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:
भोगार्थां किं प्रयच्छामि तुभ्यं भावुक कथ्यताम् । श्रुत्वा नारायणो वाक्यमब्धिजस्य मुदान्वितः
"Tell me, O thoughtful one, what enjoyment I should grant you;" hearing the words of the ocean-born, Nārāyaṇa, filled with joy,
उवाच किं करोमीति प्रियं सिंधुसुतेप्सितम् । इत्युक्तः स प्रहृष्टोऽथ हरिं प्रोवाच सत्वरः
said, "What shall I do to please you, O son of the ocean?" Thus addressed, he joyfully and promptly spoke to Hari:
यामि योद्धुं रणेऽहं त्वं सुखी तिष्ठेह सागरे । लक्ष्म्या दत्ताक्षतस्तत्र केशवेनाथ पूजितः
"I am going to fight in battle; you remain here happily in the ocean." There, Lakṣmī gave her blessing, and Keśava was worshipped.
स निर्गत्य हरेः स्थानात्समुद्रं प्रष्टुमागतः । सोऽर्णवं प्रणिपत्याह तात यास्यामि दूरतः
He departed from Hari's abode to approach the ocean; bowing to the sea, he said, "Father, I will go far away."
नीलकंठं रणे जेतुमनुज्ञां दातुमर्हसि । पुत्रस्य वचनं श्रुत्वा यियासोः शंकरं प्रति
"Grant me permission to defeat Nīlakaṇṭha in battle;" hearing the words of his son, who wished to go against Śaṃkara,
सिंधुराजेन सोऽप्युक्तः पुत्र तं तापसं त्यज । भुंक्ष्व राज्यं मया दत्तं तापसं त्यज दूरतः
The king of the ocean said to him, "Son, abandon that ascetic; enjoy the kingdom I have given you, abandon the ascetic and stay away from him."
अत्यद्भुतः प्रतापस्ते त्वत्तुल्यो नास्ति भूमिपः । स्वर्गादाधिक्यतां नीतं त्वया वत्स धरातलम्
"Your power is truly astonishing; there is no king equal to you. You have brought the earth to a state surpassing even heaven, my child."
तव राज्येव सुमती वैकुंठ इव राजते । यो देवो दुर्जयो दैत्यैरानीतः सह सश्रिया
"In your kingdom, wisdom shines as in Vaikuṇṭha; the god who is invincible to the Daityas has been brought here, along with his fortune."
ममांतिकं वत्स वस शंकरं भिक्षुकं त्यज । एवमुक्तो ह्यर्णवेन गिरिजां प्रति रागवान्
Stay near me, my child, and abandon Śaṅkara, the beggar. Thus, having been addressed by Arṇava, he, full of passion, spoke to Girijā.
पितृवाक्यमविज्ञाय आगत्य स्वभटान्स्वकान् । सज्जीभूतं तु युद्धाय वृंदा जालंधरं जगौ
Without considering his father's words, he returned and summoned his own warriors; Vṛndā then informed Jālandhara, who was already prepared for battle.