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.
गजोपरि गजं हत्वा पातयामास भूतले । रक्तपंकारुणा भूमिः संजाता दुर्गमा क्षणात्
He struck down elephant against elephant, casting them to the ground; the earth became red as a muddy pond, impassable in an instant.
शैलाच्च गणमुख्याश्च दानवाञ्जघ्नुराहवे । पतंति दानवाः शूरा गतप्राणा महीतले
From the mountains, the chief attendants slew the demons in battle; the heroic demons fell lifeless to the earth.
रुंडदोर्दंडमुंडैश्च करिपृष्ठकरोरुभिः । पतंति दानवाः शूरा पूरिता वसुधा नृप
With severed heads, arms, and thighs, and the backs and chests of elephants, the heroic demons fell, filling the earth, O king.
नारद उवाच- एवंविधं रणे दृष्ट्वा हरमत्यंतदुर्जयम् । भुवने च तथान्यानि दृष्टवाँल्लक्षणानि सः
Nārada said: Seeing such an utterly invincible Hara in battle, he also observed other signs in the worlds.
तेजोऽन्यदेवनक्षत्र शशांक सकलादिषु । उद्धाटितजगत्कोशमन्यदेवरवेर्महः
The radiance of other gods, stars, the moon, and all else—when revealed—exposes the shell of the world; yet the splendor of other gods is but armor.
भग्नः पुनश्चिंतितवांस्ततो जालंधरो नृप । न दृष्टा सा मया गौरी यां मामाहाति नारदः
Broken, Jalandhara the king reflected again: 'I have not seen Gauri, whom Narada told me about.'
सांप्रतं शाश्वते स्थाने कथं द्रक्ष्याम्युमां स्थिताम् । तां हि द्रष्टुं व्रजाम्यादौ पश्चाद्योत्स्यामि शंभुना
Now, in her eternal abode, how will I see Uma standing there? I must go to see her first, and then later fight with Shambhu.
चिंतयित्वेति मनसा दैत्यं प्राहार्णवात्मजः । शुंभं चंडजये वीर मम तुल्यपराक्रम
Thinking thus in his mind, the son of the ocean spoke to the demon: 'O Shumbha, victorious over Chanda, hero equal to me in valor—'
धृत्वा मत्सदृशं रूपं संग्रामं कर्तुमर्हसि । तव युद्धस्य भारोऽयं शिबिरस्य बलस्य च
'Assume a form like mine and you should wage battle. The burden of this fight and the camp's strength is yours.'
अहं यास्यामि तां द्रष्टुं गौरीं मच्चित्तहारिणीम् । इत्युक्त्वाथ ददौ तस्मै स्वांगादुत्तार्य मंडनम्
'I will go to see Gauri, who captivates my mind.' Having said this, he gave him ornaments, removing them from his own body.
वर्मशस्त्रादिकं दत्वा रथं सारथिसंयुतम् । दुर्वारणेन सहितः सैन्यं मुक्त्वोदधेः सुतः
Giving armor, weapons, and a chariot with a charioteer, the son of the ocean departed with Durvarana and his army.
अलक्षितस्ततो गत्वा गुहां गुप्तां तु पार्थिव । मानसोत्तरशैलस्य हररूपं दधार सः
Then, unnoticed, he went to a hidden cave, O king, on the northern slope of Mount Manasa, and assumed the form of Hara.
धृत्वा दुर्वारणे रूपं नंदिनः सदृशं तथा । अथारुरुहतुः शैलं छद्मशंकरनंदिनौ
Taking on the form of Durvarana, resembling Nandi, the disguised Shankara and Nandi climbed the mountain.
यत्रास्ति शिखरे गौरी सखिभिः सहिता नृप । तमायांतं शरैर्भिन्नं स्कंधमालम्ब्य नंदिनः
Where, on the summit, Gauri was with her companions, O king, they approached, supporting the wounded shoulder of Nandi.
रक्ताक्तमंबरं दृष्ट्वा भवानी विस्मिताभवत् । सख्यस्तस्या जयाद्यास्ताः जग्मुस्तं संभ्रमान्विताः
Seeing the blood-stained garment, Bhavani was astonished; her companions, beginning with Jaya, hurried to him in alarm.
शंकरस्यांतिकं गत्वा पप्रच्छुस्तं सुदुःखिताः । किं जातं तव देवेश केन त्वं संगरे जितः
Going to Shankara, they questioned him, greatly distressed: 'What has happened to you, Lord of gods? By whom were you defeated in battle?'
सशल्यस्त्वं कथं नाथ संसारीव प्ररोदिषि । इत्युक्तः प्रददौ ताभ्यो भूषणानि पृथक्पृथक्
'Wounded, why do you, O Lord, lament as if you were mortal?' Thus addressed, he gave them ornaments, one by one.
उत्तार्य शनकैरंगात् वासुकिप्रभृतीनि च । गणेशस्कंदशिरसीच्छिन्ने कुक्षौ विलोक्य च
Slowly removing from his body those of Vasuki and others, and seeing the heads of Ganesha and Skanda severed, and the abdomen as well—
हा स्कंद हा गणेशेति हा रुद्रेत्यंबिकारुदत् । तस्याः सख्यस्ततः सर्वा रुरुदुः शोककर्शिताः
'Alas, Skanda! Alas, Ganesha! Alas, Rudra!' Ambika cried; then all her companions wept, consumed by grief.
अत्राब्रवीज्जयां नंदी त्वमेनं परिपालय । मणिभद्रो वीरभद्रः पुष्पदंतश्च वीर्यवान्
Then Jaya said to Nandi: 'You protect him. Manibhadra, Virabhadra, and Pushpadanta are mighty.'