Vamana Purana

निर्जगामातिवेगेन गजवाजिराथादिभिः

They departed with great speed, with elephants, horses, chariots, and others.

यभविद्याधराद्याश्च स्वं स्वं वाहनमास्थिताः

The Vidyadharas and others, each mounted their own vehicle.

एकैकस्यापि धर्मत्र परं कौतूहलं मम

Even regarding the duty of each one, I have great curiosity.

वाहनानि समासेन एकैकस्यानुपूर्वशः

Now, in brief and in order, the vehicles of each are described.

श्वेतवर्णो गजपतिर्देवराजस्य वाहनम्

The lord of elephants, white in color, is the vehicle of the king of the gods.

पौण्ड्रको नाम महिषो धर्मराजस्य नारद

A buffalo named Pauṇḍraka is the vehicle of the lord of Dharma, O Nārada.

शिशुमारो दिव्यगतिः वाहनं वरुणस्य च

The divine-moving Śiśumāra is the vehicle of Varuṇa.

अम्बिकापादसंभूतो वाहनं धनदस्य तु

Born from the foot of Ambikā is the vehicle of Dhanada.

श्वेतानि सौरभेयाणि वृषाण्युग्रजवानि च

White bulls of the Saurabheya line, swift and strong, are his.

हरयो रथवाहाश्च आदित्या मुनिसत्तम

O best of sages, the horses and charioteers are for the Ādityas.

किन्नरा भुजगारूढा हयारूढौ तथाश्विनौ

Kinnaras mounted on serpents, and the Aśvins mounted on horses.

सुकारूढाश्च कवयो गन्धर्वाश्च पदातिनः

Poets mounted on parrots, and Gandharvas on foot.

संनह्य निर्ययुर्हृष्टा युद्धाय सुमहौजसः

Having armed themselves, they set out joyfully for battle, full of great energy.

दैत्यानां वाहनान्येवं यथावद् वक्तुमर्हसि

Now, you should properly describe the vehicles of the Daityas.

कथयिष्यामि तत्त्वेन यथावच्छ्रोतुमर्हसि

I shall tell you the truth of it; you should listen properly.

कृष्णवर्णैः सहस्रारस् त्रनल्वपरिमाणवान्

With thousands of black-colored ones, vast and immense in size.

उह्यमानस्तथाष्टाभिः श्वेतरुक्ममयः सुभः

Drawn by eight, shining, white and golden in form.

जम्भस्य तु रथो द्वियो हयैः काञ्जनसन्निभैः

Jambha's chariot was divine, with horses resembling gold.

शम्बरस्य विमानो ऽभूदयः शङ्कोर्मृगाधिपः

Śambara had an aerial car, and Ayaśaṅku a lordly deer.

पद्भ्यां दैवतसैन्यानि अभिद्रवितुमुद्यतौ

With their own feet, the divine armies rushed forth to attack.

रजसा संवृतो लोकी पिङ्गवर्णेन नारद

Covered in dust, the world appeared tawny in color, O Nārada.

स्वानेवानये निजघ्नुर्वै परानन्ये च सुव्रत

Some, O virtuous one, attacked their own side, while others struck at the enemy.

गजो मत्तगजेन्द्रं च सादी सादिनमभ्यगात्

An elephant charged at a maddened lord of elephants, and a horseman attacked another horseman.

परस्परं तु प्रत्यघ्नन्नन्योन्यजयकाङ्क्षिणः

Desiring victory over one another, they struck each other in mutual combat.

प्रावर्तत नदी घोरा शमयन्ती रणाद्रजः

A dreadful river arose, quelling the dust of battle.

गजकुम्भमाहकूर्मा शरमीना दुरत्यया

It was impassable, with elephant heads as turtles and arrows as fish.

अन्त्रशैवलसंकीर्णा पताकाफेनमालिननी

It was choked with entrails like seaweed, and garlanded with froth from banners.

वनवायसकादम्बा गोमायुश्वापदाकुला

It teemed with forest birds, herons, jackals, and wild beasts.

रथप्लवैः संतरन्तः शूरास्तां प्रजगाहिरे

Heroes crossed it using chariots as rafts, plunging into its depths.