त्यक्त्वा रथौ तु तौ वेगाद् आप्लुतौ तरसाश्विनौ तौ रथौ स तु निष्पिष्य मुद्गरो ऽचलसंनिभः
the two Aśvins quickly leapt from their chariot with force; that mace, massive as a mountain, smashed their chariot.
दारयामास धरणीं हेमजालपरिष्कृतः तस्य कर्माश्विनौ दृष्ट्वा भिषजौ चित्रयोधिनौ
It tore open the earth, adorned with golden networks; seeing this deed of the demon, the two Aśvins, skilled physicians and wondrous warriors,
वज्रास्त्रं तु प्रकुर्वाते दानवेन्द्रनिवारणम् ततो वज्रमयं वर्षं प्रावर्तद् अतिदारुणम्
prepared the thunderbolt-missile to check the lord of the Dānavas; then a terrible shower of thunderbolts began.
घोरवज्रप्रहारैस्तु दैत्येन्द्रः स परिष्कृतः रथो ध्वजो धनुश्चक्रं कवचं चापि काञ्चनम्
Struck by dreadful thunderbolts, the demon king’s chariot, banner, bow, discus, and golden armor
क्षणेन तिलशो जातं सर्वसैन्यस्य पश्यतः तद्दृष्ट्वा दुष्करं कर्म सो ऽश्विभ्यां भीमविक्रमः
were, in a moment, shattered to pieces before the eyes of the whole army; seeing this difficult feat of the Aśvins, the mighty demon
नारायणास्त्रं बलवान् मुमोच रणमूर्धनि वज्रास्त्रं शमयामास दानवेन्द्रो ऽस्त्रतेजसा
unleashed the Nārāyaṇa missile on the battlefield; by the power of that weapon, the demon lord subdued the thunderbolt-missile.
तस्मिन्प्रशान्ते वज्रास्त्रे कालनेमिरनन्तरम् जीवग्राहं ग्राहयितुम् अश्विनौ तु प्रचक्रमे
When the thunderbolt-missile was quelled, Kālanemi then immediately sought to seize the Aśvins alive.
तावश्विनौ रणाद्भीतौ सहस्राक्षरथं प्रति प्रयातौ वेपमानौ तु पदा शस्त्रविवर्जितौ
The two Aśvins, fearful from the battle, fled on foot toward Indra’s chariot, trembling and weaponless.
तयोरनुगतो दैत्यः कालनेमिर्महाबलः प्राप्येन्द्रस्य रथं क्रूरो दैत्यानीकपदानुगः
The powerful demon Kālanemi pursued them, and, cruel, reached Indra’s chariot, followed by the ranks of the demon army.
तं दृष्ट्वा सर्वभूतानि वित्रेसुर्विह्वलानि तु दृष्ट्वा दैत्यस्य तत्क्रौर्यं सर्वभूतानि मेनिरे
Seeing him, all beings were terrified and distressed; witnessing the demon’s cruelty, all creatures were filled with fear.
पराजयं महेन्द्रस्य सर्वलोकक्षयावहम् चेलुः शिखरिणो मुख्याः पेतुरुल्का नभस्तलात्
The chief mountain peaks, bearing defeat for Mahendra and destruction for all worlds, fell like meteors from the sky.
जगर्जुर्जलदा दिक्षु ह्य् उद्भूताश्च महार्णवाः तां भूतविकृतिं दृष्ट्वा भगवान्गरुडध्वजः
Thunderclouds roared in all directions, and vast oceans surged forth; witnessing this monstrous upheaval, the blessed one with Garuda as his banner—
व्यबुध्यताहिपर्यङ्के योगनिद्रां विहाय तु लक्ष्मीकरयुगाजस्रलालिताङ्घ्रिसरोरुहः
Awoke from his yogic sleep upon the serpent couch, abandoning slumber, his lotus feet ceaselessly cherished by Lakshmi's hands.
शरदम्बरनीलाब्जकान्तदेहछविर्विभुः कौस्तुभोद्भासितोरस्कः कान्तकेयूरभास्वरः
The Lord, radiant as a blue autumn lotus, his body shining, his chest aglow with the Kaustubha gem, adorned with brilliant armlets.
विमृश्य सुरसंक्षोभं वैनतेयं समाह्वयत् आहूते ऽवस्थिते तस्मिन् नागावस्थितवर्ष्मणि
Reflecting on the turmoil among the gods, he summoned Vainateya; when called, Garuda stood ready, assuming his serpent-form.
दिव्यनानास्त्रतीक्ष्णार्चिर् आरुह्यागात् सुरान्स्वयम् तत्रापश्यत देवेन्द्रम् अभिद्रुतमभिप्लुतैः
Mounting Garuda, whose divine weapons blazed with fierce flames, he went himself to the gods; there he saw Indra, beset by those rushing and leaping upon him.
दानवेन्द्रैर्नवाम्भोदसच्छायैः पौरुषोत्कटैः यथा हि पुरुषं घोरैर् अभाग्यैर्वंशशालिभिः
By the demon lords, fierce in strength, shaded like new rain clouds, just as a man is surrounded by dreadful, ill-fated kin.
परित्राणायाशु कृतं सुक्षेत्रे कर्म निर्मलम् अथापश्यन्त दैतेया वियति ज्योतिर्मण्डलम्
For protection, pure deeds were swiftly performed in the sacred field; then the Daityas saw in the sky a circle of light.
स्फुरन्तमुदयाद्रिस्थं सूर्यमुष्णत्विषा इव प्रभावं ज्ञातुमिच्छन्तो दानवास्तस्य तेजसः
Shining atop the rising mountain, like the sun with its burning rays; the demons, wishing to know the source of that brilliance—
गरुत्मन्तमपश्यन्तः कल्पान्तानलसंनिभम् तमास्थितं च मेघौघद्युतिमक्षयमच्युतम्
Saw Garuda, resembling the fire at the end of the age, and the imperishable Acyuta, radiant like a mass of storm clouds.
तम् आलोक्यासुरेन्द्रास्तु हर्षसम्पूर्णमानसाः अयं वै देवसर्वस्वं जिते ऽस्मिन्निर्जिताः सुराः
Beholding him, the demon chiefs, their hearts filled with joy, said: 'This is indeed the essence of the gods; if he is conquered, the gods are defeated.'
अयं स दैत्यचक्राणां कृतान्तः केशवो ऽरिहा एनमाश्रित्य लोकेषु यज्ञभागभुजो ऽमराः
'He is the destruction of the demon hosts, Kesava, the slayer of foes; relying on him, the gods in all worlds partake of the share of sacrifices.'
इत्युक्त्वा दानवाः सर्वे परिवार्य समन्ततः निजघ्नुर्विविधैरस्त्रैस् ते तम् आयान्तम् आहवे
Having spoken thus, all the demons surrounded him on every side and struck at him with various weapons as he advanced into battle.
कालनेमिप्रभृतयो दश दैत्या महारथाः षष्ट्या विव्याध बाणानां कालनेमिर्जनार्दनम्
Kalanemi and nine other mighty demon chariot-warriors, Kalanemi pierced Janardana with sixty arrows.
निमिः शतेन बाणानां मथनो ऽशीतिभिः शरैः जम्भकश्चैव सप्तत्या शुम्भो दशभिरेव च
Nimi with a hundred arrows, Mathana with eighty shafts, Jambhaka with seventy, and Shumbha with ten.
शेषा दैत्येश्वराः सर्वे विष्णुमेकैकशः शरैः दशभिश्चैव यत्तास्ते जघ्नुः सगरुडं रणे
All the remaining demon lords, each with ten arrows, attacked Vishnu and Garuda together in battle.
तेषाम् अमृष्य तत्कर्म विष्णुर्दानवसूदनः एकैकं दानवं जघ्ने षड्भिः षड्भिरजिह्मगैः
Unable to endure their assault, Vishnu, the slayer of demons, killed each demon with six straight-flying arrows.
आकर्णकृष्टैर्भूयश्च कालनेमिस् त्रिभिः शरैः विष्णुं विव्याध हृदये क्रोधाद्रक्तविलोचनः
Again, Kalanemi, with three arrows drawn to the ear, struck Vishnu in the heart, his eyes reddened with anger.
तस्याशोभन्त ते बाणा हृदये तप्तकाञ्चनाः मयूखानीव दीप्तानि कौस्तुभस्य स्फुटत्विषः
Those arrows, glowing like heated gold, shone upon his heart like the radiant beams bursting from the Kaustubha gem.
तैर्बाणैः किंचिदायस्तो हरिर्जग्राह मुद्गरम् सततं भ्राम्य वेगेन दानवाय व्यसर्जयत्
Struck somewhat by those arrows, Hari seized his mace, whirled it swiftly, and hurled it at the demon.