03.170
arjuna uvāca॥
Arjuna said.
nivartamānena mayā mahad dṛṣṭaṃ tato'param। puraṃ kāmacaraṃ divyaṃ pāvakārkasamaprabham ॥03-170-1॥
As I was returning, I saw a great (wonder); then (there was) another city, moving as one wishes, divine, and as radiant as fire and the sun. (03-170-1)
drumai ratnamayaiś caitrair bhāsvaraiś ca patatribhiḥ. paulomaiḥ kālakeyaiś ca nityahṛṣṭair adhiṣṭhitam ॥03-170-2॥
It is inhabited by trees made of jewels that are pleasant and shining, birds, by the Paulomas and Kālakeyas, who are always delighted. (03-170-2)
gopurāṭṭālakopetaṃ caturdvāraṃ durāsadam। sarvaratnamayaṃ divyam adbhutopama-darśanam ॥ drumaiḥ puṣpaphalopetair divyaratnamayair vṛtam ॥03-170-3॥
It was adorned with towers and turrets, had four gates, was difficult to approach, was made of all kinds of gems, was divine, and its appearance was wondrous like a marvel. It was surrounded by trees bearing flowers and fruits and by trees made of divine gems. (03-170-3)
tathā patatribhir divyair upetaṃ sumanoharaiḥ। asurair nityam uditaiḥ śūla-ṛṣṭi-musala-āyudhaiḥ॥ cāpa-mudgara-hastaiś ca sragvibhiḥ sarvato vṛtam॥03-170-4॥
Thus it was surrounded on all sides by very charming celestial birds and always exultant asuras armed with tridents, spears, maces, and other weapons; some holding bows and clubs, all adorned with garlands. (03-170-4)
tad ahaṃ prekṣya daityānāṃ puram adbhuta-darśanam। apṛcchaṃ mātaliṃ rājan kim idaṃ dṛśyate iti vai ॥03-170-5॥
Then, having seen the marvelous city of the Daityas, I asked Mātali, "O king, what is this that I see?" (03-170-5)
mātalir uvāca॥
Mātali said.
pulomā nāma daiteyī kālakā ca mahāsurī। divyaṃ varṣasahasraṃ te ceratuḥ paramaṃ tapaḥ ॥ tapaso'nte tatastābhyāṃ svayambhūr-adadād-varam ॥03-170-6॥
The daughters of Diti named Pulomā and Kālakā, both great demonesses, practiced supreme austerity for a thousand divine years. At the end of their penance, the self-born (Brahmā) granted a boon to them. (03-170-6)
agṛhṇītāṃ varaṃ te tu sutānāmalpaduḥkhatām। avadhyatāṃ ca rājendra surarākṣasapannagaiḥ ॥03-170-7॥
She accepted the boon for you, O king, but for the sons, only lesser suffering and invulnerability from gods, demons, and serpents. (03-170-7)
ramaṇīyaṃ puraṃ cedaṃ khacaraṃ sukṛtaprabham। sarvaratnaiḥ samuditaṃ durdharṣamamarairapi ॥03-170-8॥
This city, charming and moving in the sky, resplendent through good deeds, adorned with all jewels, is unassailable even by the immortals. (03-170-8)
sayakṣagandharvagaṇaiḥ pannagāsurarākṣasaiḥ ॥03-170-8॥
Together with yakṣa and gandharva hosts, and with serpents, asuras, and rākṣasas. (03-170-8)
sarvakāma-guṇopetaṁ vītaśokam-anāmayam। brahmaṇā bharataśreṣṭha kālakeyakṛte kṛtam ॥03-170-9॥
O best of the Bharatas, it was done by Brahmā, endowed with all desirable qualities, free from sorrow and disease, for the sake of Kālakeya. (03-170-9)
tad etat khacaraṃ divyaṃ caraty amaravarjitam. paulomādhyuṣitaṃ vīra kālakeyaiś ca dānavaiḥ ॥03-170-10॥
This divine sky-moving region proceeds without the immortals; it is inhabited, O hero, by the Paulomas, by the Kālakaeyas, and by the Dānavas. (03-170-10)
hiraṇyapuram ity etat khyāyate nagaraṁ mahat। rakṣitaṁ kālakeyaiś ca paulomaiś ca mahāsuraiḥ ॥03-170-11॥
This great city is called Hiraṇyapura. It is protected by the Kālakeyas and the Paulomas, who are great asuras. (03-170-11)
ta ete muditā nityam avadhyāḥ sarvadaivataiḥ। nivasanty atra rājendra gatodvegā nirutsukāḥ॥ mānuṣo mṛtyur eteṣāṃ nirdiṣṭo brahmaṇā purā॥03-170-12॥
These, O king, are always joyful and cannot be slain by any god; they dwell here, free from agitation and without anxiety. For them, human death was appointed by Brahmā long ago. (03-170-12)
arjuna uvāca॥
Arjuna said.
surāsurair avadhyāṁs tān ahaṁ jñātvā tataḥ prabho। abruvaṁ mātaliṁ hṛṣṭo yāhy etat puram añjasā ॥03-170-13॥
Knowing that those (beings) could not be slain by the gods and asuras, then, O lord, I joyfully said to Mātaḷi: "Go directly to this city." (03-170-13)
tridaśeśadviṣo yāvat-kṣayam astraiḥ nayāmy-aham। na kathaṁcid dhi me pāpā na vadhyā ye suradviṣaḥ ॥03-170-14॥
As long as I have not destroyed the enemies of the lord of the thirty gods with weapons, by no means should these wicked ones, who are enemies of the gods, be spared by me. (03-170-14)
uvāha māṃ tataḥ śīghraṃ hiraṇyapuram-antikāt। rathena tena divyena hariyuktena mātaliḥ ॥03-170-15॥
Then Mātali quickly took me from the vicinity of Hiraṇyapura in that divine chariot yoked with horses. (03-170-15)
te mām ālakṣya daiteyā vicitrābharaṇāmbaraḥ। samutpetur mahāvegā rathān āsthāya daṃśitāḥ ॥03-170-16॥
Seeing me, the daityas—adorned in various ornaments and garments—mounted their chariots with great speed, ready and armed. (03-170-16)
tato nālīka-nārācair bhalla-śakti-ṛṣṭi-tomaraiḥ। abhyaghnan dānava-indrā māṃ kruddhāḥ tīvra-parākramāḥ ॥03-170-17॥
Then the enraged and fiercely valiant lords of the Dānavas struck me repeatedly with reed-arrows, iron-arrows, broad-headed arrows, spears, lances, and tomaras. (03-170-17)
tadahaṃ cāstravarṣeṇa mahatā pratyāvārayam। śastravarṣaṃ mahadrājanvidyābalamupāśritaḥ ॥03-170-18॥
O king, I counteracted that great shower of weapons with a great shower of missiles, relying on the power of knowledge. (03-170-18)
vyāmohayaṃ ca tān sarvān ratha-mārgaiḥ caran raṇe। te'nyonyam abhi-saṃmūḍhāḥ pātayanti sma dānavāḥ॥03-170-19॥
The Dānavas bewildered all of them, and as they moved along the chariot roads in battle, in their utter confusion, they caused each other to fall. (03-170-19)
teṣām ahaṃ vimūḍhānām anyonyam abhidhāvatām। śirāṃsi viśikhair dīptair vyaharaṃ śatasaṅghaśaḥ ॥03-170-20॥
I cut off the heads of those deluded men rushing at each other with fiery arrows in hundreds of groups. (03-170-20)
te vadhyamānā daiteyāḥ puram āsthāya tat punaḥ। kham utpetuḥ sanagarā māyām āsthāya dānavīm॥03-170-21॥
As they were being slain, the Daityas once more took refuge in their city, and, relying on demonic illusion, they rose up into the sky together with their city. (03-170-21)
tato'ham śaravarṣeṇa mahatā pratyavārayam। mārgam āvṛtya daityānām gatiṃ ca eṣām avārayam ॥03-170-22॥
Then I, with a great shower of arrows, warded off and, having blocked the path, obstructed the movement of the daityas and of these. (03-170-22)
tat-puraṃ khacaraṃ divyaṃ kāmagaṃ divya-varcasam। daiteyaiḥ vara-dānena dhāryate sma yathā-sukham ॥03-170-23॥
That divine city, moving through the sky, able to go wherever desired, resplendent with divine radiance, was being easily maintained by the Daityas by the boon, as they pleased. (03-170-23)
antarbhūmau nipatitaṃ punarūrdhvaṃ pratiṣṭhate. punastiryakprayātyāśu punarapsu nimajjati ॥03-170-24॥
Having fallen into the earth, it again rises upwards; again, it quickly moves sideways and again sinks into the waters. (03-170-24)
amarāvatisaṅkāśaṃ puraṃ kāmagamaṃ tu tat। ahamastrairbhahuvidhaiḥ pratyagṛhṇaṃ narādhipa ॥03-170-25॥
O king, I seized that city, which resembled Amaravati and could go at will, with many kinds of missiles. (03-170-25)
tato'haṃ śarajālena divyāstramuditena ca। nyagṛhṇaṃ saha daiteyais tatpuraṃ bharatarṣabha॥03-170-26॥
Then, O best of Bharatas, I subdued that city together with the Daityas by means of a shower of arrows and a divine weapon. (03-170-26)
vikṣataṁ cāyasairbāṇairmatprayuktairajihmagaiḥ। mahīmabhyapatadrājanprabhagnaṁ puramāsuram॥03-170-27॥
O King, the city of the Asuras, wounded and broken by the iron arrows—arrows sent forth by me, that did not swerve—fell to the earth. (03-170-27)
te vadhyamānā mad-bāṇair vajra-vegair ayasmayaiḥ। paryabhramanta vai rājann asurāḥ kāla-coditāḥ॥03-170-28॥
O king, as the Asuras were being slain by my iron arrows shot with thunderbolt-like speed, they wandered about, driven by Time. (03-170-28)
tato mātalir apy āśu purastān nipatan niva। mahīm avatara t kṣipraṃ rathen ādityavarcasā ॥03-170-29॥
Then Mātali too, quickly, as if falling forward, descended to the earth with the swift chariot shining with the radiance of the sun. (03-170-29)
tato rathasahasrāṇi ṣaṣṭi teṣām amarṣiṇām। yuyutsūnāṃ mayā sārdhaṃ paryavartanta bhārata॥03-170-30॥
Then, O Bhārata, sixty thousand chariots belonging to those impatient warriors desiring to fight turned back together with me. (03-170-30)
tān ahaṁ niśitair bāṇair vyadhamam gārdhravājitaiḥ। te yuddhe saṁnyavartanta samudrasya yathormayaḥ॥03-170-31॥
I struck them with sharp arrows that made a sound like the cries of vultures; in battle, they recoiled like the waves of the ocean. (03-170-31)
neme shakyā mānuṣeṇa yuddhena iti pracintya vai। tato'ham anupūrvyeṇa sarvāṇy astrāṇy ayojayam ॥03-170-32॥
After reflecting that these cannot be accomplished by human battle, I then applied all the weapons in succession. (03-170-32)
tatastāni sahasrāṇi rathānāṃ citrayodhinām। astrāṇi mama divyāni pratyaghnañśanakairiva॥03-170-33॥
Then those thousands of chariots with splendid warriors gradually counteracted my divine missiles, as if doing so slowly. (03-170-33)
rathamārgān vicitrāṁs te vicaranto mahārathāḥ। pratyadṛśyanta saṅgrāme śataśo 'tha sahasraśaḥ॥03-170-34॥
The great warriors, traversing numerous and variegated chariot-roads, were seen in the battle by hundreds and even by thousands. (03-170-34)
vicitramukuṭāpīḍā vicitrakavacadhvajāḥ। vicitrābharaṇāścaiva nandayantīva me manaḥ ॥03-170-35॥
Their marvelous crowns, wondrous armors and banners, and wondrous ornaments indeed seem to delight my mind. (03-170-35)
ahaṁ tu śara-varṣais tān astra-pramuditai raṇe। na aśaknuvam pīḍayitum te tu māṁ paryapīḍayan॥03-170-36॥
But I, with showers of arrows, being delighted by weapons in battle, was not able to afflict them; but they greatly afflicted me. (3-170-36)
taiḥ pīḍyamāno bahubhiḥ kṛtāstraiḥ kuśalair yudhi। vyathito'smi mahāyuddhe bhayaṁ cāgān mahān mama ॥03-170-37॥
Afflicted by many skillful and expert warriors in battle, I am distressed in this great war, and great fear has come upon me. (03-170-37)
tato'haṃ devadevāya rudrāya praṇato raṇe। svasti bhūtebhya ity uktvā mahāstraṃ samayojayam॥ yat tad raudram iti khyātaṃ sarvāmitravināśanam॥03-170-38॥
Then, having bowed in battle to Rudra, the god of gods, and having said, "Auspiciousness to beings," I invoked the Raudra missile, which is renowned as the destroyer of all enemies. (03-170-38)
tato'paśyaṁ triśirasaṁ puruṣaṁ navalocanam। trimukhaṁ ṣaḍbhujaṁ dīptamarkajvalanamūrdhajam ॥ lelihānairmahānāgaiḥ kṛtaśīrṣamamitrahan ॥03-170-39॥
Then I beheld a three-headed man, with nine eyes and three faces, having six arms, shining with hair blazing like the fire of the sun, his head adorned with great serpents licking, a destroyer of enemies. (03-170-39)
vibhīs-tatas-tadastraṃ tu ghoraṃ raudraṃ sanātanam। dṛṣṭvā gāṇḍīvasaṃyogamānīya bharatarṣabha ॥03-170-40॥
O bull among the Bharatas, being afraid, then, upon seeing the terrible, fierce, eternal missile and the taking up of the Gandiva (bow), (he) brought (it forth). (3-170-40)
namaskṛtvā trinetrāya śarvāyāmitatejase। mukta-vān dānava-indrāṇām parābhāvāya bhārata ॥03-170-41॥
O Bhārata, having bowed to the three-eyed Śarva of immeasurable brilliance, (he) released (the weapon) for the defeat of the lords of the Dānavas. (03-170-41)
muktamātre tatastasmīn rūpāṇy āsan sahasraśaḥ। mṛgāṇām atha siṃhānāṃ vyāghrāṇāṃ ca viśāṃ pate॥ ṛkṣāṇāṃ mahiṣāṇāṃ ca pannagānāṃ tathā gavām॥03-170-42॥
As soon as it was released, thousands of forms appeared there—of deer, lions, tigers, O lord of men; as well as bears, buffaloes, serpents, and cows. (03-170-42)
gajānāṃ sṛmarāṇāṃ ca śarabhāṇāṃ ca sarvaśaḥ । ṛṣabhāṇāṃ varāhāṇāṃ mārjārāṇāṃ tathaiva ca ॥ śālāvṛkāṇāṃ pretānāṃ bhuruṇḍānāṃ ca sarvaśaḥ ॥03-170-43॥
Of elephants, antelopes, śarabhas, bulls, boars, cats, jackals, corpses, and vultures—of all of these, in every respect. (03-170-43)
gṛdhrāṇāṃ garuḍānāṃ ca makarāṇāṃ tathaiva ca। piśācānāṃ sayakṣāṇāṃ tathaiva ca suradviṣām ॥03-170-44॥
Of vultures, Garuḍas, makaras, similarly of piśācas, yakṣas, and likewise of the enemies of the gods. (03-170-44)
guhyakānāṃ ca saṅgrāme nairṛtānāṃ tathaiva ca। jhaṣāṇāṃ gajavaktrāṇām ulūkānāṃ tathaiva ca ॥03-170-45॥
There were also battles among the Guhyakas, similarly among the Nairṛtas, as well as among the fishes, the elephant-faced beings, and the owls. (03-170-45)
mīnakūrmasamūhānāṃ nānāśastrāsipāṇinām। tathaiva yātu dhānānāṃ gadāmudgaradhāriṇām॥03-170-46॥
Of groups of fishes and turtles, and of those holding various weapons and swords; likewise, of the yātudhānas, of those bearing maces and clubs. (03-170-46)
etaiś cānyaiś ca bahubhir nānā-rūpa-dharaiḥ tathā। sarvam āsīt jagat vyāptam tasmin astre visarjite ॥03-170-47॥
By these and also by many others of various forms, the entire world was pervaded when that weapon was released. (03-170-47)
triṣirobhiś caturdaṃṣṭraiś caturāsyaiś caturbhujaiḥ। anekarūpasamyuktair māṃsamedovasāśibhiḥ॥ abhīkṣṇaṃ vadhyamānās te dānavā ye samāgatāḥ॥03-170-48॥
Those Dānavas who had assembled, along with beings of three heads, four fangs, four faces, and four arms, united in various forms and feeding on flesh, marrow, and fat, were constantly being slaughtered. (03-170-48)
arkajvalanatejobhirvajrāśanisamaprabhaiḥ। adrisāramayaiścānyairbāṇairarividāraṇaiḥ॥ nyahanaṃ dānavānsarvān muhūrtenaiva bhārata॥03-170-49॥
O Bhārata, with arrows made of the essence of the mountains, having the power and brilliance of the sun, fire, thunderbolt, and lightning, and with other enemy-destroying arrows, I struck down all the asuras in an instant. (03-170-49)
gāṇḍīvāstra-praṇunnāṁs tān gatāsūn nabhasaś cyutān। dṛṣṭvā ahaṁ prāṇamam bhūyas tripuraghnāya vedhase॥03-170-50॥
Seeing those, driven by the Gandiva weapon, lifeless and fallen from the sky, I bowed again to the destroyer of Tripura, to the Creator. (03-170-50)
tathā raudrāstraniṣpiṣṭāndivyābharaṇabhūṣitān। niśāmya paramaṃ harṣamagamaddevasārathiḥ ॥03-170-51॥
Thus, seeing those adorned with divine ornaments who had been crushed by Rudra's weapon, the charioteer of the gods felt supreme joy. (03-170-51)
tad-asahyaṃ kṛtaṃ karma devair-api durāsadam। dṛṣṭvā māṃ pūjayāmāsa mātaliḥ śakrasārathiḥ ॥03-170-52॥
Seeing me, Mātali, the charioteer of Śakra, honored me for that unbearable deed, which is difficult even for the gods to approach. (03-170-52)
uvāca cedaṃ vacanaṃ prīyamāṇaḥ kṛtāñjaliḥ। surāsurairasahyaṃ hi karma yatsādhitaṃ tvayā॥ na hyetatsaṃyuge kartumapi śaktaḥ sureśvaraḥ॥03-170-53॥
Being pleased, with joined hands, he said these words: This insurmountable feat, which has been accomplished by you—a feat not even the lord of the gods could perform in battle—has not been possible for gods or asuras. (03-170-53)
surāsurair avadhyaṃ hi puram etat khagaṃ mahat। tvayā vimathitaṃ vīra svavīryāstra-tapo-balāt ॥03-170-54॥
O hero, this great aerial city, which could not be destroyed by the gods and asuras, was indeed destroyed by you through your own strength, weapons, penance, and power. (03-170-54)
vidhvaste'tha pure tasmin dānaveṣu hateṣu ca. vinadantyaḥ striyaḥ sarvā niṣpetur nagarād bahiḥ ॥03-170-55॥
When that city had been destroyed and the dānavas slain, then all the women, wailing, came out of the city to the outside. (03-170-55)
prakīrṇakeśyo vyathitāḥ kurarya iva duḥkhitāḥ । petuḥ putrān pitṝn bhrātṝ̄n śocamānā mahītale ॥03-170-56॥
With their hair disheveled, agitated and distressed, like female curlews, lamenting sons, fathers, and brothers, they fell upon the earth. (03-170-56)
rudantyo dīnakaṇṭhy astā vinadantyo hateśvarāḥ। urāṃsi pāṇibhir ghnantyaḥ prasrasta-srag-vibhūṣaṇāḥ॥03-170-57॥
Those women, whose lords were slain, weeping with feeble voices and wailing loudly, struck their breasts with their hands; their garlands and ornaments had fallen. (3-170-57)
tac chokayuktam aśrīkaṃ duḥkha-dainya-samāhatam। na babhau dānavapuraṃ hatatviṭkaṃ hateśvaram॥03-170-58॥
That city, weighed down with sorrow, deprived of its fortune and overwhelmed by misery, no longer shone—the city of the Dānavas, bereft of splendor and its ruler slain. (03-170-58)
gandharvanagarākāraṃ hatanāgam iva hradam | śuṣkavṛkṣam iva āraṇyam adṛśyam abhavat puram ॥03-170-59॥
The city became invisible, resembling a phantom gandharva-city, like a lake from which serpents have been driven off, or like a forest of withered trees. (03-170-59)
māṃ tu saṃhṛṣṭamanasaṃ kṣipraṃ mātalir ānayat। devarājasya bhavanaṃ kṛtakarmāṇam āhavāt॥03-170-60॥
But Mātali quickly led me, cheerful in mind, from the battle to the abode of the king of the gods, after the task was accomplished. (03-170-60)
hiraṇyapuram ārujya nihatya ca mahāsurān| nivātakavacāṁś caiva tato'haṁ śakram āgamam ॥03-170-61॥
After ascending the city of gold and destroying the great asuras and the Nivātakavaca demons, I then came to Indra. (03-170-61)
mama karma ca devendraṃ mātalirvistareṇa tat। sarvaṃ viśrāvayāmāsa yathā bhūtaṃ mahādyute ॥03-170-62॥
Mātali recounted all my actions to Devendra in detail just as they had happened, O greatly radiant one. (03-170-62)
hiraṇyapuraghātaṃ ca māyānāṃ ca nivāraṇam। nivātakavacānāṃ ca vadhaṃ saṅkhye mahaujasām ॥03-170-63॥
The destruction of Hiranyapura, thwarting of the Māyās, and slaying in battle of the mighty Nivātakavacas. (03-170-63)
tac chrutvā bhagavān prītaḥ sahasrākṣaḥ puraṁdaraḥ। marudbhiḥ sahitaḥ śrīmān sādhu sādhu ity athābravīt॥03-170-64॥
Hearing that, the illustrious and pleased Indra, thousand-eyed Purandara, together with the Maruts, said, 'Well done! Well done!' (03-170-64)
tato māṃ devarājo vai samāśvāsya punaḥ punaḥ। abravīdvibudhaiḥ sārdhamidaṃ sumadhuraṃ vacaḥ॥03-170-65॥
Then the king of gods, Indra, having repeatedly consoled me, spoke these most sweet words together with the other gods. (03-170-65)
atidevā-asuraṃ karma kṛtam etat tvayā raṇe। gurvarthaś ca mahān pārtha kṛtaḥ śatrūn-ghnatā mama॥03-170-66॥
O Pārtha, in the battle you have performed a deed beyond those of gods and asuras. And, by slaying my enemies, you have accomplished a great act for the sake of the teacher. (3-170-66)
evameva sadā bhāvyaṃ sthireṇājau dhanañjaya. asaṃmūḍhena cāstrāṇāṃ kartavyaṃ pratipādanam ॥03-170-67॥
In this way always, O Dhananjaya, the steadfast in battle should consider; and one who is not deluded ought to apply the use of missiles. (03-170-67)
aviṣahyo raṇe hi tvaṁ devadānavarākṣasaiḥ। sayakṣāsuragandharvaiḥ sapakṣigaṇapannagaiḥ॥03-170-68॥
You are indeed impossible to be overcome in battle by gods, demons, and rākṣasas, together with yakṣas, asuras, gandharvas, and also flocks of birds and serpents. (03-170-68)
vasudhāṁ cāpi kaunteya tvad-bāhu-bala-nirjitām। pālayiṣyati dharmātmā kuntī-putro yudhiṣṭhiraḥ॥03-170-69॥
O son of Kunti, the earth that has been conquered by the strength of your arm will be protected by the righteous Yudhishthira, son of Kunti. (03-170-69)
