अहं समागता द्रष्टुं त्वां तत्र गमनोत्सुका
I have come here, eager to see you and to go there.
नामन्त्रितासि तातेन उताहोस्विद् व्रजिष्यसि
Were you not invited by your father, or will you go anyway?
मातृष्वसः शशाङ्कश्च सपत्नीको गतः क्रतुम्
My maternal uncle Śaśāṅka also went to the sacrifice with his wife.
निमन्त्रिताः क्रतौ सर्वे किं नासि त्वं निमन्त्रिता
All were invited to the sacrifice; why were you not invited?
मन्युनाभिप्लुता ब्रह्मन् पञ्चत्वमगमत् ततः
Overcome by anger, O Brahmin, she then met her end.
मुञ्चती वारि नेत्राभ्यां सस्वरं विललाप ह
Tears streaming from her eyes, she wailed aloud.
आः किमेतदितीत्युक्त्वा जयाभ्याशमुपागतः
Saying, 'Ah, what is this?' he approached Jaya.
कृत्तां परशुना भूमौ श्लथाङ्गीं पतितां सतीम्
He saw her, righteous and fallen to the ground, her limbs slack, struck down by an axe.
किमियं पतिता भूमौ निकृत्तेव लता सती
Why has she fallen to the ground, like a severed vine, though virtuous?
श्रत्वा मखस्था दक्षस्य भगिन्यः पतिभिः सह
Hearing of this, Daksha's sisters at the sacrifice, along with their husbands—
मातृष्वसा विपन्नेयमन्तर्दुःखेन दह्यती
Her maternal aunt, burning with inner grief, was undone.
क्रुद्धस्य सर्वगात्रेभ्यो निश्चेरुः सहसार्चिषः
From the furious one’s whole body, flames burst forth.
गणाः सिंहमुखा जाता वीरभद्रपुरोगमाः
Hosts with lion faces arose, led by Virabhadra.
गतः कनखलं तस्माद् यत्र दक्षो ऽयजत् क्रतुम्
He went to Kanakhala, where Daksha was performing the sacrifice.
दिशि प्रतीच्युत्तरायां तस्थौ शूलधरो मुने
In the northwestern direction, O sage, the trident-bearer stood.
मध्ये त्रिरशूलधृक् शर्वस्तस्थौ क्रोधान्महामुने
In the center, Sharva stood, holding a trident in three places, out of wrath, O great sage.
ऋषयो यक्षगन्धर्वाः किमिदं त्वित्यचिन्तयन्
The seers, yakshas, and gandharvas wondered, 'What is this?'
द्वारपालस्तदा धर्मो वीरभद्रमुपाद्रवत्
Then Dharma, the gatekeeper, rushed at Virabhadra.
करेणैकेन जग्राह त्रिशुलं वह्निसन्निभम्
With one hand he seized a trident, blazing like fire.
चतुर्थेन गदां गृह्य धर्ममभ्यद्रवद् गणः
With a fourth hand grasping a mace, the host charged at Dharma.
तस्थावष्टभुनजो भूत्वा नानायुधधरो ऽव्ययः
He stood firm, becoming eight-armed, imperishable, bearing various weapons.
चापमार्गणभृत्तस्थौ हन्तुकामो गणेश्वरम्
He stood, holding a bow and arrows, intent on slaying the lord of the hosts.
ववर्ष मार्गणास्तीक्ष्णान् यथा प्रावृषि तोयदः
He rained down sharp arrows like a rain cloud pours in the monsoon.
रुधिरारुणसिक्ताङ्गौ किंशुकाविव रेजतुः
Their bodies, drenched and reddened with blood, shone like kimshuka trees.
दृष्ट्वा तु सहसा देवा उत्तस्थुः सायुधा मुने
Seeing this suddenly, O sage, the gods rose up with their weapons.
इन्द्राद्या द्वादशादित्या रुद्रास्त्वेकादशैव हि
The twelve Ādityas led by Indra, and the eleven Rudras as well,
यक्षाः किंपुरुषाश्चैव खगाश्क्रधरास्तथा
The Yakshas, Kimpurushas, birds, and the mountain-bearers too,
सोमवंशोद्भवश्चोग्रो भोजकीर्तिर्महाभुजः
And Ugra, famed among the Bhojas, mighty-armed, born of the Soma lineage,
ते सर्वे ऽभ्यद्रवन् रौद्रं वीरभद्रमुदायुधाः
All of them, armed for battle, rushed at the fierce Vīrabhadra.
अभिदुद्राव वेगेन सर्वानेव शरोत्करैः
He charged at them all with speed, showering volleys of arrows.