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.
कालनेमिमुखा दैत्याः संरम्भाद्भ्रान्तचेतसः स्वे स्वे स्वनीकेषु तदा त्वराविस्मितचेतसः योधा धावत गृहीत योजयध्वं वरूथिनीम्
The Daityas, led by Kālanemi, their minds agitated with rage, hurried in their own divisions, astonished and eager, shouting: 'Warriors, run! Seize him! Form the battle lines!'
कुमारं तारको दृष्ट्वा बभाषे भीषणाकृतिः किं बाल योद्धुकामो ऽसि क्रीड कन्दुकलीलया
Seeing the boy, Tāraka, terrifying in form, spoke: 'Child, do you wish to fight, or are you here to play with your ball in sport?'
त्वया न दानवा दृष्टा यत्सङ्गरविभीषकाः बालत्वादथ ते बुद्धिर् एवं स्वल्पार्थदर्शिनी
'You have not seen the Daityas, whose battles are dreadful; because you are a child, your understanding is limited and sees only small things.'
कुमारो ऽपि तमग्रस्थं बभाषे हर्षयन्सुरान् शृणु तारक शास्त्रार्थस् तव चैव निरूप्यते
But the boy, standing before him, gladdening the gods, replied: 'Listen, Tāraka, the meaning of the scriptures is now to be shown to you.'
शास्त्रैरर्था न दृश्यन्ते समरे निर्भयैर्भटैः शिशुत्वं मावमंस्था मे शिशुः कालभुजंगमः
'Meanings are not revealed by scriptures in battle, but by fearless warriors; do not look down on my childhood—sometimes even a child is the serpent of time.'
दुष्प्रेक्ष्यो भास्करो बालस् तथाहं दुर्जयः शिशुः अल्पाक्षरो न मन्त्रः किं सुस्फुरो दैत्य दृश्यते
'The sun, though young, is hard to gaze upon; so too am I, a child, unconquerable. A mantra may be short in syllables—yet, Daitya, see how clearly it shines.'
कुमारे प्रोक्तवत्येवं दैत्यश्चिक्षेप मुद्गरम् कुमारस्तं निरस्याथ वज्रेणामोघवर्चसा
When the boy had spoken thus, the Daitya hurled a mace; but the boy deflected it with his thunderbolt of unfailing brilliance.
ततश्चिक्षेप दैत्येन्द्रो भिन्दिपालमयोमयम् करेण तच्च जग्राह कार्तिकेयो ऽमरारिहा
Then the lord of the Daityas threw an iron club, but Kārtikeya, slayer of the foe of the gods, caught it in his hand.
गदां मुमोच दैत्याय षण्मुखः परमस्वनाम् तया हतस्ततो दैत्यश् चकम्पे ऽचलराडिव
Six-faced Kārtikeya hurled his mace at the Daitya, resounding mightily; struck by it, the Daitya trembled like the lord of mountains.
मेने च दुर्जयं दैत्यस् तदा षड्वदनं रणे चिन्तयामास बुद्ध्या वै प्राप्तः कालो न संशयः
Then the Daitya, seeing Six-faced in battle to be invincible, thought in his mind: 'Surely my time has come, there is no doubt.'