अहं मृत्युञ्जयो यस्मादसंख्यं प्राकृतं लयम्
I am the conqueror of death, for countless dissolutions of nature have occurred.
स च प्रकृतिरूपश्च स एव पुरुषः स्मृतः 2.18.
He is the form of nature, and he is also remembered as the Purusha.
करोति सततं यो हि तन्नामगुणकीर्त्तनम्
Whoever constantly recites the names and qualities of that One,
स्रष्टा कृतो विधिस्तेन पाता विष्णुः कृतो भवे
By him, the creator was made as Brahma, the protector as Vishnu, and the world came into being.
कालाग्निरुद्रं संहारे नियुज्य विषये नृप
He appointed Rudra as the fire of time for destruction, within the domain, O king.
तेन मृत्युञ्जयोऽहं च ज्ञानेनानेन निर्भयः
Therefore, I am the conqueror of death, and by this knowledge, I am fearless.
इत्युक्त्वा स च सर्वेशः सर्वज्ञः सर्वभावनः
Having spoken thus, the Lord of all, omniscient and the creator of all beings,
राजा तद्वचनं श्रुत्वा प्रशशंस पुनः पुनः
The king, having heard those words, praised him again and again.
शंखचूड उवाच तथाऽपि किञ्चिद्यत्सत्यं श्रूयतां मन्निवेदनम्
Shankhachuda said: Still, let something true be heard—my submission.
ज्ञातिद्रोहे महत्पापं त्वयोक्तमधुना त्रयम्
You have now spoken of three great sins in the betrayal of kin.
सभ्रातृको हिरण्याक्षः कथं देवैश्च हिंसितः 2.18.
How was Hiranyaksha, along with his brothers, harmed by the gods?
पुरा समुद्रमथने पीयूषं भक्षितं सुरैः
Long ago, during the churning of the ocean, the nectar was consumed by the gods.
क्रीडाभाण्डमिदं विश्वं कृष्णस्य परमात्मनः
This universe is a plaything of Krishna, the Supreme Soul.
देवदानवयोर्वादः शश्वन्नैमित्तिकः सदा
The conflict between gods and demons is always occasional and perpetual.
तत्रावयोर्विरोधे च गमनं निष्फलं तव
In the conflict between us, your journey will be fruitless.
जायते महती लज्जा स्पर्द्धाऽस्माभिः सहाधुना
Now, a great shame arises—a rivalry with us.
शंखचूडवचः श्रुत्वा प्रहस्याह त्रिलोचनः
Hearing Śaṃkhacūḍa’s words, the three-eyed one laughed and said:
श्रीमहादेव उवाच का लज्जा महती राजन्नकीर्तिर्वा पराजये
Śrī Mahādeva said: O king, what great shame or disgrace is there in defeat?
युद्धमादौ हरेरेव मधुना कैटभेन च
At the beginning, there was battle between Hari and Madhu and Kaiṭabha.
हिरण्याक्षस्य युद्धं च पुनस्तेन गदाभृता
There was also battle with Hiraṇyākṣa, and again with the wielder of the mace.
सर्वेश्वर्य्याः सर्वमातुः प्रकृत्याश्च बभूव ह 2.18.
All this arose by the nature of the Supreme Lady, the Mother of all, of Prakṛti.
पार्षदप्रवरस्त्वं च कृष्णस्य परमात्मनः
You are the foremost attendant of Kṛṣṇa, the Supreme Self.
का लज्जा महती राजन्मम युद्धे त्वया सह
O king, what great shame is there for me in battle with you?
देहि राज्यं च देवानां वाग्व्यये किं प्रयोजनम्
Give the kingdom of the gods; what use is there in wasting words?
इत्युक्त्वा शंकरस्तत्र विरराम च नारद
Having spoken thus, Śaṃkara fell silent there, O Nārada.
नारायण उवाच समारुरोह यानं च स्वामात्यैः सह सत्वरः
Nārāyaṇa said: He quickly mounted his vehicle along with his ministers.
बभूवुस्ते च संक्षुब्धाः स्कन्दशक्त्याऽर्दितास्तदा
Then they became agitated, struck by Skanda’s power.
स्कन्दस्योपरि तत्रैव समरे च भयङ्करे
There, in that dreadful battle, above Skanda himself—
दानवानां क्षयकरं यथा प्राकृतिकं लयम्
—it brought destruction to the Dānavas, like the cosmic dissolution.
नृपस्य शरवृष्टिश्च घनवृष्टिर्यथा तथा
The king’s shower of arrows was like a heavy downpour of rain.