Fifth Skandha · Chapter 7
Sourceव्यास उवाच असुरान्महिषो दृष्ट्वा विषण्णमनसस्तदा । त्यक्त्वा तन्माहिषं रूपं बभूव मृगराडसौ ॥ १ ॥ कृत्वा नादं महाघोरं विस्तार्य च महासटाम् । पपात सुरसेनायां त्रासयन्नखदर्शनैः ॥ २ ॥ गरुडञ्च नखाघातैः कृत्वा रुधिरविप्लुतम् । जघान च भुजे विष्णुं नखाघातेन केसरी ॥ ३ ॥ वासुदेवोऽपि तं दृष्ट्वा चक्रमुद्यम्य वेगवान् । हन्तुकामो हरिः काममवापाशु क्रुधान्वितः ॥ ४ ॥ यावद्धयरिपुं वेगाच्चक्रेणाभिजघान तम् । तावत्सोऽतिबलः शृङ्गी शृङ्गाभ्यां न्यहनद्धरिम् ॥ ५ ॥ वासुदेवो विषाणाभ्यां ताडितोरसि विह्वलः । पलायनपरो वेगाज्जगाम भुवनं निजम् ॥ ६ ॥ गतं दृष्ट्वा हरिं कामं शङ्करोऽपि भयान्वितः । अवध्यं तं परं मत्वा ययौ कैलासपर्वतम् ॥ ७ ॥ ब्रह्मापि च निजं धाम त्वरितः प्रययौ भयात् । मघवा वज्रमालम्ब्य तस्थावाजौ महाबलः ॥ ८ ॥ वरुणः शक्तिमालम्ब्य धैर्यमालम्ब्य संस्थितः । यमोऽपि दण्डमादाय यत्तः समरतत्परः ॥ ९ ॥ ततो यक्षाधिपः कामं बभूव रणतत्परः । पावकः शक्तिमादाय तत्राभूद्युद्धमानसः ॥ १० ॥ नक्षत्राधिपतिः सूर्यः समवेतौ स्थितावुभौ । वीक्ष्य तं दानवश्रेष्ठं युद्धाय कृतनिश्चयौ ॥ ११ ॥ एतस्मिन्नन्तरे क्रुद्धं दैत्यसैन्यं समभ्यगात् । विसृजन्बाणजालानि क्रूराहिसदृशानि च ॥ १२ ॥ कृत्वा हि माहिषं रूपं भूपतिः संस्थितस्तदा । देवदानवयोधानां निनादस्तुमुलोऽभवत् ॥ १३ ॥ ज्याघातश्च तलाघातो मेघनादसमोऽभवत् । संग्रामे सुमहाघोरे देवदानवसेनयोः ॥ १४ ॥ शृङ्गाभ्यां पार्वताञ्छृङ्गांश्चिक्षेप च महाबलः । जघान सुरसङ्घांश्च दानवो मदगर्वितः ॥ १५ ॥ खुराघातैस्तथा देवान्पुच्छस्य भ्रमणेन च । स जघान रुषाविष्टो महिषः परमाद्भुतः ॥ १६ ॥ ततो देवाः सगन्धर्वा भयमाजग्मुरुद्यताः । मघवा महिषं दृष्ट्वा पलायनपरोऽभवत् ॥ १७ ॥ सङ्गरं सम्परित्यज्य गते शक्रे शचीपतौ । यमो धनाधिपः पाशी जग्मुः सर्वे भयातुराः ॥ १८ ॥ महिषोऽपि जयं मत्वा जगाम स्वगृहं ततः । ऐरावतं गजं प्राप्य त्यक्तमिन्द्रेण गच्छता ॥ १९ ॥ तथोच्चैःश्रवसं भानोः कामधेनुं पयस्विनीम् । स्वसैन्यसंवृतस्तूर्णं स्वर्गं गन्तुं मनो दधे ॥ २० ॥ तरसा देवसदनं गत्वा स महिषासुरः । जग्राह सुरराज्यं वै त्यक्तं देवैर्भयातुरैः ॥ २१ ॥ इन्द्रासने तथा रम्ये दानवः समुपाविशत् । दानवान्स्थापयामास देवानां स्थानकेषु सः ॥ २२ ॥ एवं वर्षशतं पूर्णं कृत्वा युद्धं सुदारुणम् । अवापैन्द्रपदं कामं दानवो मदगर्वितः ॥ २३ ॥ निर्जरा निर्गता नाकात्तेन सर्वेऽतिपीडिताः । एवं बहूनि वर्षाणि बभ्रमुर्गिरिगह्वरे ॥ २४ ॥ श्रान्ताः सर्वे तदा राजन् ब्रह्माणं शरणं ययुः । प्रजापतिं जगन्नाथं रजोरूपं चतुर्मुखम् ॥ २५ ॥ पद्मासनं वेदगर्भं सेवितं मुनिभिः स्वजैः । मरीचिप्रमुखैः शान्तैर्वेदवेदाङ्गपारगैः ॥ २६ ॥ किन्नरैः सिद्धगन्धर्वैश्चारणोरगपन्नगैः । तुष्टुवुर्भयभीतास्ते देवदेवं जगद्गुरुम् ॥ २७ ॥ देवा ऊचुः धातः किमेतदखिलार्तिहराम्बुजन्म जन्माभिवीक्ष्य न दयां कुरुषे सुरान् यत् । सम्पीडितान् रणजितानसुराधिपेन स्थानच्युतान् गिरिगुहाकृतसन्निवासान् ॥ २८ ॥ पुत्रान्पिता किमपराधशतैः समेता- न्सन्त्यज्य लोभरहितः कुरुतेऽतिदुःस्थान् । यस्त्वं सुरांस्तव पदाम्बुजभक्तियुक्ता- न्दैत्यार्दितांश्च कृपणान् यदुपेक्षसेऽद्य ॥ २९ ॥ अमरभुवनराज्यं तेन भुक्तं नितान्तं मखहविरपि योग्यं ब्राह्मणैराददाति । सुरतरुवरपुष्पं सेवतेऽसौ दुरात्मा जलनिधिनिधिभूतां गामसौ सेवते ताम् ॥ ३० ॥ किं वा गृणीमः सुरकार्यमद्भुतं जानासि देवेश सुरारिचेष्टितम् । ज्ञानेन सर्वं त्वमशेषकार्यवि- त्तस्मात्प्रभो ते प्रणताः स्म पादयोः ॥ ३१ ॥ यत्रापि कुत्रापि गतान्सुरानसौ नानाचरित्रः खलु पापमानसः । पीडां करोत्येव स दुष्टचेष्टित- स्त्रातासि देवेश विधेहि शं विभो ॥ ३२ ॥ नो चेद्वयं दावमहाग्निपीडिताः कं शान्तिकर्तारमनन्ततेजसम् । यामः प्रजेशं शरणं सुरेष्टं धातारमाद्यं परिमुच्य कं शिवम् ॥ ३३ ॥ व्यास उवाच इति स्तुत्वा सुराः सर्वे प्रणेमुस्तं प्रजापतिम् । बद्धाञ्जलिपुटाः सर्वे विषण्णवदना भृशम् ॥ ३४ ॥ तांस्तथा पीडितान्दृष्ट्वा तदा लोकपितामहः । उवाच श्लक्ष्णया वाचा सुखं सञ्जनयन्निव ॥ ३५ ॥ ब्रह्मोवाच किं करोमि सुराः कामं दानवो वरदर्पितः । स्त्रीवध्योऽसौ न पुंवध्यो विधेयं तत्र किं पुनः ॥ ३६ ॥ व्रजामोऽद्य सुराः सर्वे कैलासं पर्वतोत्तमम् । शङ्करं पुरतः कृत्वा सर्वकार्यविशारदम् ॥ ३७ ॥ ततो व्रजाम वैकुण्ठं यत्र देवो जनार्दनः । मिलित्वा देवकार्यञ्च विमृशामो विशेषतः ॥ ३८ ॥ इत्युक्त्वा हंसमारुह्य ब्रह्मा कार्यसमुच्चये । देवांश्च पृष्ठतः कृत्वा कैलासाभिमुखो ययौ ॥ ३९ ॥ तावच्छिवोऽपि तरसा ज्ञात्वा ध्यानेन पद्मजम् । आगच्छन्तं सुरैः सार्धं निर्गतः स्वगृहाद्बहिः ॥ ४० ॥ दृष्ट्वा परस्परं तौ तु कृताभिवादनौ भृशम् । प्रणतौ च सुरैः सर्वैः सन्तुष्टौ सम्बभूवतुः ॥ ४१ ॥ आसनानि पृथग्दत्त्वा देवेभ्यो गिरिजापतिः । उपविष्टेषु तेष्वेव निषसादासने स्वके ॥ ४२ ॥ कृत्वा तु कुशलप्रश्नं ब्रह्माणं वृषभध्वजः । पप्रच्छ कारणं देवान्कैलासागमने विभुः ॥ ४३ ॥ शिव उवाच किमत्रागमनं ब्रह्मन् कृतं देवैः सवासवैः । भवता च महाभाग ब्रूहि तत्कारणं किल ॥ ४४ ॥ ब्रह्मोवाच महिषेण सुरेशान पीडिताः स्वर्निवासिनः । भ्रमन्ति गिरिदुर्गेषु भयत्रस्ताः सवासवाः ॥ ४५ ॥ यज्ञभुग्महिषो जातस्तथान्ये सुरशत्रवः । पीडिता लोकपालाश्च त्वामद्य शरणं गताः ॥ ४६ ॥ मया ते भवनं शम्भो प्रापिताः कार्यगौरवात् । यद्युक्तं तद्विधत्स्वाद्य सुरकार्यं सुरेश्वर ॥ ४७ ॥ त्वयि भारोऽस्ति सर्वेषां देवानां भूतभावन । व्यास उवाच इति तद्वचनं श्रुत्वा शङ्करः प्रहसन्निव ॥ ४८ ॥ वचनं श्लक्ष्णया वाचा प्रोवाच पद्मजं प्रति । शिव उवाच भवतैव कृतं कार्यं वरदानात्पुरा विभो ॥ ४९ ॥ अनर्थदञ्च देवानां किं कर्तव्यमतः परम् । ईदृशो बलवाञ्छूरः सर्वदेवभयप्रदः ॥ ५० ॥ का समर्था वरा नारी तं हन्तुं मददर्पितम् । न मे भार्या न ते भार्या संग्रामं गन्तुमर्हति ॥ ५१ ॥ गत्वैव ते महाभागे युयुधाते कथं पुनः । इन्द्राणी च महाभागा न युद्धकुशलास्ति हि ॥ ५२ ॥ कान्या हन्तुं समर्थास्ति तं पापं मददर्पितम् । ममेदं मतमद्यैव गत्वा देवं जनार्दनम् ॥ ५३ ॥ स्तुत्वा तं देवकार्याय प्रेरयामः सुसत्वरम् । सोऽतिबुद्धिमतां श्रेष्ठो विष्णुः सर्वार्थसाधने ॥ ५४ ॥ मिलित्वा वासुदेवं वै कर्तव्यं कार्यचिन्तनम् । प्रपञ्चेन च बुद्ध्या स संविधास्यति साधनम् ॥ ५५ ॥ व्यास उवाच इति रुद्रवचः श्रुत्वा ब्रह्माद्याः सुरसत्तमाः । उत्थितास्ते तथेत्युक्त्वा शिवेन सह सत्वराः ॥ ५६ ॥ स्वकीयैर्वाहनैः सर्वे ययुविष्णपुरं प्रति । मुदिताः शकुनान्दृष्ट्वा कार्यसिद्धिकराञ्छुभान्॥ ५७ ॥ ववुर्वाताः शुभाः शान्ताः सुगन्धाः शुभशंसिनः । पक्षिणश्च शिवा वाचस्तत्रोचुः पथि सर्वशः ॥ ५८ ॥ निर्मलं चाभवद्व्योम दिशश्च विमलास्तथा । गमने तत्र देवानां सर्वं शुभमिवाभवत् ॥ ५९ ॥
vyāsa uvāca asurānmahiṣo dṛṣṭvā viṣaṇṇamanasastadā | tyaktvā tanmāhiṣaṃ rūpaṃ babhūva mṛgarāḍasau || 1 || kṛtvā nādaṃ mahāghoraṃ vistārya ca mahāsaṭām | papāta surasenāyāṃ trāsayannakhadarśanaiḥ || 2 || garuḍañca nakhāghātaiḥ kṛtvā rudhiraviplutam | jaghāna ca bhuje viṣṇuṃ nakhāghātena kesarī || 3 || vāsudevo'pi taṃ dṛṣṭvā cakramudyamya vegavān | hantukāmo hariḥ kāmamavāpāśu krudhānvitaḥ || 4 || yāvaddhayaripuṃ vegāccakreṇābhijaghāna tam | tāvatso'tibalaḥ śṛṅgī śṛṅgābhyāṃ nyahanaddharim || 5 || vāsudevo viṣāṇābhyāṃ tāḍitorasi vihvalaḥ | palāyanaparo vegājjagāma bhuvanaṃ nijam || 6 || gataṃ dṛṣṭvā hariṃ kāmaṃ śaṅkaro'pi bhayānvitaḥ | avadhyaṃ taṃ paraṃ matvā yayau kailāsaparvatam || 7 || brahmāpi ca nijaṃ dhāma tvaritaḥ prayayau bhayāt | maghavā vajramālambya tasthāvājau mahābalaḥ || 8 || varuṇaḥ śaktimālambya dhairyamālambya saṃsthitaḥ | yamo'pi daṇḍamādāya yattaḥ samaratatparaḥ || 9 || tato yakṣādhipaḥ kāmaṃ babhūva raṇatatparaḥ | pāvakaḥ śaktimādāya tatrābhūdyuddhamānasaḥ || 10 || nakṣatrādhipatiḥ sūryaḥ samavetau sthitāvubhau | vīkṣya taṃ dānavaśreṣṭhaṃ yuddhāya kṛtaniścayau || 11 || etasminnantare kruddhaṃ daityasainyaṃ samabhyagāt | visṛjanbāṇajālāni krūrāhisadṛśāni ca || 12 || kṛtvā hi māhiṣaṃ rūpaṃ bhūpatiḥ saṃsthitastadā | devadānavayodhānāṃ ninādastumulo'bhavat || 13 || jyāghātaśca talāghāto meghanādasamo'bhavat | saṃgrāme sumahāghore devadānavasenayoḥ || 14 || śṛṅgābhyāṃ pārvatāñchṛṅgāṃścikṣepa ca mahābalaḥ | jaghāna surasaṅghāṃśca dānavo madagarvitaḥ || 15 || khurāghātaistathā devānpucchasya bhramaṇena ca | sa jaghāna ruṣāviṣṭo mahiṣaḥ paramādbhutaḥ || 16 || tato devāḥ sagandharvā bhayamājagmurudyatāḥ | maghavā mahiṣaṃ dṛṣṭvā palāyanaparo'bhavat || 17 || saṅgaraṃ samparityajya gate śakre śacīpatau | yamo dhanādhipaḥ pāśī jagmuḥ sarve bhayāturāḥ || 18 || mahiṣo'pi jayaṃ matvā jagāma svagṛhaṃ tataḥ | airāvataṃ gajaṃ prāpya tyaktamindreṇa gacchatā || 19 || tathoccaiḥśravasaṃ bhānoḥ kāmadhenuṃ payasvinīm | svasainyasaṃvṛtastūrṇaṃ svargaṃ gantuṃ mano dadhe || 20 || tarasā devasadanaṃ gatvā sa mahiṣāsuraḥ | jagrāha surarājyaṃ vai tyaktaṃ devairbhayāturaiḥ || 21 || indrāsane tathā ramye dānavaḥ samupāviśat | dānavānsthāpayāmāsa devānāṃ sthānakeṣu saḥ || 22 || evaṃ varṣaśataṃ pūrṇaṃ kṛtvā yuddhaṃ sudāruṇam | avāpaindrapadaṃ kāmaṃ dānavo madagarvitaḥ || 23 || nirjarā nirgatā nākāttena sarve'tipīḍitāḥ | evaṃ bahūni varṣāṇi babhramurgirigahvare || 24 || śrāntāḥ sarve tadā rājan brahmāṇaṃ śaraṇaṃ yayuḥ | prajāpatiṃ jagannāthaṃ rajorūpaṃ caturmukham || 25 || padmāsanaṃ vedagarbhaṃ sevitaṃ munibhiḥ svajaiḥ | marīcipramukhaiḥ śāntairvedavedāṅgapāragaiḥ || 26 || kinnaraiḥ siddhagandharvaiścāraṇoragapannagaiḥ | tuṣṭuvurbhayabhītāste devadevaṃ jagadgurum || 27 || devā ūcuḥ dhātaḥ kimetadakhilārtiharāmbujanma janmābhivīkṣya na dayāṃ kuruṣe surān yat | sampīḍitān raṇajitānasurādhipena sthānacyutān giriguhākṛtasannivāsān || 28 || putrānpitā kimaparādhaśataiḥ sametā- nsantyajya lobharahitaḥ kurute'tiduḥsthān | yastvaṃ surāṃstava padāmbujabhaktiyuktā- ndaityārditāṃśca kṛpaṇān yadupekṣase'dya || 29 || amarabhuvanarājyaṃ tena bhuktaṃ nitāntaṃ makhahavirapi yogyaṃ brāhmaṇairādadāti | surataruvarapuṣpaṃ sevate'sau durātmā jalanidhinidhibhūtāṃ gāmasau sevate tām || 30 || kiṃ vā gṛṇīmaḥ surakāryamadbhutaṃ jānāsi deveśa surāriceṣṭitam | jñānena sarvaṃ tvamaśeṣakāryavi- ttasmātprabho te praṇatāḥ sma pādayoḥ || 31 || yatrāpi kutrāpi gatānsurānasau nānācaritraḥ khalu pāpamānasaḥ | pīḍāṃ karotyeva sa duṣṭaceṣṭita- strātāsi deveśa vidhehi śaṃ vibho || 32 || no cedvayaṃ dāvamahāgnipīḍitāḥ kaṃ śāntikartāramanantatejasam | yāmaḥ prajeśaṃ śaraṇaṃ sureṣṭaṃ dhātāramādyaṃ parimucya kaṃ śivam || 33 || vyāsa uvāca iti stutvā surāḥ sarve praṇemustaṃ prajāpatim | baddhāñjalipuṭāḥ sarve viṣaṇṇavadanā bhṛśam || 34 || tāṃstathā pīḍitāndṛṣṭvā tadā lokapitāmahaḥ | uvāca ślakṣṇayā vācā sukhaṃ sañjanayanniva || 35 || brahmovāca kiṃ karomi surāḥ kāmaṃ dānavo varadarpitaḥ | strīvadhyo'sau na puṃvadhyo vidheyaṃ tatra kiṃ punaḥ || 36 || vrajāmo'dya surāḥ sarve kailāsaṃ parvatottamam | śaṅkaraṃ purataḥ kṛtvā sarvakāryaviśāradam || 37 || tato vrajāma vaikuṇṭhaṃ yatra devo janārdanaḥ | militvā devakāryañca vimṛśāmo viśeṣataḥ || 38 || ityuktvā haṃsamāruhya brahmā kāryasamuccaye | devāṃśca pṛṣṭhataḥ kṛtvā kailāsābhimukho yayau || 39 || tāvacchivo'pi tarasā jñātvā dhyānena padmajam | āgacchantaṃ suraiḥ sārdhaṃ nirgataḥ svagṛhādbahiḥ || 40 || dṛṣṭvā parasparaṃ tau tu kṛtābhivādanau bhṛśam | praṇatau ca suraiḥ sarvaiḥ santuṣṭau sambabhūvatuḥ || 41 || āsanāni pṛthagdattvā devebhyo girijāpatiḥ | upaviṣṭeṣu teṣveva niṣasādāsane svake || 42 || kṛtvā tu kuśalapraśnaṃ brahmāṇaṃ vṛṣabhadhvajaḥ | papraccha kāraṇaṃ devānkailāsāgamane vibhuḥ || 43 || śiva uvāca kimatrāgamanaṃ brahman kṛtaṃ devaiḥ savāsavaiḥ | bhavatā ca mahābhāga brūhi tatkāraṇaṃ kila || 44 || brahmovāca mahiṣeṇa sureśāna pīḍitāḥ svarnivāsinaḥ | bhramanti giridurgeṣu bhayatrastāḥ savāsavāḥ || 45 || yajñabhugmahiṣo jātastathānye suraśatravaḥ | pīḍitā lokapālāśca tvāmadya śaraṇaṃ gatāḥ || 46 || mayā te bhavanaṃ śambho prāpitāḥ kāryagauravāt | yadyuktaṃ tadvidhatsvādya surakāryaṃ sureśvara || 47 || tvayi bhāro'sti sarveṣāṃ devānāṃ bhūtabhāvana | vyāsa uvāca iti tadvacanaṃ śrutvā śaṅkaraḥ prahasanniva || 48 || vacanaṃ ślakṣṇayā vācā provāca padmajaṃ prati | śiva uvāca bhavataiva kṛtaṃ kāryaṃ varadānātpurā vibho || 49 || anarthadañca devānāṃ kiṃ kartavyamataḥ param | īdṛśo balavāñchūraḥ sarvadevabhayapradaḥ || 50 || kā samarthā varā nārī taṃ hantuṃ madadarpitam | na me bhāryā na te bhāryā saṃgrāmaṃ gantumarhati || 51 || gatvaiva te mahābhāge yuyudhāte kathaṃ punaḥ | indrāṇī ca mahābhāgā na yuddhakuśalāsti hi || 52 || kānyā hantuṃ samarthāsti taṃ pāpaṃ madadarpitam | mamedaṃ matamadyaiva gatvā devaṃ janārdanam || 53 || stutvā taṃ devakāryāya prerayāmaḥ susatvaram | so'tibuddhimatāṃ śreṣṭho viṣṇuḥ sarvārthasādhane || 54 || militvā vāsudevaṃ vai kartavyaṃ kāryacintanam | prapañcena ca buddhyā sa saṃvidhāsyati sādhanam || 55 || vyāsa uvāca iti rudravacaḥ śrutvā brahmādyāḥ surasattamāḥ | utthitāste tathetyuktvā śivena saha satvarāḥ || 56 || svakīyairvāhanaiḥ sarve yayuviṣṇapuraṃ prati | muditāḥ śakunāndṛṣṭvā kāryasiddhikarāñchubhān|| 57 || vavurvātāḥ śubhāḥ śāntāḥ sugandhāḥ śubhaśaṃsinaḥ | pakṣiṇaśca śivā vācastatrocuḥ pathi sarvaśaḥ || 58 || nirmalaṃ cābhavadvyoma diśaśca vimalāstathā | gamane tatra devānāṃ sarvaṃ śubhamivābhavat || 59 ||
English translation
1-3. Vyasa said O King! Mahisa seeing the Danavas afflicted with grief, quitted his buffalo appearance, assumed a lion form and spreading this long manes began to roar aloud and fell amidst the Deva forces; then the Devas were terrified on seeing his sharp nails. That lion-form Mahisa first attacked so severely the Garuda with his nails, that his whole body was besmeared with blood; then he attacked Visnu's arms with his nails.
4-11. Seeing the Danava, Vasudeva Hah raised his discus in anger and attacked him with great force to kill him. Just when Hari struck the Danava violently with his Chakra, the powerful Danava quitted immediately his lion-form, assumed the buffalo form and struck Hari with his two horns. Vasudeva, thus pierced in his breast with the horns, became confounded and fled away as best as he could till he reached his own abode, Vaikuntha. Seeing Hari thus fleeing away, S'ankara, too, thought him invulnerable and fled to his Kailas'a mountain with fear. Brahma, too, fled to his own abode with terror; but the powerful Vasava took patience and remained steady in the battle. Varuna taking his S'akti waited patiently for battle. Yama, too, with his staff remained there ready to fight. Kuvera, the Lord of the Yaksas, remained very busy in close fighting with the Danavas; Fire, taking S’akti, also waited. The Sun and Moon, the Lord of the stars, both remained in firm resolve to fight with Mahisa, the lord of the Danavas.
12-22. O King! In the meanwhile, the Danava forces got angry and attacked them on all sides, shooting at the enemies a mass of dangerous serpent-like arrows. The Lord of the Danavas, Mahisa,
too, assuming the buffalo appearance, reigned supreme in the middle. At this moment fierce sounds of the warriors on both the sides were heard. During the sharp contest of the Devas and Danavas, the sounds from the bowstrings and the clappings of the hands were heard like the roarings of thunder. The powerful Danava, then, swelled with pride, began to hurl the mountain tops with his horns, thus killing the Deva forces. Some by hoofs and some by the lashing of the tail, that angry Mahisa, very wonderful to behold, sent to the region of Death. Then the Devas and Gandarbhas became very much frightened; so much so, that Indra fled away at once on the sight of Mahisa. Indra thus retreating from the field, Yama, Kuvera, and Varuna all quitted the battle-ground with fear. Indra fled away quitting his Airavata elephant and Uchchais'rava horse; so Mahisa got the possession of the elephant and the horse, as well the heavenly cow of the Sun. So the Danavas considered themselves pre-eminently victorious and returned to their abodes. Next they wanted to go, as early as possible, to the Heavens, with all their forces. In no time Mahisa went to the abode of Indra, deserted by all the terror-stricken Devas and got the possession thereof. Then taking his seat on the beautiful throne of Indra, he made the other Danavas occupy the several seats of the other Devas.
23-27. Thus fighting full one hundred years, the Danava Mahisa, puffed up with pride, acquired the seat of Indra, his desired object.
He banished the Devas from the Heavens; the Devas, thus tormented began to wander in the caves of hills and dales for a period of good many years. O King! The Devas, at last, were quite tired and took the four-faced Brahma, the Creator's refuge. At that instant, the Lord of the world, the Rajas incarnate, the Originator of the Vedas, was seated on His lotus seat; surrounding Him were standing his mortal sons Marichi, etc., with their passions subdued, mind calm and beyond the sphere of the Vedas and Vedangas; there were there also Siddhas, Gandarbhas, Kinnaras, Charanas, Uragas,
and Pannagas. The terrified Devas then began to praise and chant hymns to Brahma, the Lord of the world.
28-33. The Devas said “O Creator! O Lotus-born! O Thou, the Remover of the pains and afflictions of all this world! How is it that you are not moved with pity towards the Devas, seeing that we are defeated by the lord of the Danavas and have been banished from our abode; what more shall we say, our troubles are now indescribable, as we are living in the caves of hills and dales. O Creator! A son may be a hundred times guilty of offence; is it, then, that the father, devoid of any feeling of covetousness, deserts his sons and gives them trouble! We are oppressed by the Danavas, we who are wholly devoted to your lotus-feet, why are you today showing signs of indifference towards us! That wicked Danava is thoroughly enjoying to-day the Heavens of the Devas, is forcibly taking their share of the oblations of clarified butter in the Yajhas (sacrifices) from the Brahmanas; is enjoying the Parijata tree and also the heavenly milching cow, the jewel of the ocean. What more shall we describe to you the strange doings of the Asuras; O Lord of the Devas! You are perfectly aware of all that they strive and execute; for, by your knowledge, you know everything of this world; therefore, O Lord! We lie prostrate at your feet. That vicious Danava, of wicked character and full of mischievous actions, gives us troubles in various ways wherever we go; O Lord of the Devas! Thou art our only Protector; therefore, O Lord! Do what is good to us. Thou art the Awarder of the desires of the Devas. Thou art the First Creator of the world, and Preserver; therefore if Thou dost not do us our good, to whom else shall we take refuge, when we are so severely oppressed as if we are burnt in a forest conflagration! Who else is more lustrous, more beneficent and more peace-giving Governor?
34-35. Vyasa said O king! All the Devas, praising Him thus, bowed down to the Lord of creation with folded hands and saluted
him, with their faces very heavy, overladen with deep sorrow. The Grand Sire of all the Lokas, seeing the plight of the Devas, consoled them with sweet words and made them happy.
36-43. O Suras! What shall I do? The Danava has become exceedingly haughty on account of his getting boons; he can be killed by females only; He is invulnerable by any male. What remedy is there now? Therefore, O Suras! Let us all go to Kailasa, the best of all the mountains; thence we will take S'ankara, the expert in doing the works of Gods, and go to Vaikuntha, where Visnu, the Deva of the Devas resides. There we all will unite and hold a counsel and decide what is best to do, to serve the purpose of the gods.
Thus making out the programme, Brahma riding on his Hamsa went to Kailasa, accompanied by all the Devas. At the same time S'iva came to know out of his introspection about the coming of Brahma and the other Devas and soon came out of his dwelling abode.
When they met each other, they saluted each other and felt very glad. The Devas then bowed down to them. Seats were given to the Devas; and when they sat respectively on their Asanas, the Lord of Parvati also took his own seat. S'iva asked the welfare of Brahma and the Devas and asked the reasons of their coming to Kailasa.
44. O Brahma! What has caused you to come here along with Indra and the other Devas? O highly fortunate one! Please mention it.
45-47. Brahma said O Deva of the Devas! The Danava Mahisa is oppressing all the Devas in the Heavens; they therefore terrified are wandering hither and thither in the caves and hills with Indra. Mahisa and the other Danavas are now accepting their share of Yajhas; the Lokopalas, being oppressed, have come to-day and are now taking shelter of Thee. O S'ambhu! Considering the situation serious, I have taken them with me here; therefore, O Deva, do that which is
reasonable and by which the purpose of the Devas can be carried out. O Bhuta Bhavana! (The creator of the world) The whole charge and responsibility of all the Devas devolves on Thee.
48. Vyasa said O King! Hearing thus, S'ankara smiled a little and spoke charming words to the Lotus-born in the following manner
49-55. O Bibhu! It is You that gave before this boon to Mahisa; and therefore it is you that have wrought this mischief. The Danava has become so strong a hero that he has caused terror to all the Devas even. Now where can we get such a noble woman who becomes able to kill that Danava, elated with pride. My wife nor your wife ought to go to battle; even if they, the good ladies go, how will they be able to fight? The fortunate wife of Indra, too, is not expert in the art of warfare; where else there is another lady who can kill this demon, blinded with pride. I, therefore, propose this; let us all go today to Visnu and, praising him with hymns, engage him quickly to this cause of the gods. Visnu is foremost amongst the intelligent; therefore it is highly advisable to execute all actions after duly consulting with him. He, by dint of his high intelligence, will find out means and effect our purpose.
Vyasa said O King! Brahma and the other Devas heard Rudra and approved heartily and saying, “Be it so” instantly rose up. At the time, seeing all the auspicious signs concerning the success of the gods, they all became glad; and, riding on their respective vehicles, drove towards the abode of Visnu. Favourable fragrant winds, pleasant to touch, began to blow gently, birds began to chant hymns of praise and signs of success were seen all along their way. The sky was clear and the quarters became free; in short, everything showed favourable all along their way.
Here ends the Seventh Chapter on the going of the Devas to Kailasa in the Fifth Skandha of S'ri Mad Devi Bhagavatam, the Maha Puranam of 18,000 verses by Maharsi Veda Vyasa.
Complete chapter-aligned witnesses. Sanskrit Wikisource page 24406, revision 74839 (2016-07-21T14:51:05Z). 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/bk05ch07.htm. Historic spelling and transliteration are lightly normalized; no verse-by-verse alignment is asserted.