पृष्ठतोविजयस्यापि याति रुद्रस्य पट्टसः। गदामुसलशक्त्याद्यैर्वृतः प्रहरणोत्तमैः
Even behind Vijayā, the sword of Rudra proceeds, surrounded by the finest weapons—maces, clubs, spears, and others.
पट्टसं त्वन्वगाद्राजंश्छत्रं रौद्रं महाप्रभम्। कमण्डलुश्चाप्यनु तं महर्षिगणसेवितः
The sword, O King, followed the royal parasol of Rudra, resplendent and radiant; and after it came the water-pot, attended by hosts of great sages.
तस्य दक्षिणतो भाति दण्डो गच्छञ्श्रिया वृतः। भृग्वङ्गिरोभिः सहितो दैधतैश्चानुपूजितः
To his right shines the staff, advancing, adorned with splendor, accompanied by the Bhṛgus and Aṅgiras, and worshipped by the twice-born.
एषां तु पृष्ठतो रुद्रो विमले स्यन्दने स्थितः। याति संहर्षयन्सर्वांस्तेजसा त्रिदिवौकसः
Behind all these, Rudra himself stands upon a spotless chariot, delighting all the dwellers of heaven with his radiance.
ऋषयश्चापि देवाश्च गन्धर्वा भुजगास्तथा। नद्यो ह्रदाःसमुद्राश्चतथैवाप्सरसां गणाः
The seers, the gods, the Gandharvas, the serpents, the rivers, the lakes, the oceans, and the hosts of Apsarases also follow.
नक्षत्राणि ग्रहाश्चैवदेवानां शिशवश्च ये। स्त्रियश्च विविधाकारा यान्ति रुद्रस्य पृष्ठतः
The stars and planets, the children of the gods, and women of various forms all proceed behind Rudra.
सृजन्त्यः पुष्पवर्षाणि चारुरूपा वराङ्गनाः। पर्जन्यश्चाप्यनुययौ नमस्कृत्य पिनाकिनम्
Exquisite women, creating showers of flowers, follow; and Parjanya too follows, having bowed to Pinākin.
छत्रं च पाण्डुरं सोमस्तस्य मूर्धन्यधारयत्। चामरे चापि वायुश्च गृहीत्वाऽग्निश्च धिष्ठितौ
Soma placed a white parasol upon his head; and both Vāyu and Agni stood holding the fly-whisks.
शक्रश्च पृष्ठतस्तस्य याति राजञ्छ्रिया वृतः। सहराजर्षिभिः सर्वैः स्तुवानो वृषकेतनम्
Indra, adorned with splendor, follows behind him, O King, praising the Bull-bannered One along with all the royal sages.
गौरी विद्याऽथ गान्धारी केशिनी मित्रसाह्वया। सावित्र्या सह सर्वास्ताः पार्वत्या यान्ति पृष्ठतः
Gaurī, Vidyā, Gāndhārī, Keśinī, Mitrasāhvayā, and all the others, together with Sāvitrī and Pārvatī, proceed behind.
तत्र विद्यागणाः सर्वेये केचित्कविभिः स्मृताः। तस्य कुर्वन्ति वचनं सेन्द्रा देवाश्चमूमुखे
There, all the groups of Vidyās, whatever are remembered by poets, obey his command, and the gods with Indra at their head stand at the front of the host.
गृहीत्वा तु पताकां वै यात्यग्रे राक्षसो ग्रहः। व्यापृतस्तु श्मशाने यो नित्यं रुद्रस् वै सखा। पिङ्गलो नाम यक्षेन्द्रो लोकस्यानन्ददायकः
A Rākṣasa, who is Rudra’s constant companion in the cremation ground, named Piṅgala, lord of the Yakṣas and bringer of joy to the world, goes at the front holding the banner.
एबिश्च सहितो देवस्तत्रयाति यथासुखम्। अग्रतः पृष्ठतस्चैवं न हि तस्य गतिर्ध्रुवा
Accompanied by these, the god proceeds there as he pleases, both at the front and the rear; for his movement is never fixed.
रुद्रं सत्कर्मभिर्मर्त्याः पूजयन्तीह दैवतम्। शिवमित्येव यं प्राहुरीशं रुद्रं पिनाकिनम्
Here, mortals worship Rudra, the god, with righteous acts—him whom they call Śiva, the Lord, Rudra, Pinākin.
एवं सर्वे सुरगणास्तदा वै प्रीतमानसाः'। भावैस्तु विविधाकारैः पूजयन्ति महेश्वरम्
Thus, all the hosts of gods, their minds filled with joy, worship Maheśvara with various forms of devotion.
कदेवसेनापतिस्त्वं देवसेनाभिरावृतः। अनुदच्छति देवेशं ब्रह्मण्यः कृत्तिकासुतः
You, commander of the divine armies, surrounded by the hosts of gods, follow the Lord of the gods—O son of Kṛttikā, upholder of righteousness.
अथाब्रवीन्महासेनं महादेवो बृहद्वचः। सप्तमं मारुतस्कन्धं रक्ष नित्यमतन्द्रितः
Then Mahādeva spoke these great words to Mahāsena: 'Always protect the seventh troop of the Maruts, without fatigue.'
सप्तमं मारुतस्कन्धं पालयिष्याम्यहं प्रभो। यदन्यदपि मे कार्यं देव तद्वद माचिरम्
'I will protect the seventh troop of the Maruts, O Lord. Tell me quickly, O god, whatever else I must do.'
कार्येष्वहं त्वया पुत्र संद्रष्टव्यः सदैव हि। दर्शनान्मम भक्त्या च श्रेयः परमवाप्स्यसि
In all your undertakings, my son, you must always look to me; by seeing me and through devotion to me, you will attain the highest good.
इत्युक्त्वा विससर्जैनं परिष्यज्य महेश्वरः। `स्कन्दं सहोमया प्रीतो ज्वलन्तमिव तेजसा
Having spoken thus, the great Lord Maheshvara, pleased, released Skanda, who was shining with energy, together with Uma.
विसर्जिते ततः स्कन्दे बभूवौत्पातिकं महत्। सहसैव महाराजदेवान्सर्वान्प्रमोहयत्
Then, when Skanda was released, a great and sudden portent arose, O great king, which bewildered all the gods.
जज्वाल स्वं सनक्षत्रं प्रमूढं भुवनं भृशम्। चचाल व्यनदच्चोर्वी तमोभूतं जगत्प्रभो
His constellation blazed forth, the world was greatly confused; the earth trembled and roared, and darkness covered all creation, O lord.
ततस्तद्दारुणं दृष्ट्वा क्षुभितः शंकरस्तदा। उमा चैवमहाभाग देवाश्च समहर्षयः
Then, seeing that dreadful event, Shankara was disturbed, as was the illustrious Uma and all the gods and great sages.
ततस्तेषु प्रमूढेषु पर्वताम्बुदसन्निभम्। नानाप्रहरणं घोरमदृश्यत महद्बलम्
While they were bewildered, a mighty force appeared, resembling a mountain cloud, armed with many terrible weapons.
तद्वै घोरमसङ्ख्येयं गर्जच्च विविधा गिरः। अभ्यद्रवद्रणए देवान्भगवन्तं च शंकरम्
That fierce and countless force, roaring with many voices, charged at the gods and at the blessed Shankara in battle.
तैर्विसृष्टान्यनीकेषु बाणजालान्यनेकशः। पर्वताश्च शतघ्न्यश्च प्रासासिपरिघा गदाः
From their ranks, volleys of arrows were released in great numbers, along with mountains, hundred-slayers, spears, swords, clubs, and maces.
निपतद्भिश्च तैर्घोरैर्देवानीकं महायुधैः। क्षणेन व्यद्रवत्सर्वं विमुखं चाप्यदृश्यत
Struck by those terrible weapons as they fell, the army of the gods was routed in a moment and appeared to turn away.
निकृत्तयोधनागाश्वं कृत्तायुधमहारथम्। दानवैरर्दितं सैन्यं देवानां विमुखं बभौ
With warriors, elephants, and horses cut down, with chariots and weapons destroyed, the army of the gods, afflicted by the Danavas, appeared to be in retreat.
असुरैर्वध्यमानं तत्पावकैरिव काननम्। अपतद्दग्धभूयिष्ठं महाद्रुमवनं तथा
Assailed by the Asuras, like a forest consumed by fire, the great grove of trees fell, mostly burned.
ते विभिन्नशिरोदेहाः प्राद्रवन्तो दिवौकसः। न नाथमधिगच्छन्ति वध्यमाना महारणे
Their heads and bodies shattered, the celestial beings fled, unable to find a protector as they were struck down in the great battle.