Skandapurana 2.4.16
English (machine translation) 2.4.16
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2.4.16.1
Nārada said:
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Seeing the Daitya approaching again, all the gods along with Vāsava,
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trembling with fear, began to praise Viṣṇu:
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“Obeisance to you, who by manifold forms such as the Fish and Tortoise are ever engaged in the welfare of devotees, the destroyer of distress,
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the maker of creation, preservation, and destruction through the Creator and others, having a mace, conch, lotus, and discus in hand!
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To the beloved of Ramā, the slayer of Asuras, whose mount is the enemy of serpents, who wears yellow garments,
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the accomplisher and transformer of sacrificial rites and the like, the refuge—to him we bow, we bow!
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Obeisance to you, Viṣṇu, the thunderbolt that shatters the mountain of grief of the immortals afflicted by the Daitya!
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To him who lies upon the bed of the lord of serpents, whose two eyes are the sun and the moon—to him we bow, we bow!”
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Nārada said:
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If a man recites this hymn named “Destroyer of Calamity,”
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he is never afflicted by calamities, by the grace of Hari.
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While the gods were thus offering praise to the enemy of the Danujas,
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the distress of the gods was understood by Viṣṇu at that moment.
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Rising abruptly, the enemy of Daityas, enraged and sorrowful at heart,
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swiftly mounted Garuḍa and spoke these words to Lakṣmī:
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The Blessed Lord said:
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“Destruction has been wrought upon the gods by your brother Jalaṃdhara.
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Summoned by them, I will go today in haste for battle.”
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Śrī said:
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“If I am dear to you, O Lord, and always possessed of devotion,
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then how can my brother be slain by you in battle, O treasure of compassion?”
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The Blessed Lord said:
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“Because he was born of a portion of Rudra, and also on Brahmā's word,
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and out of love for you, this Jalaṃdhara shall certainly not be slain by me.”
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Nārada said:
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Having spoken thus, mounted upon Garuḍa, bearing conch, discus, mace, and sword,
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Viṣṇu went swiftly to fight where those gods were praising him.
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Then, distressed by the very fierce wind from the wings of the younger brother of Aruṇa,
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buffeted by a whirlwind, the Daityas whirled in the sky like clouds.
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Then Jalaṃdhara, seeing the Daityas tormented by the windstorm,
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with eyes rolling in fury, then charged at Viṣṇu.
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Then a great battle took place between Viṣṇu and the king of the Daityas,
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as with their arrows they made the sky seem void of space.
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With streams of arrows Viṣṇu cut down the banner, parasol, bow, and horses of the Daitya,
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and struck him in the chest with a single arrow.
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Then the Daitya, springing up swiftly with mace in hand,
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struck Garuḍa on the head and felled him to the earth.
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Viṣṇu cut the mace with his sword, as if laughing;
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meanwhile, he struck Viṣṇu in the chest with a solid fist.
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Then those two of great strength fought in hand-to-hand combat,
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making the earth resound with their arms, fists, and knees.
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Having fought thus for a very long time, the powerful Viṣṇu,
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sounding deep like a raincloud, spoke to the king of the Daityas:
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Viṣṇu said:
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“Choose a boon, O lord of Daityas! I am pleased with your prowess.
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Even that which should not be given, I will give you—whatever is in your heart.”
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Jalaṃdhara said:
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“If you are pleased, O gracious one, grant me this boon:
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dwell today in my house along with my sister, together with your host.”
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Nārada said:
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Saying “So be it,” the Blessed Lord, together with all the hosts of gods,
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then went to the city of Jalaṃdhara along with Ramā.
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Jalaṃdhara, having installed Dānavas in the offices of the gods,
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the mighty-armed one returned once more to the earth's surface.
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Whatever precious objects were among the gods, Gandharvas, and Siddhas,
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bringing all that under his control, the son of the ocean remained.
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Having stationed the mighty Daitya Niśumbha in the realm of Pātāla,
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that powerful one brought Śeṣa and others to the earth's surface.
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Having made gods, Gandharvas, Siddhas, serpents, Rākṣasas, and humans
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citizens in his own city, he ruled the three worlds.
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Having thus brought the gods under his control, Jalaṃdhara
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protected the subjects righteously, like his own born sons.
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None was diseased, none in sorrow, nor anyone ruined;
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none was seen to be wretched while he ruled the kingdom according to dharma.
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While the lord of Dānavas was thus ruling the earth righteously, I once came with a desire to see,
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in order to look upon his splendor and to attend upon the lover of Śrī.
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Thus ends the sixteenth chapter, entitled “The Arrival of Nārada at the Assembly of Jalaṃdhara,” in the Kārtikamāsamāhātmya, in the second Vaiṣṇavakhaṇḍa, in the Skandapurāṇa of eighty-one thousand verses.
Linked texts (1)
- Skandapurāṇa — Vyāsa, Sanskrit