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.'
कुपितं तु तमालोक्य कालनेमिपुरोगमाः सर्वे दैत्येश्वरा जघ्नुः कुमारं रणदारुणम्
Seeing him enraged, all the Daitya lords, led by Kālanemi, attacked the boy in the fierce battle.
स तैः प्रहारैरस्पृष्टो वृथाक्लेशैर्महाद्युतिः रणशौण्डास्तु दैत्येन्द्राः पुनः प्रासैः शिलीमुखैः
Untouched by their blows, their efforts wasted, the radiant boy stood firm; but the Daitya lords, masters of war, again struck with spears and arrows.
कुमारं सामरं जघ्नुर् बलिनो देवकण्टकाः कुमारस्य व्यथा नाभूद् दैत्यास्त्रनिहतस्य तु
The powerful enemies of the gods, together with their armies, attacked the boy; yet Kārtikeya, though struck by Daitya weapons, felt no pain.
प्राणान्तकरणो जातो देवानां दानवाहवः देवान्निपीडितान्दृष्ट्वा कुमारः कोपमाविशत्
The battle with the Daityas became deadly for the gods; seeing the gods oppressed, the boy was seized by anger.
ततो ऽस्त्रैर्वारयामास दानवानामनीकिनीम् ततस्तैर् निष्प्रतीकरैस् ताडिताः सुरकण्टकाः
Then, with his weapons, he repelled the Daitya army; struck by him, the tormentors of the gods were left without defense.
कालनेमिमुखाः सर्वे रणादासन्पराङ्मुखाः विद्रुतेष्वथ दैत्येषु हतेषु च समन्ततः
All the Daityas, led by Kālanemi, turned their faces from the battle; as the Daityas fled and were slain on every side.
ततः क्रुद्धो महादैत्यस् तारको ऽसुरनायकः जग्राह च गदां दिव्यां हेमजालपरिष्कृताम्
Then, enraged, the great demon Tāraka, leader of the asuras, seized a divine mace adorned with golden filigree.
जघ्ने कुमारं गदया निष्टप्तकनकाङ्गदः शरैर्मयूरपत्रैश्च चकार विमुखान्सुरान्
Wearing armlets of refined gold, he struck Kumāra with the mace, and with peacock-feathered arrows he turned the gods away in flight.
तथा परैर्महाभल्लैर् मयूरं गुहवाहनम् बिभेद तारकः क्रुद्धः स सैन्ये ऽसुरनायकः
Likewise, with great barbed arrows, Tāraka, furious and chief of the asura army, pierced the peacock, Guha's mount.
दृष्ट्वा पराङ्मुखान्देवान् मुक्तरक्तं स्ववाहनम् जग्राह शक्तिं विमलां रणे कनकभूषणाम्
Seeing the gods turned away and his own mount bleeding, he took up a flawless spear in battle, adorned with golden ornaments.