Adhyaya 114
Nahusha’s Challenge to Hunda and the Mustering of Battle
After Kuṃjala recounts what he has heard, Huṃḍa receives the envoy’s report and flares up in wrath. He commands a swift scout to discover who the man is that speaks with Rambhā, who in this episode is styled as Śiva’s daughter. Laghudānava approaches Nahuṣa in his seclusion and questions him about his identity, purpose, and fearlessness before Huṃḍa. Nahuṣa proclaims himself the son of King Āyurbali and a destroyer of the Daityas; the narrative also recalls his childhood abduction by Huṃḍa and presents Rambhā’s austerity as directed toward Huṃḍa’s death. When the emissary returns with Nahuṣa’s threat, Huṃḍa resolves to cut out the “disease” that has grown through neglect. He musters the fourfold army and advances on Indra-like chariots; the gods watch from the sky as weapons fall in volleys. Nahuṣa answers with the thunder of his bow and a terrifying roar that shatters the Dānava host’s courage.
Shlokas
Verse 1
कुंजल उवाच । अथ ते दानवाः सर्वे हुंडस्य परिचारकाः । नहुषस्यापि संवादं रंभया तु यथाश्रुतम्
Kuṃjala said: Then all those Dānavas, attendants of Huṃḍa, also recounted the dialogue of Nahuṣa with Rambhā, exactly as it had been heard.
Verse 2
आचचक्षुश्च दैत्येंद्रं हुंडं सर्वं सुभाषितम् । तमाकर्ण्य स चुक्रोध दूतं वाक्यमथाब्रवीत्
The messenger reported to Huṃḍa, lord of the Daityas, the entire message in well-spoken words. Hearing it, he flared with anger and then addressed the envoy with these words.
Verse 3
गच्छ वीर ममादेशाज्जानीहि पुरुषं हि तम् । संभाषते तया सार्द्धं पुरुषः शिवकन्यया
“Go, brave one—by my command—go and find out who that man is. That man is speaking there together with Śiva’s daughter.”
Verse 4
स्वामिनिर्देशमाकर्ण्य जगाम लघुदानवः । विविक्ते नहुषं वीरमिदं वचनमब्रवीत्
Hearing his master’s instruction, the swift Dānava departed. In a secluded place, he addressed the heroic Nahuṣa with these words.
Verse 5
रथेन साश्वसूतेन दिव्येन परितिष्ठति । धनुषा दिव्यबाणैस्तु सभायां हि भयंकरः
Mounted upon a divine chariot with horses and charioteer, he stands poised; bearing a bow and celestial arrows, he is truly fearsome in the assembly hall.
Verse 6
कस्य केन तु कार्येण प्रेषितः केन वैभवान् । अनया रंभया तेऽद्य अन्यया शिवकन्यया
By whom, and for what purpose, have you been sent? And by whose command, O illustrious one—today by this Rambhā, or by another, a daughter of Śiva?
Verse 7
किमुक्तं तत्स्फुटं सर्वं कथयस्व ममाग्रतः । हुंडस्य देवमर्दस्य न बिभेति भवान्कथम्
Tell me plainly, here before me, all that was spoken. And how is it that you do not fear Huṇḍa, the crusher of the Devas?
Verse 8
एतन्मे सर्वमाचक्ष्व यदि जीवितुमिच्छसि । सत्वरं गच्छ मा तिष्ठ दुःसहो दानवाधिपः
Tell me everything, if you wish to remain alive. Go quickly—do not linger; the lord of the Dānavas is unbearable to face.
Verse 9
नहुष उवाच । योऽसावायुर्बली राजा सप्तद्वीपाधिपः प्रभुः । तस्य मां तनयं विद्धि सर्वदैत्यविनाशनम्
Nahuṣa said: “That mighty king Āyurbali, the sovereign lord of the seven continents—know me to be his son, a destroyer of all the Daityas.”
Verse 10
नहुषं नाम विख्यातं देवब्राह्मणपूजकम् । हुंडेनापहृतं बाल्ये स्वामिना तव दानव
There was a renowned one named Nahuṣa, a reverent worshipper of the Devas and the brāhmaṇas. In his childhood he was abducted by Huṇḍa—your lord, O Dānava.
Verse 11
सेयं कन्या शिवस्यापि दैत्येनापहृता पुरा । घोरं तपश्चरत्येषा हुंडस्यापि वधाय च
This very maiden—indeed belonging to Śiva—was once abducted by a Daitya. Now she performs severe austerities, and that too for the slaying of Huṇḍa.
Verse 12
योहमादौ हृतो बालस्त्वया यः सूतिकागृहात् । दास्या अपि करे दत्तः सूदस्यापि दुरात्मना
I am that very child whom you first carried off from the lying-in chamber; and then, by that wicked man, I was handed over even into the hands of a maidservant, and even to a cook.
Verse 13
वधार्थं श्रूयतां पाप सोहमद्य समागतः । अस्यापि हुंडदैत्यस्य दुष्टस्य पापकर्मणः
Listen, you sinner: I have come here today to slay this Huṇḍa-demon as well—this wicked one whose deeds are sinful.
Verse 14
अन्यांश्च दानवान्घोरान्नयिष्ये यमसादनम् । मामेवं विद्धि पापिष्ठ एवं कथय दानवम्
And other dreadful Dānavas too I shall lead to Yama’s abode. Know me thus, O most sinful one—go and tell the Dānava this.
Verse 15
एवमाकर्ण्य तत्सर्वं नहुषस्य महात्मनः । गत्वा हुंडं स दुष्टात्मा आचचक्षेऽस्य भाषितम्
Having thus heard everything spoken by the great-souled Nahusha, that wicked-minded one went to Huṇḍa and reported to him Nahusha’s words.
Verse 16
निशम्य तन्मुखात्तूर्णं चुक्रोध दितिजेश्वरः । कस्मात्सूदेन पापेन तया दास्या न घातितः
Hearing this at once from his mouth, the lord of the Daityas grew angry: “Why has that maidservant not been slain by that sinful charioteer?”
Verse 17
सोयं वृद्धिं समायातो मया व्याधिरुपेक्षितः । अथैनं घातयिष्यामि अनया शिवकन्यया
This disease—neglected by me—has now grown strong. Now I shall destroy it through this daughter of Śiva.
Verse 18
आयोः पुत्रं खलं युद्धे बाणैरेभिः शिलाशितैः । एवं सचिंतयित्वा तु सारथिं वाक्यमब्रवीत्
“In battle, with these stone-tipped arrows, I shall strike the wicked son of Āyu.” Having thus reflected, he spoke to his charioteer.
Verse 19
स्यंदनं योजयस्व त्वं तुरगैः साधुभिः शिवैः । सेनाध्यक्षं समाहूय इत्युवाच समातुरः
“Yoke the chariot with good and auspicious horses. Summon the commander of the army,” he said, overwhelmed with distress.
Verse 20
सज्जतां मम सैन्यं त्वं शूरान्नागान्प्रकल्पय । सारोहैस्तुरगान्योधान्पताकाच्छत्रचामरैः
You, prepare my army—array the brave warriors and the war-elephants; and set the mounted horsemen in order, with banners, parasols, and yak-tail fans.
Verse 21
चतुरंगबलं मेऽद्य योजयस्व हि सत्वरम् । एवमाकर्ण्य तत्तस्य हुंडस्यापि ततो लघुः
“Deploy my fourfold army today—do it quickly!” Hearing this, Huṇḍa promptly acted.
Verse 22
सेनाध्यक्षो महाप्राज्ञः सर्वं चक्रे यथाविधि । चतुरंगेन तेनासौ बलेन महता वृतः
The supremely wise commander of the host arranged all things according to proper ordinance; and he was encompassed by that mighty fourfold army.
Verse 23
जगाम नहुषं वीरं चापबाणधरं रणे । इंद्रस्य स्यंदने युक्तं सर्वशस्त्रभृतां वरम्
He went to the heroic Nahuṣa, bearing bow and arrows in battle, mounted upon Indra’s chariot—foremost among all who wield weapons.
Verse 24
उद्यंतं समरे वीरं दुरापं देवदानवैः । पश्यंति गगने देवा विमानस्था महौजसः
The gods, mighty in splendor and seated in their aerial chariots, behold in the sky that hero rising in battle—one hard to overcome even for gods and Dānavas.
Verse 25
तेजोज्वालासमाकीर्णं द्वितीयमिव भास्करम् । सूत उवाच । अथ ते दानवाः सर्वे ववृषुस्तं शरोत्तमैः
Blazing with tongues of radiance, he appeared like a second sun. Sūta said: then all those Dānavas rained upon him volleys of the finest arrows.
Verse 26
खड्गैः पाशैर्महाशूलैः शक्तिभिस्तु परश्वधैः । युयुधुः संयुगे तेन नहुषेण महात्मना
With swords, nooses, great tridents, spears, and battle-axes, they fought in that battle against the great-souled Nahuṣa.
Verse 27
संरब्धा गर्जमानास्ते यथा मेघा गिरौ तथा । तद्विक्रमं समालोक्य आयुपुत्रः प्रतापवान्
Enraged, they roared like thunderclouds upon a mountain. Beholding that display of valor, the mighty and radiant son of Āyu stood poised to answer.
Verse 28
इंद्रायुधसमं चापं विस्फार्य स गुणस्वरम् । वज्रस्फोटसमः शब्दश्चापस्यापि महात्मनः
He drew back that bow—like Indra’s rainbow—whose string rang with a resonant twang; and the very sound of that great-souled one’s bow was like the crash of a thunderbolt.
Verse 29
नहुषेण कृतो विप्रा दानवानां भयप्रदः । महता तेन घोषेण दानवाः प्रचकंपिरे
O brāhmaṇas, Nahuṣa raised a mighty roar that struck fear into the Dānavas; and by that great tumult the Dānavas trembled.
Verse 30
कश्मलाविष्टहृदया भग्नसत्वा महाहवे
In the midst of the great battle, their hearts were seized by despair, and their courage was broken.
Verse 114
इति श्रीपद्मपुराणे भूमिखंडे वेनोपाख्याने गुरुतीर्थमाहात्म्ये च्यवनचरित्रे नहुषाख्याने चतुर्दशाधिकशततमोऽध्यायः
Thus, in the Śrī Padma Purāṇa, in the Bhūmi-khaṇḍa—within the narrative of Vena, the greatness of Guru-tīrtha, the account of Cyavana, and the episode concerning Nahuṣa—ends the one-hundred and fourteenth chapter.