यस्यादरात् प्रणामो ऽयं क्रियते मद्विधैर्जनैः
She, to whom this reverential salutation is offered by people like me,
वक्ष्यते तव यो ऽयं हि महात्मा गरुडध्वजः
He who is being spoken of to you, the great-souled one with Garuḍa on his banner,
नान्यः परतरो ऽस्माद्धि वयमन्ये च देहिनः
There is truly no one higher than him; we and all other embodied beings are not above him.
तस्थौ कृताञ्जलिपुटस्त्वाज्ञां प्रार्थयते ऽच्युतात्
He stood with hands joined in reverence, seeking permission from Acyuta.
कृत्वा स्वस्त्ययनं देवो ह्यनुज्ञां प्रददौ ततः
Having performed an auspicious rite, the god then granted his consent.
शिखिध्वजाय विप्रर्षे तन्मे व्याख्यातुमर्हसि
O sage among the twice-born, you ought to explain this to Śikhidhvaja for me.
स्कन्दस्य विजयार्थाय महिषस्य वधाय च
For the victory of Skanda and the slaying of the buffalo demon,
स्वस्ति चक्राङ्कितकरो विष्णुस्ते विदधत्वाजः
May Viṣṇu, the unborn, whose hand bears the discus, bestow well-being.
पावकः स्वस्ति तुभ्यं च करोतु शिखिवाहन
May Pāvaka grant you well-being, O rider of the peacock.
काव्यः सदा स्वस्ति करोतु तुभ्यं शनैश्चरः स्वस्त्ययनं करोतु
May Kāvyā and always Saturn grant you well-being; may Saturn bestow auspiciousness.
मृकण्डुजस्ते कुरुतां हि स्वस्ति स्वस्ति सदा सप्त महर्षयश्च
May Mṛkaṇḍu and his descendants, and always the seven great sages, bring you well-being.
यक्षाः पिशाचा वसवो ऽथ किन्नराः ते स्वस्ति कुर्वन्तु सदोद्यतास्त्वमी
May the Yakṣas, Piśācas, Vasus, and Kinnaras—these ever-vigilant beings—grant you well-being.
महाबला भूतगणा गणेन्द्राः ते स्वस्ति कुर्वन्तु सदा समुद्यताः
May the mighty hosts of spirits and their chiefs, ever ready, always grant you well-being.
स्वस्ति ते बहुपादेभ्यस्त्वपादेभ्यो ऽप्यनामयम्
Well-being to you from those with many feet, and also safety from those without feet.
पाशी प्रतीचीं रक्षतु लक्ष्मामशुः पातु चोत्तराम्
May Pāśī protect the west, Lakṣmāmaśu the north.
प्रतीचीमुत्तरां वायुः शिवः पूर्वोत्तरामपि
May Vāyu guard the northwest, and Śiva the northeast as well.
मुसती लाङ्गली चक्री धनुष्मानन्तरेषु च
May Musatī, the plough-bearer, the discus-bearer, and the bowman protect the intermediate directions.
सामवेदध्वनिः श्रीमान् सर्वलतः पातु माधवः
May Mādhava, resounding with the melody of the Sāma Veda and full of glory, protect from all sides.
प्रणिपत्य सुरान् सर्वान् समुत्पतत भूतलात्
Having bowed to all the gods, he rose up from the earth.
अनुजग्मुः कुमारं ते कामरूपा विहङ्गमाः
Those who could assume any form followed the youth, taking the shapes of birds.
समं स्कन्देन बलिना हन्तुकामा महासुरान्
Together with the mighty Skanda, eager to slay the great demons.
भूम्यां तूर्णं महावीर्याः कुरुध्वमवतारणम्
O heroes of great strength, quickly descend to the earth.
आरात् पतन्तस्तद्देशं नादं चक्रुर्भयङ्करम्
Flying swiftly toward that place, they made a terrifying sound.
विवेशार्णवरन्ध्रेण पातालं दानवालयम्
They entered Pātāla, the abode of the demons, through a chasm in the ocean.
विरोजनेन जम्भेन कुजम्भेनासुरेण च
With Virocana, Jambha, Kujambha, and the demon as well.
किमेतदिति संचिन्त्य तूर्णं जग्मुस्तदान्धकम्
Thinking, 'What is this?' they quickly went to Andhaka.
मन्त्रयामासुरुद्विग्नास्तं शब्दं प्रति नारद
Disturbed, the demons consulted together about that sound, O Nārada.
पातालकेतुर्दैत्येन्द्रः संप्राप्तो ऽथ रसातलम्
Then Pātālaketu, the lord of the demons, arrived in Rasātala.
अब्रवीद् वचनं दीनं समभ्येत्यान्धकासुरम्
Approaching Andhaka, he spoke words of distress.
तं विध्वंसयितुं यत्नं समारब्धं बलान्मया
I have made every effort, with force, to destroy him.