The March of Hiranyaksha

Verse 1 (skanda.8.77.1)

सनत्कुमार उवाच । स गत्वा तां सभां व्यास अपश्यद् दैत्यदानवान् । प्रावृट्कालेम्बुदान्मत्तान् यथेन्द्रः समुपस्थितान् ।

sanatkumāra uvāca | sa gatvā tāṁ sabhāṁ vyāsa apaśyad daityadānavān | prāvṛṭkālembudānmattān yathendraḥ samupasthitān |

Sanatkumara said: O Vyasa, having gone there, he beheld the Daityas and Danavas gathered in that assembly, like intoxicated monsoon clouds massed before Indra.

Verse 2 (skanda.8.77.2)

तस्य प्रविष्टस्य तदा सर्व एव सुरद्विषः । जयेति चक्रुरुत्थाय वेदा इव पितामहम् ।

tasya praviṣṭasya tadā sarva eva suradviṣaḥ | jayeti cakrurutthāya vedā iva pitāmaham |

As he entered, all the enemies of the gods rose up and cried "Victory!", as the Vedas rise in praise before the Grandsire Brahma.

Verse 3 (skanda.8.77.3)

मोत्तिष्ठतेति तान्सर्वानवोचदसुराधिपः । मायापंचकमासाद्य भोगी वायुधरानिव ।

mottiṣṭhateti tānsarvānavocadasurādhipaḥ | māyāpaṁcakamāsādya bhogī vāyudharāniva |

"Do not rise," said the lord of the Asuras to them all; having assumed his fivefold power of illusion, he seemed like a hooded serpent amid storm-clouds.

Verse 4 (skanda.8.77.4)

स तेषामग्रगो भाति हिरण्याक्षो महासुरः । मध्ये कलभवृन्दानां यथा मत्तो महागजः ।

sa teṣāmagrago bhāti hiraṇyākṣo mahāsuraḥ | madhye kalabhavṛndānāṁ yathā matto mahāgajaḥ |

That great Asura Hiranyaksha shone at their head, like a mighty rutting elephant amid a herd of young elephants.

Verse 5 (skanda.8.77.5)

ततो जाम्बूनदे दिव्ये उपविष्टो वरासने ।

tato jāmbūnade divye upaviṣṭo varāsane |

Then he sat down upon a divine, excellent seat of refined gold... (the remainder of this verse is lost in the source manuscript, marked there only by a row of dashes).

Verse 6 (skanda.8.77.6)

भाति सिंहासनासीनः स राजा सुरविद्विषाम् । मेरुशृंगमिवासाद्य सबलाको महाम्बुदः ।

bhāti siṁhāsanāsīnaḥ sa rājā suravidviṣām | meruśṛṁgamivāsādya sabalāko mahāmbudaḥ |

Seated upon the lion-throne, that king of the enemies of the gods shone like a great rain-cloud, with a flock of white cranes, resting upon a peak of Mount Meru.

Verse 7 (skanda.8.77.7)

बभूवुरुपविष्टाश्च तूष्णीमेवासुरास्तदा । सिसृक्षवो जलं काले नीलाम्भोदा इवोन्नताः ।

babhūvurupaviṣṭāśca tūṣṇīmevāsurāstadā | sisṛkṣavo jalaṁ kāle nīlāmbhodā ivonnatāḥ |

The Asuras then sat down in silence, like towering dark clouds of the rainy season, eager to release their rain.

Verse 8 (skanda.8.77.8)

सनत्कुमार उवाच । स तेषांमिङ्गितं ज्ञात्वा कालं च सुरतापनः । हिरण्याक्षः स्वयं राजा तानुवाच सुरद्विषः ।

sanatkumāra uvāca | sa teṣāṁmiṅgitaṁ jñātvā kālaṁ ca suratāpanaḥ | hiraṇyākṣaḥ svayaṁ rājā tānuvāca suradviṣaḥ |

Sanatkumara said: Then, knowing their mood and the fitness of the moment, King Hiranyaksha, the tormentor of the gods, himself spoke to those enemies of the gods.

Verse 9 (skanda.8.77.9)

यूयं सर्वे महामाया शृणुध्वं संयताः समम् । कालप्राप्तञ्च पथ्यञ्च शिष्या इव गुरोर्वचः ।

yūyaṁ sarve mahāmāyā śṛṇudhvaṁ saṁyatāḥ samam | kālaprāptañca pathyañca śiṣyā iva gurorvacaḥ |

"All of you, mighty in illusion, listen together with attention, as disciples listen to their teacher's timely and beneficial word."

Verse 10 (skanda.8.77.10)

मम भ्राता प्रियो ह्यासीज्ज्येष्ठः पूज्यो यथा पिता । हिरण्यकशिपू राजा महात्मा सत्यसंगरः ।

mama bhrātā priyo hyāsījjyeṣṭhaḥ pūjyo yathā pitā | hiraṇyakaśipū rājā mahātmā satyasaṁgaraḥ |

"My beloved elder brother, revered like a father, was King Hiranyakashipu, great of soul, true to his given word."

Verse 11 (skanda.8.77.11)

धार्मिकश्च वदान्यश्च यज्वा दाता तपोन्वितः । आहिताग्निश्चतुर्वेदः सर्वभूतसुखावहः ।

dhārmikaśca vadānyaśca yajvā dātā taponvitaḥ | āhitāgniścaturvedaḥ sarvabhūtasukhāvahaḥ |

"He was righteous, generous, devoted to sacrifice and to giving, given to austerity, a keeper of the sacred fires, versed in the four Vedas, and a bringer of happiness to all beings."

Verse 12 (skanda.8.77.12)

राज्यार्थे स हतो देवैर्विकृत्या मूढमानसैः । तस्य दुःखेन तप्यामि शुष्यामि च महासुराः ।

rājyārthe sa hato devairvikṛtyā mūḍhamānasaiḥ | tasya duḥkhena tapyāmi śuṣyāmi ca mahāsurāḥ |

"For the sake of his kingdom, he was slain through treachery by the gods, their minds deluded. O great Asuras, I burn with grief for him, and I waste away."

Verse 13 (skanda.8.77.13)

सलिलादुद्धृतं ग्रीष्मे पद्मं कुसुमितं यथा । तेषां कर्तुमहं दण्डं शक्तोस्म्यसुरविद्विषाम् ।

salilāduddhṛtaṁ grīṣme padmaṁ kusumitaṁ yathā | teṣāṁ kartumahaṁ daṇḍaṁ śaktosmyasuravidviṣām |

"Like a blossoming lotus lifted from water in summer, so do I wither; yet I am fully capable of inflicting punishment upon those enemies of the Asuras."

Verse 14 (skanda.8.77.14)

भवतां तत्र बालानां रक्षार्थं नोद्यतो ह्यहम् । सोहं दण्डं स्वयं कर्तुमेकाक्यसुरविद्विषाम् । गमिष्यामि न सन्देहो मा भीर्भवतु वोसुराः ।

bhavatāṁ tatra bālānāṁ rakṣārthaṁ nodyato hyaham | sohaṁ daṇḍaṁ svayaṁ kartumekākyasuravidviṣām | gamiṣyāmi na sandeho mā bhīrbhavatu vosurāḥ |

"I have not risen to protect you children in this. I myself shall go alone to punish those enemies of the Asuras - have no doubt of it. Let there be no fear among you, O Asuras."

Verse 15 (skanda.8.77.15)

सनत्कुमार उवाच । तस्य तद्वचन श्रुत्वा दानवास्ते मुदान्विताः । परस्परमुदैक्षन्त व्रीडया परयान्विताः ।

sanatkumāra uvāca | tasya tadvacana śrutvā dānavāste mudānvitāḥ | parasparamudaikṣanta vrīḍayā parayānvitāḥ |

Sanatkumara said: Hearing his words, those Danavas, mixed with a strange joy yet overcome with great shame, looked at one another.

Verse 16 (skanda.8.77.16)

विप्रचित्तिस्तदनुजो भ्रातरं तं महाबलः । उवाच प्रणतः सम्यगर्थवन्मधुरं वचः ।

vipracittistadanujo bhrātaraṁ taṁ mahābalaḥ | uvāca praṇataḥ samyagarthavanmadhuraṁ vacaḥ |

Vipracitti, his younger brother, mighty of strength, bowed before him and spoke fitting, meaningful, and sweet words.

Verse 17 (skanda.8.77.17)

न सन्देहो महासत्व त्वयैकेनासुरद्विषः ।

na sandeho mahāsatva tvayaikenāsuradviṣaḥ |

"There is no doubt, O great being, that you alone are capable of..." (the remainder of this verse is lost in the source manuscript, marked there only by dashes and an editorial query mark).

Verse 18 (skanda.8.77.18)

यदि युद्धे न तिष्ठन्ति मायां काञ्चिद्विनाश्रिताः । अबलास्ते न सन्देहो निकृत्या बलिनस्तु ते ।

yadi yuddhe na tiṣṭhanti māyāṁ kāñcidvināśritāḥ | abalāste na sandeho nikṛtyā balinastu te |

"If they cannot stand their ground in battle without resorting to some illusion, then, without doubt, they are weak - it is only through deceit that they seem strong."

Verse 19 (skanda.8.77.19)

प्रसादयित्वा शिरसा यद् ब्रवीमि निबोध तत् । बालैरपि हिरण्याक्ष सूपपत्त्या प्रसाधितम् ।

prasādayitvā śirasā yad bravīmi nibodha tat | bālairapi hiraṇyākṣa sūpapattyā prasādhitam |

"Bowing my head to seek your favour, hear what I say - O Hiranyaksha, even by children a task can be well accomplished through the right method."

Verse 20 (skanda.8.77.20)

तद् ग्राह्यमिति शास्त्रविद्भिः समीरितम् । हिरण्यकशिपू राजा भ्राता नो ज्येष्ठ उत्तमः ।

tad grāhyamiti śāstravidbhiḥ samīritam | hiraṇyakaśipū rājā bhrātā no jyeṣṭha uttamaḥ |

"'This should be accepted' - so it has been declared by those versed in the scriptures (one word in this line is illegible in the source manuscript). King Hiranyakashipu was our excellent elder brother."

Verse 21 (skanda.8.77.21)

सोपि शक्तोहमित्येव एकाकी दैवतैर्हतः । महाबलोपि च हरिरशक्तैर्हन्यते बलात् ।

sopi śaktohamityeva ekākī daivatairhataḥ | mahābalopi ca hariraśaktairhanyate balāt |

"He too, thinking 'I alone am capable,' was slain by the gods while standing alone. Even mighty Hari can, by force, be overcome at the hands of the seemingly powerless when they unite."

Verse 22 (skanda.8.77.22)

आक्रन्दन्तं विना राजन्नतो विज्ञापयामि ते । भवतस्तु वयं बाला न तेषामसुरेश्वर ।

ākrandantaṁ vinā rājannato vijñāpayāmi te | bhavatastu vayaṁ bālā na teṣāmasureśvara |

"Therefore, O king, without waiting to be summoned in distress, I submit this to you: compared to you we are but children, O lord of Asuras, but not so compared to them, the gods."

Verse 23 (skanda.8.77.23)

शक्ता वयं सुयुद्धेन तान्हन्तुं कुलपांसनान् । तपोयोगबलोपेता मायाभिश्च समन्विताः ।

śaktā vayaṁ suyuddhena tānhantuṁ kulapāṁsanān | tapoyogabalopetā māyābhiśca samanvitāḥ |

"We, endowed with the strength of austerity and yoga and furnished with powers of illusion, are capable of slaying those defilers of their own lineage in fair battle."

Verse 24 (skanda.8.77.24)

अनुस्मरन्तो वैरञ्च वयं हंस्याम दैवतान् । यथा तव न निद्रास्ति हिरण्यकशिपोर्वधात् ।

anusmaranto vairañca vayaṁ haṁsyāma daivatān | yathā tava na nidrāsti hiraṇyakaśiporvadhāt |

"Remembering our enmity, we shall slay the gods, just as you cannot sleep because of Hiranyakashipu's slaying."

Verse 25 (skanda.8.77.25)

तथास्माकं महाराज मा नो बालान्यथा चर । यत्र नो योक्ष्यसे राजन् समे वा विषमेपि वा ।

tathāsmākaṁ mahārāja mā no bālānyathā cara | yatra no yokṣyase rājan same vā viṣamepi vā |

"So too, O great king, do not treat us as mere children. Wherever you engage us, O king, whether on level ground or on difficult terrain,"

Verse 26 (skanda.8.77.26)

तरिष्यामो वयं तद् वै बालमत्स्या इवार्णवम् । प्रह्रादोयं सहभ्राता ससुतः ससुहृज्जनः ।

tariṣyāmo vayaṁ tad vai bālamatsyā ivārṇavam | prahrādoyaṁ sahabhrātā sasutaḥ sasuhṛjjanaḥ |

"we shall surely cross it, as young fish cross the ocean. Here is Prahrada, together with his brothers, his sons, and his friends;"

Verse 27 (skanda.8.77.27)

एक एवाह्वयेत्सर्वान्यथा सिंहो महाद्विपान् । बलिरेष च दैत्येन्द्र एक एव सवासवान् ।

eka evāhvayetsarvānyathā siṁho mahādvipān | balireṣa ca daityendra eka eva savāsavān |

"he alone could challenge them all, as a lion challenges great elephants. And here, O lord of the Daityas, is Bali, who alone, against Indra and all the gods together,"

Verse 28 (skanda.8.77.28)

सुरान् सयम वित्तेशाञ्छक्तः सर्वान्प्रबाधितुम् । अयं बाणश्च तत्पुत्रो राजा बाहुसहस्रधृक् ।

surān sayama vitteśāñchaktaḥ sarvānprabādhitum | ayaṁ bāṇaśca tatputro rājā bāhusahasradhṛk |

"is capable of harassing all the gods together with Yama and Kubera, lord of wealth. And here is his son Bana, the king bearing a thousand arms,"

Verse 29 (skanda.8.77.29)

एक एव सुरान्सर्वान् विनाशयितुमुद्यतः । इमो सुन्दनिसुन्दौ च भ्रातरौ बाहुशालिनौ ।

eka eva surānsarvān vināśayitumudyataḥ | imo sundanisundau ca bhrātarau bāhuśālinau |

"who alone stands ready to destroy all the gods. And here are Sunda and Nisunda, two brothers mighty of arm,"

Verse 30 (skanda.8.77.30)

उभावेकाकिनौ युद्धे देवान् हन्तुं समुद्यतौ । अयं मयश्च विक्रान्तः सारकस्तार एव च ।

ubhāvekākinau yuddhe devān hantuṁ samudyatau | ayaṁ mayaśca vikrāntaḥ sārakastāra eva ca |

"the two of them alone, ready in battle to slay the gods. And here is valiant Maya, and Saraka and Tara as well,"

Verse 31 (skanda.8.77.31)

अन्ये च दानवाः शूराः शक्ता देवान् प्रबाधितुम् । एतेप्यतिबलाः सर्वे बलवन्तो वयं सदा ।

anye ca dānavāḥ śūrāḥ śaktā devān prabādhitum | etepyatibalāḥ sarve balavanto vayaṁ sadā |

"and other heroic Danavas capable of harassing the gods. All these are exceedingly mighty, and we too are ever strong."

Verse 32 (skanda.8.77.32)

वधिष्यामः सुरान् सर्वान् व्याधा इव मृगान् वने । शूरोयमन्धकः श्रीमान् ब्रह्मदत्तवरस्तदा ।

vadhiṣyāmaḥ surān sarvān vyādhā iva mṛgān vane | śūroyamandhakaḥ śrīmān brahmadattavarastadā |

"We shall slay all the gods, as hunters slay deer in the forest. And here is the heroic and glorious Andhaka, who once received a boon from Brahma,"

Verse 33 (skanda.8.77.33)

प्रसह्य सर्वाँस्तान् युद्धे नेष्यते वै यमालयम् । एवमेनं समाश्रित्य पालितानेन चैव हि ।

prasahya sarvā~stān yuddhe neṣyate vai yamālayam | evamenaṁ samāśritya pālitānena caiva hi |

"who will surely, by force, drive all of them in battle to the abode of Yama. Thus taking refuge in him, and being protected by him,"

Verse 34 (skanda.8.77.34)

करिष्यामो महद्युद्धं देवतानां भयंकरम् । पूर्वं देवा वयं सर्वे पश्चात्ते देवताभवन् ।

kariṣyāmo mahadyuddhaṁ devatānāṁ bhayaṁkaram | pūrvaṁ devā vayaṁ sarve paścātte devatābhavan |

"we shall wage a great and terrifying war against the gods. Formerly we ourselves were all the gods; it was only afterward that they became the gods."

Verse 35 (skanda.8.77.35)

कथं बिभीम तेषां वै सिंहानां शरभा इव । तस्य तद्वचनं श्रुत्वा अन्धकस्सोसुरेश्वरः ।

kathaṁ bibhīma teṣāṁ vai siṁhānāṁ śarabhā iva | tasya tadvacanaṁ śrutvā andhakassosureśvaraḥ |

"why then should we fear them, we who are to them what sharabhas are to lions?" Hearing his words, the lord of the Asuras, Andhaka,

Verse 36 (skanda.8.77.36)

उवाच वचनं तत्र हर्षयन् दानवेश्वरान् । महाबला वयं राजन् बलहीनाः सुरास्तु ते ।

uvāca vacanaṁ tatra harṣayan dānaveśvarān | mahābalā vayaṁ rājan balahīnāḥ surāstu te |

spoke there, delighting the lords of the Danavas: "O king, we are mighty, but the gods are without strength."

Verse 37 (skanda.8.77.37)

पश्य त्वं दैवतान्सर्वान् हतान् यमपुरोगमान् । अद्य तं राजहन्तारं दुरात्मानं कुलाधमम् ।

paśya tvaṁ daivatānsarvān hatān yamapurogamān | adya taṁ rājahantāraṁ durātmānaṁ kulādhamam |

"Behold all the gods, slain, with Yama gone before them. This very day that evil-souled slayer of our king, the vilest of his lineage..."

Verse 38 (skanda.8.77.38)

अद्य माता दितिस्तेषां दुःख ।

adya mātā ditisteṣāṁ duḥkha |

"Today, to their mother Diti's sorrow..." (the rest of this line, and the entire following line, are wholly lost in the source manuscript) "...behold, the youngest of Aditi's sons has been slain by me alone!"

Verse 39 (skanda.8.77.39)

तिष्ठध्वं दानवाः सर्वे पर्याप्तोहं दुरात्मनाम् । अस्माकं राजहन्तॄणां मृत्युरस्मि समागतः ।

tiṣṭhadhvaṁ dānavāḥ sarve paryāptohaṁ durātmanām | asmākaṁ rājahantṝṇāṁ mṛtyurasmi samāgataḥ |

"Stand firm, all you Danavas - I alone am a match for these wicked ones. I have come as very death to the slayers of our king."

Verse 40 (skanda.8.77.40)

सनत्कुमार उवाच । तस्य तद्वचनं श्रुत्वा हिरण्याक्षः प्रतापवान् । उवाच दानवान् व्यास जयेप्सुः सुरविद्विषाम् ।

sanatkumāra uvāca | tasya tadvacanaṁ śrutvā hiraṇyākṣaḥ pratāpavān | uvāca dānavān vyāsa jayepsuḥ suravidviṣām |

Sanatkumara said: O Vyasa, hearing his words, the mighty Hiranyaksha, desiring victory over the enemies of the Asuras, spoke to the Danavas.

Verse 41 (skanda.8.77.41)

अद्य पुष्यं च नक्षत्रमस्माकं बलकारणम् । अद्यैव दंशिताः सर्वे द्रुतं निर्यात दानवाः ।

adya puṣyaṁ ca nakṣatramasmākaṁ balakāraṇam | adyaiva daṁśitāḥ sarve drutaṁ niryāta dānavāḥ |

"Today the Pushya asterism favours our strength. This very day, all of you having donned your armour, march forth swiftly, O Danavas!"

Verse 42 (skanda.8.77.42)

अथ ते दानवाः शीघ्रं वाहनानि मुदा युताः । प्रावारयन्त संग्रामे योग्यानि रिपुबाधने ।

atha te dānavāḥ śīghraṁ vāhanāni mudā yutāḥ | prāvārayanta saṁgrāme yogyāni ripubādhane |

Then those Danavas, filled with joy, swiftly caparisoned their mounts, fit for battle and for harassing the foe.

Verse 43 (skanda.8.77.43)

शीघ्रं कुरुध्वं सज्जानि गच्छामो दैवतान्प्रति । तेषां सुतुमुलः शब्दो बाहनानां बभूव ह ।

śīghraṁ kurudhvaṁ sajjāni gacchāmo daivatānprati | teṣāṁ sutumulaḥ śabdo bāhanānāṁ babhūva ha |

"Make everything ready quickly - let us go against the gods!" A tumultuous clamor then arose from their mounts,

Verse 44 (skanda.8.77.44)

मन्दवातप्रेरितस्य क्षीरोदस्य स्वनो यथा । ममाश्वस्तव सिंहोयं ममायं गजयूथपः ।

mandavātapreritasya kṣīrodasya svano yathā | mamāśvastava siṁhoyaṁ mamāyaṁ gajayūthapaḥ |

like the sound of the Ocean of Milk stirred by a gentle wind. "This is my horse!" "This lion is yours!" "This is my lord of elephants!"

Verse 45 (skanda.8.77.45)

रथोयं कस्य संपन्नो युद्धोपकरणैर्भृशम् । एहि निर्याहि वेगेन मुहूर्तं प्रतिपालय ।

rathoyaṁ kasya saṁpanno yuddhopakaraṇairbhṛśam | ehi niryāhi vegena muhūrtaṁ pratipālaya |

"Whose is this chariot, so richly furnished with instruments of war?" "Come, march forth swiftly!" "Wait but a moment!"

Verse 46 (skanda.8.77.46)

निर्यान्तु सर्वे दैत्येन्द्रा यास्यामः पृष्ठतो वयम् । आरोह स्वं रथं वीर किं रथेन ममाद्य वै । पदातिरेव संग्रामे हंस्याम्यद्य सुरद्विषः ।

niryāntu sarve daityendrā yāsyāmaḥ pṛṣṭhato vayam | āroha svaṁ rathaṁ vīra kiṁ rathena mamādya vai | padātireva saṁgrāme haṁsyāmyadya suradviṣaḥ |

"Let all the lords of the Daityas go forth first; we shall follow behind." "Mount your own chariot, O hero!" "What need have I of a chariot today? On foot alone shall I slay the enemies of the gods in battle today!"

Verse 47 (skanda.8.77.47)

एवं तेषाममूच्छब्दः सुमनोज्ञः सुरद्विषाम् । वंशवीणास्वनोन्मिश्रः प्रलाप इव योषिताम् ।

evaṁ teṣāmamūcchabdaḥ sumanojñaḥ suradviṣām | vaṁśavīṇāsvanonmiśraḥ pralāpa iva yoṣitām |

Thus arose the pleasing clamor of those enemies of the gods, mingled with the sound of flutes and lutes, like the sweet murmured chatter of women.

Verse 48 (skanda.8.77.48)

अथ शुक्रस्तदाभेत्य भृगोः पुत्रो महातपाः । हिरण्याक्षमुवाचेदं हर्षयन्दानवेश्वरम् ।

atha śukrastadābhetya bhṛgoḥ putro mahātapāḥ | hiraṇyākṣamuvācedaṁ harṣayandānaveśvaram |

Then Shukra, son of Bhrigu, of great austerity, came there and spoke this to Hiranyaksha, delighting that lord of the Danavas:

Verse 49 (skanda.8.77.49)

मया शान्तिः कृता तेद्य रक्षा च सह दानवैः । जहि सर्वान्सुरान् युद्धे न तवास्ति पराजयः ।

mayā śāntiḥ kṛtā tedya rakṣā ca saha dānavaiḥ | jahi sarvānsurān yuddhe na tavāsti parājayaḥ |

"I have this day performed for you, together with the Danavas, a rite of peace and protection. Slay all the gods in battle - defeat shall not be yours."

Verse 50 (skanda.8.77.50)

अहं त्वा स्वेन तपसा सहभृत्यं सबान्धवम् । धारयिष्यामि युध्यन्तं लोकान्यज्ञ इवापरः ।

ahaṁ tvā svena tapasā sahabhṛtyaṁ sabāndhavam | dhārayiṣyāmi yudhyantaṁ lokānyajña ivāparaḥ |

"By my own austerity, I shall sustain you as you fight, together with your servants and kinsmen, as another sacrifice sustains the worlds."

Verse 51 (skanda.8.77.51)

सनत्कुमार उवाच । ततः प्रदक्षिणं कृत्वा शुक्रं मूर्ध्ना प्रणम्य च । भार्गवं पुरतः कृत्वा निर्जगाम स मन्दिरात् ।

sanatkumāra uvāca | tataḥ pradakṣiṇaṁ kṛtvā śukraṁ mūrdhnā praṇamya ca | bhārgavaṁ purataḥ kṛtvā nirjagāma sa mandirāt |

Sanatkumara said: Then, having circled Shukra and bowed his head to him, and having placed that descendant of Bhrigu at the fore, he set out from his palace.

Verse 52 (skanda.8.77.52)

ततो भेर्यश्च शंखाश्च पणवानकगोमुखाः । साडस्तमा दिण्डिमाश्च भाण्डाश्च पटहैः सह ।

tato bheryaśca śaṁkhāśca paṇavānakagomukhāḥ | sāḍastamā diṇḍimāśca bhāṇḍāśca paṭahaiḥ saha |

Then kettledrums and conches, panava, anaka, and gomukha instruments, along with sadastama and dindima drums, bhanda drums with the pataha,

Verse 53 (skanda.8.77.53)

झंर्झर्यो दर्दुराश्चैव सुनवा मर्दलास्तथा । कटंकटाः पेपुकाश्च तथा चैवैकपुष्कलाः ।

jhaṁrjharyo dardurāścaiva sunavā mardalāstathā | kaṭaṁkaṭāḥ pepukāśca tathā caivaikapuṣkalāḥ |

jharjhari cymbals and dardura drums, sunava and mardala drums, katankata and pepuka instruments, and ekapushkala drums as well,

Verse 54 (skanda.8.77.54)

पञ्चाक्षाः सरिधीकाश्च मुकुन्दा मुरजास्तथा । लभका जलमत्ताश्च अवाद्यन्त सहस्रशः ।

pañcākṣāḥ saridhīkāśca mukundā murajāstathā | labhakā jalamattāśca avādyanta sahasraśaḥ |

panchaksha and saridhika drums, mukunda and muraja drums, labhaka and jalamatta instruments - all these resounded by the thousand.

Verse 55 (skanda.8.77.55)

गायनैश्चैव गायद्भिः स्तुवद्भिः सूतमागधैः । दिव्याभिः कुलवृद्धाभिः स्त्रीभिश्च कृतमङ्गला ।

gāyanaiścaiva gāyadbhiḥ stuvadbhiḥ sūtamāgadhaiḥ | divyābhiḥ kulavṛddhābhiḥ strībhiśca kṛtamaṅgalā |

With singers singing, and with sutas and magadhas offering praise, auspicious rites were performed by divine, elder women of noble family.

Verse 56 (skanda.8.77.56)

द्वार्य पश्यन् रथं क्लृप्तं यया देवमयं हरः । शतनल्वप्रमाणाङ्कं दिव्यं जाम्बूनदं दृढम् ।

dvārya paśyan rathaṁ klṛptaṁ yayā devamayaṁ haraḥ | śatanalvapramāṇāṅkaṁ divyaṁ jāmbūnadaṁ dṛḍham |

At the gate he saw his chariot made ready - divine, sturdy, of fine gold, measuring a hundred nalvas, the chariot by which he would carry off victory over the gods.

Verse 57 (skanda.8.77.57)

असंगतुरगैः श्वेतैस्त्रिसाहस्रैर्मनोजवैः । अमरैः कामगैर्दिव्यैः श्रमदुःखविवर्जितैः ।

asaṁgaturagaiḥ śvetaistrisāhasrairmanojavaiḥ | amaraiḥ kāmagairdivyaiḥ śramaduḥkhavivarjitaiḥ |

drawn by three thousand white horses, swift as thought, undying, able to go wherever they wished, divine, and free of fatigue and distress,

Verse 58 (skanda.8.77.58)

यन्ता रथस्य तस्यसिल्मकरो नाम विश्रुतः । पुत्रो गरुत्मतो व्यास खगः कामगमःशुभः ।

yantā rathasya tasyasilmakaro nāma viśrutaḥ | putro garutmato vyāsa khagaḥ kāmagamaḥśubhaḥ |

The driver of that chariot, O Vyasa, was one renowned by the name Silmakara, a son of Garutman, a bird able to go at will, of auspicious form.

Verse 59 (skanda.8.77.59)

तमसौ राजशब्देन आशीर्भिश्चाभिपूजितः । आरुरोह रथं राजा एकचक्रं यथा रविः ।

tamasau rājaśabdena āśīrbhiścābhipūjitaḥ | āruroha rathaṁ rājā ekacakraṁ yathā raviḥ |

Honored with royal acclamations and blessings, that king mounted the chariot, as the sun mounts his one-wheeled chariot.

Verse 60 (skanda.8.77.60)

कवची बद्धतूणीरः शरी खड्गी शरासनी । बद्धगोधांगुलित्रश्च कण्ठत्राणकृतस्तथा ।

kavacī baddhatūṇīraḥ śarī khaḍgī śarāsanī | baddhagodhāṁgulitraśca kaṇṭhatrāṇakṛtastathā |

He was clad in armour, his quiver bound on, bearing arrows, sword, and bow, his iguana-hide finger-guard fastened, and his throat-guard put on,

Verse 61 (skanda.8.77.61)

ध्वजेन महता चैव छत्रेण च विभूषितः । बह्वीभिर्वैजयन्तीभिः सबलाक इवाम्बुदः ।

dhvajena mahatā caiva chatreṇa ca vibhūṣitaḥ | bahvībhirvaijayantībhiḥ sabalāka ivāmbudaḥ |

adorned with a great banner and a royal parasol, and with many triumphal pennants, he was like a rain-cloud accompanied by a flock of white cranes.

Verse 62 (skanda.8.77.62)

तस्य छत्रं तदा भाति किरीटोपरि संस्थितम् । आविष्कृतपयोदाभस्तस्य पौर्णमास्यां यथा शशी ।

tasya chatraṁ tadā bhāti kirīṭopari saṁsthitam | āviṣkṛtapayodābhastasya paurṇamāsyāṁ yathā śaśī |

His parasol, set above his crown, then shone forth, its brightness revealed like the moon of a full-moon night emerging from a cloud.

Verse 63 (skanda.8.77.63)

खट्वाङ्गस्तस्य चाभाति ध्वजो दिवमिवाक्रमन् । त्रैलोक्यस्योपघातार्थं केतुर्दीप्त इवोदितः ।

khaṭvāṅgastasya cābhāti dhvajo divamivākraman | trailokyasyopaghātārthaṁ keturdīpta ivoditaḥ |

His banner bearing the khatvanga staff shone forth, as if striding into the sky, like a blazing comet risen for the destruction of the three worlds.

Verse 64 (skanda.8.77.64)

तादृगेव रथो ह्यासीत् सुतस्य सुमहात्मनः । अन्धकस्य तदा व्यास महाजलदनिस्वनः ।

tādṛgeva ratho hyāsīt sutasya sumahātmanaḥ | andhakasya tadā vyāsa mahājaladanisvanaḥ |

O Vyasa, just such a chariot, thundering like a great rain-cloud, belonged also to his great-souled son Andhaka.

Verse 65 (skanda.8.77.65)

अथ याहीति तेनोक्तौ रथयन्ता सुरद्विषः । त्रिसाहस्रान् हयाग्र्याँस्तु रथे प्रस्यचूचुदत् ।

atha yāhīti tenoktau rathayantā suradviṣaḥ | trisāhasrān hayāgryā~stu rathe prasyacūcudat |

Then, told "Go forth!", the charioteer of that enemy of the gods urged on the three thousand excellent horses yoked to the chariot.

Verse 66 (skanda.8.77.66)

प्रचोदितास्तमूढुस्ते जवना वातरंहसः । हयाः कामगमाः सप्त रवेरिव महारथम् ।

pracoditāstamūḍhuste javanā vātaraṁhasaḥ | hayāḥ kāmagamāḥ sapta raveriva mahāratham |

Thus urged, those swift horses, fleet as the wind and able to go at will, bore him along, as the seven horses bear the great chariot of the sun.

Verse 67 (skanda.8.77.67)

तस्याग्रतस्तदा शुक्रो रथेनाम्बुदनादिना । उद्गच्छत इव व्योम्नि तस्याभूद् यथा बुधः ।

tasyāgratastadā śukro rathenāmbudanādinā | udgacchata iva vyomni tasyābhūd yathā budhaḥ |

Shukra went before him then, in a chariot thundering like a cloud, seeming to rise into the sky, as the wise planet Mercury goes before the sun.

Verse 68 (skanda.8.77.68)

दक्षिणे तस्य पार्श्वे च अभूदन्धकदानवः । दक्षिणायनमासाद्य यथा लोकस्य भास्करः ।

dakṣiṇe tasya pārśve ca abhūdandhakadānavaḥ | dakṣiṇāyanamāsādya yathā lokasya bhāskaraḥ |

On his right side was the Danava Andhaka, like the sun to the world when it has entered upon its southward course.

Verse 69 (skanda.8.77.69)

द्वितीयं पार्श्वमाश्रित्य विप्रचित्तिरभूत् स्थितः । भारतस्येव वर्षस्य हिमवान् पर्वतोत्तमः ।

dvitīyaṁ pārśvamāśritya vipracittirabhūt sthitaḥ | bhāratasyeva varṣasya himavān parvatottamaḥ |

On the other side stood Vipracitti, like the Himalaya, foremost of mountains, standing beside the land of Bharata.

Verse 70 (skanda.8.77.70)

पृष्ठतश्चाग्रतश्चैव यथाप्रीति ययुस्तदा । अपरे दानवाः शूराः शशाङ्कस्य यथा ग्रहाः ।

pṛṣṭhataścāgrataścaiva yathāprīti yayustadā | apare dānavāḥ śūrāḥ śaśāṅkasya yathā grahāḥ |

Behind and before, as each pleased, went the other heroic Danavas, like the planets attending the moon.

Verse 71 (skanda.8.77.71)

तत्सैन्यं प्रचलद् भाति व्रजतां मुनिसत्तम । सविद्युत्स्तनयित्नूनामभ्भोदानामिवात्यये ।

tatsainyaṁ pracalad bhāti vrajatāṁ munisattama | savidyutstanayitnūnāmabhbhodānāmivātyaye |

That marching army, O foremost of sages, shone like clouds massed at the close of the rains, flashing with lightning and rumbling with thunder.

Verse 72 (skanda.8.77.72)

हयह्रेषितशब्दञ्च मत्तद्विरद बृंहितम् । वल्गितास्फोटितोत्क्रुष्टं सिंहनादोद्धतं ययौ ।

hayahreṣitaśabdañca mattadvirada bṛṁhitam | valgitāsphoṭitotkruṣṭaṁ siṁhanādoddhataṁ yayau |

With the neighing of horses, the trumpeting of rutting elephants, leaping and slapping of arms, shouting, and lion-roars, it marched on.

Verse 73 (skanda.8.77.73)

तद्धि तूर्यरवसिंहनादितैरश्वहेषितगजोग्रबृंहितैः । बाहुशब्दकुचितावनादितैर्याति दानवबलं भयावहम् ।

taddhi tūryaravasiṁhanāditairaśvaheṣitagajograbṛṁhitaiḥ | bāhuśabdakucitāvanāditairyāti dānavabalaṁ bhayāvaham |

For that terrifying Danava army advanced, resounding with the blare of trumpets and lion-roars, with the neighing of horses and the fierce trumpeting of elephants, and with the noise of arms echoing over the earth.