शोचंत्येतानि नो दत्तं नो भुक्तं न हुतं मया । लोभग्रस्तेन मनसा नो वित्तं ब्रह्मणेऽपि तम्
They lamented: 'Nothing has been given, nothing enjoyed, nothing offered by me; with minds seized by greed, not even wealth was given to Brahmā.'
अथेश्वरजटाजूटादाविरासीद्गणो महान् । त्र्याननस्त्रिचरणस्त्रिपुच्छः सप्तहस्तवान्
Then from the matted locks of the Lord appeared a great Gaṇa, three-faced, three-legged, three-tailed, and possessing seven hands.
स च कीर्तिमुखो नाम पिंगलो जटिलो महान् । तं दृष्ट्वा सा कपालाली भयात्तस्थौ मृतेव सा ३७*। पुरतः प्राह सगणस्ततः कीर्तिमुखः प्रभुम् । प्रणिपत्य शिवं देवमत्यर्थं क्षुधितः प्रभो
There was a great ascetic named Kīrtimukha, with tawny hair and matted locks; seeing him, that skull-bearing goddess stood still in fear, as if lifeless. Then Kīrtimukha, along with his attendants, approached the Lord, bowed to Śiva, and, being extremely hungry, addressed him.
तदोक्तः शंकरेणाहो भक्षय त्वं रणे हतान् । क्षणं विचार्य स गणः क्वाप्यदृष्ट्वा रणं तदा
Addressed thus, Śaṅkara said, 'Devour those slain in battle.' The attendant considered this for a moment, but found no battlefield anywhere at that time.
ब्रह्माणं भक्षितुं प्राप्तः शंकरेण निवारितः । ततः कीर्तिमुखेनाथ स्वांगं सर्वं च भक्षितम्
He then sought to devour Brahmā, but was restrained by Śaṅkara; so Kīrtimukha consumed his own body entirely.
बुभुक्षितेन चात्यंतं निषिद्धेन च सर्वतः । तत्साहसं तदा दृष्ट्वा भक्तिं कीर्त्तिमुखस्य च
Driven by intense hunger and forbidden from all sides, he performed this astonishing act; seeing Kīrtimukha's devotion, at that moment—
तमुवाचेश्वरः प्रीतः प्रासादे तिष्ठ मे सदा । त्वच्चित्तरहितो यश्च भविष्यति ममालये
The Lord, pleased, spoke to him: 'Dwell always at my temple. Whoever enters my abode without your remembrance—'
स पतिष्यति शीघ्रं हीत्युक्तः सोंऽतर्हितोऽभवत् । शंभोर्मूध्नि तदा देवा ववृषुः पुष्पवृष्टिभिः
'He will quickly fall,' said the Lord, and then Kīrtimukha vanished. At that time, the gods showered flowers upon Śambhu's head.
एवमत्यद्भुतं दृष्ट्वा सभायां तु त्रिशूलिनः । स्वर्भानुरपि देवेशं पुनः प्रोवाच विस्मितः
Witnessing this most wondrous event in the assembly of the Trident-bearer, even Svarbhānu, astonished, again addressed the Lord of gods.
स्पृशंति त्वां कथं भावं स्वाधीनं योगिनं बलात् । इंद्रियैः पूज्यसे त्वं हि प्राप्योऽयं विषयैः कथम्
'How can the senses forcibly touch you, O Lord, who are self-controlled and attained by yogins? You are worshipped by the senses—how then can you be reached by sense-objects?'
ब्राह्मादिलोकपालानां पूजां गृह्णासि सर्वतः । न त्वं पश्यसि कं देवं त्वं पूजयसि कंचन
'You accept worship from all the guardians of the worlds, beginning with Brahmā. O God, you do not see any deity, nor do you worship anyone.'
ईश्वरोऽसि कथं लोके भिक्षाभोजी प्रतिष्ठितः । संगोपयसि योगीन्द्र गौरीं रम्यां प्रयच्छ मे
'How is it that you, the Lord, are known in the world as a beggar for alms? O Lord of yogins, you conceal the beautiful Gaurī—give her to me.'
स्कंदलंबोदराभ्यां त्वं पुत्राभ्यां सहितोऽधुना । भिक्षापात्रं गृहीत्वा तु भ्रम नित्यं गृहेगृहे
'Now, together with your sons Skanda and Lambodara, take your begging bowl and wander daily from house to house.'
एवं बहुविधं तत्र राहुराहेश्वरं प्रति । भगवानपि तच्छ्रुत्वा नोत्तरं किंचिदब्रवीत्
Thus, Rāhu addressed the Lord in many such ways; but the Blessed One, hearing this, did not reply at all.
अथेशं मौनिनं त्यक्त्वा राहुर्नंदिनमब्रवीत् । त्व मंत्री ह्यसि सेनानीर्विकटानन बिंबधृक् 6.10.
Then, leaving the silent Lord, Rāhu spoke to Nandin: 'You are the minister and commander, O one with a fierce face and shining countenance.'
एवमाचरित भ्रष्टं त्वं शिक्षयितुमर्हसि । नोचेद्रोषेणेंद्र इव पतिष्यति रणे हतः
'Since such conduct has occurred, you ought to instruct him; otherwise, like Indra, he will fall in battle, slain by wrath.'
इत्याकर्ण्य वचस्तस्य नंदी विज्ञाप्य चेश्वरम् । भ्रूसंज्ञयैव स तदा मतमाज्ञाय शूलिनः
Hearing these words, Nandin informed the Lord; and by a mere gesture of the brow, he understood the will of the Trident-bearer.
संपूज्य प्रेषयामास राहुं नंदी गणाग्रणीः । अथ जालंधरं गत्वा कथयामास विस्तरात् । स्वर्भानुस्तस्य वृत्तांतं गौरीरूपं मनोहरम्
Nandin, chief of the attendants, having worshipped, dispatched Rāhu; then, going to Jālandhara, he related in detail the events and the enchanting form of Gaurī.
नारद उवाच- अथ जालंधरो दूतवचः श्रुत्वा प्रतापवान् । सर्वसैन्यं समाहूय प्रयाणमकरोत्तदा । ततस्ततः समेतानां सैन्यानां श्रूयते ध्वनिः
Nārada said: Then Jālandhara, having heard the envoy's words, summoned all his army and set out; from all sides, the sound of the assembled troops was heard.
सस्त्रीन्मन्दरकंदरेषु शयितानुत्थापयन्किन्नरान् । मेरोर्मंदरकंदरे प्रतिरवानुत्थापयन्वारणान् । सिहानां च ततीर्व्यमुंचत पुरःपंथानमेवंविधस्त्रै। लोक्यं बधिरीचकार महतः सैन्यस्य कोलाहलः
With their women, they roused the Kinnaras sleeping in the caves of Mandara; the echoes on Mount Meru awakened the elephants, and the roars of the lions cleared the path ahead—such was the tumult that it deafened the world.
ततो दुंदुभिनादोऽभूत्पीठे जालंधरे नृप । तन्निनादेन शूराणां प्रियेण महता तदा
Then, O King, the sound of drums arose in the assembly at Jalandhara; that great and pleasing sound delighted the hearts of the warriors.
कंपंति गिरयस्तुंगाः प्रासादा विचलंति च । सप्तसागरगर्भेभ्यो निःसृता दैत्यदानवाः
The lofty mountains trembled, and the palaces shook; from the depths of the seven oceans, Daityas and Dānavas emerged.
सन्नद्धाश्चातिगर्जंति नानावाहनसंयुताः । हेषा ययौ महानादा वाजिनां बाह्यतः पुरः
Fully armored, they roared loudly, mounted on various vehicles; the neighing of the horses produced a great sound outside and before the city.
रथांगेनाथ संहृष्टा धरां संचलतेऽथवा । चालितैर्गजयूथैश्च पृथ्वी रुद्धा सकानना
With the wheels of chariots, the earth was set in motion by the excited warriors; and with the herds of moving elephants, the earth, along with its forests, was blocked.
जालंधरेरितैर्भीमैरयुतैः स्यंदनस्थितैः । अश्वार्बुदसहस्रे द्वे अर्बुदं दंतिनामपि
By the terrifying tens of thousands of chariots, driven by Jalandhara, and two hundred million horses, and a hundred million elephants as well,
रराज सैन्यलक्षैकं रथिनां सपताकिनाम् । परार्द्धनवतिः कोट्यः दृश्यंते मुख्यनायकाः । निर्जगाम महासैन्यं छत्रैः संछाद्य भास्करम्
The single army division of chariot-warriors with banners shone; ninety billion chief leaders were seen; the great army advanced, covering the sun with its parasols.
आसीत्पिंजरपांडुपंकजवनं श्वेतातपत्रैः क्वचित् । मायूरातपवारणैः क्वचिदभूतदुन्नीलनीलोत्पलम् । उन्मेघं क्वचिदूर्ध्वधूलिपटलैर्यस्य प्रयाणेऽभवत् । सद्वीचि क्वचिदंबरं सर इवोत्सर्पत्पताकापटैः
In some places, the white parasols made it appear like a forest of pale lotuses; elsewhere, with peacock-feathered sunshades, it became like a mass of blue lotuses; in some places, with rising clouds of dust, it seemed overcast; and in others, with the fluttering of banners, the sky resembled a lake with rising waves.
गजवाजीमयी भूमिर्ध्वजच्छत्रमयं नभः । दिक्चक्रं चामरमयं दैत्यसैन्ये प्रसर्पति
The earth was filled with elephants and horses, the sky with banners and parasols, and the quarters with yak-tail whisks as the Daitya army advanced.
ततो जालंधरो दैत्यः प्रयाणाय समुत्सुकः । स्कंधे चारोपयन्शक्तिं नानारत्नविभूषिताम्
Then Jalandhara, the Daitya, eager to set out, placed on his shoulder a spear adorned with various jewels.
आजगाम महाविष्णुं प्रष्टुं सागरवासिनम् । अभिवाद्य जगादाथ हरिं जालंधरस्त्विदम्
He went to the great Viṣṇu, the one who dwells in the ocean, to ask him; after offering his respects, Jalandhara spoke these words to Hari: