प्राणांतकरणं जातं देवानां दानवा हवं। देवान्निपीडितान्दृष्ट्वा कुमारः कोपमाविशत्
A deadly calamity befell the gods, caused by the demons' offering; seeing the gods oppressed, Kumāra was seized by anger.
ततोस्त्रैर्दारयामास दानावानामनीकिनीम्। तैरस्त्रैर्निष्प्रतीकारैस्ताडितास्सुरकंटकाः
Then, with his weapons, he shattered the army of the demons; struck by those irresistible weapons, the tormentors of the gods were beaten.
कालनेमिमुखाः सर्वे रणे ह्यासन्पराङ्मुखाः। विद्रुतेषु च दैत्येषु प्रहतेषु समंततः
All, led by Kālanemi, turned their backs in battle; as the demons fled and were struck down everywhere.
किन्नरोद्गारगीतैश्च हास्यसन्यस्तचेतनः। जघ्ने कुमारं गदया निष्टप्तकनकत्विषा
With songs sung by Kinnaras and laughter that scattered their senses, Kumāra struck with his mace, shining like refined gold.
शरैर्मयूरं चित्रैश्च चकार विमुखं रणे। दृष्ट्वा पराड्मुखो देवो मुक्तरक्तं स्ववाहनम्
With his variegated arrows, he made the peacock turn away in battle; seeing his vehicle bleeding and turned away, the god...
जग्राह शक्तिं विमलां रणे कनकभूषणाम्। बाहुना हेमकेयूर रुचिरेण षडाननः
In battle, Ṣaḍānana took up a pure spear adorned with golden ornaments, with his arm shining with a golden bracelet.
ततोब्रवीन्महासेनस्तारकं दानवाधिपम्। तिष्ठतिष्ठ सुदुर्बुद्धे यमलोकं विलोकय
Then Mahāsena spoke to Tāraka, lord of the demons: 'Stand, stand, you of wicked mind! Behold the realm of Yama.'
हतो ह्यसि मया शक्त्या स्मर स्वं दैत्यचेष्टितम्। इत्युक्त्वा तु ततः शक्तिं मुमोच दितिजं प्रति
'You are slain by me with this spear; remember your deeds as a demon.' Having spoken thus, he hurled the spear at the offspring of Diti.
सा कुमारभुजोत्सृष्टा तत्केयूररवानुगा। बिभेद दैत्यहृदयं वज्रशैलेंद्रकर्कशम्
That spear, released from Kumāra's arm and accompanied by the sound of his bracelet, pierced the demon's heart, hard as a thunderbolt or mountain.
गतासुः स पपातोर्व्यां प्रलये भूधरो यथा। विकीर्णमकुटोष्णीषो विस्रस्ताखिलभूषणः
His life departed, he fell to the earth like a mountain at dissolution, his crown and turban scattered, all his ornaments cast off.
तस्मिन्विनिहते दैत्ये दानवानां धुरंधरे। नाभूत्कश्चित्तदा दुःखी नरकेष्वपि पापकृत्
When that demon, the burden-bearer of the demons, was slain, none was sorrowful then, not even the wicked in hell.
स्तुवंतः षण्मुखं देवाः प्राक्रीडन्नागतस्मिताः। जग्मुः स्वानेव भुवनान्निरस्यासंस्तथोत्सुकाः
The gods, praising Ṣaṇmukha, played joyfully with smiles returned; eager, they departed to their own worlds.
ददुश्चापि वरं सर्वे देवाश्च षण्मुखं प्रति। तुष्टाः संप्राप्तसर्वार्थास्सहसिद्धैस्तपोधनैः
All the gods, pleased and having attained all their desires, granted a boon to Ṣaṇmukha, accompanied by ascetics endowed with miraculous powers.
देवा ऊचुः। यः पठेत्स्कंदसंबंधां कथामेतां महामतिः। शृणुयाच्छ्रावयेद्वापि स भवेत्कीर्तिमान्नरः
The gods said: 'Whoever, of great intellect, recites, hears, or causes to be heard this tale of Skanda, he shall become renowned among men.'
बह्वायुः सुभगः श्रीमान्कीर्तिमान्शुभदर्शनः। भूतेभ्यो निर्भयश्चापि सर्वदुःखविवर्जितः
He will be long-lived, fortunate, prosperous, renowned, and of auspicious appearance; fearless among beings and free from all suffering.
संध्यामुपास्य यः पूर्वां स्कंदस्य चरितं पठेत्। स युक्तः किन्नरैः सर्वैर्महाधनपतिर्भवेत्
Whoever, after worshipping the morning twilight, recites the deeds of Skanda, shall, accompanied by all Kinnaras, become lord of great wealth.
भीष्म उवाच-। इदानीं श्रोतुमिच्छामि हिरण्यकशिपोर्वधम्। नरसिंहस्य माहात्म्यं तथा पापविनाशनम्
Bhīṣma said: 'Now I wish to hear of the slaying of Hiraṇyakaśipu, the greatness of Narasiṃha, and the destruction of sin.'
पुलस्त्य उवाच-। पुरा कृतयुगे राजन्हिरण्यकशिपुः प्रभुः। दैत्यानामादिपुरुषश्चकार सुमहत्तपः
Pulastya said: 'Once, in the Krita age, O king, Hiraṇyakaśipu, lord of the demons and their primeval ancestor, performed a great austerity.'
दशवर्षसहस्राणि दशवर्षशतानि च। जलवासी समभवत्स्नानमौनधृतव्रतः
For ten thousand years and also for a thousand years, he dwelled in water, observing vows of bathing and silence.
वृतः शमदमाभ्यां च ब्रह्मचर्येण चैव हि। ब्रह्मा प्रीतोऽभवत्तस्य तपसा नियमेन च
He was endowed with tranquility and self-control, and indeed with celibacy; Brahmā was pleased with his austerity and discipline.
ततः स्वयंभूर्भगवान्स्वयमागत्य तत्र हि। विमानेनार्कवर्णेन हंसयुक्तेन भास्वता
Then the self-born, blessed Lord himself came there, in a radiant aerial chariot the color of the sun, yoked with swans.
आदित्यैर्वसुभिः साध्यैर्मरुद्भिर्दैवतैस्सह। रुद्रैर्विश्वसहायैश्च यक्षराक्षसपन्नगैः
Together with the Ādityas, Vasus, Sādhyas, Maruts, and other deities, with Rudras, Viśvas, Yakṣas, Rākṣasas, and serpents.
दिग्भिश्चैव विदिग्भिश्च नदीभिः सागरैस्तथा। नक्षत्रैश्च मुहूर्तैश्च खचरैश्च महाग्रहैः
With the directions and intermediate directions, with rivers and also oceans, with stars, moments, celestial beings, and great planets.
देवैर्ब्रह्मर्षिभिः सार्द्धं सिद्धैः सप्तर्षिभिस्तथा। राजर्षिभिः पुण्यकृद्भिर्गंधर्वाप्सरसांगणैः
With gods, Brahmarṣis, Siddhas, the seven sages, royal sages, the virtuous, and hosts of Gandharvas and Apsarases.
चराचरगुरुः श्रीमान्वृतः सर्वैर्दिवौकसैः। ब्रह्मा ब्रह्मविदां श्रेष्ठो दैत्यं वचनमब्रवीत्
The glorious preceptor of all beings, surrounded by all the dwellers of heaven, Brahmā, the foremost knower of Brahman, spoke to the Daitya.
प्रीतोस्मि तव भक्तस्य तपसाऽनेन सुव्रत। वरं वरय भद्रं ते यथेष्टं काममाप्नुहि
I am pleased with your devotion and this austerity, O virtuous one; choose a boon, good fortune to you, obtain whatever desire you wish.
हिरण्यकशिपुरुवाच-। न देवासुरगंधर्वा न यक्षोरगराक्षसाः। न मानुषाः पिशाचाश्च हन्युर्मां देवसत्तम
Hiraṇyakaśipu said: Let neither gods, nor Asuras, nor Gandharvas, nor Yakṣas, nor serpents, nor Rākṣasas, nor humans, nor Piśācas kill me, O best of gods.
ऋषयो मानवाः शापैर्न शपेयुः पितामह। यदि मे भगवान्प्रीतो वर एष वृतो मया
Let neither sages nor men curse me with imprecations, O Grandfather; if the Lord is pleased with me, this is the boon I choose.
न शस्त्रेण न चास्त्रेण गिरिणा पादपेन वा। न शुष्केण न चार्द्रेण न स्याच्चान्येन मे वधः
Let my death not come by weapon or missile, nor by mountain or tree, nor by something dry or wet, nor by anything else.
भवेयमहमेवार्कः सोमो वायुर्हुताशनः। सलिलं चांतरिक्षं च नक्षत्राणि दिशो दश
Let me become the sun, the moon, the wind, the fire, water, the sky, the stars, and the ten directions.