for victory - seized their weapons in their excess of joy and marched out to battle, their auspicious rites left unfinished.

Verse 20 (skanda.8.165.20)

रथाश्वपादातसमुद्धतं रजो रणाजिरे वानरकण्ठधूसरम् । स्वनश्च तेषामतिदारुणो महान् नभस्तदा व्याप दिशश्च सर्वतः

rathāśvapādātasamuddhataṁ rajo raṇājire vānarakaṇṭhadhūsaram | svanaśca teṣāmatidāruṇo mahān nabhastadā vyāpa diśaśca sarvataḥ

Dust raised by chariots, horses and foot-soldiers, grey as a monkey's throat, spread over the battlefield, and their utterly terrible, tremendous roar filled the sky and all directions.

Verse 21 (skanda.8.165.21)

समुद्यतैर्दानवदेवतायुधैर्ध्वजैः पताकातपवारणैस्तथा । बभौ सविद्युच्छशिशक्रकार्मुकं सहंसपंक्तीव तदा नभस्तलम्

samudyatairdānavadevatāyudhairdhvajaiḥ patākātapavāraṇaistathā | babhau savidyucchaśiśakrakārmukaṁ sahaṁsapaṁktīva tadā nabhastalam

With the raised weapons of demons and gods, with their banners, flags and parasols - together with lightning, moon and Indra's bow - the vault of heaven then shone like a row of swans.

Verse 22 (skanda.8.165.22)

शस्त्राणि गात्रेषु तनुत्रवत्सु निपात्यमानानि परस्परस्य । दैत्यामरैराहनने प्रचक्रुः शब्दं स्फुरद्वह्नकिणैः समेतम्

śastrāṇi gātreṣu tanutravatsu nipātyamānāni parasparasya | daityāmarairāhanane pracakruḥ śabdaṁ sphuradvahnakiṇaiḥ sametam

As weapons rained down upon armoured limbs, the demons and the gods, striking one another, filled that combat with a din mingled with flashing sparks of fire.

Verse 23 (skanda.8.165.23)

दृष्ट्वासुरान् सत्वबलोपपन्नान् सुरास्सहायाननपेक्ष्य केचित् । सन्नेहिरे मत्तगजानिवेभा मदाम्बुभिः श्यामकपोलदेशाः

dṛṣṭvāsurān satvabalopapannān surāssahāyānanapekṣya kecit | sannehire mattagajānivebhā madāmbubhiḥ śyāmakapoladeśāḥ

Seeing the demons endowed with strength and vigour, some among the gods, without waiting for allies, made themselves ready - their cheeks, like those of rutting elephants, dark with streams of ichor.

Verse 24 (skanda.8.165.24)

बलानि वेगादभिसृत्य दूरमग्रेसराणि त्रिदशासुराणाम् । स्वजीविताशामपहाय जघ्नुरन्योन्यमाविष्कृतपौरुषाणि

balāni vegādabhisṛtya dūramagresarāṇi tridaśāsurāṇām | svajīvitāśāmapahāya jaghnuranyonyamāviṣkṛtapauruṣāṇi

The vanguards of the gods and demons rushed forward with great speed, and, abandoning all hope for their own lives, struck one another down, each displaying his own valour.

Verse 25 (skanda.8.165.25)

निकामवैराशयमानसानां जिघांसता तत्र परस्परेण । स संप्रहारस्तुमुलस्तदासीत् सुरासुराणामनवो महाजौ

nikāmavairāśayamānasānāṁ jighāṁsatā tatra paraspareṇa | sa saṁprahārastumulastadāsīt surāsurāṇāmanavo mahājau

Between those utterly consumed by mutual hostility, each bent on slaying the other, there arose then a tumultuous clash of gods and demons in that great battle, the like of which had never been seen.

Verse 26 (skanda.8.165.26)

सेदुर्गजास्तोमरशक्तिभिन्नास्तुरङ्गमा बाणहता निपेतुः । सफेनमास्यै रुधिरं वमन्तो दृढप्रहारान्मुमुहुश्च योधाः

sedurgajāstomaraśaktibhinnāsturaṅgamā bāṇahatā nipetuḥ | saphenamāsyai rudhiraṁ vamanto dṛḍhaprahārānmumuhuśca yodhāḥ

Elephants, pierced by javelins and spears, sank down; horses, struck by arrows, fell; warriors, vomiting foaming blood from their mouths, swooned beneath the heavy blows.

Verse 27 (skanda.8.165.27)

छिन्नानि पेतुर्निशितैः क्षुरप्रैः सकुण्डलान्याननपङ्कजानि । अन्योन्यमाविष्कृतदर्परोषैर्महाहवे दानवदेवमुख्यैः

chinnāni peturniśitaiḥ kṣurapraiḥ sakuṇḍalānyānanapaṅkajāni | anyonyamāviṣkṛtadarparoṣairmahāhave dānavadevamukhyaiḥ

In that great battle, the lotus-faces of the foremost demons and gods - each flaunting pride and fury against the other - fell severed, earrings and all, by sharp razor-headed arrows.

Verse 28 (skanda.8.165.28)

ता मातरस्ते च गणा विचेरुर्विपोथयन्तः समरेरिसंघान् । मुष्टिप्रहारैस्तलपार्ष्णिघातैर्विकर्षणावेष्टनपीडनैश्च

tā mātaraste ca gaṇā vicerurvipothayantaḥ samarerisaṁghān | muṣṭiprahāraistalapārṣṇighātairvikarṣaṇāveṣṭanapīḍanaiśca

Those Mother-goddesses and the Ganas ranged through the battle, battering the ranks of the foe with blows of fist, slap and heel, and by dragging, encircling, and crushing them - [the remainder of this verse is lost in the source manuscript].

Verse 29 (skanda.8.165.29)

मातङ्गमुख्यान् द्विरदैः प्रभिन्नैस्तुरङ्गमान् वाजिभिरुत्तमाँश्च । रथान् रथैः पत्तिगणान् पदातैर्गणा निजघ्नुर्युधि दानवानाम्

mātaṅgamukhyān dviradaiḥ prabhinnaisturaṅgamān vājibhiruttamāṁśca | rathān rathaiḥ pattigaṇān padātairgaṇā nijaghnuryudhi dānavānām

In the fight, the Ganas struck down the enemy's chief elephants with their own tusk-rending elephants, their horses with excellent steeds, their chariots with chariots, and their foot-soldiers with foot-soldiers.

Verse 30 (skanda.8.165.30)

उत्पत्य वेगादिषुभिर्गणेन्द्रा गजाधिरूढान् दितिजेन्द्रयोधान् । मुष्टिप्रहारैः कुलिशोग्रपातैर्विभिन्नमस्तिष्कविनिर्गताक्षान्

utpatya vegādiṣubhirgaṇendrā gajādhirūḍhān ditijendrayodhān | muṣṭiprahāraiḥ kuliśograpātairvibhinnamastiṣkavinirgatākṣān

Leaping swiftly with arrows, the lords of the Ganas struck down the elephant-mounted warriors of the demon-kings with blows of the fist and thunderbolt-like strikes, so fierce that their skulls burst open and their eyes started from their sockets.

Verse 31 (skanda.8.165.31)

परश्वधैश्चिच्छिदुरात्तरोषाः खड्गैश्चकर्तुर्बिभिदुश्च शूलैः । महाद्विपालाननितान्तपीनैः प्रपोथयाञ्चक्रुररीन् भुजैश्च

paraśvadhaiścicchidurāttaroṣāḥ khaḍgaiścakarturbibhiduśca śūlaiḥ | mahādvipālānanitāntapīnaiḥ prapothayāñcakrurarīn bhujaiśca

Filled with fury, they hacked with axes, slashed with swords and pierced with spears, and crushed their foes with arms as thick as the temples of great elephants.

Verse 32 (skanda.8.165.32)

देव्योपि तान् दैत्यगणान् निजघ्नुर्महासमाजे समुपात्तशस्त्रान् । उत्पत्य वाजिप्रवराधिरूढान् रथस्थितान् वारणधूर्गतांश्च

devyopi tān daityagaṇān nijaghnurmahāsamāje samupāttaśastrān | utpatya vājipravarādhirūḍhān rathasthitān vāraṇadhūrgatāṁśca

The goddesses too struck down those armed hordes of demons in that great assembly, leaping upon those mounted on fine horses, seated in chariots, or riding atop elephants.

Verse 33 (skanda.8.165.33)

प्रचुक्षुभे तद्बलमासुरं तदा गणेन्द्रनिष्पिष्टबलाग्रनायकम् । गुरुत्मतः पक्षसमीरणाहतं महाह्रदं यद्वदगाधमम्बुधेः

pracukṣubhe tadbalamāsuraṁ tadā gaṇendraniṣpiṣṭabalāgranāyakam | gurutmataḥ pakṣasamīraṇāhataṁ mahāhradaṁ yadvadagādhamambudheḥ

That demon army, its leading commanders crushed by the lords of the Ganas, was thrown into utter turmoil - like the fathomless deep of the ocean churned by the wind of Garuda's wings.

Verse 34 (skanda.8.165.34)

अथाभिवीक्ष्य प्रसभं गणाधिपैर्निहन्यमानानि बलानि तारकः । रुषा तदा ताम्रतरायतेक्षणः समभ्यगान्मौलिबलाभिपालितः

athābhivīkṣya prasabhaṁ gaṇādhipairnihanyamānāni balāni tārakaḥ | ruṣā tadā tāmratarāyatekṣaṇaḥ samabhyagānmaulibalābhipālitaḥ

Then, seeing his forces being forcibly slain by the lords of the Ganas, Taraka, his wide eyes turned coppery with rage, advanced, shielded by his own crowned host.

Verse 35 (skanda.8.165.35)

विस्फार्य शक्राशनितुल्यनिस्वनं रत्नप्रभाप्रज्वलितं स कार्मुकम् । संछादयन् बाणतलैर्नभस्तलं मर्मातिगैः कङ्कमयूरपत्रिभिः

visphārya śakrāśanitulyanisvanaṁ ratnaprabhāprajvalitaṁ sa kārmukam | saṁchādayan bāṇatalairnabhastalaṁ marmātigaiḥ kaṅkamayūrapatribhiḥ

Drawing his bow, whose twang roared like Indra's thunderbolt and which blazed with the sheen of gems, he covered the vault of the sky with rows of arrows fledged with heron and peacock feathers, piercing to the very vitals.

Verse 36 (skanda.8.165.36)

तस्यागमं दैत्यपतेर्विदित्वा तदाननादानलसूनुरुच्चैः । स्वपाणिसस्थामभिवीक्ष्य शक्तिं विचित्रचामीकरचारुघण्टाम्

tasyāgamaṁ daityapaterviditvā tadānanādānalasūnuruccaiḥ | svapāṇisasthāmabhivīkṣya śaktiṁ vicitracāmīkaracārughaṇṭām

Knowing of the demon-lord's advance, the son of Fire roared aloud from his mouths, and gazed upon the Shakti resting in his own hand, adorned with wondrous golden bells.

Verse 37 (skanda.8.165.37)

नभो विगाह्य प्रदिशो दिशश्च स कार्त्तिकेयस्य तदा निनादः । मनांसि देवद्विषतां प्रसह्य विमोहयामास महासमाजे

nabho vigāhya pradiśo diśaśca sa kārttikeyasya tadā ninādaḥ | manāṁsi devadviṣatāṁ prasahya vimohayāmāsa mahāsamāje

Pervading the sky and every quarter, that battle-cry of Karttikeya forcibly bewildered the minds of the gods' enemies in that great assembly.

Verse 38 (skanda.8.165.38)

अथापतन्तं समभीक्ष्य तारकं बलेन गुप्तं महता महाहवे । मुमोच शक्तिं ज्वलितानलप्रभां विनाशनायामरविद्विषां गुहः

athāpatantaṁ samabhīkṣya tārakaṁ balena guptaṁ mahatā mahāhave | mumoca śaktiṁ jvalitānalaprabhāṁ vināśanāyāmaravidviṣāṁ guhaḥ

Then, seeing Taraka rushing upon him, guarded by his mighty army in that great battle, Guha hurled the Shakti, blazing like fire, for the destruction of the enemies of the gods.

Verse 39 (skanda.8.165.39)

सा तेन मुक्ता ज्वलनात्मजेन ज्वालाभिरावृत्य नभो दिशश्च । अनेकधा व्योम्न्यभवत् सुघोरा मायेव दैत्यान् परिमोहयन्ती

sā tena muktā jvalanātmajena jvālābhirāvṛtya nabho diśaśca | anekadhā vyomnyabhavat sughorā māyeva daityān parimohayantī

That Shakti, released by the son of Fire, enveloped sky and quarters in flame and became manifold and utterly terrible in the heavens, bewildering the demons as though by magic.

Verse 40 (skanda.8.165.40)

पपात वक्षःसु च सहतेषु सुरद्विषां चित्रतनुत्रभृत्सु । समं समस्तैस्त्वनिवार्यवेगा विदार्य चोरांसि विवेश तूर्णम्

papāta vakṣaḥsu ca sahateṣu suradviṣāṁ citratanutrabhṛtsu | samaṁ samastaistvanivāryavegā vidārya corāṁsi viveśa tūrṇam

With unstoppable force it fell all at once upon the wondrously armoured chests of the gods' enemies together, tearing them open, and swiftly pierced within.

Verse 41 (skanda.8.165.41)

देवद्विषस्तेभिहतास्समस्ताः पर्यस्तपृथ्वायतरक्तनेत्राः । सन्दष्टजिह्वाधरविह्वलाङ्गाः प्राणाञ्जहुः शोणितमुद्वमन्तः

devadviṣastebhihatāssamastāḥ paryastapṛthvāyataraktanetrāḥ | sandaṣṭajihvādharavihvalāṅgāḥ prāṇāñjahuḥ śoṇitamudvamantaḥ

All the enemies of the gods, struck by it, their wide eyes red, rolled upon the earth; biting their tongues and lips, their limbs writhing, they gave up their lives, vomiting blood.

Verse 42 (skanda.8.165.42)

तमांसि यद्वत् सविता भिनत्ति समं मयूखैरतिरस्कृतानि । बिभेद तद्वद् द्विषतां बलानि रणाजिरे शक्तिभिरग्निसूनुः

tamāṁsi yadvat savitā bhinatti samaṁ mayūkhairatiraskṛtāni | bibheda tadvad dviṣatāṁ balāni raṇājire śaktibhiragnisūnuḥ

Just as the sun, with its rays, utterly cleaves the darkness, so did the son of Fire cleave the armies of his enemies on the battlefield with his Shaktis.

Verse 43 (skanda.8.165.43)

निहत्य देवद्विषतः समस्तान् रणाजिरे प्रोन्नतदर्पवीर्यान् । प्रभेव सूर्यं परितप्य लोकान् पुनस्तदा स्कन्दमियाय शक्तिः

nihatya devadviṣataḥ samastān raṇājire pronnatadarpavīryān | prabheva sūryaṁ paritapya lokān punastadā skandamiyāya śaktiḥ

Having slain on the battlefield all the enemies of the gods, swollen with pride and prowess, that Shakti, like sunlight that has scorched the worlds, returned once more to Skanda.

Verse 44 (skanda.8.165.44)

दितितनयसमूहैः सार्धमाविप्रतापैः समरशिरसि हत्वा तारक दैत्यराजम् । त्रिदशसमितिमुख्यैः स्तूयमानः प्रहृष्टैः प्रतिगमदमितौजाः शूलपाणेः समीपम्

dititanayasamūhaiḥ sārdhamāvipratāpaiḥ samaraśirasi hatvā tāraka daityarājam | tridaśasamitimukhyaiḥ stūyamānaḥ prahṛṣṭaiḥ pratigamadamitaujāḥ śūlapāṇeḥ samīpam

Having, together with the whole host of Diti's sons (the reading of this phrase is uncertain in the source), slain Taraka, king of the Daityas, at the forefront of battle, that immeasurably radiant one, joyfully praised by the chiefs of the assembly of the gods, returned to the presence of Shulapani (Shiva, wielder of the trident).