Sṛṣṭi-khaṇḍa · Chapter 73
Sourceव्यास उवाच- ततो वृत्रो महातेजा दैत्यानां प्रवरो युधि। दिग्गजाढ्यं गजारूढः प्राद्रवद्बलसूदनम्१। आगच्छंतं ततो वृत्रं शरैः कालानलप्रभैः। विव्याध सर्वगात्रेषु द्विरदस्थो महाहवे२। ततो वृत्रस्तु शीर्षं च जिष्णोरेव पतत्रिणा। विव्याध सहसा तेन स चचाल महाबलः३। आत्मानं च समाश्वास्य धनुरुद्यम्य वीर्यवान्। ववर्ष शरवर्षेण तस्य दैत्यस्य विग्रहे४। शरांश्छित्वा बिभेदाशु शरैराशीविषोपमैः। शतक्रतुं महावीर्यः सर्वदेवाधिपं युधि५। ततः शरसहस्रैस्तु दैत्यं विव्याध देवराट्। परस्परं शरा यांति यथा सप्ताश्व रश्मयः६। एवं शरसहस्रैस्तु बिभिदाते परस्परम्। मनोजवसमाः शीघ्रा गाढाः शिखरिणो यथा७। बडवानलसंस्पर्शाः खगा वज्रारभेदकाः। तयोर्धनुष्मतोर्युद्धे शरास्तुल्यगुणान्विताः८। एवं क्रमेण युद्धे च अहोरात्रमवर्तत। महेंद्रो द्विरदं तस्य शूलेनैव जघान ह९। स निपत्य महीपृष्ठे लाघवात्स्वरथं ययौ। रथस्थस्तस्य देवस्य शक्त्या चैरावणं दृढम्१०। बिभेद लाघवेनाशु वज्रेणेव महागिरिं। शुशुभे कंपमानस्तु सेंद्रः स च महागजः११। ततः शक्तिं समादाय आविध्य मघवाऽसुरम्। बिभेदोरसि दैत्यस्य स पपात रथोपरि१२। क्षणात्संज्ञां समालंब्य स विनद्य पतत्त्रिणा। बिभेद समरे शक्रं स ततः कश्मलं गतः१३। इंद्रः संज्ञां पुनः प्राप्य जघान विशिखैः शितैः। शतकोटिसमैर्बाणैरर्दितो व्यथयान्वितः१४। ततो वृत्रो महाशूलं प्राक्षिपन्निर्जरेश्वरे। शांभवास्त्रेण देवेशो वैष्णवास्त्रं मुमोच ह१५। उभयोरंबरे चास्त्रे वह्निकूटसमप्रभे। अन्योन्यं जघ्नतुस्तत्र स्फुलिगानि विमुंचती१६। स्पर्शने च स्फुलिंगानामुभयोः सेनयोर्भटाः। न शक्ताः संमुखे स्थातुं शलभा ज्वलने यथा१७। दग्धाः पेतुः पृथिव्यां च दिशस्सर्वाः प्रदुद्रुवुः। देवदानवयोर्वीराः शून्यस्तत्राभवद्रणः१८। अस्त्रं निरस्तकं दृष्ट्वा स दैत्यः क्रोधमूर्च्छितः। मायया शैलसंदोहमस्त्रं शक्रे मुमोच ह१९। बाणौघैः शैलसंघातं प्रचिच्छेद रणे हरिः। अघोरं प्रासृजद्दैत्यः पुरुहूते महाबले२०। कोटिकोटिसहस्राणि जंतूनां प्रवराणि च। सिंहशार्दूलभल्लूक वृक व्याघ्र महागजाः२१। दंदशूकादयः सत्वाः प्रधावंति सुरेश्वरं। क्षुरप्रैरर्धचंद्रैश्च भल्लैः शिलीमुखैस्तथा२२। असंप्राप्तान्प्रचिच्छेद मघवा परवीरहा। ततो वृत्रो महाबाहुर्धनुरुद्यम्य वीर्यवान्२३। बिभेद शरसाहस्रैर्वज्रकल्पैः शतक्रतुं। छित्वा क्षुरप्रैश्शक्रश्च धनुस्तस्य चकर्त च२४। सूतं चाश्वान्पृथिव्यां च पातयामास तत्क्षणात्। सकंटकांगदां भीमां संपूज्यासुरसत्तमः२५। जघान पद्मिनः शीर्षे मोहाद्दंती क्षितिं ययौ। सगदः सर्वदेवेशो धरणीं समुपस्थितः२६। ततस्तयोर्गदायुद्धमवर्तत मुहुर्मुहुः। तयोः प्रहरतोः शब्दो गदापातोद्भवो ध्रुवं२७। आवर्तं परिवर्तं च चक्रतुस्तौ पुनः पुनः। अध ऊर्ध्वं प्रहारं च पार्श्वयोरतिभीषणं२८। बभूवैवं तयोर्युद्धं लोकालोकभयंकरं। दृष्ट्वा देवगणाः सिद्धा दानवा विस्मयं गताः२९। युद्ध्यमानौ तु तौ वीरौ मृत्युसंशयमागतौ। देवदानववीराश्च द्रष्टुं नैव तदीशिरे३०। ईशब्रह्मादयः खे तु स्थिता द्रष्टुं तदद्भुतं। तयोर्हुंकारशब्देन गदापातस्वनेन च३१। ऊर्ध्वोर्ध्वमगमच्छब्दो ह्यशनेश्चोपजायते। भग्ने गदे द्वयोरेव करः संपुटितस्तयोः३२। एवं चैवार्धयामेन तयोरस्त्रे निपेततुः। एतस्मिंन्नन्तरे वीरौ खड्गचर्मधरौ तदा३३। प्रतियोद्धुं महाघोरमाहवे संप्रचेरतुः। निस्त्रिंशौ विद्युदुल्काभौ तयोर्गात्रे च चर्मणी३४। दृश्येते सर्वलोकैश्च लाघवं विस्मयं गतैः। चिच्छिदाते तयोरेव चर्मणी बहुवर्णके३५। भीष्मकं बलयुद्धं च तयोरेवं प्रवर्तते। मंडलं चक्रधन्वं च लाघवं च परिप्लुतं३६। वृत्रवासवयोर्युद्धं वृत्रवासवयोरिव। केशान्वृत्रस्य उत्प्लुत्य संप्रधृत्यासिना द्रुतं३७। शिरश्चिच्छेद सहसा मघवा रणमूर्धनि। जयशब्दस्ततस्त्वासीद्देवानां च समंततः३८। प्रोत्फुल्लहृदया देवा मघवंतमपूजयन्। देवदुंदुभयो नेदुर्ननृतुश्चाप्सरोगणाः३९। गीतं गायंति गंधर्वा मुनयः स्तुतिपाठकाः। भीताः पलायिताः सर्वे दैत्यास्त्यक्तायुधा दिशः४०। इति श्रीपाद्मपुराणे प्रथमे सृष्टिखंडे वृत्रासुरवधोनाम त्रिसप्ततितमोऽध्यायः७३।
vyāsa uvāca- tato vṛtro mahātejā daityānāṃ pravaro yudhi| diggajāḍhyaṃ gajārūḍhaḥ prādravadbalasūdanam1| āgacchaṃtaṃ tato vṛtraṃ śaraiḥ kālānalaprabhaiḥ| vivyādha sarvagātreṣu dviradastho mahāhave2| tato vṛtrastu śīrṣaṃ ca jiṣṇoreva patatriṇā| vivyādha sahasā tena sa cacāla mahābalaḥ3| ātmānaṃ ca samāśvāsya dhanurudyamya vīryavān| vavarṣa śaravarṣeṇa tasya daityasya vigrahe4| śarāṃśchitvā bibhedāśu śarairāśīviṣopamaiḥ| śatakratuṃ mahāvīryaḥ sarvadevādhipaṃ yudhi5| tataḥ śarasahasraistu daityaṃ vivyādha devarāṭ| parasparaṃ śarā yāṃti yathā saptāśva raśmayaḥ6| evaṃ śarasahasraistu bibhidāte parasparam| manojavasamāḥ śīghrā gāḍhāḥ śikhariṇo yathā7| baḍavānalasaṃsparśāḥ khagā vajrārabhedakāḥ| tayordhanuṣmatoryuddhe śarāstulyaguṇānvitāḥ8| evaṃ krameṇa yuddhe ca ahorātramavartata| maheṃdro dviradaṃ tasya śūlenaiva jaghāna ha9| sa nipatya mahīpṛṣṭhe lāghavātsvarathaṃ yayau| rathasthastasya devasya śaktyā cairāvaṇaṃ dṛḍham10| bibheda lāghavenāśu vajreṇeva mahāgiriṃ| śuśubhe kaṃpamānastu seṃdraḥ sa ca mahāgajaḥ11| tataḥ śaktiṃ samādāya āvidhya maghavā'suram| bibhedorasi daityasya sa papāta rathopari12| kṣaṇātsaṃjñāṃ samālaṃbya sa vinadya patattriṇā| bibheda samare śakraṃ sa tataḥ kaśmalaṃ gataḥ13| iṃdraḥ saṃjñāṃ punaḥ prāpya jaghāna viśikhaiḥ śitaiḥ| śatakoṭisamairbāṇairardito vyathayānvitaḥ14| tato vṛtro mahāśūlaṃ prākṣipannirjareśvare| śāṃbhavāstreṇa deveśo vaiṣṇavāstraṃ mumoca ha15| ubhayoraṃbare cāstre vahnikūṭasamaprabhe| anyonyaṃ jaghnatustatra sphuligāni vimuṃcatī16| sparśane ca sphuliṃgānāmubhayoḥ senayorbhaṭāḥ| na śaktāḥ saṃmukhe sthātuṃ śalabhā jvalane yathā17| dagdhāḥ petuḥ pṛthivyāṃ ca diśassarvāḥ pradudruvuḥ| devadānavayorvīrāḥ śūnyastatrābhavadraṇaḥ18| astraṃ nirastakaṃ dṛṣṭvā sa daityaḥ krodhamūrcchitaḥ| māyayā śailasaṃdohamastraṃ śakre mumoca ha19| bāṇaughaiḥ śailasaṃghātaṃ praciccheda raṇe hariḥ| aghoraṃ prāsṛjaddaityaḥ puruhūte mahābale20| koṭikoṭisahasrāṇi jaṃtūnāṃ pravarāṇi ca| siṃhaśārdūlabhallūka vṛka vyāghra mahāgajāḥ21| daṃdaśūkādayaḥ satvāḥ pradhāvaṃti sureśvaraṃ| kṣuraprairardhacaṃdraiśca bhallaiḥ śilīmukhaistathā22| asaṃprāptānpraciccheda maghavā paravīrahā| tato vṛtro mahābāhurdhanurudyamya vīryavān23| bibheda śarasāhasrairvajrakalpaiḥ śatakratuṃ| chitvā kṣurapraiśśakraśca dhanustasya cakarta ca24| sūtaṃ cāśvānpṛthivyāṃ ca pātayāmāsa tatkṣaṇāt| sakaṃṭakāṃgadāṃ bhīmāṃ saṃpūjyāsurasattamaḥ25| jaghāna padminaḥ śīrṣe mohāddaṃtī kṣitiṃ yayau| sagadaḥ sarvadeveśo dharaṇīṃ samupasthitaḥ26| tatastayorgadāyuddhamavartata muhurmuhuḥ| tayoḥ praharatoḥ śabdo gadāpātodbhavo dhruvaṃ27| āvartaṃ parivartaṃ ca cakratustau punaḥ punaḥ| adha ūrdhvaṃ prahāraṃ ca pārśvayoratibhīṣaṇaṃ28| babhūvaivaṃ tayoryuddhaṃ lokālokabhayaṃkaraṃ| dṛṣṭvā devagaṇāḥ siddhā dānavā vismayaṃ gatāḥ29| yuddhyamānau tu tau vīrau mṛtyusaṃśayamāgatau| devadānavavīrāśca draṣṭuṃ naiva tadīśire30| īśabrahmādayaḥ khe tu sthitā draṣṭuṃ tadadbhutaṃ| tayorhuṃkāraśabdena gadāpātasvanena ca31| ūrdhvordhvamagamacchabdo hyaśaneścopajāyate| bhagne gade dvayoreva karaḥ saṃpuṭitastayoḥ32| evaṃ caivārdhayāmena tayorastre nipetatuḥ| etasmiṃnnantare vīrau khaḍgacarmadharau tadā33| pratiyoddhuṃ mahāghoramāhave saṃpraceratuḥ| nistriṃśau vidyudulkābhau tayorgātre ca carmaṇī34| dṛśyete sarvalokaiśca lāghavaṃ vismayaṃ gataiḥ| cicchidāte tayoreva carmaṇī bahuvarṇake35| bhīṣmakaṃ balayuddhaṃ ca tayorevaṃ pravartate| maṃḍalaṃ cakradhanvaṃ ca lāghavaṃ ca pariplutaṃ36| vṛtravāsavayoryuddhaṃ vṛtravāsavayoriva| keśānvṛtrasya utplutya saṃpradhṛtyāsinā drutaṃ37| śiraściccheda sahasā maghavā raṇamūrdhani| jayaśabdastatastvāsīddevānāṃ ca samaṃtataḥ38| protphullahṛdayā devā maghavaṃtamapūjayan| devaduṃdubhayo nedurnanṛtuścāpsarogaṇāḥ39| gītaṃ gāyaṃti gaṃdharvā munayaḥ stutipāṭhakāḥ| bhītāḥ palāyitāḥ sarve daityāstyaktāyudhā diśaḥ40| iti śrīpādmapurāṇe prathame sṛṣṭikhaṃḍe vṛtrāsuravadhonāma trisaptatitamo'dhyāyaḥ73|
English translation
Vyāsa said :
1. Then, Vṛtra , of great lustre and most distinguished of the demons, mounted upon an elephant, ran to Viṣṇu rich in (i.e. seated upon) an elephant.
2. In the great war, he, seated upon an elephant, pierced Vṛtra, coming to him, (piercing him) in all his limbs, with arrows like the destructive fire at the end of the world.
3-5. Then Vṛtra hit with an arrow the head of Indra . Due to that the mighty one shook. Then calming himself, and raising his bow, the powerful one showered with the shower of arrows (i.e. showered arrows) on the body of the demon. The very powerful one having cut them off, hit Indra, the lord of all gods, with arrows resembling serpents.
6-8. Thus with thousands of arrows they struck each other. The arrows in the battle of the two archers were of the same quality, were quick like the speed of mind, were strong like mountains, resembled the submarine fire in touch, and were moving in the sky and pierced (i.e. were capable of piercing) the spokes of the thunderbolt.
9-12. Thus, in this manner the battle lasted for days and nights. Indra struck the elephant (of the demon) with his own lance. Throwing (himself) on the ground, he quickly went to his chariot. Remaining in the chariot, he, with a śakti , quickly struck hard (the elephant called) Airāvaṇa of that lord (of gods), as (Indra would strike) a great mountain with the thunderbolt. That great elephant, with Indra (on his back), though (he was) trembling, looked splendid. Then Indra, taking a śakti, pierced (with it) the demon in his chest; (then) he (i.e. the demon) fell on the chariot.
13-14. Regaining consciousness in a moment, and roaring, he struck Indra in the battle with an arrow. He (i.e. Indra) then swooned. Regaining consciousness, Indra struck him with hundreds of arrows. Struck with arrows resembling Indra’s thunderbolt he was full of agony.
15-17. Then Vṛtra discharged a great lance on (the body of) the lord of gods. With (i.e. against) the demon’s missile of (i.e. granted by) Śiva , Indra let loose the Vaiṣṇava missile. The missiles of the two resembling mass of fire, struck each other in the sky and discharged sparks of fire. Due to the touch of the sparks of fire the warriors of both the armies could not remain comfortably, as moths cannot stand in (front of) fire.
18. Being burnt, the warriors (in the army) of the gods and demons fell on the ground and ran into all directions. The battle (-field) became vacant then.
19. Seeing that his missile was retarded, the demon, filled with anger, discharged at Indra a missile made of a group of mountains.
20. In the battle, Indra cut off (that) group of mountains with volleys of arrows. The demon sent a Śaiva missile at the very mighty Indra.
21-22a. Crores of thousands chief beings, lions, demons, bears, wolves, tigers, great elephants, serpents—such and other creatures ran to the lord of gods.
22b-23a. Indra, the killer of the heroes of his enemy, cut them off, even before they reached him, with arrows with sharp horse-shoe-shaped heads, with crescent-shaped arrows, with lances and (other) arrows.
23b-24a. Then Vṛtra of mighty arms and brave, raised his bow and struck Indra with thousands of arrows resembling the thunderbolt.
24b-25a. Indra cut them off and also cut off his bow with arrows with sharp horse-shoe-shaped heads. That moment (only) he struck down on the ground his charioteer and his horses.
25b-26a. The best demon, having worshipped a thorny mace, struck it on the head of (Indra’s) elephant. Due to swoon (caused by the stroke) the elephant dropped on the ground.
26b-27. The lord of all gods came to the ground with his mace. Then repeatedly a mace-fight took place between the two. There verily was the sound produced by the strokes of the maces of the two who were striking (each other).
28-29. Again and again they turned round and round. They (gave) very fearful strokes below and above and on (each other’s) sides. Thus the fight between the two which caused fear to the visible and invisible worlds took place. Seeing (the fight) hosts of gods, Siddhas and demons were amazed.
30-31a. The two fighting heroes were in peril of death. Heroes among gods and demons were not at all able to see it. Śiva, Brahma and others remained in the sky to see that wonder.
31b-33a. Due to ‘hum’ sound of (i.e. produced by) them and due to the sound produced by the strokes of their maces, a sound went up and up; surely such a sound is produced by the thunderbolt (only). When their maces were broken, their hands remained folded (into fists). Thus after half a watch their weapons fell down.
33b-35a. In the meanwhile, the two heroes, holding swords and shields, moved in the battle to fight against each other. Their swords, bodies and shields shone like lightning and meteors. The two were looked at with speed and wonder by all the worlds.
35b-37a. The multi-coloured shields of the two were cut off. Thus a fearful and great fight took place between the two. It was full of circular movements, use of disc and bow and dexterity. The fight between Vṛtra and Indra is like the fight of Vṛtra and Vāsava (only).
37b-40. In the battle, Indra, after jumping, rooted out Vṛtra’s hair, and quickly and suddenly cut off his head. Cry of victory of (i.e. raised by) gods was there on all sides. Gods, with their hearts expanded (i.e. rejoicing), worshipped Indra. The drums of gods were sounded, the bands of celestial nymphs danced. The Gandharvas sang songs; and the sages praised (Indra), The demons were afraid, and giving up their arms, ran in (various) directions.
Complete chapter-aligned witnesses. Sanskrit Wikisource page 45227, revision 334621 (2022-04-06T19:41:29Z). English is N. A. Deshpande’s complete translation, controlled against its chapter page at https://www.wisdomlib.org/hinduism/book/the-padma-purana/d/doc364196.html and the ten-volume archival witness. The witnesses are aligned at chapter level; no unsupported verse-by-verse equivalence is asserted.