The Description of Hiranyaksha's Kingdom

Verse 1 (skanda.8.95.1)

सनत्कुमार उवाच । तथा लङ्कां समासाद्य धनेशस्य पुरीं शुभाम् । अदूरे तस्थुरुद्धूताः सन्नद्धकवचायुधाः

sanatkumāra uvāca | tathā laṅkāṁ samāsādya dhaneśasya purīṁ śubhām | adūre tasthuruddhūtāḥ sannaddhakavacāyudhāḥ

Sanatkumara said: Thus, having reached Lanka, the beautiful city of the Lord of Wealth, the Danavas stood not far off, agitated, armoured and armed.

Verse 2 (skanda.8.95.2)

अवस्थिताँस्तथा दृष्ट्वा दानवान् बलदर्पितान् । लङ्कानिवासिनः सर्वे निधिपालास्तथैव च

avasthitā~stathā dṛṣṭvā dānavān baladarpitān | laṅkānivāsinaḥ sarve nidhipālāstathaiva ca

Seeing the Danavas thus arrayed, proud of their strength, all the inhabitants of Lanka, and likewise the guardians of the treasures -

Verse 3 (skanda.8.95.3)

निधयः शंखपद्माद्या ऋषयश्च तपोधनाः । अर्घं रत्नानि चादाय दानवाय न्यवेदयन्

nidhayaḥ śaṁkhapadmādyā ṛṣayaśca tapodhanāḥ | arghaṁ ratnāni cādāya dānavāya nyavedayan

- the Treasures themselves, Shankha, Padma and the rest, and the sages rich in austerity, taking offering-water and jewels, presented them before that Danava.

Verse 4 (skanda.8.95.4)

ऊचुश्च तव दैत्येन्द्र वयं वश्या न संशयः । किङ्कराश्च प्रशाध्यस्मान् यथावद्दानवेश्वर

ūcuśca tava daityendra vayaṁ vaśyā na saṁśayaḥ | kiṅkarāśca praśādhyasmān yathāvaddānaveśvara

And they said, "O lord of the Daityas, we are yours to command, without doubt; we are your servants - govern us, O lord of the Danavas, as is fitting."

Verse 5 (skanda.8.95.5)

हिरण्याक्ष उवाच । मा भीर्भवतु वो यक्षा मम यूयं न संशयः । अयं राजा हि वः श्रेष्ठो हिरण्यकशिपोः सुतः

hiraṇyākṣa uvāca | mā bhīrbhavatu vo yakṣā mama yūyaṁ na saṁśayaḥ | ayaṁ rājā hi vaḥ śreṣṭho hiraṇyakaśipoḥ sutaḥ

Hiranyaksha said: "Have no fear, O Yakshas; you are mine, without doubt. This one here, the son of Hiranyakashipu, shall be your excellent king -"

Verse 6 (skanda.8.95.6)

प्रह्लादो देवसंघानां सर्वेषां विप्रबाधनः । ततस्तं तत्र संस्थाप्य धनेशं दैत्यपुङ्गवम्

prahlādo devasaṁghānāṁ sarveṣāṁ viprabādhanaḥ | tatastaṁ tatra saṁsthāpya dhaneśaṁ daityapuṅgavam

"- Prahlada, the tormentor of all the hosts of gods." Then, having established him there as Lord of Wealth, that bull among the Daityas -

Verse 7 (skanda.8.95.7)

अन्येषां देवसंघानां स्थानान्यापूरयत्पुनः । संस्थाप्य सर्वस्थानेषु स्थानिनो दानवेश्वरान्

anyeṣāṁ devasaṁghānāṁ sthānānyāpūrayatpunaḥ | saṁsthāpya sarvasthāneṣu sthānino dānaveśvarān

- again filled the posts of the other hosts of gods, establishing lords of the Danavas as the new holders in every post.

Verse 8 (skanda.8.95.8)

अन्धकं त्वमरावत्यामिन्द्रत्वेनाभ्यषेचयत् । भूर्लोकं चाखिलं दैत्यः स्वयमेवान्वशासत

andhakaṁ tvamarāvatyāmindratvenābhyaṣecayat | bhūrlokaṁ cākhilaṁ daityaḥ svayamevānvaśāsata

He anointed Andhaka as Indra in Amaravati, and the Daitya himself ruled over the entire earth-realm.

Verse 9 (skanda.8.95.9)

भूयश्च धनुरादाय सशरं सूर्यसन्निभः । दैत्येन्द्रो मेदिनीं प्राह ममात्मानं विदर्शय

bhūyaśca dhanurādāya saśaraṁ sūryasannibhaḥ | daityendro medinīṁ prāha mamātmānaṁ vidarśaya

Then again, taking up his bow with its arrows, that lord of the Daityas, radiant as the sun, said to the Earth, "Show me your true form!"

Verse 10 (skanda.8.95.10)

सा भीता तस्य दैत्यस्य वेपमाना कृताञ्जलिः । जयेत्युक्त्वाग्रतस्तस्थौ विष्णोर्लक्ष्मीरिवापरा

sā bhītā tasya daityasya vepamānā kṛtāñjaliḥ | jayetyuktvāgratastasthau viṣṇorlakṣmīrivāparā

She, frightened of that Daitya, trembling, with joined palms, said, "Victory to you," and stood before him, like another Lakshmi standing before Vishnu.

Verse 11 (skanda.8.95.11)

तां मृगीमिव शार्दूलो भुजङ्गीमिव पक्षिराट् । शार्दूलीं सिंह इव च सिंहीं शरभराडिव

tāṁ mṛgīmiva śārdūlo bhujaṅgīmiva pakṣirāṭ | śārdūlīṁ siṁha iva ca siṁhīṁ śarabharāḍiva

As a tiger seizes a doe, as the king of birds seizes a serpent-female, as a lion seizes a tigress, and as a sharabha-king seizes a lioness,

Verse 12 (skanda.8.95.12)

हंसीं काक इव क्षुद्रो मयूरी मद्गुराडिव । तथा तां स दितेः पुत्रो जग्राह रुषिताननः । उवाच चैव संरब्धस्तां देवीं भयविह्वलाम्

haṁsīṁ kāka iva kṣudro mayūrī madgurāḍiva | tathā tāṁ sa diteḥ putro jagrāha ruṣitānanaḥ | uvāca caiva saṁrabdhastāṁ devīṁ bhayavihvalām

as a lowly crow seizes a female swan, or a diving-bird seizes a peahen - even so did that son of Diti, his face contorted with rage, seize her; and, in fury, he spoke to that goddess, overwhelmed with fear:

Verse 13 (skanda.8.95.13)

तवाहं वसुधे भर्त्ता ब्रह्मणा प्रकृतः शुभे । मान्यं पतिं त्वमिच्छेथा रक्षिष्येहं ततो हि ते

tavāhaṁ vasudhe bharttā brahmaṇā prakṛtaḥ śubhe | mānyaṁ patiṁ tvamicchethā rakṣiṣyehaṁ tato hi te

"O Earth, O auspicious one, I have been appointed your husband by Brahma; desire a worthy husband, and then indeed I shall protect you."

Verse 14 (skanda.8.95.14)

सनत्कुमार उवाच । ततो रसातलं गत्वा स्वपुरस्य समीपतः । बबद्ध नागपाशैस्तां दुष्टामिव यथाङ्गनाम्

sanatkumāra uvāca | tato rasātalaṁ gatvā svapurasya samīpataḥ | babaddha nāgapāśaistāṁ duṣṭāmiva yathāṅganām

Sanatkumara said: Then, going down to Rasatala, near his own city, he bound her with serpent-nooses, as though she were an unfaithful woman.

Verse 15 (skanda.8.95.15)

ततोचलेन दैत्येन्द्रः शंखेन सुमहाबलः । आर्त्तां रुरोध दुष्टश्च कन्दरामिव वीर्यवान्

tatocalena daityendraḥ śaṁkhena sumahābalaḥ | ārttāṁ rurodha duṣṭaśca kandarāmiva vīryavān

Then that most mighty, wicked and powerful lord of the Daityas confined the afflicted Earth with the immovable mountain Shankha, as one might seal off a mountain cave.

Verse 16 (skanda.8.95.16)

ततोऽस्या रक्षणे नित्यमुद्युक्तान् रक्षिणो दधौ । किङ्करान्नाम दैत्येन्द्रान् सहस्राणि चतुर्दश

tato'syā rakṣaṇe nityamudyuktān rakṣiṇo dadhau | kiṅkarānnāma daityendrān sahasrāṇi caturdaśa

Then he set as her guards fourteen thousand lords of the Daityas, called Kinkaras (servants), ever vigilant in watching over her.

Verse 17 (skanda.8.95.17)

स तथा तद्विधायैव दैत्येन्द्रस्तुष्टिमान् बभौ । कृषीबल इव क्षेत्रं सुनिष्पन्नं समीक्ष्य च

sa tathā tadvidhāyaiva daityendrastuṣṭimān babhau | kṛṣībala iva kṣetraṁ suniṣpannaṁ samīkṣya ca

Having thus arranged all this, the lord of the Daityas shone with contentment, like a farmer who beholds his field brought to a fine harvest.

Verse 18 (skanda.8.95.18)

कृतकृत्योऽहमित्येव बुद्धिं चक्रे स पार्थिवः । संयुज्य स्वसुतं ज्येष्ठं दारैः साधुरिवात्मवान्

kṛtakṛtyo'hamityeva buddhiṁ cakre sa pārthivaḥ | saṁyujya svasutaṁ jyeṣṭhaṁ dāraiḥ sādhurivātmavān

That king formed the thought, "I have accomplished my purpose," and, having married off his eldest son, felt the contentment of a self-possessed and righteous man.

Verse 19 (skanda.8.95.19)

अन्तरं न च तस्यान्यः कश्चित्प्राप्नोति सुव्रत । स्वसहायस्य विप्रस्य यथा दम्भेन वर्ततः

antaraṁ na ca tasyānyaḥ kaścitprāpnoti suvrata | svasahāyasya viprasya yathā dambhena vartataḥ

O man of good vows, just as none could find a flaw in a self-reliant brahmin who acts without deceit, so too could no one find any weakness in him.

Verse 20 (skanda.8.95.20)

यजध्वं दानवास्सर्वे विप्रान्पूजयतेति च । देवञ्च शूलिनं सर्वे नमस्यत पुनः पुनः

yajadhvaṁ dānavāssarve viprānpūjayateti ca | devañca śūlinaṁ sarve namasyata punaḥ punaḥ

"Perform sacrifices, all you Danavas, and honour the brahmins; and bow again and again to the trident-bearing god (Shiva)."

Verse 21 (skanda.8.95.21)

धर्ममेव निषेवध्वमिति सोऽज्ञापयत्तदा । न तस्याधार्मिकः कश्चिद् दैत्यो वा दानवोऽपि वा

dharmameva niṣevadhvamiti so'jñāpayattadā | na tasyādhārmikaḥ kaścid daityo vā dānavo'pi vā

"Practice righteousness alone" - such was the command he gave then; and in his realm no Daitya nor any Danava remained unrighteous.

Verse 22 (skanda.8.95.22)

न राज्येऽभवद् दुराचारस्तस्मिन् राज्यं प्रशासति । स्वयमेव स वायुश्च चन्द्रश्च सूर्य एव च

na rājye'bhavad durācārastasmin rājyaṁ praśāsati | svayameva sa vāyuśca candraśca sūrya eva ca

In that kingdom, while he ruled it, no misconduct existed; the Wind himself, the Moon, and the Sun as well -

Verse 23 (skanda.8.95.23)

अभवद् व्यास लोकेषु तपोबलसमन्वितः । ओषध्यः स्वयमुद्भूतास्तस्मिन् राजनि शासति

abhavad vyāsa lokeṣu tapobalasamanvitaḥ | oṣadhyaḥ svayamudbhūtāstasmin rājani śāsati

- became, O Vyasa, endowed throughout the worlds with the power of austerity; and while that king reigned, herbs sprang up of their own accord.

Verse 24 (skanda.8.95.24)

विना कृष्टिं संभवन्ति सर्वलोकस्य साधिकाः । स एव तास्समादाय क्षरं नयति दैत्यराट्

vinā kṛṣṭiṁ saṁbhavanti sarvalokasya sādhikāḥ | sa eva tāssamādāya kṣaraṁ nayati daityarāṭ

They arose without any tilling, sufficient for the whole world; and that very lord of the Daityas himself gathered them and distributed them to all.

Verse 25 (skanda.8.95.25)

स एवामर्दयच्चापि निनाय च पुनर्गृहान् । स एव दण्डिकोऽभूच्च दण्डश्चैव स एव हि

sa evāmardayaccāpi nināya ca punargṛhān | sa eva daṇḍiko'bhūcca daṇḍaścaiva sa eva hi

He himself gathered them and carried them home again; he himself was the wielder of punishment, and he himself was the punishment itself.

Verse 26 (skanda.8.95.26)

स एव योगात् सर्वत्र चौराद् रक्षति नित्यदा । न तस्य व्याधितः कश्चिन्म्रियते वापि कश्चन

sa eva yogāt sarvatra caurād rakṣati nityadā | na tasya vyādhitaḥ kaścinmriyate vāpi kaścana

He alone, through his own power, ever protected everyone everywhere from thieves; in his realm no one fell ill, nor did anyone die.

Verse 27 (skanda.8.95.27)

परदारप्रसक्तो वा पिशुनो वापि कर्हिचि तु । हिंसका न च तस्यासन्न चाप्यधार्मिकाः क्वचित्

paradāraprasakto vā piśuno vāpi karhici tu | hiṁsakā na ca tasyāsanna cāpyadhārmikāḥ kvacit

In his realm there was never anyone attached to another's wife, nor any slanderer; there were no violent men, nor any unrighteous ones anywhere.

Verse 28 (skanda.8.95.28)

पल्वलानि तडागानि सरित्प्रस्रवणानि च । विना वृष्ट्या भवन्त्येते सर्वत्रैव च सुस्थितम्

palvalāni taḍāgāni saritprasravaṇāni ca | vinā vṛṣṭyā bhavantyete sarvatraiva ca susthitam

Ponds, lakes, rivers, and springs remained full and well-stocked everywhere, even without any rain.

Verse 29 (skanda.8.95.29)

न सन्ति तस्य रक्षांसि न पिशाचाश्च हिंस्रिणः । ईतयश्च न सन्त्यस्य न द्वन्द्वानि च कानिचित्

na santi tasya rakṣāṁsi na piśācāśca hiṁsriṇaḥ | ītayaśca na santyasya na dvandvāni ca kānicit

In his realm there were no Rakshasas, nor harmful Pishachas; there were no blights upon the crops, nor any pairs of opposites such as heat and cold.

Verse 30 (skanda.8.95.30)

न जुह्वते तदा वह्निं विप्रास्तस्मिँस्तु राजनि । नाधीयते यजन्ते वा एकवर्णमभूत्तदा

na juhvate tadā vahniṁ viprāstasmi~stu rājani | nādhīyate yajante vā ekavarṇamabhūttadā

Yet under that king's rule, the brahmins did not offer oblations into the fire then, nor did they study the Vedas, nor perform sacrifice; all became of a single class at that time.

Verse 31 (skanda.8.95.31)

भृगवो येऽभवन् विप्रा दानवानां मुदावहाः । अधीयते यजन्ते च एवं तु व्यास सर्वशः

bhṛgavo ye'bhavan viprā dānavānāṁ mudāvahāḥ | adhīyate yajante ca evaṁ tu vyāsa sarvaśaḥ

Only the Bhrigus, those brahmins who were a source of joy to the Danavas, still studied and performed sacrifice - thus it was, O Vyasa, in every respect.

Verse 32 (skanda.8.95.32)

हृष्टपुष्टमभूत् सर्वं व्याधिदुःखविवर्जितम् । वर्णाश्रमपरित्यक्तं सर्वलोकसमं जगत्

hṛṣṭapuṣṭamabhūt sarvaṁ vyādhiduḥkhavivarjitam | varṇāśramaparityaktaṁ sarvalokasamaṁ jagat

Everything became joyful and flourishing, free of disease and sorrow; the world, having abandoned the distinctions of varna and ashrama, became the same for all people.

Verse 33 (skanda.8.95.33)

तन्नृत्यगीतोत्सवनित्ययुक्तं सुखप्रसुप्तं रतिकार्ययुक्तम् । जगद् बभौ राजनि दैत्यदेवे हिरण्यनेत्रे दितिनन्दनेति

tannṛtyagītotsavanityayuktaṁ sukhaprasuptaṁ ratikāryayuktam | jagad babhau rājani daityadeve hiraṇyanetre ditinandaneti

That world, given over always to dance, song, and festival, sleeping happily, engaged in the pursuits of pleasure, shone forth under the reign of that god among the Daityas, Hiranyaksha, the son of Diti.