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Fifth Skandha · Chapter 5

Chapter 5

Unit 92 of 318Fifth Skandha · Chapter 5Fifth Skandha · Chapter 51 source entries

Fifth Skandha · Chapter 5

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व्यास उवाच इति श्रुत्वा सहस्राक्षः पुनराह बृहस्पतिम् । युद्धोद्योगं करिष्यामि हयारेर्नाशनाय वै ॥ १ ॥ नोद्यमेन विना राज्यं न सुखं न च वै यशः । निरुद्यमं न शंसन्ति कातरा न च सोद्यमाः ॥ २ ॥ यतीनां भूषणं ज्ञानं सन्तोषो हि द्विजन्मनाम् । उद्यमः शत्रुहननं भूषणं भूतिमिच्छताम् ॥ ३ ॥ उद्यमेन हतस्त्वाष्ट्रो नमुचिर्बल एव च । तथैनं निहनिष्यामि महिषं मुनिसत्तम ॥ ४ ॥ बलं देवगुरुस्त्वं मे वज्रमायुधमुत्तमम् । सहायस्तु हरिर्नूनं तथोमापतिरव्ययः ॥ ५ ॥ रक्षोघ्नान्पठ मे साधो करोम्यद्य समुद्यमम् । स्वसैन्याभिनिवेशञ्च महिषं प्रति मानद ॥ ६ ॥ व्यास उवाच इत्युक्तो देवराजेन वाचस्पतिरुवाच ह । सुरेन्द्रं युद्धसंरक्तं स्मितपूर्वं वचस्तदा ॥ ७ ॥ बृहस्पतिरुवाच प्रेरयामि न चाहं त्वां न च निर्वारयाम्यहम् । सन्दिग्धेऽत्र जये कामं युध्यतश्च पराजये ॥ ८ ॥ न तेऽत्र दूषणं किञ्चिद्‌भवितव्ये शचीपते । सुखं वा यदि वा दुःखं विहितं च भविष्यति ॥ ९ ॥ न मया तत्परिज्ञातं भावि दुःखं सुखं तथा । यद्‌भार्याहरणे प्राप्तं पुरा वासव वेत्सि हि ॥ १० ॥ शशिना मे हृता भार्या मित्रेणामित्रकर्शन । स्वाश्रमस्थेन सम्प्राप्तं दुःखं सर्वसुखापहम् ॥ ११ ॥ बुद्धिमान्सर्वलोकेषु विदितोऽहं सुराधिप । क्व मे गता तदा वुद्धिर्यदा भार्या हृता बलात् ॥ १२ ॥ तस्मादुपायः कर्तव्यो बुद्धिमद्‌भिः सदा नरैः । कार्यसिद्धिः सदा नूनं दैवाधीना सुराधिप ॥ १३ ॥ व्यास उवाच तच्छ्रुत्वा वचनं सत्यं गुरोः सार्थं शचीपतिः । ब्रह्माणं शरणं गत्वा नत्वा वचनमब्रवीत् ॥ १४ ॥ पितामह सुराध्यक्ष दैत्यो महिषसंज्ञकः । ग्रहीतुकामः स्वर्गं मे बलोद्योगं करोत्यलम् ॥ १५ ॥ अन्ये च दानवाः सर्वे तत्सैन्यं समुपस्थिताः । योद्धुकामा महावीर्याः सर्वे युद्धविशारदाः ॥ १६ ॥ तेनाहं भीतभीतोऽस्मि त्वत्सकाशमिहागतः । सर्वज्ञोऽसि महाप्राज्ञ साहाय्यं कर्तुमर्हसि ॥ १७ ॥ ब्रह्मोवाच गच्छामः सर्व एवाद्य कैलासं त्वरिता वयम् । शङ्करं पुरतः कृत्वा विष्णुं च बलिनां वरम् ॥ १८ ॥ ततो युद्धं प्रकर्तव्यं सर्वैः सुरगणैः सह । मिलित्वा मन्त्रमाधाय देशं कालं विचिन्त्य च ॥ १९ ॥ बलाबलमविज्ञाय विवेकमपहाय च । साहसं तु प्रकुर्वाणो नरः पतनमृच्छति ॥ २० ॥ व्यास उवाच तन्निशम्य सहस्राक्षः कैलासं निर्जगाम ह । ब्रह्माणं पुरतः कृत्वा लोकपालसमन्वितः ॥ २१ ॥ तुष्टाव शङ्करं गत्वा वेदमन्त्रैर्महेश्वरम् । प्रसन्नं पुरतः कृत्वा ययौ विष्णुपुरं प्रति ॥ २२ ॥ स्तुत्वा तं देवदेवेशं कार्यं प्रोवाच चात्मनः । महिषात्तद्‌भयं चोग्रं वरदानमदोद्धतात् ॥ २३ ॥ तदाकर्ण्य भयं तस्य विष्णुर्देवानुवाच ह । करिष्यामो वयं युद्धं हनिष्यामस्तु दुर्जयम् ॥ २४ ॥ व्यास उवाच इति ते निश्चयं कृत्वा ब्रह्मविष्णुहरीश्वराः । स्वानि स्वानि समारुह्य वाहनानि ययुः सुराः ॥ २५ ॥ ब्रह्मा हंससमारूढो विष्णर्गरुडवाहनः । शङ्करो वृषभारूढो वृत्रहा गजसंस्थितः ॥ २६ ॥ मयूरवाहनः स्कन्दो यमो महिषवाहनः । कृत्वा सैन्यसमायोगं यावत्ते निर्ययुः सुराः ॥ २७ ॥ तावद्दैत्यबलं प्राप्तं दृप्तं महिषपालितम् । तत्राभूत्तुमुलं युद्धं देवदानवसैन्ययोः ॥ २८ ॥ बाणैः खड्गैस्तथा प्रासैर्मुसलैश्च परश्वधैः । गदाभिः पट्टिशैः शूलैश्चक्रैश्च शक्तितोमरैः ॥ २९ ॥ मुद्‌गरैर्भिन्दिपालैश्च हलैश्चैवातिदारुणैः । अन्यैश्च विविधैरस्त्रैर्निजघ्नुस्ते परस्परम् ॥ ३० ॥ सेनानीश्चिक्षुरस्तस्य गजारूढो महाबलः । मघवन्तं पञ्चभिस्तैः सायकैः समताडयत् ॥ ३१ ॥ तुराषाडपि तांश्छित्त्वा बाणैर्बाणांस्त्वरान्वितः । हृदये चार्धचन्द्रेण ताडयामास तं कृती ॥ ३२ ॥ बाणाहतस्तु सेनानीः प्राप मूर्च्छां गजोपरि । करिणं वज्रघातेन स जघान करे ततः ॥ ३३ ॥ तद्वज्राभिहतो नागो भग्नः सैन्यं जगाम ह । दृष्ट्वा तं दैत्यराट् कुद्धो बिडालाख्यमथाब्रवीत् ॥ ३४ ॥ गच्छ वीर महाबाहो जहीन्द्रं मदगर्वितम् । वरुणादीन्परान्देवान्हत्वाऽऽगच्छ ममान्तिकम् ॥ ३५ ॥ व्यास उवाच तच्छ्रुत्वा वचनं तस्य बिडालाख्यो महाबलः । आरुह्य वारणं मत्तं जगाम त्रिदशाधिपम् ॥ ३६ ॥ वासवस्तं समायान्तं दृष्ट्वा क्रोधसमन्वितः । जघान विशिखैस्तीक्षौराशीविषसमप्रभैः ॥ ३७ ॥ स तु छित्त्वा शरांस्तूर्णं स्वशरैश्चापनिःसृतैः । पञ्चाशद्‌भिर्जघानाशु वासवञ्च शिलीमुखैः ॥ ३८ ॥ तथेन्द्रोऽपि च तान्बाणांश्छित्त्वा कोपसमन्वितः । जघान विशिखैस्तीक्ष्णैराशीविषसमप्रभैः ॥ ३९ ॥ स तु छित्त्वा शरांस्तूर्णं स्वशरैश्चापनिःसृतैः । गदया ताडयामास गजं तस्य करोपरि ॥ ४० ॥ स्वकरे निहतो नागश्चकारार्तस्वरं मुहुः । परिवृत्य जघानाशु दैत्यसैन्यं भयातुरम् ॥ ४१ ॥ दानवस्तु गजं वीक्ष्य परावृत्य गतं रणात् । समाविश्य रथे रम्ये जगामाशु सुरान् रणे ॥ ४२ ॥ तुराषाडपि तं वीक्ष्य रथस्थं पुनरागतम् । अहनद्विशिखैस्तीक्ष्णैराशीविषसमप्रभैः ॥ ४३ ॥ सोऽपि क्रुद्धश्चकारोग्रां बाणवृष्टिं महाबलः । बभूव तुमुलं युद्धं तयोस्तत्र जयैषिणोः ॥ ४४ ॥ इन्द्रस्तु बलिनं दृष्ट्वा कोपेनाकुलितेन्द्रियः । जयन्तमग्रतः कृत्वा युयुधे तेन संयुतः ॥ ४५ ॥ जयन्तस्तु शितैर्बाणैस्तं जघान स्तनान्तरे । पञ्चभिः प्रबलाकृष्टैरसुरं मदगर्वितम् ॥ ४६ ॥ स बाणाभिहतस्तावन्निपपात रथोपरि । अतिवाह्य रथं सूतो निर्जगाम रणाजिरात् ॥ ४७ ॥ तस्मिन्विनिर्गते दैत्ये बिडालाख्येऽथ मूर्च्छिते । जयशब्दो महानासीदुन्दुभीनां च निःस्वनः ॥ ४८ ॥ सुराः प्रमुदिताः सर्वे तुष्टुवुस्तं शचीपतिम् । जगुर्गन्धर्वपतयो ननृतुश्चाप्सरोगणाः ॥ ४९ ॥ चुकोप महिषः श्रुत्वा जयशब्दं सुरैः कृतम् । प्रेषयामास तत्रैव ताम्रं परमदापहम् ॥ ५० ॥ ताम्रस्तु बहुभिः सार्धं समागम्य रणाजिरे । शरवृष्टिं चकाराशु तडित्वानिव सागरे ॥ ५१ ॥ वरुणः पाशमुद्यम्य जगाम त्वरितस्तदा । यमश्च महिषारूढो दण्डमादाय निर्ययौ ॥ ५२ ॥ तत्र युद्धमभूद्‌ घोरं देवदानवयोर्मिथः । बाणैः खड्गैश्च मुसलैः शक्तिभिश्च परश्वधैः ॥ ५३ ॥ दण्डेन निहतस्ताम्रो यमहस्तोद्यतेन च । न चचाल महाबाहुः संग्रामाङ्गणतस्तदा ॥ ५४ ॥ चापमाकृष्य वेगेन मुक्त्वा तीव्राञ्छिलीमुखान्। इन्द्रादीनहनत्तूर्णं ताम्रस्तस्मिन् रणाजिरे ॥ ५५ ॥ तेऽपि देवाः शरैर्दिव्यैर्निशितैश्च शिलाशितैः । निजघ्नुर्दानवान्क्रुद्धास्तिष्ठ तिष्ठेति चुकुशुः ॥ ५६ ॥ निहतस्तैः सुरैर्दैत्यो मूर्च्छामाप रणाङ्गणे । हाहाकारो महानासीद्दैत्यसैन्ये भयातुरे ॥ ५७ ॥

vyāsa uvāca iti śrutvā sahasrākṣaḥ punarāha bṛhaspatim | yuddhodyogaṃ kariṣyāmi hayārernāśanāya vai || 1 || nodyamena vinā rājyaṃ na sukhaṃ na ca vai yaśaḥ | nirudyamaṃ na śaṃsanti kātarā na ca sodyamāḥ || 2 || yatīnāṃ bhūṣaṇaṃ jñānaṃ santoṣo hi dvijanmanām | udyamaḥ śatruhananaṃ bhūṣaṇaṃ bhūtimicchatām || 3 || udyamena hatastvāṣṭro namucirbala eva ca | tathainaṃ nihaniṣyāmi mahiṣaṃ munisattama || 4 || balaṃ devagurustvaṃ me vajramāyudhamuttamam | sahāyastu harirnūnaṃ tathomāpatiravyayaḥ || 5 || rakṣoghnānpaṭha me sādho karomyadya samudyamam | svasainyābhiniveśañca mahiṣaṃ prati mānada || 6 || vyāsa uvāca ityukto devarājena vācaspatiruvāca ha | surendraṃ yuddhasaṃraktaṃ smitapūrvaṃ vacastadā || 7 || bṛhaspatiruvāca prerayāmi na cāhaṃ tvāṃ na ca nirvārayāmyaham | sandigdhe'tra jaye kāmaṃ yudhyataśca parājaye || 8 || na te'tra dūṣaṇaṃ kiñcid‌bhavitavye śacīpate | sukhaṃ vā yadi vā duḥkhaṃ vihitaṃ ca bhaviṣyati || 9 || na mayā tatparijñātaṃ bhāvi duḥkhaṃ sukhaṃ tathā | yad‌bhāryāharaṇe prāptaṃ purā vāsava vetsi hi || 10 || śaśinā me hṛtā bhāryā mitreṇāmitrakarśana | svāśramasthena samprāptaṃ duḥkhaṃ sarvasukhāpaham || 11 || buddhimānsarvalokeṣu vidito'haṃ surādhipa | kva me gatā tadā vuddhiryadā bhāryā hṛtā balāt || 12 || tasmādupāyaḥ kartavyo buddhimad‌bhiḥ sadā naraiḥ | kāryasiddhiḥ sadā nūnaṃ daivādhīnā surādhipa || 13 || vyāsa uvāca tacchrutvā vacanaṃ satyaṃ guroḥ sārthaṃ śacīpatiḥ | brahmāṇaṃ śaraṇaṃ gatvā natvā vacanamabravīt || 14 || pitāmaha surādhyakṣa daityo mahiṣasaṃjñakaḥ | grahītukāmaḥ svargaṃ me balodyogaṃ karotyalam || 15 || anye ca dānavāḥ sarve tatsainyaṃ samupasthitāḥ | yoddhukāmā mahāvīryāḥ sarve yuddhaviśāradāḥ || 16 || tenāhaṃ bhītabhīto'smi tvatsakāśamihāgataḥ | sarvajño'si mahāprājña sāhāyyaṃ kartumarhasi || 17 || brahmovāca gacchāmaḥ sarva evādya kailāsaṃ tvaritā vayam | śaṅkaraṃ purataḥ kṛtvā viṣṇuṃ ca balināṃ varam || 18 || tato yuddhaṃ prakartavyaṃ sarvaiḥ suragaṇaiḥ saha | militvā mantramādhāya deśaṃ kālaṃ vicintya ca || 19 || balābalamavijñāya vivekamapahāya ca | sāhasaṃ tu prakurvāṇo naraḥ patanamṛcchati || 20 || vyāsa uvāca tanniśamya sahasrākṣaḥ kailāsaṃ nirjagāma ha | brahmāṇaṃ purataḥ kṛtvā lokapālasamanvitaḥ || 21 || tuṣṭāva śaṅkaraṃ gatvā vedamantrairmaheśvaram | prasannaṃ purataḥ kṛtvā yayau viṣṇupuraṃ prati || 22 || stutvā taṃ devadeveśaṃ kāryaṃ provāca cātmanaḥ | mahiṣāttad‌bhayaṃ cograṃ varadānamadoddhatāt || 23 || tadākarṇya bhayaṃ tasya viṣṇurdevānuvāca ha | kariṣyāmo vayaṃ yuddhaṃ haniṣyāmastu durjayam || 24 || vyāsa uvāca iti te niścayaṃ kṛtvā brahmaviṣṇuharīśvarāḥ | svāni svāni samāruhya vāhanāni yayuḥ surāḥ || 25 || brahmā haṃsasamārūḍho viṣṇargaruḍavāhanaḥ | śaṅkaro vṛṣabhārūḍho vṛtrahā gajasaṃsthitaḥ || 26 || mayūravāhanaḥ skando yamo mahiṣavāhanaḥ | kṛtvā sainyasamāyogaṃ yāvatte niryayuḥ surāḥ || 27 || tāvaddaityabalaṃ prāptaṃ dṛptaṃ mahiṣapālitam | tatrābhūttumulaṃ yuddhaṃ devadānavasainyayoḥ || 28 || bāṇaiḥ khaḍgaistathā prāsairmusalaiśca paraśvadhaiḥ | gadābhiḥ paṭṭiśaiḥ śūlaiścakraiśca śaktitomaraiḥ || 29 || mud‌garairbhindipālaiśca halaiścaivātidāruṇaiḥ | anyaiśca vividhairastrairnijaghnuste parasparam || 30 || senānīścikṣurastasya gajārūḍho mahābalaḥ | maghavantaṃ pañcabhistaiḥ sāyakaiḥ samatāḍayat || 31 || turāṣāḍapi tāṃśchittvā bāṇairbāṇāṃstvarānvitaḥ | hṛdaye cārdhacandreṇa tāḍayāmāsa taṃ kṛtī || 32 || bāṇāhatastu senānīḥ prāpa mūrcchāṃ gajopari | kariṇaṃ vajraghātena sa jaghāna kare tataḥ || 33 || tadvajrābhihato nāgo bhagnaḥ sainyaṃ jagāma ha | dṛṣṭvā taṃ daityarāṭ kuddho biḍālākhyamathābravīt || 34 || gaccha vīra mahābāho jahīndraṃ madagarvitam | varuṇādīnparāndevānhatvā''gaccha mamāntikam || 35 || vyāsa uvāca tacchrutvā vacanaṃ tasya biḍālākhyo mahābalaḥ | āruhya vāraṇaṃ mattaṃ jagāma tridaśādhipam || 36 || vāsavastaṃ samāyāntaṃ dṛṣṭvā krodhasamanvitaḥ | jaghāna viśikhaistīkṣaurāśīviṣasamaprabhaiḥ || 37 || sa tu chittvā śarāṃstūrṇaṃ svaśaraiścāpaniḥsṛtaiḥ | pañcāśad‌bhirjaghānāśu vāsavañca śilīmukhaiḥ || 38 || tathendro'pi ca tānbāṇāṃśchittvā kopasamanvitaḥ | jaghāna viśikhaistīkṣṇairāśīviṣasamaprabhaiḥ || 39 || sa tu chittvā śarāṃstūrṇaṃ svaśaraiścāpaniḥsṛtaiḥ | gadayā tāḍayāmāsa gajaṃ tasya karopari || 40 || svakare nihato nāgaścakārārtasvaraṃ muhuḥ | parivṛtya jaghānāśu daityasainyaṃ bhayāturam || 41 || dānavastu gajaṃ vīkṣya parāvṛtya gataṃ raṇāt | samāviśya rathe ramye jagāmāśu surān raṇe || 42 || turāṣāḍapi taṃ vīkṣya rathasthaṃ punarāgatam | ahanadviśikhaistīkṣṇairāśīviṣasamaprabhaiḥ || 43 || so'pi kruddhaścakārogrāṃ bāṇavṛṣṭiṃ mahābalaḥ | babhūva tumulaṃ yuddhaṃ tayostatra jayaiṣiṇoḥ || 44 || indrastu balinaṃ dṛṣṭvā kopenākulitendriyaḥ | jayantamagrataḥ kṛtvā yuyudhe tena saṃyutaḥ || 45 || jayantastu śitairbāṇaistaṃ jaghāna stanāntare | pañcabhiḥ prabalākṛṣṭairasuraṃ madagarvitam || 46 || sa bāṇābhihatastāvannipapāta rathopari | ativāhya rathaṃ sūto nirjagāma raṇājirāt || 47 || tasminvinirgate daitye biḍālākhye'tha mūrcchite | jayaśabdo mahānāsīdundubhīnāṃ ca niḥsvanaḥ || 48 || surāḥ pramuditāḥ sarve tuṣṭuvustaṃ śacīpatim | jagurgandharvapatayo nanṛtuścāpsarogaṇāḥ || 49 || cukopa mahiṣaḥ śrutvā jayaśabdaṃ suraiḥ kṛtam | preṣayāmāsa tatraiva tāmraṃ paramadāpaham || 50 || tāmrastu bahubhiḥ sārdhaṃ samāgamya raṇājire | śaravṛṣṭiṃ cakārāśu taḍitvāniva sāgare || 51 || varuṇaḥ pāśamudyamya jagāma tvaritastadā | yamaśca mahiṣārūḍho daṇḍamādāya niryayau || 52 || tatra yuddhamabhūd‌ ghoraṃ devadānavayormithaḥ | bāṇaiḥ khaḍgaiśca musalaiḥ śaktibhiśca paraśvadhaiḥ || 53 || daṇḍena nihatastāmro yamahastodyatena ca | na cacāla mahābāhuḥ saṃgrāmāṅgaṇatastadā || 54 || cāpamākṛṣya vegena muktvā tīvrāñchilīmukhān| indrādīnahanattūrṇaṃ tāmrastasmin raṇājire || 55 || te'pi devāḥ śarairdivyairniśitaiśca śilāśitaiḥ | nijaghnurdānavānkruddhāstiṣṭha tiṣṭheti cukuśuḥ || 56 || nihatastaiḥ surairdaityo mūrcchāmāpa raṇāṅgaṇe | hāhākāro mahānāsīddaityasainye bhayāture || 57 ||

English translation

1-6. Vyasa said The thousand eyed Indra, hearing this, again asked to Brihaspati that he would make preparations for war against Mahisasura. Without effort kingdoms are not attained; no - nor happiness, nor fame, nor anything; those who are weak, they extol effortlessness; but the powerful never praise that. Knowledge is the ornament of the ascetics and contentment is the ornament of the Brahmanas; but those who desire lordship over powers, effort and prowess to destroy one's enemies are their excellent ornaments. O Muni! I will kill this Mahisasura by my heroism as I had, of old, destroyed Vritra, Namuchi and Balasura. You are the Deva Guru; therefore you and my thunderbolt are my strength. The immortal Hah and Hara also will help me in this. O Guru! Preserver of my honour and prestige! Now recite the mantras calculated to remove all the obstacles towards my victory. I, too, am making preparations and raising up my own forces to wage up war against that Danava Mahisa.

7-13. Vyasa said On hearing Indra's words, Brihaspati smiled and said “O Lord of the Devas! I see you are bent on fight. I will neither stimulate you to fight nor shall I make you desist from the purpose. The issue is doubtful. There may be defeat or there may be victory.

O Lord of S'achi! You are not to blame at all in this matter; what is written in the Book of Fate will come to pass, be it victory or defeat. I am not aware of the future in this respect. O Child! You know already what an amount of suffering I had to endure in times gone by when my wife had been stolen. O Destroyer of the enemies! My wife had been stolen by Moon who turned out my enemy; living in my stage of an householder I was put to all sort of miseries, deprived of all my happiness. O Lord of the Suras! I am renowned in all the worlds as a man of much wisdom and intelligence. Where then was my

intelligence, when Moon carried away, perforce, nny wife. O Lord of the Suras! To my mind, the success or failure depends entirely on destiny; yet intelligent ones should always resort to efforts and be energetic.

14-17. Vyasa said O King! On hearing the words of Brihaspati, pregnant with truth, Indra went with him to Brahma, took his refuge and saluting him said O Grand Sire! The Danava is collecting a big army, and wants to conquer and take possession of the Heavens. All the other Danavas have enrolled themselves in the list of his army; they are eager to fight and they are all very powerful and skilled in arts of warfare. I am therefore very afraid and have come to you. You know everything; please help me in this matter.

18-20. Brahma said We all will go today to the Mount Kailas’a and take S'ankara with us and go to Visnu. There all the Devas, assembled, will hold a council and consider the time and place, when it will be settled whether it is proper or not to fight. For one who dares to do any act without considering one's strength and without any judgment, certainly courts his own downfall.

21-35. Vyasa said O King! Hearing this, Indra with the other Lokapalas and Devas, headed by Brahma, went to Kailas'a. Then they came to S'ankara and sang vedic hymns to him. Mahes'vara became very much pleased and they taking Him went to Vaikuntha, the abode of Visnu. Indra saluted Visnu and sang hymns to him, and told him about his errand thus “Mahisa has become very haughty on account of the favour bestowed on him and therefore we are very afraid (and therefore ask your help to relieve us from this danger).” Visnu, then, hearing the cause of fear, told them “We all will fight and kill that Demon.” Vyasa said:-0 king! Thus settling the question, Brahma, Visnu, and Hah and Indra and the other Devas

riding on their own Vahanas (means of conveyance) respectively dispersed. While Brahma on his vehicle Swan, Visnu on his Garuda, S'ankara on his Bull, Indra on his elephant Airavata, Kartika on his peacock, and Yama, the god of death on his Vahana, the Buffalo, were on the point of going with the other Deva forces, the army of the Danava Mahisa met them on their way, all fully equipped with arms and weapons. A dreadful fight then ensued between the Devas and the Danavas.

Arrows, axes, Prasas, Musalas (clubs), Paras'us (pick axes), Gadas (clubs), Pattis'as, S'ulas (tridents), chakras (discus) S'akti (weapons), Tomaras, Mudgaras, Bhindipalas, Langalas, and various other deadly weapons appeared on the scenes with which they fought against one another. The Commander-in-Chief of Mahisa, the very powerful Chiksura, shot five sharp arrows at Indra. The ever-ready and light-handed Indra too, with his arrows cut off all of them and struck at his heart heavily with his Ardhachandra (half moon) arrow. The Commander-in-Chief, struck by this arrow fell senseless on the back of his elephant. Indra, then struck the trunk of the elephant with his Vajra (thunderbolt); the elephant then severely struck with the Vajra fled away into the Danava's forces. The Lord of the Danavas seeing this, got very angry and addressed the general Vidala “O Hero! You are very powerful; go then and kill first that haughty Indra; then kill Varuna and other Devas and come back to me.”

36-57. Vyasa said:-- The very powerful Asura Vidala, on receiving the order came up at once to Indra, mounted on a very furious elephant. Seeing him coming, Vasava shot at him angrily with very terrible and most powerful arrows that looked like deadly snakes. But the Demon, too, out off those arrows at once with his excellent arrows and quickly shot at Vasava fifty arrows, sharpened on stones. Indra cut off all those and, being infuriated, shot again sharp deadly serpent-like arrows at him, and cutting off again all his enemies'

arrows by arrows discharged from his bow, struck the elephant's trunk with his Gada (club). The elephant, being thus struck on his head, cried aloud in a distressed tone and being afraid turned back, thus killing the Danava forces as he fled away. The general Vidala, seeing the elephant fleeing away from the battle-field, mounted on a beautiful chariot and instantly appeared before the Devas to fight with them. Seeing the Danava coming again on a chariot, Indra shot at him sharp arrows after arrows like venomous snakes. The powerful Danava, too, infuriated hurled at him terrible arrows; then a sharp conflict ensued between Vasava and the Danava. Finding the Danava powerful, Vasava's senses were confounded with anger; he then took his son Jayanta before him and began to fight. Jayanta stretched his bow tight and shot at the breast of the Danava swelled with pride, five sharp arrows with his full strength. Thus shot at by the network of arrows, the Danava fell unconscious on the chariot; the charioteer then fled away with his chariot from the battle-field. Thus on the Danava Vidala becoming unconscious and being taken away from the field, the Dunduvis (drums) of the Devas were resounded and great acclamations of “Victory to the Devas” were heard. The Devas were very glad and sounded hymns before Indra; the Gandarbhas began to sing and the Apsaras began to dance. O king! Hearing the loud acclamations of victory to the Devas, Mahisa became very angry and ordered the Danava Tamra, the destroyer of enemy's pride, to go to the battle-field. Tamra appeared in the battle, and, coming face to face with many Deva warriors, hurled on them showers of arrows. Varuna appeared with his Pas'a weapon and Yama, mounted on his buffalo, appeared with his Danda (staff). A terrible fight then ensued between the Devas and Danavas and the weapons, arrows, axes, Musalas, S'aktis and Paras'us glittered in the fields. Yama raising his Danda with his hands struck at Tamra; but the powerful Tamra, though severely struck, was not at all moved and remained firm in his place in the field. On the other hand Tamra, violently drawing his bow, hurled a mass of sharp arrows at Indra and the other Devas. The Devas got angry and shot at the Danava multitudes of divine arrows sharpened on stone, and frequently called aloud “Wait, wait.” The Danava Tamra thus shot at by the

arrows of the Devas, fell unconscious in the battle-field; the Danava forces got afraid and a cry of universal consternation and distress arose.

Here ends the Fifth Chapter of the Fifth Skandha on the defeat of the Danava forces of Mahisa in the Mahapuranam S’ri Mad Devi Bhagavatam of 18,000 verses.

Complete chapter-aligned witnesses. Sanskrit Wikisource page 24404, revision 74837 (2016-07-21T14:47:04Z). English is Swami Vijñanananda’s complete 1921–23 public-domain translation, controlled against the archival OCR and its chapter page at https://sacred-texts.com/hin/db/bk05ch05.htm. Historic spelling and transliteration are lightly normalized; no verse-by-verse alignment is asserted.