नमो नमस्ते ऽस्तु मनोहराय नमो नमस्ते ऽस्तु रणोत्कटाय नमो मयूरोज्ज्वलवाहनाय नमो ऽस्तु केयूरधराय तुभ्यम्
Salutations and homage to you, captivating one; salutations and homage to you, fierce in battle; salutations to you, whose vehicle shines as a peacock; salutations to you, wearer of armlets.
नमो धृतोदग्रपताकिने नमस्ते नमः प्रभावप्रणताय ते ऽस्तु नमस्ते नमस्ते वरवीर्यशालिने कृपापरो नो भव भव्यमूर्ते
Salutations to you, bearer of the upright banner; homage to you, whose power is revered; salutations to you, possessor of supreme valor; be ever compassionate to us, O auspicious one.
क्रियापरा यज्ञपतिं च स्तुत्वा विनेमुरेवं त्वमराधिपाद्याः एवं तदा षड्वदनस्तु सेन्द्रान् उवाच तुष्टश्च गुहस्ततस्तान् निरीक्ष्य नेत्रैरमलैः सुरेशाञ् शत्रून्हनिष्यामि गतज्वराः स्थ
Having praised the lord of sacrifice, devoted to action, they bowed; thus did the gods and their leaders, and Six-faced, pleased, looked upon them with pure eyes and said: 'I will destroy your enemies; be free from anxiety.'
कं वः कामं प्रयच्छामि देवता ब्रूत निर्वृताः यद्यप्यसाध्यं हृद्यं वो हृदये चिन्तितं परम्
What boon shall I grant you, O gods? Speak, you who are content. Even if it is difficult, whatever is dear to your hearts, whatever you desire most.
इत्युक्तास्तु सुरास्तेन प्रोचुः प्रणतमौलयः सर्व एव महात्मानं गुहं तद्गतमानसाः
Thus addressed by him, the gods, with their heads bowed, all spoke, their minds fixed upon the great-souled Guha.
दैत्येन्द्रस्तारको नाम सर्वामरकुलान्तकृत् बलवान्दुर्जयो दुष्टो दुराचारो ऽतिकोपनः तमेव जहि हृद्यो ऽर्थ एषो ऽस्माकं भयापह
The demon king named Taraka, destroyer of all divine clans, powerful, unconquerable, wicked, of evil conduct, excessively wrathful—slay him; this is our heartfelt wish, the remover of our fear.
एवमुक्तस्तथेत्युक्त्वा सर्वामरपदानुगः जगाम जगतां नाथः स्तूयमानो ऽमरेश्वरैः
Thus addressed, he replied, 'So be it,' and, accompanied by all the divine hosts, the lord of the worlds departed, praised by the lords of the gods.
तारकस्य वधार्थाय जगतः कण्टकस्य वै ततश्च प्रेषयामास शक्रो लब्धसमाश्रयः
For the purpose of slaying Taraka, the thorn of the world, Indra, having obtained support, sent forth.
दूतं दानवसिंहस्य परुषाक्षरवादिनम् स तु गत्वाब्रवीद्दैत्यं निर्भयो भीमदर्शनः
He sent a messenger to the lion among demons, one who spoke harsh words; that messenger, fearless and terrifying in appearance, went and addressed the demon.
शक्रस्त्वामाह देवेशो दैत्यकेतो दिवस्पतिः तारकासुर तच्छ्रुत्वा घटशक्त्या यथेच्छया
Indra, lord of the gods, speaks to you, O banner of the demons, lord of heaven; hearing this, Tarakasura, with his formidable power, acted as he wished.
यज्जगद्दलनादाप्तं किल्बिषं दानव त्वया तस्याहं शासकस्ते ऽद्य राजास्मि भुवनत्रये
O Dānava, the sin you have acquired by oppressing the world—today, I am your ruler and the king of the three worlds, its punisher.
श्रुत्वैतद्दूतवचनं कोपसंरक्तलोचनः उवाच दूतं दुष्टात्मा नष्टप्रायविभूतिकः
Hearing these words of the messenger, his eyes reddened with anger, the wicked-hearted one, whose glory was nearly lost, spoke to the messenger.
दृष्टं ते पौरुषं शक्र रणेषु शतशो मया निस्त्रपत्वान्न ते लज्जा विद्यते शक्र दुर्मते
O Indra, I have seen your manliness hundreds of times in battle; because you are shameless, you do not feel any embarrassment, O Indra, you of evil mind.
एवमुक्ते गते दूते चिन्तयामास दानवः नालब्धसंश्रयः शक्रो वक्तुमेवं हि चार्हति
When the messenger had departed after speaking thus, the Dānava began to reflect: 'Indra, having found no refuge, is justified in speaking this way.'
जितः स शक्रो नाकस्माज् जायते संश्रयाश्रयः निमित्तानि च दुष्टानि सो ऽपश्यद्दुष्टचेष्टितः
That Indra, having been defeated, does not arise from nowhere; he is one who seeks support from support. The wicked one saw evil omens and his own evil deeds.
पांशुवर्षमसृक्पातं गगनादवनीतले भुजनेत्रप्रकम्पं च वक्त्रशोषमनोभ्रमम्
He beheld a rain of dust, a shower of blood from the sky to the earth, the trembling of arms and eyes, dryness of mouth, and confusion of mind.
स्वकान्तावक्त्रपद्मानां म्लानतां च व्यलोकयत् दुष्टांश्च प्राणिनो रौद्रान् सो ऽपश्यद्दुष्टवेदिनः
He saw the fading of the lotus faces of his beloveds, and he saw wicked and fierce creatures, those with evil knowledge.
तदचिन्त्वैव दितिजो न्यस्तचिन्तो ऽभवत्क्षणात् यावद्गजघटाघण्टारणत्काररवोत्कटाम्
Thinking thus, the son of Diti at once abandoned his worries, until the dreadful sound of the clashing of elephant battalions and the ringing of bells arose.
तद्वत्तुरगसंघातक्षुण्णभूरेणुपिञ्जराम् चञ्चलस्यन्दनोदग्रध्वजराजिविराजिताम्
He saw the earth yellowed by dust trampled by masses of horses, adorned by the banners of swiftly moving chariots.
विमानैश्चाद्भुताकारैश् चलितामरचामरैः तां भूषणनिबद्धां च किंनरोद्गतिनादिताम्
He saw wondrously shaped aerial cars, their celestial fans waving, that army adorned with ornaments and resounding with the songs of Kinnaras.
नानानाकतरूत्फुल्लकुसुमापीडधारिणीम् विकोशास्त्रपरिष्कारां वर्मनिर्मलदर्शनाम्
He saw it bearing clusters of blooming flowers from many kinds of trees, equipped with unfolded weapons, and shining with spotless armor.
बन्द्युद्घुष्टस्तुतिरवां नानावाद्यनिनादिताम् सेनां नाकसदां दैत्यः प्रासादस्थो व्यलोकयत्
He saw the army of the dwellers of heaven, resounding with the shouts of bards and praises, and filled with the sounds of various instruments, while he, the Daitya, looked on from his palace.
चिन्तयामास स तदा किंचिदुद्भ्रान्तमानसः अपूर्वः को भवेद्योद्धा यो मया न विनिर्जितः
Then, with his mind somewhat disturbed, he began to ponder: 'Who could this unprecedented warrior be, whom I have not conquered?'
ततश्चिन्ताकुलो दैत्यः शुश्राव कटुकाक्षरम् सिद्धबन्दिभिरुद्घुष्टम् इदं हृदयदारणम्
Then, troubled by anxiety, the Daitya heard these harsh words, proclaimed by accomplished bards, words that tore at his heart:
जयातुलशक्तिदीधितिपिञ्जर भुजदण्डचण्डरणरभस । सुरवदन कुमुदकानन-विकासनेन्दो कुमार जय दितिजकुलमहोदधिवडवानल
Victory to you, whose unequalled power blazes forth, whose mighty arms are fierce in battle! O Kumāra, joy of the gods, moon that makes the lotus faces of the gods bloom, victory to you, fire that dries up the great ocean of the Dānava race!
षण्मुख मधुररवमयूररथ सुरमुकुटकोटिघट्टितचरणनखाङ्कुरमहासन । जय ललितचूडाकलापनवविमलदलकमलकान्त दैत्यवंशदुःसहदावानल
Victory to you, six-faced one, whose sweet-voiced peacock chariot, whose seat is made great by the nails of your feet striking the crowns of the gods! Victory to you, whose lovely crest is adorned with fresh, spotless lotus petals, wild fire to the unbearable race of Daityas!
जय विशाख विभो जय सकललोकतारक जय देवसेनानायक । स्कन्द जय गौरीनन्दन घण्टाप्रिय प्रिय विशाख विभो धृतपताकप्रकीर्णपटल । कनकभूषण भासुरदिनकरच्छाय
Victory to you, Viśākha, lord! Victory, savior of all the worlds! Victory, leader of the divine army! Skanda, victory to you, son of Gaurī, beloved of the bell, beloved Viśākha, lord, banner-bearer with scattered cloths, golden-ornamented, shining like the sun!
जय जनितसंभ्रम लीलालूनाखिलाराते जय सकललोकतारक दितिजासुरवरतारकान्तक । स्कन्द जय बाल सप्तवासर जय भुवनावलिशोकविनाशन
Victory to you, who with playful ease have struck terror in all enemies! Victory, savior of all the worlds, destroyer of the best of Diti's Asuras and Tāraka! Skanda, victory to you, child of seven nights, destroyer of the sorrows of the hosts of worlds!
श्रुत्वैतत्तारकः सर्वम् उद्घुष्टं देवबन्दिभिः सस्मार ब्रह्मणो वाक्यं वधं बालादुपस्थितम्
Hearing all this proclaimed aloud by the divine bards, Tāraka remembered the words of Brahmā and saw that his death was now at hand.
स्मृत्वा घर्मार्द्रसर्वाङ्गः पदातिरपदानुगः मन्दिरान्निर्जगामाशु शोकग्रस्तेन चेतसा
Recalling this, drenched with sweat, the foot-soldier who followed no path quickly left the palace, his mind seized by grief.