King Indra Annihilates the Demons
VERSE 8.11.1
śrī-śuka uvāca
atho surāḥ pratyupalabdha-cetasaḥ
parasya puṁsaḥ parayānukampayā
jaghnur bhṛśaṁ śakra-samīraṇādayas
tāṁs tān raṇe yair abhisaṁhatāḥ purā
SYNONYMS
śrī-śukaḥ uvāca — Śrī Śukadeva Gosvāmī said; atho — thereafter; surāḥ — all the demigods; pratyupalabdha-cetasaḥ — being enlivened again by revival of their consciousness; parasya — of the Supreme; puṁsaḥ — of the Personality of Godhead; parayā — supreme; anukampayā — by the mercy; jaghnuḥ — began to beat; bhṛśam — again and again; śakra — Indra; samīraṇa — Vāyu; ādayaḥ — and others; tān tān — to those demons; raṇe — in the fight; yaiḥ — by whom; abhisaṁhatāḥ — they were beaten; purā — before.
TRANSLATION
Śukadeva Gosvāmī said: Thereafter, by the supreme grace of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Śrī Hari, all the demigods, headed by Indra and Vāyu, were brought back to life. Being enlivened, the demigods began severely beating the very same demons who had defeated them before.
VERSE 8.11.2
vairocanāya saṁrabdho
bhagavān pāka-śāsanaḥ
udayacchad yadā vajraṁ
prajā hā heti cukruśuḥ
SYNONYMS
vairocanāya — unto Bali Mahārāja (just to kill him); saṁrabdhaḥ — being very angry; bhagavān — the most powerful; pāka-śāsanaḥ — Indra; udayacchat — took in his hand; yadā — at which time; vajram — the thunderbolt; prajāḥ — all the demons; hā hā — alas, alas; iti — thus; cukruśuḥ — began to resound.
TRANSLATION
When the most powerful Indra became angry and took his thunderbolt in hand to kill Mahārāja Bali, the demons began lamenting, “Alas, alas!”
VERSE 8.11.3
vajra-pāṇis tam āhedaṁ
tiraskṛtya puraḥ-sthitam
manasvinaṁ susampannaṁ
vicarantaṁ mahā-mṛdhe
SYNONYMS
vajra-pāṇiḥ — Indra, who always carries in his hand the thunderbolt; tam — unto Bali Mahārāja; āha — addressed; idam — in this way; tiraskṛtya — chastising him; puraḥ-sthitam — standing before him; manasvinam — very sober and tolerant; su-sampannam — well equipped with paraphernalia for fighting; vicarantam — moving; mahā-mṛdhe — on the great battlefield.
TRANSLATION
Sober and tolerant and well equipped with paraphernalia for fighting, Bali Mahārāja moved before Indra on the great battlefield. King Indra, who always carries the thunderbolt in his hand, rebuked Bali Mahārāja as follows.
VERSE 8.11.4
naṭavan mūḍha māyābhir
māyeśān no jigīṣasi
jitvā bālān nibaddhākṣān
naṭo harati tad-dhanam
SYNONYMS
naṭa-vat — like a cheater or rogue; mūḍha — you rascal; māyābhiḥ — by exhibiting illusions; māyā-īśān — unto the demigods, who can control all such illusory manifestations; naḥ — unto us; jigīṣasi — you are trying to become victorious; jitvā — conquering; bālān — small children; nibaddha-akṣān — by binding the eyes; naṭaḥ — a cheater; harati — takes away; tat-dhanam — the property in the possession of a child.
TRANSLATION
Indra said: O rascal, as a cheater sometimes binds the eyes of a child and takes away his possessions, you are trying to defeat us by displaying some mystic power, although you know that we are the masters of all such mystic powers.
VERSE 8.11.5
ārurukṣanti māyābhir
utsisṛpsanti ye divam
tān dasyūn vidhunomy ajñān
pūrvasmāc ca padād adhaḥ
SYNONYMS
ārurukṣanti — persons who desire to come to the upper planetary systems; māyābhiḥ — by so-called mystic power or material advancement of science; utsisṛpsanti — or want to be liberated by such false attempts; ye — such persons who; divam — the higher planetary system known as Svargaloka; tān — such rogues and ruffians; dasyūn — such thieves; vidhunomi — I force to go down; ajñān — rascals; pūrvasmāt — previous; ca — also; padāt — from the position; adhaḥ — downward.
TRANSLATION
Those fools and rascals who want to ascend to the upper planetary system by mystic power or mechanical means, or who endeavor to cross even the upper planets and achieve the spiritual world or liberation, I cause to be sent to the lowest region of the universe.
VERSE 8.11.6
so ’haṁ durmāyinas te ’dya
vajreṇa śata-parvaṇā
śiro hariṣye mandātman
ghaṭasva jñātibhiḥ saha
SYNONYMS
saḥ — I am the same powerful person; aham — I; durmāyinaḥ — of you, who can perform so much jugglery with illusions; te — of you; adya — today; vajreṇa — by the thunderbolt; śata-parvaṇā — which has hundreds of sharp edges; śiraḥ — the head; hariṣye — I shall separate; manda-ātman — O you with a poor fund of knowledge; ghaṭasva — just try to exist on this battlefield; jñātibhiḥ saha — with your relatives and assistants.
TRANSLATION
Today, with my thunderbolt, which has hundreds of sharp edges, I, the same powerful person, shall sever your head from your body. Although you can produce so much jugglery through illusion, you are endowed with a poor fund of knowledge. Now, try to exist on this battlefield with your relatives and friends.
VERSE 8.11.7
śrī-balir uvāca
saṅgrāme vartamānānāṁ
kāla-codita-karmaṇām
kīrtir jayo ’jayo mṛtyuḥ
sarveṣāṁ syur anukramāt
SYNONYMS
śrī-baliḥ uvāca — Bali Mahārāja said; saṅgrāme — in the battlefield; vartamānānām — of all persons present here; kāla-codita — influenced by the course of time; karmaṇām — for persons engaged in fighting or any other activities; kīrtiḥ — reputation; jayaḥ — victory; ajayaḥ — defeat; mṛtyuḥ — death; sarveṣām — of all of them; syuḥ — must be done; anukramāt — one after another.
TRANSLATION
Bali Mahārāja replied: All those present on this battlefield are certainly under the influence of eternal time, and according to their prescribed activities, they are destined to receive fame, victory, defeat and death, one after another.
VERSE 8.11.8
tad idaṁ kāla-raśanaṁ
jagat paśyanti sūrayaḥ
na hṛṣyanti na śocanti
tatra yūyam apaṇḍitāḥ
SYNONYMS
tat — therefore; idam — this whole material world; kāla-raśanam — is moving because of time eternal; jagat — moving forward (this whole universe); paśyanti — observe; sūrayaḥ — those who are intelligent by admission of the truth; na — not; hṛṣyanti — become jubilant; na — nor; śocanti — lament; tatra — in such; yūyam — all of you demigods; apaṇḍitāḥ — not very learned (having forgotten that you are working under eternal time).
TRANSLATION
Seeing the movements of time, those who are cognizant of the real truth neither rejoice nor lament for different circumstances. Therefore, because you are jubilant due to your victory, you should be considered not very learned.
VERSE 8.11.9
na vayaṁ manyamānānām
ātmānaṁ tatra sādhanam
giro vaḥ sādhu-śocyānāṁ
gṛhṇīmo marma-tāḍanāḥ
SYNONYMS
na — not; vayam — we; manyamānānām — who are considering; ātmānam — the self; tatra — in victory or defeat; sādhanam — the cause; giraḥ — the words; vaḥ — of you; sādhu-śocyānām — who are to be pitied by the saintly persons; gṛhṇīmaḥ — accept; marma-tāḍanāḥ — which afflict the heart.
TRANSLATION
You demigods think that your own selves are the cause of your attaining fame and victory. Because of your ignorance, saintly persons feel sorry for you. Therefore, although your words afflict the heart, we do not accept them.
VERSE 8.11.10
śrī-śuka uvāca
ity ākṣipya vibhuṁ vīro
nārācair vīra-mardanaḥ
ākarṇa-pūrṇair ahanad
ākṣepair āha taṁ punaḥ
SYNONYMS
śrī-śukaḥ uvāca — Śrī Śukadeva Gosvāmī said; iti — thus; ākṣipya — chastising; vibhum — unto King Indra; vīraḥ — the valiant Bali Mahārāja; nārācaiḥ — by the arrows named nārācas; vīra-mardanaḥ — Bali Mahārāja, who could subdue even great heros; ākarṇa-pūrṇaiḥ — drawn up to his ear; ahanat — attacked; ākṣepaiḥ — by words of chastisement; āha — said; tam — unto him; punaḥ — again.
TRANSLATION
Śukadeva Gosvāmī said: After thus rebuking Indra, King of heaven, with sharp words, Bali Mahārāja, who could subdue any other hero, drew back to his ear the arrows known as nārācas and attacked Indra with these arrows. Then he again chastised Indra with strong words.
VERSE 8.11.11
evaṁ nirākṛto devo
vairiṇā tathya-vādinā
nāmṛṣyat tad-adhikṣepaṁ
totrāhata iva dvipaḥ
SYNONYMS
evam — thus; nirākṛtaḥ — being defeated; devaḥ — King Indra; vairiṇā — by his enemy; tathya-vādinā — who was competent to speak the truth; na — not; amṛṣyat — lamented; tat — of him (Bali); adhikṣepam — the chastisement; totra — by the scepter or rod; āhataḥ — being beaten; iva — just like; dvipaḥ — an elephant.
TRANSLATION
Since Mahārāja Bali’s rebukes were truthful, King Indra did not at all become sorry, just as an elephant beaten by its driver’s rod does not become agitated.
VERSE 8.11.12
prāharat kuliśaṁ tasmā
amoghaṁ para-mardanaḥ
sayāno nyapatad bhūmau
chinna-pakṣa ivācalaḥ
SYNONYMS
prāharat — inflicted; kuliśam — thunderbolt scepter; tasmai — unto him (Bali Mahārāja); amogham — infallible; para-mardanaḥ — Indra, who is expert in defeating the enemy; sa-yānaḥ — with his airplane; nyapatat — fell down; bhūmau — on the ground; chinna-pakṣaḥ — whose wings have been taken away; iva — like; acalaḥ — a mountain.
TRANSLATION
When Indra, the defeater of enemies, released his infallible thunderbolt scepter at Bali Mahārāja with a desire to kill him, Bali Mahārāja indeed fell to the ground with his airplane, like a mountain with its wings cut off.
VERSE 8.11.13
sakhāyaṁ patitaṁ dṛṣṭvā
jambho bali-sakhaḥ suhṛt
abhyayāt sauhṛdaṁ sakhyur
hatasyāpi samācaran
SYNONYMS
sakhāyam — his intimate friend; patitam — having fallen; dṛṣṭvā — after seeing; jambhaḥ — the demon Jambha; bali-sakhaḥ — a very intimate friend of Bali Mahārāja; suhṛt — and constant well-wisher; abhyayāt — appeared on the scene; sauhṛdam — very compassionate friendship; sakhyuḥ — of his friend; hatasya — who was injured and fallen; api — although; samācaran — just to perform friendly duties.
TRANSLATION
When the demon Jambhāsura saw that his friend Bali had fallen, he appeared before Indra, the enemy, just to serve Bali Mahārāja with friendly behavior.
VERSE 8.11.14
sa siṁha-vāha āsādya
gadām udyamya raṁhasā
jatrāv atāḍayac chakraṁ
gajaṁ ca sumahā-balaḥ
SYNONYMS
saḥ — Jambhāsura; siṁha-vāhaḥ — being carried by a lion; āsādya — coming before King Indra; gadām — his club; udyamya — taking up; raṁhasā — with great force; jatrau — on the base of the neck; atāḍayat — hit; śakram — Indra; gajam ca — as well as his elephant; su-mahā-balaḥ — the greatly powerful Jambhāsura.
TRANSLATION
The greatly powerful Jambhāsura, carried by a lion, approached Indra and forcefully struck him on the shoulder with his club. He also struck Indra’s elephant.
VERSE 8.11.15
gadā-prahāra-vyathito
bhṛśaṁ vihvalito gajaḥ
jānubhyāṁ dharaṇīṁ spṛṣṭvā
kaśmalaṁ paramaṁ yayau
SYNONYMS
gadā-prahāra-vyathitaḥ — being aggrieved because of the blow from Jambhāsura’s club; bhṛśam — very much; vihvalitaḥ — upset; gajaḥ — the elephant; jānubhyām — with its two knees; dharaṇīm — the earth; spṛṣṭvā — touching; kaśmalam — unconsciousness; paramam — ultimate; yayau — entered.
TRANSLATION
Being beaten by Jambhāsura’s club, Indra’s elephant was confused and aggrieved. Thus it touched its knees to the ground and fell unconscious.
VERSE 8.11.16
tato ratho mātalinā
haribhir daśa-śatair vṛtaḥ
ānīto dvipam utsṛjya
ratham āruruhe vibhuḥ
SYNONYMS
tataḥ — thereafter; rathaḥ — chariot; mātalinā — by his chariot driver named Mātali; haribhiḥ — with horses; daśa-śataiḥ — by ten times one hundred (one thousand); vṛtaḥ — yoked; ānītaḥ — being brought in; dvipam — the elephant; utsṛjya — keeping aside; ratham — the chariot; āruruhe — got up; vibhuḥ — the great Indra.
TRANSLATION
Thereafter, Mātali, Indra’s chariot driver, brought Indra’s chariot, which was drawn by one thousand horses. Indra then left his elephant and got onto the chariot.
VERSE 8.11.17
tasya tat pūjayan karma
yantur dānava-sattamaḥ
śūlena jvalatā taṁ tu
smayamāno ’hanan mṛdhe
SYNONYMS
tasya — of Mātali; tat — that service (bringing the chariot before Indra); pūjayan — appreciating; karma — such service to the master; yantuḥ — of the chariot driver; dānava-sat-tamaḥ — the best of the demons, namely Jambhāsura; śūlena — by his trident; jvalatā — which was blazing fire; tam — Mātali; tu — indeed; smayamānaḥ — smiling; ahanat — struck; mṛdhe — in the battle.
TRANSLATION
Appreciating Mātali’s service, Jambhāsura, the best of the demons, smiled. Nonetheless, he struck Mātali in the battle with a trident of blazing fire.
VERSE 8.11.18
sehe rujaṁ sudurmarṣāṁ
sattvam ālambya mātaliḥ
indro jambhasya saṅkruddho
vajreṇāpāharac chiraḥ
SYNONYMS
sehe — tolerated; rujam — the pain; su-durmarṣām — intolerable; sattvam — patience; ālambya — taking shelter of; mātaliḥ — the charioteer Mātali; indraḥ — King Indra; jambhasya — of the great demon Jambha; saṅkruddhaḥ — being very angry at him; vajreṇa — with his thunderbolt; apāharat — separated; śiraḥ — the head.
TRANSLATION
Although the pain was extremely severe, Mātali tolerated it with great patience. Indra, however, became extremely angry at Jambhāsura. He struck Jambhāsura with his thunderbolt and thus severed his head from his body.
VERSE 8.11.19
jambhaṁ śrutvā hataṁ tasya
jñātayo nāradād ṛṣeḥ
namuciś ca balaḥ pākas
tatrāpetus tvarānvitāḥ
SYNONYMS
jambham — Jambhāsura; śrutvā — after hearing; hatam — had been killed; tasya — his; jñātayaḥ — friends and relatives; nāradāt — from the source Nārada; ṛṣeḥ — from the great saint; namuciḥ — the demon Namuci; ca — also; balaḥ — the demon Bala; pākaḥ — the demon Pāka; tatra — there; āpetuḥ — immediately arrived; tvarā-anvitāḥ — with great haste.
TRANSLATION
When Nārada Ṛṣi informed Jambhāsura’s friends and relatives that Jambhāsura had been killed, the three demons named Namuci, Bala and Pāka arrived on the battlefield in great haste.
VERSE 8.11.20
vacobhiḥ paruṣair indram
ardayanto ’sya marmasu
śarair avākiran meghā
dhārābhir iva parvatam
SYNONYMS
vacobhiḥ — with harsh words; paruṣaiḥ — very rough and cruel; indram — King Indra; ardayantaḥ — chastising, piercing; asya — of Indra; marmasu — in the heart, etc; śaraiḥ — with arrows; avākiran — covered all around; meghāḥ — clouds; dhārābhiḥ — with showers of rain; iva — just as; parvatam — a mountain.
TRANSLATION
Rebuking Indra with harsh, cruel words that were piercing to the heart, these demons showered him with arrows, just as torrents of rain wash a great mountain.
VERSE 8.11.21
harīn daśa-śatāny ājau
haryaśvasya balaḥ śaraiḥ
tāvadbhir ardayām āsa
yugapal laghu-hastavān
SYNONYMS
harīn — horses; daśa-śatāni — ten times one hundred (one thousand); ājau — on the battlefield; haryaśvasya — of King Indra; balaḥ — the demon Bala; śaraiḥ — with arrows; tāvadbhiḥ — with so many; ardayām āsa — put into tribulation; yugapat — simultaneously; laghu-hastavān — with quick handling.
TRANSLATION
Quickly handling the situation on the battlefield, the demon Bala put all of Indra’s one thousand horses into tribulation by simultaneously piercing them all with an equal number of arrows.
VERSE 8.11.22
śatābhyāṁ mātaliṁ pāko
rathaṁ sāvayavaṁ pṛthak
sakṛt sandhāna-mokṣeṇa
tad adbhutam abhūd raṇe
SYNONYMS
śatābhyām — with two hundred arrows; mātalim — unto the chariot driver Mātali; pākaḥ — the demon named Pāka; ratham — the chariot; sa-avayavam — with all paraphernalia; pṛthak — separately; sakṛt — once, at one time; sandhāna — by yoking the arrows to the bow; mokṣeṇa — and releasing; tat — such an action; adbhutam — wonderful; abhūt — so became; raṇe — on the battlefield.
TRANSLATION
Pāka, another demon, attacked both the chariot, with all its paraphernalia, and the chariot driver, Mātali, by fitting two hundred arrows to his bow and releasing them all simultaneously. This was indeed a wonderful act on the battlefield.
VERSE 8.11.23
namuciḥ pañca-daśabhiḥ
svarṇa-puṅkhair maheṣubhiḥ
āhatya vyanadat saṅkhye
satoya iva toyadaḥ
SYNONYMS
namuciḥ — the demon named Namuci; pañca-daśabhiḥ — with fifteen; svarṇa-puṅkhaiḥ — with golden feathers attached; mahā-iṣubhiḥ — very powerful arrows; āhatya — piercing; vyanadat — resounded; saṅkhye — on the battlefield; sa-toyaḥ — bearing water; iva — like; toya-daḥ — a cloud that delivers rain.
TRANSLATION
Then Namuci, another demon, attacked Indra and injured him with fifteen very powerful golden-feathered arrows, which roared like a cloud full of water.
VERSE 8.11.24
sarvataḥ śara-kūṭena
śakraṁ saratha-sārathim
chādayām āsur asurāḥ
prāvṛṭ-sūryam ivāmbudāḥ
SYNONYMS
sarvataḥ — all around; śara-kūṭena — by a dense shower of arrows; śakram — Indra; sa-ratha — with his chariot; sārathim — and with his chariot driver; chādayām āsuḥ — covered; asurāḥ — all the demons; prāvṛṭ — in the rainy season; sūryam — the sun; iva — like; ambu-dāḥ — clouds.
TRANSLATION
Other demons covered Indra, along with his chariot and chariot driver, with incessant showers of arrows, just as clouds cover the sun in the rainy season.
VERSE 8.11.25
alakṣayantas tam atīva vihvalā
vicukruśur deva-gaṇāḥ sahānugāḥ
anāyakāḥ śatru-balena nirjitā
vaṇik-pathā bhinna-navo yathārṇave
SYNONYMS
alakṣayantaḥ — being unable to see; tam — King Indra; atīva — fiercely; vihvalāḥ — bewildered; vicukruśuḥ — began to lament; deva-gaṇāḥ — all the demigods; saha-anugāḥ — with their followers; anāyakāḥ — without any captain or leader; śatru-balena — by the superior power of their enemies; nirjitāḥ — oppressed severely; vaṇik-pathāḥ — traders; bhinna-navaḥ — whose ship is wrecked; yathā arṇave — as in the middle of the ocean.
TRANSLATION
The demigods, being severely oppressed by their enemies and being unable to see Indra on the battlefield, were very anxious. Having no captain or leader, they began lamenting like traders in a wrecked vessel in the midst of the ocean.
VERSE 8.11.26
tatas turāṣāḍ iṣu-baddha-pañjarād
vinirgataḥ sāśva-ratha-dhvajāgraṇīḥ
babhau diśaḥ khaṁ pṛthivīṁ ca rocayan
sva-tejasā sūrya iva kṣapātyaye
SYNONYMS
tataḥ — thereafter; turāṣāṭ — another name of Indra; iṣu-baddha-pañjarāt — from the cage of the network of arrows; vinirgataḥ — being released; sa — with; aśva — horses; ratha — chariot; dhvaja — flag; agraṇīḥ — and chariot driver; babhau — became; diśaḥ — all directions; kham — the sky; pṛthivīm — the earth; ca — and; rocayan — pleasing everywhere; sva-tejasā — by his personal effulgence; sūryaḥ — the sun; iva — like; kṣapā-atyaye — at the end of night.
TRANSLATION
Thereafter, Indra released himself from the cage of the network of arrows. Appearing with his chariot, flag, horses and chariot driver and thus pleasing the sky, the earth and all directions, he shone effulgently like the sun at the end of night. Indra was bright and beautiful in the vision of everyone.
VERSE 8.11.27
nirīkṣya pṛtanāṁ devaḥ
parair abhyarditāṁ raṇe
udayacchad ripuṁ hantuṁ
vajraṁ vajra-dharo ruṣā
SYNONYMS
nirīkṣya — after observing; pṛtanām — his own soldiers; devaḥ — the demigod Indra; paraiḥ — by the enemies; abhyarditām — put into great difficulties or oppressed; raṇe — in the battlefield; udayacchat — took up; ripum — the enemies; hantum — to kill; vajram — the thunderbolt; vajra-dharaḥ — the carrier of the thunderbolt; ruṣā — in great anger.
TRANSLATION
When Indra, who is known as Vajra-dhara, the carrier of the thunderbolt, saw his own soldiers so oppressed by the enemies on the battlefield, he became very angry. Thus he took up his thunderbolt to kill the enemies.
VERSE 8.11.28
sa tenaivāṣṭa-dhāreṇa
śirasī bala-pākayoḥ
jñātīnāṁ paśyatāṁ rājañ
jahāra janayan bhayam
SYNONYMS
saḥ — he (Indra); tena — by that; eva — indeed; aṣṭa-dhāreṇa — by the thunderbolt; śirasī — the two heads; bala-pākayoḥ — of the two demons known as Bala and Pāka; jñātīnām paśyatām — while their relatives and soldiers were watching; rājan — O King; jahāra — (Indra) cut off; janayan — creating; bhayam — fear (among them).
TRANSLATION
O King Parīkṣit, King Indra used his thunderbolt to cut off the heads of both Bala and Pāka in the presence of all their relatives and followers. In this way he created a very fearful atmosphere on the battlefield.
VERSE 8.11.29
namucis tad-vadhaṁ dṛṣṭvā
śokāmarṣa-ruṣānvitaḥ
jighāṁsur indraṁ nṛpate
cakāra paramodyamam
SYNONYMS
namuciḥ — the demon Namuci; tat — of those two demons; vadham — the massacre; dṛṣṭvā — after seeing; śoka-amarṣa — lamentation and grief; ruṣā-anvitaḥ — being very angry at this; jighāṁsuḥ — wanted to kill; indram — King Indra; nṛ-pate — O Mahārāja Parīkṣit; cakāra — made; parama — a great; udyamam — endeavor.
TRANSLATION
O King, when Namuci, another demon, saw the killing of both Bala and Pāka, he was full of grief and lamentation. Thus he angrily made a great attempt to kill Indra.
VERSE 8.11.30
aśmasāramayaṁ śūlaṁ
ghaṇṭāvad dhema-bhūṣaṇam
pragṛhyābhyadravat kruddho
hato ’sīti vitarjayan
prāhiṇod deva-rājāya
ninadan mṛga-rāḍ iva
SYNONYMS
aśmasāra-mayam — made of steel; śūlam — a spear; ghaṇṭā-vat — bound with bells; hema-bhūṣaṇam — decorated with ornaments of gold; pragṛhya — taking in his hand; abhyadravat — forcefully went; kruddhaḥ — in an angry mood; hataḥ asi iti — now you are killed; vitarjayan — roaring like that; prāhiṇot — struck; deva-rājāya — unto King Indra; ninadan — resounding; mṛga-rāṭ — a lion; iva — like.
TRANSLATION
Being angry and roaring like a lion, the demon Namuci took up a steel spear, which was bound with bells and decorated with ornaments of gold. He loudly cried, “Now you are killed!” Thus coming before Indra to kill him, Namuci released his weapon.
VERSE 8.11.31
tadāpatad gagana-tale mahā-javaṁ
vicicchide harir iṣubhiḥ sahasradhā
tam āhanan nṛpa kuliśena kandhare
ruṣānvitas tridaśa-patiḥ śiro haran
SYNONYMS
tadā — at that time; apatat — falling like a meteor; gagana-tale — beneath the sky or on the ground; mahā-javam — extremely powerful; vicicchide — cut to pieces; hariḥ — Indra; iṣubhiḥ — by his arrows; sahasradhā — into thousands of pieces; tam — that Namuci; āhanat — struck; nṛpa — O King; kuliśena — with his thunderbolt; kandhare — on the shoulder; ruṣā-anvitaḥ — being very angry; tridaśa-patiḥ — Indra, the King of the demigods; śiraḥ — the head; haran — to separate.
TRANSLATION
O King, when Indra, King of heaven, saw this very powerful spear falling toward the ground like a blazing meteor, he immediately cut it to pieces with his arrows. Then, being very angry, he struck Namuci’s shoulder with his thunderbolt to cut off Namuci’s head.
VERSE 8.11.32
na tasya hi tvacam api vajra ūrjito
bibheda yaḥ sura-patinaujaseritaḥ
tad adbhutaṁ param ativīrya-vṛtra-bhit
tiraskṛto namuci-śirodhara-tvacā
SYNONYMS
na — not; tasya — of him (Namuci); hi — indeed; tvacam api — even the skin; vajraḥ — the thunderbolt; ūrjitaḥ — very powerful; bibheda — could pierce; yaḥ — the weapon which; sura-patinā — by the king of the demigods; ojasā — very forcefully; īritaḥ — had been released; tat — therefore; adbhutam param — it was extraordinarily wonderful; ativīrya-vṛtra-bhit — so powerful that it could pierce the body of the very powerful Vṛtrāsura; tiraskṛtaḥ — (now in the future) which had been repelled; namuci-śirodhara-tvacā — by the skin of Namuci’s neck.
TRANSLATION
Although King Indra hurled his thunderbolt at Namuci with great force, it could not even pierce his skin. It is very wonderful that the famed thunderbolt that had pierced the body of Vṛtrāsura could not even slightly injure the skin of Namuci’s neck.
VERSE 8.11.33
tasmād indro ’bibhec chatror
vajraḥ pratihato yataḥ
kim idaṁ daiva-yogena
bhūtaṁ loka-vimohanam
SYNONYMS
tasmāt — therefore; indraḥ — the King of heaven; abibhet — became very fearful; śatroḥ — from the enemy (Namuci); vajraḥ — the thunderbolt; pratihataḥ — was unable to hit and returned; yataḥ — because; kim idam — what is this; daiva-yogena — by some superior force; bhūtam — it has happened; loka-vimohanam — so wonderful to the people in general.
TRANSLATION
When Indra saw the thunderbolt return from the enemy, he was very much afraid. He began to wonder whether this had happened because of some miraculous superior power.
VERSE 8.11.34
yena me pūrvam adrīṇāṁ
pakṣa-cchedaḥ prajātyaye
kṛto niviśatāṁ bhāraiḥ
patattraiḥ patatāṁ bhuvi
SYNONYMS
yena — by the same thunderbolt; me — by me; pūrvam — formerly; adrīṇām — of the mountains; pakṣa-cchedaḥ — the cutting of the wings; prajā-atyaye — when there was killing of the people in general; kṛtaḥ — was done; niviśatām — of those mountains which entered; bhāraiḥ — by the great weight; patattraiḥ — by wings; patatām — falling; bhuvi — on the ground.
TRANSLATION
Indra thought: Formerly, when many mountains flying in the sky with wings would fall to the ground and kill people, I cut their wings with this same thunderbolt.
VERSE 8.11.35
tapaḥ-sāramayaṁ tvāṣṭraṁ
vṛtro yena vipāṭitaḥ
anye cāpi balopetāḥ
sarvāstrair akṣata-tvacaḥ
SYNONYMS
tapaḥ — austerities; sāra-mayam — greatly powerful; tvāṣṭram — performed by Tvaṣṭā; vṛtraḥ — Vṛtrāsura; yena — by which; vipāṭitaḥ — was killed; anye — others; ca — also; api — indeed; bala-upetāḥ — very powerful persons; sarva — all kinds; astraiḥ — by weapons; akṣata — without being injured; tvacaḥ — their skin.
TRANSLATION
Vṛtrāsura was the essence of the austerities undergone by Tvaṣṭā, yet the thunderbolt killed him. Indeed, not only he but also many other stalwart heroes, whose very skin could not be injured even by all kinds of weapons, were killed by the same thunderbolt.
VERSE 8.11.36
so ’yaṁ pratihato vajro
mayā mukto ’sure ’lpake
nāhaṁ tad ādade daṇḍaṁ
brahma-tejo ’py akāraṇam
SYNONYMS
saḥ ayam — therefore, this thunderbolt; pratihataḥ — repelled; vajraḥ — thunderbolt; mayā — by me; muktaḥ — released; asure — unto that demon; alpake — less important; na — not; aham — I; tat — that; ādade — hold; daṇḍam — it is now just like a rod; brahma-tejaḥ — as powerful as a brahmāstra; api — although; akāraṇam — now it is useless.
TRANSLATION
But now, although the same thunderbolt has been released against a less important demon, it has been ineffectual. Therefore, although it was as good as a brahmāstra, it has now become useless like an ordinary rod. I shall therefore hold it no longer.
VERSE 8.11.37
iti śakraṁ viṣīdantam
āha vāg aśarīriṇī
nāyaṁ śuṣkair atho nārdrair
vadham arhati dānavaḥ
SYNONYMS
iti — in this way; śakram — unto Indra; viṣīdantam — lamenting; āha — spoke; vāk — a voice; aśarīriṇī — without any body, or from the sky; na — not; ayam — this; śuṣkaiḥ — by anything dry; atho — also; na — nor; ārdraiḥ — by anything moist; vadham — annihilation; arhati — is befitting; dānavaḥ — this demon (Namuci).
TRANSLATION
Śukadeva Gosvāmī continued: While the morose Indra was lamenting in this way, an ominous, unembodied voice said from the sky, “This demon Namuci is not to be annihilated by anything dry or moist.”
VERSE 8.11.38
mayāsmai yad varo datto
mṛtyur naivārdra-śuṣkayoḥ
ato ’nyaś cintanīyas te
upāyo maghavan ripoḥ
SYNONYMS
mayā — by me; asmai — unto him; yat — because; varaḥ — a benediction; dattaḥ — has been granted; mṛtyuḥ — death; na — not; eva — indeed; ārdra — by either a moist; śuṣkayoḥ — or by a dry medium; ataḥ — therefore; anyaḥ — something else, another; cintanīyaḥ — has to be thought of; te — by you; upāyaḥ — means; maghavan — O Indra; ripoḥ — of your enemy.
TRANSLATION
The voice also said, “O Indra, because I have given this demon the benediction that he will never be killed by any weapon that is dry or moist, you have to think of another way to kill him.”
VERSE 8.11.39
tāṁ daivīṁ giram ākarṇya
maghavān susamāhitaḥ
dhyāyan phenam athāpaśyad
upāyam ubhayātmakam
SYNONYMS
tām — that; daivīm — ominous; giram — voice; ākarṇya — after hearing; maghavān — Lord Indra; su-samāhitaḥ — becoming very careful; dhyāyan — meditating; phenam — appearance of foam; atha — thereafter; apaśyat — he saw; upāyam — the means; ubhaya-ātmakam — simultaneously dry and moist.
TRANSLATION
After hearing the ominous voice, Indra, with great attention, began to meditate on how to kill the demon. He then saw that foam would be the means, for it is neither moist nor dry.
VERSE 8.11.40
na śuṣkeṇa na cārdreṇa
jahāra namuceḥ śiraḥ
taṁ tuṣṭuvur muni-gaṇā
mālyaiś cāvākiran vibhum
SYNONYMS
na — neither; śuṣkeṇa — by dry means; na — nor; ca — also; ārdreṇa — by a moist weapon; jahāra — he separated; namuceḥ — of Namuci; śiraḥ — the head; tam — him (Indra); tuṣṭuvuḥ — satisfied; muni-gaṇāḥ — all the sages; mālyaiḥ — with flower garlands; ca — also; avākiran — covered; vibhum — that great personality.
TRANSLATION
Thus Indra, King of heaven, severed Namuci’s head with a weapon of foam, which was neither dry nor moist. Then all the sages satisfied Indra, the exalted personality, by showering flowers and garlands upon him, almost covering him.
VERSE 8.11.41
gandharva-mukhyau jagatur
viśvāvasu-parāvasū
deva-dundubhayo nedur
nartakyo nanṛtur mudā
SYNONYMS
gandharva-mukhyau — the two chiefs of the Gandharvas; jagatuḥ — began to sing nice songs; viśvāvasu — named Viśvāvasu; parāvasū — named Parāvasu; deva-dundubhayaḥ — the kettledrums beaten by the demigods; neduḥ — made their sound; nartakyaḥ — the dancers known as Apsarās; nanṛtuḥ — began to dance; mudā — in great happiness.
TRANSLATION
Viśvāvasu and Parāvasu, the two chiefs of the Gandharvas, sang in great happiness. The kettledrums of the demigods sounded, and the Apsarās danced in jubilation.
VERSE 8.11.42
anye ’py evaṁ pratidvandvān
vāyv-agni-varuṇādayaḥ
sūdayām āsur asurān
mṛgān kesariṇo yathā
SYNONYMS
anye — others; api — also; evam — in this way; pratidvandvān — the opposing party of belligerants; vāyu — the demigod known as Vāyu; agni — the demigod known as Agni; varuṇa-ādayaḥ — the demigod known as Varuṇa and others; sūdayām āsuḥ — began to kill vigorously; asurān — all the demons; mṛgān — deer; kesariṇaḥ — lions; yathā — just as.
TRANSLATION
Vāyu, Agni, Varuṇa and other demigods began killing the demons who opposed them, just as lions kill deer in a forest.
VERSE 8.11.43
brahmaṇā preṣito devān
devarṣir nārado nṛpa
vārayām āsa vibudhān
dṛṣṭvā dānava-saṅkṣayam
SYNONYMS
brahmaṇā — by Lord Brahmā; preṣitaḥ — sent; devān — unto the demigods; deva-ṛṣiḥ — the great sage of the heavenly planets; nāradaḥ — Nārada Muni; nṛpa — O King; vārayām āsa — forbade; vibudhān — all the demigods; dṛṣṭvā — after seeing; dānava-saṅkṣayam — the total annihilation of the demons.
TRANSLATION
O King, when Lord Brahmā saw the imminent total annihilation of the demons, he sent a message with Nārada, who went before the demigods to make them stop fighting.
VERSE 8.11.44
śrī-nārada uvāca
bhavadbhir amṛtaṁ prāptaṁ
nārāyaṇa-bhujāśrayaiḥ
śriyā samedhitāḥ sarva
upāramata vigrahāt
SYNONYMS
śrī-nāradaḥ uvāca — Nārada Muni prayed to the demigods; bhavadbhiḥ — by all of you; amṛtam — nectar; prāptam — has been obtained; nārāyaṇa — of the Supreme Personality of Godhead; bhuja-āśrayaiḥ — being protected by the arms; śriyā — by all fortune; samedhitāḥ — have flourished; sarve — all of you; upāramata — now cease; vigrahāt — from this fighting.
TRANSLATION
The great sage Nārada said: All of you demigods are protected by the arms of Nārāyaṇa, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, and by His grace you have gotten the nectar. By the grace of the goddess of fortune, you are glorious in every way. Therefore, please stop this fighting.
VERSE 8.11.45
śrī-śuka uvāca
saṁyamya manyu-saṁrambhaṁ
mānayanto muner vacaḥ
upagīyamānānucarair
yayuḥ sarve triviṣṭapam
SYNONYMS
śrī-śukaḥ uvāca — Śrī Śukadeva Gosvāmī said; saṁyamya — controlling; manyu — of anger; saṁrambham — the aggravation; mānayantaḥ — accepting; muneḥ vacaḥ — the words of Nārada Muni; upagīyamāna — being praised; anucaraiḥ — by their followers; yayuḥ — returned; sarve — all of the demigods; triviṣṭapam — to the heavenly planets.
TRANSLATION
Śrī Śukadeva Gosvāmī said: Accepting the words of Nārada, the demigods gave up their anger and stopped fighting. Being praised by their followers, they returned to their heavenly planets.
VERSE 8.11.46
ye ’vaśiṣṭā raṇe tasmin
nāradānumatena te
baliṁ vipannam ādāya
astaṁ girim upāgaman
SYNONYMS
ye — some of the demons who; avaśiṣṭāḥ — remained; raṇe — in the fight; tasmin — in that; nārada-anumatena — by the order of Nārada; te — all of them; balim — Mahārāja Bali; vipannam — in reverses; ādāya — taking; astam — named Asta; girim — to the mountain; upāgaman — went.
TRANSLATION
Following the order of Nārada Muni, whatever demons remained on the battlefield took Bali Mahārāja, who was in a precarious condition, to the hill known as Astagiri.
VERSE 8.11.47
tatrāvinaṣṭāvayavān
vidyamāna-śirodharān
uśanā jīvayām āsa
saṁjīvanyā sva-vidyayā
SYNONYMS
tatra — on that hill; avinaṣṭa-avayavān — the demons who had been killed but whose bodily parts had not been lost; vidyamāna-śirodharān — whose heads were still existing on their bodies; uśanāḥ — Śukrācārya; jīvayām āsa — brought to life; saṁjīvanyā — by the Saṁjīvanī mantra; sva-vidyayā — by his own achievement.
TRANSLATION
There, on that hill, Śukrācārya brought to life all the dead demoniac soldiers who had not lost their heads, trunks and limbs. He achieved this by his own mantra, known as Saṁjīvanī.
VERSE 8.11.48
baliś cośanasā spṛṣṭaḥ
pratyāpannendriya-smṛtiḥ
parājito ’pi nākhidyal
loka-tattva-vicakṣaṇaḥ
SYNONYMS
baliḥ — Mahārāja Bali; ca — also; uśanasā — by Śukrācārya; spṛṣṭaḥ — being touched; pratyāpanna — was brought back; indriya-smṛtiḥ — realization of the actions of the senses and memory; parājitaḥ — he was defeated; api — although; na akhidyat — he did not lament; loka-tattva-vicakṣaṇaḥ — because he was very experienced in universal affairs.
TRANSLATION
Bali Mahārāja was very experienced in universal affairs. When he regained his senses and memory by the grace of Śukrācārya, he could understand everything that had happened. Therefore, although he had been defeated, he did not lament.