The Formation of the Battle-Array

Verse 1 (skanda.8.78.1)

कृष्णद्वैपायन उवाच । भगवन् दितिपुत्रेषु प्रयातेष्वमरावतीम् । अमराः किमकुर्वन् त एतदिच्छामि देदितुम् ।

kṛṣṇadvaipāyana uvāca | bhagavan ditiputreṣu prayāteṣvamarāvatīm | amarāḥ kimakurvan ta etadicchāmi deditum |

Krishnadvaipayana said: O venerable one, when the sons of Diti had set out for Amaravati, what did the immortals do? This I wish to know.

Verse 2 (skanda.8.78.2)

कथमन्तर्हितं तेषां को मन्त्रश्चेष्टितं च किम् । उत्तरं किञ्च देवास्ते प्रत्यपद्यन्त यत्नतः ।

kathamantarhitaṁ teṣāṁ ko mantraśceṣṭitaṁ ca kim | uttaraṁ kiñca devāste pratyapadyanta yatnataḥ |

How did they conceal themselves? What counsel did they take, and what did they do? And what response did the gods, with effort, prepare?

Verse 3 (skanda.8.78.3)

धार्मिकाश्च वदान्याश्च विद्वांसश्छिन्नसंशयाः । इष्टाः सर्वस्य लोकस्य किमकुर्वत देवताः ।

dhārmikāśca vadānyāśca vidvāṁsaśchinnasaṁśayāḥ | iṣṭāḥ sarvasya lokasya kimakurvata devatāḥ |

Righteous, generous, learned, free of doubt, and beloved of all the world - what did those gods do?

Verse 4 (skanda.8.78.4)

सनत्कुमार उवाच । शृणु व्यास यथा देवा उत्तरं प्रतिपेदिरे । असुराणाञ्च यद्युक्तं प्रत्यकुर्वत दंशिताः ।

sanatkumāra uvāca | śṛṇu vyāsa yathā devā uttaraṁ pratipedire | asurāṇāñca yadyuktaṁ pratyakurvata daṁśitāḥ |

Sanatkumara said: Listen, O Vyasa, how the gods prepared their response, and, having armed themselves, made the fitting counter-move against the Asuras.

Verse 5 (skanda.8.78.5)

उद्युक्तेष्वेव दैत्येषु देवानां भयसूचकाः । संजज्ञिरेमरावत्यामुत्पाता दारुणा भृशम् ।

udyukteṣveva daityeṣu devānāṁ bhayasūcakāḥ | saṁjajñiremarāvatyāmutpātā dāruṇā bhṛśam |

As soon as the Daityas had roused themselves to march, dire portents, foretelling danger for the gods, began to arise in Amaravati.

Verse 6 (skanda.8.78.6)

पिशिताशाः खगास्तत्र भ्रमन्त्युपरि सर्वतः । मम्लुर्माल्यानि देवानां गन्धश्चैवाशुभं ववौ ।

piśitāśāḥ khagāstatra bhramantyupari sarvataḥ | mamlurmālyāni devānāṁ gandhaścaivāśubhaṁ vavau |

Flesh-eating birds circled above on every side; the gods' garlands withered, and an ill-omened odor blew about.

Verse 7 (skanda.8.78.7)

हयादयो न हेषन्ते विमनाश्च गजोभवत् । अनभ्रं भयदं सर्वमपतद्रुधिरं बहु ।

hayādayo na heṣante vimanāśca gajobhavat | anabhraṁ bhayadaṁ sarvamapatadrudhiraṁ bahu |

The horses ceased their neighing, the elephant grew dejected, and, though the sky was cloudless, much terrifying blood rained down everywhere.

Verse 8 (skanda.8.78.8)

आयुधानि च दीप्यन्ते सधूमं शक्तिनन्दन । कबन्धाश्च तथादित्ये युद्धं चात्र प्रदृश्यते ।

āyudhāni ca dīpyante sadhūmaṁ śaktinandana | kabandhāśca tathāditye yuddhaṁ cātra pradṛśyate |

O son of Shakti, the weapons blazed forth, smoking; and headless trunks, along with the semblance of battle, appeared within the sun's disc.

Verse 9 (skanda.8.78.9)

द्वयोः पुरुषयोर्व्यास हाहाकारश्च सर्वशः । देवानामरतिञ्चैव चित्तं चापि समश्नुते ।

dvayoḥ puruṣayorvyāsa hāhākāraśca sarvaśaḥ | devānāmaratiñcaiva cittaṁ cāpi samaśnute |

O Vyasa, the cry of lamentation of two figures was heard everywhere, and the minds of the gods were overcome with restlessness.

Verse 10 (skanda.8.78.10)

स्फुरन्ति वामनेत्राणि जृम्भिका चोपजायते । वयांसि च विकूजन्ति भयदान्यपरे यथा । अग्निश्च दीप्यते तत्र सशब्दो रूक्ष एव च ।

sphuranti vāmanetrāṇi jṛmbhikā copajāyate | vayāṁsi ca vikūjanti bhayadānyapare yathā | agniśca dīpyate tatra saśabdo rūkṣa eva ca |

Their left eyes throbbed, yawning overtook them, birds cried out with fearsome sounds, and there the fire blazed harshly, crackling loudly.

Verse 11 (skanda.8.78.11)

एताँश्चान्यांश्च विविधानुत्पातान्भयसूचकान् । दृष्ट्वा प्राह गुरुं शक्रो बृहस्पतिमिदं वचः ।

etā~ścānyāṁśca vividhānutpātānbhayasūcakān | dṛṣṭvā prāha guruṁ śakro bṛhaspatimidaṁ vacaḥ |

Seeing these and other manifold portents foretelling danger, Indra spoke this word to his preceptor Brihaspati:

Verse 12 (skanda.8.78.12)

भगवन् किमिदं घोरं भयं नः समुपस्थितम् । यदिमे सूचयन्त्युग्रा उत्पाता नः सुदारुणाः ।

bhagavan kimidaṁ ghoraṁ bhayaṁ naḥ samupasthitam | yadime sūcayantyugrā utpātā naḥ sudāruṇāḥ |

"O venerable one, what terrible danger has come upon us, that these fierce and dreadful portents now signal to us?"

Verse 13 (skanda.8.78.13)

नेमे निष्कारणं मन्ये न चाप्यल्पं हि तद्धि नः । यदिमे सूचयन्त्युग्राः कल्पान्त इव दारुणाः ।

neme niṣkāraṇaṁ manye na cāpyalpaṁ hi taddhi naḥ | yadime sūcayantyugrāḥ kalpānta iva dāruṇāḥ |

"I do not think these are without cause, nor is the matter small for us; these fierce portents seem to signal something as terrible as the end of an aeon."

Verse 14 (skanda.8.78.14)

तस्य तद्वचनं श्रुत्वा देवाचार्यो बृहस्पतिः । निरीक्ष्य बुद्ध्या संचिन्त्य प्रोवाचेदं ततो वचः ।

tasya tadvacanaṁ śrutvā devācāryo bṛhaspatiḥ | nirīkṣya buddhyā saṁcintya provācedaṁ tato vacaḥ |

Hearing his words, the preceptor of the gods, Brihaspati, examined the matter with his intellect and, having reflected well, spoke this:

Verse 15 (skanda.8.78.15)

यद् भवानाह तत्तथ्यं नेमे निष्कारणं तथा । निमित्तमत्र सुमहद् भविष्यति न संशयः ।

yad bhavānāha tattathyaṁ neme niṣkāraṇaṁ tathā | nimittamatra sumahad bhaviṣyati na saṁśayaḥ |

"What you say is true; these portents are not without cause. There will surely be some very great cause behind this - of that there is no doubt."

Verse 16 (skanda.8.78.16)

निमित्तमादिदैत्येन्द्रो हिरण्यकशिपुः पुरा । स हतो नरसिंहेन प्राप्तं राज्यं च नः पुनः ।

nimittamādidaityendro hiraṇyakaśipuḥ purā | sa hato narasiṁhena prāptaṁ rājyaṁ ca naḥ punaḥ |

"The cause is this: formerly, the first lord of the Daityas, Hiranyakashipu, was slain by Narasimha, and thereby we regained our kingdom."

Verse 17 (skanda.8.78.17)

अद्य वर्षसहस्राणि द्वादशैव सुनिर्वृतैः । युष्माभिरखिला लोका भुज्यन्ते सुमहात्मभिः ।

adya varṣasahasrāṇi dvādaśaiva sunirvṛtaiḥ | yuṣmābhirakhilā lokā bhujyante sumahātmabhiḥ |

"For twelve thousand years now, all the worlds have been enjoyed in peace and happiness by great souls such as yourselves."

Verse 18 (skanda.8.78.18)

दैत्याधिपा निरुत्साहा दानवैः सह शेरते । पाताले दनुपुत्राश्च दुःखशोकसमाहताः ।

daityādhipā nirutsāhā dānavaiḥ saha śerate | pātāle danuputrāśca duḥkhaśokasamāhatāḥ |

"The lords of the Daityas lie dispirited together with the Danavas in the netherworld, and the sons of Danu are stricken with grief and sorrow."

Verse 19 (skanda.8.78.19)

हिरण्याक्षस्तु दैत्येन्द्रो हिरण्यकशिपोर्वरः । स नूनं भ्रातुरन्विच्छन् हतस्य प्रतिकारिताम् ।

hiraṇyākṣastu daityendro hiraṇyakaśiporvaraḥ | sa nūnaṁ bhrāturanvicchan hatasya pratikāritām |

"But Hiranyaksha, lord of the Daityas, superior even to Hiranyakashipu, surely, seeking vengeance for his slain brother,"

Verse 20 (skanda.8.78.20)

सर्वैरभ्येति दैत्येन्द्रैर्दानवैश्च समावृतः । सपुत्रपौत्रो दैत्येन्द्रो महाबलपराक्रमः ।

sarvairabhyeti daityendrairdānavaiśca samāvṛtaḥ | saputrapautro daityendro mahābalaparākramaḥ |

"that lord of the Daityas, mighty and valorous, together with his sons and grandsons, surrounded by all the Daitya lords and Danavas, is advancing upon us."

Verse 21 (skanda.8.78.21)

अन्धकश्चास्य पुत्रोपि ब्रह्मणा ह्यमरः कृतः । न स शक्यो युवा हन्तुं ततो वो भयमुत्थितम् ।

andhakaścāsya putropi brahmaṇā hyamaraḥ kṛtaḥ | na sa śakyo yuvā hantuṁ tato vo bhayamutthitam |

"His son Andhaka too has been made immortal by Brahma, and that young one cannot be slain - it is from this that your present danger has arisen."

Verse 22 (skanda.8.78.22)

तद्भवन्तः सुसन्नद्धाः सर्वे युद्धाय दंशिताः । प्रतीक्षध्वं महासत्वा यावदौत्पातिकं स्थितम् ।

tadbhavantaḥ susannaddhāḥ sarve yuddhāya daṁśitāḥ | pratīkṣadhvaṁ mahāsatvā yāvadautpātikaṁ sthitam |

"Therefore, O mighty ones, all of you, well armed and mailed for battle, wait and watch as long as this portentous state continues."

Verse 23 (skanda.8.78.23)

तस्य तद्वचनं श्रुत्वा शक्रः सर्वान् तदा सुरान् । उवाच सज्जीभवत युद्धाय कृतनिश्चयाः ।

tasya tadvacanaṁ śrutvā śakraḥ sarvān tadā surān | uvāca sajjībhavata yuddhāya kṛtaniścayāḥ |

Hearing his words, Indra then said to all the gods: "Make ready for battle, with firm resolve."

Verse 24 (skanda.8.78.24)

भयं महदिदं प्राप्तं मा तिष्ठत निरुद्यमाः । मा नः संप्राप्य दैत्येंद्रा हन्युर्मत्तानिवामराः ।

bhayaṁ mahadidaṁ prāptaṁ mā tiṣṭhata nirudyamāḥ | mā naḥ saṁprāpya daityeṁdrā hanyurmattānivāmarāḥ |

"This great danger has come upon us - do not sit idle; let it not be that the Daitya lords, finding us off guard, slay us as though we were careless, intoxicated fools."

Verse 25 (skanda.8.78.25)

अथ वायुस्तदाभ्येत्य शक्रं सर्वासुरान्तकम् । उवाच प्राञ्जलिर्भूत्वा देवानामेव संसदि ।

atha vāyustadābhyetya śakraṁ sarvāsurāntakam | uvāca prāñjalirbhūtvā devānāmeva saṁsadi |

Then Vayu came there and, with joined palms, spoke, in that very assembly of the gods, to Indra, the destroyer of all Asuras:

Verse 26 (skanda.8.78.26)

एष दैत्यो हिरण्याक्षः सर्वासुरसमावृतः । आयाति देवता हन्तुं भ्रातुर्वधमनुस्मरन् ।

eṣa daityo hiraṇyākṣaḥ sarvāsurasamāvṛtaḥ | āyāti devatā hantuṁ bhrāturvadhamanusmaran |

"This Daitya, Hiranyaksha, remembering his brother's slaying, surrounded by all the Asuras, is coming to slay the gods."

Verse 27 (skanda.8.78.27)

तद्भवान् दंशितः सम्यक् सहास्माभिर्महाबलः । जयायोत्तिष्ठ देवेन्द्र विनाशाय सुरद्विषाम् ।

tadbhavān daṁśitaḥ samyak sahāsmābhirmahābalaḥ | jayāyottiṣṭha devendra vināśāya suradviṣām |

"Therefore, O mighty lord of the gods, well armored, rise up together with us, for victory, and for the destruction of the enemies of the gods."

Verse 28 (skanda.8.78.28)

सनत्कुमार उवाच । ततः स भगवान् व्यास महात्मा देवराट् स्वयम् । अभेद्यं कवचं दिव्यं जाम्बूनदविभूषितम् ।

sanatkumāra uvāca | tataḥ sa bhagavān vyāsa mahātmā devarāṭ svayam | abhedyaṁ kavacaṁ divyaṁ jāmbūnadavibhūṣitam |

Sanatkumara said: Then, O Vyasa, that great-souled and venerable king of the gods himself took up an impenetrable, divine armor, adorned with fine gold,

Verse 29 (skanda.8.78.29)

दत्तं मन्त्रेण विधिवत् पुत्रेणाङ्गिरसः स्वयम् । आबबद्धात्मना शक्रो मेघदुन्दुभिनिस्वनः ।

dattaṁ mantreṇa vidhivat putreṇāṅgirasaḥ svayam | ābabaddhātmanā śakro meghadundubhinisvanaḥ |

given by the son of Angiras (Brihaspati) himself, duly consecrated with mantras; and Indra, whose voice resounded like thunder-clouds and kettledrums, bound it upon himself.

Verse 30 (skanda.8.78.30)

स तेन कवचेन स्म भाति शक्रः प्रतापवान् । सविद्युदुल्कैरम्भोदैर्बद्धो मेरुरिवाचलः ।

sa tena kavacena sma bhāti śakraḥ pratāpavān | savidyudulkairambhodairbaddho merurivācalaḥ |

Adorned with that armor, the mighty Indra shone like the immovable Mount Meru, girt about with clouds flashing with lightning and meteors.

Verse 31 (skanda.8.78.31)

ततो गोधांगुलित्राणि तलत्रं चैव भासुरम् । आबबद्ध स्वयं मन्त्रैस्तस्य देवो बृहस्पतिः ।

tato godhāṁgulitrāṇi talatraṁ caiva bhāsuram | ābabaddha svayaṁ mantraistasya devo bṛhaspatiḥ |

Then the god Brihaspati himself, with mantras, bound upon him the iguana-hide finger-guard and the shining hand-guard.

Verse 32 (skanda.8.78.32)

इषुधीनक्षयाँश्चैव खङ्गश्चैवामृतोद्भवम् । आबबद्धास्य मन्त्रेण यदजर्यं शरादिभिः ।

iṣudhīnakṣayā~ścaiva khaṅgaścaivāmṛtodbhavam | ābabaddhāsya mantreṇa yadajaryaṁ śarādibhiḥ |

With mantra he bound upon him inexhaustible quivers, and the sword born of the nectar of immortality, which never grows old even amid arrows and weapons.

Verse 33 (skanda.8.78.33)

ततोस्मै सशरं चापं पञ्चवज्रं सुदारुणम् । मन्त्राभिमन्त्रितं सम्यक् प्रददौ जयवर्द्धनम् ।

tatosmai saśaraṁ cāpaṁ pañcavajraṁ sudāruṇam | mantrābhimantritaṁ samyak pradadau jayavarddhanam |

Then he gave him, well-consecrated with mantras and increasing his victory, a most fearsome bow of five thunderbolts, together with its arrows.

Verse 34 (skanda.8.78.34)

मंगलानि ततस्तस्य दर्शयामास वीर्यवान् । घटञ्च पूर्णमस्त्रञ्च ऐरावतमथापि च ।

maṁgalāni tatastasya darśayāmāsa vīryavān | ghaṭañca pūrṇamastrañca airāvatamathāpi ca |

Then that mighty one showed him the auspicious objects - a full pitcher, weapons, and also the elephant Airavata,

Verse 35 (skanda.8.78.35)

कल्पितं बहुभिर्दिव्यैराचार्यैः कल्पवासिभिः । अर्चितं धूपितं चैव धूपितं क्रोधदर्पणैः ।

kalpitaṁ bahubhirdivyairācāryaiḥ kalpavāsibhiḥ | arcitaṁ dhūpitaṁ caiva dhūpitaṁ krodhadarpaṇaiḥ |

which had been prepared by many divine preceptors dwelling in the celestial realms, worshipped and censed with incense, and made to gleam with a fierce brilliance.

Verse 36 (skanda.8.78.36)

ततस्तं स तदा देव आरुरोह मतङ्गजम् । भद्रलक्षणसंपन्नं चतुर्दन्तं क्षरन्मदम् ।

tatastaṁ sa tadā deva āruroha mataṅgajam | bhadralakṣaṇasaṁpannaṁ caturdantaṁ kṣaranmadam |

Then that god mounted the elephant, endowed with auspicious marks, four-tusked, streaming with rut-fluid.

Verse 37 (skanda.8.78.37)

आरूढः स तदा भाति ऐरावतगजं विभुः । उदयाचलमौलिस्थ उद्यन्निव दिवाकरः ।

ārūḍhaḥ sa tadā bhāti airāvatagajaṁ vibhuḥ | udayācalamaulistha udyanniva divākaraḥ |

Mounted upon Airavata, that lord shone like the rising sun resting upon the peak of the eastern mountain.

Verse 38 (skanda.8.78.38)

पाण्डरेणातपत्रेण सुरराट् संबभौ तदा । श्वेतपर्वतराजोसौ शशिनेव महामुने ।

pāṇḍareṇātapatreṇa surarāṭ saṁbabhau tadā | śvetaparvatarājosau śaśineva mahāmune |

O great sage, the king of the gods, with his white parasol, then shone like the white lord of mountains together with the moon.

Verse 39 (skanda.8.78.39)

चामराबीजितं भाति तस्य वक्त्रमतिप्रभम् । हंससंबीजितं फुल्लं शरदीव महोत्पलम् ।

cāmarābījitaṁ bhāti tasya vaktramatiprabham | haṁsasaṁbījitaṁ phullaṁ śaradīva mahotpalam |

His exceedingly radiant face, fanned by chowries, shone like a great autumn lotus in full bloom, stirred by swans.

Verse 40 (skanda.8.78.40)

तस्य पार्श्वे जयन्तश्च पुत्रः शक्रस्य धार्मिकः । कार्तिकेय इवाभाति रुद्रस्य दयितः सुतः ।

tasya pārśve jayantaśca putraḥ śakrasya dhārmikaḥ | kārtikeya ivābhāti rudrasya dayitaḥ sutaḥ |

By his side was Jayanta, Indra's righteous son, shining like Kartikeya, the beloved son of Rudra.

Verse 41 (skanda.8.78.41)

ततो यमश्च पुण्ड्रेण महिषेण महाबलः । कालदण्डं पुरस्कृत्य कोटीभिर्दशभिर्वृतः ।

tato yamaśca puṇḍreṇa mahiṣeṇa mahābalaḥ | kāladaṇḍaṁ puraskṛtya koṭībhirdaśabhirvṛtaḥ |

Then the mighty Yama, mounted on his tawny buffalo, with his rod of death held before him, surrounded by ten crores of troops,

Verse 42 (skanda.8.78.42)

निर्जगाम कुबेरश्च राक्षसैर्बहुभिर्वृतः । यक्षैः पुण्यजनैश्चापि तथान्यैर्देवतैरपि ।

nirjagāma kuberaśca rākṣasairbahubhirvṛtaḥ | yakṣaiḥ puṇyajanaiścāpi tathānyairdevatairapi |

set forth; and Kubera too went out, surrounded by many Rakshasas, Yakshas, Punyajanas, and other deities as well.

Verse 43 (skanda.8.78.43)

तेषां द्वादश कोट्यस्ताः सहस्राणि च विंशतिः । शतानि च तथाशीतिस्तथैवाष्टाधिका पुनः ।

teṣāṁ dvādaśa koṭyastāḥ sahasrāṇi ca viṁśatiḥ | śatāni ca tathāśītistathaivāṣṭādhikā punaḥ |

Their number was twelve crores, twenty thousand, eight hundred score, and eight more besides.

Verse 44 (skanda.8.78.44)

वरुणो निर्ययौ देवः पुत्राणां दशभिः शतैः । यादोभिस्ते वृताः सर्वे कोट्यस्ताश्चैकविंशतिः ।

varuṇo niryayau devaḥ putrāṇāṁ daśabhiḥ śataiḥ | yādobhiste vṛtāḥ sarve koṭyastāścaikaviṁśatiḥ |

The god Varuna set forth with his thousand sons, and with all the creatures of the waters accompanying him - twenty-one crores in all.

Verse 45 (skanda.8.78.45)

अनलश्च ततो देवः कोटीभिर्दशभिर्वृतः । निर्ययौ सह पुत्रेण ससुहृद्वर्गबान्धवः ।

analaśca tato devaḥ koṭībhirdaśabhirvṛtaḥ | niryayau saha putreṇa sasuhṛdvargabāndhavaḥ |

Then the god Agni, surrounded by ten crores, set out together with his son, his circle of friends, and his kinsmen.

Verse 46 (skanda.8.78.46)

ततो वायुर्महातेजाः सर्वव्यापी महाजवः । अक्षौहिणीभिर्दशभिर्निर्जगाम महाबलः ।

tato vāyurmahātejāḥ sarvavyāpī mahājavaḥ | akṣauhiṇībhirdaśabhirnirjagāma mahābalaḥ |

Then Vayu, of great splendor, all-pervading, exceedingly swift and mighty, set forth with ten akshauhinis of troops.

Verse 47 (skanda.8.78.47)

आदित्या निर्ययुः सर्वे द्वादशाक्षौहिणीवृताः । एकैकशश्च ते व्यास सर्वे दिव्यास्त्रयोधिनः ।

ādityā niryayuḥ sarve dvādaśākṣauhiṇīvṛtāḥ | ekaikaśaśca te vyāsa sarve divyāstrayodhinaḥ |

O Vyasa, all the Adityas set forth, each surrounded by twelve akshauhinis, and each one of them fought with divine weapons.

Verse 48 (skanda.8.78.48)

तथा रुद्राश्च निर्जग्मुर्महामायामहाबलाः । एकैकशस्तदा सर्वे षोडशाक्षौहिणीवृताः ।

tathā rudrāśca nirjagmurmahāmāyāmahābalāḥ | ekaikaśastadā sarve ṣoḍaśākṣauhiṇīvṛtāḥ |

Likewise the Rudras, great in illusion and might, each surrounded by sixteen akshauhinis, went forth.

Verse 49 (skanda.8.78.49)

वसवो दशभिश्चैव अष्टाभिश्चाश्विनावुभौ । तथैवांगिरसो देवाः सर्वे तेक्षौहिणीवृताः ।

vasavo daśabhiścaiva aṣṭābhiścāśvināvubhau | tathaivāṁgiraso devāḥ sarve tekṣauhiṇīvṛtāḥ |

The Vasus, ten each; the two Ashvins, eight each; and likewise the Angirasa gods, all surrounded by that same number of akshauhinis.

Verse 50 (skanda.8.78.50)

यामा दामाश्च साध्याश्च लेखा ये च महाबलाः । तेपि कोटीशतैः सर्वे दशभिः सह संगताः ।

yāmā dāmāśca sādhyāśca lekhā ye ca mahābalāḥ | tepi koṭīśataiḥ sarve daśabhiḥ saha saṁgatāḥ |

The Yamas, Damas, Sadhyas, and the mighty Lekhas, too, were all joined together with a thousand crores of troops.

Verse 51 (skanda.8.78.51)

अभूवन् विंशतिः कोट्यो गन्धर्वाणां महात्मनाम् । पन्नगानां चतुःषष्टिः खगानां चैव विंशतिः ।

abhūvan viṁśatiḥ koṭyo gandharvāṇāṁ mahātmanām | pannagānāṁ catuḥṣaṣṭiḥ khagānāṁ caiva viṁśatiḥ |

The great-souled Gandharvas numbered twenty crores; the serpents, sixty-four crores; and the birds, twenty crores as well.

Verse 52 (skanda.8.78.52)

पिशाचानां च कोट्यस्ताः पंचाशत्तत्र संगताः । राज्ञां स नां महात्मनाम् ।

piśācānāṁ ca koṭyastāḥ paṁcāśattatra saṁgatāḥ | rājñāṁ sa nāṁ mahātmanām |

There the Pishachas gathered, fifty crores in number; and of the great-souled kings too a further host assembled (a portion of this line is illegible in the source manuscript).

Verse 53 (skanda.8.78.53)

एतद्देवबलं देहं सर्वमभूत्तत्राभिसंगतम् । दृष्ट्वा तद् बह्वपर्यन्तं देवानां बलमुत्तमम् ।

etaddevabalaṁ dehaṁ sarvamabhūttatrābhisaṁgatam | dṛṣṭvā tad bahvaparyantaṁ devānāṁ balamuttamam |

Thus this whole army of the gods gathered there in full strength. Seeing that vast and boundless, excellent army of the gods,

Verse 54 (skanda.8.78.54)

उवाच जीवजीवानां राजा परमधर्मवित् । भगवन् क्रियतां व्यूहो यस्मात्तेषां दुरात्मनाम् ।

uvāca jīvajīvānāṁ rājā paramadharmavit | bhagavan kriyatāṁ vyūho yasmātteṣāṁ durātmanām |

the king, most versed in righteousness, said to Jiva (Brihaspati): "O venerable one, arrange a battle-formation, by which those evil-souled ones may be met,"

Verse 55 (skanda.8.78.55)

अधृष्यश्चाप्रमेयश्च यन्न वेत्ति च भार्गवः । तस्य तद्वचनं श्रुत्वा बृहद्बुद्धिर्बृहस्पतिः ।

adhṛṣyaścāprameyaśca yanna vetti ca bhārgavaḥ | tasya tadvacanaṁ śrutvā bṛhadbuddhirbṛhaspatiḥ |

"one that is unassailable and immeasurable, one that even Shukra, the descendant of Bhrigu, does not know." Hearing his words, the vastly wise Brihaspati,

Verse 56 (skanda.8.78.56)

उवाच देवताध्यक्षं शक्रं दैवतसन्निधौ । न तदस्ति महेष्वास मयि यद् भार्गवो महान् ।

uvāca devatādhyakṣaṁ śakraṁ daivatasannidhau | na tadasti maheṣvāsa mayi yad bhārgavo mahān |

said, in the presence of the gods, to Indra, the chief of the gods: "O great archer, there is nothing in me that the great Bhargava (Shukra)"

Verse 57 (skanda.8.78.57)

न वेत्ति यस्य वा भेदं न कुर्यात् पाकशासन । उशनाः स तु यद्वेत्ति महायोगी महायशाः ।

na vetti yasya vā bhedaṁ na kuryāt pākaśāsana | uśanāḥ sa tu yadvetti mahāyogī mahāyaśāḥ |

"does not know, or whose secret he cannot pierce, O Pakashasana. But that which the great yogin, the far-famed Ushanas, knows,"

Verse 58 (skanda.8.78.58)

न चैव तदहं वेद्मि मत्तो वरतरो हि सः । स तु तीक्ष्णतया चैव मानाच्चैव शचीपते ।

na caiva tadahaṁ vedmi matto varataro hi saḥ | sa tu tīkṣṇatayā caiva mānāccaiva śacīpate |

"that indeed I do not know, for he is superior to me. But he, O husband of Shachi, owing to his sharpness and his pride,"

Verse 59 (skanda.8.78.59)

प्रमादं कुरुते तेषु न च सर्वत्र लभ्यते । अहं च विज्ञभावेन मार्दवेन परेण च ।

pramādaṁ kurute teṣu na ca sarvatra labhyate | ahaṁ ca vijñabhāvena mārdavena pareṇa ca |

"sometimes grows careless in his tasks, and is not always available. But I, through discernment and the greatest gentleness,"

Verse 60 (skanda.8.78.60)

अप्रमत्तश्च सर्वत्र तव सैन्यैश्च रक्षितः । बुद्ध्या तमतिरिच्यामि विबुधेश्वर नित्यशः ।

apramattaśca sarvatra tava sainyaiśca rakṣitaḥ | buddhyā tamatiricyāmi vibudheśvara nityaśaḥ |

"am ever vigilant everywhere and am protected by your armies. O lord of the wise, in intellect I ever surpass him."

Verse 61 (skanda.8.78.61)

तस्मात्तेहं करिष्यामि व्यूहं श्येनमतिप्रभम् । येन तान्दानवान् संख्ये कञ्चित् कालं विजेष्यथ ।

tasmāttehaṁ kariṣyāmi vyūhaṁ śyenamatiprabham | yena tāndānavān saṁkhye kañcit kālaṁ vijeṣyatha |

"Therefore I shall now form for you a most brilliant hawk-formation, by which you shall for some time gain victory over those Danavas in battle."

Verse 62 (skanda.8.78.62)

ततः स भगवान् जीवश्चक्रे व्यूहमतिप्रभम् । श्येनं नाम महायोगी देवानां हितमादधत् ।

tataḥ sa bhagavān jīvaścakre vyūhamatiprabham | śyenaṁ nāma mahāyogī devānāṁ hitamādadhat |

Then that venerable Jiva, the great yogin, seeking the welfare of the gods, formed that most brilliant array called Shyena, the Hawk.

Verse 63 (skanda.8.78.63)

ग्रीवायां तस्य संचक्रे वित्तेशं वरुणं तथा । अनलं चैव वायुञ्च जयन्तं चैव शक्रजम् ।

grīvāyāṁ tasya saṁcakre vitteśaṁ varuṇaṁ tathā | analaṁ caiva vāyuñca jayantaṁ caiva śakrajam |

At its neck he placed Kubera, lord of wealth, and Varuna, and Agni and Vayu, and Jayanta, the son of Indra.

Verse 64 (skanda.8.78.64)

शिरश्चूडां यमं तस्य मृत्युं कालं च तावुभौ । वक्त्रं तस्याकरोज्जीवश्चन्द्रसूर्यौ च चक्षुषी ।

śiraścūḍāṁ yamaṁ tasya mṛtyuṁ kālaṁ ca tāvubhau | vaktraṁ tasyākarojjīvaścandrasūryau ca cakṣuṣī |

Yama he made its crown, and Death and Time too were placed there together; Jiva made Indra its face, and the moon and sun its two eyes.

Verse 65 (skanda.8.78.65)

एकं पक्षं चकारास्य रुद्रान्सर्वान्स वै द्विजः । द्वितीयं पक्षमादित्यान्मध्यं तस्य पुरन्दरम् ।

ekaṁ pakṣaṁ cakārāsya rudrānsarvānsa vai dvijaḥ | dvitīyaṁ pakṣamādityānmadhyaṁ tasya purandaram |

That twice-born one made all the Rudras one wing, the Adityas the other wing, and Purandara its middle.

Verse 66 (skanda.8.78.66)

पादौ च वसवस्तस्य अश्विनौ च महातलौ । गन्धर्वाः पन्नगाश्चैव नखान् तस्य समाश्रिताः ।

pādau ca vasavastasya aśvinau ca mahātalau | gandharvāḥ pannagāścaiva nakhān tasya samāśritāḥ |

The Vasus were made its two feet, and the two Ashvins the great soles beneath them; the Gandharvas and serpents were stationed as its claws.

Verse 67 (skanda.8.78.67)

पक्षिणश्च महासत्वाः पिशाचाश्च महाबलाः । पुच्छं तस्याकरोत् सर्पान् देवानन्याँस्तदोदरम् ।

pakṣiṇaśca mahāsatvāḥ piśācāśca mahābalāḥ | pucchaṁ tasyākarot sarpān devānanyā~stadodaram |

The mighty birds and the powerful Pishachas he made its tail; the serpents and the other gods, its belly.

Verse 68 (skanda.8.78.68)

राजानस्तस्य पादस्थास्तले भूतान् न्यवेशयत । महाबलान्महोत्साहान्सर्वान् देवान् सभासदः ।

rājānastasya pādasthāstale bhūtān nyaveśayata | mahābalānmahotsāhānsarvān devān sabhāsadaḥ |

The kings were placed at its feet, and the lesser beings were stationed below; all the mighty and high-spirited gods stood as members of that assembly.

Verse 69 (skanda.8.78.69)

सनत्कुमार उवाच । स कृत्वा तं खगव्यूहं मन्त्रेणैवाभिमन्त्र्य च । उवाच देवराजं तं बृहस्पतिरिदं वचः ।

sanatkumāra uvāca | sa kṛtvā taṁ khagavyūhaṁ mantreṇaivābhimantrya ca | uvāca devarājaṁ taṁ bṛhaspatiridaṁ vacaḥ |

Sanatkumara said: Having formed that bird-formation and consecrated it with mantra, Brihaspati spoke this word to the king of the gods:

Verse 70 (skanda.8.78.70)

कल्पितोयं मया व्यूहः कृत्वा राक्षसपार्थिवम् । अतः परं विधानस्य कर्म नास्मासु विद्यते ।

kalpitoyaṁ mayā vyūhaḥ kṛtvā rākṣasapārthivam | ataḥ paraṁ vidhānasya karma nāsmāsu vidyate |

"This formation I have devised, having accounted for the lord of the Rakshasas. Beyond this, no further ordinance remains for us to perform."

Verse 71 (skanda.8.78.71)

जय शत्रून् रणे शक्र देवतैरभिरक्षितः । मया चार्थवणैर्मन्त्रैस्तपसां च बलेन च ।

jaya śatrūn raṇe śakra devatairabhirakṣitaḥ | mayā cārthavaṇairmantraistapasāṁ ca balena ca |

"Conquer your enemies in battle, O Indra, protected by the gods, and by my Atharvanic mantras and the power of austerity."

Verse 72 (skanda.8.78.72)

कुरु कर्म यथाशक्ति ह्यमरो ह्यसि पार्थिव । देवाश्चाप्यमराः सर्वे युध्यन्तु सुरपार्थिव ।

kuru karma yathāśakti hyamaro hyasi pārthiva | devāścāpyamarāḥ sarve yudhyantu surapārthiva |

"Do your part according to your power, O king, for you are immortal. Let all the immortal gods also fight, O lord of the gods."

Verse 73 (skanda.8.78.73)

भाग्यान्नो जय लाभाय नान्यत्र सुरपुंगव । जहि शत्रून् महाबाहो माभीर्भवतु ते रणे ।

bhāgyānno jaya lābhāya nānyatra surapuṁgava | jahi śatrūn mahābāho mābhīrbhavatu te raṇe |

"It is by our good fortune alone that victory shall be gained, and not otherwise, O foremost of gods. Slay the enemies, O mighty-armed one; let there be no fear for you in battle."

Verse 74 (skanda.8.78.74)

ततः शंखाश्च भेर्यश्च पटहा डिण्डिमास्तथा । आडम्बराश्च नम्भाश्च कृकवा गोविषाणकाः ।

tataḥ śaṁkhāśca bheryaśca paṭahā ḍiṇḍimāstathā | āḍambarāśca nambhāśca kṛkavā goviṣāṇakāḥ |

Then conches and kettledrums, pataha and dindima drums, adambara and nambha drums, krikava and govishanaka horns,

Verse 75 (skanda.8.78.75)

मर्दलाः पेपुकाश्चित्रा नेदुस्तूर्याणि सर्वशः । तेन शब्देन योधानां युद्धहर्षो महानभूत् । सिंहनादान् कुर्वन्ते वादितास्फोटितानि च ।

mardalāḥ pepukāścitrā nedustūryāṇi sarvaśaḥ | tena śabdena yodhānāṁ yuddhaharṣo mahānabhūt | siṁhanādān kurvante vāditāsphoṭitāni ca |

mardala and pepuka drums, and various other instruments - all these resounded everywhere. At that sound a great martial fervor arose among the warriors; they raised lion-roars, and, sounding their instruments, clapped their arms and shouted.

Verse 76 (skanda.8.78.76)

देवास्ततः शंखमृदङ्गवाद्यैरमोघसर्वायुधदीप्तहस्ताः । निर्जग्मुरिन्द्रादिसुरप्रधाना जयैषिणः शत्रुवधेप्सवश्च ।

devāstataḥ śaṁkhamṛdaṅgavādyairamoghasarvāyudhadīptahastāḥ | nirjagmurindrādisurapradhānā jayaiṣiṇaḥ śatruvadhepsavaśca |

Then the gods, with the sound of conches and drums, their hands ablaze with unfailing weapons of every kind, set forth under the lead of Indra and the other foremost gods, desiring victory and eager to slay their enemies.