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.
यदा रुद्ररथं क्रुद्धो महिषः सहसा गतः। रेसतू रोदसी गाढं मुमुहुश् महर्षयः
When the furious Mahiṣa suddenly reached Rudra's chariot, the heavens resounded deeply, and the great sages were struck with dismay.
अनदंश्चमहाकाया दैत्या जलधरोपमाः। आसीच्चनिश्चितं तेषां जितमस्माभिरित्युत
The mighty-bodied Daityas, like thunderclouds, roared aloud, and it seemed uncertain to them whether victory was theirs.
तथाभूते तु भगवानाहूय गुहमात्मजम्। `दौरात्म्यं पश्य पुतर् त्वं दानवस्य दुरात्मनः। जहि शीघ्रं दुराचारं द्रष्टुमिच्छामि ते बलम्
Then the Blessed Lord summoned Guha's son and said: 'See, my son, the wickedness of this evil-natured Dānava. Quickly slay this evildoer—I wish to witness your strength.'
इत्युक्ताव भगवान्स्कन्दं परिपूज्य महेश्वरः। अयोजयन्निग्रहार्थं महिषस् गतायुषः'। सस्मार च तदा स्कन्दं मृत्युं तस्य दुरात्मनः
Thus addressed, the Blessed Lord, having honored Skanda, appointed him to subdue the now-doomed Mahiṣa, and at that moment, he invoked Skanda as the death of that wicked one.
महिषोऽपि रथं दृष्ट्वा रौद्रं रुद्रस् चानदत्। देवान्संत्रासयंश्चापि दैत्यांस्चापिप्रहर्षयत्
Even the buffalo, seeing the fierce chariot and Rudra, roared; he terrified the gods and delighted the demons.
ततस्तस्मिनभये घोरे देवानां समुपस्थिते। आजगाम महासेनः क्रोधात्सूर्य इव ज्वलन्
Then, as that dreadful danger approached the gods, Mahasena arrived, blazing with anger like the sun.
लोहिताम्बरसंवीतो लोहितस्रग्विभूषणः। लोहिताश्वो महाबाहुर्हिरण्यकवचः प्रभुः
Clad in red garments, adorned with red garlands and ornaments, riding a red horse, mighty-armed, and wearing a golden armor, the lord appeared.
रथमादित्यसंकाशमास्थितः कनकप्रभम्। तं दृष्ट्वा दैत्यसेना सा व्यद्रवत्सहसा रणे
He mounted a chariot shining like the sun, radiant with gold; seeing him, the demon army fled swiftly in battle.
स चापि तां प्रज्वलितां महिषस् विदारिणीम्। मुमोच शक्तिं राजेनद्र महासेनो महाबलः
Mahasena, of great strength, released a blazing spear, capable of tearing, at the buffalo in the fight.
सा मुक्ताऽभ्यहरत्तस्य महिषस्य शिरो महत्। पपात भिन्ने शिरसि महिषस्त्यक्तजीवितः
Released, it struck the buffalo's great head; his head split, the buffalo fell, life departed.
पतता शिरसा तेन द्वारं षोडशयोजनम्। पर्वताभेन पिहितं तदाऽगम्यं ततोऽभवत्। उत्तराः कुरवस्तेन गच्छन्त्यद्य यथासुम्
With the falling head, a gate sixteen yojanas wide, blocked by a mountain, became impassable; since then, the northern Kurus travel as they do today.
क्षिप्ताक्षिप्ता तु सा शक्तिर्हत्वा शत्रून्सहस्रशः। स्कन्दहस्तमनुप्राप्ता दृश्यते देवदानवैः
That spear, thrown and thrown again, after slaying thousands of enemies, returned to Skanda's hand, witnessed by gods and demons.
प्रायः शरैर्विनिहता महासेनेन धीमता। शेषा दैत्यगणा घोरा भीतास्त्रस्ता दुरासदैः। स्कन्दपारिषदैर्हत्वा भक्षिताश्च सहस्रशः
Most of the demon hosts, fierce and hard to approach, were slain by the wise Mahasena's arrows; the rest, killed and devoured by Skanda's attendants, perished by the thousands.
दनवान्भक्षयन्तस्ते प्रपिबन्तश्च शोणितम्। क्षणान्निर्दानवं सर्वमकार्षुर्भृशहर्षिताः
They devoured the demons and drank their blood; in a moment, they made the whole field free of demons, rejoicing greatly.
तमांसीवयथा सूर्यो वृक्षानग्निर्घनान्खगः। तथास्कन्दोऽजयच्छत्रून्स्वेन वीर्येण कीर्तिमान्
Just as the sun dispels darkness, fire consumes trees, and the bird scatters clouds, so Skanda, renowned for his strength, conquered his enemies.
संपूज्यमानस्त्रिदशैरभिवाद्य महेश्वरम्। शुशुभे कृतिकापुत्रः प्रकीरणांशुरिवांशुमान्
Honored by the gods, bowing to Maheshvara, the son of Kritika shone like the radiant moon scattering its beams.
नष्टशत्रुर्यदा स्कन्दः प्रयातस्तु महेश्वरम्। तदाऽब्रवीन्महासेनं परिष्वज्य पुरंदरः
When Skanda, his enemies destroyed, went to Maheshvara, Purandara embraced Mahasena and spoke.
ब्रह्मदत्तवरः स्कन्द त्वयाऽयं महिषो हतः। `हजय्यो युधि देवानां दानवः स महाबलः
Skanda, this buffalo was slain by you, granted a boon by Brahma; that mighty demon was unconquerable by the gods in battle.
देवास्तृणसमा यस्य वबूवुर्जयतांवर। सोऽयं त्वया महाबाहो शमितो देवकण्टकः
The gods, who seemed like blades of grass before his victory, have been freed by you, mighty-armed, from this thorn among the gods.
शतं महिषतुल्यानां दानवानां त्वय रणे। निहतंदेवशत्रूणां यैर्वयं पूर्वतापिताः
A hundred demon enemies, equal to the buffalo, were slain by you in battle—those who had previously tormented us.