The Wrath of Soma

Verse 1 (skanda.8.90.1)

सनत्कुमार उवाच । तद्देवसैन्यं संदृश्य दैत्यदानवयूथपैः । वध्यमानं भृशं व्यास व्याघ्रैरिव मृगान् वने ।

sanatkumāra uvāca | taddevasainyaṁ saṁdṛśya daityadānavayūthapaiḥ | vadhyamānaṁ bhṛśaṁ vyāsa vyāghrairiva mṛgān vane |

Sanatkumara said: Seeing the army of the gods being cruelly slaughtered by the Daitya and Danava chieftains, O Vyasa, just as tigers slaughter deer in the forest,

Verse 2 (skanda.8.90.2)

तिमिरारिर्महातेजाः सोमः प्रहरतां वरः । तिग्मवर्ष्मा सुशीतार्चिः स्वयं पवनसारथिः ।

timirārirmahātejāḥ somaḥ praharatāṁ varaḥ | tigmavarṣmā suśītārciḥ svayaṁ pavanasārathiḥ |

the foe of darkness, Soma, of great splendor, foremost among strikers, his form ablaze yet his rays cool, himself charioted by the wind,

Verse 3 (skanda.8.90.3)

तौ बद्धकवचौ सम्यक् शरासनधरावुभौ । बद्धगोधाङ्गुलित्रौ च तथा बद्धेषुधी च तौ ।

tau baddhakavacau samyak śarāsanadharāvubhau | baddhagodhāṅgulitrau ca tathā baddheṣudhī ca tau |

he and Vahni, both of them, well-armored, bows in hand, gauntlets and finger-guards bound fast, quivers slung at their sides,

Verse 4 (skanda.8.90.4)

सखड्गौ च सघण्टौ च सपताकौ गजाविव । उभौ वीरौ महावीर्यौ योद्धुं दैत्यान् व्यवस्थितौ ।

sakhaḍgau ca saghaṇṭau ca sapatākau gajāviva | ubhau vīrau mahāvīryau yoddhuṁ daityān vyavasthitau |

with swords and bells and banners, like two great elephants, those two heroes of tremendous might took their stand to fight the Daityas.

Verse 5 (skanda.8.90.5)

सोमस्तु दशभिस्तीक्ष्णैः सायकैर्मर्मभेदिभिः । विव्याध हृदये दैत्यं हिरण्याक्षं महासुरम् ।

somastu daśabhistīkṣṇaiḥ sāyakairmarmabhedibhiḥ | vivyādha hṛdaye daityaṁ hiraṇyākṣaṁ mahāsuram |

Soma pierced the heart of the mighty Asura Hiranyaksha with ten sharp, vital-point-piercing arrows.

Verse 6 (skanda.8.90.6)

स भिन्नहृदयो दैत्यः सोमेन दृढमुद्धतः । मोहं समाविशद् व्यास क्रौञ्चः शक्त्येव पर्वतः ।

sa bhinnahṛdayo daityaḥ somena dṛḍhamuddhataḥ | mohaṁ samāviśad vyāsa krauñcaḥ śaktyeva parvataḥ |

His heart pierced through by Soma's fierce blow, that Daitya, O Vyasa, fell into a swoon, as Mount Krauncha once swooned beneath Skanda's spear.

Verse 7 (skanda.8.90.7)

तं तथाभिसमीक्ष्यैव रथं यन्ता सहासुरम् । अपोवाह महामायं धनेशं निधयो यथा ।

taṁ tathābhisamīkṣyaiva rathaṁ yantā sahāsuram | apovāha mahāmāyaṁ dhaneśaṁ nidhayo yathā |

Seeing him in that state, his charioteer at once drove the chariot away with the Asura upon it, as the divine treasures whisk away the great illusionist Kubera to safety.

Verse 8 (skanda.8.90.8)

ततो हाहाकृतं दैत्यैर्दैवतैः साधुसाध्विति । गृह्णगृह्णेति दैत्यैश्च मा गृह्णेति च दैवतैः ।

tato hāhākṛtaṁ daityairdaivataiḥ sādhusādhviti | gṛhṇagṛhṇeti daityaiśca mā gṛhṇeti ca daivataiḥ |

Then the Daityas cried out in dismay while the gods shouted "Well done, well done!" The Daityas called "Seize him, seize him!" while the gods cried "Let him not be seized!"

Verse 9 (skanda.8.90.9)

ततो भेर्यश्च शंखाश्च पणवा गोविषाणकाः । अवाद्यन्त सुराणां वै हर्षरागप्रवर्तनाः ।

tato bheryaśca śaṁkhāśca paṇavā goviṣāṇakāḥ | avādyanta surāṇāṁ vai harṣarāgapravartanāḥ |

Then war-drums and conches, kettledrums and horns, sounded forth, stirring the joyous excitement of the gods.

Verse 10 (skanda.8.90.10)

अथान्धकश्च तारश्च तारको नमुचिस्तथा । विप्रचित्तिः शम्बरश्च महामायश्च दानवः ।

athāndhakaśca tāraśca tārako namucistathā | vipracittiḥ śambaraśca mahāmāyaśca dānavaḥ |

Then Andhaka, Tara, Taraka, Namuchi, Vipracitti, Shambara, and the great sorcerer Danava,

Verse 11 (skanda.8.90.11)

धुन्धुः कार्तस्वनश्चैव राहुश्चैव महाबलः । शतकेतुः शतावर्तः पुलोमा विल्वलस्तथा ।

dhundhuḥ kārtasvanaścaiva rāhuścaiva mahābalaḥ | śataketuḥ śatāvartaḥ pulomā vilvalastathā |

Dhundhu, Kartasvana, mighty Rahu, Shataketu, Shatavarta, Puloma, and Vilvala,

Verse 12 (skanda.8.90.12)

वातापी कालनेमिश्च शतावर्तः शतोदरः । महापार्श्वोदरश्चैव मुसुण्डः सुण्ढ एव च ।

vātāpī kālanemiśca śatāvartaḥ śatodaraḥ | mahāpārśvodaraścaiva musuṇḍaḥ suṇḍha eva ca |

Vatapi, Kalanemi, another Shatavarta, Shatodara, Maha-Parshvodara, Musunda, and Sundha,

Verse 13 (skanda.8.90.13)

दुर्लोमा वक्रबन्धश्च विरोमा रोध एव च । मारीचश्च सुबाहुश्च श्वेतकुण्डलिरेव च ।

durlomā vakrabandhaśca viromā rodha eva ca | mārīcaśca subāhuśca śvetakuṇḍalireva ca |

Durloma, Vakrabandha, Viroma, Rodha, Maricha, Subahu, and Shvetakundali,

Verse 14 (skanda.8.90.14)

वृषपर्वातिकायश्च शरभः सिंह एव च । नरान्तको देवहनस्तथा यज्ञहनश्च यः ।

vṛṣaparvātikāyaśca śarabhaḥ siṁha eva ca | narāntako devahanastathā yajñahanaśca yaḥ |

Vrishaparvan, Atikaya, Sharabha, Simha, Narantaka, Devahan, and Yajnahan,

Verse 15 (skanda.8.90.15)

दैत्यौ सुन्दनिसुन्दौ च शक्रतापन एव च । प्रह्लादश्चानुह्रादश्च शिनिर्बाष्कल एव च ।

daityau sundanisundau ca śakratāpana eva ca | prahlādaścānuhrādaśca śinirbāṣkala eva ca |

the Daitya brothers Sunda and Nisunda, Shakratapana, Prahlada, Anuhrada, Shini, and Bashkala,

Verse 16 (skanda.8.90.16)

विरोचनो बलिर्बाणो वाताश्वश्च महाबलः । मयोऽथ तारकाक्षश्च विद्युन्माली प्रभाकरः ।

virocano balirbāṇo vātāśvaśca mahābalaḥ | mayo'tha tārakākṣaśca vidyunmālī prabhākaraḥ |

Virochana, Bali, Bana, mighty Vatashva, Maya, Tarakaksha, Vidyunmali, and Prabhakara,

Verse 17 (skanda.8.90.17)

दुन्दुभिर्महिषश्चैव अरिष्टो रिष्ट एव च । केशी च धेनुकश्चैव अजको व्यंस एव च ।

dundubhirmahiṣaścaiva ariṣṭo riṣṭa eva ca | keśī ca dhenukaścaiva ajako vyaṁsa eva ca |

Dundubhi, Mahisha, Arishta, Rishta, Keshi, Dhenuka, Ajaka, and Vyamsa,

Verse 18 (skanda.8.90.18)

तथा गगनमूर्धा च असिलोमा च दानवः । सूचीलोमा तुहुण्डश्च हुण्डश्च परतापनः ।

tathā gaganamūrdhā ca asilomā ca dānavaḥ | sūcīlomā tuhuṇḍaśca huṇḍaśca paratāpanaḥ |

Gaganamurdha, the Danava Asiloman, Suchiloman, Tuhunda, and fierce Hunda,

Verse 19 (skanda.8.90.19)

हस्ती दुर्योधनश्चैव विपाकः पाक एव च । बलो मुरोऽथ नरको मूकेन्द्रदमनावपि ।

hastī duryodhanaścaiva vipākaḥ pāka eva ca | balo muro'tha narako mūkendradamanāvapi |

Hasti, Duryodhana, Vipaka, Paka, Bala, Mura, Naraka, Muka, and Indradamana,

Verse 20 (skanda.8.90.20)

अश्वग्रीवः शम्बरश्च तथान्यः कालसंवरः । शाल्वः शतभुजश्चैव द्रुमो व्याघ्रश्च दानवः ।

aśvagrīvaḥ śambaraśca tathānyaḥ kālasaṁvaraḥ | śālvaḥ śatabhujaścaiva drumo vyāghraśca dānavaḥ |

Ashvagriva, another Shambara called Kalasamvara, Shalva, Shatabhuja, Druma, and the Danava Vyaghra,

Verse 21 (skanda.8.90.21)

मधुश्च कैटभश्चैव महासंगर एव च । छायाग्रहश्च विख्यातः सैंहिकेयाश्च विश्रुताः ।

madhuśca kaiṭabhaścaiva mahāsaṁgara eva ca | chāyāgrahaśca vikhyātaḥ saiṁhikeyāśca viśrutāḥ |

Madhu, Kaitabha, Mahasangara, the renowned Chayagraha, and the famed sons of Simhika,

Verse 22 (skanda.8.90.22)

हालाह्लाश्च ते सर्वे बलिपुत्राश्च विश्रुताः । तथा मयसुताः सर्वे निवातकवचाश्च ये ।

hālāhlāśca te sarve baliputrāśca viśrutāḥ | tathā mayasutāḥ sarve nivātakavacāśca ye |

all those called the Halahalas, the renowned sons of Bali, all the sons of Maya, and the Daityas called Nivatakavachas,

Verse 23 (skanda.8.90.23)

पौलोमाः कालकेयाश्च विप्रचितिसुताश्च ये । एते चान्ये च बहुशो दैत्यदानवसंमताः ।

paulomāḥ kālakeyāśca vipracitisutāśca ye | ete cānye ca bahuśo daityadānavasaṁmatāḥ |

the Paulomas, the Kalakeyas, and the sons of Vipracitti - these and countless others besides, warriors held in high esteem among the Daityas and Danavas,

Verse 24 (skanda.8.90.24)

सर्वे चन्द्रमसं देवं प्रति वेगं प्रचक्रिरे । महिषा इव हस्तिनः शरभं यथा ।

sarve candramasaṁ devaṁ prati vegaṁ pracakrire | mahiṣā iva hastinaḥ śarabhaṁ yathā |

all of them rushed with great speed at the god Chandra, as buffaloes charge [a portion of this line, likely naming a lion, is lost in the manuscript], or as elephants charge a sharabha.

Verse 25 (skanda.8.90.25)

विघ्ना यतप्रयत्नं यद्वत् कामा मोक्षाश्रितं यथा । इन्द्रियार्था यथा योगमनर्था दुःखितं यथा ।

vighnā yataprayatnaṁ yadvat kāmā mokṣāśritaṁ yathā | indriyārthā yathā yogamanarthā duḥkhitaṁ yathā |

As obstacles beset one who strives with effort, as desires beset one bent upon liberation, as sense-objects beset one practicing yoga, as misfortunes beset one already sorrowful,

Verse 26 (skanda.8.90.26)

नागा इव गरुत्मन्तं भ्रमरा इव पादपम् । तथा ते दानवाः सर्वे प्रगृहीतवरायुधाः ।

nāgā iva garutmantaṁ bhramarā iva pādapam | tathā te dānavāḥ sarve pragṛhītavarāyudhāḥ |

as serpents swarm around Garuda, as bees swarm around a flowering tree - so, weapons raised, all those Danavas together

Verse 27 (skanda.8.90.27)

दुद्रुवुः शिशिरं देवं महाजलदनिस्वनाः । तेषामापततां व्यास तिमिरारिर्हसन्निव ।

dudruvuḥ śiśiraṁ devaṁ mahājaladanisvanāḥ | teṣāmāpatatāṁ vyāsa timirārirhasanniva |

rushed, thundering like vast storm-clouds, upon the cool-rayed god. And as they charged, O Vyasa, the foe of darkness, as though laughing,

Verse 28 (skanda.8.90.28)

उद्यतान्यायुधानि स्म शरैश्चिच्छेद सर्वशः । ततः स तान् पुनर्देवः सर्वानेव रुषान्वितः ।

udyatānyāyudhāni sma śaraiściccheda sarvaśaḥ | tataḥ sa tān punardevaḥ sarvāneva ruṣānvitaḥ |

cut down every one of their raised weapons with his arrows. Then that god, filled with anger, struck all of them again,

Verse 29 (skanda.8.90.29)

हृदयेषु शरैस्तीक्ष्णैर्बिभेद च ररास च । तुषारेण च शीतेन ताराधिपतिरव्ययः ।

hṛdayeṣu śaraistīkṣṇairbibheda ca rarāsa ca | tuṣāreṇa ca śītena tārādhipatiravyayaḥ |

piercing their hearts with sharp arrows and roaring aloud; and the imperishable lord of the stars, with his cold frost,

Verse 30 (skanda.8.90.30)

आजघानासुरान् सर्वान् क्रोधसंरक्तलोचनः । ते शरैश्च विनिर्भिन्नाः शीतेन च भृशार्दिताः ।

ājaghānāsurān sarvān krodhasaṁraktalocanaḥ | te śaraiśca vinirbhinnāḥ śītena ca bhṛśārditāḥ |

his eyes red with rage, struck down all the Asuras. Pierced by his arrows and grievously tormented by the cold,

Verse 31 (skanda.8.90.31)

स्थितास्तत्रैव दैत्येन्द्राश्चित्रपट्टार्पिता इव । चन्द्रोऽपि देवः समरे मण्डलीकृतकार्मुकः ।

sthitāstatraiva daityendrāścitrapaṭṭārpitā iva | candro'pi devaḥ samare maṇḍalīkṛtakārmukaḥ |

those Daitya lords stood frozen where they were, as though painted upon a canvas. The god Chandra, too, his bow curved into a full circle on the battlefield,

Verse 32 (skanda.8.90.32)

बिभेद सर्वान् दैत्येन्द्रान् नर्दमानः पयोदवत् । यः कश्चिद्दानवो वापि दैत्यो वा मुनिसत्तम ।

bibheda sarvān daityendrān nardamānaḥ payodavat | yaḥ kaściddānavo vāpi daityo vā munisattama |

pierced all the Daitya lords, thundering like a rain-cloud. Whatever Danava or Daitya, O best of sages,

Verse 33 (skanda.8.90.33)

सर्वे एव शरान् तस्य दधिरे शशिनस्तदा । यत्किञ्चिच्चालयत्यङ्गं तत्र दैत्यः कदाचन ।

sarve eva śarān tasya dadhire śaśinastadā | yatkiñciccālayatyaṅgaṁ tatra daityaḥ kadācana |

all now bore Chandra's arrows lodged within them. Whenever any Daitya so much as stirred a limb there,

Verse 34 (skanda.8.90.34)

तत्तत् तीक्ष्णैः शरैर्देवो बिभेद च ररास च । ब्रुवतो दैत्ययोधस्य यत्र क्वचन संयुगे ।

tattat tīkṣṇaiḥ śarairdevo bibheda ca rarāsa ca | bruvato daityayodhasya yatra kvacana saṁyuge |

the god pierced that very limb with a sharp arrow and roared. Wherever in that battle any Daitya warrior began to speak,

Verse 35 (skanda.8.90.35)

निचखान शरानष्टौ मुखे तस्यापि चन्द्रमाः । निष्पन्दास्ते स्थिताः सर्वे मूकवच्चासुरोत्तमाः । शरनिर्भिन्नसर्वाङ्गाश्चित्रपट्टार्पिता इव ।

nicakhāna śarānaṣṭau mukhe tasyāpi candramāḥ | niṣpandāste sthitāḥ sarve mūkavaccāsurottamāḥ | śaranirbhinnasarvāṅgāścitrapaṭṭārpitā iva |

Chandra would plant eight arrows deep into his very mouth. Thus all those foremost Asuras stood motionless, mute, their every limb pierced through with arrows, like figures painted on a canvas.

Verse 36 (skanda.8.90.36)

यथा स भगवान् देवश्चन्द्रमा दानवार्दनः । तथैव भगवान् वह्निरार्दयद् दानवान् युधि ।

yathā sa bhagavān devaścandramā dānavārdanaḥ | tathaiva bhagavān vahnirārdayad dānavān yudhi |

Just as the divine lord Chandra tormented the Danavas, so too did the divine lord Vahni torment the Danavas in that battle.

Verse 37 (skanda.8.90.37)

तद्रथाश्वगजयोधसंकुलं प्रक्षरद्रुधिरबिन्दुविह्वलम् । सीदते गजकुलोपमं बलं पंकलग्नमिव सर्वमुल्बणम् ।

tadrathāśvagajayodhasaṁkulaṁ prakṣaradrudhirabinduvihvalam | sīdate gajakulopamaṁ balaṁ paṁkalagnamiva sarvamulbaṇam |

Crowded with chariots, horses, elephants, and warriors, unnerved by the trickling drops of blood, that entire terrible host sank down like a herd of elephants mired in mud.