Ch 6 Verse 1-2 Verse

Sanskrit Text

५.६ षष्ठोऽध्यायः । महिषासुरस्येन्द्रादिदेवैः सह युद्धवर्णनम् । व्यास उवाच । ताम्रेऽथ मूर्च्छिते दैत्ये महिषः क्रोधसंयुतः । समुद्यम्य गदां गुर्वीं देवानुपजगाम ह ॥ १ ॥ तिष्ठन्त्वद्य सुराः सर्वे हन्म्यहं गदया किल । सर्वे बलिभुजः कामं बलहीनाः सदैव हि ॥ २ ॥

English Translation

Vyāsa said :-- O King! On the Daitya Tāmra becoming unconscious Mahiṣa became very angry and, raising his Gadā (club), came up before the Devas and said :-- “Devas! O Ye powerless like crows; wait; with one stroke of Gadā, I will kill you.”

Ch 6 Verse 3 Verse

Sanskrit Text

इत्युक्त्वासौ गजारूढं सम्प्राप्य मदगर्वितः । जघान गदया तूर्णं बाहुमूले महाभुजः ॥ ३ ॥

English Translation

Thus saying, the powerful Mahiṣa swelled with pride, seeing Indra before him mounted on his elephant instantly struck him on his arms.

Ch 6 Verse 4 Verse

Sanskrit Text

सोऽपि वज्रेण घोरेण चिच्छेदाशु गदाञ्च ताम् । प्रहर्तुकामस्त्वरितो जगाम महिषं प्रति ॥ ४ ॥

English Translation

Indra, again lost no time, and struck violently with his thunderbolt and cut the Dānava’s Gadā into pieces, and came up very close, wanting to strike at him.

Ch 6 Verse 5 Verse

Sanskrit Text

हयारिरपि कोपेन खड्गमादाय सुप्रभम् । ययाविन्द्रं महावीर्यं प्रहरिष्यन्निवान्तिकम् ॥ ५ ॥

English Translation

Mahiṣa, too, becoming very angry took up his lustrous sword and came to Indra to attack him with this weapon.

Ch 6 Verse 6 Verse

Sanskrit Text

बभूव च तयोर्युद्धं सर्वलोकभयावहम् । आयुधैर्विविधैस्तत्र मुनिविस्मयकारकम् ॥ ६ ॥

English Translation

A fight then occurred between the two, terrible to all the Lokas and wonderful to the Munis, where various weapons were showered from both the sides.

Ch 6 Verse 7 Verse

Sanskrit Text

चकाराशु तदा दैत्यो मायां मोहकरीं किल । शाम्बरीं सर्वलोकघ्नीं मुनीनामपि मोहिनीम् ॥ ७ ॥

English Translation

The Demon Mahiṣa spread then his Śāmvarī Māyā, destructive to all the worlds and fascinating to the Munis.

Ch 6 Verse 8 Verse

Sanskrit Text

कोटिशो महिषास्तत्र तद्रूपास्तत्पराक्रमाः । ददृशुः सायुधाः सर्वे निघ्नन्तो देववाहिनीम् ॥ ८ ॥

English Translation

Hundreds and hundreds of powerful buffalo-like appearances resembling Mahiṣa became, then, visible on the battle-field; they all began to kill the Deva forces with weapons in their hands.

Ch 6 Verse 9-10 Verse

Sanskrit Text

मघवा विस्मितस्तत्र दृष्ट्वा तां दैत्यनिर्मिताम् । बभूवातिभयोद्विग्नो मायां मोहकरीं किल ॥ ९ ॥ वरुणोऽपि सुसन्त्रस्तस्तथैव धननायकः । यमो हुताशनः सूर्यः शीतरश्मिर्भयातुरः ॥ १० ॥

English Translation

Seeing this magic of the Dānava, Indra became thunderstruck and very much confounded with terror. Varuṇa, Kuvera, the Lord of wealth, Yama, Fire, Moon, Sun, and other Devas all fled with terror. Indra then, being surrounded by the network of magic, began to call Brahmā, Viṣṇu and Maheśa in his mind.

Ch 6 Verse 11-12 Verse

Sanskrit Text

पलायनपरा सर्वे बभूवुर्मोहिताः सुराः । ब्रह्मविष्णमहेशानां स्मरणं चक्रुरुद्यताः ॥ ११ ॥ तत्राजग्मुश्च काजेशाः स्मृतमात्राः सुरोत्तमाः । हंसतार्क्ष्यवृषारूढास्त्रातुकामा वरायुधाः ॥ १२ ॥

English Translation

At the instant when they were called in mind, Brahmā, Viṣṇu and Maheśa riding on respective conveyances Swan, Garuḍa, and Bull, came up there with best weapons in their hands for Indra’s protection.

Ch 6 Verse 13 Verse

Sanskrit Text

शौरिस्तां मोहिनीं दृष्ट्वा सुदर्शनमथोज्ज्वलम् । मुमोच तत्तेजसैव माया सा विलयं गता ॥ १३ ॥

English Translation

Viṣṇu seeing the play of that fascinating magic hurled his bright discus, Sudarśan; and caused the magic to vanish at once.

Ch 6 Verse 14 Verse

Sanskrit Text

वीक्ष्य तान्महिषस्तत्र सृष्टिस्थित्यन्तकारिणः । योद्धुकामः समादाय परिघं समुपाद्रवत् ॥ १४ ॥

English Translation

Seeing the three, the Creator, the Preserver, and the Destroyer, the Dānava Mahiṣa came up there with his Parigha (a club tipped with iron) weapon, desirous to fight with them.

Ch 6 Verse 15-16 Verse

Sanskrit Text

महिषाख्यो महावीरः सेनानीश्चिक्षुरस्तथा । उग्रास्यश्चोग्रवीर्यश्च दुद्रुवुर्युद्धकामुकाः ॥ १५ ॥ असिलोमात्रिनेत्रश्च बाष्कलोऽन्धक एव च । एते चान्ये च बहवो युद्धकामा विनिर्ययुः ॥ १६ ॥

English Translation

Then the general Cikṣura, Ugrāsya, Ugravīrya, Asilomā, Trinetra, Vāskala, Andhaka and other warriors came up to fight.

Ch 6 Verse 17 Verse

Sanskrit Text

सन्नद्धा धृतचापास्ते रथारूढा मदोद्धताः । परिवव्रुः सुरान्सर्वान्वृका इव सुवत्सकान् ॥ १७ ॥

English Translation

Those Proud Dānavas, clad in armour and mounted on chariots with bows in their hands besieged the Devas, like a tiger attacking an heifer.

Ch 6 Verse 18 Verse

Sanskrit Text

बाणवृष्टिं ततश्चक्रुर्दानवा मदगर्विताः । सुराश्चापि तथा चक्रुः परस्परजिघांसवः ॥ १८ ॥

English Translation

Then those Dānavas swelled with pride began to shower on arrows after arrows; the Devas, too, began to do the same, desiring to extirpate them.

Ch 6 Verse 19 Verse

Sanskrit Text

अन्धको हरिमासाद्य पञ्चबाणाञ्छिलाशितान् । मुमोच विषसन्दिग्धान्कर्णाकृष्टान्महाबलान् ॥ १९ ॥

English Translation

The General Andhaka, coming up to Hari, drew his bow with great force up to his ear and shot at him five sharp arrows tipped with poison.

Ch 6 Verse 20 Verse

Sanskrit Text

वासुदेवोऽप्यसम्प्राप्तान्विशिखानाशुगैस्तदा । चिच्छेद तान्पुनः पञ्च मुमोच रिपुनाशनः ॥ २० ॥

English Translation

Vāsudeva, the Destroyer of the enemies, cut off those arrows no sooner they came up before him; and He shot at the Dānavas five arrows.

Ch 6 Verse 21 Verse

Sanskrit Text

तयोः परस्परं युद्धं बभूव हरिदैत्ययोः । बाणासिचक्रमुसलैर्गदाशक्तिपरश्वधैः ॥ २१ ॥

English Translation

Then Hari and the Dānava struck each other with various weapons and arrows, swords, discus, Muṣala, clubs, Śakti, and Paraśu.

Ch 6 Verse 22 Verse

Sanskrit Text

महेशान्धकयोर्युद्धं तुमुलं लोमहर्षणम् । पञ्चाशद्दिनपर्यन्तं बभूव च परस्परम् ॥ २२ ॥

English Translation

Here, on the other hand, the fight lasted for fifty days between Maheśa versus Andhaka; and it was a very close conflict, causing horripilation.

Ch 6 Verse 23 Verse

Sanskrit Text

इन्द्रबाष्कलयोस्तद्वन्महिषासुररुद्रयोः । यमत्रिनेत्रयोस्तद्वन्महाहनुधनेशयोः ॥ २३ ॥

English Translation

Thus severe fights ensued between Vāskala and Indra, Mahiṣa and Rudra, Trinetra and Yama, Mahā Hanu and Kuvera, Asilomā and Varuṇa.

Ch 6 Verse 24-26 Verse

Sanskrit Text

असिलोमवरुणयोर्युद्धं परमदारुणम् । गरुडं गदया दैत्यो जघान हरिवाहनम् ॥ २४ ॥ स गदापातखिन्नाङ्गो निःश्वसन्नवतिष्ठत । शौरिस्तं दक्षिणेनाशु हस्तेन परिसान्त्वयन् ॥ २५ ॥ स्थिरं चकार देवेशो वैनतेयं महाबलम् । समाकृष्य धनुः शार्ङ्गं मुमोच विशिखान्बहून् ॥ २६ ॥

English Translation

The Dānava Mahiṣa struck Garuḍa, the conveyance of Hari, with his club; Garuḍa, being very much distressed with the blow, sat down, gasping. Viṣṇu then comforted the powerful Garuḍa, the son of Vinatā and made him calm and quiet.

Ch 6 Verse 27 Verse

Sanskrit Text

अन्धकोपरि कोपेन हन्तुकामो जनार्दनः । दानवोऽपि च तान्वाणांश्चिच्छेद स्वशरैः शितैः ॥ २७ ॥

English Translation

Wanting to kill Andhaka, Janārdana became infuriated, and, drawing his bow made of horn, call Śārṅga, shot at him arrows after arrows.

Ch 6 Verse 28 Verse

Sanskrit Text

पञ्चाशद्भिर्हरिं कोपाज्जघान च शिलाशितैः । वासुदेवोऽपि तांस्तूर्णं वञ्चयित्वा शरोत्तमान् ॥ २८ ॥

English Translation

The Dānava cut off all those arrows to pieces with his own mass of arrows. Then, becoming very angry, he shot fifty sharp arrows at Hari.

Ch 6 Verse 29 Verse

Sanskrit Text

चक्रं मुमोच वेगेन सहस्रारं सुदर्शनम् । त्यक्तं सुदर्शनं दूरात्स्वचक्रेण न्यवारयत् ॥ २९ ॥

English Translation

Vāsudeva quickly made all those arrows useless and hurled Sudarśana Cakra with thousand spokes on the Dānava with great violence.

Ch 6 Verse 30 Verse

Sanskrit Text

ननाद च महाराज देवान्सम्मोहयन्निव । दृष्ट्वा तु विफलं जातं चक्रं देवस्य शार्ङ्गिणः ॥ ३० ॥

English Translation

Andhaka thwarted this with his own discus and shouted aloud with such a great force that all the Devas became confused and confounded. Viṣṇu’s Cakra being baffled, the Devas became distressed with grief and the Dānavas got elated.

Ch 6 Verse 31 Verse

Sanskrit Text

जग्मुः शोकं सुराः सर्वे जहर्षुर्दानवास्तथा । वासुदेवोऽपि तरसा दृष्ट्वा देवाञ्छुचावृतान् ॥ ३१ ॥

English Translation

Seeing the Devas thus grieved, Viṣṇu held aloft his Kaumodakī Gadā (club) and came hurriedly before the Dānava.

Ch 6 Verse 32-34 Verse

Sanskrit Text

गदां कौमोदकीं धृत्वा दानवं समुपाद्रवत् । तं जघानातिवेगेन मूर्ध्नि मायाविनं हरिः ॥ ३२ ॥ स गदाभिहतो भूमौ निपपातातिमूर्च्छितः । तं तथा पतितं वीक्ष्य हयारिरतिकोपनः ॥ ३३ ॥ आजगाम रमानाथं त्रासयन्नतिगर्जितैः । वासुदेवोऽपि तं दृष्ट्वा समायान्तं क्रुधान्वितम् ॥ ३४ ॥

English Translation

Hari struck then with his Gadā on the Dānava’s head whereon he fell senseless on the ground. The hot-tempered Mahiṣa, seeing Andhaka senseless, bellowed aloud and, terrifying Hari, came up there. Seeing him there, Vāsudeva made such a thundering noise with his bow string that the Devas became highly glad.

Ch 6 Verse 35-36 Verse

Sanskrit Text

चापज्यानिनदं चोग्रं चकार नन्दयन्सुरान् । शरवृष्टिं चकाराशु भगवान्महिषोपरि ॥ ३५ ॥ सोऽपि चिच्छेद बाणौघैस्ताञ्छरान्गगनेरितान् । तयोर्युद्धमभूद्राजन् परस्परभयावहम् ॥ ३६ ॥

English Translation

Then the Bhagavān shot showers of arrows on Mahiṣa; and Mahiṣa, too, cut those arrows while they were seen in the air. O king! Then a very close fight ensued between the two, Keśava struck on the head of the Dānava with his club.

Ch 6 Verse 37 Verse

Sanskrit Text

गदया ताडयामास केशवो मस्तकोपरि । स गदाभिहतो मूर्ध्नि पपातोर्व्यां सुमूर्च्छितः ॥ ३७ ॥

English Translation

Thus struck, he fell in a swoon on the ground and a general cry of distress arose amongst the Dānavas.

Ch 6 Verse 38 Verse

Sanskrit Text

हाहाकारो महानासीत्सैन्ये तस्य सुदारुणः । स विहाय व्यथां दैत्यो मुहूर्तादुत्थितः पुनः ॥ ३८ ॥

English Translation

In a moment the Dānava got up again, free from trouble; he then struck again on Viṣṇu’s head with his Parigha (a club mounted with iron, a mace).

Ch 6 Verse 39 Verse

Sanskrit Text

गृहीत्वा परिघं शीर्षे जघान मधुसूदनम् । परिघेणाहतस्तेन मूर्च्छामाप जनार्दनः ॥ ३९ ॥

English Translation

Struck by that mace, Janārdan lay senseless; Garuḍa, seeing him thus unconscious, immediately took him away from the battle field.

Ch 6 Verse 40-41 Verse

Sanskrit Text

मूर्च्छितं तमुवाहाशु जगाम गरुडो रणात् । परावृत्ते जगन्नाथे देवा इन्द्रपुरोगमाः ॥ ४० ॥ भयं प्रापुः सुदुःखार्ताश्चुक्रुशुश्च रणाजिरे । क्रन्दमानान्सुरान्वीक्ष्य शङ्करः शूलभृत्तदा ॥ ४१ ॥

English Translation

When Viṣṇu thus fled, Indra and the Devas were much distressed with fear and began to cry aloud. Hearing the Devas cry, Śaṅkara became wrathful and, quickly coming before Mahiṣa, struck him with his trident (Śūla).

Ch 6 Verse 42 Verse

Sanskrit Text

महिषं तरसाभ्येत्य प्राहरद्रोषसंयुतः । सोऽपि शक्तिं मुमोचाथ शङ्करस्योरसि स्फुटम् ॥ ४२ ॥

English Translation

The wicked Mahiṣa made his weapon ineffectual and bellowed aloud and struck on the breast of Śaṅkara with his Śakti (a kind of missile).

Ch 6 Verse 43-44 Verse

Sanskrit Text

जगर्ज स च दुष्टात्मा वञ्चयित्वा त्रिशूलकम् । शङ्करोऽपि तदा पीडां न प्रापोरसि ताडितः ॥ ४३ ॥ तं जघान त्रिशूलेन कोपादरुणलोचनः । संलग्नं शङ्करं दृष्ट्वा महिषेण दुरात्मना ॥ ४४ ॥

English Translation

Thus wounded in his breast Śaṅkara did not feel any pain; rather, with his eyes red with anger, He struck him again with Trisūla. Seeing Śaṅkara engaged with Mahiṣa, Hari becoming conscious came again on the battle-field.

Ch 6 Verse 45-46 Verse

Sanskrit Text

आजगाम हरिस्तावत्त्यक्त्वा मूर्च्छां प्रहारजाम् । महिषस्तु तदा वीक्ष्य सम्प्राप्तौ हरिशङ्करौ ॥ ४५ ॥ युद्धकामौ महावीर्यो चक्रशूलधरौ वरौ । कोपयुक्तो बभूवासौ दृष्ट्वा तौ समुपागतौ ॥ ४६ ॥

English Translation

Seeing the two powerful Deva-chiefs, Hari and Hara, in the battle-field Mahiṣa became very much angry: he then assumed a buffalo body and wagging his tail to and fro came in front of them with a desire to fight.

Ch 6 Verse 47-48 Verse

Sanskrit Text

जगाम सम्मुखस्तावत्सङ्ग्रामार्थं महाभुजः । माहिषं वपुरास्थाय धुन्वन्पुच्छं समुत्कटम् ॥ ४७ ॥ चकार भैरवं नादं त्रासयन्नमरानपि । धुन्वञ्छृङ्गे महाकायो दारुणो जलदो यथा ॥ ४८ ॥

English Translation

That terrible Mahiṣa of a huge body shook his horns and bellowed so deep like a thunder cloud that even the Devas got frightened. He began to hurl the huge mountain peaks with his two horns.

Ch 6 Verse 49 Verse

Sanskrit Text

शृङ्गाभ्यां पर्वताज्छृङ्गांश्चिक्षेप भृशमुत्कटान् । दृष्ट्वा तौ तु महावीर्यौ दानवं देवसत्तमौ ॥ ४९ ॥

English Translation

The two powerful Devas Hari and Hara, began to shoot at the Dānava deadly arrows after arrows.

Ch 6 Verse 50 Verse

Sanskrit Text

चक्रतुर्बाणवृष्टिं च दानवोपरि दारुणाम् । कुर्वाणौ बाणवृष्टिं तौ दृष्ट्वा हरिहरौ हरिः ॥ ५० ॥

English Translation

Seeing these two gods shower arrows upon him, Mahiṣa began to hurl mountains on them by his tail.

Ch 6 Verse 51 Verse

Sanskrit Text

चिक्षेप गिरिशृङ्गं तु पुच्छेनावृत्य दारुणम् । आपतन्तं गिरिं वीक्ष्य भगवान्सात्वतां पतिः ॥ ५१ ॥

English Translation

Viṣṇu cut off those mountains into hundred pieces by his arrow; and struck at him instantly with his Cakra.

Ch 6 Verse 52 Verse

Sanskrit Text

विशिखैः शतधा चक्रे चक्रेणाशु जघान तम् । हरिचक्राहतः सङ्ख्ये मूर्च्छामाप स दैत्यराट् ॥ ५२ ॥

English Translation

Struck thus by Cakra, the Lord of the Dānavas fainted, but he instantly rose up with a human body.

Ch 6 Verse 53 Verse

Sanskrit Text

उत्तस्थौ च क्षणान्नूनं मानुषं वपुरास्थितः । गदापाणिर्महाघोरो दानवः पर्वतोपमः ॥ ५३ ॥

English Translation

The mountain-like terrible Dānava with a club in his hand frightened the Devas and uttered grave sounds like those of rumbling rain clouds.

Ch 6 Verse 54 Verse

Sanskrit Text

मेघनादं ननादोच्चैर्भीषयन्नमरानपि । तच्छ्रुत्वा भगवान्विष्णुः पाञ्चजन्यं समुज्ज्वलम् ॥ ५४ ॥

English Translation

Hearing that, the Bhagavān Viṣṇu sounded a more terrible sound with his Pañchajanya Śaṅkha (conchshell).

Ch 6 Verse 55 Verse

Sanskrit Text

पूरयामास तरसा शब्दं कर्तुं खरस्वरम् । तेन शब्देन शङ्खस्य भयत्रस्ताश्च दानवाः । बभूवुर्मुदिता देवा ऋषयश्च तपोधनाः ॥ ५५ ॥

Sanskrit Colophon

इति श्रीमद्देवीभागवते महापुराणेऽष्टादशसाहस्र्यां संहितायां पञ्चमस्कन्धे महिषासुरस्येन्द्रादिदेवैः सह युद्धवर्णनं नाम षष्ठोऽध्यायः ॥ ५.६॥

English Translation

Hearing the sound of that conchshell, the Dānavas were struck with terror and the ascetic Ṛṣis and Devas became exalted with joy. Here ends the Sixth Chapter of the Fifth Skandha on the Deva Dānava fight in Śrī Mad Devī Bhāgavatam, the Mahā Purāṇam, of 18,000 versus by Maharṣi Veda Vyāsa.