The Battle Continues

Verse 1 (skanda.8.81.1)

सनत्कुमार उवाच । हिरण्याक्षस्तदायान्तं दृष्ट्वा देवेन्द्रमग्रतः । उवाच रथयन्तारमिन्द्रं प्रति नयस्व माम् ।

sanatkumāra uvāca | hiraṇyākṣastadāyāntaṁ dṛṣṭvā devendramagrataḥ | uvāca rathayantāramindraṁ prati nayasva mām |

Sanatkumara said: Then Hiranyaksha, seeing Indra, lord of the gods, advancing before him, said to his charioteer, "Drive me toward Indra."

Verse 2 (skanda.8.81.2)

स तेन चोदितस्तस्य चोदयानस्तदा हयान् । अनयत्तं सुरेन्द्राय हुतं भागं यथानलः ।

sa tena coditastasya codayānastadā hayān | anayattaṁ surendrāya hutaṁ bhāgaṁ yathānalaḥ |

Urged on by him, the charioteer then drove the horses and brought him to the lord of the gods, as fire carries an offered oblation.

Verse 3 (skanda.8.81.3)

स गजस्कन्धगं देवं सहस्राक्षं सुरेश्वरम् । शरपाते तदा स्थित्वा प्रोवाचासुरपुंगवः ।

sa gajaskandhagaṁ devaṁ sahasrākṣaṁ sureśvaram | śarapāte tadā sthitvā provācāsurapuṁgavaḥ |

Standing then within bowshot of that thousand-eyed lord of the gods, mounted upon the shoulders of his elephant, that foremost of Asuras spoke:

Verse 4 (skanda.8.81.4)

शक्र यत्ते बलं किञ्चित् तद्विदर्शय मा चिरम् । पूर्वदेवा वयं चैव त्रैलोक्यं चाखिलं हि नः ।

śakra yatte balaṁ kiñcit tadvidarśaya mā ciram | pūrvadevā vayaṁ caiva trailokyaṁ cākhilaṁ hi naḥ |

"O Indra, whatever strength you have, show it now without delay. We are the primordial gods, and the whole triple world is rightfully ours,"

Verse 5 (skanda.8.81.5)

ज्येष्ठक्रमागतं कृत्वा न्यायेन च सुरोत्तम । ते यूयं न्यायमुत्सृज्य हत्वा मे भ्रातरं पुनः ।

jyeṣṭhakramāgataṁ kṛtvā nyāyena ca surottama | te yūyaṁ nyāyamutsṛjya hatvā me bhrātaraṁ punaḥ |

"won by succession from our elders and by rightful justice, O foremost of gods; yet you, abandoning justice, having once more slain my brother,"

Verse 6 (skanda.8.81.6)

विश्रम्भेण शठा भूत्वा पश्चाद् देवत्वमागताः । इमे वयं पूर्वदेवा न वा यूयञ्च देवताः ।

viśrambheṇa śaṭhā bhūtvā paścād devatvamāgatāḥ | ime vayaṁ pūrvadevā na vā yūyañca devatāḥ |

"acted treacherously through betrayed trust, and only afterward attained godhood. We are the true, primordial gods; you are not truly gods at all."

Verse 7 (skanda.8.81.7)

युध्यतां वोद्य सर्वेषां जीवितानि हराम्यहम् । सहानुगैस्त्वामिहाद्य हत्वा कृत्वा बलिं तथा ।

yudhyatāṁ vodya sarveṣāṁ jīvitāni harāmyaham | sahānugaistvāmihādya hatvā kṛtvā baliṁ tathā |

"Let all of you fight today - I shall take the lives of every one of you; having slain you here today together with your followers, and having made of you an offering,"

Verse 8 (skanda.8.81.8)

भविष्याम्यनृणो भ्रातुर्यस्त्वया मायया हतः । स एवमुक्त्वा बलवद्धनुराकृष्य वीर्यवान् । ललाटे पञ्चभिर्व्यास विव्याध निशितैः शरैः ।

bhaviṣyāmyanṛṇo bhrāturyastvayā māyayā hataḥ | sa evamuktvā balavaddhanurākṛṣya vīryavān | lalāṭe pañcabhirvyāsa vivyādha niśitaiḥ śaraiḥ |

"I shall become free of the debt owed to my brother, who was slain by you through deceit." Having said this, that mighty and valorous one, drawing his powerful bow, pierced Indra's forehead, O Vyasa, with five sharp arrows.

Verse 9 (skanda.8.81.9)

स विद्धस्तेन देवानां ललाटे पञ्चभिः शरैः । राजा बभौ यथा मेरुः सूर्यपादैः समावृतः ।

sa viddhastena devānāṁ lalāṭe pañcabhiḥ śaraiḥ | rājā babhau yathā meruḥ sūryapādaiḥ samāvṛtaḥ |

Pierced by him with five arrows in the forehead, the king of the gods shone like Mount Meru encircled by the rays of the sun.

Verse 10 (skanda.8.81.10)

अथ तस्य तदा शक्रः पुनश्चङ्क्रमतो धनुः । चिच्छेद वज्रमादाय पुनश्चैनमताडयत् ।

atha tasya tadā śakraḥ punaścaṅkramato dhanuḥ | ciccheda vajramādāya punaścainamatāḍayat |

Then Indra, taking up his thunderbolt, severed the bow of that Asura as he drew it once more, and struck him again.

Verse 11 (skanda.8.81.11)

स तेन सुप्रहारेण दिशो दीप्ता ह्यपश्यतः । अन्यच्च धनुरादाय पुनरेव व्यकर्षत ।

sa tena suprahāreṇa diśo dīptā hyapaśyataḥ | anyacca dhanurādāya punareva vyakarṣata |

Struck by that fierce blow, unable to see the blazing directions, he took up another bow and drew it once again.

Verse 12 (skanda.8.81.12)

तदप्यस्याच्छिनद्राजा तथान्यद् भूय एव च । अथ शक्तिं समादाय चिक्षेप रुषितस्तदा ।

tadapyasyācchinadrājā tathānyad bhūya eva ca | atha śaktiṁ samādāya cikṣepa ruṣitastadā |

That bow too the king severed, and then yet another. Then, enraged, Hiranyaksha took up a spear and hurled it.

Verse 13 (skanda.8.81.13)

तामापतन्तीं दीप्तास्यामुग्रां मृत्योरिव स्वसाम् । वज्रेण राजा चिच्छेद तदद्भुतमिवाभवत् ।

tāmāpatantīṁ dīptāsyāmugrāṁ mṛtyoriva svasām | vajreṇa rājā ciccheda tadadbhutamivābhavat |

As it came hurtling with a blazing point, fierce as Death's own sister, the king severed it with his thunderbolt - it seemed a wondrous thing.

Verse 14 (skanda.8.81.14)

गदामन्यां समुद्यम्य हिरण्याक्षस्तदा शुभाम् । अभिदुद्राव वेगेन क्रुद्धः सिंह इव द्विपम् ।

gadāmanyāṁ samudyamya hiraṇyākṣastadā śubhām | abhidudrāva vegena kruddhaḥ siṁha iva dvipam |

Then Hiranyaksha, taking up another splendid mace, charged with great speed, like an enraged lion charging at an elephant.

Verse 15 (skanda.8.81.15)

तस्यापतत एवाशु गदां हेमपरिष्कृताम् । चिच्छेद बहुधा राजा धर्मार्थाविव नास्तिकः ।

tasyāpatata evāśu gadāṁ hemapariṣkṛtām | ciccheda bahudhā rājā dharmārthāviva nāstikaḥ |

As he charged, the king severed that gold-adorned mace into many pieces, as an unbeliever severs the bond between righteousness and wealth.

Verse 16 (skanda.8.81.16)

अथैनं विप्रचित्तिश्च शिनिर्बाष्कलिरेव च । मयश्च सम्बरश्चैव असिलोमा च दानवः ।

athainaṁ vipracittiśca śinirbāṣkalireva ca | mayaśca sambaraścaiva asilomā ca dānavaḥ |

Then Vipracitti, Shini, and Vashkali, Maya, Sambara, and the Danava Asiloma,

Verse 17 (skanda.8.81.17)

तारश्च कारकश्चैव तथेन्द्रदमनः स च । कालनेमिश्च षण्डश्च विपाकः पाक एव च ।

tāraśca kārakaścaiva tathendradamanaḥ sa ca | kālanemiśca ṣaṇḍaśca vipākaḥ pāka eva ca |

Tara and Karaka, and Indradamana too, Kalanemi and Shanda, and Vipaka and Paka,

Verse 18 (skanda.8.81.18)

इल्वलो नमुचिश्चैव वातापी कालमुंजिकः । एते सर्वे महामाया देवेन्द्रमभिदुद्रुवुः ।

ilvalo namuciścaiva vātāpī kālamuṁjikaḥ | ete sarve mahāmāyā devendramabhidudruvuḥ |

Ilvala, Namuchi, Vatapi, and Kalamunjika - all these, mighty in illusion, rushed at the lord of the gods together.

Verse 19 (skanda.8.81.19)

तानापतत एवाथ रुद्रादित्याः प्रमन्यवः । रुरुधुर्विजने यद्वद् गजान् सिंहाः समूर्जिताः ।

tānāpatata evātha rudrādityāḥ pramanyavaḥ | rurudhurvijane yadvad gajān siṁhāḥ samūrjitāḥ |

As they charged, the wrathful Rudras and Adityas held them back in the open field, as powerful lions hold back elephants.

Verse 20 (skanda.8.81.20)

तेषां तेषां च संग्रामः सुघोरः समपद्यत । अरण्येन्योन्यसंपातान्मत्तानां दन्तिनामिव ।

teṣāṁ teṣāṁ ca saṁgrāmaḥ sughoraḥ samapadyata | araṇyenyonyasaṁpātānmattānāṁ dantināmiva |

A most terrible battle broke out between them and their opponents, like the mutual clash of rutting elephants in a forest.

Verse 21 (skanda.8.81.21)

तत्रांशो नाम आदित्यो रथेनाम्बुदनादिना । आयम्य कार्मुकं व्यास दानवान् समुपाद्रवत् ।

tatrāṁśo nāma ādityo rathenāmbudanādinā | āyamya kārmukaṁ vyāsa dānavān samupādravat |

There the Aditya named Amsha, in a chariot thundering like a cloud, drawing his bow, O Vyasa, charged at the Danavas.

Verse 22 (skanda.8.81.22)

स विप्रचित्तिं दशभिः शिनिं पञ्चभिरेव च । त्रिभिश्च वाष्कलिं संख्ये मयं पञ्चभिरेव च ।

sa vipracittiṁ daśabhiḥ śiniṁ pañcabhireva ca | tribhiśca vāṣkaliṁ saṁkhye mayaṁ pañcabhireva ca |

In that battle he pierced Vipracitti with ten arrows, Shini with five, Vashkali with three, and Maya likewise with five,

Verse 23 (skanda.8.81.23)

संवरं चैव विंशत्या असिलोमानमेव च । तारं च तारकं चैव इल्वलं नमुचिं तथा ।

saṁvaraṁ caiva viṁśatyā asilomānameva ca | tāraṁ ca tārakaṁ caiva ilvalaṁ namuciṁ tathā |

Sambara with twenty arrows, and Asiloma too, and Tara and Taraka, Ilvala and Namuchi as well,

Verse 24 (skanda.8.81.24)

वातापिं चेन्द्रदमनं विपाकं पाकमेव च । कालनेमिं च षण्डं च तथा चामीसृमुञ्जिकम् ।

vātāpiṁ cendradamanaṁ vipākaṁ pākameva ca | kālanemiṁ ca ṣaṇḍaṁ ca tathā cāmīsṛmuñjikam |

Vatapi, and Indradamana, Vipaka and Paka, Kalanemi and Shanda, and Amisrimunjika as well -

Verse 25 (skanda.8.81.25)

एतान्सर्वान् स विव्याध दशभिर्दशभिः शरैः । विकर्षतां च संग्रामे आदित्यो लघुहस्तवान् । धनूंषि युगपद्देवश्चिच्छेद च ननाद च ।

etānsarvān sa vivyādha daśabhirdaśabhiḥ śaraiḥ | vikarṣatāṁ ca saṁgrāme ādityo laghuhastavān | dhanūṁṣi yugapaddevaściccheda ca nanāda ca |

all these he pierced with ten arrows each; and as they drew their bows in that battle, the swift-handed Aditya severed all their bows at once, and roared.

Verse 26 (skanda.8.81.26)

तत एषां पुनर्वाहान् सूतान् दिव्यान् जयध्वजान् । प्रहसन्निव विप्रेन्द्र सायकैर्बहुधाकरोत् ।

tata eṣāṁ punarvāhān sūtān divyān jayadhvajān | prahasanniva viprendra sāyakairbahudhākarot |

Then, all but laughing, O foremost of sages, with his shafts he cut to pieces their mounts, their charioteers, and their divine banners of victory.

Verse 27 (skanda.8.81.27)

ते हताश्वा महेष्वासा हतसूताश्च सर्वशः । वेगेन खङ्गिनः सर्वे अंशमेवाभिदुद्रुवुः ।

te hatāśvā maheṣvāsā hatasūtāśca sarvaśaḥ | vegena khaṅginaḥ sarve aṁśamevābhidudruvuḥ |

All those great archers, their horses slain and their charioteers slain everywhere, rushed swiftly, swords in hand, upon Amsha alone.

Verse 28 (skanda.8.81.28)

तान्मूर्त्तीनिव शैलेन्द्रान् गर्जतो जलदानिव । असंभ्रान्तस्तदादित्यो जानुष्वेवावपूरयत् ।

tānmūrttīniva śailendrān garjato jaladāniva | asaṁbhrāntastadādityo jānuṣvevāvapūrayat |

Undismayed, that Aditya buried those figures, like embodied mountain-lords, roaring like storm-clouds, up to their knees in arrows.

Verse 29 (skanda.8.81.29)

शरपूरितगुल्फास्ते जानुष्वेव च दानवाः । अंशमुत्सृज्य वेगेन जग्मुरन्यां दिशं तदा ।

śarapūritagulphāste jānuṣveva ca dānavāḥ | aṁśamutsṛjya vegena jagmuranyāṁ diśaṁ tadā |

Those Danavas, their ankles and knees buried in arrows, then abandoned their assault on Amsha and fled swiftly toward another direction.

Verse 30 (skanda.8.81.30)

ततो देवास्तदा चक्रुर्महान्तं तूर्यनिस्वनम् । सिंहनादाश्च विपुलान् बाहुशब्दाँश्च पुष्कलान् ।

tato devāstadā cakrurmahāntaṁ tūryanisvanam | siṁhanādāśca vipulān bāhuśabdā~śca puṣkalān |

Then the gods raised a mighty blare of trumpets, loud lion-roars, and abundant claps of their arms.

Verse 31 (skanda.8.81.31)

अंशोप्यायम्य भगवान् धनुरिन्द्रायुधोपमम् । दानवानां सदैत्यानामकरोत् कदनं महत् ।

aṁśopyāyamya bhagavān dhanurindrāyudhopamam | dānavānāṁ sadaityānāmakarot kadanaṁ mahat |

The blessed Amsha too, drawing his bow, resembling Indra's own weapon, wrought great slaughter among the Danavas and their Daitya allies.

Verse 32 (skanda.8.81.32)

शिरांसि दानवेन्द्राणामंशः प्रहरतां वरः । अपातयत् फलानीव पक्वानि श्वसनो यथा ।

śirāṁsi dānavendrāṇāmaṁśaḥ praharatāṁ varaḥ | apātayat phalānīva pakvāni śvasano yathā |

Amsha, foremost of strikers, felled the heads of the lords of the Danavas, as the wind fells ripened fruit.

Verse 33 (skanda.8.81.33)

धावन्ति केचिदंशेन अशिरस्काः शरैः कृताः । गत्वा वेगेन संग्रामात् पतन्त्यूर्व्यां गतासवः ।

dhāvanti kecidaṁśena aśiraskāḥ śaraiḥ kṛtāḥ | gatvā vegena saṁgrāmāt patantyūrvyāṁ gatāsavaḥ |

Some, made headless by Amsha's arrows, ran on for a while; going swiftly from the battle, they then fell lifeless to the ground.

Verse 34 (skanda.8.81.34)

अपरे बाहुभिश्छिन्नैरूरुभिश्च महाबलाः । पतिता निष्टनन्त्युग्रं निरयस्था यथा नराः ।

apare bāhubhiśchinnairūrubhiśca mahābalāḥ | patitā niṣṭanantyugraṁ nirayasthā yathā narāḥ |

Other mighty ones, their arms and thighs cut away, fell down and howled terribly, like men suffering in hell.

Verse 35 (skanda.8.81.35)

शरपूरितसर्वाङ्गाः शरसंबद्धबन्धनाः । भ्रमन्ति तत्र तत्रैव संसार इव देहिनः ।

śarapūritasarvāṅgāḥ śarasaṁbaddhabandhanāḥ | bhramanti tatra tatraiva saṁsāra iva dehinaḥ |

Their whole bodies filled with arrows, bound fast as if in fetters of shafts, they wandered here and there, like embodied souls caught in the cycle of rebirth.

Verse 36 (skanda.8.81.36)

न स तत्रास्ति दैत्यो वा दानवो वा महाबलः । यं शरा न विशन्त्युग्रा अंशस्य सुमहात्मनः ।

na sa tatrāsti daityo vā dānavo vā mahābalaḥ | yaṁ śarā na viśantyugrā aṁśasya sumahātmanaḥ |

There was no Daitya or Danava there, however mighty, whom the fierce arrows of that great-souled Amsha did not pierce.

Verse 37 (skanda.8.81.37)

बन्धुजीववनं यद्वद् वनमाभाति पुष्पितम् । अशोककिंशुकानां वा तथा दैत्यबलं बभौ ।

bandhujīvavanaṁ yadvad vanamābhāti puṣpitam | aśokakiṁśukānāṁ vā tathā daityabalaṁ babhau |

As a grove of bandhujiva trees, or of ashoka and kimshuka trees, shines forth in blossom, so did the blood-red army of the Daityas shine.

Verse 38 (skanda.8.81.38)

अयमंशोयमंशेति नेत्ययं चायमित्युत । सर्वमंशमयं दैत्या ह्यपश्यन्त भयार्दिताः ।

ayamaṁśoyamaṁśeti netyayaṁ cāyamityuta | sarvamaṁśamayaṁ daityā hyapaśyanta bhayārditāḥ |

"This is Amsha, that is Amsha" - "No, this one, and that one too" - the Daityas, tormented by fear, saw everything as filled with Amsha alone.

Verse 39 (skanda.8.81.39)

सोपि नित्यायतधनुः परिवेषीव भास्करः । यं यतः पश्यते दैत्यं तं तं विव्याध पत्रिभिः ।

sopi nityāyatadhanuḥ pariveṣīva bhāskaraḥ | yaṁ yataḥ paśyate daityaṁ taṁ taṁ vivyādha patribhiḥ |

He too, his bow ever drawn, like the sun ringed with a halo, struck down whatever Daitya he saw, wherever he saw him, with his feathered shafts.

Verse 40 (skanda.8.81.40)

नाददानस्तदा ह्यंशः सन्दधानस्तथापि वा । न विकर्षन्धनुश्चैव लक्ष्यते दैत्यदानवैः ।

nādadānastadā hyaṁśaḥ sandadhānastathāpi vā | na vikarṣandhanuścaiva lakṣyate daityadānavaiḥ |

Whether Amsha was taking up an arrow, or fitting it to the string, or even drawing his bow - none of this could be seen by the Daityas and Danavas.

Verse 41 (skanda.8.81.41)

मण्डलीकृतमेवास्य दृश्यन्ते कार्मुकं महत् । आदित्य इव मध्याह्ने दृश्यते स तदा युधि ।

maṇḍalīkṛtamevāsya dṛśyante kārmukaṁ mahat | āditya iva madhyāhne dṛśyate sa tadā yudhi |

Only his great bow, bent into a circle, was visible; so did he appear then in battle, like the sun seen at noon.

Verse 42 (skanda.8.81.42)

स दिव्यचापो लघुहस्तवान् बली सदा महामण्डलभूतकार्मुकः । ददाह शत्रून् पवनेरितो रणे विभावसुः शुष्कमिवेन्धनं महद् ।

sa divyacāpo laghuhastavān balī sadā mahāmaṇḍalabhūtakārmukaḥ | dadāha śatrūn pavanerito raṇe vibhāvasuḥ śuṣkamivendhanaṁ mahad |

That swift-handed, ever-mighty one, wielding a divine bow forever bent into a great circle, burned up his enemies in battle, as a great fire, fanned by the wind, consumes a mighty heap of dry fuel.