महाकालादिभिः शूरैर्याहि त्वं परिवारितः । तावदाजौ त्वया तस्माद्योद्धव्यमतिपौरुषात्
'Go, surrounded by heroes like Mahākāla; in the fight, you must battle him with utmost valor.'
यावद्युद्धे नारिजयो मम वीर भविष्यति । इति शंभोर्वचः श्रुत्वा स च सारथिमब्रवीत्
'Until victory in battle is mine, O hero, you must fight.' Hearing Śaṃbhu's words, he spoke to his charioteer.
काकतुंडरथं मेऽद्य समानय महामते । नंदिनो वचनं श्रुत्वा सोपि स्यंदनमाहरत्
'Bring me today the chariot with the crow's beak, O wise one.' Hearing Nandin's command, he brought the chariot.
द्वात्रिंशदश्वसंयुक्तं चक्रषोडशसंयुतम् । षष्टिध्वजसमोपेतं द्वात्रिंशद्योजनायुतम्
It was yoked with thirty-two horses, fitted with sixteen wheels, adorned with sixty banners, and measured thirty-two yojanas in length.
सर्वशस्त्रैश्च संपूर्णं प्राप्तं सांग्रामिकं रथम् । नंदिनश्चक्ररक्षार्थं पुत्रौ स्कंदविनायकौ
The war chariot, fully equipped with all weapons, was obtained for battle; Nandi's sons, Skanda and Vinayaka, were appointed to guard its wheels.
समादिष्टौ शंकरेण सन्नद्धौ तौ स्ववाहनौ । गणैः परिवृतो नंदी वाग्भिः संपूज्य चेश्वरम्
Commanded by Shankara, those two, armed and mounted on their own vehicles, surrounded Nandi with the hosts; Nandi honored the Lord with words.
नंदी रथं समारुह्य निर्ययौ दानवान्प्रति । विराजते तस्य मूर्ध्नि छत्रं द्वादशयोजनम्
Nandi mounted the chariot and set out against the demons; upon his head shone a parasol twelve yojanas wide.
यावत्स निर्ययौ नंदी तावत्ते दानवाः पुरः । शैलोपरि समारूढा दानवा घोरदर्शनाः
As Nandi advanced, the demons appeared before him, having climbed atop a mountain, terrifying in appearance.
गणानामायुधैस्तीक्ष्णैः निहताः पतिता भुवि । हन्यमाना गणैर्दैत्यास्तत्यजुर्दूरतो गिरिम्
Struck down by the sharp weapons of the hosts, they fell to the ground; as the demons were slain by the hosts, they abandoned the mountain from afar.
ततो धूमसमं तस्मादवरुह्य शिलोच्चयात् । जघ्नुर्दैत्यान्शितैः शस्त्रैर्गणा राजन्महाबलान्
Then, descending from the mountain peak like smoke, the hosts, O King, slew the mighty demons with sharp weapons.
अमरैराचितं दृष्ट्वा रुरुधुर्दैत्यसैनिकाः । ततः समभवद्युद्धं गणानां दानवैः सह
Seeing the ground covered with the slain by the immortals, the demon soldiers wailed; then a battle arose between the hosts and the demons.
शरवर्षमथात्युग्रं दानवानां दिवौकसाम् । ततः समस्तान्मातंगाञ्जघ्नुः शिखिमुखा रणे
A fierce shower of arrows from the demons and the celestials followed; then the peacock-faced ones struck down all the elephants in battle.
रथान्हयान्पदातींश्च काकतुंडा महाबलाः । हतानां दैत्यसंघांनां संगरे भृशमायिनाम्
The mighty Kakatunda slew chariots, horses, and foot soldiers; the groups of demons, skilled in battle, were struck down.
शिरोभिर्गगनं व्याप्तं प्रहसद्भिर्भयावहैः । मुक्तकेशारुणमुखैर्भीमदंष्ट्राविलोचनैः
The sky was filled with heads, grinning and terrifying; with loose hair, red faces, dreadful fangs, and glaring eyes.
सिंहैः कबंधजंघोरुकटिपृष्ठनिकृंतनैः । चिता सर्वत्र वसुधा कबंधैरुधिरारुणैः
With lions, Kabandhas, and fierce ones, their thighs, waists, and backs severed; everywhere the earth was strewn with Kabandhas, red with blood.
ततो विरावः सुमहान्बभूव दैत्येश्वराणां ध्वजिनीषु धावताम् । शंभोर्गणैः पातितसैनिकानां यथार्णवानां नदतां युगक्षये
Then a tremendous roar arose among the armies of the demon lords as they charged; the hosts of Shambhu, having struck down the soldiers, sounded like the ocean at the end of the age.
नारद उवाच- दैत्यसैन्यं हतं दृष्ट्वा गणैर्नंदिपुरोगमैः । क्रुद्धाः शुंभादयो दैत्याः समाजग्मुर्गणान्प्रति
Narada said: Seeing the demon army slain by the hosts led by Nandi, Shumbha and the other demons, enraged, came against the hosts.
ततः शुंभो महादैत्यो नंदिनं प्रत्ययुध्यत । महाकालं निशुंभोऽथ कालो लोकेश्वरं रणे
Then Shumbha, the great demon, fought Nandi; Nishumbha fought Mahakala, and Kala fought the lord of the world in battle.
पुष्पदंतं शैलरोमा माल्यवंतं महाबलः । कोलाहलो रणे राजन्प्राप्तो मायाबलेन च
Pushpadanta, Shailaroma, and Malyavant, mighty ones, and Kolahala, O King, entered the battle with magical power.
चंडं भयानको नाम राहुः स्कंदमधावत । कूष्मांडं सर्परोमा च घर्घरो मदनं तथा
Chanda, named Bhayanaka, and Rahu rushed at Skanda; Kushmanda, Sarparoma, Ghaghara, and Madana likewise.
शुभं केतुमुखो हंतुं ययौ जंभो विनायकम् । हासं पातालकेतुश्च भृंगीशं रोमकंटकः
Shubha, Ketumukha went to slay Jambha and Vinayaka; Hasa, Patalaketu, Bhringisha, and Romakantaka.
युयुधुः कोटिशो रुद्रगणा दैत्याः परस्परम् । पश्यतोरुभयोस्तत्र स्वामिनोरिति ते युधि
Rudra's hosts and the demons fought each other in countless numbers; both sides' masters watched as they battled.
दृढप्रहारिणो जघ्नुर्गणा दैत्याः शरैरथ । नंदी मुमोच तान्बाणान्महासारो यथा नगे
The fierce-striking Daitya hosts attacked with arrows; Nandi released those arrows at them, like a great torrent upon a mountain.
ततः संपूरयामास मुखं शुंभस्य पत्रिभिः । यथा पर्णचयैर्वातो मंदरस्येव कंदरम्
Then he filled Shumbha's face with arrows, as the wind fills a mountain's cave with heaps of leaves.
शुंभोऽथ कार्मुकं त्यक्त्वा रथात्तं प्रत्यधावत । उत्पाट्य च गिरिं तेन जघान हृदि नंदिनः
Shumbha, abandoning his bow, rushed from his chariot toward him; uprooting a mountain, he struck Nandi in the chest with it.
नंदिनो हृदयं भित्त्वा चूर्णयित्वा रथं रणे । पपात भूमौ स गिरिर्वज्रं प्राप्य गिरिं यथा
Piercing Nandi's heart and shattering his chariot in battle, that mountain fell to the ground as a mountain struck by a thunderbolt.
मूर्च्छां प्राप्य क्षणात्संज्ञां वेगवान्स पलायितः । महाकालो निशुंभेन मुद्गरेण हतो हृदि
Having lost consciousness, he regained his senses after a moment and fled swiftly; Mahakala was struck in the chest by Nishumbha with a mace.
आगत्य दैत्यं गदया जघान मुकुटोपरि । तत्प्रहारमचिंत्याथ निशुंभोऽपि महाबलः
Coming up, he struck the Daitya on the crown with his mace; even the mighty Nishumbha found that blow inconceivable.
तं गृहीत्वा चरणयोर्महाकालं महाबलः । भ्रामयित्वा करतलाच्चिक्षेप च ननाद च
That powerful one seized Mahakala by the feet, whirled him around, hurled him from his hand, and roared.
स तद्वक्त्रानिलं पीत्वा ननाद रुधिरारुणः । पुष्पदंतः शैलरोम्णा चाहतो मुष्टिना मुखे
Drinking in the wind from his mouth, he roared, blood-red; Pushpadanta was struck in the face by Shailaroman with his fist.