Ch 5 Verse 1 Verse

Sanskrit Text

५.५ पञ्चमोऽध्यायः । दैत्यसैन्यपराजयः । व्यास उवाच । इति श्रुत्वा सहस्राक्षः पुनराह बृहस्पतिम् । युद्धोद्योगं करिष्यामि हयारेर्नाशनाय वै ॥ १ ॥

English Translation

Vyāsa said :-- The thousand eyed Indra, hearing this, again asked to Brihaspati that he would make preparations for war against Mahiṣāsura.

Ch 5 Verse 2 Verse

Sanskrit Text

नोद्यमेन विना राज्यं न सुखं न च वै यशः । निरुद्यमं न शंसन्ति कातरा न च सोद्यमाः ॥ २ ॥

English Translation

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.

Ch 5 Verse 3 Verse

Sanskrit Text

यतीनां भूषणं ज्ञानं सन्तोषो हि द्विजन्मनाम् । उद्यमः शत्रुहननं भूषणं भूतिमिच्छताम् ॥ ३ ॥

English Translation

Knowledge is the ornament of the ascetics and contentment is the ornament of the Brāhmaṇas; but those who desire lordship over powers, effort and prowess to destroy one’s enemies are their excellent ornaments.

Ch 5 Verse 4 Verse

Sanskrit Text

उद्यमेन हतस्त्वाष्ट्रो नमुचिर्बल एव च । तथैनं निहनिष्यामि महिषं मुनिसत्तम ॥ ४ ॥

English Translation

O Muni! I will kill this Mahiṣāsura by my heroism as I had, of old, destroyed Vritra, Namuchi and Balāsura.

Ch 5 Verse 5 Verse

Sanskrit Text

बलं देवगुरुस्त्वं मे वज्रमायुधमुत्तमम् । सहायस्तु हरिर्नूनं तथोमापतिरव्ययः ॥ ५ ॥

English Translation

You are the Deva Guru; therefore you and my thunderbolt are my strength. The immortal Hari and Hara also will help me in this.

Ch 5 Verse 6 Verse

Sanskrit Text

रक्षोघ्नान्पठ मे साधो करोम्यद्य समुद्यमम् । स्वसैन्याभिनिवेशञ्च महिषं प्रति मानद ॥ ६ ॥

English Translation

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 Dānava Mahiṣa.

Ch 5 Verse 7 Verse

Sanskrit Text

व्यास उवाच । इत्युक्तो देवराजेन वाचस्पतिरुवाच ह । सुरेन्द्रं युद्धसंरक्तं स्मितपूर्वं वचस्तदा ॥ ७ ॥

English Translation

Vyāsa 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.

Ch 5 Verse 8 Verse

Sanskrit Text

बृहस्पतिरुवाच । प्रेरयामि न चाहं त्वां न च निर्वारयाम्यहम् । सन्दिग्धेऽत्र जये कामं युध्यतश्च पराजये ॥ ८ ॥

English Translation

There may be defeat or there may be victory. O Lord of Śacī! 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.

Ch 5 Verse 9 Verse

Sanskrit Text

न तेऽत्र दूषणं किञ्चिद्भवितव्ये शचीपते । सुखं वा यदि वा दुःखं विहितं च भविष्यति ॥ ९ ॥

English Translation

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.

Ch 5 Verse 10 Verse

Sanskrit Text

न मया तत्परिज्ञातं भावि दुःखं सुखं तथा । यद्भार्याहरणे प्राप्तं पुरा वासव वेत्सि हि ॥ १० ॥

English Translation

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.

Ch 5 Verse 11-12 Verse

Sanskrit Text

शशिना मे हृता भार्या मित्रेणामित्रकर्शन । स्वाश्रमस्थेन सम्प्राप्तं दुःखं सर्वसुखापहम् ॥ ११ ॥ बुद्धिमान्सर्वलोकेषु विदितोऽहं सुराधिप । क्व मे गता तदा वुद्धिर्यदा भार्या हृता बलात् ॥ १२ ॥

English Translation

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, my wife.

Ch 5 Verse 13 Verse

Sanskrit Text

तस्मादुपायः कर्तव्यो बुद्धिमद्भिः सदा नरैः । कार्यसिद्धिः सदा नूनं दैवाधीना सुराधिप ॥ १३ ॥

English Translation

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.

Ch 5 Verse 14-15 Verse

Sanskrit Text

व्यास उवाच । तच्छ्रुत्वा वचनं सत्यं गुरोः सार्थं शचीपतिः । ब्रह्माणं शरणं गत्वा नत्वा वचनमब्रवीत् ॥ १४ ॥ पितामह सुराध्यक्ष दैत्यो महिषसंज्ञकः । ग्रहीतुकामः स्वर्गं मे बलोद्योगं करोत्यलम् ॥ १५ ॥

English Translation

Vyāsa said :-- O King! On hearing the words of Brihaspati, pregnant with truth, Indra went with him to Brahmā, took his refuge and saluting him said :-- O Grand Sire! The Dānava is collecting a big army, and wants to conquer and take possession of the Heavens.

Ch 5 Verse 16 Verse

Sanskrit Text

अन्ये च दानवाः सर्वे तत्सैन्यं समुपस्थिताः । योद्धुकामा महावीर्याः सर्वे युद्धविशारदाः ॥ १६ ॥

English Translation

All the other Dānavas 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.

Ch 5 Verse 17 Verse

Sanskrit Text

तेनाहं भीतभीतोऽस्मि त्वत्सकाशमिहागतः । सर्वज्ञोऽसि महाप्राज्ञ साहाय्यं कर्तुमर्हसि ॥ १७ ॥

English Translation

I am therefore very afraid and have come to you. You know everything; please help me in this matter.

Ch 5 Verse 18 Verse

Sanskrit Text

ब्रह्मोवाच । गच्छामः सर्व एवाद्य कैलासं त्वरिता वयम् । शङ्करं पुरतः कृत्वा विष्णुं च बलिनां वरम् ॥ १८ ॥

English Translation

Brahmā said :-- We all will go today to the Mount Kailāśa and take Śaṅkara with us and go to Viṣṇu.

Ch 5 Verse 19 Verse

Sanskrit Text

ततो युद्धं प्रकर्तव्यं सर्वैः सुरगणैः सह । मिलित्वा मन्त्रमाधाय देशं कालं विचिन्त्य च ॥ १९ ॥

English Translation

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.

Ch 5 Verse 20 Verse

Sanskrit Text

बलाबलमविज्ञाय विवेकमपहाय च । साहसं तु प्रकुर्वाणो नरः पतनमृच्छति ॥ २० ॥

English Translation

For one who dares to do any act without considering one’s strength and without any judgment, certainly courts his own downfall.

Ch 5 Verse 21 Verse

Sanskrit Text

व्यास उवाच । तन्निशम्य सहस्राक्षः कैलासं निर्जगाम ह । ब्रह्माणं पुरतः कृत्वा लोकपालसमन्वितः ॥ २१ ॥

English Translation

Vyāsa said :-- O King! Hearing this, Indra with the other Lokāpalas and Devas, headed by Brahmā, went to Kailāśā.

Ch 5 Verse 22 Verse

Sanskrit Text

तुष्टाव शङ्करं गत्वा वेदमन्त्रैर्महेश्वरम् । प्रसन्नं पुरतः कृत्वा ययौ विष्णुपुरं प्रति ॥ २२ ॥

English Translation

Then they came to Śaṅkara and sang vedic hymns to him. Maheśvara became very much pleased and they taking Him went to Vaikunṭha, the abode of Viṣṇu.

Ch 5 Verse 23 Verse

Sanskrit Text

स्तुत्वा तं देवदेवेशं कार्यं प्रोवाच चात्मनः । महिषात्तद्भयं चोग्रं वरदानमदोद्धतात् ॥ २३ ॥

English Translation

Indra saluted Viṣṇu and sang hymns to him, and told him about his errand thus :-- “Mahiṣa 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).”

Ch 5 Verse 24 Verse

Sanskrit Text

तदाकर्ण्य भयं तस्य विष्णुर्देवानुवाच ह । करिष्यामो वयं युद्धं हनिष्यामस्तु दुर्जयम् ॥ २४ ॥

English Translation

Viṣṇu, then, hearing the cause of fear, told them :-- “We all will fight and kill that Demon.”

Ch 5 Verse 25 Verse

Sanskrit Text

व्यास उवाच । इति ते निश्चयं कृत्वा ब्रह्मविष्णुहरीश्वराः । स्वानि स्वानि समारुह्य वाहनानि ययुः सुराः ॥ २५ ॥

English Translation

Vyāsa said :--O king! Thus settling the question, Brahmā, Viṣṇu, and Hari and Indra and the other Devas riding on their own Vāhanas (means of conveyance) respectively dispersed.

Ch 5 Verse 26-28 Verse

Sanskrit Text

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 ॥

English Translation

While Brahmā on his vehicle Swan, Viṣṇu on his Garuḍa, Śaṅkara on his Bull, Indra on his elephant Airāvata, Kārtika on his peacock, and Yama, the god of death on his Vāhana, the Buffalo, were on the point of going with the other Deva forces, the army of the Dānava Mahiṣa met them on their way, all fully equipped with arms and weapons. A dreadful fight then ensued between the Devas and the Dānavas.

Ch 5 Verse 29-30 Verse

Sanskrit Text

बाणैः खड्गैस्तथा प्रासैर्मुसलैश्च परश्वधैः । गदाभिः पट्टिशैः शूलैश्चक्रैश्च शक्तितोमरैः ॥ २९ ॥ मुद्गरैर्भिन्दिपालैश्च हलैश्चैवातिदारुणैः । अन्यैश्च विविधैरस्त्रैर्निजघ्नुस्ते परस्परम् ॥ ३० ॥

English Translation

Arrows, axes, Prāsas, Muṣalas (clubs), Paraśus (pick axes), Gadās (clubs), Pattiśas, Śūlas (tridents), cakras (discus) Śakti (weapons), Tomaras, Mudgaras, Bhindipālas, Lāṅgalas, and various other deadly weapons appeared on the scenes with which they fought against one another.

Ch 5 Verse 31 Verse

Sanskrit Text

सेनानीश्चिक्षुरस्तस्य गजारूढो महाबलः । मघवन्तं पञ्चभिस्तैः सायकैः समताडयत् ॥ ३१ ॥

English Translation

The Commander-in-Chief of Mahiṣa, the very powerful Cikṣura, shot five sharp arrows at Indra.

Ch 5 Verse 32 Verse

Sanskrit Text

तुराषाडपि तांश्छित्त्वा बाणैर्बाणांस्त्वरान्वितः । हृदये चार्धचन्द्रेण ताडयामास तं कृती ॥ ३२ ॥

English Translation

The ever-ready and light-handed Indra too, with his arrows cut off all of them and struck at his heart heavily with his Ardhacandra (half moon) arrow.

Ch 5 Verse 33-35 Verse

Sanskrit Text

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 ॥

English Translation

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 Dānava’s forces. The Lord of the Dānavas seeing this, got very angry and addressed the general Vidāla “O Hero! You are very powerful; go then and kill first that haughty Indra; then kill Varuṇa and other Devas and come back to me.”

Ch 5 Verse 36 Verse

Sanskrit Text

व्यास उवाच । तच्छ्रुत्वा वचनं तस्य बिडालाख्यो महाबलः । आरुह्य वारणं मत्तं जगाम त्रिदशाधिपम् ॥ ३६ ॥

English Translation

Vyāsa said :-- The very powerful Asura Viḍāla, on receiving the order came up at once to Indra, mounted on a very furious elephant.

Ch 5 Verse 37 Verse

Sanskrit Text

वासवस्तं समायान्तं दृष्ट्वा क्रोधसमन्वितः । जघान विशिखैस्तीक्षौराशीविषसमप्रभैः ॥ ३७ ॥

English Translation

Seeing him coming, Vāsava shot at him angrily with very terrible and most powerful arrows that looked like deadly snakes.

Ch 5 Verse 38 Verse

Sanskrit Text

स तु छित्त्वा शरांस्तूर्णं स्वशरैश्चापनिःसृतैः । पञ्चाशद्भिर्जघानाशु वासवञ्च शिलीमुखैः ॥ ३८ ॥

English Translation

But the Demon, too, out off those arrows at once with his excellent arrows and quickly shot at Vāsava fifty arrows, sharpened on stones.

Ch 5 Verse 39-40 Verse

Sanskrit Text

तथेन्द्रोऽपि च तान्बाणांश्छित्त्वा कोपसमन्वितः । जघान विशिखैस्तीक्ष्णैराशीविषसमप्रभैः ॥ ३९ ॥ स तु छित्त्वा शरांस्तूर्णं स्वशरैश्चापनिःसृतैः । गदया ताडयामास गजं तस्य करोपरि ॥ ४० ॥

English Translation

Indra cut off all those and, being infuriated, shot again sharp deadly serpent-like arrows at him, and cutting off again all his enemieś arrows by arrows discharged from his bow, struck the elephant’s trunk with his Gadā (club).

Ch 5 Verse 41 Verse

Sanskrit Text

स्वकरे निहतो नागश्चकारार्तस्वरं मुहुः । परिवृत्य जघानाशु दैत्यसैन्यं भयातुरम् ॥ ४१ ॥

English Translation

The elephant, being thus struck on his head, cried aloud in a distressed tone and being afraid turned back, thus killing the Dānava forces as he fled away.

Ch 5 Verse 42 Verse

Sanskrit Text

दानवस्तु गजं वीक्ष्य परावृत्य गतं रणात् । समाविश्य रथे रम्ये जगामाशु सुरान् रणे ॥ ४२ ॥

English Translation

General Viḍāla, seeing the elephant fleeing away from the battle-field, mounted on a beautiful chariot and instantly appeared before the Devas to fight with them.

Ch 5 Verse 43 Verse

Sanskrit Text

तुराषाडपि तं वीक्ष्य रथस्थं पुनरागतम् । अहनद्विशिखैस्तीक्ष्णैराशीविषसमप्रभैः ॥ ४३ ॥

English Translation

Seeing the Dānava coming again on a chariot, Indra shot at him sharp arrows after arrows like venomous snakes.

Ch 5 Verse 44 Verse

Sanskrit Text

सोऽपि क्रुद्धश्चकारोग्रां बाणवृष्टिं महाबलः । बभूव तुमुलं युद्धं तयोस्तत्र जयैषिणोः ॥ ४४ ॥

English Translation

The powerful Dānava, too, infuriated hurled at him terrible arrows; then a sharp conflict ensued between Vāsava and the Dānava.

Ch 5 Verse 45 Verse

Sanskrit Text

इन्द्रस्तु बलिनं दृष्ट्वा कोपेनाकुलितेन्द्रियः । जयन्तमग्रतः कृत्वा युयुधे तेन संयुतः ॥ ४५ ॥

English Translation

Finding the Dānava powerful, Vāsava’s senses were confounded with anger; he then took his son Jayanta before him and began to fight.

Ch 5 Verse 46 Verse

Sanskrit Text

जयन्तस्तु शितैर्बाणैस्तं जघान स्तनान्तरे । पञ्चभिः प्रबलाकृष्टैरसुरं मदगर्वितम् ॥ ४६ ॥

English Translation

Jayanta stretched his bow tight and shot at the breast of the Dānava swelled with pride, five sharp arrows with his full strength. Thus shot at by the network of arrows with his full strength.

Ch 5 Verse 47 Verse

Sanskrit Text

स बाणाभिहतस्तावन्निपपात रथोपरि । अतिवाह्य रथं सूतो निर्जगाम रणाजिरात् ॥ ४७ ॥

English Translation

Thus shot at by the network of arrows, the Dānava fell unconscious on the chariot; the charioteer then fled away with his chariot from the battle-field.

Ch 5 Verse 48 Verse

Sanskrit Text

तस्मिन्विनिर्गते दैत्ये बिडालाख्येऽथ मूर्च्छिते । जयशब्दो महानासीदुन्दुभीनां च निःस्वनः ॥ ४८ ॥

English Translation

Thus on the Dānava Viḍāla 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.

Ch 5 Verse 49 Verse

Sanskrit Text

सुराः प्रमुदिताः सर्वे तुष्टुवुस्तं शचीपतिम् । जगुर्गन्धर्वपतयो ननृतुश्चाप्सरोगणाः ॥ ४९ ॥

English Translation

The Devas were very glad and sounded hymns before Indra; the Gandarbhas began to sing and the Apsarās began to dance.

Ch 5 Verse 50 Verse

Sanskrit Text

चुकोप महिषः श्रुत्वा जयशब्दं सुरैः कृतम् । प्रेषयामास तत्रैव ताम्रं परमदापहम् ॥ ५० ॥

English Translation

O king! Hearing the loud acclamations of victory to the Devas, Mahiṣa became very angry and ordered the Dānava Tāmra, the destroyer of enemy’s pride, to go to the battle-field.

Ch 5 Verse 51 Verse

Sanskrit Text

ताम्रस्तु बहुभिः सार्धं समागम्य रणाजिरे । शरवृष्टिं चकाराशु तडित्वानिव सागरे ॥ ५१ ॥

English Translation

Tāmra appeared in the battle, and, coming face to face with many Deva warriors, hurled on them showers of arrows.

Ch 5 Verse 52 Verse

Sanskrit Text

वरुणः पाशमुद्यम्य जगाम त्वरितस्तदा । यमश्च महिषारूढो दण्डमादाय निर्ययौ ॥ ५२ ॥

English Translation

Varuṇa appeared with his Pāśa weapon and Yama, mounted on his buffalo, appeared with his Dāndā (staff).

Ch 5 Verse 53-55 Verse

Sanskrit Text

तत्र युद्धमभूद् घोरं देवदानवयोर्मिथः । बाणैः खड्गैश्च मुसलैः शक्तिभिश्च परश्वधैः ॥ ५३ ॥ दण्डेन निहतस्ताम्रो यमहस्तोद्यतेन च । न चचाल महाबाहुः सङ्ग्रामाङ्गणतस्तदा ॥ ५४ ॥ चापमाकृष्य वेगेन मुक्त्वा तीव्राञ्छिलीमुखान् । इन्द्रादीनहनत्तूर्णं ताम्रस्तस्मिन् रणाजिरे ॥ ५५ ॥

English Translation

Yama raising his Daṇḍa with his hands struck at Tāmra; but the powerful Tāmra, though severely struck, was not at all moved and remained firm in his place in the field. On the other hand Tāmra, violently drawing his bow, hurled a mass of sharp arrows at Indra and the other Devas.

Ch 5 Verse 56 Verse

Sanskrit Text

तेऽपि देवाः शरैर्दिव्यैर्निशितैश्च शिलाशितैः । निजघ्नुर्दानवान्क्रुद्धास्तिष्ठ तिष्ठेति चुकुशुः ॥ ५६ ॥

English Translation

The Devas got angry and shot at the Dānava multitudes of divine arrows sharpened on stone, and frequently called aloud “Wait, wait.”

Ch 5 Verse 57 Verse

Sanskrit Text

निहतस्तैः सुरैर्दैत्यो मूर्च्छामाप रणाङ्गणे । हाहाकारो महानासीद्दैत्यसैन्ये भयातुरे ॥ ५७ ॥

Sanskrit Colophon

इति श्रीमद्देवीभागवते महापुराणेऽष्टादशसाहस्र्यां संहितायां पञ्चमस्कन्धे दैत्यसैन्यपराजयो नाम पञ्चमोऽध्यायः ॥ ५.५॥

English Translation

The Dānava Tāmra thus shot at by the arrows of the Devas, fell unconscious in the battle-field; the Dānava 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 Dānava forces of Mahiṣa in the Māhāpurāṇam Śrī Mad Devī Bhāgavatam of 18,000 verses.