The Battle Rejoined

Verse 1 (skanda.8.83.1)

सनत्कुमार उवाच । अथ ते दानवा व्यास निवृत्ता रणमूर्धनि । दुष्करं तं तदा चक्रुर्वेगं नद्य इवार्णवे ।

sanatkumāra uvāca | atha te dānavā vyāsa nivṛttā raṇamūrdhani | duṣkaraṁ taṁ tadā cakrurvegaṁ nadya ivārṇave |

Sanatkumara said: Then those Danavas, O Vyasa, having turned back to the forefront of the battle, made that formidable charge, like rivers rushing with force toward the ocean.

Verse 2 (skanda.8.83.2)

प्रह्रादश्चानुह्रादश्च शिनिर्बाष्कल एव च । विरोचनो बलिर्बाणो बलोन्यो देवकण्टकः ।

prahrādaścānuhrādaśca śinirbāṣkala eva ca | virocano balirbāṇo balonyo devakaṇṭakaḥ |

Prahrada and Anuhrada, Shini and Vashkala, Virochana, Bali, Bana, and another Bala, a thorn to the gods,

Verse 3 (skanda.8.83.3)

विप्रचित्तिश्च षण्डश्च ह्रदश्च स शतोदरः । यमोसुरश्च व्यंसश्च शतावर्त्तो हुतोदरः ।

vipracittiśca ṣaṇḍaśca hradaśca sa śatodaraḥ | yamosuraśca vyaṁsaśca śatāvartto hutodaraḥ |

Vipracitti, Shanda, Hrada and Shatodara, the Asura named Yama, Vyansa, Shatavarta, and Hutodara,

Verse 4 (skanda.8.83.4)

केशी च नमुचिश्चैव तथेन्द्रदमनोसुरः । मयो मुरस्तारकाक्षो विद्युन्माली प्रभाकरः ।

keśī ca namuciścaiva tathendradamanosuraḥ | mayo murastārakākṣo vidyunmālī prabhākaraḥ |

Keshi and Namuchi, and the Asura Indradamana, Maya, Mura, Tarakaksha, Vidyunmali, and Prabhakara,

Verse 5 (skanda.8.83.5)

तारश्च तारकश्चैव बकश्चाटिश्च विश्रुतः । मूकश्चैव कुभश्चैव कार्तस्वनमहारवौ ।

tāraśca tārakaścaiva bakaścāṭiśca viśrutaḥ | mūkaścaiva kubhaścaiva kārtasvanamahāravau |

Tara and Taraka, Baka and the renowned Ati, Muka and Kubha, and Kartasvana and Maharava,

Verse 6 (skanda.8.83.6)

वातापी चेल्वलश्चैव तथैवेल्वकबल्वलौ । केतुश्च शतकेतुश्च राहुः स्वर्भानुरेव च ।

vātāpī celvalaścaiva tathaivelvakabalvalau | ketuśca śataketuśca rāhuḥ svarbhānureva ca |

Vatapi and Ilvala, and likewise Ilvaka and Balvala, Ketu and Shataketu, and Rahu and Svarbhanu,

Verse 7 (skanda.8.83.7)

शम्बरो नमुचिश्चैव कालशम्बर एव च । दुन्दुभिर्महिषश्चैव शतदुन्दुभिरेव च ।

śambaro namuciścaiva kālaśambara eva ca | dundubhirmahiṣaścaiva śatadundubhireva ca |

Shambara and Namuchi, and Kalashambara too, Dundubhi and Mahisha, and Shatadundubhi as well,

Verse 8 (skanda.8.83.8)

कालनेमी विपाकश्च पाको दुर्योधनस्तथा । हस्ती सुन्दनिसुन्दौ च शरभः काल एव च ।

kālanemī vipākaśca pāko duryodhanastathā | hastī sundanisundau ca śarabhaḥ kāla eva ca |

Kalanemi and Vipaka, Paka and Duryodhana, Hasti, Sunda and Nisunda, and Sharabha and Kala,

Verse 9 (skanda.8.83.9)

वृषपर्वा शताक्रन्दः शतावर्त्तोथ धेनुकः । प्रलम्बश्च बकश्चैव गजो हालाहलस्तथा ।

vṛṣaparvā śatākrandaḥ śatāvarttotha dhenukaḥ | pralambaśca bakaścaiva gajo hālāhalastathā |

Vrishaparvan, Shatakrandha, Shatavarta, and Dhenuka, Pralamba and Baka, Gaja and Halahala,

Verse 10 (skanda.8.83.10)

सैंहिकेयाश्च विख्याताः पौलोमाः कालकासुताः । निवातकवचाश्चैव बालेयाश्च तथा गणाः ।

saiṁhikeyāśca vikhyātāḥ paulomāḥ kālakāsutāḥ | nivātakavacāścaiva bāleyāśca tathā gaṇāḥ |

the renowned sons of Simhika, the Paulomas, the sons of Kalaka, the Nivatakavachas, and the hosts of Bala's sons,

Verse 11 (skanda.8.83.11)

बाणस्य च सुताः सर्वे कालखंजाश्च विश्रुताः । वृत्रो वृत्तश्च सगणस्तथान्ये सुमहाबलाः ।

bāṇasya ca sutāḥ sarve kālakhaṁjāśca viśrutāḥ | vṛtro vṛttaśca sagaṇastathānye sumahābalāḥ |

all the sons of Bana, and the renowned Kalakhanjas, Vritra and Vritta together with their host, and other exceedingly mighty ones -

Verse 12 (skanda.8.83.12)

तस्य सैन्यस्य विप्रेन्द्र नर्दतः संबभौ तदा । वेगः स सिन्धुराजस्य वेलां प्रति यथा महान् ।

tasya sainyasya viprendra nardataḥ saṁbabhau tadā | vegaḥ sa sindhurājasya velāṁ prati yathā mahān |

As that army roared, O foremost of sages, its force appeared then like the great surge of the lord of the ocean rushing toward the shore.

Verse 13 (skanda.8.83.13)

वादित्ररवसंमिश्रैः सिंहनादैः सुपुष्कलैः । रथनेमिहयानां च गजानां बृंहितैः सह ।

vāditraravasaṁmiśraiḥ siṁhanādaiḥ supuṣkalaiḥ | rathanemihayānāṁ ca gajānāṁ bṛṁhitaiḥ saha |

With lion-roars, abundant and mingled with the sound of instruments, together with the rumble of chariot-rims and horses and the trumpeting of elephants,

Verse 14 (skanda.8.83.14)

स शब्दस्तुमुलो व्यास त्रैलोक्यमवपूरयत् । देवाह्यपि सुसंयत्ताः सर्वोद्योगेन संस्थिताः ।

sa śabdastumulo vyāsa trailokyamavapūrayat | devāhyapi susaṁyattāḥ sarvodyogena saṁsthitāḥ |

that tumultuous sound, O Vyasa, filled the triple world. The gods too, well prepared, stood ready with every effort.

Verse 15 (skanda.8.83.15)

प्रत्यगृह्णन्त तान् दैत्यान् क्रोधताम्रायतेक्षणाः ।

pratyagṛhṇanta tān daityān krodhatāmrāyatekṣaṇāḥ |

Their eyes red and wide with fury, they met those Daityas in return... (the remainder of this verse is wholly lost in the source manuscript).

Verse 16 (skanda.8.83.16)

असिभिः पात्यमानैश्च शतघ्नीभिश्च सर्वतः । उल्काभिरिव तद् व्योम चिचित्रमभवत्तदा ।

asibhiḥ pātyamānaiśca śataghnībhiśca sarvataḥ | ulkābhiriva tad vyoma cicitramabhavattadā |

With swords falling and shataghni-missiles flying on every side, that sky became then as strange and varied as if strewn with meteors.

Verse 17 (skanda.8.83.17)

शरासिभिन्नकृत्तानि पतन्त्युर्व्यां शिरांसि हि । तालेभ्य इव पक्वानि फलानि मुनिसत्तम ।

śarāsibhinnakṛttāni patantyurvyāṁ śirāṁsi hi | tālebhya iva pakvāni phalāni munisattama |

Heads, severed and cut by arrows and swords, fell to the ground, O foremost of sages, like ripe fruit falling from palm trees.

Verse 18 (skanda.8.83.18)

मुकुटैर्हारकेयूरैः श्रोणीसूत्रैश्च सप्रभैः । निष्कैर्दुकूलैः कटकैरंगुलीयैः सकुण्डलैः ।

mukuṭairhārakeyūraiḥ śroṇīsūtraiśca saprabhaiḥ | niṣkairdukūlaiḥ kaṭakairaṁgulīyaiḥ sakuṇḍalaiḥ |

With crowns, necklaces, and armlets, with radiant girdle-strings, with gold ornaments, silks, bangles, rings, and earrings,

Verse 19 (skanda.8.83.19)

उरच्छदैः कङ्कतीभिः करपालैश्च दन्तिनाम् । व्यजनैर्बालवृन्तैश्च छत्रैर्मणिभिरेव च ।

uracchadaiḥ kaṅkatībhiḥ karapālaiśca dantinām | vyajanairbālavṛntaiśca chatrairmaṇibhireva ca |

with breast-plates, combs, and the severed trunk-pieces of elephants, with fans, yak-tail whisks, parasols, and gems,

Verse 20 (skanda.8.83.20)

पट्टैश्च काञ्चनैर्दिव्यैः कवचैश्च महाप्रभैः । शिरोभिश्चरणैश्चैव करैर्वक्त्रैर्महाप्रभैः ।

paṭṭaiśca kāñcanairdivyaiḥ kavacaiśca mahāprabhaiḥ | śirobhiścaraṇaiścaiva karairvaktrairmahāprabhaiḥ |

with divine golden bands, and armor of great splendor, with heads and feet, and hands and faces of great radiance,

Verse 21 (skanda.8.83.21)

प्रतोदैश्च कुथाभिश्च योक्त्रैश्च कनकोज्ज्वलैः । तत्र युद्धनिशा भाति ताराभिर्द्यौरिवापरा ।

pratodaiśca kuthābhiśca yoktraiśca kanakojjvalaiḥ | tatra yuddhaniśā bhāti tārābhirdyaurivāparā |

with goads, saddle-cloths, and gleaming golden harness-straps - the night of that battle shone there like another sky studded with stars.

Verse 22 (skanda.8.83.22)

तिष्ठ तिष्ठ क्व मे यासि नास्ति मोक्षस्तवाद्य वै । स्थितोहं प्रहरस्वेति न मे भीस्तिष्ठ मेग्रतः ।

tiṣṭha tiṣṭha kva me yāsi nāsti mokṣastavādya vai | sthitohaṁ praharasveti na me bhīstiṣṭha megrataḥ |

"Stand, stand! Where are you going from me? There is no escape for you today. I stand here - strike me! I have no fear - stand before me!"

Verse 23 (skanda.8.83.23)

किं गर्जसि वृथा व्योम्नि शरदीव बलाहकाः । कर्मणा दर्शय क्षिप्रं गर्जितं तेद्य निष्फलम् ।

kiṁ garjasi vṛthā vyomni śaradīva balāhakāḥ | karmaṇā darśaya kṣipraṁ garjitaṁ tedya niṣphalam |

"Why do you roar in vain in the sky, like autumn storm-clouds that give no rain? Show it swiftly through deed - today your roaring is fruitless."

Verse 24 (skanda.8.83.24)

नैवं प्रह्रियते मूढ मा वीक्षस्व दृढो भव । तिष्ठ तिष्ठ क्व गन्तासि मम हत्वा प्रियं सुतम् ।

naivaṁ prahriyate mūḍha mā vīkṣasva dṛḍho bhava | tiṣṭha tiṣṭha kva gantāsi mama hatvā priyaṁ sutam |

"One does not strike thus, O fool! Do not look away - be firm! Stand, stand! Where will you go, having slain my beloved son?"

Verse 25 (skanda.8.83.25)

स्थितोस्म्येष नयिष्यामि त्वामद्य यमसादनम् । अद्य ते रतां सर्वां देवाधम सुदुस्सहाम् ।

sthitosmyeṣa nayiṣyāmi tvāmadya yamasādanam | adya te ratāṁ sarvāṁ devādhama sudussahām |

"I stand here; I shall this day send you to the abode of Yama. Today, O vilest of gods, I shall give you a wholly unbearable..." (one word at this point in the verse is illegible in the source manuscript).

Verse 26 (skanda.8.83.26)

नाशयिष्यन्ति मद्बाणास्तिष्ठ तिष्ठ ममाग्रतः । दानवाधम देवोस्मि नास्मि भीतोहमाहवे ।

nāśayiṣyanti madbāṇāstiṣṭha tiṣṭha mamāgrataḥ | dānavādhama devosmi nāsmi bhītohamāhave |

"My arrows shall destroy you - stand, stand before me! O vilest of Danavas, I am a god; I am not afraid in battle."

Verse 27 (skanda.8.83.27)

एवं वदन्तो युयुधुर्यथा मत्ता महागजाः । परस्परवधासक्ता योधास्तत्र सहस्रशः ।

evaṁ vadanto yuyudhuryathā mattā mahāgajāḥ | parasparavadhāsaktā yodhāstatra sahasraśaḥ |

Speaking thus, those thousands of warriors, intent on slaying one another, fought on like rutting elephants.

Verse 28 (skanda.8.83.28)

अन्योन्यमेवमाभाष्य प्रैषयन्यमसादनम् । सिद्धाश्च चारणाश्चैव व्योम्नि सर्वे व्यवस्थिताः ।

anyonyamevamābhāṣya praiṣayanyamasādanam | siddhāśca cāraṇāścaiva vyomni sarve vyavasthitāḥ |

Addressing one another thus, they sent each other to the abode of Yama; and all the Siddhas and Charanas, stationed in the sky,

Verse 29 (skanda.8.83.29)

साधयन्ति रमन्ते च नदन्ति च यथाम्बुदाः । ममायं दानवः संख्ये हतो भर्ता विनिर्मितः ।

sādhayanti ramante ca nadanti ca yathāmbudāḥ | mamāyaṁ dānavaḥ saṁkhye hato bhartā vinirmitaḥ |

cheered them on, delighted in it, and roared like clouds: "This Danava, slain in battle, has now been made my husband!"

Verse 30 (skanda.8.83.30)

अयं देवस्तव पतिर्मा पारक्ये मनः कृथाः । किमेवं लोभयुक्तासि श्रेष्ठं श्रेष्ठं परीक्षसे ।

ayaṁ devastava patirmā pārakye manaḥ kṛthāḥ | kimevaṁ lobhayuktāsi śreṣṭhaṁ śreṣṭhaṁ parīkṣase |

"This god is now your husband - do not set your heart on another!" "Why are you so covetous, forever examining only for the best?"

Verse 31 (skanda.8.83.31)

स्वयंग्राहो न चेहास्ति लेख्यं वाचय मा त्वर । असन्तुष्टं मनः किन्ते संतुष्टा भव सुन्दरि ।

svayaṁgrāho na cehāsti lekhyaṁ vācaya mā tvara | asantuṣṭaṁ manaḥ kinte saṁtuṣṭā bhava sundari |

"There is no free choosing here - read out the decree, do not hurry!" "Is your mind unsatisfied? Be content, O beautiful one -"

Verse 32 (skanda.8.83.32)

भागोयं ते सुरैर्दत्तस्तं गृहीत्वा व्रजालयम् । एवमप्सरसश्चात्र वदन्ति च हसन्ति च ।

bhāgoyaṁ te surairdattastaṁ gṛhītvā vrajālayam | evamapsarasaścātra vadanti ca hasanti ca |

"this share has been given to you by the gods - take him and go to your abode." Thus the Apsaras spoke there, and laughed,

Verse 33 (skanda.8.83.33)

समरे निहते योधे कुर्वन्ति कलहं तथा । मेखलावलयोन्मिश्रं तासां तत् कलभाषितम् ।

samare nihate yodhe kurvanti kalahaṁ tathā | mekhalāvalayonmiśraṁ tāsāṁ tat kalabhāṣitam |

quarreling among themselves whenever a warrior was slain in battle - their sweet chatter mingling with the jingling of their girdles and bangles.

Verse 34 (skanda.8.83.34)

श्रुत्वा श्रुत्वा च ते योधा युयुधुर्भयवर्जिताः । वल्गिता स्फोटितैश्चैव दिशः सर्वा व्यनादयन् ।

śrutvā śrutvā ca te yodhā yuyudhurbhayavarjitāḥ | valgitā sphoṭitaiścaiva diśaḥ sarvā vyanādayan |

Hearing this again and again, those warriors fought on, free of fear; with their leaping and the slapping of their arms, they made all the directions resound.

Verse 35 (skanda.8.83.35)

तत् तप्रवादितगजोपबृंहितवल्गिताकुपितसिंहनादितम् । देवदानवभयप्रवर्त्तनं जीवितान्तकरमाबभौ रणम् ।

tat tapravāditagajopabṛṁhitavalgitākupitasiṁhanāditam | devadānavabhayapravarttanaṁ jīvitāntakaramābabhau raṇam |

That battle, echoing with the blare of trumpets, the trumpeting of elephants, leaping about, and furious lion-roars, terrifying to gods and Danavas alike, appeared as very death, the ender of life.