The Fall of Rahu

Verse 1 (skanda.8.87.1)

सनत्कुमार उवाच । मयश्चन्द्रमसं देवमर्दयत् क्रोधमूर्च्छितः । शरैराशीविषाकारैर्नर्दमानो यथाम्बुदः ।

sanatkumāra uvāca | mayaścandramasaṁ devamardayat krodhamūrcchitaḥ | śarairāśīviṣākārairnardamāno yathāmbudaḥ |

Sanatkumara said: Then Maya, overwhelmed with rage, roaring like a thundercloud, assailed the god Chandra with arrows shaped like venomous serpents.

Verse 2 (skanda.8.87.2)

तस्यास्यतस्ततो बाणान् चन्द्रमाः प्रहसन्निव । एकैकं सप्तधा कृत्वा मयं विव्याध पञ्चभिः ।

tasyāsyatastato bāṇān candramāḥ prahasanniva | ekaikaṁ saptadhā kṛtvā mayaṁ vivyādha pañcabhiḥ |

As if laughing, Chandra cut each of the arrows Maya shot into seven pieces, and then pierced Maya himself with five shafts.

Verse 3 (skanda.8.87.3)

तत एनं पृषत्केन ललाटे समविध्यत । जहास च पुनर्देवस्तस्य लज्जां समादधत् ।

tata enaṁ pṛṣatkena lalāṭe samavidhyata | jahāsa ca punardevastasya lajjāṁ samādadhat |

Then he struck Maya square on the forehead with a broad-headed arrow, and the god laughed again, filling him with shame.

Verse 4 (skanda.8.87.4)

स तस्य हसतः शीघ्रं ललाटे कंकपत्रिणा । विव्याध भृशमायस्तो यथा विघ्नो यतव्रतम् ।

sa tasya hasataḥ śīghraṁ lalāṭe kaṁkapatriṇā | vivyādha bhṛśamāyasto yathā vighno yatavratam |

Enraged at that laughter, Maya, deeply agitated, in turn struck him swiftly on the forehead with a heron-feathered arrow, as an obstacle assails one keeping a vow.

Verse 5 (skanda.8.87.5)

ततोस्य देव उद्दिश्य ध्वजं चिच्छेद नादयन् । चक्ररक्षाँश्च निस्त्रिंशैरनयद् यमसादनम् ।

tatosya deva uddiśya dhvajaṁ ciccheda nādayan | cakrarakṣāṁśca nistriṁśairanayad yamasādanam |

Roaring, the god then took aim and cut down Maya's banner, and with sword-strokes sent his chariot-wheel guards to the abode of Yama.

Verse 6 (skanda.8.87.6)

तस्य तच्चापलं वीक्ष्य मयो दानवसत्तमः । मायां दिव्यां समास्थाय राहुः समभवत्तदा ।

tasya taccāpalaṁ vīkṣya mayo dānavasattamaḥ | māyāṁ divyāṁ samāsthāya rāhuḥ samabhavattadā |

Seeing Chandra's swiftness, Maya, foremost among the Danavas, resorted to a divine illusion and instantly transformed himself into the likeness of Rahu.

Verse 7 (skanda.8.87.7)

स राहुभूतो दैत्येन्द्रो देवेशं शशलक्षणम् । अभ्यद्रवद् यथा राहू रथेनाम्बुदनादिना ।

sa rāhubhūto daityendro deveśaṁ śaśalakṣaṇam | abhyadravad yathā rāhū rathenāmbudanādinā |

Now become Rahu, that lord of the Daityas, mounted on a chariot that thundered like a cloud, charged at the rabbit-marked lord of gods exactly as the real Rahu attacks.

Verse 8 (skanda.8.87.8)

स तां मायां तदा ज्ञात्वा देवो ह्यमृतसंभवः । अपर्ववद् वियत्स्थं वै तं शरैस्त्रिभिरार्दयत् ।

sa tāṁ māyāṁ tadā jñātvā devo hyamṛtasaṁbhavaḥ | aparvavad viyatsthaṁ vai taṁ śaraistribhirārdayat |

But the god, born of the nectar of immortality, at once recognized the illusion; though it was not the season of eclipse, he struck the sky-borne impostor with three arrows.

Verse 9 (skanda.8.87.9)

सोपि दैत्यो महामायस्ताञ्छरान्माययैव तु । वारयन्नभिदुद्राव शीतरश्मिं महासुरः ।

sopi daityo mahāmāyastāñcharānmāyayaiva tu | vārayannabhidudrāva śītaraśmiṁ mahāsuraḥ |

That great illusionist Daitya, warding off those arrows by his own sorcery, rushed at the cool-rayed Moon with tremendous speed.

Verse 10 (skanda.8.87.10)

ततोस्य स्यन्दनं दिव्यं नागयन्तृ महाप्रभम् । गृहीत्वा कूबरे दैत्यश्चिक्षेप च ररास च ।

tatosya syandanaṁ divyaṁ nāgayantṛ mahāprabham | gṛhītvā kūbare daityaścikṣepa ca rarāsa ca |

Then the Daitya seized Chandra's brilliant, serpent-drawn divine chariot by its pole, hurled it aside, and let out a roar.

Verse 11 (skanda.8.87.11)

अहिर्बुध्नः समासाद्य राहुश्चन्द्रमसो ग्रहम् । विशिखैः पञ्चभिर्विद्ध्वा ध्वजमस्य न्यपातयत् ।

ahirbudhnaḥ samāsādya rāhuścandramaso graham | viśikhaiḥ pañcabhirviddhvā dhvajamasya nyapātayat |

Then Ahirbudhnya advanced upon the seizer, Rahu, and pierced him with five arrows, felling his banner.

Verse 12 (skanda.8.87.12)

तस्योत्पत्य रथाद्राहुर्गदया भीमरूपया । धनुर्ध्वजं ह्याँश्चैव समचूर्णयदव्ययः ।

tasyotpatya rathādrāhurgadayā bhīmarūpayā | dhanurdhvajaṁ hyāṁścaiva samacūrṇayadavyayaḥ |

Leaping down from his chariot, Rahu, imperishable in fury, shattered Ahirbudhnya's bow, banner, and horses with his fearsome mace.

Verse 13 (skanda.8.87.13)

अशनिं शतघंटां स दीप्तां मृत्योरिव स्नुषाम् । जग्राह भृशमायस्तः पाशं मृत्योरिवान्तकः ।

aśaniṁ śataghaṁṭāṁ sa dīptāṁ mṛtyoriva snuṣām | jagrāha bhṛśamāyastaḥ pāśaṁ mṛtyorivāntakaḥ |

Then, with grim urgency, he seized his blazing, hundred-belled thunderbolt-weapon, terrible as Death's own daughter-in-law, as Antaka grasps his noose.

Verse 14 (skanda.8.87.14)

भ्रामयित्वा स तामुग्रां यमदण्डनिभां बलात् । चिक्षेप राहुमुद्दिश्य विद्युतं मेघराडिव ।

bhrāmayitvā sa tāmugrāṁ yamadaṇḍanibhāṁ balāt | cikṣepa rāhumuddiśya vidyutaṁ megharāḍiva |

Whirling that terrible weapon, resembling the rod of Yama, with great force, Ahirbudhnya hurled it straight at Rahu, like the lord of clouds hurling a lightning-bolt.

Verse 15 (skanda.8.87.15)

सा ज्वलन्ती महोल्केव मेघाशनिरिवोज्ज्वला । पपात राहोः शिरसि यथा वज्रं शिलोच्चये ।

sā jvalantī maholkeva meghāśanirivojjvalā | papāta rāhoḥ śirasi yathā vajraṁ śiloccaye |

Blazing like a great meteor, brilliant as the thunderbolt of a storm-cloud, it fell upon Rahu's head as a bolt falls upon a mountain crag.

Verse 16 (skanda.8.87.16)

अथ तेन प्रहारेण नार्तिमानभवत् स वै । स प्रहस्य भृशं राहुर्वेगं चक्रे महाबलः ।

atha tena prahāreṇa nārtimānabhavat sa vai | sa prahasya bhṛśaṁ rāhurvegaṁ cakre mahābalaḥ |

Yet that blow did not truly distress him; laughing loudly, the mighty Rahu only redoubled his fury.

Verse 17 (skanda.8.87.17)

अहिर्बुध्नं प्रति क्रुद्धो नागानामिव पक्षिराट् । आपतन्तं स वीक्ष्यैव भगवान्देवसत्तमः ।

ahirbudhnaṁ prati kruddho nāgānāmiva pakṣirāṭ | āpatantaṁ sa vīkṣyaiva bhagavāndevasattamaḥ |

Enraged as the king of birds against serpents, seeing him rushing toward Ahirbudhnya, that most excellent of the gods,

Verse 18 (skanda.8.87.18)

जगाम तस्य पन्थानं मुक्त्वान्येन यथोरगः । शतकेतुश्च तं वीरो रथेनाम्बुदनादिना ।

jagāma tasya panthānaṁ muktvānyena yathoragaḥ | śataketuśca taṁ vīro rathenāmbudanādinā |

slipped from his path like a serpent, avoiding the blow; and then the hero Shataketu, mounted on a chariot that rumbled like a cloud, advanced upon him.

Verse 19 (skanda.8.87.19)

अभ्यद्रवद्रणे क्रुद्धस्तिष्ठतिष्ठेति चाब्रवीत् । आधावतोस्य कापाली हृदयं कंकपत्रिभिः ।

abhyadravadraṇe kruddhastiṣṭhatiṣṭheti cābravīt | ādhāvatosya kāpālī hṛdayaṁ kaṁkapatribhiḥ |

Raging in battle, he shouted "Stand, stand!" and charged; as Rahu rushed at him, the Kapali struck his heart with heron-feathered arrows,

Verse 20 (skanda.8.87.20)

बिभेद कुलिशः क्षिप्तो गिरिशृंगमिवोच्छ्रितम् । स भिन्नहृदयस्तेन रुद्रेण ग्रहसत्तमः ।

bibheda kuliśaḥ kṣipto giriśṛṁgamivocchritam | sa bhinnahṛdayastena rudreṇa grahasattamaḥ |

piercing him as a hurled thunderbolt splits a towering mountain peak. His heart thus pierced by Rudra, that foremost of the grahas,

Verse 21 (skanda.8.87.21)

पपात स्वरथे मूढः शक्रध्वज इवोच्छ्रितः । ततो हाहाकृतं दैत्यैर्गृह्णगृह्णेति चाप्युत ।

papāta svarathe mūḍhaḥ śakradhvaja ivocchritaḥ | tato hāhākṛtaṁ daityairgṛhṇagṛhṇeti cāpyuta |

fell senseless in his own chariot, like a towering Indra-banner toppling. Then the Daityas cried out in dismay, shouting "Seize him, seize him!"

Verse 22 (skanda.8.87.22)

साधु साध्विति देवाश्च विनेदुर्जलदा इव । अथान्धको हिरण्याक्षो विप्रचित्तिर्विरोचनः ।

sādhu sādhviti devāśca vinedurjaladā iva | athāndhako hiraṇyākṣo vipracittirvirocanaḥ |

while the gods thundered like storm-clouds, roaring "Well done, well done!" Then Andhaka, Hiranyaksha, Vipracitti, Virochana,

Verse 23 (skanda.8.87.23)

शम्बरश्चेल्वलश्चैव बाणो बलिरथापि च । कालकेयास्सपौलोमा निवातकवचाश्च ये ।

śambaraścelvalaścaiva bāṇo balirathāpi ca | kālakeyāssapaulomā nivātakavacāśca ye |

Shambara, Ilvala, Bana, Bali, and the Kalakeyas together with the Paulomas and Nivatakavachas -

Verse 24 (skanda.8.87.24)

अन्ये च बहवो दैत्यास्तं रुद्रं पर्यवारयन् । ते शरैश्च गदाभिश्च मुशलैः प्राशतोमरैः ।

anye ca bahavo daityāstaṁ rudraṁ paryavārayan | te śaraiśca gadābhiśca muśalaiḥ prāśatomaraiḥ |

and many other Daityas besides surrounded Rudra on every side. With arrows, maces, clubs, and lances and javelins,

Verse 25 (skanda.8.87.25)

न्यवारयन्त तं देवं तर्जयन्तः पुनः पुनः । स हन्यमानस्तैर्देवो बहुभिर्मुनिसत्तम । अपासर्तत वेगेन समीपात् सुरविद्विषाम् ।

nyavārayanta taṁ devaṁ tarjayantaḥ punaḥ punaḥ | sa hanyamānastairdevo bahubhirmunisattama | apāsartata vegena samīpāt suravidviṣām |

they held that god at bay, threatening him again and again. Struck by so many of them, O best of sages, that god withdrew swiftly from the presence of the gods' foes.

Verse 26 (skanda.8.87.26)

अजैकपात् कालनेमिं गदिनं गदयासहम् । समाह्वयत दैत्येन्द्रं मधुं विष्णुरिवोर्जितम् ।

ajaikapāt kālanemiṁ gadinaṁ gadayāsaham | samāhvayata daityendraṁ madhuṁ viṣṇurivorjitam |

Then Ajaikapada, mace in hand, challenged the mace-bearing lord of the Daityas, Kalanemi, as mighty Vishnu once challenged the demon Madhu.

Verse 27 (skanda.8.87.27)

तौ सुयुद्धौ गदाहस्तौ मण्डलानि महाबलौ । अन्योन्यविजये सक्तौ ग्रहाविव विचेरतुः ।

tau suyuddhau gadāhastau maṇḍalāni mahābalau | anyonyavijaye saktau grahāviva viceratuḥ |

Mace in hand, the two mighty warriors, each intent on the other's defeat, circled one another in wide arcs like two planets, waging a splendid duel.

Verse 28 (skanda.8.87.28)

कालनेमिस्तु संक्रुद्धो गदां हेमपरिष्कृताम् । शतघंटाट्टहासां च मृत्योर्जिह्वामिवाद्भुताम् ।

kālanemistu saṁkruddho gadāṁ hemapariṣkṛtām | śataghaṁṭāṭṭahāsāṁ ca mṛtyorjihvāmivādbhutām |

Then Kalanemi, wild with fury, seized his mace, gold-adorned, ringing with a hundred bells, uncanny as the very tongue of Death,

Verse 29 (skanda.8.87.29)

भ्रामयित्वासकृद् दैत्यो नर्दमानो यथा वृषः । मुमोच रुद्रमुद्दिश्य स्कन्दः शक्तिमिवाचले ।

bhrāmayitvāsakṛd daityo nardamāno yathā vṛṣaḥ | mumoca rudramuddiśya skandaḥ śaktimivācale |

and whirling it again and again, bellowing like a bull, hurled it straight at Rudra, as Skanda once hurled his spear against the mountain.

Verse 30 (skanda.8.87.30)

शक्रमुक्तामिवायान्तीमशनिं पर्वतोपरि । विद्युतं वा महाशक्तां स रुद्रो भीमविक्रमः ।

śakramuktāmivāyāntīmaśaniṁ parvatopari | vidyutaṁ vā mahāśaktāṁ sa rudro bhīmavikramaḥ |

Terrible in valor, Rudra watched it come like Indra's own thunderbolt hurtling toward a mountain, or like a mighty flash of lightning,

Verse 31 (skanda.8.87.31)

वञ्चयामास वेगेन श्वेतो मृत्युमिवागताम् । तिष्ठतिष्ठेति चाप्युक्त्वा रुद्रः प्रहरतां वरः ।

vañcayāmāsa vegena śveto mṛtyumivāgatām | tiṣṭhatiṣṭheti cāpyuktvā rudraḥ praharatāṁ varaḥ |

and swiftly dodged it, white-bodied, as one dodges Death himself. "Stand, stand!" cried Rudra, foremost among strikers,

Verse 32 (skanda.8.87.32)

भ्रामयित्वा गदां घोरां दैत्यस्योपर्यपातयत् । स तया गदया दैत्यो दीप्तया भीमरूपया ।

bhrāmayitvā gadāṁ ghorāṁ daityasyoparyapātayat | sa tayā gadayā daityo dīptayā bhīmarūpayā |

whirling his own dreadful mace and bringing it down upon the Daitya. Struck by that blazing, terrible mace,

Verse 33 (skanda.8.87.33)

हतो मूर्ध्नि दिशः सर्वा हारिद्राः समपश्यत । अथ दैत्यस्तदा सम्यग् भ्रामयन् स गदां पुनः ।

hato mūrdhni diśaḥ sarvā hāridrāḥ samapaśyata | atha daityastadā samyag bhrāmayan sa gadāṁ punaḥ |

he reeled, his head ringing, and saw every direction turn yellow before his eyes. Yet at once that Daitya, whirling his mace afresh,

Verse 34 (skanda.8.87.34)

मण्डलानि विचित्राणि दर्शयित्वा महाबलः । अजैकपादं गदया स्कन्धदेशे व्यताडयत् ।

maṇḍalāni vicitrāṇi darśayitvā mahābalaḥ | ajaikapādaṁ gadayā skandhadeśe vyatāḍayat |

the mighty one traced dazzling circles in the air and struck Ajaikapada with his mace upon the shoulder.

Verse 35 (skanda.8.87.35)

स चाप्यवहतस्तेन यथा वज्रेण भूधरः । विवेश भूमिं दुःखार्तस्तदद्भुतमिवाभवत् ।

sa cāpyavahatastena yathā vajreṇa bhūdharaḥ | viveśa bhūmiṁ duḥkhārtastadadbhutamivābhavat |

Struck by that blow, he sank into the earth as a mountain sinks beneath a thunderbolt, overwhelmed with pain, a truly astonishing sight.

Verse 36 (skanda.8.87.36)

उत्थाय च स वेगेन रुद्रः क्रुद्धो महाबलः । अवसव्यं चरन् दैत्यसव्यतो मण्डलेचरः ।

utthāya ca sa vegena rudraḥ kruddho mahābalaḥ | avasavyaṁ caran daityasavyato maṇḍalecaraḥ |

Then the mighty Rudra, enraged, rose swiftly to his feet, and circling round, moved leftward past the Daitya's right side.

Verse 37 (skanda.8.87.37)

भ्रामयित्वा गदां भूयो दैत्यस्योपर्यपातयत् । स दैत्यस्तेन घातेन भ्रमित्वा त्रिर्महाबलः ।

bhrāmayitvā gadāṁ bhūyo daityasyoparyapātayat | sa daityastena ghātena bhramitvā trirmahābalaḥ |

Whirling his mace again, he brought it down once more upon the Daitya, who, struck by that blow, spun around three times in his mighty strength,

Verse 38 (skanda.8.87.38)

संस्तभ्य गदया भूयो रुद्रं कुक्षावताडयत् । स तया गदया नुन्नो यथा वाय्वीरितो नगः ।

saṁstabhya gadayā bhūyo rudraṁ kukṣāvatāḍayat | sa tayā gadayā nunno yathā vāyvīrito nagaḥ |

then steadied himself and struck Rudra's flank with his mace in turn. Driven back by that blow, like a mountain shaken by a gale,

Verse 39 (skanda.8.87.39)

पपात भूमौ वेगेन शतशृंगो यथा पुरा । पतितं तु ततोऽभ्येत्य पदे जग्राह सुव्रतम् ।

papāta bhūmau vegena śataśṛṁgo yathā purā | patitaṁ tu tato'bhyetya pade jagrāha suvratam |

Rudra fell to the ground with a crash, as the mountain Shatashringa once fell. Then the Daitya came up and seized the fallen, ever-faithful god by the feet.

Verse 40 (skanda.8.87.40)

भ्रामयित्वा च चिक्षेप स चामृत्युरवस्थितः । कार्तस्वनं ज्वरश्चोग्रो रुद्रः प्रहरतां वरः ।

bhrāmayitvā ca cikṣepa sa cāmṛtyuravasthitaḥ | kārtasvanaṁ jvaraścogro rudraḥ praharatāṁ varaḥ |

Whirling him about, the Daitya flung him down, yet he stood firm as though immune to death itself. Then fierce Rudra, foremost among strikers, together with Jvara,

Verse 41 (skanda.8.87.41)

जघान निशितैर्भल्लैर्दशभिः स्तनयोः समम् । कार्तस्वनश्च बाणेन कार्मुकं तस्य दीप्तिमत् । चिच्छेद बहुधा चैनं पुनर्विव्याध पत्रिभिः ।

jaghāna niśitairbhallairdaśabhiḥ stanayoḥ samam | kārtasvanaśca bāṇena kārmukaṁ tasya dīptimat | ciccheda bahudhā cainaṁ punarvivyādha patribhiḥ |

struck Kartasvana with ten sharp broad-headed arrows full upon the chest. Kartasvana, in turn, with a single shaft shattered Rudra's blazing bow into many pieces, and pierced him again with feathered arrows.

Verse 42 (skanda.8.87.42)

रुद्रोपि दण्डं सर्वार्थसाधकम् । भ्रामयित्वाशु चिक्षेप कार्तस्वनरथं प्रति ।

rudropi daṇḍaṁ sarvārthasādhakam | bhrāmayitvāśu cikṣepa kārtasvanarathaṁ prati |

[the opening portion of this verse is lost in the manuscript] ...Rudra too, swiftly whirling his all-accomplishing rod, hurled it at Kartasvana's chariot.

Verse 43 (skanda.8.87.43)

तं युगान्तानलप्रख्यं शतसूर्यानलप्रभम् । जघान शरजालेन मेघो वृष्ट्या यथाचलम् ।

taṁ yugāntānalaprakhyaṁ śatasūryānalaprabham | jaghāna śarajālena megho vṛṣṭyā yathācalam |

Blazing like the fire of universal dissolution, radiant as the fire of a hundred suns, that rod struck him with a shower of shafts, as a cloud pelts a mountain with rain.

Verse 44 (skanda.8.87.44)

हन्यमानश्च तैर्दण्डो हविषेद्ध इवानलः । भूयस्तरं प्रज्ज्वाल वेगवच्चाप्यधावत ।

hanyamānaśca tairdaṇḍo haviṣeddha ivānalaḥ | bhūyastaraṁ prajjvāla vegavaccāpyadhāvata |

Though struck by those arrows, the rod, like fire fed with oblations, blazed only more fiercely and rushed on with unabated speed.

Verse 45 (skanda.8.87.45)

तमप्रतिहतं दण्डं ज्ञात्वा कार्तस्वनस्तु । रथमुत्सृज्य वेगेन आकाशस्थोभवद्बली ।

tamapratihataṁ daṇḍaṁ jñātvā kārtasvanastu | rathamutsṛjya vegena ākāśasthobhavadbalī |

Recognizing that irresistible rod, the mighty Kartasvana abandoned his chariot and swiftly rose into the sky.

Verse 46 (skanda.8.87.46)

दण्डश्च रथमभ्येत्य सहयं सह यन्तृणा । सध्वजं सपताकश्च भस्म कृत्वा ययौ पुनः ।

daṇḍaśca rathamabhyetya sahayaṁ saha yantṛṇā | sadhvajaṁ sapatākaśca bhasma kṛtvā yayau punaḥ |

The rod, reaching the chariot, reduced it to ashes, horses, charioteer, banner and flag all together, and then returned once more.

Verse 47 (skanda.8.87.47)

यावद् दण्डो न पतति रथेनैति च तं प्रति । तावत् कार्तस्वनो रुद्रं शरैरभ्यद्रवद्बली ।

yāvad daṇḍo na patati rathenaiti ca taṁ prati | tāvat kārtasvano rudraṁ śarairabhyadravadbalī |

While the rod had not yet returned and come back to him, the mighty Kartasvana pressed his attack on Rudra with a hail of arrows.

Verse 48 (skanda.8.87.48)

छित्त्वा ध्वजं धनुश्चास्य तथा योक्त्राणि वाजिनाम् । विरथं तं ज्वरं कृत्वा असिना मूर्ध्न्यताडयत् ।

chittvā dhvajaṁ dhanuścāsya tathā yoktrāṇi vājinām | virathaṁ taṁ jvaraṁ kṛtvā asinā mūrdhnyatāḍayat |

Cutting away his banner and bow, and the traces of his horses, he left Rudra, and Jvara with him, without a chariot, and struck him on the head with his sword.

Verse 49 (skanda.8.87.49)

असिघातपरीतात्मा स रुद्रः शत्रुसंसदम् । त्यक्त्वान्यतो ययौ तूर्णं पदातिर्मुनिसत्तम ।

asighātaparītātmā sa rudraḥ śatrusaṁsadam | tyaktvānyato yayau tūrṇaṁ padātirmunisattama |

Dazed by the blow of that sword, Rudra abandoned that gathering of foes and, O best of sages, fled swiftly on foot to another quarter.

Verse 50 (skanda.8.87.50)

सोसिघातविपरीतचेतनो रक्तचन्दनविलेपनप्रभः । तं विहाय रिपुमग्र्यविक्रमं द्रुतः सुरबलं यतस्ततः ।

sosighātaviparītacetano raktacandanavilepanaprabhaḥ | taṁ vihāya ripumagryavikramaṁ drutaḥ surabalaṁ yatastataḥ |

His mind reeling from the sword-blow, his body gleaming as though smeared with red sandalwood paste, Rudra left behind that foe of matchless valor and fled swiftly toward wherever the army of the gods might be.