Shiva Purana (Books 1 & 7)

बिभिदुर्बलिनो वीरा वीरभद्रांगसंभवाः छिंधि भिंधि क्षिप क्षिप्रं मार्यतां दार्यतामिति

The powerful heroes, born from the body of Virabhadra, struck, broke, hurled, and quickly destroyed, shouting: 'Cut! Break! Throw! Tear! Rend!'

हरस्व प्रहरस्वेति पाटयोत्पाटयेति च संरंभप्रभवाः क्रूराश्शब्दाः श्रवणशंकवः

With cries of 'Strike! Attack! Split! Uproot!'—harsh sounds born of fury—cruel shouts resounded, terrifying to the ear.

यत्रतत्र गणेशानां जज्ञिरे समरोचिताः विवृत्तनयनाः केचिद्दष्टदंष्ट्रोष्ठतालवः

Wherever the lords of the hosts appeared, suited for battle, some had eyes wide open, some had bitten lips, teeth, and palates.

आश्रमस्थान्समाकृष्य मारयन्ति तपोधनात् स्रुवानपहरन्तश्च क्षिपन्तोग्निं जलेषु च

Dragging away those dwelling in hermitages, they killed the ascetics, seized their ladles, and threw fire into the waters.

कलशानपि भिन्दंतश्छिंदंतो मणिवेदिकाः गायंतश्च नदन्तश्च हसन्तश्च मुहुर्मुहुः

They broke the pots, shattered the jewel altars, singing, shouting, and laughing again and again.

रक्तासवं पिबन्तश्च ननृतुर्गणपुंगवाः निर्मथ्य सेंद्रानमरान् गणेन्द्रान्वृषेन्द्रनागेन्द्रमृगेन्द्रसाराः

The foremost hosts of Shiva's attendants drank blood-wine and danced, having crushed the gods along with Indra; the leaders of the hosts, like the chiefs of bulls, serpents, and lions.

चक्रुर्बहून्यप्रतिमभावाः सहर्षरोमाणि विचेष्टितानि नन्दंति केचित्प्रहरन्ति केचिद्धावन्ति केचित्प्रलपन्ति केचित्

They performed many actions of incomparable nature, their hair bristling with delight; some rejoiced, some struck, some ran, some babbled.

नृत्यन्ति केचिद्विहसन्ति केचिद्वल्गन्ति केचित्प्रमथा बलेन

Some danced, some laughed, some leaped; the Pramathas, with their strength.

केचिज्जिघृक्षंति घनान्स तोयान्केचिद्ग्रहीतुं रविमुत्पतंति केचित्प्रसर्तुं पवनेन सार्धमिच्छंति भीमाः प्रमथा वियत्स्थाः

Some tried to seize clouds, some leapt to grasp the sun, some wished to rush along with the wind; the fierce Pramathas stood in the sky.

आक्षिप्य केचिच्च वरायुधानि महा भुजंगानिव वैनतेयाः भ्रमंति देवानपि विद्रवंतः खमंडले पर्वतकूटकल्पाः

Some, snatching up mighty weapons, wandered like great serpents as Garuda; even the gods fled, and they moved about the sky like mountain peaks.

उत्पाट्य चोत्पाट्यगृहाणि केचित्सजालवातायनवेदिकानि विक्षिप्य विक्षिप्य जलस्य मध्ये कालांबुदाभाः प्रमथा निनेदुः

Some uprooted houses, complete with latticed windows and railings, and hurled them into the midst of the waters; the Pramathas, dark as storm clouds, roared.

उद्वर्तितद्वारकपाटकुड्यं विध्वस्तशालावलभीगवाक्षम् अहो बताभज्यत यज्ञवाटमनाथवद्वाक्यमिवायथार्थम्

With doors, walls, and balconies overturned and destroyed, the sacrificial enclosure was broken, like a statement made without meaning, abandoned.

हा नाथ तातेति पितुः सुतेति भ्रतर्ममाम्बेति च मातुलेति उत्पाट्यमानेषु गृहेषु नार्यो ह्यानाथशब्दान्बहुशः प्रचक्रुः

As the houses were being uprooted, the women uttered many cries of abandonment: 'O protector! O father!' 'O son!' 'O brother!' 'O mother!'

ततस्त्रिदशमुख्यास्ते विष्णुशक्रपुरोगमाः सर्वे भयपरित्रस्तादुद्रुवुर्भयविह्वलाः

Then the principal gods, led by Vishnu and Indra, all fled, overwhelmed by fear and panic.

निजैरदूषितैरंगैर्दृष्ट्वा देवानुपद्रुतान् दंड्यानदंडितान्मत्वा चुकोप गणपुंगवः

Seeing the gods attacked, though their own bodies were blameless, and considering the guilty unpunished, the foremost leader of the hosts became angry.

ततस्त्रिशूलमादाय शर्वशक्तिनिबर्हणम् ऊर्ध्वदृष्टिर्महाबाहुर्मुखाज्ज्वालाः समुत्सृजन्

Then, taking up the trident, which subdues all powers, with gaze uplifted and mighty arms, flames issuing from his mouth.

अमरानपि दुद्राव द्विरदानिव केसरी तानभिद्रवतस्तस्य गमनं सुमनोहरम्

He drove away even the gods, like a lion dispersing elephants; as he advanced upon them, his movement was exceedingly beautiful.

वाराणस्येव मत्तस्य जगाम प्रेक्षणीयताम् ततस्तत्क्षोभयामास महत्सुरबलं बली

Like a maddened one in Varanasi, he became a spectacle; then the powerful one disturbed the great army of the gods.

महासरोवरं यद्वन्मत्तो वारणयूथपः विकुर्वन्बहुधावर्णान्नीलपांडुरलोहितान्

Like a wild leader of elephants in a great lake, he displayed many colors—blue, pale, and red.

विभ्रद्व्याघ्राजिनं वासो हेमप्रवरतारकम्

He wore a garment of tiger skin, adorned with golden stars.

व्यचरद्देवसंघेषु भद्रो ऽग्निरिव कक्षगः तत्र तत्र महावेगाच्चरंतं शूलधारिणम्

He moved among the assemblies of gods, noble as fire in the forest; here and there, with great speed, bearing the trident.

तमेकं त्रिदशाः सर्वे सहस्रमिव मेनिरे भद्रकाली च संक्रुद्धा युद्धवृद्धमदोद्धता

All the gods regarded him alone as a thousand; and Bhadrakali, enraged, intoxicated by battle, advanced.

मुक्तज्वालेन शूलेन निर्बिभेद रणे सुरान् स तया रुरुचे भद्रो रुद्रकोपसमुद्भवः

With her trident blazing, she pierced the gods in battle; with her, the noble one shone, born from Rudra's wrath.

प्रभयेव युगांताग्निश्चलया धूमधूम्रया भद्रकाली तदायुद्धे विद्रुतत्रिदशाबभौ

In that battle, Bhadrakālī appeared, her radiance flickering like the smoke-darkened fire at the end of an age, causing the gods to scatter in fear.

कल्पे शेषानलज्वालादग्धाविश्वजगद्यथा तदा सवाजिनं सूर्यं रुद्रान्रुद्रगणाग्रणीः

Then, just as the worlds are consumed by the flames of Śeṣa’s fire at the end of a cycle, Bhadrakālī, foremost among the Rudras and their hosts, attacked the Sun mounted on his horse.

भद्रो मूर्ध्नि जघानाशु वामपादेन लीलया असिभिः पावकं भद्रः पट्टिशैस्तु यमं यमी

Bhadrakālī swiftly struck the head of the Sun with her left foot in play; with swords she assailed Agni, and with spears, Yama and his consort.

रुद्रान्दृढेन शूलेन मुद्गरैर्वरुणं दृढैः परिघैर्निरृतिं वायुं टंकैष्टंकधरः स्वयम्

She struck the Rudras with a sturdy trident, Varuṇa with heavy maces, Nirṛti with iron clubs, and Vāyu herself with a sharp-edged weapon.

निर्बिभेद रणे वीरो लीलयैव गणेश्वरः सर्वान्देवगणान्सद्यो मुनीञ्छंभोर्विरोधिनः

Effortlessly, the heroic Lord of the Gaṇas shattered in battle all the hosts of gods and sages who opposed Śambhu.

ततो देवः सरस्वत्या नासिकाग्रं सुशोभनम् चिच्छेद करजाग्रेण देवमातुस्तथैव च

Then the god, with the tip of his fingernail, cut off the beautiful tip of Sarasvatī’s nose, and likewise that of the mother of the gods.