Srimad Bhagavatam · Canto 3 · Chapter 18

The Battle Between Lord Boar and the Demon Hiraṇyākṣa

3.18.1

मैत्रेय उवाच तदेवमाकर्ण्य जलेशभाषितं महामनास्तद्विगणय्य दुर्मद: । हरेर्विदित्वा गतिमङ्ग नारदाद् रसातलं निर्विविशे त्वरान्वित: ॥ १ ॥

maitreya uvaca tad evam akarnya jalesa-bhasitam maha-manas tad viganayya durmadah harer viditva gatim anga naradad rasatalam nirvivise tvaranvitah

Maitreya continued: The proud and falsely glorious Daitya paid little heed to the words of Varuna. O dear Vidura, he learned from Narada the whereabouts of the Supreme Personality of Godhead and hurriedly betook himself to the depths of the ocean.

3.18.2

ददर्श तत्राभिजितं धराधरं प्रोन्नीयमानावनिमग्रदंष्ट्रया । मुष्णन्तमक्ष्णा स्वरुचोऽरुणश्रिया जहास चाहो वनगोचरो मृग: ॥ २ ॥

dadarsa tatrabhijitam dhara-dharam pronniyamanavanim agra-damstraya musnantam aksna sva-ruco ’runa-sriya jahasa caho vana-gocaro mrgah

He saw there the all-powerful Personality of Godhead in His boar incarnation, bearing the earth upward on the ends of His tusks and robbing him of his splendor with His reddish eyes. The demon laughed: Oh, an amphibious beast!

3.18.3

आहैनमेह्यज्ञ महीं विमुञ्च नो रसौकसां विश्वसृजेयमर्पिता । न स्वस्ति यास्यस्यनया ममेक्षत: सुराधमासादितसूकराकृते ॥ ३ ॥

ahainam ehy ajna mahim vimunca no rasaukasam visva-srjeyam arpita na svasti yasyasy anaya mameksatah suradhamasadita-sukarakrte

The demon addressed the Lord: O best of the demigods, dressed in the form of a boar, just hear me. This earth is entrusted to us, the inhabitants of the lower regions, and You cannot take it from my presence and not be hurt by me.

3.18.4

त्वं न: सपत्नैरभवाय किं भृतो यो मायया हन्त्यसुरान् परोक्षजित् । त्वां योगमायाबलमल्पपौरुषं संस्थाप्य मूढ प्रमृजे सुहृच्छुच: ॥ ४ ॥

tvam nah sapatnair abhavaya kim bhrto yo mayaya hanty asuran paroksa-jit tvam yogamaya-balam alpa-paurusam samsthapya mudha pramrje suhrc-chucah

You rascal, You have been nourished by our enemies to kill us, and You have killed some demons by remaining invisible. O fool, Your power is only mystic, so today I shall enliven my kinsmen by killing You.

3.18.5

त्वयि संस्थिते गदया शीर्णशीर्ष- ण्यस्मद्भुजच्युतया ये च तुभ्यम् । बलिं हरन्त्यृषयो ये च देवा: स्वयं सर्वे न भविष्यन्त्यमूला: ॥ ५ ॥

tvayi samsthite gadaya sirna-sirsany asmad-bhuja-cyutaya ye ca tubhyam balim haranty rsayo ye ca devah svayam sarve na bhavisyanty amulah

The demon continued: When You fall dead with Your skull smashed by the mace hurled by my arms, the demigods and sages who offer You oblations and sacrifice in devotional service will also automatically cease to exist, like trees without roots.

3.18.6

स तुद्यमानोऽरिदुरुक्ततोमरै- र्दंष्ट्राग्रगां गामुपलक्ष्य भीताम् । तोदं मृषन्निरगादम्बुमध्याद् ग्राहाहत: सकरेणुर्यथेभ: ॥ ६ ॥

sa tudyamano ’ri-durukta-tomarair damstragra-gam gam upalaksya bhitam todam mrsan niragad ambu-madhyad grahahatah sa-karenur yathebhah

Although the Lord was pained by the shaftlike abusive words of the demon, He bore the pain. But seeing that the earth on the ends of His tusks was frightened, He rose out of the water just as an elephant emerges with its female companion when assailed by an alligator.

3.18.7

तं नि:सरन्तं सलिलादनुद्रुतो हिरण्यकेशो द्विरदं यथा झष: । करालदंष्ट्रोऽशनिनिस्वनोऽब्रवीद् गतह्रियां किं त्वसतां विगर्हितम् ॥ ७ ॥

tam nihsarantam salilad anudruto hiranya-keso dviradam yatha jhasah karala-damstro ’sani-nisvano ’bravid gata-hriyam kim tv asatam vigarhitam

The demon, who had golden hair on his head and fearful tusks, gave chase to the Lord while He was rising from the water, even as an alligator would chase an elephant. Roaring like thunder, he said: Are You not ashamed of running away before a challenging adversary? There is nothing reproachable for shameless creatures!

3.18.8

स गामुदस्तात्सलिलस्य गोचरे विन्यस्य तस्यामदधात्स्वसत्त्वम् । अभिष्टुतो विश्वसृजा प्रसूनै- रापूर्यमाणो विबुधै: पश्यतोऽरे: ॥ ८ ॥

sa gam udastat salilasya gocare vinyasya tasyam adadhat sva-sattvam abhistuto visva-srja prasunair apuryamano vibudhaih pasyato ’reh

The Lord placed the earth within His sight on the surface of the water and transferred to her His own energy in the form of the ability to float on the water. While the enemy stood looking on, Brahma, the creator of the universe, extolled the Lord, and the other demigods rained flowers on Him.

3.18.9

परानुषक्तं तपनीयोपकल्पं महागदं काञ्चनचित्रदंशम् । मर्माण्यभीक्ष्णं प्रतुदन्तं दुरुक्तै: प्रचण्डमन्यु: प्रहसंस्तं बभाषे ॥ ९ ॥

paranusaktam tapaniyopakalpam maha-gadam kancana-citra-damsam marmany abhiksnam pratudantam duruktaih pracanda-manyuh prahasams tam babhase

The demon, who had a wealth of ornaments, bangles and beautiful golden armor on his body, chased the Lord from behind with a great mace. The Lord tolerated his piercing ill words, but in order to reply to him, He expressed His terrible anger.

3.18.10

श्रीभगवानुवाच सत्यं वयं भो वनगोचरा मृगा युष्मद्विधान्मृगये ग्रामसिंहान् । न मृत्युपाशै: प्रतिमुक्तस्य वीरा विकत्थनं तव गृह्णन्त्यभद्र ॥ १० ॥

sri-bhagavan uvaca satyam vayam bho vana-gocara mrga yusmad-vidhan mrgaye grama-simhan na mrtyu-pasaih pratimuktasya vira vikatthanam tava grhnanty abhadra

The Personality of Godhead said: Indeed, We are creatures of the jungle, and We are searching after hunting dogs like you. One who is freed from the entanglement of death has no fear from the loose talk in which you are indulging, for you are bound up by the laws of death.

3.18.11

एते वयं न्यासहरा रसौकसां गतह्रियो गदया द्रावितास्ते । तिष्ठामहेऽथापि कथञ्चिदाजौ स्थेयं क्‍व यामो बलिनोत्पाद्य वैरम् ॥ ११ ॥

ete vayam nyasa-hara rasaukasam gata-hriyo gadaya dravitas te tisthamahe ’thapi kathancid ajau stheyam kva yamo balinotpadya vairam

Certainly We have stolen the charge of the inhabitants of Rasatala and have lost all shame. Although bitten by your powerful mace, I shall stay here in the water for some time because, having created enmity with a powerful enemy, I now have no place to go.

3.18.12

त्वं पद्रथानां किल यूथपाधिपो घटस्व नोऽस्वस्तय आश्वनूह: । संस्थाप्य चास्मान् प्रमृजाश्रुस्वकानां य: स्वां प्रतिज्ञां नातिपिपर्त्यसभ्य: ॥ १२ ॥

tvam pad-rathanam kila yuthapadhipo ghatasva no ’svastaya asv anuhah samsthapya casman pramrjasru svakanam yah svam pratijnam natipiparty asabhyah

You are supposed to be the commander of many foot soldiers, and now you may take prompt steps to overthrow Us. Give up all your foolish talk and wipe out the cares of your kith and kin by slaying Us. One may be proud, yet he does not deserve a seat in an assembly if he fails to fulfill his promised word.

3.18.13

मैत्रेय उवाचसोऽधिक्षिप्तो भगवता प्रलब्धश्च रुषा भृशम् । आजहारोल्बणं क्रोधं क्रीड्यमानोऽहिराडिव ॥ १३ ॥

maitreya uvaca so ’dhiksipto bhagavata pralabdhas ca rusa bhrsam ajaharolbanam krodham kridyamano ’hi-rad iva

Sri Maitreya said: The demon, being thus challenged by the Personality of Godhead, became angry and agitated, and he trembled in anger like a challenged cobra.

3.18.14

सृजन्नमर्षित: श्वासान्मन्युप्रचलितेन्द्रिय: । आसाद्य तरसा दैत्यो गदयान्यहनद्धरिम् ॥ १४ ॥

srjann amarsitah svasan manyu-pracalitendriyah asadya tarasa daityo gadaya nyahanad dharim

Hissing indignantly, all his senses shaken by wrath, the demon quickly sprang upon the Lord and dealt Him a blow with his powerful mace.

3.18.15

भगवांस्तु गदावेगं विसृष्टं रिपुणोरसि । अवञ्चयत्तिरश्चीनो योगारूढ इवान्तकम् ॥ १५ ॥

bhagavams tu gada-vegam visrstam ripunorasi avancayat tirascino yogarudha ivantakam

The Lord, however, by moving slightly aside, dodged the violent mace-blow aimed at His breast by the enemy, just as an accomplished yogi would elude death.

3.18.16

पुनर्गदां स्वामादाय भ्रामयन्तमभीक्ष्णश: । अभ्यधावद्धरि: क्रुद्ध: संरम्भाद्दष्टदच्छदम् ॥ १६ ॥

punar gadam svam adaya bhramayantam abhiksnasah abhyadhavad dharih kruddhah samrambhad dasta-dacchadam

The Personality of Godhead now exhibited His anger and rushed to meet the demon, who bit his lip in rage, took up his mace again and began to repeatedly brandish it about.

3.18.17

ततश्च गदयारातिं दक्षिणस्यां भ्रुवि प्रभु: । आजघ्ने स तु तां सौम्य गदया कोविदोऽहनत् ॥ १७ ॥

tatas ca gadayaratim daksinasyam bhruvi prabhuh ajaghne sa tu tam saumya gadaya kovido ’hanat

Then with His mace the Lord struck the enemy on the right of his brow, but since the demon was expert in fighting, O gentle Vidura, he protected himself by a maneuver of his own mace.

3.18.18

एवं गदाभ्यां गुर्वीभ्यां हर्यक्षो हरिरेव च । जिगीषया सुसंरब्धावन्योन्यमभिजघ्नतु: ॥ १८ ॥

evam gadabhyam gurvibhyam haryakso harir eva ca jigisaya susamrabdhav anyonyam abhijaghnatuh

In this way, the demon Haryaksa and the Lord, the Personality of Godhead, struck each other with their huge maces, each enraged and seeking his own victory.

3.18.19

तयो: स्पृधोस्तिग्मगदाहताङ्गयो: क्षतास्रवघ्राणविवृद्धमन्य्वो: । विचित्रमार्गांश्चरतोर्जिगीषया व्यभादिलायामिव शुष्मिणोर्मृध: ॥ १९ ॥

tayoh sprdhos tigma-gadahatangayoh ksatasrava-ghrana-vivrddha-manyvoh vicitra-margams carator jigisaya vyabhad ilayam iva susminor mrdhah

There was keen rivalry between the two combatants; both had sustained injuries on their bodies from the blows of each other’s pointed maces, and each grew more and more enraged at the smell of blood on his person. In their eagerness to win, they performed maneuvers of various kinds, and their contest looked like an encounter between two forceful bulls for the sake of a cow.

3.18.20

दैत्यस्य यज्ञावयवस्य माया- गृहीतवाराहतनोर्महात्मन: । कौरव्य मह्यां द्विषतोर्विमर्दनं दिद‍ृक्षुरागाद‍ृषिभिर्वृत: स्वराट् ॥ २० ॥

daityasya yajnavayavasya maya- grhita-varaha-tanor mahatmanah kauravya mahyam dvisator vimardanam didrksur agad rsibhir vrtah svarat

O descendant of Kuru, Brahma, the most independent demigod of the universe, accompanied by his followers, came to see the terrible fight for the sake of the world between the demon and the Personality of Godhead, who appeared in the form of a boar.

3.18.21

आसन्नशौण्डीरमपेतसाध्वसं कृतप्रतीकारमहार्यविक्रमम् । विलक्ष्य दैत्यं भगवान् सहस्रणी- र्जगाद नारायणमादिसूकरम् ॥ २१ ॥

asanna-saundiram apeta-sadhvasam krta-pratikaram aharya-vikramam vilaksya daityam bhagavan sahasra-nir jagada narayanam adi-sukaram

After arriving at the place of combat, Brahma, the leader of thousands of sages and transcendentalists, saw the demon, who had attained such unprecedented power that no one could fight with him. Brahma then addressed Narayana, who was assuming the form of a boar for the first time.

3.18.22-23

ब्रह्मोवाच एष ते देव देवानामङ्‌घ्रिमूलमुपेयुषाम् । विप्राणां सौरभेयीणां भूतानामप्यनागसाम् ॥ २२ ॥ आगस्कृद्भयकृद्दुष्कृदस्मद्राद्धवरोऽसुर: । अन्वेषन्नप्रतिरथो लोकानटति कण्टक: ॥ २३ ॥

brahmovaca esa te deva devanam anghri-mulam upeyusam vipranam saurabheyinam bhutanam apy anagasam agas-krd bhaya-krd duskrd asmad-raddha-varo ’surah anvesann apratiratho lokan atati kantakah

Lord Brahma said: My dear Lord, this demon has proved to be a constant pinprick to the demigods, the brahmanas, the cows and innocent persons who are spotless and always dependent upon worshiping Your lotus feet. He has become a source of fear by unnecessarily harassing them. Since he has attained a boon from me, he has become a demon, always searching for a proper combatant, wandering all over the universe for this infamous purpose.

3.18.24

मैनं मायाविनं द‍ृप्तं निरङ्कुशमसत्तमम् । आक्रीड बालवद्देव यथाशीविषमुत्थितम् ॥ २४ ॥

mainam mayavinam drptam nirankusam asattamam akrida balavad deva yathasivisam utthitam

Lord Brahma continued: My dear Lord, there is no need to play with this serpentine demon, who is always very skilled in conjuring tricks and is arrogant, self-sufficient and most wicked.

3.18.25

न यावदेष वर्धेत स्वां वेलां प्राप्य दारुण: । स्वां देव मायामास्थाय तावज्जह्यघमच्युत ॥ २५ ॥

na yavad esa vardheta svam velam prapya darunah svam deva mayam asthaya tavaj jahy agham acyuta

Brahma continued: My dear Lord, You are infallible. Please kill this sinful demon before the demoniac hour arrives and he presents another formidable approach favorable to him. You can kill him by Your internal potency without doubt.

3.18.26

एषा घोरतमा सन्ध्या लोकच्छम्बट्करी प्रभो । उपसर्पति सर्वात्मन् सुराणां जयमावह ॥ २६ ॥

esa ghoratama sandhya loka-cchambat-kari prabho upasarpati sarvatman suranam jayam avaha

My Lord, the darkest evening, which covers the world, is fast approaching. Since You are the Soul of all souls, kindly kill him and win victory for the demigods.

3.18.27

अधुनैषोऽभिजिन्नाम योगो मौहूर्तिको ह्यगात् । शिवाय नस्त्वं सुहृदामाशु निस्तर दुस्तरम् ॥ २७ ॥

adhunaiso ’bhijin nama yogo mauhurtiko hy agat sivaya nas tvam suhrdam asu nistara dustaram

The auspicious period known as abhijit, which is most opportune for victory, commenced at midday and has all but passed; therefore, in the interest of Your friends, please dispose of this formidable foe quickly.

3.18.28

दिष्टय‍ा त्वां विहितं मृत्युसमयमासादित: स्वयम् । विक्रम्यैनं मृधे हत्वा लोकानाधेहि शर्मणि ॥ २८ ॥

distya tvam vihitam mrtyum ayam asaditah svayam vikramyainam mrdhe hatva lokan adhehi sarmani

This demon, luckily for us, has come of his own accord to You, his death ordained by You; therefore, exhibiting Your ways, kill him in the duel and establish the worlds in peace.