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.
अथ तद्विद्रुतं सैन्यं दृष्ट्वा देवः पुरंदरः। आश्वासयन्नुवाचेदं बलभिद्दानवार्दितम्
Then, seeing the army in flight, the god Purandara encouraged them, addressing the force that was broken and afflicted by the Danavas.
भयं त्यजत भद्रं व शूराः शस्त्राणि गृह्णत। कुरुध्वंविक्रमे बुद्धिं मा वः काचिद्व्यथा भवेत्
Abandon fear, be well, O heroes; take up your weapons! Set your minds on valor—let no distress arise among you.
जयतैनाम्सुदुर्वृत्तान्दानवान्घोरदर्शनान्। अभिद्रवत भद्रं वो मया सह महासुरान्
Conquer these wicked Danavas of terrible appearance; charge upon the great Asuras with me—good fortune to you!
शक्रस् वचनं श्रुत्वा समाश्वस्ता दिवौकसः। दानवान्प्रत्ययुध्यन्त शक्रं कृत्वा व्यपाश्रयम्
Hearing Shakra’s words, the celestials regained their courage and fought back against the Danavas, taking Shakra as their refuge.
ततस्ते त्रिदशाः सर्वेमरुतश्च महाबलाः। प्रत्युद्ययुर्महाभागाः साध्याश्च वसुभिः सह
Then all the gods, along with the mighty Maruts, the blessed Sadhyas, and the Vasus, advanced together.
तैर्विसृष्टान्यनीकेषु क्रुद्धैः शस्त्राणि संयुगे। शराश्च दैत्यकायेषु पिबन्ति रुधिरं बहु
In that battle, the enraged gods hurled their weapons at the enemy ranks; arrows pierced the bodies of the Daityas, drinking much blood.
तेषां देहान्विनिर्भिद्य शरास्ते निशितास्तदा। निपतन्तोऽभ्यदृश्यन्त नगेभ्य इव पन्नगाः
Then those sharp arrows pierced their bodies, and as they fell, they appeared like serpents descending from mountains.
तानि दैत्यशरीराणि निर्भिन्नानिस्म सायकैः। अपतन्भूतलेराजंश्छिन्नाभ्राणीव सर्वशः
Those Daitya bodies, shattered by arrows, fell to the earth, O King, like clouds torn apart and scattered.
ततस्तद्दानवं सैन्यं सर्वैर्देवगणैर्युधि। त्रासितं विविधैर्बाणैः कृतंचैव पराङ्युखम्
Then that army of Dānavas was struck with fear in battle by all the hosts of gods, who assailed them with many kinds of arrows and turned them to flight.
अथोत्क्रुष्टं तदा हृष्टैः सर्वैर्देवैरुदायुधैः। संहतानि च तूर्याणि प्रावाद्यन्त ह्यनेकशः
At that moment, all the gods, delighted and armed, raised a great shout, and many kinds of instruments were sounded together.
एवमन्योन्रसंयुक्तं युद्धमासीत्सुदारुणम्। देवानां दानवानां च मांसशोणितकर्दमम्
Thus there was a terrible battle, fierce and mingled, between the gods and the Dānavas, with mud made of flesh and blood.
अनयो देवलोकस्य सहसैवाभ्यदृश्यत। तथहि दानवा घोरा विनिघ्नन्ति दिवौकसः
Suddenly, disaster appeared for the realm of the gods, for the fierce Dānavas began to slaughter the dwellers of heaven.
ततस्तूर्यप्रणादाश्च भेरीणां च महास्वनाः। बभूवुर्दानवेन्द्राणां सिंहनादाश्च दारुणाः
Then the blaring of trumpets and the great booming of drums arose among the Dānava lords, along with their dreadful lion-roars.
अथ दैत्यबलाद्घोरान्निष्पपात महाबलः। दानवो महिषो नाम प्रगृह्य विपुलं गिरिम्
Then from the Daitya forces emerged the mighty Dānava named Mahiṣa, terrifying in strength, who seized a great mountain.
ते तं धनैरिवादित्यं दृष्ट्वासंपरिवारितम्। तमुद्यतगिरिं राजन्व्यद्रवन्त दिवौकसः
Seeing him surrounded like the sun by wealth, O King, and raising that mountain aloft, the gods fled in all directions.
अथाभिद्रुत्य महिषो देवांश्चिक्षेप तं गिरिम्। `महाकायं महाराज सतोयमिव तोयदम्
Then Mahiṣa rushed forward and hurled that great mountain at the gods, O great king, as a raincloud casts down water.
पतता तेन गिरिणा देवसैन्यस् पार्थिव। भीमरूपेण निहतमयुतं प्रापतद्भुवि
As that mountain fell, O King, it struck the army of the gods with a terrifying form, and tens of thousands were slain and fell to the earth.
अथ तैर्दानवैः सार्धं महिषस्त्रासयन्सुरान्। अभ्यद्रवद्रणे तूर्णं सिंहः क्षुद्रमृगानिव
Then, together with those Dānavas, Mahiṣa charged swiftly in battle, terrifying the gods like a lion scattering small animals.
तमापतन्तं महिषं दृष्ट्वा सेन्द्रा दिवौकसः। व्यद्रवन्तरणे बीता विकीर्णायुधकेतनाः
Seeing Mahiṣa rushing upon them, the gods along with Indra, their weapons and banners scattered, fled in fear on the battlefield.
ततःस महिषः क्रुद्धस्तूर्णं रुद्ररथं ययौ। अभिद्रुत्य च जग्राह रुद्रस् रथकूवरम्
Then that enraged Mahiṣa quickly advanced toward Rudra's chariot, and rushing upon it, seized the pole of Rudra's chariot.