दक्षिणं वरुणः पार्श्वमवष्टभ्याव्रजद् बली
On the right side, mighty Varuna advanced, supporting the flank.
नानास्त्रशस्त्रोद्यतदोःसमूहा समाससादारिबलं महीध्रे
Hosts with arms raised, wielding various weapons and missiles, confronted the enemy force on the mountain.
निर्वृक्षे पक्षिरहिते जातो देवासुरो रणः
A battle between gods and demons arose where there were no trees and no birds.
महीधरोत्तमे पूर्वं यथा वानरहस्तिनोः
On the highest mountain, as once between the monkey and the elephant.
संद्यानुरक्तः सदृशो मेघः खे सुरतापस
A cloud, tinged with the color of twilight, appeared in the sky, O best of ascetics.
श्रूयते त्वनिशं शब्दः छिन्धि भिन्धीति सर्वतः
Night and day, the sound is heard everywhere: 'Cut! Break!'
जातो रुधिरनिष्यन्दो रजःसयमनात्मकः
Blood began to flow, mingled with dust, embodying confusion.
अभिद्रवन्ति सहिताः समं स्कन्देन धीमता
Together, they charged forward with the wise Skanda.
देवान् निजघ्नुर्दैत्याश्च मयगुप्ताः प्रहारिणः
The Daityas, protected by Maya and fierce in battle, struck down the gods.
निर्जिताः समरे दैत्यैः समं स्कन्देन नारद
O Narada, the gods were defeated in battle by the Daityas, together with Skanda.
शार्ङ्गमानम्य बाणैघैर्निजघान ततस्ततः
Then, bowing to the Sharnga bow, he struck again and again with a shower of arrows.
दैतेयाः शरणं जग्मुः कालनेमिं महासुराम्
The Daityas sought refuge with Kalanemi, the great asura.
विवृद्धिमगमद् ब्रह्मन् यथा व्याधिरुपेक्षितः
O Brahman, their strength increased, just as a disease grows when neglected.
तं तमादाय चिक्षेप विस्तृते वदने बली
Taking each one, the mighty one hurled them into the wide-open mouth.
चक्रैर्वैश्वानराभैस्त्ववनिगगनयोस्तिर्यगूर्ध्वं समन्तात् प्राप्ते ऽन्ते कालवह्नेर्जगदखिलमिदं रूपमासीद् दिधक्षोः
With discus blazing like fire, spreading horizontally and upward between earth and sky on all sides, at the end, as the fire of time approached, this entire world took the form of one desiring to consume it.
पोप्लूयन्तश्च दैत्या हरिममरगणैरर्चितं चारुमौलिं नानाशस्त्रास्त्रपातैर्विगलितयशसंचक्रुरुत्सिक्तदर्पाः
The Daityas, overwhelmed, attacked Hari—honored by the hosts of immortals, adorned with a lovely crown—with volleys of various weapons and missiles, their glory diminished, their arrogance overflowing.
कोपादारक्तदृष्टिः सरथगजहयान् दृष्टिनिर्धूतवीर्यान् नाराचख्यैः सुपुङ्खैर्जलद् इव गिरीन् छादयामास विष्णुः
With eyes reddened in anger, Viṣṇu, by his gaze alone, swept away the strength of chariots, elephants, and horses, and with well-feathered arrows called nārācas, he covered them as a cloud covers mountains.
प्रारम्बे दानवेन्द्रं शतवदनमथो प्रेषयन् कालनेमिं स प्रायाद् देवसैन्यप्रभुममितबलं केशवं लोकनाथम्
At the outset, the lord of the Dānavas, Śatavadana, sent Kālanemi against Keśava, the lord of the gods' army and master of the worlds, who possesses immeasurable strength.
सो ऽप्येनं प्रसमीक्ष्य दैत्यविटपप्रच्छेदनं मानिनं प्रोवाचाथ विहस्य तं च सुचिरं मेघस्वनो दानवः
That Dānava, whose voice was like thunder, seeing him—proud and the destroyer of the Daitya clan—laughed and then spoke to him at length.
हिरण्यनयनान्तकः कुसुमपूजारतिः क्व याति मम दृष्टिगोचरे निपतितः खलः
He who is the ender of Hiraṇya's line, fond of worship with flowers—where does that wretch go, fallen within the range of my sight?
मन्मुष्टिपिष्टशिथिलाङ्गमुपात्तभस्म संद्रक्ष्यते सुरजनो भयकातराक्षः
The gods, their eyes filled with fear, will see him, his limbs crushed and loosened by my fist, covered in ashes.
गदां खगेन्द्रोपरि जातकोपो मुमोच शैले कुलिशं यथेन्द्रः
In his fury, he hurled his mace upon Garuḍa, just as Indra casts his thunderbolt upon a mountain.
चक्रेण चिच्छेद सुदुर्गतस्य मनोरथं पूर्वकृतेन कर्म
With his discus, Viṣṇu cut down the hopes of that ill-fated one, the result of his former deeds.
भुजाभ्यां कृत्ताभ्यां दग्धशैलप्रकाशः संदृश्येताप्यपरः कालनेमि
With both his arms severed, his form blazing like a scorched mountain, Kālanemi appeared before them.
छित्त्वा निपातयामास पक्वं तालफलं यथा
Having struck him down, he made him fall like a ripe palm fruit.
तस्थौ मेरुरिवाकम्प्यः कबन्धः क्ष्माधरेश्वरः
The headless trunk, lord of the earth, stood unshaken like Mount Meru.
यथाम्बराद् बाहुशिरः प्रणष्टबलं महेन्द्रः कुलिशेन भूम्याम्
Just as Indra, with his thunderbolt, cast down from the sky to the earth the arms and head of the one whose strength was destroyed.
विमुक्तशस्त्रालकचर्मवस्त्राः संप्राद्रवन् बाणमृते ऽसुरेन्द्राः
Deprived of weapons, armor, and garments, the lords of the Asuras fled, except for Bāṇa.
निवृत्ता देवतानां च सशस्त्रा युद्धलालसाः
The gods, eager for battle and armed, withdrew from the fight.
प्राहामन्त्र्य सुरान् सर्वान् युध्यध्वं विगतज्वराः
He addressed all the gods, saying: 'Fight on, free from distress!'