Shiva Purana (Books 1 & 7)

इच्छन्नपि समुत्स्रष्टुं न विष्णुरभवत्क्षमः श्वसन्निवैकमुद्धृत्य बाहुं चक्रसमन्वितम्

Though wishing to release it, Vishnu was unable; as if panting, he raised one arm with the discus attached.

अतिष्ठदलसो भूत्वा पाषाण इव निश्चलः विशरीरो यथाजीवो विशृङ्गो वा यथा वृषः

He stood there, exhausted and unmoving like a stone, his body inert, like a lifeless being or a bull deprived of its horns.

विदंष्ट्रश्च यथा सिंहस्तथा विष्णुरवस्थितः तं दृष्ट्वा दुर्दशापन्नं विष्णुमिंद्रादयः सुराः समुन्नद्धा गणेन्द्रेण मृगेंद्रेणेव गोवृषाः

Just as a lion bares its fangs, so Vishnu stood; seeing Vishnu in such a dire state, Indra and the other gods, roused by the lord of the hosts, rushed forward like bulls against a lion.

प्रगृहीतायुधा यौद्धुंक्रुद्धाः समुपतस्थिरे तान्दृष्ट्वा समरे भद्रःक्षुद्रानिव हरिर्मृगान्

Grasping their weapons, enraged and ready for battle, they approached; seeing them in the fight, Bhadra regarded them as insignificant, like Hari does wild beasts.

साक्षाद्रुद्रतनुर्वीरो वरवीरगणावृतः अट्टहासेन घोरेण व्यष्टं भयदनिंदितः

The hero, a direct embodiment of Rudra, surrounded by chosen warriors, let out a terrible, roaring laugh, standing there, fearless and unassailable.

तथा शतमखस्यापि सवज्रो दक्षिणः करः सिसृक्षोरेव उद्वज्रश्चित्रीकृत इवाभवत्

Likewise, the right hand of Shatamukha, even with the thunderbolt, as he sought to strike, appeared as if adorned with a thunderbolt.

अन्येषामपि सर्वेषां सरक्ता अपि बाहवः अलसानामिवारंभास्तादृशाः प्रतियांत्युत

And the arms of all the others, though bloodied, seemed as feeble as those of the indolent, their efforts faltering as they advanced.

एवं भगवता तेन व्याहताशेषवैभवात् अमराः समरे तस्य पुरतः स्थातुमक्षमाः

Thus, by that Lord, their entire splendor thwarted, the immortals in battle were unable to stand before him.

स्तब्धैरवयवैरेव दुद्रुवुर्भयविह्वलाः स्थितिं च चक्रिरे युद्धे वीरतेजोभयाकुलाः

With rigid limbs, shaken by fear, they fled; in the turmoil of battle, overwhelmed by valor and brilliance, they took their stand.

विद्रुतांस्त्रिदशान्वीरान्वीरभद्रो महाभुजः विव्याध निशितैर्बाणैर्मघो वर्षैरिवाचलान्

Vīrabhadra, the mighty-armed, struck the fleeing gods with sharp arrows, as Magha showers mountains with rain.

बहवस्तस्य वीरस्य बाहवः परिघोपमाः शस्त्रैश्चकाशिरे दीप्तैः साग्निज्वाला इवोरगाः

The many arms of that hero, resembling iron clubs, shone with blazing weapons, like serpents with fiery flames.

अस्त्रशस्त्राण्यनेकानिसवीरो विसृजन्बभौ विसृजन्सर्वभूतानि यथादौ विश्वसंभवः

Releasing countless weapons and missiles, the hero shone, as the origin of the universe once released all beings.

यथा रश्मिभिरादित्यः प्रच्छादयति मेदिनीम् तथा वीरः क्षणादेव शरैः प्राच्छादयद्दिशः

Just as the sun covers the earth with its rays, so did the hero, in an instant, cover the directions with his arrows.

खमंडले गणेन्द्रस्य शराः कनकभूषिताः उत्पतंतस्तडिद्रूपैरुपमानपदं ययुः

The arrows of the lord of the hosts, adorned with gold, soared in the sky's circle, attaining the likeness of flashes of lightning.

महांतस्ते सुरगणान् मंडूकानिवडुंडुभाः प्राणैर्वियोजयामासुः पपुश्च रुधिरासवम्

The mighty ones separated the gods from their lives, like frogs by drums, and drank the intoxicating blood.

निकृत्तबाहवः केचित्केचिल्लूनवराननाः पार्श्वे विदारिताः केचिन्निपेतुरमरा भुवि

Some had their arms severed, some their faces torn, some were ripped at the sides; thus, the immortals fell to the earth.

विशिखोन्मथितैर्गात्रैर्बहुभिश्छिन्नसन्धिभिः विवृत्तनयनाः केचिन्निपेतुर्भूतले मृताः गां प्रवेष्टुमिवेच्छंतः खं गंतुमिव लिप्सवः

With bodies pierced by arrows, joints shattered, eyes turned upward, some fell dead to the ground, wishing to enter the earth or longing to ascend the sky.

अलब्धात्मनिरोधानां व्यलीयंतः परस्परम् भूमौ केचित्प्रविविशुः पर्वतानां गुहाः परे

Unable to restrain themselves, some melted together; some entered the caves of mountains upon the earth.

अपरे जग्मुराकाशं परे च विविशुर्जलम् तथा संछिन्नसर्वांगैस्स वीरस्त्रिदशैर्बभौ

Others went into the sky, others entered the waters; thus, the hero shone among the gods, with all limbs severed.

परिग्रस्तप्रजावर्गो भगवानिव भैरवः दग्धत्रिपुरसंव्यूहस्त्रिपुरारिर्यथाभवत्

Like Bhairava, the Lord, surrounded by his hosts, as the destroyer of Tripura, so did he become, consuming the multitude of beings.

एवं देवबलं सर्वं दीनं बीभत्सदर्शनम् गणेश्वरसमुत्पन्नं कृपणं वपुराददे

Thus, the entire army of the gods, wretched and hideous to behold, assumed a pitiable form, born from the lord of the hosts.

तदा त्रिदशवीराणामसृक्सलिलवाहिनी प्रावर्तत नदी घोरा प्राणिनां भयशंसिनी

Then, from the heroes among the gods, a dreadful river of blood began to flow, foretelling terror for living beings.

रुधिरेण परिक्लिन्ना यज्ञभूमिस्तदा बभौ रक्तार्द्रवसना श्यामा हतशुंभेव कैशिकी

The sacrificial ground, drenched with blood, appeared clothed in red, dark as the night, like Kaishiki, bereft of her beauty.

तस्मिन्महति संवृत्ते समरे भृशदारुणे भयेनेव परित्रस्ता प्रचचाल वसुन्धरा

As that great and exceedingly fierce battle unfolded, the earth itself trembled, as if seized by fear.

महोर्मिकलिलावर्तश्चुक्षुभे च महोदधिः पेतुश्चोल्का महोत्पाताः शाखाश्च मुमुचुर्द्रुमाः

The vast ocean surged with mighty waves and whirlpools; blazing meteors fell as great omens, and trees cast down their branches.

अप्रसन्ना दिशः सर्वाः पवनश्चाशिवो ववौ अहो विधिविपर्यासस्त्वश्वमेधोयमध्वरः यजमानस्स्वयं दक्षौ ब्रह्मपुत्रप्रजापतिः

All the quarters became inauspicious, and an unwholesome wind blew; alas, this is a reversal of order—this horse sacrifice is not proper, though the sacrificer is Daksha himself, son of Brahma and lord of creatures.

धर्मादयस्सदस्याश्च रक्षिता गरुडध्वजः भागांश्च प्रतिगृह्णंति साक्षादिंद्रादयः सुराः

The upholders of righteousness and the assembly members were protected by the one with the Garuda banner, and the gods led by Indra directly received their shares.

तथापि यजमानस्य यज्ञस्य च सहर्त्विजः सद्य एव शिरश्छेदस्साधु संपद्यते फलम्

Yet, for the sacrificer and the priests together with the sacrifice, immediate beheading became the result—an unworthy outcome.

तस्मान्नावेदनिर्दिष्टं न चेश्वरबहिष्कृतम्

Therefore, what is not prescribed by the Veda, nor sanctioned by the Lord, should not be performed.