Chapter 71 - The Second Namuci Slain

[Sanskrit text for this chapter is available]

Vyāsa said:

1. Then another angry Namuci, seated in his chariot, struck the gods with arrows resembling serpents.

2. So in the war the gods, Siddhas. Kinnaras and snakes could not tolerate the force of the arrows from all sides.

3. Having got into the chariot to which (the horse) Uccaiḥśravas^[1] was yoked, and which was driven by Mātali, Indra went to that very powerful demon.

4. Seeing Indra with his attendants in the war, the best of the demons then said to Indra:

5-6. “By killing an ordinary god there is no glory, nor it is pleasing. O Indra, there is no sufficient gain,nor victory. So everything will be everlasting when you are killed here. In heaven I shall obtain the kingdom of gods and happiness fit to be enjoyed.”

7-8 Indra, of great lustre and conqueror of the enemies’ cities, said to him: “Bravery merely by (uttering) words (i.e. merely in words) is easily available everywhere. O meanest demon, if you have great valour, show your power in the battle. I shall take you to the house of the Sun’s son (i.e. of Yama).”

9. Hearing this, the greatest demon, possessing great lustre, got angry. He hit the best god with five sharp arrows.

10. Indra quickly cut them off with five sharp-edged arrows. The very mighty two desiring (to acquire) kingdom fought with each other.

11. They (rushed at) each other with great speed, and (each one) cut off (the other’s) arrows with his own arrows. They also (hit) each other’s bodies with arrows resembling a thunderbolt.

12-13a. The two greatly performed a very unprecedented feat in battle. Seeing their very rare dexterity, taking aim with the arrow, holding and despatching (a missile) gods and hosts of demons became amazed.

13b-15a. In the meanwhile the demon let loose illusions. There hundreds of arrows moved from all sides. Powerful Indra, again, with anger quickly raised his bow and hit him with arrows on all his limbs, burning them.

15b-16. Then with more than eight thousand arrows, they pierced and hit each other. They saw there in the battle, the sky compact with arrows.

17-18a. Many (hit) with the strokes of swords dropped down in thousands on the ground. The cruel Namuci demonstrated his illusory missile in the war which went on for a long time.

18b-20a. He created a dense darkness in the three worlds. Gods and hosts of demons could not see one another. In that dense darkness difficult to cross, no ray was seen issuing forth from the planets like the Sun, the Moon and the heavenly fires.

20b-21. In that battle, all gods and Indra also were quickly shattered with the demon's arrows (i.e. of the arrows discharged by the demon) resembling flames of fire. With their bodies pierced with the arrows (discharged by the demon) they fell on the ground.

22-23a. Other brave (gods) were defeated and went (i.e. ran) into the ten directions. Knowing his trick, Viṣṇu, who was worshipped by all gods, discharged a mild weapon, lustrous like a hundred suns, in the sky.

23b-25. Seeing that it was retarded, he hit on the chest of the demon with a śakti having many bells. Full of agony he dropped down. Having regained consciousness after a long time, the demon, who was filled with anger, went speedily to the best of gods and seized Airāvataṇ Angrily he very much frightened Indra’s elephant.

26. Seizing the elephant with Indra (on its back) he dropped him on the ground. Then Indra, who had gone to (i.e. fallen on) the ground was depressed for a moment.

27-28. The lord of the demons jumped and remained between the tusks of the elephant. To kill him, Indra cut off, with his sword, the head of the chief of the demon-troops, and caused him to fall on the ground. All gods were very much delighted, and Gandharvas sang charming music. Sages, who were pleased. praised the best god.

Footnotes and references:

[1]:

Uccaiḥśravā—Name of Indra’s horse, produced at the churning of the ocean. It is regarded as the prototype and king of horses.