Chapter 75 - The Hymn of Victory at the End of War between Gods and Demons

[Sanskrit text for this chapter is available]

Vyāsa said:

1. Having heard (those) words from (i.e. uttered by) the great god, all gods led by Indra, rushed, from all sides, to the hosts of the demons.

2. (There) came the great demon, Kumbha by name, who very much struck the king of the Yakṣas (i.e. Kubera) with a mace.

3. The lord of the Guhyakas (i.e. Kubera) hit him very strongly with the strokes of (his) mace. Then there was a fierce war between the two.

4-5. There was in the battle a great arrangement (of the soldiers) like a wheel, where the one that came forward was seized and killed. The attack was very fierce. A boring tool was used. The lord of wealth (i.e. Kubera) fought a great battle with him, and in the end struck the tool on the chest of that Kumbha.

6-7a. Then Kumbha, with his fangs broken, fell down on the ground. Then the very powerful Jambha, remaining in his chariot only struck the horse of Indra, and also Airāvaṇa with volleys of arrows.

7b-9. Indra struck the best demon with his thunderbolt only. Wet with blood he fell dead on the ground. Then with the (missile called) śakti, he pierced the four important chiefs—Araṇya, Sughora, Aghora and Ghora. Kārtikeya cleverly struck down each one of them.

10-11. (Indra’s son) Jayanta subdued, with volleys of arrows, Saurabha, and also Saṃhrāda with a śakti in his hand, and Yamadaṇḍa and Narāntaka. Having hit them he struck them down, reducing their bodies to ashes. With the stroke of his sword, Kāla struck down Bābhrava.

12-14a. Mṛtyu, with śakti struck Aśva and Nigṛṇa in the battle. These very powerful seven—Bhadrabāhu, Mahābāhu, Sugandha, Gandha, Bhaurika, Vallika, and Bhīma—the leaders of the army, being burnt by Agni, fell down dead, with their bodies burnt in the battle, on the ground.

14b. Very courageous, brave, very powerful (demons) causing fear (even) to the brave, fell down on the ground, being bound by the noose of the noble Varuṇa.

15-17. The five demons named Turu, Tumburu, Durmedha, Sādhaka and Asādhaka were struck down by the mass of the Sun’s rays. In the battle, Vāyu struck with his arrows demons led by the six viz. Krūra, Krauñca, Raṇa, Īśāna, Moda and Sammoda. Naiṛrta with a mace struck down Bhīma on the ground.

18. Hundreds of demons, facing the gods, being killed in war, being frightened, fell in the battle struck by the lances of the Rudras.

19-20. Hundreds of mighty demons were struck in the battle with the strokes of the arrows discharged by the Vasus, brave and encircled with rays, with hails from the clouds, and with very terrible strokes of the thunderbolt. Thousands (of demons) fell due to the strokes of the mace of Kubera.

21. The best of the demons were pierced with the thunderbolt of Indra. Similarly, struck with the śakti of Kārtikeya, innumerable (demons) fell down on the ground.

22. The principal (demons) fell (being hit) with the stroke of Gaṇeśa’s axe. Due to the disc released from Viṣṇu’s hand of a severe act, heads of important demons fell on the ground.

23-24. Śamana (i.e. Yama) with (the strokes of) his deadly staff struck down crores of thousands of demons. Kala struck down the demons with (the strokes of) his śakti. Varuṇa in the same way, struck down others.

25. With the stroke of Takṣakas etc. and the Moon’s chill Khara mounted on a horse was struck; and the noose (of Varuṇa) in the same way struck the elephants.

26. Then he destroyed the demons’ elephant (by striking) with an iron beam on his temple. Thus with skill he struck down the horses and the elephants.

27-28a. Thus the very mighty Siddhas, Gandharvas and the celestial nymphs, and other deities along with the mothers and the chiefs of the Gaṇas, struck down the very fearful and destructive demons.

28b-29a. The gods struck down the demon with arrows, with strokes of swords, with spears, śaktis, hatchets, sticks, iron-beams and lances.

290-31. When the demons were thus being destroyed, the very brave chief of the demons, their king, Hiraṇyākṣa, came there seated in a chariot which resembled the Sun’s chariot, which was decorated with all jewels with which a chariot is decorated, which was made of gold, which was divine, which was adorned with bells and chowries, which was filled with banners and flags, which was beautiful and which was like Indra’s chariot.

32-33a. He, who was invincible to the gods and the demons, struck with volleys of arrows the armies and the hero struck down on the ground hundreds of thousands of elephants and chariots with horses.

33b-35. Thus the lord of the demons moving among all the hosts of gods sent down volleys of arrows resembling death. As an elephant shakes the lotus-pond, he gradually shook the armies of gods in the war. Due to the sharp falls and lion-like roars of the lord of demons (the gods) repeatedly and rapidly fell down on the ground.

36-40. He struck (Indra’s son) Jayanta with ten arrows, Remanta with five, and Indra with fifteen arrows; (he struck) Citraratha with twenty arrows, Guha with twenty-five, Heramba (i.e. Gaṇeśa) with three, and Yama with forty arrows. In the same way he hit Kāla and Mṛtyu with both hands. He struck (Kubera) the lord of the Guhyakas and Vāyu with ten arrows each. With six and seven arrows he struck Rudras separately, He struck all the Vasus, Siddhas, Gandharvas and serpents with ten, eighteen arrows and the (other) gods with six arrows in the war.

41. The powerful gods, being distressed and frightened due to the stream of his vigour, his great power and due to the sight of his quick dexterity, were unable to retaliate.

42. The gods struck in the battle with arrows resembling the trident of Śiva and cutting the vitals, swooned and fell on the ground.

43-44a. (Even) the chief gods could not stand before him. Then the gods (thus) fully shaken and beaten (by Hiraṇyākṣa) went, along with Indra, to Viṣṇu the protector, to seek his succor.

44b-45a. In the meantime, Viṣṇu said to Garuḍa, the lord of the birds: “Now go, in front of (i.e. face) the demon in the battle.”

45b-47a. He then immediately went speedily to destroy the demon. Having struck the chariot (of Viṣṇu) with arrows he checked his speed and then going in front of his chariot he said to the immutable Viṣṇu: “Having today killed you along with (other) gods, I shall fashion another creation.”

47b-48a. Then Viṣṇu said these words to the roaring, superior demon: “O sinful one, if you are able to compete (with me), then (first) be settled in the battle.”

48b-49. Then he struck Viṣṇu with hundreds of arrows. Without being ruffled, he cut (those) arrows resembling the staff of Yama. Again he (i.e. the demon) discharged thousands of arrows at him.

50. Having cut them off with arrows, Viṣṇu struck him with arrows, looking unavoidable due to their great weight and (resembling) the submarine fire in touch.

51-52a. The best demon was struck by Viṣṇu, with thousands of golden arrows that were piercing, sharp, moving in the sky, having the speed of the mind—as the missiles of Keśava were very quick—resembling cotton and hay.

52b-53. The angry, very strong, Hiraṇyākṣa, being distressed due to (his missiles) being interrupted, took, in the battle, a mountain and hit Viṣṇu (with) it. (But) Viṣṇu easily pounded it with (his) mace.

54. Thus he dropped a thousand mountains, but Viṣṇu the enemy of the demons, with the same dexterity, crushed them.

55. Again the best demon, with his mind full of anger, putting up thousands of arms, showered Viṣṇu with many very sharp arrows, śaktis, spears and axes etc.

56. The best god (i.e. Viṣṇu) cut those very missiles with very fierce, blazing arrows, causing fear to the demons.

57-59. He pierced him (i.e. Hiraṇyākṣa) on all his limbs with arrows resembling Śiva’s trident. In the battle (which the lord of demons and the immutable Viṣṇu fought) the demon, being distressed, quickly ran and dropped an all-powerful, excellent, fierce śakti resembling the tongue of death, and having eight bells, on the large chest of Viṣṇu.

60. (With that) the best god (i.e. Viṣṇu) looked charming like a compact cloud accompanied by lightning. Then the demons, saying ‘Well (done)’ cried ‘Be victorious.’

61. Then (Viṣṇu), the enemy of the demons, discharged his disc at the demons’ army. Having cut off their heads, it came back to Viṣṇu (again).

62. He struck down the demon with the stroke of a śakti in the battle. Regaining consciousness after a long time, he struck Viṣṇu with a fiery arrow.

63. The angry Viṣṇu discharged the Kubera missile. Then he (i.e. Hiraṇyākṣa) discharged, in the battle, at Viṣṇu, the illusory missile, which was demonish and very fierce.

64. He, the brave one, also struck Viṣṇu with lions, tigers, buffaloes, and poisonous serpents.

65. Then Viṣṇu cut off, with his arrows, the streams of weapons and missiles (discharged by Hiraṇyākṣa) in the battle, and struck him with a spear.

66-67a. That moment only, he with his body wet with blood, dragged him and with three arrows the lord of the gods cut off his spear.

67b-68a. Viṣṇu, with ten arrows, cut off the chariot’s fender along with the flag and banner and the umbrella, and also the charioteer.

68b-70. When the chief demon’s chariot was struck down, he, the powerful one, jumped to another chariot, got into it and brought it in front (of Viṣṇu). Then a very fierce and thrilling battle took place between Hiraṇyākṣa and Viṣṇu and the great battle caused wonder among people. Then a battle with an attack and a counter-attack took place between the two.

71. A hundred divine years passed uninterruptedly in the battle (i.e. the battle continued without a break for a hundred divine years). Then, the very powerful demon grew (in size) like Vāmana.

72. Angrily he seized, with his mouth, the three worlds with the mobile and the immobile. Lifting the earth he entered the nether region.

73-74a. The remaining demons, fully pleased, entered that region after him. Then Viṣṇu, of a great lustre, knowing the great power of the demon, took the form of a boar to kill the demon.

74b-75. Taking up a hog’s body (i.e. form) Viṣṇu quickly entered (the nether region) after him. Going to the root of the earth, and seeing it having gone to the nether region, he held the earth, the support of the people, on his two fangs.

76. When Viṣṇu was going, holding the earth, the lord of the demons came to him, hurting him boldly with (bad) words.

77. Viṣṇu, who had taken up the form of a hog, tolerated the bad words and angrily put the earth on a mountain in the water.

78-79a. Depositing his power into the earth, he made it steady. Then after that the demon-king who had stuck to it stood up, and full of great anger, struck Viṣṇu with a mace.

79b-80a. Viṣṇu (in the) hog (-form) avoided (the stroke of) the mace, as one, endowed with deep and abstract meditation, avoids death; and struck him (with his mace called) Kaumodakī.

80b-81. Then the very powerful Hiraṇyakṣa, full of anger, again struck the lord on his right arm, with a fist. Thus a great fight, in which the right and left hands were used, and the warriors were coming forward and going back, took place.

82-83a. They turned round, confused and imitated each other. Brahma and other gods, remaining in the sky, watched the fight; and they said: “Well-being to the beings, gods and sages.”

83b-84a. They said to Viṣṇu, the lord of gods who had taken up the form of a hog: “O god, do not play like a child. Kill him who is a source of trouble to the gods.”

84b-87a. Then very lustrous Viṣṇu, who had taken up the form of an illusory hog, taking the consent of Brahma and others threw the powerful disc, which resembled a thousand suns in lustre, which had a thousand spokes, which was very radiant, which was terrible and which was capable of killing the demon and which resembled the fire at the end of the world. That disc, released by Viṣṇu, reduced to ashes the very powerful Hiraṇyakṣa, when Brahma and others were watching (i.e. in the presence of Brahma and others).

87b-88. (Then) the disc came (back) to Viṣṇu. Then gods like Brahma and others, and the regents of the quarters led by Indra seeing Viṣṇu’s victory, arrived there, and praised him.

Gods said:

89. We salute Viṣṇu, who is the origin of the world, who is the lord of the gods and demons, who is the protector of the worlds. We seek the shelter of him (i.e. Viṣṇu) from whose lotus-like navel, it is said, Brahma was born.

90. Our salutation to you (O Viṣṇu) who had taken up the fish-form; our salutation to you, who had taken up the form of a tortoise; we salute you of the form of Nṛsiṃha; and also of the Vāmana-form.

91-92a. Our salutation to you who (in the incarnation as) Paraśurāma destroyed the kṣatriyas, and to Rama, the destroyer of Rāvaṇa. Our salutation to (you) the killer of Pralamba; to Rāma; to Buddha; to the deluder of the demon; to the destroyer of mlecchas; to (the form) named Kalki; and (to you) who had taken up the form of a hog.

92b-93. In every yuga, you take up (different)forms for the good of the world and the destruction of the demons. Now you have killed the daring demon Hiraṇyākṣa, who easily conquered the important regents of the quarters led by Indra.

94. You have struck him down for the good of gods. O best of gods, be pleased. O god of gods, you, in the form of Brahma, are the creator of this (whole world). You are the creator of this (whole) world.

95. You are also its protector. In every yuga, you also take up very lovely forms. Turning yourself ṃto the destructive fire and (into the form of) Śiva, you yourself destroy the (whole) world at the time of (its) end.

96-97a. Therefore, you are the cause of the (whole) world; beyond you there is no life or absence of it. You alone are the past or the future or the present form called the mobile and immobile. The world does not shine forth without you.

97b-98. The form based on distinction between existence and non-existence or real and unreal depends upon you only. Therefore, O god, no one with an immature intellect, except the person devoted to your feet, is able to comprehend you (i.e. your true nature). Therefore, we are seeking the shelter of you, who are the protector.

Vyāsa said:

99-102. Then Viṣṇu, with his mind pleased, said to the gods: “Well-being to you, O gods, I am now pleased by this hymn of praise. O gods, for him, who would devoutly and respectfully recite this hymn of praise of (my) victory, nothing is inaccessible in the three worlds. A man by narrating or listening to it obtains the fruit which is obtained by properly giving a hundred thousand cows. The daily narration of the account of the victory of the god of gods gives everything. There was no greater knowledge than this, nor will there be greater knowledge than this.”