The Battle-Sacrifice

Verse 1 (skanda.8.84.1)

सनत्कुमार उवाच । स युद्धयज्ञस्तत्राग्र्यो राज्यार्थमभवत्तदा । तत्र यज्वा स्वयं देवः सहस्राक्षः प्रतापवान् ।

sanatkumāra uvāca | sa yuddhayajñastatrāgryo rājyārthamabhavattadā | tatra yajvā svayaṁ devaḥ sahasrākṣaḥ pratāpavān |

Sanatkumara said: There, for the sake of the kingdom, that foremost battle-sacrifice then took place; in it, the mighty, thousand-eyed god himself was the sacrificer,

Verse 2 (skanda.8.84.2)

सह देवैः सुराध्यक्षः कुशास्तस्य शरा मताः । आयुधानि विचित्राणि स्रुवा यैर्हूयते हविः ।

saha devaiḥ surādhyakṣaḥ kuśāstasya śarā matāḥ | āyudhāni vicitrāṇi sruvā yairhūyate haviḥ |

together with the gods, that lord of the gods. His arrows were reckoned as the sacred kusha grass; his various weapons, the ladles by which the oblation is offered.

Verse 3 (skanda.8.84.3)

हविः प्राणाः समाख्याता अग्निर्मृत्युर्महाप्रभा । मन्त्राश्चास्त्राणि दिव्यानि पुरोडाशाः शिरांस्यपि ।

haviḥ prāṇāḥ samākhyātā agnirmṛtyurmahāprabhā | mantrāścāstrāṇi divyāni puroḍāśāḥ śirāṁsyapi |

The oblation was reckoned as the life-breaths; Death, of great splendor, was the fire; the divine weapons were the mantras, and the severed heads were the rice-cake offerings.

Verse 4 (skanda.8.84.4)

सोमस्तत्र जयोभून्नु रुद्राश्चाध्वर्यवोभवन् । आदित्या बह्वृचश्चासन् होत्रं च वसुभिः कृतम् ।

somastatra jayobhūnnu rudrāścādhvaryavobhavan | ādityā bahvṛcaścāsan hotraṁ ca vasubhiḥ kṛtam |

Victory there was the Soma; the Rudras became the officiating Adhvaryu priests; the Adityas were the Rig-verse reciters, and the office of Hotri was performed by the Vasus.

Verse 5 (skanda.8.84.5)

ब्रह्मा समभवच्चात्र स्वयं देवो बृहस्पतिः । शामित्रं चाश्विनौ तौ तु यज्ञ एवं व्यवर्त्तत ।

brahmā samabhavaccātra svayaṁ devo bṛhaspatiḥ | śāmitraṁ cāśvinau tau tu yajña evaṁ vyavarttata |

The god Brihaspati himself became the Brahma-priest there, and the two Ashvins performed the office of Shamitri, the pacifying priest; thus did that sacrifice proceed.

Verse 6 (skanda.8.84.6)

पशुस्तत्राभवद्दैत्यो हिरण्याक्षः सहानुगः । एवं बभौ तदा यज्ञो दैत्यानां शिशिराधिपः ।

paśustatrābhavaddaityo hiraṇyākṣaḥ sahānugaḥ | evaṁ babhau tadā yajño daityānāṁ śiśirādhipaḥ |

The sacrificial victim there was the Daitya Hiranyaksha, together with his followers. Thus did that sacrifice of the Daityas shine forth at that time.

Verse 7 (skanda.8.84.7)

हिरण्याक्षोभवद्यज्वा दैत्यदानवनायकः । विप्रचित्तिरभूद् होता प्रस्थातारश्च दानवाः ।

hiraṇyākṣobhavadyajvā daityadānavanāyakaḥ | vipracittirabhūd hotā prasthātāraśca dānavāḥ |

Hiranyaksha, leader of the Daityas and Danavas, became the patron of the sacrifice; Vipracitti became the Hotri priest, and the Danavas became the Prastotri officiants.

Verse 8 (skanda.8.84.8)

उद्गाता चैव प्रह्लादः शुक्रो ब्रह्मा च सुव्रतः । पशुरिन्द्रः सहस्राक्ष एवं सोयजदव्ययः ।

udgātā caiva prahlādaḥ śukro brahmā ca suvrataḥ | paśurindraḥ sahasrākṣa evaṁ soyajadavyayaḥ |

Prahrada became the Udgatri chanter, and the well-vowed Shukra the Brahma-priest; and thousand-eyed Indra was, for their side, the sacrificial victim - thus did that undying one perform his own sacrifice as well.

Verse 9 (skanda.8.84.9)

तस्मिँस्तदा महायज्ञे वर्तमाने महाभये । इन्द्रः समासदद्दैत्यं हिरण्याक्षं महाबलम् ।

tasmi~stadā mahāyajñe vartamāne mahābhaye | indraḥ samāsadaddaityaṁ hiraṇyākṣaṁ mahābalam |

While that great and terrifying sacrifice was thus underway, Indra engaged the mighty Daitya Hiranyaksha.

Verse 10 (skanda.8.84.10)

वायुरभ्याययौ तूर्णं विप्रचित्तिं महाबलः । सक्तोभूत् संवरेणांशो बलेन भग एव च ।

vāyurabhyāyayau tūrṇaṁ vipracittiṁ mahābalaḥ | saktobhūt saṁvareṇāṁśo balena bhaga eva ca |

The mighty Vayu swiftly came against Vipracitti; Amsha became engaged with Sambara, and Bhaga with Bala.

Verse 11 (skanda.8.84.11)

विरोचनेन पूषा च मित्रो बलिमथासजत् । बाणेन वरुणः सार्धमन्धकेन यमस्सह ।

virocanena pūṣā ca mitro balimathāsajat | bāṇena varuṇaḥ sārdhamandhakena yamassaha |

Pusha engaged with Virochana, and Mitra then with Bali; Varuna together with Bana, and Yama together with Andhaka,

Verse 12 (skanda.8.84.12)

जयन्तेनेल्वलः सार्धं मयेन सह चन्द्रमाः । अहिर्बुध्न्येन राहुश्च कापाली शतकेतुना ।

jayantenelvalaḥ sārdhaṁ mayena saha candramāḥ | ahirbudhnyena rāhuśca kāpālī śataketunā |

Ilvala with Jayanta, the moon with Maya, Rahu with Ahirbudhnya, and Kapali with Shataketu,

Verse 13 (skanda.8.84.13)

अजैकपात् कालनेमिं ज्वरः कार्तस्वनेन च । प्रह्लादेनार्यमा सार्धमनुह्लादेन वै धरः ।

ajaikapāt kālanemiṁ jvaraḥ kārtasvanena ca | prahlādenāryamā sārdhamanuhlādena vai dharaḥ |

Ajaikapat with Kalanemi, Jvara (Fever) with Kartasvana, Aryaman together with Prahlada, and Dhara indeed with Anuhlada,

Verse 14 (skanda.8.84.14)

ध्रुवो ह्रदेन संसक्तो ह्यन्ये चान्यैर्महाबलाः । हिरण्याक्षस्तदेन्द्रस्य दृढमायम्य कार्मुकम् ।

dhruvo hradena saṁsakto hyanye cānyairmahābalāḥ | hiraṇyākṣastadendrasya dṛḍhamāyamya kārmukam |

Dhruva was engaged with Hrada, and other mighty ones with others. Then Hiranyaksha, firmly drawing his bow against Indra,

Verse 15 (skanda.8.84.15)

विव्याध गजमेकेन कुम्भदेशे महाबलः । देवेन्द्रं पञ्चभिर्बाणैर्जत्रुदेशे समाहनत् । षड्भिर्ललाटे विव्याध गजं भूयश्च सप्तभिः ।

vivyādha gajamekena kumbhadeśe mahābalaḥ | devendraṁ pañcabhirbāṇairjatrudeśe samāhanat | ṣaḍbhirlalāṭe vivyādha gajaṁ bhūyaśca saptabhiḥ |

that mighty one struck the elephant with a single arrow in its temple, and struck Indra with five arrows about the collarbone; he then pierced the elephant with six arrows in the forehead, and again with seven.

Verse 16 (skanda.8.84.16)

स गजस्तैः शरैर्भिन्नः क्षरन् रुधिरमाबभौ । गैरिकाम्बुपरिस्रावी श्वेतः पर्वतराडिव ।

sa gajastaiḥ śarairbhinnaḥ kṣaran rudhiramābabhau | gairikāmbuparisrāvī śvetaḥ parvatarāḍiva |

That elephant, pierced by those arrows and streaming blood, shone like the white lord of mountains streaming with red, ochre-tinted waters.

Verse 17 (skanda.8.84.17)

तस्य क्रुद्धस्तदा शक्रो वज्रेण शतपर्वणा । प्रहारमददद् व्यास गण्डदेशे ननाद च ।

tasya kruddhastadā śakro vajreṇa śataparvaṇā | prahāramadadad vyāsa gaṇḍadeśe nanāda ca |

Then Indra, enraged, O Vyasa, dealt him a blow with his hundred-jointed thunderbolt upon the cheek, and roared.

Verse 18 (skanda.8.84.18)

स वज्रघातं दैत्येन्द्रः पुष्पघातमिवोर्जितम् । अचिन्तयानः सगजं शक्रमेवार्दयद्बली ।

sa vajraghātaṁ daityendraḥ puṣpaghātamivorjitam | acintayānaḥ sagajaṁ śakramevārdayadbalī |

That mighty lord of the Daityas, not troubled by that powerful thunderbolt-blow, as if it were merely a shower of flowers, went on afflicting Indra together with his elephant.

Verse 19 (skanda.8.84.19)

गजोपि तेन निर्भिन्नः क्षरद्रुधिर आबभौ । हविषेवानलः क्रोधात् प्रजज्वाल जगर्ज च ।

gajopi tena nirbhinnaḥ kṣaradrudhira ābabhau | haviṣevānalaḥ krodhāt prajajvāla jagarja ca |

The elephant too, pierced by him and streaming blood, blazed up in fury like fire fed with oblation, and it roared.

Verse 20 (skanda.8.84.20)

स वेगं महदास्थाय अंकुशेन च चोदितः । हिरण्याक्षरथं तूर्णं जग्राह रथकूबरे ।

sa vegaṁ mahadāsthāya aṁkuśena ca coditaḥ | hiraṇyākṣarathaṁ tūrṇaṁ jagrāha rathakūbare |

Urged on by the goad, mustering great speed, it swiftly seized the chariot-pole of Hiranyaksha's chariot.

Verse 21 (skanda.8.84.21)

गृहीत्वा स तमुत्क्षिप्य चिक्षेप गजसत्तमः । मेरुशृंगमिवोत्क्षिप्य समेघं श्वेतकुण्डली ।

gṛhītvā sa tamutkṣipya cikṣepa gajasattamaḥ | meruśṛṁgamivotkṣipya sameghaṁ śvetakuṇḍalī |

Seizing it, that foremost of elephants, its ear-ornaments white, lifted it up and hurled it away, as one might lift and hurl a cloud-wreathed peak of Mount Meru.

Verse 22 (skanda.8.84.22)

गत्वा मुहूर्त्तं वेगेन पतन् रथवरो बभौ । स्वर्भानुना हतः पूर्वं सरथो भास्करो यथा ।

gatvā muhūrttaṁ vegena patan rathavaro babhau | svarbhānunā hataḥ pūrvaṁ saratho bhāskaro yathā |

Flying for a moment with great speed and then falling, that splendid chariot appeared like the sun's own chariot when once struck down by Svarbhanu, the eclipse-demon.

Verse 23 (skanda.8.84.23)

तत्र सम्यक् स्थितं भूमौ हिरण्याक्षरथं पुनः । आजगाम गजस्तूर्णं जिघृक्षुर्मुनिसत्तम ।

tatra samyak sthitaṁ bhūmau hiraṇyākṣarathaṁ punaḥ | ājagāma gajastūrṇaṁ jighṛkṣurmunisattama |

O foremost of sages, as that chariot of Hiranyaksha lay resting squarely upon the ground, the elephant swiftly came again, wishing to seize it once more.

Verse 24 (skanda.8.84.24)

प्रसारितकरो दन्ती स्तब्धदृक्कर्णबालधिः । अभ्यधावत वेगेन गरुत्मानिव पन्नगम् ।

prasāritakaro dantī stabdhadṛkkarṇabāladhiḥ | abhyadhāvata vegena garutmāniva pannagam |

The tusker, its trunk outstretched, its eyes, ears, and tail held rigid, charged with speed, like Garuda swooping upon a serpent.

Verse 25 (skanda.8.84.25)

तमापतन्तं वेगेन समीक्ष्यासुरसत्तमः । बभार स तदा व्योम्नि गरुत्मानिव पन्नगम् ।

tamāpatantaṁ vegena samīkṣyāsurasattamaḥ | babhāra sa tadā vyomni garutmāniva pannagam |

Seeing it charging with such speed, that foremost of Asuras then, in mid-air, seized hold of it, as Garuda seizes a serpent.

Verse 26 (skanda.8.84.26)

तं तु मण्डलमावृत्तं गजोप्यनु तथैव हि । स्तब्धदृक्कर्णलांगूलः प्रसारितकरोभ्रमत् ।

taṁ tu maṇḍalamāvṛttaṁ gajopyanu tathaiva hi | stabdhadṛkkarṇalāṁgūlaḥ prasāritakarobhramat |

As he circled round in that grapple, the elephant too circled likewise behind him, its eyes, ears, and tail rigid, its trunk outstretched, wheeling about.

Verse 27 (skanda.8.84.27)

हाहाकृतमभूत् सर्वं साधुसाध्विति चोभयोः । बलयोर्देवदैत्यानां मूकवच्चाभवत्पुनः ।

hāhākṛtamabhūt sarvaṁ sādhusādhviti cobhayoḥ | balayordevadaityānāṁ mūkavaccābhavatpunaḥ |

A cry of "Alas!" arose everywhere, together with cries of "Well done, well done!" from both armies, the gods' and the Daityas'; then it fell silent once more, as if struck dumb.

Verse 28 (skanda.8.84.28)

साधु दैत्येति चान्येषां हिरण्याक्षेति चैव हि । स गजस्कन्धगो भाति भ्रमन् सुरगणेश्वरः ।

sādhu daityeti cānyeṣāṁ hiraṇyākṣeti caiva hi | sa gajaskandhago bhāti bhraman suragaṇeśvaraḥ |

Some cried "Well done, O Daitya!" and others "Well done, Hiranyaksha!"; and, mounted upon the elephant's shoulders, the lord of the host of gods shone as he wheeled about,

Verse 29 (skanda.8.84.29)

सपक्ष इव शैलेन्द्रे महिषोग्रं समास्थितः । हिरण्याक्षश्च दैत्येन्द्रो भ्रमित्वा त्रिर्महासुरः ।

sapakṣa iva śailendre mahiṣograṁ samāsthitaḥ | hiraṇyākṣaśca daityendro bhramitvā trirmahāsuraḥ |

like a fierce buffalo perched upon a winged mountain. And that great Asura, Hiranyaksha, lord of the Daityas, having circled thrice,

Verse 30 (skanda.8.84.30)

गजं द्रुतमिवोत्सार्य रथे तस्थौ महाबलः । युध्यमानस्तु दैत्येन्द्रो दृढमायम्य कार्मुकम् ।

gajaṁ drutamivotsārya rathe tasthau mahābalaḥ | yudhyamānastu daityendro dṛḍhamāyamya kārmukam |

swiftly pushed the elephant aside, and that mighty one took his stand back upon his own chariot; and the lord of the Daityas, still fighting, firmly drawing his bow,

Verse 31 (skanda.8.84.31)

देवराजं शरैस्तीक्ष्णैः समन्तात् पर्यवारयत् । स तैः शरैस्तदा व्यास मर्मसंधिषु ताडितः ।

devarājaṁ śaraistīkṣṇaiḥ samantāt paryavārayat | sa taiḥ śaraistadā vyāsa marmasaṁdhiṣu tāḍitaḥ |

surrounded the king of the gods on every side with sharp arrows. Struck then by those arrows in his vital joints, O Vyasa, Indra

Verse 32 (skanda.8.84.32)

वज्रेण शतधा तस्य कवचं प्रव्यशातयत् । हयानां चैव योक्त्राणि सर्वाण्येव त्वकृन्तत ।

vajreṇa śatadhā tasya kavacaṁ pravyaśātayat | hayānāṁ caiva yoktrāṇi sarvāṇyeva tvakṛntata |

with his thunderbolt shattered his armor into a hundred pieces, and cut away every one of his horses' harness-straps as well.

Verse 33 (skanda.8.84.33)

रश्मीँश्च सूतहस्तस्थान् प्रतोदं चैव काञ्चनम् । चिच्छेद वहुधा शक्रः प्रहसन्निव वीर्यवान् ।

raśmī~śca sūtahastasthān pratodaṁ caiva kāñcanam | ciccheda vahudhā śakraḥ prahasanniva vīryavān |

And the reins held in his charioteer's hand, and his golden goad too - all these the mighty Indra, laughing as it were, cut into many pieces.

Verse 34 (skanda.8.84.34)

छिन्नयोक्त्रास्ततोस्याश्वाः स्वछन्दाः संप्रतस्थिरे । हिरण्याक्षोप्यवप्लुत्य गदया समताडयत् ।

chinnayoktrāstatosyāśvāḥ svachandāḥ saṁpratasthire | hiraṇyākṣopyavaplutya gadayā samatāḍayat |

Their traces cut, his horses then bolted off freely, out of control. Hiranyaksha too, leaping down from his chariot, struck with his mace

Verse 35 (skanda.8.84.35)

गजं सुरपतिं चैव खङ्गेन स महासुरः । स गजस्तेन घातेन त्यक्त्वा तं रथसत्तमम् ।

gajaṁ surapatiṁ caiva khaṅgena sa mahāsuraḥ | sa gajastena ghātena tyaktvā taṁ rathasattamam |

both the elephant and the king of the gods with his sword, that great Asura. From that blow, the elephant, abandoning that splendid chariot,

Verse 36 (skanda.8.84.36)

शकृन्मूत्रं सृजन् व्यास प्राद्रवद् बलवांस्तदा । मर्दयानो नदँश्चैव भ्रामयन् सुरसत्तमम् ।

śakṛnmūtraṁ sṛjan vyāsa prādravad balavāṁstadā | mardayāno nada~ścaiva bhrāmayan surasattamam |

O Vyasa, that mighty elephant, discharging dung and urine in its fright, then fled powerfully away, trampling, trumpeting, and whirling the foremost of gods about.

Verse 37 (skanda.8.84.37)

असिनाभ्याहतश्चापि देवराजो महाबलः । नार्त्तिमानभवत् संख्ये न ।

asinābhyāhataścāpi devarājo mahābalaḥ | nārttimānabhavat saṁkhye na |

Struck also by the sword, the mighty king of the gods did not become distressed in that battle, nor did he... (the remainder of this line is illegible in the source manuscript).

Verse 38 (skanda.8.84.38)

स दानवेन्द्रप्रहतेन दन्तिना महाबलः प्रस्रुतदानगन्धिना । अमृष्यमाणः प्रययौ प्रमाथिना हिरण्यनेत्रेण युधि प्रमाथितः ।

sa dānavendraprahatena dantinā mahābalaḥ prasrutadānagandhinā | amṛṣyamāṇaḥ prayayau pramāthinā hiraṇyanetreṇa yudhi pramāthitaḥ |

That mighty one, upon his elephant which had been struck by the lord of the Danavas and gave off the scent of flowing rut-fluid, unable to bear it, went forth - he who had been harassed in that battle by the tormentor, golden-eyed Hiranyaksha.