Adhyaya 92: The Demon King’s Council Deliberation and the Mobilization of an Army to Conquer the Devas

Verse 1

श्रीवराह उवाच । गते तु नारदे दैत्यश्चिन्तयामास तां शुभाम् । कथितां नारदमुखाच्छ्रुत्वा विस्मितमानसः ॥

Śrī Varāha said: When Nārada had departed, the Daitya reflected upon that auspicious (goddess); having heard of her as described from Nārada’s mouth, his mind was filled with astonishment.

Verse 2

गुरुपत्नी राजपत्नी तथा सामन्तयोषितः । जिघृक्षन् नश्यते राजा तथागम्यागमेन च ॥

A king who seeks to violate (lit. “desire to approach”) the wife of his teacher, the wife of another king, or the women of his feudatories, comes to ruin; likewise, he is ruined by illicit relations—by approaching what must not be approached.

Verse 3

प्रघसेनैवमुक्तस्तु विघसो वाक्यमब्रवीत् । सम्यगुक्तं प्रघसेन तां देवीं प्रति पार्थिव ॥

When Praghasena had spoken thus, Vighasa replied: “Well spoken, Praghasena, concerning that noble lady, O king.”

Verse 4

यदि नाम मतैक्यं तु बुद्धिः स्मरणमागता । वरणीया कुमारी तु सर्वदा विजिगीषुभिः । न स्वतन्त्रेण कन्यायाः कार्यं क्वापि प्रकर्षणम् ॥

If, indeed, a consensus of opinion and a settled intention has arisen, then the maiden should be sought in marriage—always by those who aim at victory (i.e., prudent rulers). Yet no undertaking concerning a girl should be pursued anywhere by her acting independently, without guardianship or authorization.

Verse 5

यदि वो रोचते वाक्यं मदीयं मन्त्रिसत्तमाः । तदानीं तां शुभां देवीं गत्वा याचन्तु मन्त्रिणः ॥

If my proposal pleases you, best of ministers, then at once let the ministers go and formally request that auspicious lady.

Verse 6

यो महात्मा भवेत् तस्या बन्धुस्तं याचयामहे । साम्नैवादौ ततः पश्चात् करिष्यामः प्रदानकम् । ततो भेदं करिष्यामस्ततो दण्डं क्रमेण च ॥

We shall petition whichever noble person is her kinsman. First we will proceed by conciliation; thereafter we will offer gifts. Next we will employ division (political splitting), and then, step by step, coercive force (punishment) as the last measure.

Verse 7

अनेन क्रमयोगेन यदि सा नैव लभ्यते । ततः सन्नह्य गच्छामो बलाद् गृह्णीम तां शुभाम् ॥

If, by this ordered procedure, she is not obtained, then we shall make ready and go; by force we shall seize that auspicious lady.

Verse 8

विघसेनैवमुक्ते तु शेषास्तु मन्त्रिणो वचः । शुभमूचुः प्रशंसन्तः सर्वे हर्षितया गिरा ॥

When Vighasa had spoken thus, the remaining ministers, praising him, all spoke approvingly in delighted voices.

Verse 9

साधूक्तं विघसेनेदं यत् तां प्रति वराननाम् । तदेव क्रियतां शीघ्रं दूतस्तत्र विसर्ज्यताम् ॥

“Vighasa has spoken well regarding that fair-faced lady. Let that very plan be carried out quickly; let a messenger be dispatched there.”

Verse 10

यः सर्वशास्त्रनीतिज्ञः शुचिः शौर्यसमन्वितः । तस्माज् ज्ञात्वा तु तां देवीं वर्णतो रूपतो गुणैः ॥

Let one who is knowledgeable in all treatises and political conduct, pure in character, and endowed with valor—having learned about that lady in terms of her social standing, her appearance, and her qualities—proceed accordingly.

Verse 11

पराक्रमेण शौर्येण शौण्डीर्येण बलेन च । बन्धुवर्गेण सामग्र्य स्थानेन करणेन च । एवं ज्ञात्वा तु तां देवीं ततः कार्यं विधीयताम् ॥

Having assessed her thus—by prowess, valor, boldness, and strength; by her circle of relatives, her resources and preparedness, her position, and her practical means—having understood the lady in this way, then let the required course of action be determined.

Verse 12

तामेव चिन्तयन् शर्म न लेभे दैत्यसत्तमः । अलंशर्मा महामन्त्री आनिनाय महाबलः ॥

Śarmā, foremost among the Dānavas, thinking only of her, found no peace; then Alaṁśarmā—the great minister, mighty in strength—brought the matter forward.

Verse 13

ततः सपदि दैत्यस्य तद्वचः साधु साध्विति । प्रशशंसुर्वरारोहे विघसं मन्त्रिसत्तमम् ॥

Then at once they praised the Daitya’s words, saying, “Well said, well said,” O fair-hipped one, and they lauded Vighasa, the best of ministers.

Verse 14

प्रशस्य सर्वे तं दूतं संदेश्टुमुपचक्रमुः । विद्युत्प्रभं महाभागं महामायाविदं शुभम् ॥

Praising him, they all set about appointing that messenger—radiant like lightning, illustrious, skilled in great māyā, and auspicious.

Verse 15

विसर्जयित्वा तं दूतं विघसो वाक्यमब्रवीत् । संनह्यन्तां दानवेन्द्राश्चतुरङ्गबलेन ह । क्रियतां विजयस्तावद् देवसैन्यं प्रति प्रभो ॥

Having dismissed that messenger, Vighasa spoke: “Let the lords of the Dānavas arm themselves with the fourfold army; for now, let victory be secured against the host of the gods, O lord.”

Verse 16

असुरेन्द्र सुरैर्भग्नैस्तत्पराक्रमभीषिता । सा कन्या वशतामेति त्वयि शक्रसमागते ॥

O lord of the Asuras, when the gods are defeated and terrified by that valor, that maiden will come under your control when you arrive as a rival Indra.

Verse 17

लोकपालैर्जितैः सर्वैस्तथैव मरुतां गणैः । नागैर्विद्याधरैः सिद्धैर्गन्धर्वैः सर्वतो जितैः । रुद्रैर्वसुभिरादित्यैस्त्वमेवेन्द्रो भविष्यसि ॥

Having conquered all the guardians of the worlds, and likewise the hosts of the Maruts; having subdued on every side the Nāgas, Vidyādharas, Siddhas, and Gandharvas; and having brought the Rudras, Vasus, and Ādityas under your sway—you alone will become Indra.

Verse 18

इन्द्रस्य ते शतं कन्या देवगन्धर्वयोषितः । वशमायान्ति सा अपि स्यात् सर्वथा वशमागता ॥

A hundred maidens of Indra—divine women and women of the Gandharvas—will come under your control; and she too, in every way, will be wholly brought into subjection.

Verse 19

एवमुक्तस्तदा दैत्यः सेनापतिमुवाच ह । विरूपाक्षं महामेघवर्णं नीलाञ्जनप्रभम् ॥

Thus addressed, the Daitya then spoke to his commander, Virūpākṣa—dark as a great rain-cloud, with the sheen of blue añjana (collyrium).

Verse 20

आनीयतां द्रुतं सैन्यं हस्त्यश्वथरपत्तिनाम् । येन देवान् सगन्धर्वान् जयामि युधि दुर्ज्जयान् ॥

“Bring quickly the army of elephants, horses, chariots, and foot-soldiers, by which I may defeat in battle the gods together with the Gandharvas—those difficult to conquer.”

Verse 21

एवमुक्ते विरूपाक्षस्तदा सेनापतिर्द्रुतम् । आनिनाय महत्सैन्यमनन्तमपराजितम् ॥

When this was said, Virūpākṣa, the commander, promptly brought a vast army—endless and unconquered.

Verse 22

एकैको दानवस्तत्र वज्रहस्तसमो युधि । एकैकं स्पर्धते देवं जेतुं स्वेन बलेन ह ॥

There, each Dānava in battle was comparable to Vajrahasta (Indra, wielder of the thunderbolt). Each one challenged a Deva in single combat, seeking to conquer by his own strength.

Verse 23

तस्याष्टौ मन्त्रिणः शूरा नीतिमन्तो बहुश्रुताः । प्रघसो विघसश्चैव शङ्कुकर्णो विभावसुः । विद्युन्माली सुमाली च पर्जन्यः क्रूर एव च ॥

He had eight ministers—valiant, politically astute, and widely learned: Praghasa, Vighasa, Śaṅkukarṇa, Vibhāvasu, Vidyunmālī, Sumālī, Parjanya, and Krūra as well.

Verse 24

तेषां प्रधानभूतानामर्बुदं नवकोटयः । येषामेकस्यानुयाति तावद् बलमर्थोर्ज्जितम् ॥

For those who were foremost among them, their forces amounted to an arbuda and nine koṭis; and such power—strength reinforced by resources—would follow even a single one of them.

Verse 25

तेषां नैकसहस्राणि दैत्यानां तु महात्मनाम् । समितिं चक्रुरव्यग्रास्तदा दैत्याः प्रहारिणः । प्रयाणं कारयामासुर्देवसैन्यजिघांसया ॥

Then, many thousands of those great-souled Daityas—unhesitating and forceful—formed an assembly and set a march in motion, driven by the intent to destroy the army of the Devas.

Verse 26

विचित्रयाना विविधध्वजाग्रा विचित्रशस्त्रा विविधोग्ररूपाः । दैत्या सुराञ् जेतुमिच्छन्त उच्चैर्ननर्तुरात्तायुधभीमहस्ताः ॥

Mounted on ornate vehicles, bearing many banner-tops, armed with varied weapons and assuming many fierce forms, the Daityas—desiring to conquer the Devas—danced and shouted aloud, their terrifying hands gripping raised weapons.

Verse 27

एते मन्त्रिवरास्तस्य प्राधान्येन प्रकीर्तिताः । ते दानवेन्द्रमासीनमूचुः कृत्यं विधीयताम् ॥

These eminent ministers of his were thus named in order of prominence. Then they addressed the Dānava king as he sat and said: “Let the necessary course of action be set in motion.”

Verse 28

तेषां तद्वचनं श्रुत्वा दानवेन्द्रो महाबलः । उवाच कन्यालाभार्थं नारदावाप्तनिश्चयः ॥

Hearing their words, the mighty lord of the Dānavas spoke—his resolve having been fixed through what he had heard from Nārada—seeking the acquisition of a maiden.

Verse 29

महिष उवाच । मह्यं तु कथिता बाला नारदेन महर्षिणा । सा चाजित्य सुराध्यक्षं न लभ्येत वराङ्गना ॥

Mahiṣa said: “A maiden has indeed been described to me by the great sage Nārada; and that excellent woman—having defeated the leader of the Devas—would not be obtainable by ordinary means.”

Verse 30

एतदर्थं भवन्तो वै कथयन्तु विमृश्य वै । कथं सा लभ्यते बाला कथं देवाश्च निर्जिताः । भवेयुरिति तत्सर्वं कथयन्तु द्रुतं मम ॥

“Therefore, after due deliberation, explain how that maiden may be obtained and how the Devas might be subdued. Tell me all of it quickly, so that it may come to pass.”

Verse 31

एवमुक्तास्ततः सर्वे कथयामासुरञ्जसा । ऊचुः संमन्त्र्य ते सर्वे कथयामो वयं प्रभो ॥

Thus addressed, all of them then began to explain straightforwardly. After deliberating together, they said: “We shall explain, O lord.”

Verse 32

एवमुक्तस्तथोवाच प्रघसो दानवेश्वरम् । या सा ते कथिता दैत्य नारदेन महासती । सा शक्तिः परमा देवी वैष्णवी लोकधारिणी ॥

Thus addressed, Praghasa spoke to the lord of the Dānavas: “O Daitya, that great and virtuous Lady of whom Nārada spoke to you—she is the supreme Śakti, the divine Vaiṣṇavī power, the sustainer of the worlds.”