Harivamsha MahA PurANam - bhaviShya Parva
    atha saptapa~nchAshattamo.adhyAyaH
    devAsurayuddhe vR^itrAsurotkarShavarNanam
    harivamsha in the mahAbharata - bhaviShyaparva
    Lesson 57 - in the battle between deva-s and asura-s, surge of vR^itra
vaishampAyana uvAcha
tataH sarvANi sainyAni devarAjasya shAsanAt |
abhyadravanta ditijAnnadanto bhairavAn ravAn ||3-57-1
vaishampAyana said:
(O janamejaya!) Then by the order of the king of deva-s (indra) all the armies attacked by running into the sons of diti, shouting in the fearful sound of jackals.
taM balaughamaparyantaM devAnAM sudurAsadaM |
rathanAgAshvakalilaM sha~NkhadundubhiniHsvanam ||3-57-2
That unlimited flow of the army of deva-s, highly difficult to overcome, was mingled with chariots, elephants and horses accompanied by the sound of conches and large kettledrums.
ApatantaM suduShpAraM rajasA sarvato vR^itam |
sainyasAgaramakShobhyaM veleva makarAlayam ||3-57-3
That army, endowed all over with the quality of rajas (covered all over with dust), arriving at the battle field was difficult to cross over. The great army appeared like an un-agitated (calm) great ocean at the time new moon day.
tadAshcharyamapashyanta ashraddheyamivAdbhutam |
udIrNAM pR^itanAM sarvAM sAshvAM sarathaku~njarAm ||3-57-4
AchAryaH samare.atiShThatkujambhastarasA balI |
In the battle, powerful kujambha, with his strength, stopped the whole, astonishing, wonderful, extraordinary army, unseen and unbelievable along with horses, chariots and elephants.
sainyArNavaM devatAnAM girirmerurivAchalaH ||3-57-5
anIkinaM kujambhastu gadayA sa nyavArayat |
kujambha, huge like the mountain meru, stopped the army of deva-s, appearing like an ocean, with his mace.
sA tathA vAritA senA vihvalAbhUnnirudyamA ||3-57-6
That army, stopped by kujambha was distressed becoming devoid of purpose.
tasmiMstathA vartamAne saMprahAre sudAruNe |
asilomA tu balavAndAnavo dAnavAdhipaH ||3-57-7
(Note 1)
As the terrible battle was going on, the powerful asiloma, the son of danu, the king of the sons of danu,
devasainyasya sarvasya dhUmaketurivotthitaH |
tamAMsyarka ivApohyatsurasainyAni saMyuge ||3-57-8
rising up as a meteor for (destroying) all the deva army, drove away the deva army from the battle field as the sun drives away the darkness.
sahasrarashmipratimo dAnavasya rathottamaH |
sharairmegha ivAvarShaddevAnIkaM pratApavAn ||3-57-9
The chariot of the son of danu, the best among chariots, was splendorous like the thousand rays (of sun). The splendorous son of diti showered arrows on the army of deva-s, like water bearing clouds shower water.
sharaugharashmibhirdIptaiH pratapto ghoravikramaH |
raudraH krUro durAdharSho durApo dhvajinImukhe ||3-57-10
The one who is terrible and valiant, the one who tortures the enemies by shooting group of arrows blazing like sun rays, the terrible one, the cruel one, the one difficult to conquer, difficult to approach, fought in front of the army.
yudhyate daivataiH sArdhaM grasamAna iva prabhuH |
ugreShurugravadanaH samAruhya mahAgajam ||3-57-11
The lord, terrible among those having terrible faces, mounting on a great elephant, fought with the deva-s, as though swallowing them.
surANAmuttamA~NgAni prachinoti mahAbalaH |
grasandaivatasainyAni sharadaMShTraH pratApvAn ||3-57-12
The highly powerful, splendorous lord, the swallower of the deva's army, having fangs as arrows, cut off the best limbs (heads) of the deva-s.
asijihvashchakrahastashchApavyAttAnano.asuraH |
parashvadhanakhaH shrImAnmR^ida~NgApUritadhvaniH ||3-57-13
The demon's tongue was like a sword, his arm like a wheel, his mouth was like a bow, his nails were like axes. He was auspicious, and his voice was like that of a drum (mR^ida~Nga).
tiShThate dAnavashreShThaH saMyuge vyAghravadbalI |
maurvIghoShaH stanayituH pR^iShatkaH prathito mahAn ||3-57-14
The powerful, the best among the sons of danu, stood in the battle field, like a tiger. The demon appeared like a great cloud twanging his bow string.
dhanurvidyudgaNashchApo mahAmegha ivAparaH |
iShvastrasAgaro ghoro bAhugrAho durAsadaH ||3-57-15
His bow was quick like lightning. He appeared like another great rain bearing cloud. The terrible demon held a sea of arrows on his hand. He was most difficult to be conquered.
kArmukormitara~NgaughairbANAvartamahAhradaH |
gadAsimakaro raudro jyAvelaH shikShayoddhataH ||3-57-16
He appeared like a great pool, his bow as the beating of the groups of waves, his arrows as the whirlpool, his mace and sword as terrible sharks. The bow was the sea shore. He was an expert fighter.
padAtimInaH sumahAngarjitotkruShTaghoShavAn |
hayAngajAnpadAtIMshcha rathAMshcha sahasA bahUn ||3-57-17
nyamajjayata samare paravIrAnmahArathAn |
The foot soldiers were the fishes. The great battle of sea shouted and roared loudly. The terrible demon, asiloma drowned many of his enemies, valiant great chariot fighters, horses, elephants, foot soldiers and chariots in the battle.
AplAvayatsa devaughAndAruNo dAnaveshvaraH ||3-57-18
prAvartata yudhi shrImAnyudhi shreShTho yudhiShThiraH |
The terrible lord of the sons of danu, made the deva army flow away in the battle. The best among the fighters, the one who is firm in battle, the auspicious lord was engaged in the battle.
apashyaMstridashAH sarve shuddhajAmbUnadaprabham ||3-57-19
sannaddhaM tatra yudhyantaM jvalantamiva pAvakam |
All the deva-s saw the one (asiloma) who was sparkling with pure gold, who was fighting in the battle field like a blazing fire.
madhyaMdinagataM sUryaM jvalantamiva tejasA ||3-57-20
na shekuH sarvabhUtAni dAnavaM prasamIkShitum |
None among the beings was able to look at the son of danu who was blazing with splendor like the blazing mid day sun.
yathA prarUDhaM gharmAnte dahetkakShaM hutAshanaH ||3-57-21
tathAsuravaro daityo dahati sma sutejasA |
As fire, the eater of oblations, burns the dry wood in the summer, the son of diti burned the best among deva-s with his splendor.
devAnAM dAnavAnAM cha balaM mardati dAruNam ||3-57-22
virUDhamabhavatsarvamAkulaM cha samantataH |
The armies of deva-s and the sons of danu oppressed each other terribly. All those who assembled there, became terribly distressed.
shUrAshcha te balodagrA hastyashvarathadhUrgatAH ||3-57-23
AryAM buddhiM samAsthAya na tyajanti mahAraNam |
The valiants, having high power, mounted on elephants, horses and chariots, taking up the intelligence of the faithful, did not abandon the great battle.
tadudtpi~njalakaM yuddhamabhavadromaharShaNam ||3-57-24
devadAnavayoH sa~Nkhye rudhirasrAvakardamam |
That disordered tumultuous battle of deva-s and the sons of danu became highly exciting, causing the hair to bristle due to terror, making blood to flow like dirt.
na dishaH pratyajAnanta bhayagrAhanipIDitAH ||3-57-25
shastrapAtAMshcha vividhAndAnavAnAM mahAraNe |
Those oppressed by the terror of many varieties of arrows shot by the sons of danu in the battle, could not recognize the directions.
anyonyaM mUDhachittAste nijaghnurvyAkulIkR^itAH ||3-57-26
svAnparAnnAbhijAnanti vimUDhAH shastrapANayaH |
Mingling among themselves, they killed each other with confused mind. Becoming confused, those holding weapons could not recognize their own people and enemies.
shiroruheShu sa~NgR^ihya kacchichChUrasya saMyuge ||3-57-27
shUrashchchinatti mUrdhAnaM saMdaShTauShThapuTAnanam |
(Note 2)
In the battle, one valiant, grasping the hair of another valiant cut off the head, with the face biting ones own lips.
bAhubhirmuShTibhishchaiva vajrakalpaiH sudAruNaiH |
praharanti raNe vIrA AttashastrAH parasparam ||3-57-28
In the battle, the valiants holding weapons struck each other with arms, and fists terrible like the thunderbolt.
yodhaprANahare raudre svargadvAre.anapAvR^ite |
sa~Nkule tumule yuddhe vartamAne mahAbhaye ||3-57-29
As the highly fearful, tumultuous, terrible battle, taking away the life of the fighters was going on, the doors of heaven were opened (to welcome those who die in the battle field).
hayo hayaM gajo nAgaM vIro vIraM mahAhave |
abhyadrava~njighAMsanto hyasama~njasamAhave |
In the battle, horses ran against horses, elephants against elephants, valiant against valiant to kill each other.
asurAshcha surAshchaiva vikramADhyA mahArathAH || 3-57-30
juhuvuH samare prANAnnijaghnuritaretaram |
The demons as well as the deva-s, those blessed with valiance, the great chariot fighters offered their life forces as oblation, killing each other.
muktakeShA vikavachA virathAshiChinnakArmukAH ||3-57-31
hastaiH pAdaishcha yudhyante dAnavAstridashaiH saha |
With their free falling hairs, devoid of their shields, devoid of their chariots, their bows broken, the sons of diti fought with the deva-s with their hands and feet.
haristu nishitaM bhallaM preShyAmAsa saMyuge ||3-57-32
sa tasya dhanuShaH koTiM ChittvA bhUmAvapAtayat |
In the battle hari (indra) shot a sharp arrow (bhalla). That arrow cut off the curved end of his (asiloma's) bow and made it fall on the earth.
punashchApi pR^iShatkAnAM shatAni nataparvaNAm ||3-57-33
prAhiNotsahasA tasya dAnavendrasya saMyuge |
Again indra shot hundreds of arrows with sharp tips, forcefully against the king (indra) of the sons of danu in the battle.
tasya dehavimuktAste mArutena samIritAH ||3-57-34
bhagnArdhakAyA vivishuH pannagA iva parvate |
The arrows shot by indra, having the speed of wind, entered half of his (asiloma's) body , like serpents enter a mountain.
sa tairnipatitairgAtraiH kSharadbhirasR^igAvalIH ||3-57-35
babhau daityo mahAbAhurmerurdhAtumivotsR^ijan |
punashchApi pR^iShatkAnAM shatAni nataparvaNAm ||3-57-36
asiloma, the one with powerful arms, son of diti, who was struck again by hundreds of sharp arrows in his body causing blood to flow, sparkled like the mountain meru having elements.
tato.asilomA sa~NkruddhaH pragR^ihyAnyanmahAdhanuH |
rukmapu~NkhAMshcha nishitAnpreShayAmAsa sAyakAn ||3-57-37
Then asiloma, becoming angry, taking up another great bow, shot sharp arrows having golden knots.
taistu marmasu vivyAdha sarpAnalaviShopamaiH |
gAtraM sa~nChAdayAmAsa mahAbhrairiva parvatam ||3-57-38
Shooting the arrows having the poison of serpents, on each weak spots, he covered the body of his enemy like great clouds cover a mountain.
bhuyaH saMdhAya cha sharaM mumochAntakasaMnibham |
supu~NkhaM sUryasa~NkAshaM bANamapratimaM raNe ||3-57-39
Again he released sharp arrows, terrible like death, having auspicious golden knots, dazzling like sun, difficult to conquer in the battle.
tena bANaprahAreNa saMyuge bhImakarmaNA |
mumoha sahasA devo bhUmau chApi papAta ha ||3-57-40
Struck by the arrows shot by the one who performs terrible deeds in the battle, the deva became confused and fell down on the earth.
tato hAhAkR^itAH sarve deve bhUtalamAshrite |
jagatsadevamAvignaM yathArkapatanaM tathA ||3-57-41
As the deva fell down on the earth, all cried alas! alas! and became distressed in the heaven as though the sun has fallen down on the earth.
parivAraM tu samare tasya hatvA mahAsuraH |
ekatriMshatsahasrANi yodhAnAM dAnavottamaH ||3-57-42
The great demon, the best among the sons of danu, killed his followers, thirty one thousand fighters, in the battle.
jayashriyA sevyamAno dipyamAna ivAchalaH |
pragR^ihya kArmukaM ghoraM gataH shakrarathaM prati ||3-57-43
The one who accomplished victory, asiloma, like a blazing mountain, taking up a terrible bow, went towards the chariot of shakra (indra).
tathaiva tu mahAyuddhe sasainyAvashvinAvubhau |
prayuddhau saha vR^itreNa balinA devatAriNA ||3-57-44
In the same way, the twin ashvin-s, along with their army fought against the powerful vR^itra, the enemy of deva-s, in the great battle.
bANakhaDgadhanuShpANiH samare tyaktajIvitaH |
AsAdya so.ashvinau daityaH sthito giririvAchalaH ||3-57-45
Holding arrows, sword and the bow in his arms, abandoning his life in the battle, the son of diti, standing firm in the battle field like a mountain, fought against the twin ashvin-s.
tataH sha~NkhamupAdhmAya dviShatAM lomaharShaNam |
jyAghoShatalashabdaishcha sarvabhUtAnyavejayat ||3-57-46
Then he blew his conch, causing the hair of the enemies to bristle due to fear and roared in a loud voice. All the beings were distressed.
tataH saMhR^iShTaromANaH sha~NkhashabdaM vishushruvuH |
yakSharAkShasadevaughA vR^itrasyApi cha niHsvanam ||3-57-47
Then the groups of yakSha-s, rAkShasa-s and the deva-s heard the sound of blowing the conch as well as the roaring of vR^itra.
gadAtomaranistriMshashUlashaktiparashvadhAH |
pragR^ihItA vyarAjanta yakSharAkShasabAhubhiH ||3-57-48
Then the yakSha-s and rAkShasa-s took up many maces, lances (tomara), swords (nistriMsha), darts (shUla), spears and hatchets and sparkled in the battle field.
taiH pramuktAnmahAkAyaiH shUlashaktiparashvadhAn |
bhallairvR^itraparichChedabhImavegaravaistathA ||3-57-49
The darts, spears and hatchets thrown by those having huge bodies were cut to pieces by the arrow bhalla, shot by vR^itra with great speed.
antarikShacharANAM cha bhUmisthAnAM cha garjatAm |
sharairvivyAdha gAtrANi devAnAM priyadarshinAm ||3-57-50
He shot arrows at the bodies of the most beautiful deva-s travelling in the sky as well and standing on earth roaring.
vR^itrAsurabhujotsR^iShTairbahudhA yakSharakShasAm |
nikR^intAnyeva dR^ishyante sharIrANi shirAMsi cha ||3-57-51
Many of the bodies and heads of the bodies of the yakSha-s and rAkShasa-s were seen cut off by the arrows released by the hands of the demon vR^itra.
atha raktamahAvR^iShTirabhyavarShata medinIm |
gadAparighabhinnAnAM devAnAM gAtrasaMbhavA ||3-57-52
Then a great rain of blood showered on the earth originating from the bodies of deva-s, split and cut by maces and iron clubs.
prachChAdayantaM bANaughairvR^itraM bhImaparAkramam |
dadR^ishuH sarvabhUtAni bhAnumantamivAMshubhiH ||3-57-53
Then all the beings saw vR^itra, the performer of highly valiant deeds, covered by arrows, like the sun covered by group of clouds.
tIkShNarashmirivAdityaH pratapansarvadevatAH |
ashvinorbalavAnkruddhaH sAyakairmarmabhedibhiH ||3-57-54
The powerful one who tortured all the deva-s like the sun having blazing rays, becoming angry, shot arrows at the twin ashvin-s, splitting their crucial spots.
nadato vividhAnnAdAnarditasyApi sAyakaiH |
na mohamasurendrasya dadR^ishustridashA raNe ||3-57-55
The deva-s could not observe any confusion in the king (indra) of demons in the battle, even though he was oppressed by the arrows and roaring with a variety of sounds.
te.asicharmagadAbhishcha parighaprAsatomaraiH |
parashvadhaishcha shUlaishcha pravavarShurmahArathAH ||3-57-56
The best fighters, the great chariot fighters showered swords, shields, maces, iron clubs (parigha), barbed missiles (prAsa), lances (tomara), hatchets (parashvadha) and darts.
tato vR^itraH susa~NkruddhastaistadAbhyardito balI |
abhyavarShachChitairbANaistAntsarvAntsatyavikramaH ||3-57-57
Then highly powerful vR^itra, oppressed by them became angry. The truly valiant one showered sharp arrows on all of them.
tena vitrAsitA devA viprakIrNamahAyudhAH |
ghoramArtasvaraM chakrurvR^itrAsurabhayArditAH ||3-57-58
The deva-s, trembled by vR^itra, those showered great weapons, produced terrible and painful sounds, terrorized by vR^itra.
utsR^ijya te gadAshaktishUlarShTiparighAshanIn |
uttarAM dishamAjagmustrAsitA dR^iDhadhanvinA ||3-57-59
Those who threw maces, spears, darts and iron clubs, oppressed by the one holding the bow firmly in battle, ran towards the direction of north.
shUlashaktigadApANirvyUDhorasko mahAbhujaH |
prAvartata raNe vR^itrastrAsayAnashcharAcharAn ||3-57-60
The one with powerful arms, the one having a wide chest, the one who makes the moving and fixed beings tremble, vR^itra, moved in the battle field, holding darts, spears and maces in his hands.
tatraikastu mahAbAhurasishUladharaH prabhuH |
abhyadhAvata daityendraM vR^itramapratimaM raNe ||3-57-61
[gR^ihItachApo vegena prabhinna iva vAraNaH] |
In the battle field, one among them, having powerful arms, a lord holding sword and darts, followed vR^itra, the indra (king) of diti's sons, who is devoid of an opponent in the battle [holding a bow, quickly, like an elephant in rut].
tamApatantaM saMprekshya nirbhinnamiva vAraNam |
vatsadantaistribhiH pArshve vivyAdha surasattamam ||3-57-62
Seeing him entering the battle field, like an elephant in rut, he shot three vatsadanta arrows at the side of the body of the best among the demons.
so.atividdho maheShvAsaH sharairamitavikramaH |
gadAM jagrAha balavAngadAyuddhavishAradaH ||3-57-63
The highly valiant and powerful one, the expert in the fight with maces, the foremost among the bowmen, shot by many arrows, took up a mace.
tAM pragR^ihya mahAbhImAmayaHsAramayIM dR^iDhAm |
ashvinau sahasA.a.agamya tADayAmAsa vIryavAn ||3-57-64
Taking the highly huge and strong mace of iron, the highly valiant one struck the twin ashvin-s.
dIpyamAnaM tataH shUlamashvI suvipulaM dR^iDham |
prAsR^ijadvR^itradaityAya sahasA romaharShaNam ||3-57-65
Then the ashvin-s took up a blazing huge and strong dart and threw it at the son of diti, vR^itra, causing the hair to bristle due to terror.
bha~NktvA shUlaM gadAgreNa gadAyuddhavishAradaH |
ashvinaM sahasAbhyarchya garutmAniva pannagam ||3-57-66
vR^itra, the expert in the battle with maces, broke the dart with the tip of his mace. He ran and oppressed the ashvin-s suddenly like garutmAn (garuDa) oppresses the serpents.
so.antarikShAtsamutpatya vidhUya mahatIM gadAm |
nAsatyopari chikShepa girishR^i~NgopamAM balI ||3-57-67
The powerful one vR^itra, leaped from the sky, shaking his great mace and threw the same, similar to the peak of a mountain, on nAsatya (one of the ashvin-s).
gadayAbhihataH so.ashvistyaktvA shUlamanuttamam |
prayAtaH sahasA tatra yatra yudhyati vAsavaH ||3-57-68
The ashvin, nAsatya struck by the mace, abandoned his best dart and ran quickly to the place where vasava (indra) was.
parAjitya tu sa~NgrAme ashvinaM bhImavikramam |
jayashriyA sevyamAno vR^itro yuddhe vyavasthitaH ||3-57-69
vR^itra, achieving victory, by defeating the highly valiant ashvin-s in the battle, stood in the battle field.
iti shrImahAbhArate khileShu harivaMshe bhaviShyaparvaNi devAsurayuddhe vR^itrAsurotkarShavarNane saptapa~nchAshattamo.adhyAyaH
This is the fifty seventh lesson of bhaviShyaparva, harivaMsha, khila of mahAbhArata, in the manifestation of vAmana, in the battle between deva-s and asura-s, surge of vR^itra
Note 1:
After 3-57-7(1) two lines are given in section 42 B, Appendix I, Volume II, page 702, lines 1456 and 1457, Harivamsha, Bhandarkar Oriental Research Institute Pune, 1971.
tasmimstathA vartamAne saMprahAre sudAruNe (mahAtmane) |
asilomA harischaiva jagnutustau parasparam ||
As the great souls were fighting against each other, asiloma and hari (indra) struck against each other.
The Malayalam translation of these lines are given in bhAShAbhArataM (Page 965, Volume 6, DC Books, 2007)
Note 2:
After 3-57-27, this line given in section 42 B, Appendix I, Volume II, page 703, line 1498, Harivamsha, Bhandarkar Oriental Research Institute Pune, 1971, (also given on Page 1139, Gita Press Edition) is considered for meaningful translation.
The Malayalam translation of this line is given in bhAShAbhArataM (Page 966, Volume 6, DC Books, 2007).
    nIlakaNTha commentary
iti shrImahAbhArate khileShu harivaMshe bhaviShyaparvaNi TIkAyAM saptapa~nchAshattamo.adhyAyaH
Itranslated by G. Schaufelberger, schaufel @ wanadoo.fr November 26, 2008#
Proof-read by K S Rmachandran, ramachandran_ksr @ yahoo.ca.
If you find any errors compared to Chitrashala Press edition, send corrections to A. Harindranath harindranath_a @ yahoo.com
Translated to English by A. Purushothaman [purushothaman_avaroth @ yahoo.com] and A. Harindranath
11 August 2012 ##