Chapter 10: The Battle Between the Demigods and the Demons

 

8.10.1

śrī-śuka uvāca

iti dānava-daiteyā

nāvindann amṛtaḿ nṛpa

yuktāḥ karmaṇi yattāś ca

vāsudeva-parāńmukhāḥ

 

śrī-śukaḥ uvāca — Śrī Śukadeva Gosvāmī said; iti — thus; dānava-daiteyāḥ — the asuras and the demons; na — not; avindan — achieved (the desired result); amṛtam — nectar; nṛpa — O King; yuktāḥ — all being combined; karmaṇi — in the churning; yattāḥ — engaged with full attention and effort; ca — and; vāsudeva — of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Kṛṣṇa; parāńmukhāḥ — because of being nondevotees.

 

TRANSLATION

 

Śukadeva Gosvāmī said: O King, the demons and Daityas all engaged with full attention and effort in churning the ocean, but because they were not devotees of Vāsudeva, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Kṛṣṇa, they were not able to drink the nectar.

 

8.10.2

sādhayitvāmṛtaḿ rājan

pāyayitvā svakān surān

paśyatāḿ sarva-bhūtānāḿ

yayau garuḍa-vāhanaḥ

 

sādhayitvā — after executing; amṛtam — generation of the nectar; rājan — O King; pāyayitvā — and feeding; svakān — to His own devotees; surān — to the demigods; paśyatām — in the presence of; sarva-bhūtānām — all living entities; yayau — went away; garuḍa-vāhanaḥ — the Supreme Personality of Godhead, carried by Garuḍa.

 

TRANSLATION

 

O King, after the Supreme Personality of Godhead had brought to completion the affairs of churning the ocean and feeding the nectar to the demigods, who are His dear devotees, He left the presence of them all and was carried by Garuḍa to His own abode.

 

8.10.3

sapatnānāḿ parām ṛddhiḿ

dṛṣṭvā te diti-nandanāḥ

amṛṣyamāṇā utpetur

devān pratyudyatāyudhāḥ

 

sapatnānām — of their rivals, the demigods; parām — the best; ṛddhim — opulence; dṛṣṭvā — observing; te — all of them; diti-nandanāḥ — the sons of Diti, the Daityas; amṛṣyamāṇāḥ — being intolerant; utpetuḥ — ran toward (just to create a disturbance); devān — the demigods; pratyudyata-āyudhāḥ — their weapons raised.

 

TRANSLATION

 

Seeing the victory of the demigods, the demons became intolerant of their superior opulence. Thus they began to march toward the demigods with raised weapons.

 

8.10.4

tataḥ sura-gaṇāḥ sarve

sudhayā pītayaidhitāḥ

pratisaḿyuyudhuḥ śastrair

nārāyaṇa-padāśrayāḥ

 

tataḥ — thereafter; sura-gaṇāḥ — the demigods; sarve — all of them; sudhayā — by the nectar; pītayā — which had been drunk; edhitāḥ — being enlivened by such drinking; pratisaḿyuyudhuḥ — they counterattacked the demons; śastraiḥ — by regular weapons; nārāyaṇa-pada-āśrayāḥ — their real weapon being shelter at the lotus feet of Nārāyaṇa.

 

TRANSLATION

 

Thereafter, being enlivened because of drinking the nectar, the demigods, who are always at the shelter of the lotus feet of Nārāyaṇa, used their various weapons to counterattack the demons in a fighting spirit.

 

8.10.5

tatra daivāsuro nāma

raṇaḥ parama-dāruṇaḥ

rodhasy udanvato rājaḿs

tumulo roma-harṣaṇaḥ

 

tatra — there (at the beach of the ocean of milk); daiva — the demigods; asuraḥ — the demons; nāma — as they are celebrated; raṇaḥ — fighting; parama — very much; dāruṇaḥ — fierce; rodhasi — on the beach of the sea; udanvataḥ — of the ocean of milk; rājan — O King; tumulaḥ — tumultuous; roma-harṣaṇaḥ — hair standing on the body.

 

TRANSLATION

 

O King, a fierce battle on the beach of the ocean of milk ensued between the demigods and the demons. The fighting was so terrible that simply hearing about it would make the hair on one's body stand on end.

 

8.10.6

tatrānyonyaḿ sapatnās te

saḿrabdha-manaso raṇe

samāsādyāsibhir bāṇair

nijaghnur vividhāyudhaiḥ

 

tatra — thereupon; anyonyam — one another; sapatnāḥ — all of them becoming fighters; te — they; saḿrabdha — very angry; manasaḥ — within their minds; raṇe — in that battle; samāsādya — getting the opportunity to fight between themselves; asibhiḥ — with swords; bāṇaiḥ — with arrows; nijaghnuḥ — began to beat one another; vividha-āyudhaiḥ — with varieties of weapons.

 

TRANSLATION

 

Both parties in that fight were extremely angry at heart, and in enmity they beat one another with swords, arrows and varieties of other weapons.

 

8.10.7

śańkha-tūrya-mṛdańgānāḿ

bherī-ḍamariṇāḿ mahān

hasty-aśva-ratha-pattīnāḿ

nadatāḿ nisvano 'bhavat

 

śańkha — of conchshells; tūrya — of big bugles; mṛdańgānām — and of drums; bherī — of bugles; ḍamariṇām — of kettledrums; mahān — great and tumultuous; hasti — of elephants; aśva — of horses; ratha-pattīnām — of fighters on chariots or on the ground; nadatām — all of them making sounds together; nisvanaḥ — a tumultuous sound; abhavat — so became.

 

TRANSLATION

 

The sounds of the conchshells, bugles, drums, bherīs and ḍamarīs [kettledrums], as well as the sounds made by the elephants, horses and soldiers, who were both on chariots and on foot, were tumultuous.

 

8.10.8

rathino rathibhis tatra

pattibhiḥ saha pattayaḥ

hayā hayair ibhāś cebhaiḥ

samasajjanta saḿyuge

 

rathinaḥ — fighters on chariots; rathibhiḥ — with the charioteers of the enemy; tatra — in the battlefield; pattibhiḥ — with the infantry soldiers; saha — with; pattayaḥ — the infantry of the enemy soldiers; hayāḥ — the horses; hayaiḥ — with the enemy's soldiers; ibhāḥ — the soldiers fighting on the backs of elephants; ca — and; ibhaiḥ — with the enemy's soldiers on the backs of elephants; samasajjanta — began to fight together on an equal level; saḿyuge — on the battlefield.

 

TRANSLATION

 

On that battlefield, the charioteers fought with the opposing charioteers, the infantry soldiers with the opposing infantry, the soldiers on horseback with the opposing soldiers on horseback, and the soldiers on the backs of elephants with the enemy soldiers on elephants. In this way, the fighting took place between equals.

 

8.10.9

uṣṭraiḥ kecid ibhaiḥ kecid

apare yuyudhuḥ kharaiḥ

kecid gaura-mukhair ṛkṣair

dvīpibhir haribhir bhaṭāḥ

 

uṣṭraiḥ — on the backs of camels; kecit — some persons; ibhaiḥ — on the backs of elephants; kecit — some persons; apare — others; yuyudhuḥ — engaged in fighting; kharaiḥ — on the backs of asses; kecit — some persons; gaura-mukhaiḥ — on white-faced monkeys; ṛkṣaiḥ — on red-faced monkeys; dvīpibhiḥ — on the backs of tigers; haribhiḥ — on the backs of lions; bhaṭāḥ — all the soldiers engaged in this way.

 

TRANSLATION

 

Some soldiers fought on the backs of camels, some on the backs of elephants, some on asses, some on white-faced and red-faced monkeys, some on tigers and some on lions. In this way, they all engaged in fighting.

 

8.10.10-12

gṛdhraiḥ kańkair bakair anye

śyena-bhāsais timińgilaiḥ

śarabhair mahiṣaiḥ khaḍgair

go-vṛṣair gavayāruṇaiḥ

 

śivābhir ākhubhiḥ kecit

kṛkalāsaiḥ śaśair naraiḥ

bastair eke kṛṣṇa-sārair

haḿsair anye ca sūkaraiḥ

 

anye jala-sthala-khagaiḥ

sattvair vikṛta-vigrahaiḥ

senayor ubhayo rājan

viviśus te 'grato 'grataḥ

 

gṛdhraiḥ — on the backs of vultures; kańkaiḥ — on the backs of eagles; bakaiḥ — on the backs of ducks; anye — others; śyena — on the backs of hawks; bhāsaiḥ — on the backs of bhāsas; timińgilaiḥ — on the backs of big fish known as timińgilas; śarabhaiḥ — on the backs of śarabhas; mahiṣaiḥ — on the backs of buffalo; khaḍgaiḥ — on the backs of rhinoceroses; go — on the backs of cows; vṛṣaiḥ — on the backs of bulls; gavaya-aruṇaiḥ — on the backs of gavayas and aruṇas;

 

śivābhiḥ — on the backs of jackals; ākhubhiḥ — on the backs of big rats; kecit — some persons; kṛkalāsaiḥ — on the backs of big lizards; śaśaiḥ — on the backs of big rabbits; naraiḥ — on the backs of human beings; bastaiḥ — on the backs of goats; eke — some; kṛṣṇa-sāraiḥ — on the backs of black deer; haḿsaiḥ — on the backs of swans; anye — others; ca — also; sūkaraiḥ — on the backs of boars;

 

anye — others; jala-sthala-khagaiḥ — animals moving on the water, on land and in the sky; sattvaiḥ — by creatures being used as vehicles; vikṛta — are deformed; vigrahaiḥ — by such animals whose bodies; senayoḥ — of the two parties of soldiers; ubhayoḥ — of both; rājan — O King; viviśuḥ — entered; te — all of them; agrataḥ agrataḥ — going forward face to face.

 

TRANSLATION

 

O King, some soldiers fought on the backs of vultures, eagles, ducks, hawks and bhāsa birds. Some fought on the backs of timińgilas, which can devour huge whales, some on the backs of śarabhas, and some on buffalo, rhinoceroses, cows, bulls, jungle cows and aruṇas. Others fought on the backs of jackals, rats, lizards, rabbits, human beings, goats, black deer, swans and boars. In this way, mounted on animals of the water, land and sky, including animals with deformed bodies, both armies faced each other and went forward.

 

8.10.13-15

citra-dhvaja-paṭai rājann

ātapatraiḥ sitāmalaiḥ

mahā-dhanair vajra-daṇḍair

vyajanair bārha-cāmaraiḥ

 

vātoddhūtottaroṣṇīṣair

arcirbhir varma-bhūṣaṇaiḥ

sphuradbhir viśadaiḥ śastraiḥ

sutarāḿ sūrya-raśmibhiḥ

 

deva-dānava-vīrāṇāḿ

dhvajinyau pāṇḍu-nandana

rejatur vīra-mālābhir

yādasām iva sāgarau

 

citra-dhvaja-paṭaiḥ — with very nicely decorated flags and canopies; rājan — O King; ātapatraiḥ — with umbrellas for protection from the sunshine; sita-amalaiḥ — most of them very clean and white; mahā-dhanaiḥ — by very valuable; vajra-daṇḍaiḥ — with rods made of valuable jewels and pearls; vyajanaiḥ — with fans; bārha-cāmaraiḥ — with other fans made of peacock feathers;

 

vāta-uddhūta — flapping with the breeze; uttara-uṣṇīṣaiḥ — with upper and lower garments; arcirbhiḥ — by the effulgence; varma-bhūṣaṇaiḥ — with ornaments and shields; sphuradbhiḥ — shining; viśadaiḥ — sharp and clean; śastraiḥ — with weapons; sutarām — excessively; sūrya-raśmibhiḥ — with the dazzling illumination of the sunshine;

 

deva-dānava-vīrāṇām — of all the heroes of the parties of both the demons and the demigods; dhvajinyau — the two parties of soldiers, each one bearing his own flag; pāṇḍu-nandana — O descendant of Mahārāja Pāṇḍu; rejatuḥ — distinctly recognized; vīra-mālābhiḥ — with garlands used by heroes; yādasām — of aquatics; iva — just like; sāgarau — two oceans.

 

TRANSLATION

 

O King, O descendant of Mahārāja Pāṇḍu, the soldiers of both the demigods and demons were decorated by canopies, colorful flags, and umbrellas with handles made of valuable jewels and pearls. They were further decorated by fans made of peacock feathers and by other fans also. The soldiers, their upper and lower garments waving in the breeze, naturally looked very beautiful, and in the light of the glittering sunshine their shields, ornaments and sharp, clean weapons appeared dazzling. Thus the ranks of soldiers seemed like two oceans with bands of aquatics.

 

8.10.16-18

vairocano baliḥ sańkhye

so 'surāṇāḿ camū-patiḥ

yānaḿ vaihāyasaḿ nāma

kāma-gaḿ maya-nirmitam

 

sarva-sāńgrāmikopetaḿ

sarvāścaryamayaḿ prabho

apratarkyam anirdeśyaḿ

dṛśyamānam adarśanam

 

āsthitas tad vimānāgryaḿ

sarvānīkādhipair vṛtaḥ

bāla-vyajana-chatrāgryai

reje candra ivodaye

 

vairocanaḥ — the son of Virocana; baliḥ — Mahārāja Bali; sańkhye — in the battle; saḥ — he, so celebrated; asurāṇām — of the demons; camū-patiḥ — commander in chief; yānam — airplane; vaihāyasam — called Vaihāyasa; nāma — by the name; kāma-gam — able to fly anywhere he desired; maya-nirmitam — made by the demon Maya;

 

sarva — all; sāńgrāmika-upetam — equipped with all kinds of weapons required for fighting with all different types of enemies; sarva-āścarya-mayam — wonderful in every respect; prabho — O King; apratarkyam — inexplicable; anirdeśyam — indescribable; dṛśyamānam — sometimes visible; adarśanam — sometimes not visible;

 

āsthitaḥ — being seated on such; tat — that; vimāna-agryam — excellent airplane; sarva — all; anīka-adhipaiḥ — by the commanders of soldiers; vṛtaḥ — surrounded; bāla-vyajana-chatra-agryaiḥ — protected by beautifully decorated umbrellas and the best of cāmaras; reje — brilliantly situated; candraḥ — the moon; iva — like; udaye — at the time of rising in the evening.

 

TRANSLATION

 

For that battle the most celebrated commander in chief, Mahārāja Bali, son of Virocana, was seated on a wonderful airplane named Vaihāyasa. O King, this beautifully decorated airplane had been manufactured by the demon Maya and was equipped with weapons for all types of combat. It was inconceivable and indescribable. Indeed, it was sometimes visible and sometimes not. Seated in this airplane under a beautiful protective umbrella and being fanned by the best of cāmaras, Mahārāja Bali, surrounded by his captains and commanders, appeared just like the moon rising in the evening, illuminating all directions.

 

8.10.19-24

tasyāsan sarvato yānair

yūthānāḿ patayo 'surāḥ

namuciḥ śambaro bāṇo

vipracittir ayomukhaḥ

 

dvimūrdhā kālanābho 'tha

prahetir hetir ilvalaḥ

śakunir bhūtasantāpo

vajradaḿṣṭro virocanaḥ

 

hayagrīvaḥ śańkuśirāḥ

kapilo meghadundubhiḥ

tārakaś cakradṛk śumbho

niśumbho jambha utkalaḥ

 

ariṣṭo 'riṣṭanemiś ca

mayaś ca tripurādhipaḥ

anye pauloma-kāleyā

nivātakavacādayaḥ

 

alabdha-bhāgāḥ somasya

kevalaḿ kleśa-bhāginaḥ

sarva ete raṇa-mukhe

bahuśo nirjitāmarāḥ

 

siḿha-nādān vimuñcantaḥ

śańkhān dadhmur mahā-ravān

dṛṣṭvā sapatnān utsiktān

balabhit kupito bhṛśam

 

tasya — of him (Mahārāja Bali); āsan — situated; sarvataḥ — all around; yānaiḥ — by different vehicles; yūthānām — of the soldiers; patayaḥ — the commanders; asurāḥ — demons; namuciḥ — Namuci; śambaraḥ — Śambara; bāṇaḥ — Bāṇa; vipracittiḥ — Vipracitti; ayomukhaḥ — Ayomukha;

 

dvimūrdhā — Dvimūrdhā; kālanābhaḥ — Kālanābha; atha — also; prahetiḥ — Praheti; hetiḥ — Heti; ilvalaḥ — Ilvala; śakuniḥ — Śakuni; bhūtasantāpaḥ — Bhūtasantāpa; vajra-daḿṣṭraḥ — Vajradaḿṣṭra; virocanaḥ — Virocana;

 

hayagrīvaḥ — Hayagrīva; śańkuśirāḥ — Śańkuśirā; kapilaḥ — Kapila; megha-dundubhiḥ — Meghadundubhi; tārakaḥ — Tāraka; cakradṛk — Cakradṛk; śumbhaḥ — Śumbha; niśumbhaḥ — Niśumbha; jambhaḥ — Jambha; utkalaḥ — Utkala;

 

ariṣṭaḥ — Ariṣṭa; ariṣṭanemiḥ — Ariṣṭanemi; ca — and; mayaḥ ca — and Maya; tripurādhipaḥ — Tripurādhipa; anye — others; pauloma-kāleyāḥ — the sons of Puloma and the Kāleyas; nivātakavaca-ādayaḥ — Nivātakavaca and other demons;

 

alabdha-bhāgāḥ — all unable to take a share; somasya — of the nectar; kevalam — merely; kleśa-bhāginaḥ — the demons took a share of the labor; sarve — all of them; ete — the demons; raṇa-mukhe — in the front of the battle; bahuśaḥ — by excessive strength; nirjita-amarāḥ — being very troublesome to the demigods;

 

siḿha-nādān — vibrations like those of lions; vimuñcantaḥ — uttering; śańkhān — conchshells; dadhmuḥ — blew; mahā-ravān — making a tumultuous sound; dṛṣṭvā — after seeing; sapatnān — their rivals; utsiktān — ferocious; balabhit — (Lord Indra) being afraid of the strength; kupitaḥ — having become angry; bhṛśam — extremely.

 

TRANSLATION

 

Surrounding Mahārāja Bali on all sides were the commanders and captains of the demons, sitting on their respective chariots. Among them were the following demons: Namuci, Śambara, Bāṇa, Vipracitti, Ayomukha, Dvimūrdhā, Kālanābha, Praheti, Heti, Ilvala, Śakuni, Bhūtasantāpa, Vajradaḿṣṭra, Virocana, Hayagrīva, Śańkuśirā, Kapila, Meghadundubhi, Tāraka, Cakradṛk, Śumbha, Niśumbha, Jambha, Utkala, Ariṣṭa, Ariṣṭanemi, Tripurādhipa, Maya, the sons of Puloma, the Kāleyas and Nivātakavaca. All of these demons had been deprived of their share of the nectar and had shared merely in the labor of churning the ocean. Now, they fought against the demigods, and to encourage their armies, they made a tumultuous sound like the roaring of lions and blew loudly on conchshells. Balabhit, Lord Indra, upon seeing this situation of his ferocious rivals, became extremely angry.

 

8.10.25

airāvataḿ dik-kariṇam

ārūḍhaḥ śuśubhe sva-rāṭ

yathā sravat-prasravaṇam

udayādrim ahar-patiḥ

 

airāvatam — Airāvata; dik-kariṇam — the great elephant who could go everywhere; ārūḍhaḥ — mounted on; śuśubhe — became very beautiful to see; sva-rāṭ — Indra; yathā — just as; sravat — flowing; prasravaṇam — waves of wine; udaya-adrim — on Udayagiri; ahaḥ-patiḥ — the sun.

 

TRANSLATION

 

Sitting on Airāvata, an elephant who can go anywhere and who holds water and wine in reserve for showering, Lord Indra looked just like the sun rising from Udayagiri, where there are reservoirs of water.

 

8.10.26

tasyāsan sarvato devā

nānā-vāha-dhvajāyudhāḥ

lokapālāḥ saha-gaṇair

vāyv-agni-varuṇādayaḥ

 

tasya — of Lord Indra; āsan — situated; sarvataḥ — all around; devāḥ — all the demigods; nānā-vāha — with varieties of carriers; dhvaja-āyudhāḥ — and with flags and weapons; loka-pālāḥ — all the chiefs of various higher planetary systems; saha — with; gaṇaiḥ — their associates; vāyu — the demigod controlling air; agni — the demigod controlling fire; varuṇa — the demigod controlling water; ādayaḥ — all of them surrounding Lord Indra.

 

TRANSLATION

 

Surrounding Lord Indra, King of heaven, were the demigods, seated on various types of vehicles and decorated with flags and weapons. Present among them were Vāyu, Agni, Varuṇa and other rulers of various planets, along with their associates.

 

8.10.27

te 'nyonyam abhisaḿsṛtya

kṣipanto marmabhir mithaḥ

āhvayanto viśanto 'gre

yuyudhur dvandva-yodhinaḥ

 

te — all of them (the demigods and the demons); anyonyam — one another; abhisaḿsṛtya — having come forward face to face; kṣipantaḥ — chastising one another; marmabhiḥ mithaḥ — with much pain to the cores of the hearts of one another; āhvayantaḥ — addressing one another; viśantaḥ — having entered the battlefield; agre — in front; yuyudhuḥ — fought; dvandva-yodhinaḥ — two combatants chose each other.

 

TRANSLATION

 

The demigods and demons came before each other and reproached one another with words piercing to the heart. Then they drew near and began fighting face to face in pairs.

 

8.10.28

yuyodha balir indreṇa

tārakeṇa guho 'syata

varuṇo hetināyudhyan

mitro rājan prahetinā

 

yuyodha — fought; baliḥ — Mahārāja Bali; indreṇa — with King Indra; tārakeṇa — with Tāraka; guhaḥ — Kārttikeya; asyata — engaged in fighting; varuṇaḥ — the demigod Varuṇa; hetinā — with Heti; ayudhyat — fought one another; mitraḥ — the demigod Mitra; rājan — O King; prahetinā — with Praheti.

 

TRANSLATION

 

O King, Mahārāja Bali fought with Indra, Kārttikeya with Tāraka, Varuṇa with Heti, and Mitra with Praheti.

 

8.10.29

yamas tu kālanābhena

viśvakarmā mayena vai

śambaro yuyudhe tvaṣṭrā

savitrā tu virocanaḥ

 

yamaḥ — Yamarāja; tu — indeed; kālanābhena — with Kālanābha; viśvakarmā — Viśvakarmā; mayena — with Maya; vai — indeed; śambaraḥ — Śambara; yuyudhe — fought; tvaṣṭrā — with Tvaṣṭā; savitrā — with the sun-god; tu — indeed; virocanaḥ — the demon Virocana.

 

TRANSLATION

 

Yamarāja fought with Kālanābha, Viśvakarmā with Maya Dānava, Tvaṣṭā with Śambara, and the sun-god with Virocana.

 

8.10.30-31

aparājitena namucir

aśvinau vṛṣaparvaṇā

sūryo bali-sutair devo

bāṇa-jyeṣṭhaiḥ śatena ca

 

rāhuṇā ca tathā somaḥ

pulomnā yuyudhe 'nilaḥ

niśumbha-śumbhayor devī

bhadrakālī tarasvinī

 

aparājitena — with the demigod Aparājita; namuciḥ — the demon Namuci; aśvinau — the Aśvinī brothers; vṛṣaparvaṇā — with the demon Vṛṣaparvā; sūryaḥ — the sun-god; bali-sutaiḥ — with the sons of Bali; devaḥ — the god; bāṇa-jyeṣṭhaiḥ — the chief of whom is Bāṇa; śatena — numbering one hundred; ca — and;

 

rāhuṇā — by Rāhu; ca — also; tathā — as well as; somaḥ — the moon-god; pulomnā — Puloma; yuyudhe — fought; anilaḥ — the demigod Anila, who controls air; niśumbha — the demon Niśumbha; śumbhayoḥ — with Śumbha; devī — the goddess Durgā; bhadrakālī — Bhadra Kālī; tarasvinī — extremely powerful.

 

TRANSLATION

 

The demigod Aparājita fought with Namuci, and the two Aśvinī-kumāra brothers fought with Vṛṣaparvā. The sun-god fought with the one hundred sons of Mahārāja Bali, headed by Bāṇa, and the moon-god fought with Rāhu. The demigod controlling air fought with Puloma, and Śumbha and Niśumbha fought the supremely powerful material energy, Durgādevī, who is called Bhadra Kālī.

 

8.10.32-34

vṛṣākapis tu jambhena

mahiṣeṇa vibhāvasuḥ

ilvalaḥ saha vātāpir

brahma-putrair arindama

 

kāmadevena durmarṣa

utkalo mātṛbhiḥ saha

bṛhaspatiś cośanasā

narakeṇa śanaiścaraḥ

 

maruto nivātakavacaiḥ

kāleyair vasavo 'marāḥ

viśvedevās tu paulomai

rudrāḥ krodhavaśaiḥ saha

 

vṛṣākapiḥ — Lord Śiva; tu — indeed; jambhena — with Jambha; mahiṣeṇa — with Mahiṣāsura; vibhāvasuḥ — the fire-god; ilvalaḥ — the demon Ilvala; saha vātāpiḥ — with his brother, Vātāpi; brahma-putraiḥ — with the sons of Brahmā, such as Vasiṣṭha; arim-dama — O Mahārāja Parīkṣit, suppressor of enemies;

 

kāmadevena — with Kāmadeva; durmarṣaḥ — Durmarṣa; utkalaḥ — the demon Utkala; mātṛbhiḥ saha — with the demigoddesses known as the Mātṛkās; bṛhaspatiḥ — the demigod Bṛhaspati; ca — and; uśanasā — with Śukrācārya; narakeṇa — with the demon known as Naraka; śanaiścaraḥ — the demigod Śani, or Saturn;

 

marutaḥ — the demigods of air; nivātakavacaiḥ — with the demon Nivātakavaca; kāleyaiḥ — with the Kālakeyas; vasavaḥ amarāḥ — the Vasus fought; viśvedevāḥ — the Viśvedeva demigods; tu — indeed; paulomaiḥ — with the Paulomas; rudrāḥ — the eleven Rudras; krodhavaśaiḥ saha — with the Krodhavaśa demons.

 

TRANSLATION

 

O Mahārāja Parīkṣit, suppressor of enemies [Arindama], Lord Śiva fought with Jambha, and Vibhāvasu fought with Mahiṣāsura. Ilvala, along with his brother Vātāpi, fought the sons of Lord Brahmā. Durmarṣa fought with Cupid, the demon Utkala with the Mātṛkā demigoddesses, Bṛhaspati with Śukrācārya, and Śanaiścara [Saturn] with Narakāsura. The Maruts fought Nivātakavaca, the Vasus fought the Kālakeya demons, the Viśvedeva demigods fought the Pauloma demons, and the Rudras fought the Krodhavaśa demons, who were victims of anger.

 

8.10.35

ta evam ājāv asurāḥ surendrā

dvandvena saḿhatya ca yudhyamānāḥ

anyonyam āsādya nijaghnur ojasā

jigīṣavas tīkṣṇa-śarāsi-tomaraiḥ

 

te — all of them; evam — in this way; ājau — on the battlefield; asurāḥ — the demons; sura-indrāḥ — and the demigods; dvandvena — two by two; saḿhatya — mixing together; ca — and; yudhyamānāḥ — engaged in fighting; anyonyam — with one another; āsādya — approaching; nijaghnuḥ — slashed with weapons and killed; ojasā — with great strength; jigīṣavaḥ — everyone desiring victory; tīkṣṇa — sharp; śara — with arrows; asi — with swords; tomaraiḥ — with lances.

 

TRANSLATION

 

All of these demigods and demons assembled on the battlefield with a fighting spirit and attacked one another with great strength. All of them desiring victory, they fought in pairs, hitting one another severely with sharpened arrows, swords and lances.

 

8.10.36

bhuśuṇḍibhiś cakra-gadarṣṭi-paṭṭiśaiḥ

śakty-ulmukaiḥ prāsa-paraśvadhair api

nistriḿśa-bhallaiḥ parighaiḥ samudgaraiḥ

sabhindipālaiś ca śirāḿsi cicchiduḥ

 

bhuśuṇḍibhiḥ — with weapons called bhuśuṇḍi; cakra — with discs; gadā — with clubs; ṛṣṭi — with the weapons called ṛṣṭi; paṭṭiśaiḥ — with the weapons called paṭṭiśa; śakti — with the śakti weapons; ulmukaiḥ — with the weapons called ulmukas; prāsa — with the prāsa weapons; paraśvadhaiḥ — with the weapons called paraśvadha; api — also; nistriḿśa — with nistriḿśas; bhallaiḥ — with lances; parighaiḥ — with the weapons named parighas; sa-mudgaraiḥ — with the weapons known as mudgara; sa-bhindipālaiḥ — with the bhindipāla weapons; ca — also; śirāḿsi — heads; cicchiduḥ — cut off.

 

TRANSLATION

 

They severed one another's heads, using weapons like bhuśuṇḍis, cakras, clubs, ṛṣṭis, paṭṭiśas, śaktis, ulmukas, prāsas, paraśvadhas, nistriḿśas, lances, parighas, mudgaras and bhindipālas.

 

8.10.37

gajās turańgāḥ sarathāḥ padātayaḥ

sāroha-vāhā vividhā vikhaṇḍitāḥ

nikṛtta-bāhūru-śirodharāńghrayaś

chinna-dhvajeṣvāsa-tanutra-bhūṣaṇāḥ

 

gajāḥ — elephants; turańgāḥ — horses; sa-rathāḥ — with chariots; padātayaḥ — infantry soldiers; sāroha-vāhāḥ — carriers with the riders; vividhāḥ — varieties; vikhaṇḍitāḥ — cut to pieces; nikṛtta-bāhu — cut off arms; ūru — thighs; śirodhara — necks; ańghrayaḥ — legs; chinna — cut up; dhvaja — flags; iṣvāsa — bows; tanutra — armor; bhūṣaṇāḥ — ornaments.

 

TRANSLATION

 

The elephants, horses, chariots, charioteers, infantry soldiers and various kinds of carriers, along with their riders, were slashed to pieces. The arms, thighs, necks and legs of the soldiers were severed, and their flags, bows, armor and ornaments were torn apart.

 

8.10.38

teṣāḿ padāghāta-rathāńga-cūrṇitād

āyodhanād ulbaṇa utthitas tadā

reṇur diśaḥ khaḿ dyumaṇiḿ ca chādayan

nyavartatāsṛk-srutibhiḥ pariplutāt

 

teṣām — of all the people engaged on the battlefield; padāghāta — because of beating on the ground by the legs of the demons and demigods; ratha-ańga — and by the wheels of the chariots; cūrṇitāt — which was made into pieces of dust; āyodhanāt — from the battlefield; ulbaṇaḥ — very forceful; utthitaḥ — rising; tadā — at that time; reṇuḥ — the dust particles; diśaḥ — all directions; kham — outer space; dyumaṇim — up to the sun; ca — also; chādayan — covering all of space up to that; nyavartata — dropped floating in the air; asṛk — of blood; srutibhiḥ — by particles; pariplutāt — because of being widely sprinkled.

 

TRANSLATION

 

Because of the impact on the ground of the legs of the demons and demigods and the wheels of the chariots, particles of dust flew violently into the sky and made a dust cloud that covered all directions of outer space, as far as the sun. But when the particles of dust were followed by drops of blood being sprinkled all over space, the dust cloud could no longer float in the sky.

 

8.10.39

śirobhir uddhūta-kirīṭa-kuṇḍalaiḥ

saḿrambha-dṛgbhiḥ paridaṣṭa-dacchadaiḥ

mahā-bhujaiḥ sābharaṇaiḥ sahāyudhaiḥ

sā prāstṛtā bhūḥ karabhorubhir babhau

 

śirobhiḥ — by the heads; uddhūta — separated, scattered from; kirīṭa — having their helmets; kuṇḍalaiḥ — and earrings; saḿrambha-dṛgbhiḥ — eyes staring in anger (although the heads were severed from their bodies); paridaṣṭa — having been bitten by the teeth; dacchadaiḥ — the lips; mahā-bhujaiḥ — with big arms; sa-ābharaṇaiḥ — decorated with ornaments; saha-āyudhaiḥ — and with weapons in their hands, although the hands were severed; sā — that battlefield; prāstṛtā — scattered; bhūḥ — the warfield; karabha-ūrubhiḥ — and with thighs and legs resembling the trunks of elephants; babhau — it so became.

 

TRANSLATION

 

In the course of the battle, the warfield became strewn with the severed heads of heroes, their eyes still staring and their teeth still pressed against their lips in anger. Helmets and earrings were scattered from these severed heads. Similarly, many arms, decorated with ornaments and clutching various weapons, were strewn here and there, as were many legs and thighs, which resembled the trunks of elephants.

 

8.10.40

kabandhās tatra cotpetuḥ

patita-sva-śiro-'kṣibhiḥ

udyatāyudha-dordaṇḍair

ādhāvanto bhaṭān mṛdhe

 

kabandhāḥ — trunks (bodies without heads); tatra — there (on the battlefield); ca — also; utpetuḥ — generated; patita — fallen; sva-śiraḥ-akṣibhiḥ — by the eyes in one's head; udyata — raised; āyudha — equipped with weapons; dordaṇḍaiḥ — the arms of whom; ādhāvantaḥ — rushing toward; bhaṭān — the soldiers; mṛdhe — on the battlefield.

 

TRANSLATION

 

Many headless trunks were generated on that battlefield. With weapons in their arms, those ghostly trunks, which could see with the eyes in the fallen heads, attacked the enemy soldiers.

 

8.10.41

balir mahendraḿ daśabhis

tribhir airāvataḿ śaraiḥ

caturbhiś caturo vāhān

ekenāroham ārcchayat

 

baliḥ — Mahārāja Bali; mahā-indram — the King of heaven; daśabhiḥ — with ten; tribhiḥ — with three; airāvatam — Airāvata, carrying Indra; śaraiḥ — by arrows; caturbhiḥ — by four arrows; caturaḥ — the four; vāhān — mounted soldiers; ekena — by one; āroham — the driver of the elephants; ārcchayat — attacked.

 

TRANSLATION

 

Mahārāja Bali then attacked Indra with ten arrows and attacked Airāvata, Indra's carrier elephant, with three arrows. With four arrows he attacked the four horsemen guarding Airāvata's legs, and with one arrow he attacked the driver of the elephant.

 

8.10.42

sa tān āpatataḥ śakras

tāvadbhiḥ śīghra-vikramaḥ

ciccheda niśitair bhallair

asamprāptān hasann iva

 

saḥ — he (Indra); tān — arrows; āpatataḥ — while moving toward him and falling down; śakraḥ — Indra; tāvadbhiḥ — immediately; śīghra-vikramaḥ — was practiced to oppress very soon; ciccheda — cut to pieces; niśitaiḥ — very sharp; bhallaiḥ — with another type of arrow; asamprāptān — the enemy's arrows not being received; hasan iva — as if smiling.

 

TRANSLATION

 

Before Bali Mahārāja's arrows could reach him, Indra, King of heaven, who is expert in dealing with arrows, smiled and counteracted the arrows with arrows of another type, known as bhalla, which were extremely sharp.

 

8.10.43

tasya karmottamaḿ vīkṣya

durmarṣaḥ śaktim ādade

tāḿ jvalantīḿ maholkābhāḿ

hasta-sthām acchinad dhariḥ

 

tasya — of King Indra; karma-uttamam — the very expert service in military art; vīkṣya — after observing; durmarṣaḥ — being in a very angry mood; śaktim — the śakti weapon; ādade — took up; tām — that weapon; jvalantīm — blazing fire; mahā-ulkā-ābhām — appearing like a great firebrand; hasta-sthām — while still in the hand of Bali; acchinat — cut to pieces; hariḥ — Indra.

 

TRANSLATION

 

When Bali Mahārāja saw the expert military activities of Indra, he could not restrain his anger. Thus he took up another weapon, known as śakti, which blazed like a great firebrand. But Indra cut that weapon to pieces while it was still in Bali's hand.

 

8.10.44

tataḥ śūlaḿ tataḥ prāsaḿ

tatas tomaram ṛṣṭayaḥ

yad yac chastraḿ samādadyāt

sarvaḿ tad acchinad vibhuḥ

 

tataḥ — thereafter; śūlam — lance; tataḥ — thereafter; prāsam — the prāsa weapon; tataḥ — thereafter; tomaram — the tomara weapon; ṛṣṭayaḥ — the ṛṣṭi weapons; yat yat — whatever and whichever; śastram — weapon; samādadyāt — Bali Mahārāja tried to use; sarvam — all of them; tat — those same weapons; acchinat — cut to pieces; vibhuḥ — the great Indra.

 

TRANSLATION

 

Thereafter, one by one, Bali Mahārāja used a lance, prāsa, tomara, ṛṣṭis and other weapons, but whatever weapons he took up, Indra immediately cut them to pieces.

 

8.10.45

sasarjāthāsurīḿ māyām

antardhāna-gato 'suraḥ

tataḥ prādurabhūc chailaḥ

surānīkopari prabho

 

sasarja — released; atha — now; āsurīm — demoniac; māyām — illusion; antardhāna — out of vision; gataḥ — having gone; asuraḥ — Bali Mahārāja; tataḥ — thereafter; prādurabhūt — there appeared; śailaḥ — a big mountain; sura-anīka-upari — above the heads of the soldiers of the demigods; prabho — O my lord.

 

TRANSLATION

 

My dear King, Bali Mahārāja then disappeared and resorted to demoniac illusions. A giant mountain, generated from illusion, then appeared above the heads of the demigod soldiers.

 

8.10.46

tato nipetus taravo

dahyamānā davāgninā

śilāḥ saṭańka-śikharāś

cūrṇayantyo dviṣad-balam

 

tataḥ — from that great mountain; nipetuḥ — began to fall; taravaḥ — large trees; dahyamānāḥ — blazing in fire; dava-agninā — by the forest fire; śilāḥ — and stones; sa-ṭańka-śikharāḥ — having edges with points as sharp as stone picks; cūrṇayantyaḥ — smashing; dviṣat-balam — the strength of the enemies.

 

TRANSLATION

 

From that mountain fell trees blazing in a forest fire. Chips of stone, with sharp edges like picks, also fell and smashed the heads of the demigod soldiers.

 

8.10.47

mahoragāḥ samutpetur

dandaśūkāḥ savṛścikāḥ

siḿha-vyāghra-varāhāś ca

mardayanto mahā-gajāḥ

 

mahā-uragāḥ — big serpents; samutpetuḥ — fell upon them; dandaśūkāḥ — other poisonous animals and insects; sa-vṛścikāḥ — with scorpions; siḿha — lions; vyāghra — tigers; varāhāḥ ca — and forest boars; mardayantaḥ — smashing; mahā-gajāḥ — great elephants.

 

TRANSLATION

 

Scorpions, large snakes and many other poisonous animals, as well as lions, tigers, boars and great elephants, all began falling upon the demigod soldiers, crushing everything.

 

8.10.48

yātudhānyaś ca śataśaḥ

śūla-hastā vivāsasaḥ

chindhi bhindhīti vādinyas

tathā rakṣo-gaṇāḥ prabho

 

yātudhānyaḥ — carnivorous female demons; ca — and; śataśaḥ — hundreds upon hundreds; śūla-hastāḥ — every one of them with a trident in hand; vivāsasaḥ — completely naked; chindhi — cut to pieces; bhindhi — pierce; iti — thus; vādinyaḥ — talking; tathā — in that way; rakṣaḥ-gaṇāḥ — a band of Rākṣasas (a type of demon); prabho — O my King.

 

TRANSLATION

 

O my King, many hundreds of male and female carnivorous demons, completely naked and carrying tridents in their hands, then appeared, crying the slogans "Cut them to pieces! Pierce them!"

 

8.10.49

tato mahā-ghanā vyomni

gambhīra-paruṣa-svanāḥ

ańgārān mumucur vātair

āhatāḥ stanayitnavaḥ

 

tataḥ — thereafter; mahā-ghanāḥ — big clouds; vyomni — in the sky; gambhīra-paruṣa-svanāḥ — making very deep rumbling sounds; ańgārān — embers; mumucuḥ — released; vātaiḥ — by the strong winds; āhatāḥ — harassed; stanayitnavaḥ — with the sound of thunder.

 

TRANSLATION

 

Fierce clouds, harassed by strong winds, then appeared in the sky. Rumbling very gravely with the sound of thunder, they began to shower live coals.

 

8.10.50

sṛṣṭo daityena sumahān

vahniḥ śvasana-sārathiḥ

sāḿvartaka ivātyugro

vibudha-dhvajinīm adhāk

 

sṛṣṭaḥ — created; daityena — by the demon (Bali Mahārāja); su-mahān — very great, devastating; vahniḥ — a fire; śvasana-sārathiḥ — being carried by the blasting wind; sāḿvartakaḥ — the fire named Sāḿvartaka, which appears during the time of dissolution; iva — just like; ati — very much; ugraḥ — terrible; vibudha — of the demigods; dhvajinīm — the soldiers; adhāk — burned to ashes.

 

TRANSLATION

 

A great devastating fire created by Bali Mahārāja began burning all the soldiers of the demigods. This fire, accompanied by blasting winds, seemed as terrible as the Sāḿvartaka fire, which appears at the time of dissolution.

 

8.10.51

tataḥ samudra udvelaḥ

sarvataḥ pratyadṛśyata

pracaṇḍa-vātair uddhūta-

tarańgāvarta-bhīṣaṇaḥ

 

tataḥ — thereafter; samudraḥ — the sea; udvelaḥ — being agitated; sarvataḥ — everywhere; pratyadṛśyata — appeared before everyone's vision; pracaṇḍa — fierce; vātaiḥ — by the winds; uddhūta — agitated; tarańga — of the waves; āvarta — whirling water; bhīṣaṇaḥ — ferocious.

 

TRANSLATION

 

Thereafter, whirlpools and sea waves, agitated by fierce blasts of wind, appeared everywhere, before everyone's vision, in a furious flood.

 

8.10.52

evaḿ daityair mahā-māyair

alakṣya-gatibhī raṇe

sṛjyamānāsu māyāsu

viṣeduḥ sura-sainikāḥ

 

evam — thus; daityaiḥ — by the demons; mahā-māyaiḥ — who were expert in creating illusions; alakṣya-gatibhiḥ — but invisible; raṇe — in the fight; sṛjyamānāsu māyāsu — because of the creation of such an illusory atmosphere; viṣeduḥ — became morose; sura-sainikāḥ — the soldiers of the demigods.

 

TRANSLATION

 

While this magical atmosphere in the fight was being created by the invisible demons, who were expert in such illusions, the soldiers of the demigods became morose.

 

8.10.53

na tat-pratividhiḿ yatra

vidur indrādayo nṛpa

dhyātaḥ prādurabhūt tatra

bhagavān viśva-bhāvanaḥ

 

na — not; tat-pratividhim — the counteraction of such an illusory atmosphere; yatra — wherein; viduḥ — could understand; indra-ādayaḥ — the demigods, headed by Indra; nṛpa — O King; dhyātaḥ — being meditated upon; prādurabhūt — appeared there; tatra — in that place; bhagavān — the Supreme Personality of Godhead; viśva-bhāvanaḥ — the creator of the universe.