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.
समुत्तरन्तो वेगेन योधा जयधनेप्सवः
Warriors, eager for the prize of victory, swiftly emerged from it.
रक्षांसि यक्षाश्च सुसप्रहृष्टाः पिशाचयूथास्त्वभिरेमिरे च
The demons, yakṣas, and delighted hosts of piśācas rejoiced there.
वसां विलुम्पन्ति च वनिस्फुरन्ति गर्जन्त्यथान्योन्यमथो वयांसि
They plundered the flesh, leapt about, roared at each other, and the birds did likewise.
शस्त्रप्रतप्ता निपतन्ति चान्ये युद्धं श्मशानप्रतिमं बभूव
Others, scorched by weapons, fell down; the battle became like a cremation ground.
युद्धं बभौ प्राणपणेपविद्धं द्वन्द्वे ऽतिशस्त्राक्षगतो दुरोदरः
The battle, staked on life itself, shone forth, with pairs of warriors facing each other, skilled in weapons and dice, their bellies lean from hardship.
मत्तेभष्टष्टस्थितमुग्रतेजसं समेयिवान् देवपतिं शतक्रतुम्
There appeared the lord of the gods, Śatakratu, of fierce brilliance, mounted on a maddened elephant.
प्रह्लादनामा तुरगाष्टयुक्तं रथं समास्थाय समुद्यातास्त्रः
Prahlāda by name, having mounted a chariot yoked with eight horses, stood ready with weapons uplifted.
वायुं समभ्येत्य च शम्बरो ऽथ मयो हुताशं युयुधे मुनीन्द्र
Then Śambara approached Vāyu, Maya fought with Agni, O best of sages.
सुरान् हुताशार्कवसूरकेश्वरान् द्वन्द्वं समासाद्य महाबलान्विताः
The gods—Agni, Sūrya, Vāyu, and the lords of planets—encountered their mighty adversaries in single combat.
मुञ्चन्ति नाराचगणान् सहस्रश अगच्छ हे तिष्ठसि किं ब्रुवन्तः
They released thousands of iron arrows, shouting, 'Go! Stop! Why do you stand?'.