न शेकुश्चलिंतुं तत्र नास्त्राण्यादातुमेव च १८.
They were unable to move there, nor even to take up their weapons.
अंसमालिंग्य पाणिभ्यामुपविष्टो ह्यधोमुखः १८.
Embracing their shoulders with their hands, they sat, faces turned downward.
रणेच्छां दूरतस्त्यक्त्वा तस्थुस्ते जीवितार्थिनः १८.
Having abandoned the desire for battle from afar, they stood, seeking only to preserve their lives.
भोभोः श्रृंगारिणः क्रूराः सर्वशस्त्रास्त्रपारगाः १८.
O horned ones, cruel and skilled in all weapons and missiles!
एकैकोऽपि क्षमो ग्रस्तुं जगत्सर्वं चराचरम् १८.
Each one alone is capable of devouring the entire world, both moving and unmoving.
किं त्रस्तनयनाश्चैव समरे परिनिर्जिताः १८.
Why are your eyes filled with fear, and why have you been utterly defeated in battle?
राज्ञश्च तारकस्यापि दर्शयिष्यथ किं मुखम् १८.
What face will you show to King Tāraka now?
इति ते प्रोच्यमानापि नोचुः किंचिन्महासुराः १८.
Though thus addressed, the great asuras did not say anything.
मूकास्तथाभवन्दैत्या मृतकल्पा महारणे १८.
The daityas became mute, as if dead, on that great battlefield.
मत्वा कालक्षमं कार्यं कालनेमिर्महासुरः १८.
Then the great asura Kālanemi, considering the time ripe for action, resolved to act.
पूरयामास गगनं विदिश एव च १८.
He filled the sky and all the intermediate directions.
दिशश्च विदिशश्चैव पूरयामास पावकैः १८.
He filled the quarters and the intermediate quarters with flames.
तेन ज्वालासमूहेन हिमां शुरगमद्द्रुतम् १८.
By that mass of blazing fire, the snow melted swiftly.
तद्बलं दानवेंद्राणां मायया कालनेमिनः उवाचारुणमत्यर्थं कोपरक्तांतलोचनः॥ १८.
To that army of the lords of the daityas, Kālanemi, with eyes reddened in anger, spoke with great harshness through his magic.
नयारुण रथं शीघ्रं कालनेमिरथो यतः॥ १८.
Aruna, quickly drive the chariot, for the chariot of Kālanemi is approaching.
विमर्दे तत्र विषमे भविता भूतसंक्षयः १८.
In that fierce and uneven conflict, there will be destruction of beings.
इत्युक्तश्चोदयामास रथं गरुडपूर्वजः १८.
Thus addressed, Garuḍa’s elder brother urged the chariot onward.
जगद्दीपोऽथ भगवाञ्जग्राह विततं धनुः १८.
Then the blessed Lord, the lamp of the world, took up his stretched bow.
शंबरास्त्रेण संधाय बाणमेकं ससर्ज ह १८.
Fitting a single arrow with the Śambara weapon, he released it.
शंबरास्त्रं क्षणाच्चक्रे तेषांरूपविपर्ययम् १८.
The Śambara weapon instantly caused confusion in their forms.
मत्वा सुरान्स्वकानेव जघ्ने घोरास्त्रलाघवात् १८.
Thinking the gods to be his own, he struck them down with the swiftness of his terrible weapon.
कांश्चित्खड्गेन तीक्ष्णेन कांश्चिन्नाराचवृष्टिभिः १८.
Some he struck with a sharp sword, others with showers of iron arrows.
शिरांसि केषाचिदपातयद्रथाद्भुजांस्तथा सारथींस्चोग्रवेगान् १८.
He struck off the heads of some from their chariots, as well as arms, and also charioteers, with fierce speed.
कालनेमी रुषाविष्टस्तेषां रूपं न बुद्धवान् १९.
Kalanemi, seized by anger, did not recognize their forms.
केशेषु गृह्य तं वीरं चकर्ष च ननाद च १९.
Seizing that hero by the hair, he dragged him and roared.
अहं निमिः कालनेमे सुतं मत्वा वधस्व मा १९.
I am Nimi; do not kill, thinking him to be Kalanemi’s son.
सुरैः सुदुर्जयाः कोट्यो निहतादश विद्धि तत् १९.
Know that ten million, most difficult to defeat even for the gods, have been slain.
स तेन बोधितो दैत्यो मुक्त्वा तं संभ्रमाकुलः १९.
Thus instructed, the demon released him, agitated and confused.
ब्रह्मास्त्रं तत्प्रजज्वाल ततः खे सुमहाद्भुतम् १९.
Then the Brahma-weapon blazed forth, a most wondrous sight in the sky.
शंबरास्त्रं ततः शांतं ब्राह्मप्रतिहतं तदा १९.
Then the Shambara-weapon was subdued, repelled by the Brahma-weapon.