The Means of Slaying Hiranyaksha

Verse 1 (skanda.8.97.1)

सनत्कुमार उवाच । तथाभूतं जगद् दृष्ट्वा देवास्ते दुःखपीडिताः । वैराजं लोकमासाद्य भूयोऽपश्यन् पितामहम्

sanatkumāra uvāca | tathābhūtaṁ jagad dṛṣṭvā devāste duḥkhapīḍitāḥ | vairājaṁ lokamāsādya bhūyo'paśyan pitāmaham

Sanatkumara said: Having seen the world become such, those gods, afflicted with grief, went again to the Vairaja realm and beheld the Grandsire (Brahma).

Verse 2 (skanda.8.97.2)

ते सर्वे समुपागम्य प्रणम्य च पुनः पुनः । ऊचुस्ते कर्म दैत्यस्य सर्वमेव सुदुःखिताः

te sarve samupāgamya praṇamya ca punaḥ punaḥ | ūcuste karma daityasya sarvameva suduḥkhitāḥ

All of them, approaching and bowing again and again, greatly grieved, told him the whole deed of that Daitya.

Verse 3 (skanda.8.97.3)

निवेद्य च पुनर्देवमूचुस्ते लोककारणम् । भगवन् हृतराज्याश्च दुर्बलाश्च तथा विभो

nivedya ca punardevamūcuste lokakāraṇam | bhagavan hṛtarājyāśca durbalāśca tathā vibho

Having reported this, they said again to that god, the cause of the worlds: "O blessed one, our kingdom is seized, and we have grown weak, O mighty lord."

Verse 4 (skanda.8.97.4)

असमर्था वयं तस्य स्थातुं दैत्यस्य संयुगे । न च स्थानं प्रपश्यामो यत्र तिष्ठाम विज्वराः

asamarthā vayaṁ tasya sthātuṁ daityasya saṁyuge | na ca sthānaṁ prapaśyāmo yatra tiṣṭhāma vijvarāḥ

"We are unable to stand against that Daitya in battle, and we see no place where we might dwell free from anguish."

Verse 5 (skanda.8.97.5)

सनत्कुमार उवाच । तेषां तद्वचनं श्रुत्वा भीतानां त्रिदिवौकसाम् । उवाच भगवान् ब्रह्मा सर्वानेव दिवौकसः

sanatkumāra uvāca | teṣāṁ tadvacanaṁ śrutvā bhītānāṁ tridivaukasām | uvāca bhagavān brahmā sarvāneva divaukasaḥ

Sanatkumara said: Having heard those words of the frightened dwellers of heaven, the blessed Brahma spoke to all those celestial ones:

Verse 6 (skanda.8.97.6)

न भेतव्यं सुरास्तस्य योगिनः सुमहात्मनः । समाप्तं तपसः सर्वं फलं दैत्यस्य तस्य तत्

na bhetavyaṁ surāstasya yoginaḥ sumahātmanaḥ | samāptaṁ tapasaḥ sarvaṁ phalaṁ daityasya tasya tat

"You need not fear that great-souled yogin, O gods; the whole fruit of that Daitya's austerity has now come to its end."

Verse 7 (skanda.8.97.7)

कालस्तस्याभिसंप्राप्तो जीवितान्तकरः सुराः । तस्मात् सर्वे मया सार्धं यात विष्णुं प्रयाचत

kālastasyābhisaṁprāpto jīvitāntakaraḥ surāḥ | tasmāt sarve mayā sārdhaṁ yāta viṣṇuṁ prayācata

"His time, which shall end his life, O gods, has arrived; therefore, all of you, go together with me and entreat Vishnu."

Verse 8 (skanda.8.97.8)

भवन्तो निर्बला ह्यद्य अशक्तास्तस्य बाधने । विष्णुः शक्तः स तं दैत्यं जीविताच्च्यावयिष्यति

bhavanto nirbalā hyadya aśaktāstasya bādhane | viṣṇuḥ śaktaḥ sa taṁ daityaṁ jīvitāccyāvayiṣyati

"You are powerless today, unable to strike him down; Vishnu alone is capable - he shall deprive that Daitya of his life."

Verse 9 (skanda.8.97.9)

पूर्वं हि जाते तस्मिँस्तु वागुवाचाशरीरिणी । नायं वध्यो मनुष्यस्य न देवस्य कथञ्चन

pūrvaṁ hi jāte tasmi~stu vāguvācāśarīriṇī | nāyaṁ vadhyo manuṣyasya na devasya kathañcana

"Indeed, when he was born, a disembodied voice declared: 'This one shall in no way be slain by any man, nor by any god,'"

Verse 10 (skanda.8.97.10)

नापि तिर्यक्षु जातस्य न भूमौ न च तेजसि । नाकाशे नापि लोकेषु महात्मायं भविष्यति

nāpi tiryakṣu jātasya na bhūmau na ca tejasi | nākāśe nāpi lokeṣu mahātmāyaṁ bhaviṣyati

"'- nor by one born among beasts, nor upon earth, nor in fire, nor in the sky, nor in any world shall this great soul be slain.'"

Verse 11 (skanda.8.97.11)

स एष देवा दैत्येशो महात्मा धार्मिकस्तदा । अवध्यः सर्वभूतानां वध्यो दुःखाद् भविष्यति

sa eṣa devā daityeśo mahātmā dhārmikastadā | avadhyaḥ sarvabhūtānāṁ vadhyo duḥkhād bhaviṣyati

"That same lord of the Daityas, O gods, that great and righteous soul, though unslayable by all beings, shall yet become slayable, though only with the greatest difficulty."

Verse 12 (skanda.8.97.12)

वाराहं रूपमास्थाय न दैवं नापि मानुषम् । न च तिर्यक्षु तज्जातं नरवाराहमस्ति वै

vārāhaṁ rūpamāsthāya na daivaṁ nāpi mānuṣam | na ca tiryakṣu tajjātaṁ naravārāhamasti vai

"By assuming the form of a boar - a man-boar form that is neither divine nor human, nor born among beasts - indeed [it can be done]."

Verse 13 (skanda.8.97.13)

पाताले च प्रविश्यैव नासौ भूर्नापि खं हि तत् । न तेजो नापि लोकोसौ सर्वतो मुक्तमेव तत्

pātāle ca praviśyaiva nāsau bhūrnāpi khaṁ hi tat | na tejo nāpi lokosau sarvato muktameva tat

"And by entering Patala - which is neither earth, nor sky, nor fire, nor any world - that place is wholly exempt from the terms of the oath."

Verse 14 (skanda.8.97.14)

सनत्कुमार उवाच । ततस्ते हृषिताः सर्वे प्रणम्य च पितामहम् । ऊचुर्गच्छाम देवेश कालोऽतिक्रमते हि नः

sanatkumāra uvāca | tataste hṛṣitāḥ sarve praṇamya ca pitāmaham | ūcurgacchāma deveśa kālo'tikramate hi naḥ

Sanatkumara said: Then, all of them delighted, having bowed to the Grandsire, said: "We shall go, O lord of the gods, for our time is running out."

Verse 15 (skanda.8.97.15)

ततस्ते सर्व एवैत्य श्वेतं पर्वतसत्तमम् । विष्णुं सहिष्णुं जिष्णुञ्च दानवायुतमर्दनम्

tataste sarva evaitya śvetaṁ parvatasattamam | viṣṇuṁ sahiṣṇuṁ jiṣṇuñca dānavāyutamardanam

Then all of them, going to Shveta, that most excellent of mountains, approached Vishnu - the all-enduring, the ever-triumphant, the crusher of hosts of Danavas -

Verse 16 (skanda.8.97.16)

अस्तुवन् वाग्भिरिष्टाभिः प्रणम्य बहुमानतः । नमः सर्वरिपुघ्नाय दानवान्तकराय च

astuvan vāgbhiriṣṭābhiḥ praṇamya bahumānataḥ | namaḥ sarvaripughnāya dānavāntakarāya ca

and, bowing with great reverence, praised him with beloved words: "Salutation to the slayer of all foes, and to the destroyer of the Danavas;

Verse 17 (skanda.8.97.17)

नमो जिताय देवाय वैकुण्ठाय महात्मने । नमो निर्धूतरजमे नमः सत्याय चैव हि

namo jitāya devāya vaikuṇṭhāya mahātmane | namo nirdhūtarajame namaḥ satyāya caiva hi

salutation to the victorious god, to Vaikuntha, the great soul; salutation to him who is free of all impurity, and salutation likewise to the True One.

Verse 18 (skanda.8.97.18)

नमः साध्याय देवाय नमो धाम्ने सुवेधसे । नमो यमाय देवाय जयाय च नमो नमः

namaḥ sādhyāya devāya namo dhāmne suvedhase | namo yamāya devāya jayāya ca namo namaḥ

"Salutation to the god attained through sacrifice, salutation to the Abode, the wise Ordainer; salutation to the god in the form of Yama, and salutation, salutation to Victory.

Verse 19 (skanda.8.97.19)

नमश्चादितिपुत्राय नरनारायणाय च । नमस्सुमतये चैव नमश्चैवास्तु विष्णवे

namaścāditiputrāya naranārāyaṇāya ca | namassumataye caiva namaścaivāstu viṣṇave

Salutation to the son of Aditi, and to Nara-Narayana; salutation to the one of good wisdom, and salutation be to Vishnu.

Verse 20 (skanda.8.97.20)

नमो वामनरूपाय कृष्णद्वैपायनाय च । नमो रामाय रामाय दत्तात्रेयाय वै नमः

namo vāmanarūpāya kṛṣṇadvaipāyanāya ca | namo rāmāya rāmāya dattātreyāya vai namaḥ

Salutation to him in the form of Vamana, and to Krishna-Dvaipayana; salutation to Rama and to Rama both, and salutation indeed to Dattatreya.

Verse 21 (skanda.8.97.21)

नमस्ते नरसिंहाय धात्रे चैव नमो नमः । नमः साध्याय वेदाय चक्रिणे वै नमो नमः

namaste narasiṁhāya dhātre caiva namo namaḥ | namaḥ sādhyāya vedāya cakriṇe vai namo namaḥ

Salutation to you as Narasimha, and salutation, salutation to the Sustainer; salutation to the one attained through sacrifice, to the Veda, and salutation, salutation to the wielder of the discus.

Verse 22 (skanda.8.97.22)

नमः शकुनिहन्त्रे च नमो दामोदराय च । सलिले तप्यमानाय नागशय्याप्रियाय च

namaḥ śakunihantre ca namo dāmodarāya ca | salile tapyamānāya nāgaśayyāpriyāya ca

Salutation to the slayer of Shakuni, and salutation to Damodara; to him who performs austerity in the waters, and to him who delights in his serpent-couch.

Verse 23 (skanda.8.97.23)

नमः कपिलरूपाय महते पुरुषाय च । नमो जीमूतरूपाय महादेवप्रियाय च

namaḥ kapilarūpāya mahate puruṣāya ca | namo jīmūtarūpāya mahādevapriyāya ca

Salutation to him in the form of Kapila, and to the Great Being; salutation to him in the form of a cloud, and to him who is dear to Mahadeva.

Verse 24 (skanda.8.97.24)

नमो रुद्रार्धरूपाय तथोमारूपिणे नमः । चक्रमुद्गरहस्ताय महेश्वरगणाय च

namo rudrārdharūpāya tathomārūpiṇe namaḥ | cakramudgarahastāya maheśvaragaṇāya ca

Salutation to him who is half in the form of Rudra, and salutation likewise to him in the form of Uma; to him who bears the discus and mace in hand, and to him who is one with the hosts of Maheshvara.

Verse 25 (skanda.8.97.25)

शिपिविष्टाय च सदा नमः श्रीवत्सधारिणे । धुन्धुमाराय शूराय मधुकैटभघातिने

śipiviṣṭāya ca sadā namaḥ śrīvatsadhāriṇe | dhundhumārāya śūrāya madhukaiṭabhaghātine

Ever salutation to Shipivishta, and to the bearer of the Shrivatsa mark; to the slayer of Dhundhu, the heroic one, and to the destroyer of Madhu and Kaitabha.

Verse 26 (skanda.8.97.26)

चतुर्भुजाय कृष्णाय रत्नकौस्तुभधारिणे । त्रिविक्रमवियत्स्थाय पीतवासः सुवाससे

caturbhujāya kṛṣṇāya ratnakaustubhadhāriṇe | trivikramaviyatsthāya pītavāsaḥ suvāsase

To the four-armed one, the dark one, to the bearer of the jewel Kaustubha; to him who stood in the sky as Trivikrama, well-clad in yellow garments.

Verse 27 (skanda.8.97.27)

नमः पुरुषघाताय गदाखड्गोग्रधारिणे । योगिने यजमानाय भृगुपत्नीप्रमाथिने

namaḥ puruṣaghātāya gadākhaḍgogradhāriṇe | yogine yajamānāya bhṛgupatnīpramāthine

Salutation to the slayer of wicked men, to the fierce wielder of mace and sword; to the Yogin, to the sacrificer, and to him who slew Bhrigu's wife.

Verse 28 (skanda.8.97.28)

वृषरूपाय सततमादित्यानां वराय च । चेकितानाय दान्ताय शौरिणे वृष्णिबन्धवे

vṛṣarūpāya satatamādityānāṁ varāya ca | cekitānāya dāntāya śauriṇe vṛṣṇibandhave

To him ever in the form of a bull, and to the foremost of the Adityas; to Chekitana, to the self-controlled one, to the descendant of Shura, kinsman of the Vrishnis.

Verse 29 (skanda.8.97.29)

मुराश्वग्रीवनाशाय तथैवासुरसूदिने । नमस्ते शार्ङ्ग धनुषे सौभशाल्वविघातिने

murāśvagrīvanāśāya tathaivāsurasūdine | namaste śārṅga dhanuṣe saubhaśālvavighātine

To the destroyer of Mura and Ashvagriva, and likewise to the slayer of Asuras; salutation to you of the Sharnga bow, destroyer of Saubha and Shalva.

Verse 30 (skanda.8.97.30)

नमस्ते पद्मनाभाय ब्रह्मदेहप्रवेशिने । नमो जयाय शर्वाय रुद्रदत्तवराय च

namaste padmanābhāya brahmadehapraveśine | namo jayāya śarvāya rudradattavarāya ca

Salutation to you, the lotus-naveled one, who entered the body of Brahma; salutation to Victory, to Sharva, and to him who received boons from Rudra.

Verse 31 (skanda.8.97.31)

नमः सर्वेश्वरायैव नष्टधर्मप्रवर्तिने । पुरुषाय वरेण्याय नमस्ते शतबाहवे

namaḥ sarveśvarāyaiva naṣṭadharmapravartine | puruṣāya vareṇyāya namaste śatabāhave

Salutation indeed to the Lord of all, to him who restores lost dharma; to the Supreme Being, worthy of all choice, salutation to you of a hundred arms.

Verse 32 (skanda.8.97.32)

तव प्रसादात् कृच्छ्रं वै तराम पुरुषोत्तम । हृतराज्या वयं सर्वे न त्वं वेत्सि महाभुज । हिरण्याक्षेण वैकुण्ठ तं नाशय महाभुज

tava prasādāt kṛcchraṁ vai tarāma puruṣottama | hṛtarājyā vayaṁ sarve na tvaṁ vetsi mahābhuja | hiraṇyākṣeṇa vaikuṇṭha taṁ nāśaya mahābhuja

"By your grace alone, O Purushottama, may we cross over this hardship. All of us have had our kingdom seized - do you not know this, O mighty-armed one? By Hiranyaksha, O Vaikuntha - destroy him, O mighty-armed one!"

Verse 33 (skanda.8.97.33)

सनत्कुमार उवाच । य इदं वैष्णवं स्तोत्रं भक्त्या परमया युतः । कीर्तयेत्सततं मर्त्यः सर्वपापैः प्रमुच्यते

sanatkumāra uvāca | ya idaṁ vaiṣṇavaṁ stotraṁ bhaktyā paramayā yutaḥ | kīrtayetsatataṁ martyaḥ sarvapāpaiḥ pramucyate

Sanatkumara said: Whatever mortal, endowed with supreme devotion, constantly recites this hymn to Vishnu is freed from all sins;

Verse 34 (skanda.8.97.34)

मृतश्च सर्वलोकेषु वर्षकोटिचतुर्दश । पूजितः सर्वदेवैश्च मोदते नात्र संशयः

mṛtaśca sarvalokeṣu varṣakoṭicaturdaśa | pūjitaḥ sarvadevaiśca modate nātra saṁśayaḥ

and after death, honoured by all the gods, he rejoices for fourteen crore years throughout all the worlds - of this there is no doubt.

Verse 35 (skanda.8.97.35)

कीर्तयत्येव य इमं प्राणिभ्यो विप्रमुच्यते । स मृत्युलोकमप्राप्य चरते दुःखवर्जितः

kīrtayatyeva ya imaṁ prāṇibhyo vipramucyate | sa mṛtyulokamaprāpya carate duḥkhavarjitaḥ

Whoever merely recites this is freed from rebirth among the many kinds of creatures; without returning to the world of death, he wanders about free from sorrow.

Verse 36 (skanda.8.97.36)

उवाच सुरशार्दूलानिदं संपूजयन्सदा

uvāca suraśārdūlānidaṁ saṁpūjayansadā

- the opening line of this verse is lost in the source manuscript - ever honouring them, Vishnu spoke this to those tigers among the gods:

Verse 37 (skanda.8.97.37)

इतः स दैत्यो दुर्बुद्धिर्देवान् द्वेष्टि सहायवान् । क्रियतां मर्त्यरूपं मे वाराहं मां विधार्यताम्

itaḥ sa daityo durbuddhirdevān dveṣṭi sahāyavān | kriyatāṁ martyarūpaṁ me vārāhaṁ māṁ vidhāryatām

"This evil-minded Daitya, along with his allies, hates the gods. Let a mortal form be prepared for me - let me be given the form of a boar."

Verse 38 (skanda.8.97.38)

महात्मा स च दैत्येन्द्रो बलवान् धार्मिकश्च ह । न च शक्यो मयैकेन हन्तुं सत्यं ब्रवीमि वः

mahātmā sa ca daityendro balavān dhārmikaśca ha | na ca śakyo mayaikena hantuṁ satyaṁ bravīmi vaḥ

"That lord of the Daityas is a great soul, powerful and indeed righteous; he cannot be slain by me alone - I tell you the truth."

Verse 39 (skanda.8.97.39)

सर्वदेवमयं रूपं वाराहं नन्दिवर्धनम् । तत्समास्थाय हन्तास्मि दैत्येन्द्रं तं महाबलम्

sarvadevamayaṁ rūpaṁ vārāhaṁ nandivardhanam | tatsamāsthāya hantāsmi daityendraṁ taṁ mahābalam

"Having assumed a boar-form composed of all the gods, a form that increases joy, I shall slay that mighty lord of the Daityas."

Verse 40 (skanda.8.97.40)

तेन रूपेण सर्वेषामस्माकं देवसत्तमाः । ब्रह्मा ब्रह्मत्वमापन्नः प्रस्थाता यम इत्यपि

tena rūpeṇa sarveṣāmasmākaṁ devasattamāḥ | brahmā brahmatvamāpannaḥ prasthātā yama ityapi

"In that form composed of all of us, O most excellent gods, Brahma shall take on the office of the Brahma-priest, and Yama that of the Prastota-priest."

Verse 41 (skanda.8.97.41)

उद्गाता तत्र वरुणो हिरण्याक्षस्ततः पशुः । शमिताहं सुरश्रेष्ठा यशस्तस्य महाबलः

udgātā tatra varuṇo hiraṇyākṣastataḥ paśuḥ | śamitāhaṁ suraśreṣṭhā yaśastasya mahābalaḥ

"Varuna shall be the Udgata-priest there, and Hiranyaksha the sacrificial victim; I myself, O best of gods, shall be the Shamitri who consecrates the offering - such shall be the glory of that mighty deed."

Verse 42 (skanda.8.97.42)

अद्य पश्यन्तु भूतानि मम तस्यैव चोभयोः

adya paśyantu bhūtāni mama tasyaiva cobhayoḥ

"Today let all creatures behold - of both myself and him -" - the remainder of this verse is lost in the source manuscript -

Verse 43 (skanda.8.97.43)

अरण्ये वासिताहेतोर्मत्तयोर्गजयोरिव । तस्य तद्वचनं श्रुत्वा गर्जितं च महात्मनः

araṇye vāsitāhetormattayorgajayoriva | tasya tadvacanaṁ śrutvā garjitaṁ ca mahātmanaḥ

- like two rutting elephants roaring in the forest over a mate. Having heard that speech, and the roar, of that great-souled one -

Verse 44 (skanda.8.97.44)

हर्षोत्फुल्लेक्षणाः सर्वे निरीक्षन्तः परस्परम् । मेनिरे हत इत्येव दैत्येन्द्रं सुमहाबलम्

harṣotphullekṣaṇāḥ sarve nirīkṣantaḥ parasparam | menire hata ityeva daityendraṁ sumahābalam

- all of them, their eyes wide with joy, looking at one another, already deemed that most mighty lord of the Daityas as good as slain.

Verse 45 (skanda.8.97.45)

तेषां तदुत्फुल्लकुशेशयप्रभं वक्रेक्षणं चारुतरावभासकम् । हतः स दैत्यो नरसिंहरूपिणा यथा पुरा तस्य गुरुर्महाबलः

teṣāṁ tadutphullakuśeśayaprabhaṁ vakrekṣaṇaṁ cārutarāvabhāsakam | hataḥ sa daityo narasiṁharūpiṇā yathā purā tasya gururmahābalaḥ

To them, that face - radiant as a full-blown lotus, with curving glances, of the most beautiful splendour - already seemed the very sight of that Daitya slain, just as of old his own mighty elder kinsman had been slain by the one in the form of Narasimha.