सदा शूलादिशस्त्राणां धृतानामद्य वै क्षणः । अथ गौर्या वचः श्रुत्वा वीरभद्रं शिवोऽब्रवीत्
Always bearing weapons like spears and others, now is the moment; then, hearing Gauri's words, Shiva spoke to Virabhadra.
वृषः सज्जीयतां शीघ्रमित्युक्ते स तदाकरोत् । बबंध मुकुटं तस्य शृंगयोर्भास्करप्रभम्
Let the bull be made ready quickly, he said; and so it was done. A crown radiant like the sun was fastened upon its horns.
कंठे घंटाशतं बद्ध्वा कर्णयोर्दर्पणौ धृतौ । स्कंधे च किंकिणीजालं चरणे नूपुरं महत्
A hundred bells were tied around its neck, mirrors were placed at its ears, a network of tinkling ornaments on its shoulders, and a great anklet upon its foot.
पुच्छे चामरसाहस्रं तस्य पाशाष्टकं मुखे । कल्याणी च तदा देवी शर्वपार्श्वे व्यस्थिता
Upon its tail, a thousand yak-tail whisks; in its mouth, eight nooses. At that time, the auspicious goddess stood at Shiva's side.
पाशाष्टकेन संयुक्ता तत्र खड्गधरांबिका । न्यस्तानि सर्वशस्त्राणि स वृषः सज्जितो बभौ
Armed with eight nooses, Ambika holding a sword was stationed there; all weapons were placed, and the prepared bull shone forth.
पार्वत्या भूषितः सोऽथ निजया घंटमालया । कृतं च तिलकं देव्या प्रोक्तः सत्कृतिपूर्वकम् 6.12.
Then, adorned by Parvati with her own garland of bells, the bull was marked with a tilaka by the goddess, who spoke with due honor.
हरस्त्वया न मोक्तव्यो वृषेन्द्र रणसंकटे । आगंतव्यमरीन्जित्वा शंभुना सह संगरे
O lord of bulls, you must not let go of Hara in the peril of battle; after conquering the enemies, you should return together with Shambhu in the conflict.
इति श्रुत्वा वचो देव्या हरो वृषमथारुहत् । धृत्वायुधसहस्रं तु निजालंकारभूषितः । रणं गच्छामि तां प्राह पार्वतीं प्रति सादरम्
Hearing the goddess's words, Hara mounted the bull, bearing a thousand weapons, adorned with his own ornaments; he respectfully said to Parvati, 'I go to battle.'
ईश्वर उवाच- त्वं तिष्ठसि स्वरूपाणि एकाकिन्यपि सस्पृहा । भामिनी दुरभिप्राया दानवा हि समागताः
Ishvara said: You remain in your own form, even alone, with desire; O radiant one, the difficult-minded demons have gathered.
तस्मात्त्वयात्मनैवात्मा रक्षणीयो वरानने । इत्युक्त्वा वृषभारूढो ययौ रुद्रो रणांगणम्
Therefore, O beautiful-faced one, you must protect yourself by your own power; saying this, Rudra mounted the bull and went to the battlefield.
त्रिंशन्महाब्जसाहस्रैः प्रमथानां वृतः शिवः । वीरभद्रो रथेनाशु सिंहयुक्तेन सत्वरः
Shiva, surrounded by thirty thousand mighty Pramathas, and Virabhadra, swiftly on a chariot drawn by lions, hastened forth.
वामपार्श्वं महेशस्य शूरो रक्षति पार्थिव । मणिभद्रो ऽश्वयुक्तेन रथेन परवीरहा
The heroic Manibhadra, destroyer of enemy warriors, guards the left side of Mahesha with a chariot drawn by horses.
दक्षिणं धूर्जटेः पार्श्वं संरक्षति धनुर्द्धरः । तुंगादुत्तीर्य शैलेंद्राद्रणं प्राप्तो गणैः सह
The bow-bearing one protects the right side of Dhurjati; crossing the lofty mountain, he arrived at the battlefield with the hosts.
दृष्ट्वा जगर्जुस्ते दैत्या महेशानं वृषस्थितम् । ततो महान्निनादोऽभूद्दैत्यप्रमथसेनयोः
Seeing Maheshana seated upon the bull, the demons roared; then arose a great tumult from the armies of demons and Pramathas.
तयोरभून्मिथो राजन्संप्रमर्दोऽथ दारुणः । ततो नंदी महाकालः कालस्कंदौ महाबलः
O king, between them there arose a fierce and dreadful clash; then Nandi, Mahakala, and the mighty Kaleskanda joined.
माल्यवान्पुष्पदंतश्च वृषली स्वर्णदंतिकः । चंडीशो मदनश्चंडः कूष्मांडो गुप्तलोमकः
Malyavan, Pushpadanta, Vrishali, Swarnadantika, Chandisha, Madana, Chanda, Kushmanda, and Guptalomaka.
ये ये पूर्वं रणे भग्नाः प्राप्तास्ते रणसंकटम् । शिवस्य पुरतो दैत्या युयुधुस्ते महाबलाः
All those mighty demons who had previously been defeated in battle and had returned to the field now fought before Shiva with great strength.
गणदानवयोधानां संग्रामोऽभूद्भयावहः । ततो गणानां विद्राव्य सैन्यं ते च महाबलाः
A terrifying battle broke out between the hosts of Shiva's attendants and the demon warriors; then, those mighty demons routed the army of the attendants.
रणे संवेष्टयामासुः शरौघैः सर्वतः शिवम् । शूलैः कुंतैर्गदाभिश्च मुद्गरैः परिघैरपि
In the battle, they surrounded Shiva from all sides with volleys of arrows, and attacked with spears, lances, maces, mallets, and iron clubs.
इंद्रियाणि यथात्मानं विषयैः पंचपंचभिः । जघानाथ रणे दैत्याञ्छंभुर्बाणैः सुदारुणैः । यथाशु माघः पापानि हंति स्नानेन तत्क्षणात्
Just as the senses envelop the self with their fivefold objects, so too did Shambhu strike down the demons in battle with his fierce arrows, destroying them instantly, just as a bath in the month of Māgha swiftly removes sins.
नारद उवाच- ततो जालंधरः श्रुत्वा दैत्यकोलाहलं रणे । आजगाम रथारूढो यत्र देवः सदाशिवः
Nārada said: Then Jalandhara, hearing the tumult of the demons in battle, came riding his chariot to where the god Sadāśiva was.
सारथिं खड्गरोमाणं कोपात्सत्वरमब्रवीत् । संप्रेषय रथं शीघ्रं सहस्रहययोजितम्
In anger, he quickly said to his charioteer, Khadgaroman: 'Drive the chariot swiftly, yoked with a thousand horses.'
हन्मि तं तापसं शौर्याज्जटाभस्मास्थिभूषितम् । वृषारूढस्य का शक्तिः पंगोर्युद्धे मया सह
'I will slay that ascetic, adorned with matted hair, ashes, and bones, by my valor. What power does one riding a bull have in battle against me?'
नारद उवाच- इत्युक्त्वा खड्गरोमाणमाभाष्य च तथोद्धतः । गृहीत्वा कार्मुकं घोरं रथेनाधावत द्रुतम्
Nārada said: Having spoken thus to Khadgaroman, he, filled with arrogance, seized his terrible bow and rushed forward swiftly in his chariot.
तं रुरोध तदायांतं वीरभद्रः शितैः शरैः । निरुच्छ्वासीकृतेनापि स कायेन शरैर्वृतः
Then Vīrabhadra blocked his advance with sharp arrows, so that his body, covered with arrows, was rendered breathless.
देवैर्यद्यपि तुल्योऽभूद्भूतेशस्य परिग्रहः । तथापि किं कपालानि तुलां यांति कलानिधेः
Though his retinue was equal to the gods, how could skulls ever compare to the full moon?
विव्याध मणिभद्रोऽपि शरैः सागरनंदनम् । पाशेन मणिभद्रं तु हत्वोवाचेश्वरं वचः
Maṇibhadra also struck the son of the ocean with arrows, but then, having bound Maṇibhadra with a noose, he spoke these words to the Lord.
एहि योद्धुं महादेव शस्त्राभ्यासोऽस्ति ते यदि । त्वं मां प्रहर न त्वाहमादौ हन्मि जटाधरम्
'Come, Mahādeva, if you have skill in weapons, fight me! Strike me—you, not I, should first attack the matted-haired one.'
इति ब्रुवंतं तं गर्वाद्वीरभद्रोऽथ सायकैः । पूरयामास संक्रुद्धो यथा पद्मं रविः करैः
As he spoke thus arrogantly, Vīrabhadra, enraged, filled him with arrows, just as the sun fills a lotus with its rays.
मणिभद्रोऽथ गदया सैन्यं तस्य समाहनत् । रथोपरि रथं वीर तुरगं तुरगोपरि
Then Maṇibhadra struck his army with a mace—chariot against chariot, horse against horse, on the chariot and on horseback.