The Fall of Shumbha and Nishumbha

Verse 1 (skanda.8.66.1)

सनत्कुमार उवाच । देव्योपि तेषां विदितप्रयत्ना गजोत्तमानारुरुहुः सयत्नाः । सुपुष्करानुन्नतवृत्तकुम्भान् सुबालधीनञ्चितचारुकर्णान् । सुदन्तवेष्टान् कलविङ्कनेत्रान्सुवक्षसः स्वासनपृष्ठवंशान्

sanatkumāra uvāca | devyopi teṣāṁ viditaprayatnā gajottamānāruruhuḥ sayatnāḥ | supuṣkarānunnatavṛttakumbhān subāladhīnañcitacārukarṇān | sudantaveṣṭān kalaviṅkanetrānsuvakṣasaḥ svāsanapṛṣṭhavaṁśān

Sanatkumara said: The goddesses too, aware of their design, mounted the finest elephants with great effort - elephants with fine trunks, high round frontal domes, fine tails, curved lovely ears, well-set tusks, sparrow-like eyes, fine chests, and sturdy backbones for their howdahs.

Verse 2 (skanda.8.66.2)

साङ्ग्रामिकानग्रजवान् वयःस्थान्सुशिक्षितानुन्नतपूर्वकायान् । आबद्धवर्मायुधचित्रघण्टान् समुच्छ्रितोरुध्वजवैजयन्तीन्

sāṅgrāmikānagrajavān vayaḥsthānsuśikṣitānunnatapūrvakāyān | ābaddhavarmāyudhacitraghaṇṭān samucchritorudhvajavaijayantīn

-battle-ready, swiftest in the vanguard, in their prime, well-trained, their forequarters raised high, armour and weapons bound on, fitted with colourful bells, adorned with tall, splendid banners and victory-flags.

Verse 3 (skanda.8.66.3)

तासां पताकाध्वजशोभितानि विचित्रनानायुधभूषणानि । मातङ्गवृन्दानि तदा बभूवुर्वने वनानीव समागतानि

tāsāṁ patākādhvajaśobhitāni vicitranānāyudhabhūṣaṇāni | mātaṅgavṛndāni tadā babhūvurvane vanānīva samāgatāni

Those herds of elephants, adorned with the goddesses' banners and flags, with various colourful weapons and ornaments, then appeared like whole forests come together within the forest.

Verse 4 (skanda.8.66.4)

दैत्यापि ते वारणमूर्ध्नि षण्णा विस्फारयन्तो विबभुर्धनूंषि । सेन्द्रायुधाः साशनिशब्दगर्भाः शैलेषु मेघा इव सन्निलीनाः

daityāpi te vāraṇamūrdhni ṣaṇṇā visphārayanto vibabhurdhanūṁṣi | sendrāyudhāḥ sāśaniśabdagarbhāḥ śaileṣu meghā iva sannilīnāḥ

The demons too, seated upon the heads of their elephants, drawing their bows, shone forth like rainbow-crowned clouds, laden with the sound of thunder, resting upon the mountains.

Verse 5 (skanda.8.66.5)

सैन्यानि तान्याहनने गजानामाधोरणैराश्वभिचोदितानि । अन्योन्यमापेतुरभीरितानि वातेन वृन्दानि यथा घनानाम्

sainyāni tānyāhanane gajānāmādhoraṇairāśvabhicoditāni | anyonyamāpeturabhīritāni vātena vṛndāni yathā ghanānām

Those hosts of elephants, swiftly urged on by their mahouts to combat, fearlessly charged at one another, like masses of clouds driven together by the wind.

Verse 6 (skanda.8.66.6)

वेगेन नागानभिसृत्य नागा मदान्मदश्याममुखान्विषाणैः । लोहाभिनद्धैर्बिसकाण्डगौरैः शम्बूकदेशेष्वभिजघ्नुराजौ

vegena nāgānabhisṛtya nāgā madānmadaśyāmamukhānviṣāṇaiḥ | lohābhinaddhairbisakāṇḍagauraiḥ śambūkadeśeṣvabhijaghnurājau

Elephants, charging swiftly at enemy elephants, their faces dark with rut, struck at their temples in battle with iron-bound tusks, pale as lotus-stalks.

Verse 7 (skanda.8.66.7)

प्रसार्य हस्तानभितश्च केचिद्दानानुगन्धं द्विरदाभिसेरुः । आधोरणैरङ्कुशपाशवाग्भि रविध्यमानापि मदाभिदृप्ताः

prasārya hastānabhitaśca keciddānānugandhaṁ dviradābhiseruḥ | ādhoraṇairaṅkuśapāśavāgbhi ravidhyamānāpi madābhidṛptāḥ

Some elephants, extending their trunks all about, tracked down the rut-scent of enemy elephants; and though restrained by their mahouts with goads, ropes and commands, they, proud with rut, still charged them.

Verse 8 (skanda.8.66.8)

छिन्नानि पेतुर्निशितैः क्षुरप्रैः समुच्छ्रितान्यातपवारणानि । चित्राः पताका विविधा ध्वजाश्च परस्परेणाहनने गजेभ्यः

chinnāni peturniśitaiḥ kṣurapraiḥ samucchritānyātapavāraṇāni | citrāḥ patākā vividhā dhvajāśca paraspareṇāhanane gajebhyaḥ

In that clash of elephants, the raised parasols, colourful banners, and various flags fell, cut down by sharp crescent-arrows, struck by one against another.

Verse 9 (skanda.8.66.9)

योधा निपेतुः परिनिष्टनन्तो विद्धाः शरैर्मर्मसु देवताभिः । सफेनमास्यै रुधिरं वमन्तो धनूंषि सज्जानि करैर्दधानाः

yodhā nipetuḥ pariniṣṭananto viddhāḥ śarairmarmasu devatābhiḥ | saphenamāsyai rudhiraṁ vamanto dhanūṁṣi sajjāni karairdadhānāḥ

Warriors, pierced at their vital points by the goddesses' arrows, fell groaning all around, foaming blood pouring from their mouths, their bows still held ready in their hands.

Verse 10 (skanda.8.66.10)

नागा निपेतुः परितोभिपद्य मर्मातिगैर्बाणवरैर्विभिन्नाः । देवीभिराजौ दितिजाधिपानां वाताभिनुन्ना इव गण्डशैलाः

nāgā nipetuḥ paritobhipadya marmātigairbāṇavarairvibhinnāḥ | devībhirājau ditijādhipānāṁ vātābhinunnā iva gaṇḍaśailāḥ

The elephants of the demon-lords, torn open by the goddesses' vital-piercing excellent arrows, fell all around in battle, like great boulders dislodged by the wind.

Verse 11 (skanda.8.66.11)

मातङ्गमुख्यान्पतितान् परासून् रणाजिरे नीलगिरीन्द्रकल्पान् । गन्धेन नागाः समदाः परीत्य विनम्य केचिद् वदनैर्विनेदुः

mātaṅgamukhyānpatitān parāsūn raṇājire nīlagirīndrakalpān | gandhena nāgāḥ samadāḥ parītya vinamya kecid vadanairvineduḥ

Some rutting elephants, going about the fallen, lifeless lord-elephants on the battlefield, dark as blue mountains, sensing their scent, bowed down and trumpeted mournfully with their faces lowered.

Verse 12 (skanda.8.66.12)

छिन्नानि वक्त्राणि सकुण्डलानि भुजास्सशस्त्राश्च सुचन्दनाक्ताः । पेतुर्गजेभ्योसुरयूथपानां देवीभिराजौ निशितैः क्षुरप्रै

chinnāni vaktrāṇi sakuṇḍalāni bhujāssaśastrāśca sucandanāktāḥ | peturgajebhyosurayūthapānāṁ devībhirājau niśitaiḥ kṣuraprai

Severed heads with earrings, and arms with weapons still gripped, smeared with fine sandal-paste, fell from the elephants of the demon-chiefs, cut by the goddesses' sharp crescent-arrows in battle.

Verse 13 (skanda.8.66.13)

चुकूजुरुच्चैः परितो धनूंषि विनेदुराहत्य सुरारिमुख्याः । विपुस्फुरुर्ज्याः परिकृष्य मुक्ताः शराभिविद्धाश्च गजा निषेदुः

cukūjuruccaiḥ parito dhanūṁṣi vinedurāhatya surārimukhyāḥ | vipusphururjyāḥ parikṛṣya muktāḥ śarābhividdhāśca gajā niṣeduḥ

Bows twanged loudly all around; the foremost enemies of the gods roared as they struck; bowstrings, drawn back and released, hummed sharply; and elephants pierced by arrows sank down.

Verse 14 (skanda.8.66.14)

नागैः पतद्भिर्विशिखाभिविद्धैः समुच्छ्रितोरुध्वजचारुपृष्ठैः । आस्तीर्यते भूरनिलप्रनुन्नैः सतालवृक्षैरिव शैलपादैः

nāgaiḥ patadbhirviśikhābhividdhaiḥ samucchritorudhvajacārupṛṣṭhaiḥ | āstīryate bhūranilapranunnaiḥ satālavṛkṣairiva śailapādaiḥ

The ground was strewn with falling elephants, pierced by arrows, their high great banners and lovely backs still upon them, like the foothills of mountains strewn with wind-felled palm trees.

Verse 15 (skanda.8.66.15)

नागा गजानाहननेभिजघ्नुर्दैत्याश्च देवीर्दितिजाँश्च देव्यः । दैत्यान् गजेन्द्रा द्विरदांश्च दैत्याः क्रुद्धाः सरोषानभिसृत्य तत्र

nāgā gajānāhananebhijaghnurdaityāśca devīrditijā~śca devyaḥ | daityān gajendrā dviradāṁśca daityāḥ kruddhāḥ saroṣānabhisṛtya tatra

There, in that combat, elephants struck at elephants; Daityas struck at goddesses, and goddesses at Daityas; lord-elephants struck at Daityas, and Daityas, in fury, rushing at each other in rage, struck at elephants.

Verse 16 (skanda.8.66.16)

शस्त्राभितप्तैः पतितैस्समन्तान्मातङ्गवृन्दैर्गिरिसानुकल्पैः । सञ्चारयोग्या न बभूव भूमिरायोघने दैवतदानवानाम

śastrābhitaptaiḥ patitaissamantānmātaṅgavṛndairgirisānukalpaiḥ | sañcārayogyā na babhūva bhūmirāyoghane daivatadānavānāma

The battlefield of the gods and demons became impassable, all about strewn with fallen herds of elephants, mountain-ridge-like, scorched by weapons.

Verse 17 (skanda.8.66.17)

अभ्यदितानि स्वबलानि दृष्ट्वा देवीभिराजौ निहतद्विपानि । शुम्भो निशुम्भश्च समाजभूमिमाजग्मतुर्दैत्यपती रथस्थौ

abhyaditāni svabalāni dṛṣṭvā devībhirājau nihatadvipāni | śumbho niśumbhaśca samājabhūmimājagmaturdaityapatī rathasthau

Seeing their own forces harried in battle, their elephants slain by the goddesses, Shumbha and Nishumbha, the two demon-lords, mounted on chariots, came to that field of combat.

Verse 18 (skanda.8.66.18)

अग्रेसरैः पत्तितुरङ्गनागैर्व्रातैश्च देवद्विषतामुपेतौ । विस्फारयन्तौ धनुषी विचित्रे युद्धाय यत्तौ परिघोरुबाहू

agresaraiḥ pattituraṅganāgairvrātaiśca devadviṣatāmupetau | visphārayantau dhanuṣī vicitre yuddhāya yattau parighorubāhū

Attended by hosts of foot-soldiers, horses and elephants of the enemies of the gods going before them, drawing their splendid bows, those two mighty-armed ones, arms like iron bars, prepared for battle.

Verse 19 (skanda.8.66.19)

ज्ञात्वा तयोरागमनं तदानीं देवी चलत्पिङ्गलकेशराढ्यान् । सञ्चोदयामास रथस्य सिंहान् विस्फारयन्ती समरे धनूंषि

jñātvā tayorāgamanaṁ tadānīṁ devī calatpiṅgalakeśarāḍhyān | sañcodayāmāsa rathasya siṁhān visphārayantī samare dhanūṁṣi

Knowing then of their approach, the goddess urged on the lions of her chariot, their tawny manes streaming, drawing her bow in that battle.

Verse 20 (skanda.8.66.20)

ज्यानिं जवस्याथ तुरङ्गमाणां मदप्रमोषञ्च महाद्विपानाम् । चेतोविमोहं सुरविद्विषां च चापस्वनेनैव चकार देवी

jyāniṁ javasyātha turaṅgamāṇāṁ madapramoṣañca mahādvipānām | cetovimohaṁ suravidviṣāṁ ca cāpasvanenaiva cakāra devī

By the very sound of her bowstring alone, the goddess robbed the horses of their speed, stripped the great elephants of their rut, and threw the minds of the enemies of the gods into confusion.

Verse 21 (skanda.8.66.21)

आजौ समास्थाय परं प्रयत्नं शराः सुराणां रिपुभिः समस्ताः । अप्राप्य देवीं पतिताः पृथिव्यां पराजयं प्राहुरिवासुराणाम्

ājau samāsthāya paraṁ prayatnaṁ śarāḥ surāṇāṁ ripubhiḥ samastāḥ | aprāpya devīṁ patitāḥ pṛthivyāṁ parājayaṁ prāhurivāsurāṇām

All the arrows loosed by the enemies of the gods, though shot with utmost effort in that battle, fell to the ground without reaching the goddess - as though foretelling the defeat of the Asuras.

Verse 22 (skanda.8.66.22)

गभस्तिभिः स्थावरजङ्गमानि व्याप्नोति यद्वत् सविता दिनेषु । तद्वच्छरौघैर्दितिजाधिपानां रणाजिरे व्याप बलानि देवी

gabhastibhiḥ sthāvarajaṅgamāni vyāpnoti yadvat savitā dineṣu | tadvaccharaughairditijādhipānāṁ raṇājire vyāpa balāni devī

As the sun pervades all moving and unmoving things with its rays by day, so did the goddess pervade the armies of the demon-lords with floods of arrows on that battlefield.

Verse 23 (skanda.8.66.23)

निपेतुराशु व्यसवस्तुरङ्गमा विचस्खलुर्मत्तगजाः क्षरन्मदाः । चकम्पिरे योधवराः सुरद्विषां समं समस्ताः समरे शराहताः

nipeturāśu vyasavasturaṅgamā vicaskhalurmattagajāḥ kṣaranmadāḥ | cakampire yodhavarāḥ suradviṣāṁ samaṁ samastāḥ samare śarāhatāḥ

Horses swiftly fell lifeless; rutting elephants, still streaming their rut-fluid, staggered; and the finest warriors among the enemies of the gods, struck by arrows, all trembled together in that battle.

Verse 24 (skanda.8.66.24)

अर्च्चिर्भिरिद्धैर्ज्वलितो यथानलः कक्षाणि शुष्काणि दहत्यवारितः । दीप्तैः शरोघैः समरेमरद्विषां सैन्यानि तद्वत् प्रददाह कौशिकी

arccirbhiriddhairjvalito yathānalaḥ kakṣāṇi śuṣkāṇi dahatyavāritaḥ | dīptaiḥ śaroghaiḥ samaremaradviṣāṁ sainyāni tadvat pradadāha kauśikī

As a fire, blazing with kindled flames, unchecked, burns dry grasslands, so did Kaushiki, with her blazing floods of arrows, burn up the armies of the enemies of the gods in that battle.

Verse 25 (skanda.8.66.25)

छायां यथा स्थावरजंगमानां मध्यन्दिनेल्पां कुरुते विवस्वान् । देवी तथा तां ध्वजिनीं रिपूणामल्पावशिष्टां समरे चकार

chāyāṁ yathā sthāvarajaṁgamānāṁ madhyandinelpāṁ kurute vivasvān | devī tathā tāṁ dhvajinīṁ ripūṇāmalpāvaśiṣṭāṁ samare cakāra

As the sun at midday makes the shadows of all moving and unmoving things grow small, so did the goddess, in that battle, reduce the enemy's army to but a small remnant.

Verse 26 (skanda.8.66.26)

आहूय देवीमथ दानवाधिपौ विस्फार्य चापे महती भिसेरतुः । तीक्ष्णैः सुपत्रैर्विशिखैश्च कौशिकीं संछादयामासतुराहवाजिरे

āhūya devīmatha dānavādhipau visphārya cāpe mahatī bhiseratuḥ | tīkṣṇaiḥ supatrairviśikhaiśca kauśikīṁ saṁchādayāmāsaturāhavājire

Then, challenging the goddess, the two demon-lords drew their two great bows and, on that field of battle, covered Kaushiki with sharp, well-feathered arrows.

Verse 27 (skanda.8.66.27)

चापेषु यत्तौ हरिषु ध्वजेषु महाभुजौ क्रोधपरीतचित्तौ । दैत्येश्वरौ संयति देवताया निचख्नतुर्वाणवरान्सुपत्रान्

cāpeṣu yattau hariṣu dhvajeṣu mahābhujau krodhaparītacittau | daityeśvarau saṁyati devatāyā nicakhnaturvāṇavarānsupatrān

Those two mighty-armed demon-lords, their minds seized by rage, intent upon their bows, their lions, and their banners, planted excellent well-feathered arrows into the goddess in that combat.

Verse 28 (skanda.8.66.28)

दैतेश्वरास्तानथ सायकौघानचिन्तयित्वा रिपुदर्पहन्त्री । विव्याध दैत्यौ युधि रुक्मपुंखैस्सुपर्वभिर्वाणवरैस्तुपत्रैः

daiteśvarāstānatha sāyakaughānacintayitvā ripudarpahantrī | vivyādha daityau yudhi rukmapuṁkhaissuparvabhirvāṇavaraistupatraiḥ

But the destroyer of the enemy's pride, disregarding that flood of arrows from the demon-lords, pierced the two demons in battle with excellent gold-nocked, well-jointed, well-feathered shafts.

Verse 29 (skanda.8.66.29)

दैत्यावपीषूनविचिन्त्य शूरौ गदे प्रगृह्योज्ज्वलचारुघण्टे । उद्भ्राम्य यत्नातिशयेन देव्या रणाजिरे चिक्षिपतुर्बृहत्यौ

daityāvapīṣūnavicintya śūrau gade pragṛhyojjvalacārughaṇṭe | udbhrāmya yatnātiśayena devyā raṇājire cikṣipaturbṛhatyau

The two heroic demons, disregarding her arrows too, seized their two bright, lovely-belled maces, whirled them with utmost effort, and hurled those two great weapons at the goddess on the battlefield.

Verse 30 (skanda.8.66.30)

ते व्योम्नि बाणैश्शतशो निकृत्य सुपर्वभिर्हाटकचारुपुंखैः । विच्छेद देवी कवचे विचित्रे तयोः क्षुरप्रैरपरैः शिताग्रैः

te vyomni bāṇaiśśataśo nikṛtya suparvabhirhāṭakacārupuṁkhaiḥ | viccheda devī kavace vicitre tayoḥ kṣuraprairaparaiḥ śitāgraiḥ

The goddess cut those two maces to pieces, hundreds of times, in the sky, with well-jointed arrows of fine gold nocks; and with other sharp-tipped crescent-arrows, she cut through their splendid armour.

Verse 31 (skanda.8.66.31)

जघान चाश्वानथ सारथी च ध्वजौ च चित्रौ रथयोश्चकर्त्त । चखान चान्यानपि सत्पृषत्कान् सुरद्विषो र्मर्मसु हेमपुंखान्

jaghāna cāśvānatha sārathī ca dhvajau ca citrau rathayoścakartta | cakhāna cānyānapi satpṛṣatkān suradviṣo rmarmasu hemapuṁkhān

She slew their horses and charioteers, and cut down the two splendid banners of their chariots; and she also planted other excellent gold-nocked arrows into the vital points of the enemies of the gods.

Verse 32 (skanda.8.66.32)

शुंभो निशुंभश्च रथावपास्य दैत्येश्वरौ बाणवराभितप्तौ । आदाय निस्त्रिंशवरौ तदानीमुत्पेततुर्व्योम शितासिनीलम्

śuṁbho niśuṁbhaśca rathāvapāsya daityeśvarau bāṇavarābhitaptau | ādāya nistriṁśavarau tadānīmutpetaturvyoma śitāsinīlam

Shumbha and Nishumbha, the two demon-lords, tormented by her excellent arrows, then abandoned their chariots, and, taking up excellent swords, leapt up into the sky, dark with the gleam of sharpened blades.

Verse 33 (skanda.8.66.33)

अथ नभसि विमेघे धौतनिश्त्रिंशनीले । द्रुततरमभिसृत्य ग्रीवयोः संप्रगृह्य । दितितनयपती तौ निष्पिपेषाशु देवी । विगतभयविषादैः स्तूयमाना मुनीन्द्रैः

atha nabhasi vimeghe dhautaniśtriṁśanīle | drutataramabhisṛtya grīvayoḥ saṁpragṛhya | dititanayapatī tau niṣpipeṣāśu devī | vigatabhayaviṣādaiḥ stūyamānā munīndraiḥ

Then, in the cloudless sky made blue by their polished swords, the goddess, praised by the great sages who were now free of fear and despair, swiftly rushed at those two lords of Diti's sons, seized them both by the neck, and instantly crushed them.

Verse 34 (skanda.8.66.34)

असृगथ वदनाभ्यामुद्वमन्तौ सफेनं । सपदि विहतवीर्यौ पिष्टसर्वाङ्गसन्धी । असुभिरपगतैस्तौ रक्तपर्यन्तनेत्रौ । क्षितितलमभितस्तौ पेततुर्दैत्यसिंहौ

asṛgatha vadanābhyāmudvamantau saphenaṁ | sapadi vihatavīryau piṣṭasarvāṅgasandhī | asubhirapagataistau raktaparyantanetrau | kṣititalamabhitastau petaturdaityasiṁhau

Vomiting foaming blood from their mouths, their strength instantly destroyed, every joint of their bodies crushed, their eyes rimmed with red, their life-breaths departed - those two lions among demons fell together to the earth.