एतौ हरस्व भद्रं ते तावकं च महाबलम्। एवमुक्तस्तथेत्युक्त्वा सर्वामरपदानुगः
Take away these two, and may you have good fortune and great strength. Thus addressed, he replied, 'So be it,' and followed by all the immortals—
जगाम जगतांनाथस्तूयमानोमरेश्वरैः। तारकस्य वधार्थाय जगतां कंटकस्य च
The Lord of the worlds went forth, praised by the lords of the celestials, to slay Taraka and the thorn of the worlds.
ततश्च प्रेषयामास शक्रो गूढसमाश्रयः। दूतं दानवसिंहस्य परुषाक्षरवादिनम्
Then Indra, remaining concealed, sent a messenger to the lion among demons, one who spoke harsh words.
स तु गत्वाब्रवीद्दैत्यमभयो भीमदर्शनम्। दूत उवाच। शक्रस्त्वामाह देवेशो दैत्यकेतुं दिवस्पतिः
That messenger, having gone, spoke to the terrifying demon who inspired fear: The messenger said: 'Indra, Lord of the gods, the banner of the demons, the lord of heaven, speaks to you.'
तारकासुर तच्छक्त्या घटयस्व यथेच्छया। यज्जगज्ज्वलनोद्दीप्तं किल्बिषं च त्वया कृतम्
Tārakāsura, by that power of yours, act as you wish; all the sin you have committed, blazing and inflamed in the world, is by you.
तस्याहं सादकस्तेद्य राजास्मि भुवनत्रये। श्रुत्वैतदद्भुतं वाक्यं कोपसंरक्तलोचनः
Because of that, I have accomplished my aim and today I am king of the three worlds; hearing these wondrous words, his eyes reddened with anger.
उवाच दूतं दुष्टात्मा नष्टप्रायविभूतिकः। तारक उवाच-। दृष्टं ते पौरुषं शक्र शतशोथ महारणे
The wicked-hearted one, whose glory was nearly lost, spoke to the messenger: Tāraka said— 'I have seen your prowess, O Indra, hundreds of times in great battles.'
निस्त्रपत्वान्न ते शांतिर्विद्यते शक्र दुर्मते। एवमुक्ते गते दूते चिंतयामास दानवः
'Because you are unstable, O Indra of evil mind, you will never have peace.' When he had spoken thus and the messenger had departed, the demon began to reflect.
नालब्धसंश्रयः शक्रो वक्तुमेवमिहार्हति। जातः स्कंदोधुना शक्राज्ज्ञायते समुपाश्रयात्
'Indra, lacking any refuge, would not dare to speak so here; now, because of Skanda, Indra has gained support, as is clear from his confidence.'
निमित्तौघांस्तदा दुष्टान्सोपश्यन्नाशवेदिनः। पांसुवर्षमसृक्पातं गगनादवनीतले
Then he saw many evil omens, portending destruction: showers of dust and blood falling from the sky to the earth.
वामनेत्रप्रकंपं च वक्त्रशोषं मनोमयम्। स्वकानां वक्त्रपद्मानां म्लानतां च व्यलोकयत्
He saw trembling in the eyes, dryness in the mouth born of anxiety, and the withering of the lotus-like faces of his own people.
दुष्टांश्च प्राणिनो रौद्रान्सोपश्यद्दुष्टवादिनः। तदचिंत्यैव दितिजो न्यस्तचित्तोभवत्क्षणात्
He saw wicked beings, fierce and uttering evil words; then, in that very moment, the son of Diti became inwardly dejected.
यावद्गजघटाघंटा घनत्काररवोत्कटाम्। तद्वत्तुरंगसंघातहेषोत्साहविभूषिताम्
Meanwhile, the clamor of elephant battalions, resounding with the harsh noise of bells, and the neighing of eager horses adorned the scene.
सैन्यैस्सेनान्तरोदग्र ध्वजराजैर्विराजिताम्। विमानैश्चाद्भुताकारैश्चलितामलचामरैः
The army shone with lofty banners, with splendid chariots of wondrous form, their pure yak-tail fans waving.
विभूषणपिनद्धां च किन्नरोद्गीतनादिताम्। नाना नाकतरूत्फुल्ल कुसुमापीडधारिणीम्
It was adorned with ornaments, resounding with the songs of Kinnaras, and crowned with garlands of various heavenly flowers in full bloom.
विशोकास्त्रपरिस्फार चर्मनिर्मलदर्शिनीं। विद्युत्पुष्टद्युतिधरां नानावाद्यविनादिताम्
He saw the army, its shields gleaming, free from sorrow, flashing with the brilliance of lightning, and resounding with many musical instruments.
सेनां नाकसदां दैत्यः प्रासादस्थो व्यलोकयत्। सचिंतयामास तदा किंचिद्विभ्रांतमानसः
From his palace, the demon beheld the army of the gods; then, his mind somewhat disturbed, he began to ponder.
अपूर्वः को भवेद्योद्धा यो मया न विनिर्जितः। ततश्चिंताकुलो दैत्यः शुश्राव कटुकाक्षरम्। सिद्धवंदिभिरुद्घुष्टमिदं हृदयदारुणम्
'Who could be this new warrior, whom I have not yet defeated?' Thus troubled by these thoughts, the demon heard harsh words proclaimed by accomplished bards, words that struck the heart.
जयातुलशक्तिदीधितिपंजरभुजदंडप्रचंडतर। रभससुरवदनकुमुदविकासनविलासनेत्र कुमारवर
Victory to the peerless one, whose radiance is like a cage of blazing power, whose arms are mighty, whose eyes delight in the blooming of the lotus-like faces of the eager gods—victory to the noble Kumāra!
जय दितिजकुलमहोदधि बडवानल मधुरमयूररथ सुरमकुट कोटि कुंचित चरण नखांकुर महासेन
Victory to you, O Mahāsena, blazing like the submarine fire to the great ocean of the demon race, riding the sweet peacock chariot, whose toe-nails are marked by the crowns of countless gods!
जय चलितललित चूडाकलापनवविमलकमल। दंडकांत दैत्येशवंश दुःसह दावानल
Victory to you, whose crest-jewel sways gracefully, pure as a new lotus, beloved of Daṇḍaka, the forest fire to the unbearable lineage of the demon lord!
जय विशाखविभोजय बालसप्तवासर भुवनालिशोकशमन जय सकललोक दितिसुतधुरंधरनाशक स्कंद
Victory to you, O lord Viśākha, child of seven days, remover of the sorrows of all the worlds; victory to you, Skanda, destroyer of all the demon-lords who burden the worlds!
श्रुत्वैतत्तारकः सर्वमुद्घुष्टं देववंदिभिः। सस्मार ब्रह्मणो वाक्यं वधं बालादुपस्थितं
Hearing all this, Tāraka, as proclaimed by the divine bards, remembered the words of Brahmā and the impending death at the hands of the boy.
स्मृत्वा धर्मौघविध्वंसी सदा वीरपदानुगः। मंदिरान्निर्जगामाशु शोकग्रस्तेन चेतसा
Recalling that he was always a follower of the path of heroes, yet a destroyer of righteousness, he quickly left his palace, his mind seized by grief.
कालनेमिमुखा दैत्याः संत्रस्ता भ्रांतचेतसः। स्वेष्वनीकेषु च तदा त्वरा विस्मितचेतसः
The demons, led by Kālanemi, were terrified and bewildered in mind; in their own ranks, they were hastily amazed and anxious.
हिरण्यकशिपुः प्राह दानवानां धुरंधरः। त्रपाकरं भवेन्मह्यं बालस्यास्य पलायनम्
Hiraṇyakaśipu, the chief among the Dānavas, spoke: 'The flight of this boy would bring me shame.'
यद्यहं हंतवे यामि सोपि वै कमलाश्रितः। हत्वाहं बालकं चैनं दुःस्पर्शः स्यामकारणं
'If I go to kill him, he is protected by Lakṣmī; if I kill this boy, I will become untouchable for no reason.'
यात धावत गृह्णीत योजयध्वं वरूथिनीम्। कुमारं तारको दृष्ट्वा बभाषे भीषणाकृतिः
'Go, run, seize him! Assemble the battalions!' Seeing the boy, Tāraka, of terrifying appearance, spoke.
किं बाल योद्धुकामोसि क्रीडकंदुकलीलया। येनातपो निसृष्टस्ते सत्संगरविभाषक
'Why, boy, do you wish to fight, as if it were a game? By whom have you been sent, O speaker of noble assemblies?'
बालत्वादथ ते बुद्धिरेवं स्वल्पार्थदर्शिनी। कुमारोपि तमग्रस्थं बभाषे हर्षवत्तमं
'Because of your childhood, your understanding is limited to small matters.' Yet the boy, facing him, spoke with utmost joy.