क्षीरोदस्योत्तरं कूलं जगाम हरिरीश्वरः। नारसिंहं वपुर्देवः स्थापयित्वा सुदीप्तिमान्
Hari, the Lord, went to the northern shore of the Milk Ocean, having left behind the radiant Narasiṃha form.
पौराणं रूपमास्थाय प्रययौ गरडध्वजः। अष्टचक्रेण यानेन भूतियुक्तेन भास्वता
Assuming his ancient form, the one with the Garuḍa banner departed in a shining chariot with eight wheels, endowed with splendor.
अव्यक्तप्रकृतिर्देवः स्वस्थानं गतवान्प्रभुः
The Lord, of unmanifest nature, returned to his own abode.
श्री भीष्म उवाच-। नरसिंहस्य माहात्म्यं विस्तरेण त्वयेरितं। तथा भवस्य माहात्म्यं भैरवस्याभिधीयताम्
Śrī Bhīṣma said: 'You have described in detail the greatness of Narasiṃha; now speak of the greatness of Bhava, of Bhairava.'
पुलस्त्य उवाच। तस्यापि देवदेवस्य शृणु त्वं कर्म चोत्तमं। आसीद्दैत्योंधको नाम भिन्नांजनचयोपमः
Pulastya said: 'Listen also to the supreme deeds of that god of gods; there was a demon named Andhaka, dark as a mass of split collyrium.'
तपसा महता युक्तो ह्यवध्यस्त्रिदिवौकसाम्। स कदाचिन्महादेवं पार्वत्या सहितं विभुं
Endowed with great austerity, he was invulnerable to the gods of heaven; once, he saw the mighty Mahādeva together with Pārvatī.
क्रीडमानं तदा दृष्ट्वा हर्तुं देवीं प्रचक्रमे। एतां देवीं हराम्यद्य वियोगे मृत्युमेष्यति
Seeing her playing at that time, he resolved to seize the goddess: 'Today I will take this goddess; if separated from her, she will meet death.'
ततः स्थिरा भवित्री मे भार्यैषा लोकसुंदरी। बिबौष्ठं चारुवदनं चारुकांततरं मुखं
Therefore, this woman of steadfast beauty shall become my wife, the most lovely in the worlds; her lips and charming face surpass all others in beauty.
यद्येषा न भवेद्भार्या जीविते किं प्रयोजनम्। एतां मतिमथास्थाय मंत्रिभिः सह मंत्र्य च
If she does not become my wife, what purpose is there in living? Fixing his mind thus, he consulted with his ministers.
चक्रे योगं ससैन्यस्य सेनापतिमभाषत। आनयस्व रथं मह्यं जैत्रं देवनिपातनम्
He made preparations with his army and spoke to his general: 'Bring me my victorious chariot, the one that subdues the gods.'
जयिष्ये त्रिदशान्सर्वान्विष्णुरुद्रपुरोगमान्। हरिष्ये पर्वतसुतां तया मेऽपहृतं मनः
'I will conquer all the gods, with Vishnu and Rudra at their head; I will take the daughter of the mountain, for my heart has been stolen by her.'
मंत्रिणा तस्य चाख्यातः कनकस्य वधस्सुरैः। परभार्यानुरक्तस्य कृतो देवैः सवासवैः
His minister revealed to him that the gods, along with Indra, had plotted the death of Kanaka because he was enamored with another's wife.
ततः कोपपरीतात्मा हन्मि देवान्सशंकरान्। तं हत्वा दानवं शक्रो भयादंधासुरस्य च
Then, filled with wrath, he declared, 'I will slay the gods, including Shankara.' After killing the demon, Indra, fearing the blind asura, fled.
जगाम शरणान्वेषी कैलासं शंकरालयं। दृष्ट्वा प्रणम्य देवेशं चंद्रार्द्धकृतशेखरं
Seeking refuge, he went to Kailāsa, the abode of Shankara; seeing the Lord of the gods, crowned with the crescent moon, he bowed down.
भीतो विज्ञापयामास धृतसाहस्रलोचनः। अभयं देहि मे देव दानवादंधकादहं
Frightened, the thousand-eyed one humbly petitioned: 'O god, grant me safety from the demon Andhaka.'
बिभेमि तस्य पुत्रोद्य मया युधि निपातितः। तद्यावन्न स जानाति हतं पुत्रं महासुरः
'I fear him, for I have slain his son in battle; before that great asura learns his son is dead—'
तावत्तत्रस्थ एवाशु हन्यतां मद्भयावहः। स्त्रीलौल्याद्दानवः क्रूरः परभार्यापहारकः
'Let that fearsome one, who brings terror to me, be slain here at once; the cruel demon, driven by lust for women, who steals another's wife.'
सर्वथा घातनीयस्ते भवता सुरसत्तम। शक्रस्यैवं वचः श्रुत्वा शरण्यः शंकरस्तदा
'By all means, O best of gods, you must destroy him.' Hearing these words of Indra, Shankara, the refuge of all, then—
ददावभयमेवासौ मा भैरिति शतक्रतोः। दत्ताभयोथ कैलासादाजगाम कुशस्थलीम्
He granted him safety, saying, 'Do not fear, O Shatakratu.' Having given assurance, he departed from Kailāsa for Kuśasthalī.
वृतो भूतगणैरीशो वधार्थमंधकस्य तु। कृत्वा रूपं महाकायं विश्वरूपं सुभैरवं
Surrounded by hosts of spirits, the Lord took on a great and terrible universal form for the destruction of Andhaka.
सर्पैर्ज्वलद्भिर्धावद्भिर्भीमं भीमभुजंगवत्। जटासटाभिराकाशं फणिरत्नशिखार्चिषा
With blazing, darting serpents, dreadful as monstrous snakes, his matted locks filled the sky, crowned with the jeweled hoods of serpents.
दहन्नतीवतेजोभिः कालाग्निरिव संक्षये। मुखैर्दंष्ट्रांकुरांकैश्च द्वितीयेन्दुकलोज्ज्वलैः
Burning with intense radiance like the fire at the end of time, his faces shone with fangs and crescent moons, terrifying to behold.
पातालोदररूपाभैर्भैरवारावनादिभिः। भुजैरनेकसाहस्रैर्बहुशस्त्रकृतग्रहः
With forms as deep as the underworld, roaring like Bhairava and Arāva, his many thousands of arms grasped countless weapons.
बह्वाभरणभूषाढ्यै रणे घोरनिनादिभिः। सिंहचर्मपरीधानं व्याघ्रत्वगुत्तरीयकं
Adorned with many ornaments, resounding with dreadful noise in battle, he wore a lion's skin as a garment and a tiger hide as an upper cloth.
गजाजिनकृताटोपं पतद्भृंगरवाकुलं। ईदृग्रूपं विधायेशो दनुदैत्यभयावहं
The Lord assumed such a form, adorned with the majesty of an elephant hide, swarming with the hum of bees, bringing terror to the Daityas and Danavas.
अवातरन्महीं भीमो दनूनां क्षयकारकः। अंधासुरोपि दनुजः पुत्रं श्रुत्वा हतं युधि
That formidable one, the destroyer of the Danavas, descended to earth; and the blind Asura, hearing that his son had been slain in battle—
क्रोधेन तमसाविष्टो रणतूर्याण्यचोदयत्। संहत्यावहितः प्राप्तो यत्र ते त्रिदशाः स्थिताः
Overcome by anger and darkness, he ordered the war drums to sound; gathering his forces, he arrived where the gods were assembled.
महत्या सेनया सार्द्धं रथवारणयुक्तया। ते देवा दानवान्वीक्ष्य महाहवकृतादरान्
With a great army equipped with chariots and elephants, the gods, seeing the Danavas approaching with fierce intent for battle—
व्यपयाततनुत्राणाः शंभुं शरणमन्वयुः। मा भैरिति च तान्देवो देवानुक्त्वा त्रिलोचनः
Abandoning their slender armor, they sought refuge with Shambhu; and the three-eyed god said to them, 'Do not fear.'
गृहीत्वा शूलमातिष्ठद्दंष्ट्रारवधरो रुषा। अंधकेनाथ रुष्टेन शतकोटिशरैर्गणाः
Seizing his trident, his mouth agape with fangs in wrath, he stood ready; then Andhaka, enraged, struck down hosts of gods with a hundred million arrows.