वासवैतद् अरीणां ते त्रिपुरं परिदृश्यते विमानैश्च पताकाभिर् ध्वजैश्च समलंकृतम्
O Vāsava, there is seen the city of your enemies, Tripura, adorned with flying palaces, banners, and flags.
इदं वृत्तमिदं ख्यातं वह्निवद्भृशतापनम् एते जना गिरिप्रख्याः सकुण्डलकिरीटिनः
This event, well-known and intensely burning like fire, has occurred; these people, mountain-like, are adorned with earrings and crowns.
प्राकारगोपुराट्टेषु कक्षान्ते दानवाः स्थिताः इमे च तोयदाभासा दनुजा विकृताननाः
Within the ramparts, gateways, and watchtowers, the Dānavas are stationed; and these Dānavas, with cloud-like forms and deformed faces, are present.
निर्गच्छन्ति पुरो दैत्याः सायुधा विजयैषिणः
The Daityas, armed and seeking victory, are coming forth in front.
स त्वं सुरशतैः सार्धं ससहायो वरायुधः सहद्भिर्मामकैर्भृत्यैर् व्यापादय महासुरान्
Therefore, you, together with hundreds of gods, with your chosen weapon and allies, destroy the great asuras along with my servants.
अहं च रथवर्येण निश्चलाचलवत्स्थितः पुरः पुरस्य रन्ध्रार्थी स्थास्यामि विजयाय वः
And I, standing firm in the best of chariots like an immovable mountain, shall remain before the city, seeking an opening for your victory.
यदा तु पुष्ययोगेण एकत्वं स्थास्यते पुरम् तदेतन्निर्दहिष्यामि शरेणैकेन वासव
But when, under the conjunction with Puṣya, the three cities become one, then I shall burn them down with a single arrow, O Indra.
इत्युक्तो वै भगवता रुद्रेणेह सुरेश्वरः ययौ तत्त्रिपुरं जेतुं तेन सैन्येन संवृतः
Thus addressed by the blessed Rudra, the lord of the gods departed, surrounded by his army, to conquer Tripura.
प्रक्रान्तरथभीमैस्तैः सदेवैः पार्षदां गणैः कृतसिंहरवोपेतैर् उद्गच्छद्भिरिवाम्बुदैः
With terrifying chariots advancing, along with the gods and hosts of attendants, roaring like lions, they surged forth like rising clouds.
तेन नादेन त्रिपुराद् दानवा युद्धलालसाः उत्पत्य दुद्रुवुश्चेलुः सायुधाः खे गणेश्वरान्
At that sound, the Daityas of Tripura, eager for battle, sprang up, rushed forth armed, and moved through the sky toward the lords of the hosts.
अन्ये पयोधरारावाः पयोधरसमा बभुः ससिंहनादं वादित्रं वादयामासुरुद्धताः
Others, with thunderous roars like clouds, became as mighty as clouds themselves, and, emboldened, sounded their instruments with lion-like cries.
देवानां सिंहनादश्च सर्वतूर्यरवो महान् ग्रस्तो ऽभूद्दैत्यनादैश्च चन्द्रस्तोयधरैरिव
The lion-roar of the gods, and the great blare of all their instruments, was swallowed up by the cries of the Daityas, like the moon by rainclouds.
चन्द्रोदयात्समुद्भूतः पौर्णमास इवार्णवः त्रिपुरं प्रभवत्तद्वद् भीमरूपमहासुरैः
From the rising of the moon, the ocean swells at the full moon; so too did Tripura, filled with fierce, mighty Asuras, surge forth.
प्राकारेषु पुरे तत्र गोपुरेष्वपि चापरे अट्टालकान्समारुह्य केचिच् चलितवादिनः
There, some stood upon the ramparts of the city, others on the gateways; some climbed the watchtowers, their words agitated and uncertain.
स्वर्णमालाधराः शूराः प्रभासितकराम्बराः केचिन् नदन्ति दनुजास् तोयमत्ता इवाम्बुदाः
Some Danavas, valiant and adorned with golden garlands, their garments shining, roared like water-laden clouds.
इतश्चेतश्च धावन्तः केचिदुद्भूतवाससः किमेतदिति पप्रच्छुर् अन्योन्यं गृहमाश्रिताः
Some, running here and there in strange attire, asked one another within their houses, 'What is this?'
किमेतन्नैव जानामि ज्ञानमन्तर्हितं हि मे ज्ञास्यसे ऽनन्तरेणेति कालो विस्तारतो महान्
'What is this? I do not know; my knowledge is hidden within. You will know soon enough—time is vast and ever-expanding.'
सो ऽप्यसौ पृथ्वीसारं च सिंहश्च रथमास्थितः तिष्ठते त्रिपुरं पीड्य देहं व्याधिरिवोच्छ्रितः
There too stands that lord of the earth, like a lion mounted on his chariot, pressing upon Tripura, towering like a disease upon the body.
य एषो ऽस्ति स एषो ऽस्तु का चिन्ता सम्भ्रमे सति एहि आयुधम् आदाय क्व मे पृच्छा भविष्यति
'Whoever he is, let him be; what worry is there in confusion? Come, take up your weapon—where will my question remain?'
इति ते ऽन्योन्यमाविद्धा उत्तरोत्तरभाषिणः आसाद्य पृच्छन्ति तदा दानवास्त्रिपुरालयाः
Thus, striking at each other with words, the Daityas of Tripura approached and questioned one another.
तारकाख्यपुरे दैत्यास् तारकाख्यपुरःसराः निर्गताः कुपितास्तूर्णं बिलादिव महोरगाः
From the city named after Tāraka, the Daityas, led by Tāraka, rushed out in anger, like great serpents from their holes.
निर्धावन्तस्तु ते दैत्याः प्रमथाधिपयूथपैः निरुद्धा गजराजानो यथा केसरियूथपैः
But as those Daityas charged forth, they were blocked by the chiefs of the Pramatha hosts, like elephant kings by leaders of lion troops.
दर्पितानां ततश्चैषां दर्पितानाम् इवाग्नीनाम् रूपाणि जज्वलुस्तेषाम् अग्नीनामिव धम्यताम्
Then, among those proud ones, their forms blazed like fires, just as the flames of burning fires glow when fanned.
ततो बृहन्ति चापानि भीमनादानि सर्वशः निकृष्य जघ्नुरन्योन्यम् इषुभिः प्राणभोजनैः
Then, drawing their great bows, making dreadful sounds on all sides, they struck one another with arrows that feasted on life.
मार्जारमृगभीमास्यान् पार्षदान्विकृताननान् दृष्ट्वा दृष्ट्वाहसन्नुच्चैर् दानवा रूपसम्पदा
Seeing attendants with faces like cats, deer, and terrifying beasts, and with distorted features, the Danavas laughed loudly again and again, proud of their own beauty.
बाहुभिः परिघाकारैः कृष्यतां धनुषां शराः भटवर्मेषु विविशुस् तडागानीव पक्षिणः
With arms shaped like iron clubs, they drew their bows, and arrows pierced the armor of warriors like birds entering a lake.
मृताः स्थ क्व नु यास्यध्वं हनिष्यामो निवर्तताम् इत्येवं परुषाण्युक्त्वा दानवाः पार्षदर्षभान्
Where are you going, now that you are dead? We will kill you, turn back!—thus, speaking harsh words, the Danavas addressed the chief attendants.
बिभिदुः सायकैस्तीक्ष्णैः सूर्यपादा इवाम्बुदान् प्रमथा अपि सिंहाक्षाः सिंहविक्रान्तविक्रमाः खण्डशैलशिलावृक्षैर् बिभिदुर् दैत्यदानवान्
They shattered the Daityas and Danavas with sharp arrows, like the rays of the sun breaking apart clouds; even those with lion-like eyes and lion-like strides, using fragments of rocks, boulders, and trees, broke the demons.
अम्बुदैराकुलमिव हंसाकुलमिवाम्बरम् दानवाकुलमत्यर्थं तत्पुरं सकलं बभौ
That city appeared utterly overwhelmed by Danavas, like the sky crowded with swans, or like the ocean filled with clouds.
विकृष्टचापा दैत्येन्द्राः सृजन्ति शरदुर्दिनम् इन्द्रचापाङ्कितोरस्का जलदा इव दुर्दिनम्
The Daitya lords, drawing their bows, created a day of stormy weather, their chests marked with rainbow-like streaks, like clouds in a turbulent season.