The Battle of Gods and Asuras

Verse 1 (skanda.8.79.1)

सनत्कुमार उवाच । व्यूढे सुराणां सैन्येथ स्थिते युद्धाय दंशिते । दानवानां बलं घोरं समदृश्यत भीषणम् ।

sanatkumāra uvāca | vyūḍhe surāṇāṁ sainyetha sthite yuddhāya daṁśite | dānavānāṁ balaṁ ghoraṁ samadṛśyata bhīṣaṇam |

Sanatkumara said: When the army of the gods stood arrayed in formation and armored for battle, the dread and fearsome army of the Danavas came into view.

Verse 2 (skanda.8.79.2)

तद् दानवबलं दृष्ट्वा देवाः सर्वे सवासवाः । सिंहनादानकुर्वँस्ते वादित्ररवमिश्रितान् ।

tad dānavabalaṁ dṛṣṭvā devāḥ sarve savāsavāḥ | siṁhanādānakurva~ste vāditraravamiśritān |

Seeing that army of the Danavas, all the gods together with Indra raised lion-roars mingled with the sound of musical instruments.

Verse 3 (skanda.8.79.3)

स नादः सुमहान् व्यास सागरस्येव मथ्यतः । आपूरयज्जगत् सर्वं युगान्ताम्बुदनिस्वनः ।

sa nādaḥ sumahān vyāsa sāgarasyeva mathyataḥ | āpūrayajjagat sarvaṁ yugāntāmbudanisvanaḥ |

That mighty roar, O Vyasa, like the churning of the ocean, filled the whole world, resounding like clouds at the end of an aeon.

Verse 4 (skanda.8.79.4)

ततो दानवशार्दूलाः सर्वे दृष्ट्वा सुरोत्तमान् । व्यूह्य सैन्यं स्थितान् सम्यग् वीक्षाञ्चक्रुः परस्परम् ।

tato dānavaśārdūlāḥ sarve dṛṣṭvā surottamān | vyūhya sainyaṁ sthitān samyag vīkṣāñcakruḥ parasparam |

Then all those tiger-like Danavas, seeing the foremost of the gods standing arrayed in formation, gazed closely at one another.

Verse 5 (skanda.8.79.5)

तान् वीक्षमाणान् सन्दृश्य स्थितो दानवयूथपान् । उवाच भार्गवं व्यास हिरण्यनयनः स्वयम् ।

tān vīkṣamāṇān sandṛśya sthito dānavayūthapān | uvāca bhārgavaṁ vyāsa hiraṇyanayanaḥ svayam |

O Vyasa, seeing those chieftains of the Danavas standing and gazing thus, Hiranyaksha, the golden-eyed one, himself spoke to the descendant of Bhrigu:

Verse 6 (skanda.8.79.6)

एते व्यूहमिमं कृत्वा देवास्तिष्ठन्त्यभीतवत् । मन्यन्ते दानवान् युद्धे वयं जेष्याम सर्वशः ।

ete vyūhamimaṁ kṛtvā devāstiṣṭhantyabhītavat | manyante dānavān yuddhe vayaṁ jeṣyāma sarvaśaḥ |

"These gods, having formed this battle-array, stand as though fearless; they think that in battle we shall utterly defeat the Danavas."

Verse 7 (skanda.8.79.7)

स भवान्युक्तमस्यैव देवव्यूहस्य भेदकम् । कुरु मायाप्रतिव्यूहमस्माकमपि मा चिरम् ।

sa bhavānyuktamasyaiva devavyūhasya bhedakam | kuru māyāprativyūhamasmākamapi mā ciram |

"Therefore it is fitting that you now form for us as well, without delay, a counter-formation of illusion that will break this formation of the gods."

Verse 8 (skanda.8.79.8)

सनत्कुमार उवाच । एवमस्त्विति स प्रोच्य ह्यर्धचन्द्रञ्चकार सः । खगस्य तस्य यच्छेत्तुं शिरः कायादियेष च ।

sanatkumāra uvāca | evamastviti sa procya hyardhacandrañcakāra saḥ | khagasya tasya yacchettuṁ śiraḥ kāyādiyeṣa ca |

Sanatkumara said: Saying "So be it," he formed a crescent-moon array, meant to sever the head of that bird-formation from its body and other parts.

Verse 9 (skanda.8.79.9)

चकार तस्य शृंगे तु प्रह्लादान्धकदानवौ । धारान्निवातकवचान्पौलोमान्कालकासुतान् ।

cakāra tasya śṛṁge tu prahlādāndhakadānavau | dhārānnivātakavacānpaulomānkālakāsutān |

At its two horns he placed Prahrada and the Danava Andhaka, Dhara, the Nivatakavachas, the Paulomas, and the sons of Kalaka.

Verse 10 (skanda.8.79.10)

विरोचनं बलिं चैव विप्रचित्तिं सहानुजैः । प्रह्लादभ्रातरं चैव ससुहृद्वर्गबान्धवान् ।

virocanaṁ baliṁ caiva vipracittiṁ sahānujaiḥ | prahlādabhrātaraṁ caiva sasuhṛdvargabāndhavān |

Virochana and Bali, and Vipracitti together with his younger brothers, and Prahrada's brother together with his friends and kinsmen,

Verse 11 (skanda.8.79.11)

पृष्ठं चक्रे महायोगी मध्यं राजानमेव च । उवाच चैनं विश्रब्धो भार्गवः शत्रुतापनः ।

pṛṣṭhaṁ cakre mahāyogī madhyaṁ rājānameva ca | uvāca cainaṁ viśrabdho bhārgavaḥ śatrutāpanaḥ |

that great yogin placed at the rear, and the king himself at the center. Then the descendant of Bhrigu, tormentor of enemies, spoke to him confidently:

Verse 12 (skanda.8.79.12)

हिरण्याक्षमिदं युक्तं काले पथ्यञ्च सर्वशः । दैवतभव्यूहभेत्तायं महाव्यूहो हि वः कृतः ।

hiraṇyākṣamidaṁ yuktaṁ kāle pathyañca sarvaśaḥ | daivatabhavyūhabhettāyaṁ mahāvyūho hi vaḥ kṛtaḥ |

"O Hiranyaksha, this is timely and wholesome in every way. This great array, capable of breaking the array of the gods, has been made for you."

Verse 13 (skanda.8.79.13)

युक्तं कुरुत भद्रं वो मया नु परिपालिताः । परस्परं च रक्षन्तः सर्वे चित्रास्त्रयोधिनः । महामायाः सुराः सर्वे यथा नैवाभिमन्यत ।

yuktaṁ kuruta bhadraṁ vo mayā nu paripālitāḥ | parasparaṁ ca rakṣantaḥ sarve citrāstrayodhinaḥ | mahāmāyāḥ surāḥ sarve yathā naivābhimanyata |

"Do what is fitting - may it be well for you. Protected by me, all of you, wielders of wondrous weapons, guarding one another, act so that the gods, great though they are in illusion, may never think themselves victorious."

Verse 14 (skanda.8.79.14)

सनत्कुमार उवाच । ततः शंखाश्च भेर्यश्च पणवानकगोमुखाः । आडम्बरा डिण्डिमाश्च पटहाश्च महास्वनाः ।

sanatkumāra uvāca | tataḥ śaṁkhāśca bheryaśca paṇavānakagomukhāḥ | āḍambarā ḍiṇḍimāśca paṭahāśca mahāsvanāḥ |

Sanatkumara said: Then conches and kettledrums, panavas, anakas and gomukha instruments, adambaras and dindimas, and loud-sounding pataha drums,

Verse 15 (skanda.8.79.15)

नानाविधानि चान्यानि प्रावाद्यन्त सहस्रशः । देवानां दानवानाञ्च मदसत्वप्रदानि वै ।

nānāvidhāni cānyāni prāvādyanta sahasraśaḥ | devānāṁ dānavānāñca madasatvapradāni vai |

and various other instruments of many kinds resounded by the thousand, filling both the gods and the Danavas with intoxicating vigor.

Verse 16 (skanda.8.79.16)

ततः प्रमथ्नतेत्युक्ता दानवा दानवेश्वरैः । ममर्दुर्देवतानीकं प्रहताः सर्वशस्तथा ।

tataḥ pramathnatetyuktā dānavā dānaveśvaraiḥ | mamardurdevatānīkaṁ prahatāḥ sarvaśastathā |

Then, urged by their lords with the cry "Crush them!", the Danavas, striking on every side, began to grind down the army of the gods.

Verse 17 (skanda.8.79.17)

देवास्तेपि च संयत्तास्तपोयोगबलान्विताः । दानवान् विविधैः शस्त्रैरभिजघ्नुः कृतागसः ।

devāstepi ca saṁyattāstapoyogabalānvitāḥ | dānavān vividhaiḥ śastrairabhijaghnuḥ kṛtāgasaḥ |

The gods too, resolute and endowed with the strength of austerity and yoga, struck back with weapons of every kind at those offending Danavas.

Verse 18 (skanda.8.79.18)

असीनां पात्यमानानां शिरसां हस्तिनामपि । आसीच्छब्दो महाघोरो वंशानामिव पाट्यताम् ।

asīnāṁ pātyamānānāṁ śirasāṁ hastināmapi | āsīcchabdo mahāghoro vaṁśānāmiva pāṭyatām |

From falling swords, and severed heads, and elephants too, there arose an exceedingly terrible sound, as of bamboo canes being split.

Verse 19 (skanda.8.79.19)

विकृष्यतां च धनुषां बाणानां च विमुच्यताम् । आसीत्तत्र महाञ्छब्दो गिरीणामिव भिद्यताम् ।

vikṛṣyatāṁ ca dhanuṣāṁ bāṇānāṁ ca vimucyatām | āsīttatra mahāñchabdo girīṇāmiva bhidyatām |

From bows being drawn and arrows being loosed, there arose there a great sound, as of mountains being cleft.

Verse 20 (skanda.8.79.20)

गच्छद्भिर्भिन्दिपालैश्च शक्तिभिस्तोमरैस्तथा । आकाशमभवत् सर्वं खद्योतैरिव संवृतम् ।

gacchadbhirbhindipālaiśca śaktibhistomaraistathā | ākāśamabhavat sarvaṁ khadyotairiva saṁvṛtam |

With javelins, spears, and lances flying through the air, the whole sky became covered, as if with fireflies.

Verse 21 (skanda.8.79.21)

शिरोभिश्चरणैश्चैव बाहुभिश्च निपातितैः । क्षणेन युद्धभूमिः सा विषमा समपद्यत ।

śirobhiścaraṇaiścaiva bāhubhiśca nipātitaiḥ | kṣaṇena yuddhabhūmiḥ sā viṣamā samapadyata |

With heads, feet, and arms cut down and fallen, that battlefield became, in an instant, a rough and difficult ground.

Verse 22 (skanda.8.79.22)

दन्तिभिः पर्वताकारैर्हयवर्यैरथोत्तमैः । कबन्धैश्चाभिनृत्यद्भिर्दुर्निरीक्ष्यमभूद्रणे ।

dantibhiḥ parvatākārairhayavaryairathottamaiḥ | kabandhaiścābhinṛtyadbhirdurnirīkṣyamabhūdraṇe |

With mountain-like elephants, excellent horses, and headless trunks dancing about, that battlefield became a terrible sight to behold.

Verse 23 (skanda.8.79.23)

आतपत्रैश्च हारैश्च कवचैस्तलत्रैरपि । निष्कसूत्रैः सुमुकुटैः केयूरैः कुण्डलैरपि ।

ātapatraiśca hāraiśca kavacaistalatrairapi | niṣkasūtraiḥ sumukuṭaiḥ keyūraiḥ kuṇḍalairapi |

With parasols and necklaces, armor and hand-guards, jeweled chains, fine crowns, armlets, and earrings too,

Verse 24 (skanda.8.79.24)

कण्ठत्राणैर्विचित्रैश्च दुकूलैर्मणिभिश्च ह । कुथाभिश्च विचित्राभिर्भुजैः साभरणैरपि ।

kaṇṭhatrāṇairvicitraiśca dukūlairmaṇibhiśca ha | kuthābhiśca vicitrābhirbhujaiḥ sābharaṇairapi |

with wondrous throat-guards, fine silks and gems, richly wrought saddle-cloths, and severed arms still wearing their ornaments,

Verse 25 (skanda.8.79.25)

मुशलैः शूलदण्डैश्च घण्टाभिश्चांकुशैरपि । विभाति भूतलं तत्र ज्योतिर्भिर्द्यौरिवावृतम् ।

muśalaiḥ śūladaṇḍaiśca ghaṇṭābhiścāṁkuśairapi | vibhāti bhūtalaṁ tatra jyotirbhirdyaurivāvṛtam |

with clubs, spear-shafts, bells, and goads, the ground there shone, as if it were the sky itself strewn with stars.

Verse 26 (skanda.8.79.26)

क्रुद्धः केशेषु संगृह्य विरथोपि महारथः । रथिनं रथमाप्लुत्य निजघान बलाद्बली ।

kruddhaḥ keśeṣu saṁgṛhya virathopi mahārathaḥ | rathinaṁ rathamāplutya nijaghāna balādbalī |

One great charioteer, though his own chariot was destroyed, seized another charioteer by the hair in fury, leapt upon his chariot, and by sheer force slew him.

Verse 27 (skanda.8.79.27)

तत्र चान्यो गजे चाशु अभिहत्य महाभुजः । रथं चिक्षेप च वृतैः कुशमुष्टिमिवाध्वरे ।

tatra cānyo gaje cāśu abhihatya mahābhujaḥ | rathaṁ cikṣepa ca vṛtaiḥ kuśamuṣṭimivādhvare |

There another mighty-armed warrior, swiftly striking an elephant, flung its mounted rider from his chariot, as one throws away a handful of kusha grass at a sacrifice.

Verse 28 (skanda.8.79.28)

क्षिप्तो गजात् समुत्पत्य । शरैराशीविषाकारैरनयद्यमसादनम् ।

kṣipto gajāt samutpatya | śarairāśīviṣākārairanayadyamasādanam |

Thrown down from the elephant, leaping up... (part of this line is illegible in the source manuscript) ...with arrows shaped like venomous serpents, he was sent on to the abode of Yama.

Verse 29 (skanda.8.79.29)

हतमप्येष तुरगः सादिनं पतितं क्षितौ । उपास्ते पादतः सुप्तं गुरुं शिष्यो यथात्मवान् ।

hatamapyeṣa turagaḥ sādinaṁ patitaṁ kṣitau | upāste pādataḥ suptaṁ guruṁ śiṣyo yathātmavān |

Though its rider had fallen slain to the ground, that horse still stood watch at his feet, as a devoted disciple watches over his sleeping teacher.

Verse 30 (skanda.8.79.30)

ससूते निहते योधे रथमेते हयोत्तमाः । वहन्ति पुरुषाः क्षीवा ज्ञानवन्त इवागमान् ।

sasūte nihate yodhe rathamete hayottamāḥ | vahanti puruṣāḥ kṣīvā jñānavanta ivāgamān |

Even when the warrior, together with his charioteer, had been slain, those excellent horses went on drawing the chariot, like intoxicated men who nonetheless carry the scriptures they know by heart.

Verse 31 (skanda.8.79.31)

अयमन्यः सुबद्धोपि दैत्येन सुरपुंगवः । बाहुभ्यां वेष्टयित्वा तं प्रययौ देवतान्तिकम् ।

ayamanyaḥ subaddhopi daityena surapuṁgavaḥ | bāhubhyāṁ veṣṭayitvā taṁ prayayau devatāntikam |

Here another foremost of the gods, though tightly bound by a Daitya, was wrapped in his two arms as that Daitya advanced toward the ranks of the gods, bearing him off.

Verse 32 (skanda.8.79.32)

अयमाधावतः पश्य गजस्य भुजमाच्छिनत् । स तेनैव गजेनोर्व्यां पपात विनिषूदितः ।

ayamādhāvataḥ paśya gajasya bhujamācchinat | sa tenaiva gajenorvyāṁ papāta viniṣūditaḥ |

Behold, here one severed the trunk of a charging elephant; yet by that very elephant he himself was struck down and fell dead to the ground.

Verse 33 (skanda.8.79.33)

अयमन्येन संयुक्त अन्येनागत्य घातितः । स चाप्यन्येन देवेन सोप्यन्येन पुनर्हतः ।

ayamanyena saṁyukta anyenāgatya ghātitaḥ | sa cāpyanyena devena sopyanyena punarhataḥ |

Here one, locked in combat with another, was struck down by yet another who came upon him; and that one too was slain by another god, and he again by still another.

Verse 34 (skanda.8.79.34)

एते पदातयश्चान्ये बहवः संहता भृशम् । रथिनं मोहयित्वा तु जघ्नुरेनमभीतवत् ।

ete padātayaścānye bahavaḥ saṁhatā bhṛśam | rathinaṁ mohayitvā tu jaghnurenamabhītavat |

These and many other foot-soldiers, banding tightly together, would bewilder a single charioteer and slay him without fear.

Verse 35 (skanda.8.79.35)

एवमाकाशगाः सिद्धा ऋषयश्चारणास्तथा । श्लाघन्ति रमन्ते च स्मयन्ति च जपन्ति च ।

evamākāśagāḥ siddhā ṛṣayaścāraṇāstathā | ślāghanti ramante ca smayanti ca japanti ca |

Thus the Siddhas, sages, and Charanas moving through the sky praised the combat, took delight in it, smiled, and murmured their prayers.

Verse 36 (skanda.8.79.36)

हरन्त्यप्सरसश्चैव योधाँस्तत्र रणे हतान् । पिशाचाश्चापि मोदन्ते नृत्यन्ति च निकुम्भिलाः ।

harantyapsarasaścaiva yodhā~statra raṇe hatān | piśācāścāpi modante nṛtyanti ca nikumbhilāḥ |

The Apsaras carried off the warriors slain there in battle; the Pishachas too rejoiced, and the Nikumbhilas danced.

Verse 37 (skanda.8.79.37)

तत् प्रवादितगान्धर्वं छिन्नभिन्नविदारितम् । युद्धगान्धर्वमभवद् भीरूणां भयवर्द्धनम् ।

tat pravāditagāndharvaṁ chinnabhinnavidāritam | yuddhagāndharvamabhavad bhīrūṇāṁ bhayavarddhanam |

That battle, sounding like a strange music of instruments cut and torn asunder, became a dreadful symphony of war, increasing the terror of the faint-hearted.

Verse 38 (skanda.8.79.38)

अन्योन्यघातक्षतसर्वदेहाः सुरासुरा वैरमनुस्मरन्तः । जघ्नुस्तदा राक्षसतुल्यरूपाः स्वाराज्यहेतोर्जयमीप्समानाः ।

anyonyaghātakṣatasarvadehāḥ surāsurā vairamanusmarantaḥ | jaghnustadā rākṣasatulyarūpāḥ svārājyahetorjayamīpsamānāḥ |

Their whole bodies wounded by blows dealt to one another, remembering their ancient enmity, the gods and Asuras, now looking like Rakshasas, struck one another down, each desiring victory for the sake of his own sovereignty.