> Srimad Bhagavatam - Canto 8
> Sanskrit, word-for-word and original translation of Swami Prabhupâda
> (for the purports one will have to consult the books under the copyright of the BBT)

> Canto 8: 'Withdrawal of the Cosmic Creations'

> *****

> Chapter Eleven: King Indra Annihilates the Demons

> *****

> TEXT 1

> srî-suka uvâca

> atho surâh pratyupalabdha-cetasah

> parasya pumsah parayânukampayâ

> jaghnur bhrsam sakra-samîranâdayas

> tâms tân rane yair abhisamhatâh purâ

> srî-sukah uvâca--Srî Sukadeva Gosvâmî said; atho--thereafter; surâh--all the demigods; pratyupalabdha-cetasah--being enlivened again by revival of their consciousness; parasya--of the Supreme; pumsah--of the Personality of Godhead; parayâ--supreme; anukampayâ--by the mercy; jaghnuh--began to beat; bhrsam--again and again; sakra--Indra; samîrana--Vayu; âdayah--and others; tân tân--to those demons; rane--in the fight; yaih--by whom; abhisamhatâh--they were beaten; purâ--before.

> TRANSLATION

> Sukadeva Gosvami said: Thereafter, by the supreme grace of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Sri Hari, all the demigods, headed by Indra and Vayu, were brought back to life. Being enlivened, the demigods began severely beating the very same demons who had defeated them before.

> *****

> TEXT 2

> vairocanâya samrabdho

> bhagavân pâka-sâsanah

> udayacchad yadâ vajram

> prajâ hâ heti cukrusuh

> vairocanâya--unto Bali Mahârâja (just to kill him); samrabdhah--being very angry; bhagavân--the most powerful; pâka-sâsanah--Indra; udayacchat--took in his hand; yadâ--at which time; vajram--the thunderbolt; prajâh--all the demons; hâ hâ--alas, alas; iti--thus; cukrusuh--began to resound.

> TRANSLATION

> When the most powerful Indra became angry and took his thunderbolt in hand to kill Maharaja Bali, the demons began lamenting, "Alas, alas!"

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> TEXT 3

> vajra-pânis tam âhedam

> tiraskrtya purah-sthitam

> manasvinam susampannam

> vicarantam mahâ-mrdhe

> vajra-pânih--Indra, who always carries in his hand the thunderbolt; tam--unto Bali Mahârâja; âha--addressed; idam--in this way; tiraskrtya--chastising him; purah-sthitam--standing before him; manasvinam--very sober and tolerant; su-sampannam--well equipped with paraphernalia for fighting; vicarantam--moving; mahâ-mrdhe--on the great battlefield.

> TRANSLATION

> Sober and tolerant and well equipped with paraphernalia for fighting, Bali Maharaja moved before Indra on the great battlefield. King Indra, who always carries the thunderbolt in his hand, rebuked Bali Maharaja as follows.

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> TEXT 4

> natavan mûdha mâyâbhir

> mâyesân no jigîsasi

> jitvâ bâlân nibaddhâksân

> nato harati tad-dhanam

> nata-vat--like a cheater or rogue; mûdha--you rascal; mâyâbhih--by exhibiting illusions; mâyâ-îsân--unto the demigods, who can control all such illusory anifestations; nah--unto us; jigîsasi--you are trying to become victorious; jitvâ--conquering; bâlân--small children; nibaddha-aksân--by binding the eyes; natah--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.

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> TEXT 5

> âruruksanti mâyâbhir

> utsisrpsanti ye divam

> tân dasyûn vidhunomy ajnân

> pûrvasmâc ca padâd adhah

> âruruksanti--persons who desire to come to the upper planetary systems; mâyâbhih--by so-called mystic power or material advancement of science; utsisrpsanti--or want to be liberated by such false attempts; ye--such persons who; divam--the higher planetary system known as Svargaloka; tân--such rogues and ruffians; dasyûn--such thieves; vidhunomi--I force to go down; ajnân--rascals; pûrvasmât--previous; ca--also; padât--from the position; adhah--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.

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> TEXT 6

> so 'ham durmâyinas te 'dya

> vajrena sata-parvanâ

> siro harisye mandâtman

> ghatasva jnâtibhih saha

> sah--I am the same powerful person; aham--I; durmâyinah--of you, who can perform so much jugglery with illusions; te--of you; adya--today; vajrena--by the thunderbolt; sata-parvanâ--which has hundreds of sharp edges; sirah--the head; harisye--I shall separate; manda-âtman--O you with a poor fund of knowledge; ghatasva--just try to exist on this battlefield; jnâtibhih 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.

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> TEXT 7

> srî-balir uvâca

> sangrâme vartamânânâm

> kâla-codita-karmanâm

> kîrtir jayo 'jayo mrtyuh

> sarvesâm syur anukramât

> srî-balih uvâca--Bali Mahârâja said; sangrâme--in the battlefield; vartamânânâm--of all persons present here; kâla-codita--influenced by the course of time; karmanâm--for persons engaged in fighting or any other activities; kîrtih--reputation; jayah--victory; ajayah--defeat; mrtyuh--death; sarvesâm--of all of them; syuh--must be done; anukramât--one after another.

> TRANSLATION

> Bali Maharaja 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.

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> TEXT 8

> tad idam kâla-rasanam

> jagat pasyanti sûrayah

> na hrsyanti na socanti

> tatra yûyam apanditâh

> tat--therefore; idam--this whole material world; kâla-rasanam--is moving because of time eternal; jagat--moving forward (this whole universe); pasyanti--observe; sûrayah--those who are intelligent by admission of the truth; na--not; hrsyanti--become jubilant; na--nor; socanti--lament; tatra--in such; yûyam--all of you demigods; apanditâh--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.

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> TEXT 9

> na vayam manyamânânâm

> âtmânam tatra sâdhanam

> giro vah sâdhu-socyânâm

> grhnîmo marma-tâdanâh

> na--not; vayam--we; manyamânânâm--who are considering; âtmânam--the self; tatra--in victory or defeat; sâdhanam--the cause; girah--the words; vah--of you; sâdhu-socyânâm--who are to be pitied by the saintly persons; grhnîmah--accept; marma-tâdanâh--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.

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> TEXT 10

> srî-suka uvâca

> ity âksipya vibhum viro

> nârâcair vîra-mardanah

> âkarna-pûrnair ahanad

> âksepair âha tam punah

> srî-sukah uvâca--Srî Sukadeva Gosvâmî said; iti--thus; âksipya--chastising; vibhum--unto King Indra; vîrah--the valiant Bali Mahârâja; nârâcaih--by the arrows named nârâcas; vîra-mardanah--Bali Mahârâja, who could subdue even great heros; âkarna-pûrnaih--drawn up to his ear; ahanat--attacked; âksepaih--by words of chastisement; âha--said; tam--unto him; punah--again.

> TRANSLATION

> Sukadeva Gosvami said: After thus rebuking Indra, King of heaven, with sharp words, Bali Maharaja, who could subdue any other hero, drew back to his ear the arrows known as naracas and attacked Indra with these arrows. Then he again chastised Indra with strong words.

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> TEXT 11

> evam nirâkrto devo

> vairinâ tathya-vâdinâ

> nâmrsyat tad-adhiksepam

> totrâhata iva dvipah

> evam--thus; nirâkrtah--being defeated; devah--King Indra; vairinâ--by his enemy; tathya-vâdinâ--who was competent to speak the truth; na--not; amrsyat--lamented; tat--of him (Bali); adhiksepam--the chastisement; totra--by the scepter or rod; âhatah--being beaten; iva--just like; dvipah--an elephant.

> TRANSLATION

> Since Maharaja 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.

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> TEXT 12

> prâharat kulisam tasmâ

> amogham para-mardanah

> sayâno nyapatad bhûmau

> chinna-paksa ivâcalah

> prâharat--inflicted; kulisam--thunderbolt scepter; tasmai--unto him (Bali Mahârâja); amogham--infallible; para-mardanah--Indra, who is expert in defeating the enemy; sa-yânah--with his airplane; nyapatat--fell down; bhûmau--on the ground; chinna-paksah--whose wings have been taken away; iva--like; acalah--a mountain.

> TRANSLATION

> When Indra, the defeater of enemies, released his infallible thunderbolt scepter at Bali Maharaja with a desire to kill him, Bali Maharaja indeed fell to the ground with his airplane, like a mountain with its wings cut off.

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> TEXT 13

> sakhâyam patitam drstvâ

> jambho bali-sakhah suhrt

> abhyayât sauhrdam sakhyur

> hatasyâpi samâcaran

> sakhâyam--his intimate friend; patitam--having fallen; drstvâ--after seeing; jambhah--the demon Jambha; bali-sakhah--a very intimate friend of Bali Mahârâja; suhrt--and constant well-wisher; abhyayât--appeared on the scene; sauhrdam--very compassionate friendship; sakhyuh--of his friend; hatasya--who was injured and fallen; api--although; samâcaran--just to perform friendly duties.

> TRANSLATION

> When the demon Jambhasura saw that his friend Bali had fallen, he appeared before Indra, the enemy, just to serve Bali Maharaja with friendly behavior.

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> TEXT 14

> sa simha-vâha âsâdya

> gadâm udyamya ramhasâ

> jatrâv atâdayac chakram

> gajam ca sumahâ-balah

> sah--Jambhâsura; simha-vâhah--being carried by a lion; âsâdya--coming before King Indra; gadâm--his club; udyamya--taking up; ramhasâ--with great force; jatrau--on the base of the neck; atâdayat--hit; sakram--Indra; gajam ca--as well as his elephant; su-mahâ-balah--the greatly powerful Jambhâsura.

> TRANSLATION

> The greatly powerful Jambhasura, carried by a lion, approached Indra and forcefully struck him on the shoulder with his club. He also struck Indra's elephant.

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> TEXT 15

> gadâ-prahâra-vyathito

> bhrsam vihvalito gajah

> jânubhyâm dharanîm sprstvâ

> kasmalam paramam yayau

> gadâ-prahâra-vyathitah--being aggrieved because of the blow from Jambhâsura's club; bhrsam--very much; vihvalitah--upset; gajah--the elephant; jânubhyâm--with its two knees; dharanim--the earth; sprstvâ--touching; kasmalam--unconsciousness; paramam--ultimate; yayau--entered.

> TRANSLATION

> Being beaten by Jambhasura's club, Indra's elephant was confused and aggrieved. Thus it touched its knees to the ground and fell unconscious.

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> TEXT 16

> tato ratho mâtalinâ

> haribhir dasa-satair vrtah

> ânîto dvipam utsrjya

> ratham âruruhe vibhuh

> tatah--thereafter; rathah--chariot; mâtalinâ--by his chariot driver named Mâtali; haribhih--with horses; dasa-sataih--by ten times one hundred (one thousand); vrtah--yoked; ânîtah--being brought in; dvipam--the elephant; utsrjya--keeping aside; ratham--the chariot; âruruhe--got up; vibhuh--the great Indra.

> TRANSLATION

> Thereafter, Matali, 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.

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> TEXT 17

> tasya tat pûjayan karma

> yantur dânava-sattamah

> sûlena jvalatâ tam tu

> smayamâno 'hanan mrdhe

> tasya--of Mâtali; tat--that service (bringing the chariot before Indra); pûjayan--appreciating; karma--such service to the master; yantuh--of the chariot driver; dânava-sat-tamah--the best of the demons, namely Jambhâsura; sûlena--by his trident; jvalatâ--which was blazing fire; tam--Mâtali; tu--indeed; smayamânah--smiling; ahanat--struck; mrdhe--in the battle.

> TRANSLATION

> Appreciating Matali's service, Jambhasura, the best of the demons, smiled. Nonetheless, he struck Matali in the battle with a trident of blazing fire.

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> TEXT 18

> sehe rujam sudurmarsâm

> sattvam âlambya mâtalih

> indro jambhasya sankruddho

> vajrenâpâharac chirah

> sehe--tolerated; rujam--the pain; su-durmarsâm--intolerable; sattvam--patience; âlambya--taking shelter of; mâtalih--the charioteer Mâtali; indrah--King Indra; jambhasya--of the great demon Jambha; sankruddhah--being very angry at him; vajrena--with his thunderbolt; apâharat--separated; sirah--the head.

> TRANSLATION

> Although the pain was extremely severe, Matali tolerated it with great patience. Indra, however, became extremely angry at Jambhasura. He struck Jambhasura with his thunderbolt and thus severed his head from his body.

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> TEXT 19

> jambham srutvâ hatam tasya

> jnâtayo nâradâd rseh

> namucis ca balah pâkas

> tatrâpetus tvarânvitâh

> jambham--Jambhâsura; srutvâ--after hearing; hatam--had been killed; tasya--his; jnâtayah--friends and relatives; nâradât--from the source Nârada; rseh--from the great saint; namucih--the demon Namuci; ca--also; balah--the demon Bala; pâkah--the demon Pâka; tatra--there; âpetuh--immediately arrived; tvarâ-anvitâh--with great haste.

> TRANSLATION

> When Narada Rsi informed Jambhasura's friends and relatives that Jambhasura had been killed, the three demons named Namuci, Bala and Paka arrived on the battlefield in great haste.

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> TEXT 20

> vacobhih parusair indram

> ardayanto 'sya marmasu

> sarair avâkiran meghâ

> dhârâbhir iva parvatam

> vacobhih--with harsh words; parusaih--very rough and cruel; indram--King Indra; ardayantah--chastising, piercing; asya--of Indra; marmasu--in the heart, etc.; saraih--with arrows; avâkiran--covered all around; meghâh--clouds; dhârâbhih--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.

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> TEXT 21

> harîn dasa-satâny âjau

> haryasvasya balah saraih

> tâvadbhir ardayâm âsa

> yugapal laghu-hastavân

> harîn--horses; dasa-satâni--ten times one hundred (one thousand); âjau--on the battlefield; haryasvasya--of King Indra; balah--the demon Bala; saraih--with arrows; tâvadbhih--with so many; ardayâm âsa--put into tribulation; yugapat--simultaneously; laghu-hastavân--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.

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> TEXT 22

> satâbhyâm mâtalim pâko

> ratham sâvayavam prthak

> sakrt sandhâna-moksena

> tad adbhutam abhûd rane

> satâbhyâm--with two hundred arrows; mâtalim--unto the chariot driver Mâtali; pâkah--the demon named Pâka; ratham--the chariot; sa-avayavam--with all paraphernalia; prthak--separately; sakrt--once, at one time; sandhâna--by yoking the arrows to the bow; moksena--and releasing; tat--such an action; adbhutam--wonderful; abhût--so became; rane--on the battlefield.

> TRANSLATION

> Paka, another demon, attacked both the chariot, with all its paraphernalia, and the chariot driver, Matali, by fitting two hundred arrows to his bow and releasing them all simultaneously. This was indeed a wonderful act on the battlefield.

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> TEXT 23

> namucih panca-dasabhih

> svarna-punkhair mahesubhih

> âhatya vyanadat sankhye

> satoya iva toyadah

> namucih--the demon named Namuci; panca-dasabhih--with fifteen; svarna-punkhaih--with golden feathers attached; mahâ-isubhih--very powerful arrows; âhatya--piercing; vyanadat--resounded; sankhye--on the battlefield; sa-toyah--bearing water; iva--like; toya-dah--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.

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> TEXT 24

> sarvatah sara-kûtena

> sakram saratha-sârathim

> châdayâm âsur asurâh

> prâvrt-sûryam ivâmbudâh

> sarvatah--all around; sara-kûtena--by a dense shower of arrows; sakram--Indra; sa-ratha--with his chariot; sârathim--and with his chariot driver; châdayâm âsuh--covered; asurâh--all the demons; prâvrt--in the rainy season; sûryam--the sun; iva--like; ambu-dâh--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.

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> TEXT 25

> alaksayantas tam atîva vihvalâ

> vicukrusur deva-ganâh sahânugâh

> anâyakâh satru-balena nirjitâ

> vanik-pathâ bhinna-navo yathârnave

> alaksayantah--being unable to see; tam--King Indra; atîva--fiercely; vihvalâh--bewildered; vicukrusuh--began to lament; deva-ganâh--all the demigods; saha-anugâh--with their followers; anâyakâh--without any captain or leader; satru-balena--by the superior power of their enemies; nirjitâh--oppressed severely; vanik-pathâh--traders; bhinna-navah--whose ship is wrecked; yathâ arnave--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.

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> TEXT 26

> tatas turâsâd isu-baddha-panjarâd

> vinirgatah sâsva-ratha-dhvajâgranîh

> babhau disah kham prthivîm ca rocayan

> sva-tejasâ sûrya iva ksapâtyaye

> tatah--thereafter; turâsât--another name of Indra; isu-baddha-panjarât--from the cage of the network of arrows; vinirgatah--being released; sa--with; asva--horses; ratha--chariot; dhvaja--flag; agranîh--and chariot driver; babhau--became; disah--all directions; kham--the sky; prthivîm--the earth; ca--and; rocayan--pleasing everywhere; sva-tejasâ--by his personal effulgence; sûryah--the sun; iva--like; ksapâ-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.

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> TEXT 27

> nirîksya prtanâm devah

> parair abhyarditâm rane

> udayacchad ripum hantum

> vajram vajra-dharo rusâ

> nirîksya--after observing; prtanâm--his own soldiers; devah--the demigod Indra; paraih--by the enemies; abhyarditâm--put into great difficulties or oppressed; rane--in the battlefield; udayacchat--took up; ripum--the enemies; hantum--to kill; vajram--the thunderbolt; vajra-dharah--the carrier of the thunderbolt; rusâ--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.

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> TEXT 28

> sa tenaivâsta-dhârena

> sirasî bala-pâkayoh

> jnâtînâm pasyatâm râjan

> jahâra janayan bhayam

> sah--he (Indra); tena--by that; eva--indeed; asta-dhârena--by the thunderbolt; sirasî--the two heads; bala-pâkayoh--of the two demons known as Bala and Pâka; jnâtînâm pasyatâm--while their relatives and soldiers were watching; râjan--O King; jahâra--(Indra) cut off; janayan--creating; bhayam--fear (among them).

> TRANSLATION

> O King Pariksit, King Indra used his thunderbolt to cut off the heads of both Bala and Paka in the presence of all their relatives and followers. In this way he created a very fearful atmosphere on the battlefield.

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> TEXT 29

> namucis tad-vadham drstvâ

> sokâmarsa-rusânvitah

> jighâmsur indram nrpate

> cakâra paramodyamam

> namucih--the demon Namuci; tat--of those two demons; vadham--the massacre; drstvâ--after seeing; soka-amarsa--lamentation and grief; rusâ-anvitah--being very angry at this; jighâmsuh--wanted to kill; indram--King Indra; nr-pate--O Mahârâja Parîksit; cakâra--made; parama--a great; udyamam--endeavor.

> TRANSLATION

> O King, when Namuci, another demon, saw the killing of both Bala and Paka, he was full of grief and lamentation. Thus he angrily made a great attempt to kill Indra.

> *****

> TEXT 30

> asmasâramayam sûlam

> ghantâvad dhema-bhûsanam

> pragrhyâbhyadravat kruddho

> hato 'sîti vitarjayan

> prâhinod deva-râjâya

> ninadan mrga-râd iva

> asmasâra-mayam--made of steel; sûlam--a spear; ghantâ-vat--bound with bells; hema-bhûsanam--decorated with ornaments of gold; pragrhya--taking in his hand; abhyadravat--forcefully went; kruddhah--in an angry mood; hatah asi iti--now you are killed; vitarjayan--roaring like that; prâhinot--struck; deva-râjâya--unto King Indra; ninadan--resounding; mrga-rât--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.

> *****

> TEXT 31

> tadâpatad gagana-tale mahâ-javam

> vicicchide harir isubhih sahasradhâ

> tam âhanan nrpa kulisena kandhare

> rusânvitas tridasa-patih siro haran

> tadâ--at that time; apatat--falling like a meteor; gagana-tale--beneath the sky or on the ground; mahâ-javam--extremely powerful; vicicchide--cut to pieces; harih--Indra; isubhih--by his arrows; sahasradhâ--into thousands of pieces; tam--that Namuci; âhanat--struck; nrpa--O King; kulisena--with his thunderbolt; kandhare--on the shoulder; rusâ-anvitah--being very angry; tridasa-patih--Indra, the King of the demigods; sirah--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.

> *****

> TEXT 32

> na tasya hi tvacam api vajra ûrjito

> bibheda yah sura-patinaujaseritah

> tad adbhutam param ativîrya-vrtra-bhit

> tiraskrto namuci-sirodhara-tvacâ

> na--not; tasya--of him (Namuci); hi--indeed; tvacam api--even the skin; vajrah--the thunderbolt; ûrjitah--very powerful; bibheda--could pierce; yah--the weapon which; sura-patinâ--by the king of the demigods; ojasâ--very forcefully; îritah--had been released; tat--therefore; adbhutam param--it was extraordinarily wonderful; ativîrya-vrtra-bhit--so powerful that it could pierce the body of the very powerful Vrtrâsura; tiraskrtah--(now in the future) which had been repelled; namuci-sirodhara-tvacâ--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 Vrtrasura could not even slightly injure the skin of Namuci's neck.

> *****

> TEXT 33

> tasmâd indro 'bibhec chatror

> vajrah pratihato yatah

> kim idam daiva-yogena

> bhûtam loka-vimohanam

> tasmât--therefore; indrah--the King of heaven; abibhet--became very fearful; satroh--from the enemy (Namuci); vajrah--the thunderbolt; pratihatah--was unable to hit and returned; yatah--because; kim idam--what is this; daiva-yogena--by some superior force; bhûtam--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.

> PURPORT

> Indra's thunderbolt is invincible, and therefore when Indra saw that it had returned without doing any injury to Namuci, he was certainly very much afraid.

> *****

> TEXT 34

> yena me pûrvam adrînâm

> paksa-cchedah prajâtyaye

> krto nivisatâm bhâraih

> patattraih patatâm bhuvi

> yena--by the same thunderbolt; me--by me; pûrvam--formerly; adrînâm--of the mountains; paksa-cchedah--the cutting of the wings; prajâ-atyaye--when there was killing of the people in general; krtah--was done; nivisatâm--of those mountains which entered; bhâraih--by the great weight; patattraih--by wings; patatâm--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.

> *****

> TEXT 35

> tapah-sâramayam tvâstram

> vrtro yena vipâtitah

> anye câpi balopetâh

> sarvâstrair aksata-tvacah

> tapah--austerities; sâra-mayam--greatly powerful; tvâstram--performed by Tvastâ; vrtrah--Vrtrâsura; yena--by which; vipâtitah--was killed; anye--others; ca--also; api--indeed; bala-upetâh--very powerful persons; sarva--all kinds; astraih--by weapons; aksata--without being injured; tvacah--their skin.

> TRANSLATION

> Vrtrasura was the essence of the austerities undergone by Tvasta, 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.

> *****

> TEXT 36

> so 'yam pratihato vajro

> mayâ mukto 'sure 'lpake

> nâham tad âdade dandam

> brahma-tejo 'py akâranam

> sah ayam--therefore, this thunderbolt; pratihatah--repelled; vajrah--thunderbolt; mayâ--by me; muktah--released; asure--unto that demon; alpake--less important; na--not; aham--I; tat--that; âdade--hold; dandam--it is now just like a rod; brahma-tejah--as powerful as a brahmâstra; api--although; akâranam--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 brahmastra, it has now become useless like an ordinary rod. I shall therefore hold it no longer.

> *****

> TEXT 37

> iti sakram visîdantam

> âha vâg asarîrinî

> nâyam suskair atho nârdrair

> vadham arhati dânavah

> iti--in this way; sakram--unto Indra; visîdantam--lamenting; âha--spoke; vâk--a voice; asarîrinî--without any body, or from the sky; na--not; ayam--this; suskaih--by anything dry; atho--also; na--nor; ârdraih--by anything moist; vadham--annihilation; arhati--is befitting; dânavah--this demon (Namuci).

> TRANSLATION

> Sukadeva Gosvami 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."

> *****

> TEXT 38

> mayâsmai yad varo datto

> mrtyur naivârdra-suskayoh

> ato 'nyas cintanîyas te

> upâyo maghavan ripoh

> mayâ--by me; asmai--unto him; yat--because; varah--a benediction; dattah--has been granted; mrtyuh--death; na--not; eva--indeed; ârdra--by either a moist; suskayoh--or by a dry medium; atah--therefore; anyah--something else, another; cintanîyah--has to be thought of; te--by you; upâyah--means; maghavan--O Indra; ripoh--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."

> *****

> TEXT 39

> tâm daivîm giram âkarnya

> maghavân susamâhitah

> dhyâyan phenam athâpasyad

> upâyam ubhayâtmakam

> tâm--that; daivîm--ominous; giram--voice; âkarnya--after hearing; maghavân--Lord Indra; su-samâhitah--becoming very careful; dhyâyan--meditating; phenam--appearance of foam; atha--thereafter; apasyat--he saw; upâyam--the means; ubhaya-âtmakam--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.

> *****

> TEXT 40

> na suskena na cârdrena

> jahâra namuceh sirah

> tam tustuvur muni-ganâ

> mâlyais câvâkiran vibhum

> na--neither; suskena--by dry means; na--nor; ca--also; ârdrena--by a moist weapon; jahâra--he separated; namuceh--of Namuci; sirah--the head; tam--him (Indra); tustuvuh--satisfied; muni-ganâh--all the sages; mâlyaih--with flower garlands; ca--also; avâkiran--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.

> *****

> TEXT 41

> gandharva-mukhyau jagatur

> visvâvasu-parâvasu

> deva-dundubhayo nedur

> nartakyo nanrtur mudâ

> gandharva-mukhyau--the two chiefs of the Gandharvas; jagatuh--began to sing nice songs; visvâvasu--named Visvâvasu; parâvasu--named Parâvasu; deva-dundubhayah--the kettledrums beaten by the demigods; neduh--made their sound; nartakyah--the dancers known as Apsarâs; nanrtuh--began to dance; mudâ--in great happiness.

> TRANSLATION

> Visvavasu and Paravasu, the two chiefs of the Gandharvas, sang in great happiness. The kettledrums of the demigods sounded, and the Apsaras danced in jubilation.

> *****

> TEXT 42

> anye 'py evam pratidvandvân

> vâyv-agni-varunâdayah

> sûdayâm âsur asurân

> mrgân kesarino yathâ

> anye--others; api--also; evam--in this way; pratidvandvân--the opposing party of belligerants; vâyu--the demigod known as Vâyu; agni--the demigod known as Agni; varuna-âdayah--the demigod known as Varuna and others; sûdayâm âsuh--began to kill vigorously; asurân--all the demons; mrgân--deer; kesarinah--lions; yathâ--just as.

> TRANSLATION

> Vayu, Agni, Varuna and other demigods began killing the demons who opposed them, just as lions kill deer in a forest.

> *****

> TEXT 43

> brahmanâ presito devân

> devarsir nârado nrpa

> vârayâm âsa vibudhân

> drstvâ dânava-sanksayam

> brahmanâ--by Lord Brahmâ; presitah--sent; devân--unto the demigods; deva-rsih--the great sage of the heavenly planets; nâradah--Nârada Muni; nrpa--O King; vârayâm âsa--forbade; vibudhân--all the demigods; drstvâ--after seeing; dânava-sanksayam--the total annihilation of the demons.

> TRANSLATION

> O King, when Lord Brahma saw the imminent total annihilation of the demons, he sent a message with Narada, who went before the demigods to make them stop fighting.

> *****

> TEXT 44

> srî-nârada uvâca

> bhavadbhir amrtam prâptam

> nârâyana-bhujâsrayaih

> sriyâ samedhitâh sarva

> upâramata vigrahât

> srî-nâradah uvâca--Nârada Muni prayed to the demigods; bhavadbhih--by all of you; amrtam--nectar; prâptam--has been obtained; nârâyana--of the Supreme Personality of Godhead; bhuja-âsrayaih--being protected by the arms; sriyâ--by all fortune; samedhitâh--have flourished; sarve--all of you; upâramata--now cease; vigrahât--from this fighting.

> TRANSLATION

> The great sage Narada said: All of you demigods are protected by the arms of Narayana, 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.

> *****

> TEXT 45

> srî-suka uvâca

> samyamya manyu-samrambham

> mânayanto muner vacah

> upagîyamânânucarair

> yayuh sarve trivistapam

> srî-sukah uvâca--Srî Sukadeva Gosvâmî said; samyamya--controlling; manyu--of anger; samrambham--the aggravation; mânayantah--accepting; muneh vacah--the words of Nârada Muni; upagîyamâna--being praised; anucaraih--by their followers; yayuh--returned; sarve--all of the demigods; trivistapam--to the heavenly planets.

> TRANSLATION

> Sri Sukadeva Gosvami said: Accepting the words of Narada, the demigods gave up their anger and stopped fighting. Being praised by their followers, they returned to their heavenly planets.

> *****

> TEXT 46

> ye 'vasistâ rane tasmin

> nâradânumatena te

> balim vipannam âdâya

> astam girim upâgaman

> ye--some of the demons who; avasistâh--remained; rane--in the fight; tasmin--in that; nârada-anumatena--by the order of Nârada; te--all of them; balim--Mahârâja Bali; vipannam--in reverses; âdâya--taking; astam--named Asta; girim--to the mountain; upâgaman--went.

> TRANSLATION

> Following the order of Narada Muni, whatever demons remained on the battlefield took Bali Maharaja, who was in a precarious condition, to the hill known as Astagiri.

> *****

> TEXT 47

> tatrâvinastâvayavân

> vidyamâna-sirodharân

> usanâ jîvayâm âsa

> sanjîvanyâ sva-vidyayâ

> tatra--on that hill; avinasta-avayavân--the demons who had been killed but whose bodily parts had not been lost; vidyamâna-sirodharân--whose heads were still existing on their bodies; usanâh--Sukrâcârya; jîvayâm âsa--brought to life; sanjîvanyâ--by the Sanjîvanî mantra; sva-vidyayâ--by his own achievement.

> TRANSLATION

> There, on that hill, Sukracarya 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 Samjivani.

> *****

> TEXT 48

> balis cosanasâ sprstah

> pratyâpannendriya-smrtih

> parâjito 'pi nâkhidyal

> loka-tattva-vicaksanah

> balih--Mahârâja Bali; ca--also; usanasâ--by Sukrâcârya; sprstah--being touched; pratyâpanna--was brought back; indriya-smrtih--realization of the actions of the senses and memory; parâjitah--he was defeated; api--although; na akhidyat--he did not lament; loka-tattva-vicaksanah--because he was very experienced in universal affairs.

> TRANSLATION

> Bali Maharaja was very experienced in universal affairs. When he regained his senses and memory by the grace of Sukracarya, he could understand everything that had happened. Therefore, although he had been defeated, he did not lament.

> Back to the running text