विव्याध निशितैर्बाणैः क्रूराशीविषभीषणैः तदादानं च संधानं न मोक्षश्चापि लक्ष्यते
He struck with sharp arrows, dreadful as cruel serpents; the drawing, aiming, and releasing of the bow could not be discerned.
चिछेदास्य शरव्रातान् स्वशरैर् अतिलाघवात् ध्वजं परमतीक्ष्णेन चित्रकर्मामरद्विषः
With his own arrows, swift as thought, he cut down the showers of arrows sent at him, and with an exceedingly sharp, beautifully wrought shaft, he struck the banner of the foe of the immortals.
सारथिं चास्य भल्लेन रथनीडादपातयत् कुजम्भः कर्म तद्दृष्ट्वा राक्षसेन्द्रस्य संयुगे
With a broad-headed arrow he brought down his charioteer from the chariot-seat; seeing this deed of Kujambha in battle, the king of the Rākṣasas—
रोषरक्तेक्षणयुतो रथादाप्लुत्य दानवः खड्गं जग्राह वेगेन शरदम्बरनिर्मलम्
His eyes bloodshot with anger, the Dānava leapt from his chariot and swiftly seized a sword, clear as the autumn sky.
चर्म चोदयखण्डेन्दुदशकेन विभूषितम् अभ्यद्रवद्रणे दैत्यो रक्षो ऽधिपतिमोजसा
Taking a shield adorned with a crescent of ten gold bosses, the Daitya charged in battle, with great force, at the lord of the Rākṣasas.
तं रक्षो ऽधिपतिः प्राप्तं मुद्गरेणाहनद्धृदि स तु तेन प्रहारेण क्षीणः संभ्रान्तमानसः
The lord of the Rākṣasas struck him in the chest with a mace as he approached; from that blow, he was weakened and his mind was thrown into confusion.
तस्थावचेष्टो दनुजो यथा धीरो धराधरः स मुहूर्तं समाश्वस्तो दानवेन्द्रो ऽतिदुर्जयः
The Dānava stood motionless, like a steadfast mountain; after a moment, the exceedingly formidable lord of the Dānavas regained his composure.
रथमारुह्य जग्राह रक्षो वामकरेण तु केशेषु निरृतिं दैत्यो जानुनाक्रम्य धिष्ठितम्
Mounting the chariot, the Rākṣasa seized Nirṛti by the hair with his left hand, as the Daitya pressed his knee upon him, holding him fast.
ततः खड्गेन च शिरश् छेत्तुमैच्छदमर्षणः तस्मिंस्तदन्तरे देवो वरुणो ऽपांपतिर्द्रुतम्
Then, enraged, he wished to cut off his head with the sword; but in that moment, the god Varuṇa, lord of the waters, swiftly—
पाशेन दानवेन्द्रस्य बबन्ध च भुजद्वयम् ततो बद्धभुजं दैत्यं विफलीकृतपौरुषम्
—bound both arms of the lord of the Dānavas with a noose; thus, with his arms tied, the Daitya's strength was rendered useless.
ताडयामास गदया दयामुत्सृज्य पाशभृत् स तु तेन प्रहारेण स्रोतोभिः क्षतजं वमन्
The noose-bearer struck the Daitya, whose arms were bound, with a mace, showing no mercy; from that blow, he vomited blood from his wounds.
दधार रूपं मेघस्य विद्युन्मालालतावृतम् तदवस्थागतं दृष्ट्वा कुजम्भं महिषासुरः
He took on the form of a cloud, wreathed with a garland of lightning; seeing Kujambha in that state, Mahiṣāsura—
व्यावृत्तवदने ऽगाधे ग्रस्तुमैच्छत् सुरावुभौ निरृतिं वरुणं चैव तीक्ष्णदंष्ट्रोत्कटाननः
With gaping mouth and dreadful, sharp fangs, he wished to swallow both Nirṛti and Varuṇa, the two gods, into the abyss.
तावभिप्रायमालक्ष्य तस्य दैत्यस्य दूषितम् त्यक्त्वा रथपथं भीतौ महिषस्यातिरंहसा
Perceiving the Daitya's wicked intent, both, terrified by Mahiṣa's violence, abandoned the chariot path and fled.
भृशं द्रुतौ जवाद् दिग्भ्याम् उभाभ्यां भयविह्वलौ जगाम निरृतिः क्षिप्रं शरणं पाकशासनम्
Greatly alarmed, both fled swiftly in different directions, overwhelmed by fear; Nirṛti quickly sought refuge with Indra, the lord of the gods.
क्रुद्धस्तु महिषो दैत्यो वरुणं समभिद्रुतः तमन्तकमुखासक्तम् आलोक्य हिमवद्द्युतिः
But the enraged Daitya, Mahiṣa, charged at Varuṇa; seeing him entangled with Death, shining like the snowy mountain—
चक्रे सोमास्त्रनिःसृष्टं हिमसंघातकण्टकम् वायव्यं चास्त्रमतुलं चन्द्रश्चक्रे द्वितीयकम्
Soma released a weapon of cold, bristling with icy spikes; and he fashioned a second, mighty wind-weapon as well.
वायुना तेन चन्द्रेण संशुष्केण हिमेन च व्यथिता दानवाः सर्वे शीतोच्छिन्ना विपौरुषाः
By that wind, by the moon, and by the parching cold, all the Dānavas were afflicted, cut down by the chill, their valor destroyed.
न शेकुश्चलितुं पद्भ्यां नास्त्राण्यादातुमेव च महाहिमनिपातेन शस्त्रैश्चन्द्रप्रचोदितैः
They were unable to move their feet or even take up their weapons, struck down by the great force and by missiles driven by the moon.
गात्राण्यसुरसैन्यानाम् अदह्यन्त समन्ततः महिषो निष्प्रयत्नस्तु शीतेनाकम्पिताननः
The bodies of the demon armies were burning everywhere; but the buffalo, exhausted, sat unmoving, his face unshaken by the cold.
कक्षावालम्ब्य पाणिभ्याम् उपविष्टो ह्यधोमुखः सर्वे ते निष्प्रतीकारा दैत्याश्चन्द्रमसा जिताः
Leaning on his side with his hands, seated with his face downcast, all those Daityas, powerless to resist, were overcome by the moon.
रणेच्छां दूरतस्त्यक्त्वा तस्थुस्ते जीवितार्थिनः तत्राब्रवीत्कालनेमिर् दैत्यान्कोपेन दीपितः
Having abandoned all desire for battle, they stood at a distance, seeking only to survive; then Kalanemi, inflamed with anger, spoke to the Daityas.
भो भोः शृङ्गारिणः शराः सर्वे शस्त्रास्त्रपारगाः एकैको ऽपि जगत्सर्वं शक्तस्तुलयितुं भुजैः
"Ho! Ho! You horned ones, skilled in weapons and missiles—each one of you alone is able to balance the whole world with your arms.
एकैको ऽपि क्षमो ग्रस्तुं जगत्सर्वं चराचरम् एकैकस्यापि पर्याप्ता न सर्वे ऽपि दिवौकसः
Each one of you is capable of devouring the entire world, moving and unmoving; even all the gods together are not sufficient for a single one of you.
कलां पूरयितुं यत्नात् षोडशीमतिविक्रमाः किं प्रयाताश्च तिष्ठध्वं समरे ऽमरनिर्जिताः
With your immense prowess, each of you could fill the full sixteenth part of the moon—why have you retreated? Stand firm in battle, unconquered by the immortals!
न युक्तमेतच्छूराणां विशेषाद्दैत्यजन्मनाम् राजा चान्तरितो ऽस्माकं तारको लोकमारकः
This is not fitting for heroes, especially those born as Daityas; our king, Tāraka, the destroyer of worlds, is hidden among us.
विरतानां रणादस्मात् क्रुद्धः प्राणान्हरिष्यति शीतेन नष्टश्रुतयो भ्रष्टवाक्पाटवास्तथा
If you withdraw from this battle, he will, in anger, take your lives; numbed by the cold, you have lost your hearing and your eloquence.
मूकास्तदाभवन्दैत्या रणद्दशनपङ्क्तयः तान्दृष्ट्वा नष्टचेतस्कान् दैत्याञ्छीतेन सादितान्
Then the Daityas became mute, their teeth chattering in the fight; seeing those Daityas, their minds lost, struck down by the cold—
मत्वा कालक्षमं कार्यं कालनेमिर्महासुरः आश्रित्य दानवीं मायां वितत्य स्वं महावपुः
Realizing it was time for decisive action, the great Asura Kalanemi, relying on demonic illusion, expanded his own mighty form.
पूरयामास गगनं दिशो विदिश एव च निर्ममे दानवेन्द्रेशः शरीरे भास्करायुतम्
He filled the sky, the directions, and the intermediate quarters; the lord of the Dānavas created in his body the brilliance of ten thousand suns.