Hiranyaksha's Conquest of the Quarters: The Approach to Yama's Realm

Verse 1 (skanda.8.94.1)

सनत्कुमार उवाच । तमापतन्तं वेगेन गरुत्मन्तमिवाहवे । दृष्ट्वा वरुणपुत्रास्ते पित्रा सह विदुद्रुवुः

sanatkumāra uvāca | tamāpatantaṁ vegena garutmantamivāhave | dṛṣṭvā varuṇaputrāste pitrā saha vidudruvuḥ

Sanatkumara said: Seeing him swooping down with speed in that battle like Garutmat (Garuda), the sons of Varuna fled away together with their father.

Verse 2 (skanda.8.94.2)

दैत्याश्चापि हि ते सर्वे प्राप्य तद्वरुणालयम् । व्यूढस्कन्धा व्यतिष्ठन्त व्यसृजंस्तत्पुरं प्रति

daityāścāpi hi te sarve prāpya tadvaruṇālayam | vyūḍhaskandhā vyatiṣṭhanta vyasṛjaṁstatpuraṁ prati

And all those Daityas too, having reached that abode of Varuna, stood arrayed shoulder to shoulder, and let their forces loose against that city.

Verse 3 (skanda.8.94.3)

दूतं वातापिनं चैव राज्ञा प्रेषितमूर्जितम् । स गत्वा तां पुरीं रम्यां प्रविश्य च महासुरः

dūtaṁ vātāpinaṁ caiva rājñā preṣitamūrjitam | sa gatvā tāṁ purīṁ ramyāṁ praviśya ca mahāsuraḥ

The mighty messenger Vatapin, sent by the king, went there and, that great Asura, having entered that beautiful city -

Verse 4 (skanda.8.94.4)

पौरैः सुपूजितो व्यास प्राहेदं तान् सुगर्वितः । राजा सर्वस्य लोकस्य दैत्यदानवनन्दनः

pauraiḥ supūjito vyāsa prāhedaṁ tān sugarvitaḥ | rājā sarvasya lokasya daityadānavanandanaḥ

- being duly honoured by the citizens, O Vyasa, spoke this to them with great pride: "The king of the whole world, the delight of the Daityas and Danavas -"

Verse 5 (skanda.8.94.5)

कश्यपस्य सुतः श्रीमान् हिरण्याक्षः प्रतापवान् । जित्वा सर्वान् सुरान् संख्ये आज्ञापयति वस्सदा

kaśyapasya sutaḥ śrīmān hiraṇyākṣaḥ pratāpavān | jitvā sarvān surān saṁkhye ājñāpayati vassadā

"- the glorious and mighty Hiranyaksha, son of Kashyapa, having conquered all the gods in battle, ever commands you thus -"

Verse 6 (skanda.8.94.6)

यूयं शृणुत सर्वे मे आज्ञां कुरुत चैव हि । आनयध्वं च रत्नानि परित्यजत देवताः

yūyaṁ śṛṇuta sarve me ājñāṁ kuruta caiva hi | ānayadhvaṁ ca ratnāni parityajata devatāḥ

"'Hear me, all of you, and carry out my command: bring forth your jewels, and abandon your gods.'"

Verse 7 (skanda.8.94.7)

देवपक्षोऽत्र यः कश्चित् पुरे प्रतिवसत्युत । अभयं तस्य यच्छामि यातु देवानभीतवत्

devapakṣo'tra yaḥ kaścit pure prativasatyuta | abhayaṁ tasya yacchāmi yātu devānabhītavat

"'Whoever here in this city belongs to the side of the gods and yet dwells among you - to him I grant safety; let him go to the gods without fear.'"

Verse 8 (skanda.8.94.8)

नारदाद्याश्च ऋषयस्तं समासाद्य दैत्यकम् । ऊचुस्तमसुरं व्यास सान्त्वयुक्तमिदं तदा

nāradādyāśca ṛṣayastaṁ samāsādya daityakam | ūcustamasuraṁ vyāsa sāntvayuktamidaṁ tadā

Then Narada and the other sages, approaching that Daitya, O Vyasa, spoke this conciliatory word to that Asura:

Verse 9 (skanda.8.94.9)

राजा भोजो विराट् सम्राट् भूपतिः क्षत्रियो नृपः । य एभिः स्तूयते शब्दैः कस्तन्नार्च्चयते बुधः

rājā bhojo virāṭ samrāṭ bhūpatiḥ kṣatriyo nṛpaḥ | ya ebhiḥ stūyate śabdaiḥ kastannārccayate budhaḥ

"He who is praised by these words - 'king,' 'sovereign lord,' 'paramount ruler,' 'emperor,' 'lord of the earth,' 'kshatriya,' 'monarch' - what wise man would not honour him?"

Verse 10 (skanda.8.94.10)

स त्वं राजा च भोजश्च विराट् सम्राट् तथैव च । भूपतिः क्षत्रियश्चैव नृपः सर्वसहस्तथा

sa tvaṁ rājā ca bhojaśca virāṭ samrāṭ tathaiva ca | bhūpatiḥ kṣatriyaścaiva nṛpaḥ sarvasahastathā

"'You yourself are that king, that sovereign lord, that paramount ruler and likewise emperor, lord of the earth and kshatriya, and monarch who endures all.'"

Verse 11 (skanda.8.94.11)

निर्जिताः सुमहावीर्यास्त्वया देवाः सवासवाः । कस्त्वया सदृशो लोके बाह्यैकं रुद्रमीश्वरम्

nirjitāḥ sumahāvīryāstvayā devāḥ savāsavāḥ | kastvayā sadṛśo loke bāhyaikaṁ rudramīśvaram

"'By you the gods of very great might, together with Vasava (Indra), have been conquered; who in the world is your equal, save Rudra, the Lord, alone?'"

Verse 12 (skanda.8.94.12)

त्वं पाता सर्वलोकानां हर्त्ता स्रष्टा तथैव च । कस्तवाज्ञां महाराज प्रतिहन्याद् दुरात्मवान्

tvaṁ pātā sarvalokānāṁ harttā sraṣṭā tathaiva ca | kastavājñāṁ mahārāja pratihanyād durātmavān

"'You are the protector of all the worlds, and likewise their destroyer and their creator; who, O great king, could be so evil-minded as to defy your command?'"

Verse 13 (skanda.8.94.13)

वयं च सर्वे दैत्येन्द्र वरमिच्छाम दानव । वरदस्त्वं हि भूतानामस्माकं वरदो भव

vayaṁ ca sarve daityendra varamicchāma dānava | varadastvaṁ hi bhūtānāmasmākaṁ varado bhava

"'And we all, O lord of the Daityas, O Danava, desire a boon; since you are a granter of boons to all beings, be a granter of boons to us also.'"

Verse 14 (skanda.8.94.14)

सनत्कुमार उवाच । तेषां तद्वचनं श्रुत्वा वरदोस्मीति सोऽब्रवीत् । ऊचुस्ते दैत्यराजानं तदा वचनकोविदाः

sanatkumāra uvāca | teṣāṁ tadvacanaṁ śrutvā varadosmīti so'bravīt | ūcuste daityarājānaṁ tadā vacanakovidāḥ

Sanatkumara said: Having heard their words, he said, "I grant the boon." Then they, skilled in speech, spoke to the lord of the Daityas:

Verse 15 (skanda.8.94.15)

ऋषय ऊचुः । यदेतदुक्तं भवता नरकव्याधिमृत्युषु । न तथा तद् भवेद् दैत्य एष नो दीयतां वरः

ṛṣaya ūcuḥ | yadetaduktaṁ bhavatā narakavyādhimṛtyuṣu | na tathā tad bhaved daitya eṣa no dīyatāṁ varaḥ

The sages said: "What you have declared regarding hell, disease, and death - let it not come to pass thus, O Daitya; let this boon be granted to us."

Verse 16 (skanda.8.94.16)

दैत्य उवाच । मम प्रतिज्ञा विप्रेन्द्राः पूर्वमेव तपोधनाः । लोकानां सुखमेधेयं राजा लोकस्य यद्यहम्

daitya uvāca | mama pratijñā viprendrāḥ pūrvameva tapodhanāḥ | lokānāṁ sukhamedheyaṁ rājā lokasya yadyaham

The Daitya said: "O foremost of brahmins, O men rich in austerity, my vow was made long ago: 'If I am king of the world, may the worlds prosper in happiness.'"

Verse 17 (skanda.8.94.17)

न तथा तत् करिष्यामि यद्यहं मुनिसत्तमाः । मिथ्याप्रतिज्ञः स्यां चाहमसत्यश्च दुरात्मवान्

na tathā tat kariṣyāmi yadyahaṁ munisattamāḥ | mithyāpratijñaḥ syāṁ cāhamasatyaśca durātmavān

"'I shall not act contrary to that, O best of sages, lest I become one of false vow, untruthful, and evil-souled.'"

Verse 18 (skanda.8.94.18)

तस्मादन्यद् भवन्तो मां वर याचन्तु सुप्रियम् । कर्तास्मि तं तथा सर्वं याचेऽहं शिरसा ह वः

tasmādanyad bhavanto māṁ vara yācantu supriyam | kartāsmi taṁ tathā sarvaṁ yāce'haṁ śirasā ha vaḥ

"'Therefore ask of me some other, most agreeable boon; I shall fulfil it entirely - with bowed head I entreat you all to ask.'"

Verse 19 (skanda.8.94.19)

सनत्कुमार उवाच । तस्य तद्वचनं श्रुत्वा ऋषयः सर्व एव ते । हिरण्याक्षमिदं व्यास पुनरेवाब्रुवन् विभुम्

sanatkumāra uvāca | tasya tadvacanaṁ śrutvā ṛṣayaḥ sarva eva te | hiraṇyākṣamidaṁ vyāsa punarevābruvan vibhum

Sanatkumara said: Having heard his words, all those sages, O Vyasa, spoke once more to the mighty Hiranyaksha:

Verse 20 (skanda.8.94.20)

ऋषय ऊचुः । लोकधर्मप्रवृत्त्यर्थं ब्रह्मणा दैत्यपुंगव । कृतमेतत् पुरा सर्वं धर्मश्चापि प्रवर्तितः

ṛṣaya ūcuḥ | lokadharmapravṛttyarthaṁ brahmaṇā daityapuṁgava | kṛtametat purā sarvaṁ dharmaścāpi pravartitaḥ

The sages said: "O bull among the Daityas, all this was done of old by Brahma for the sake of establishing the righteous order of the world, and dharma too was set in motion."

Verse 21 (skanda.8.94.21)

समीक्ष्य चैतल्लोकस्य धर्मश्चापि प्रवर्त्तितः । नाभूतस्तद् भवेद् दैत्य इति नो वरदो भव

samīkṣya caitallokasya dharmaścāpi pravarttitaḥ | nābhūtastad bhaved daitya iti no varado bhava

"'Having considered the good of the world, dharma too was set forth; let not what has never been, come to be now, O Daitya - be the granter of this boon to us.'"

Verse 22 (skanda.8.94.22)

प्रतिज्ञा प्रभवेत् सा यल्लोकानां दुःखवर्जनम् । तच्च तस्मान्न नश्येत ब्रह्मणः कृतिरव्यया

pratijñā prabhavet sā yallokānāṁ duḥkhavarjanam | tacca tasmānna naśyeta brahmaṇaḥ kṛtiravyayā

"'Let that vow prevail which brings freedom from suffering for the worlds; and let not, on that account, Brahma's imperishable work be destroyed.'"

Verse 23 (skanda.8.94.23)

यावत्त्वं दैत्य लोकस्य राजा ह्यसि प्रभुश्च ह । एवं त्वयानृणत्वं च ब्रह्मणोऽद्य कृतं भवेत्

yāvattvaṁ daitya lokasya rājā hyasi prabhuśca ha | evaṁ tvayānṛṇatvaṁ ca brahmaṇo'dya kṛtaṁ bhavet

"'As long as you, O Daitya, remain king and lord of the world, by acting thus you shall today have discharged your debt to Brahma.'"

Verse 24 (skanda.8.94.24)

तेषां स वचनं श्रुत्वा ऋषीन् निश्चित्य दैत्यराट् । ये द्रोहाः शक्रपक्षाश्च ममाज्ञाभङ्गकारिणः

teṣāṁ sa vacanaṁ śrutvā ṛṣīn niścitya daityarāṭ | ye drohāḥ śakrapakṣāśca mamājñābhaṅgakāriṇaḥ

Having heard their words, and having reached his decision regarding the sages, the king of the Daityas declared: "Those who are treacherous, who side with Shakra (Indra), and who violate my command -"

Verse 25 (skanda.8.94.25)

तेषामेव भवेन्मृत्युर्नरकेषु च यातनाः । एतदाह तदा राजा ते चाप्यूचुर्नराधिपम्

teṣāmeva bhavenmṛtyurnarakeṣu ca yātanāḥ | etadāha tadā rājā te cāpyūcurnarādhipam

"- for them alone shall there be death, and torments in hell." Thus spoke the king; and they too replied to that lord of men -

Verse 26 (skanda.8.94.26)

एवमस्त्विति तांश्चोक्त्वा यातनामोक्षमादिशत् । स मुक्त्वा नारकान् सर्वान् ददौ स्थानस्य रक्षणम्

evamastviti tāṁścoktvā yātanāmokṣamādiśat | sa muktvā nārakān sarvān dadau sthānasya rakṣaṇam

- "So be it," they said; and he thereupon ordered release from torment. Having freed all those under torment, he granted the guardianship of that station -

Verse 27 (skanda.8.94.27)

पितृराजानमनघ विप्रचित्तिं महाबलम् । ततोवघुष्य स जयं पूजयित्वा तु तान्द्विजान् । जगाम धनदावासं हिरण्याक्षो महाबलः

pitṛrājānamanagha vipracittiṁ mahābalam | tatovaghuṣya sa jayaṁ pūjayitvā tu tāndvijān | jagāma dhanadāvāsaṁ hiraṇyākṣo mahābalaḥ

- to the mighty Vipracitti, O sinless one, making him lord of the Pitris. Then, having proclaimed his victory and honoured those brahmins, the mighty Hiranyaksha set out for the abode of the Lord of Wealth (Kubera).

Verse 28 (skanda.8.94.28)

ते तां धनेशस्य पुरीं महाबला विनादयन्तोंन्धकपालितास्तदा । हिरण्यनेत्रं परिवार्य दानवास्तदाभिजग्मुर्जलदा इवाचलम्

te tāṁ dhaneśasya purīṁ mahābalā vinādayantoṁndhakapālitāstadā | hiraṇyanetraṁ parivārya dānavāstadābhijagmurjaladā ivācalam

Then those mighty Danavas, protected by Andhaka, making that city of the Lord of Wealth resound, went forth surrounding Hiranyaksha (the golden-eyed one), like clouds surrounding a mountain.