The River of Blood

Verse 1 (skanda.8.88.1)

सनत्कुमार उवाच । अर्यमा बहुभिर्बाणैः प्रह्लादं दैत्यपुङ्गवम् । आजघान रथं घोरं ध्वजश्चास्य व्यशातयत् ।

sanatkumāra uvāca | aryamā bahubhirbāṇaiḥ prahlādaṁ daityapuṅgavam | ājaghāna rathaṁ ghoraṁ dhvajaścāsya vyaśātayat |

Sanatkumara said: Aryaman struck Prahlada, foremost of the Daityas, with a volley of arrows, battering his fearsome chariot and slashing down his banner.

Verse 2 (skanda.8.88.2)

प्रह्लादोऽप्यर्यमन्तं वै रथं त्यक्त्वैव वीर्यवान् । प्रदुद्राव यथा राहुः समये तिमिरापहम् ।

prahlādo'pyaryamantaṁ vai rathaṁ tyaktvaiva vīryavān | pradudrāva yathā rāhuḥ samaye timirāpaham |

The valiant Prahlada, too, leaping down from his own chariot, rushed at Aryaman just as Rahu, at the hour of eclipse, rushes upon the dispeller of darkness.

Verse 3 (skanda.8.88.3)

आधावन्तं च वेगेन विहस्तं रिपुमर्यमा । जघान बहुभिर्बाणैर्वृष्ट्या मेघो यथाचलम् ।

ādhāvantaṁ ca vegena vihastaṁ ripumaryamā | jaghāna bahubhirbāṇairvṛṣṭyā megho yathācalam |

As the disarmed foe rushed at him headlong, Aryaman battered him with a hail of arrows, as a cloud batters a mountain with rain.

Verse 4 (skanda.8.88.4)

शरानगणयन्नेव हिरण्यकशिपोः सुतः । क्रोधान्मानाच्च दर्पाच्च वेगेन समधावत ।

śarānagaṇayanneva hiraṇyakaśipoḥ sutaḥ | krodhānmānācca darpācca vegena samadhāvata |

Heedless of the arrows raining upon him, the son of Hiranyakashipu, driven by fury, pride, and arrogance, charged on undeterred.

Verse 5 (skanda.8.88.5)

गृहीत्वा कूबरे तस्य रथं हेमपरिष्कृतम् । चिक्षेप सह सूतेन ततो हर्षान्निनाद च ।

gṛhītvā kūbare tasya rathaṁ hemapariṣkṛtam | cikṣepa saha sūtena tato harṣānnināda ca |

Seizing Aryaman's gold-adorned chariot by its pole, he hurled it aside, charioteer and all, and roared aloud with joy.

Verse 6 (skanda.8.88.6)

अनुह्रादो धरं प्राप्य तेन विद्धः स्तनान्तरे । असिं निष्कृष्य वेगेन धरस्य रथमासदत् ।

anuhrādo dharaṁ prāpya tena viddhaḥ stanāntare | asiṁ niṣkṛṣya vegena dharasya rathamāsadat |

Meanwhile Anuhrada, reaching Dhara and pierced by him in the chest, drew his sword and swiftly leapt onto Dhara's chariot.

Verse 7 (skanda.8.88.7)

ध्वजं तस्य हयाँश्चैव सारथिं धनुरेव च । छित्त्वा स्कन्धे धरं चैव पुनः स्वरथमभ्यगात् ।

dhvajaṁ tasya hayāṁścaiva sārathiṁ dhanureva ca | chittvā skandhe dharaṁ caiva punaḥ svarathamabhyagāt |

Cutting down Dhara's banner, horses, charioteer, and bow, and wounding Dhara himself upon the shoulder, he returned once more to his own chariot.

Verse 8 (skanda.8.88.8)

कर्मणा तेन दैत्यस्य धरोऽभूद् भृशमर्दितः । एवमन्यैश्च दैत्येन्द्रैरन्ये देवा महाबलाः ।

karmaṇā tena daityasya dharo'bhūd bhṛśamarditaḥ | evamanyaiśca daityendrairanye devā mahābalāḥ |

By that feat the Daitya Dhara was sorely afflicted. In the same way other mighty gods, at the hands of other Daitya lords,

Verse 9 (skanda.8.88.9)

निर्जितास्तर्जिताश्चैव युद्धाय च पुनः स्थिताः । ततः संकुलमेवाभूद्देवानां दानवैस्सह ।

nirjitāstarjitāścaiva yuddhāya ca punaḥ sthitāḥ | tataḥ saṁkulamevābhūddevānāṁ dānavaissaha |

were, at turns, defeated and threatened, yet rallied again for battle. Then a chaotic melee broke out between the gods and the Danavas.

Verse 10 (skanda.8.88.10)

परस्परजिगीषूणां युद्धं भीरुभयावहम् । ततो भेर्यश्च शंखाश्च पटहासेक्यपुष्कलाः ।

parasparajigīṣūṇāṁ yuddhaṁ bhīrubhayāvaham | tato bheryaśca śaṁkhāśca paṭahāsekyapuṣkalāḥ |

Their battle, each side bent on the other's defeat, was a terror to the faint of heart. Then war-drums and conches, kettledrums and other instruments,

Verse 11 (skanda.8.88.11)

झर्झर्यः पेपुकाश्चैव डिण्डिमा गोविषाणकाः । अवाद्यन्त बले व्यास उभयेषां सहस्रशः ।

jharjharyaḥ pepukāścaiva ḍiṇḍimā goviṣāṇakāḥ | avādyanta bale vyāsa ubhayeṣāṁ sahasraśaḥ |

cymbals, and horns of every kind, O Vyasa, resounded by the thousands together in the ranks of both armies.

Verse 12 (skanda.8.88.12)

ततोऽसृगोघप्रवहा पताकध्वजपादपा । गजाश्वग्राहबहुला रथप्रवरकच्छपा ।

tato'sṛgoghapravahā patākadhvajapādapā | gajāśvagrāhabahulā rathapravarakacchapā |

Then there flowed a river of blood, its banners and standards forming the trees along its banks, its elephants and horses its many crocodiles, its finest chariots its tortoises,

Verse 13 (skanda.8.88.13)

केशशैवालबहुला धनुर्ज्याकृततन्तुका । निष्टनच्छस्त्रमण्डूका दुकूलच्छत्रफेनिला ।

keśaśaivālabahulā dhanurjyākṛtatantukā | niṣṭanacchastramaṇḍūkā dukūlacchatraphenilā |

with hair for its water-weeds, bowstrings for its fibrous roots, its clashing weapons croaking like frogs, its torn cloth and fallen parasols its foam,

Verse 14 (skanda.8.88.14)

उष्णीषवरहंसा च करपादशिरःपला । हारकेयूरसिकता मुकुटोत्फुल्लपंकजा ।

uṣṇīṣavarahaṁsā ca karapādaśiraḥpalā | hārakeyūrasikatā mukuṭotphullapaṁkajā |

turbans floating like fine swans upon it, severed hands, feet, and heads its scattered stones, necklaces and armlets its sand, and fallen crowns its blossoming lotuses,

Verse 15 (skanda.8.88.15)

मेदोऽस्रकफपंका च प्राणजीवितनाशनी । प्रावर्तत नदी घोरा हस्त्यश्वरथवाहिनी ।

medo'srakaphapaṁkā ca prāṇajīvitanāśanī | prāvartata nadī ghorā hastyaśvarathavāhinī |

a river of fat and blood and phlegm for its mire, a river that took life and breath away, sweeping along elephants, horses, and chariots in its terrible flood.

Verse 16 (skanda.8.88.16)

तस्यां स्नायन्ति रक्षांसि पिबन्ति च रमन्ति च । नृत्यन्ति चापि विविधा भीरूणां भयदास्तथा ।

tasyāṁ snāyanti rakṣāṁsi pibanti ca ramanti ca | nṛtyanti cāpi vividhā bhīrūṇāṁ bhayadāstathā |

In that river the Rakshasas bathed, and drank, and disported themselves, and danced in manifold ways, a terrifying sight to the faint-hearted.

Verse 17 (skanda.8.88.17)

गृध्रा गोमायवश्चैव श्वानो मार्जारवायसाः । चक्षूंषि करपादान्त्रं भक्षयन्तीभिरेमिरे ।

gṛdhrā gomāyavaścaiva śvāno mārjāravāyasāḥ | cakṣūṁṣi karapādāntraṁ bhakṣayantībhiremire |

Vultures and jackals, dogs, cats, and crows roamed about there, devouring eyes, hands, feet, and entrails.

Verse 18 (skanda.8.88.18)

ममायं हस्तिनः पादो ममायं मेदपट्टकः । ममायं च करः शुक्रो बाहुश्च रुधिरस्यदः ।

mamāyaṁ hastinaḥ pādo mamāyaṁ medapaṭṭakaḥ | mamāyaṁ ca karaḥ śukro bāhuśca rudhirasyadaḥ |

"This elephant's foot is mine! This lump of fat is mine! This pale hand is mine, and this blood-dripping arm is mine!" -

Verse 19 (skanda.8.88.19)

ममायं तव नायं च गृह्ण पश्येति चैव हि । कलहं चक्रिरे तत्र क्रूराः पिशितभोजनाः ।

mamāyaṁ tava nāyaṁ ca gṛhṇa paśyeti caiva hi | kalahaṁ cakrire tatra krūrāḥ piśitabhojanāḥ |

"This is mine, not yours - take it, look!" - so the cruel flesh-eaters quarreled with one another there.

Verse 20 (skanda.8.88.20)

त्यक्त्वान्ये च हताँस्तत्र स्वदेहान् सुमहारथाः । विमानैः स्त्रीजनाकीर्णैः प्रययुर्ब्रह्मणः सदः ।

tyaktvānye ca hatāṁstatra svadehān sumahārathāḥ | vimānaiḥ strījanākīrṇaiḥ prayayurbrahmaṇaḥ sadaḥ |

There, many great chariot-warriors, leaving behind their slain bodies, departed for Brahma's assembly-hall on celestial cars thronged with heavenly women.

Verse 21 (skanda.8.88.21)

अपरे पापकर्माणो हन्यमाना रुषान्धितैः । पतन्ति नरके घोरे क्रन्दमाना मुहुर्मुहुः ।

apare pāpakarmāṇo hanyamānā ruṣāndhitaiḥ | patanti narake ghore krandamānā muhurmuhuḥ |

Others, men of evil deeds, struck down by rage-blinded foes, fell wailing again and again into a terrible hell.

Verse 22 (skanda.8.88.22)

केचिदार्तास्वरं कृत्वा षार्दिताः । म्रियन्ते पुरुषा युद्धे शतशोऽथ सहस्रशः ।

kecidārtāsvaraṁ kṛtvā ṣārditāḥ | mriyante puruṣā yuddhe śataśo'tha sahasraśaḥ |

Some, crying out in anguish [the remainder of this line is lost in the manuscript], afflicted, died in that battle by the hundreds and thousands.

Verse 23 (skanda.8.88.23)

दशन्तश्च तृणान्यन्ये भ्रातः पुत्रेति चापरे । क्रन्दमाना जना भीताः प्राणान् कृच्छ्रेण तत्यजुः ।

daśantaśca tṛṇānyanye bhrātaḥ putreti cāpare | krandamānā janā bhītāḥ prāṇān kṛcchreṇa tatyajuḥ |

Some, biting the grass in their agony, others crying "Brother!" or "My son!", terrified people wailed and gave up their lives with great difficulty.

Verse 24 (skanda.8.88.24)

संदष्टौष्ठपुटाः केचिद् देवासुरमहारथाः । शरसन्नतमर्माणः पतन्त्युर्व्यां द्रुमा इव ।

saṁdaṣṭauṣṭhapuṭāḥ kecid devāsuramahārathāḥ | śarasannatamarmāṇaḥ patantyurvyāṁ drumā iva |

Many great warriors of both gods and Asuras, their lips clenched between their teeth, their vital points pierced by arrows, fell to the earth like felled trees.

Verse 25 (skanda.8.88.25)

अशिवानि शिवा नेदुरट्टहासाँश्च राक्षसाः । आर्तनादाँश्च पुरुषास्तथैव गजवाजिनः ।

aśivāni śivā neduraṭṭahāsāṁśca rākṣasāḥ | ārtanādāṁśca puruṣāstathaiva gajavājinaḥ |

Jackals howled ill-omened cries, Rakshasas roared with laughter, and men, elephants, and horses screamed in agony.

Verse 26 (skanda.8.88.26)

सिंहनादाश्च शूराणां बाहुशब्दाश्च पुष्कलाः । धनुषां कृष्यमाणानां शब्दा वाद्यरवास्तथा ।

siṁhanādāśca śūrāṇāṁ bāhuśabdāśca puṣkalāḥ | dhanuṣāṁ kṛṣyamāṇānāṁ śabdā vādyaravāstathā |

The lion-roars of heroes, the loud slaps of arms against thighs, the twang of bows being drawn, and the din of instruments -

Verse 27 (skanda.8.88.27)

अथेन्द्रश्च धनेशश्च यमः कालश्च वीर्यवान् । वरुणो मरुतश्चैव विश्वेदेवाश्च सर्वशः ।

athendraśca dhaneśaśca yamaḥ kālaśca vīryavān | varuṇo marutaścaiva viśvedevāśca sarvaśaḥ |

Then Indra, Kubera, Yama, mighty Kala, Varuna, the Maruts, and all the Vishvedevas,

Verse 28 (skanda.8.88.28)

मित्रश्चैव जयन्तश्च भगः पूषार्यमा तथा । कापाली चापि यो रुद्रो वसवश्च महाबलाः ।

mitraścaiva jayantaśca bhagaḥ pūṣāryamā tathā | kāpālī cāpi yo rudro vasavaśca mahābalāḥ |

Mitra, Jayanta, Bhaga, Pushan, Aryaman, the Kapali form of Rudra, and the mighty Vasus,

Verse 29 (skanda.8.88.29)

नासत्यश्चैव दस्रश्च पृश्नयश्च सुरोत्तमाः । एते चान्ये च देवानां प्रवरा बाहुशालिनः ।

nāsatyaścaiva dasraśca pṛśnayaśca surottamāḥ | ete cānye ca devānāṁ pravarā bāhuśālinaḥ |

the Ashvins Nasatya and Dasra, and the Prishni-born Maruts, foremost among gods - these and other mighty-armed champions of the celestials,

Verse 30 (skanda.8.88.30)

दानवानां बले वेगं बलवन्तोऽभिचक्रिरे । सागरा इव गर्जन्तो युगान्ते अनला इव ।

dānavānāṁ bale vegaṁ balavanto'bhicakrire | sāgarā iva garjanto yugānte analā iva |

with all their might, fell upon the army of the Danavas with tremendous force - roaring like oceans, like the fire of universal dissolution,

Verse 31 (skanda.8.88.31)

प्रभञ्जना इवाकाले महान्त इव चाचलाः । वृषभा इव नर्दन्तो बृहन्त इव कुञ्जराः ।

prabhañjanā ivākāle mahānta iva cācalāḥ | vṛṣabhā iva nardanto bṛhanta iva kuñjarāḥ |

like sudden tempests, like towering mountains, bellowing like bulls, massive as elephants,

Verse 32 (skanda.8.88.32)

ग्रसन्तश्च यथा ग्राहाश्छिन्दन्तो मकरा इव । वर्षमाणा इव घनाः सिंहा इव च नर्दिनः । दानवानां बलं सर्वे वेगेनैवाभ्यवारयन् ।

grasantaśca yathā grāhāśchindanto makarā iva | varṣamāṇā iva ghanāḥ siṁhā iva ca nardinaḥ | dānavānāṁ balaṁ sarve vegenaivābhyavārayan |

swallowing like crocodiles, tearing like sea-monsters, pouring down like rain-clouds, and roaring like lions - thus did all the gods together stem the onrushing tide of the Danava host.

Verse 33 (skanda.8.88.33)

तद्देववेगप्रहताभिवेगं बलं सयत्नं दनुदानवानाम् । भवत्यनाधारमतिप्रसक्तं तृणं यथा वह्निमुखावसक्तम् ।

taddevavegaprahatābhivegaṁ balaṁ sayatnaṁ danudānavānām | bhavatyanādhāramatiprasaktaṁ tṛṇaṁ yathā vahnimukhāvasaktam |

Battered by the onrush of the gods' assault, the proud and straining host of Danu's Danavas became as helpless and consumed as a blade of grass caught in the mouth of a blazing fire.