Srimad-Bhagavatam: Canto 8: “Withdrawal of the Cosmic Creations”
by His Divine Grace A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada
Chapter Ten
SB8.10.32-34
TEXTS 32–34
vrsakapis tu jambhena
mahisena vibhavasuh
ilvalah saha vatapir
brahma-putrair arindama
kamadevena durmarsa
utkalo matrbhih saha
brhaspatis cosanasa
narakena sanaiscarah
maruto nivatakavacaih
kaleyair vasavo ’marah
visvedevas tu paulomai
rudrah krodhavasaih saha
SYNONYMS
vrsakapih—Lord Siva; tu—indeed; jambhena—with Jambha; mahisena—with Mahisasura; vibhavasuh—the fire-god; ilvalah—the demon Ilvala; saha vatapih—with his brother, Vatapi; brahma-putraih—with the sons of Brahma, such as Vasistha; arim-dama—O Maharaja Pariksit, suppressor of enemies; kamadevena—with Kamadeva; durmarsah—Durmarsa; utkalah—the demon Utkala; matrbhih saha—with the demigoddesses known as the Matrkas; brhaspatih—the demigod Brhaspati; ca—and; usanasa—with Sukracarya; narakena—with the demon known as Naraka; sanaiscarah—the demigod Sani, or Saturn; marutah—the demigods of air; nivatakavacaih—with the demon Nivatakavaca; kaleyaih—with the Kalakeyas; vasavah amarah—the Vasus fought; visvedevah—the Visvedeva demigods; tu—indeed; paulomaih—with the Paulomas; rudrah—the eleven Rudras; krodhavasaih saha—with the Krodhavasa demons.
TRANSLATION
O Maharaja Pariksit, suppressor of enemies [Arindama], Lord Siva fought with Jambha, and Vibhavasu fought with Mahisasura. Ilvala, along with his brother Vatapi, fought the sons of Lord Brahma. Durmarsa fought with Cupid, the demon Utkala with the Matrka demigoddesses, Brhaspati with Sukracarya, and Sanaiscara [Saturn] with Narakasura. The Maruts fought Nivatakavaca, the Vasus fought the Kalakeya demons, the Visvedeva demigods fought the Pauloma demons, and the Rudras fought the Krodhavasa demons, who were victims of anger.
SB8.10.35
TEXT 35
ta evam ajav asurah surendra
dvandvena samhatya ca yudhyamanah
anyonyam asadya nijaghnur ojasa
jigisavas tiksna-sarasi-tomaraih
SYNONYMS
te—all of them; evam—in this way; ajau—on the battlefield; asurah—the demons; sura-indrah—and the demigods; dvandvena—two by two; samhatya—mixing together; ca—and; yudhyamanah—engaged in fighting; anyonyam—with one another; asadya—approaching; nijaghnuh—slashed with weapons and killed; ojasa—with great strength; jigisavah—everyone desiring victory; tiksna—sharp; sara—with arrows; asi—with swords; tomaraih—with lances.
TRANSLATION
All of these demigods and demons assembled on the battlefield with a fighting spirit and attacked one another with great strength. All of them desiring victory, they fought in pairs, hitting one another severely with sharpened arrows, swords and lances.
SB8.10.36
TEXT 36
bhusundibhis cakra-gadarsti-pattisaih
sakty-ulmukaih prasa-parasvadhair api
nistrimsa-bhallaih parighaih samudgaraih
sabhindipalais ca siramsi cicchiduh
SYNONYMS
bhusundibhih—with weapons called bhusundi; cakra—with discs; gada—with clubs; rsti—with the weapons called rsti; pattisaih—with the weapons called pattisa; sakti—with the sakti weapons; ulmukaih—with the weapons called ulmukas; prasa—with the prasa weapons; parasvadhaih—with the weapons called parasvadha; api—also; nistrimsa—with nistrimsas; bhallaih—with lances; parighaih—with the weapons named parighas; sa-mudgaraih—with the weapons known as mudgara; sa-bhindipalaih—with the bhindipala weapons; ca—also; siramsi—heads; cicchiduh—cut off.
TRANSLATION
They severed one another’s heads, using weapons like bhusundis, cakras, clubs, rstis, pattisas, saktis, ulmukas, prasas, parasvadhas, nistrimsas, lances, parighas, mudgaras and bhindipalas.
SB8.10.37
TEXT 37
gajas turangah sarathah padatayah
saroha-vaha vividha vikhanditah
nikrtta-bahuru-sirodharanghrayas
chinna-dhvajesvasa-tanutra-bhusanah
SYNONYMS
gajah—elephants; turangah—horses; sa-rathah—with chariots; padatayah—infantry soldiers; saroha-vahah—carriers with the riders; vividhah—varieties; vikhanditah—cut to pieces; nikrtta-bahu—cut off arms; uru—thighs; sirodhara—necks; anghrayah—legs; chinna—cut up; dhvaja—flags; isvasa—bows; tanutra—armor; bhusanah—ornaments.
TRANSLATION
The elephants, horses, chariots, charioteers, infantry soldiers and various kinds of carriers, along with their riders, were slashed to pieces. The arms, thighs, necks and legs of the soldiers were severed, and their flags, bows, armor and ornaments were torn apart.
SB8.10.38
TEXT 38
tesam padaghata-rathanga-curnitad
ayodhanad ulbana utthitas tada
renur disah kham dyumanim ca chadayan
nyavartatasrk-srutibhih pariplutat
SYNONYMS
tesam—of all the people engaged on the battlefield; padaghata—because of beating on the ground by the legs of the demons and demigods; ratha-anga—and by the wheels of the chariots; curnitat—which was made into pieces of dust; ayodhanat—from the battlefield; ulbanah—very forceful; utthitah—rising; tada—at that time; renuh—the dust particles; disah—all directions; kham—outer space; dyumanim—up to the sun; ca—also; chadayan—covering all of space up to that; nyavartata—dropped floating in the air; asrk—of blood; srutibhih—by particles; pariplutat—because of being widely sprinkled.
TRANSLATION
Because of the impact on the ground of the legs of the demons and demigods and the wheels of the chariots, particles of dust flew violently into the sky and made a dust cloud that covered all directions of outer space, as far as the sun. But when the particles of dust were followed by drops of blood being sprinkled all over space, the dust cloud could no longer float in the sky.
PURPORT
The cloud of dust covered the entire horizon, but when drops of blood sprayed up as far as the sun, the dust cloud could no longer float in the sky. A point to be observed here is that although the blood is stated to have reached the sun, it is not said to have reached the moon. Apparently, therefore, as stated elsewhere in Srimad-Bhagavatam, the sun, not the moon, is the planet nearest the earth. We have already discussed this point in many places. The sun is first, then the moon, then Mars, Jupiter and so on. The sun is supposed to be 93,000,000 miles above the surface of the earth, and from the Srimad-Bhagavatam we understand that the moon is 1,600,000 miles above the sun. Therefore the distance between the earth and the moon would be about 95,000,000 miles. So if a space capsule were traveling at the speed of 18,000 miles per hour, how could it reach the moon in four days? At that speed, going to the moon would take at least seven months. That a space capsule on a moon excursion has reached the moon in four days is therefore impossible. SB8.10.39 TEXT 39 sirobhir uddhuta-kirita-kundalaih samrambha-drgbhih paridasta-dacchadaih maha-bhujaih sabharanaih sahayudhaih sa prastrta bhuh karabhorubhir babhau SYNONYMS sirobhih—by the heads; uddhuta—separated, scattered from; kirita—having their helmets; kundalaih—and earrings; samrambha-drgbhih—eyes staring in anger (although the heads were severed from their bodies); paridasta—having been bitten by the teeth; dacchadaih—the lips; maha-bhujaih—with big arms; sa-abharanaih—decorated with ornaments; saha-ayudhaih—and with weapons in their hands, although the hands were severed; sa—that battlefield; prastrta—scattered; bhuh—the warfield; karabha-urubhih—and with thighs and legs resembling the trunks of elephants; babhau—it so became. TRANSLATION In the course of the battle, the warfield became strewn with the severed heads of heroes, their eyes still staring and their teeth still pressed against their lips in anger. Helmets and earrings were scattered from these severed heads. Similarly, many arms, decorated with ornaments and clutching various weapons, were strewn here and there, as were many legs and thighs, which resembled the trunks of elephants. SB8.10.40 TEXT 40 kabandhas tatra cotpetuh patita-sva-siro-’ksibhih udyatayudha-dordandair adhavanto bhatan mrdhe SYNONYMS kabandhah—trunks (bodies without heads); tatra—there (on the battlefield); ca—also; utpetuh—generated; patita—fallen; sva-sirah-aksibhih—by the eyes in one’s head; udyata—raised; ayudha—equipped with weapons; dordandaih—the arms of whom; adhavantah—rushing toward; bhatan—the soldiers; mrdhe—on the battlefield. TRANSLATION Many headless trunks were generated on that battlefield. With weapons in their arms, those ghostly trunks, which could see with the eyes in the fallen heads, attacked the enemy soldiers. PURPORT It appears that the heroes who died on the battlefield immediately became ghosts, and although their heads had been severed from their bodies, new trunks were generated, and these new trunks, seeing with the eyes in the severed heads, began to attack the enemy. In other words, many ghosts were generated to join the fight, and thus new trunks appeared on the battlefield. SB8.10.41 TEXT 41 balir mahendram dasabhis tribhir airavatam saraih caturbhis caturo vahan ekenaroham arcchayat SYNONYMS balih—Maharaja Bali; maha-indram—the King of heaven; dasabhih—with ten; tribhih—with three; airavatam—Airavata, carrying Indra; saraih—by arrows; caturbhih—by four arrows; caturah—the four; vahan—mounted soldiers; ekena—by one; aroham—the driver of the elephants; arcchayat—attacked. TRANSLATION Maharaja Bali then attacked Indra with ten arrows and attacked Airavata, Indra’s carrier elephant, with three arrows. With four arrows he attacked the four horsemen guarding Airavata’s legs, and with one arrow he attacked the driver of the elephant. PURPORT The word vahan refers to the soldiers on horseback who protected the legs of the carrier elephants. According to the system of military arrangement, the legs of the elephant bearing the commander were also protected. SB8.10.42 TEXT 42 sa tan apatatah sakras tavadbhih sighra-vikramah ciccheda nisitair bhallair asampraptan hasann iva SYNONYMS sah—he (Indra); tan—arrows; apatatah—while moving toward him and falling down; sakrah—Indra; tavadbhih—immediately; sighra-vikramah—was practiced to oppress very soon; ciccheda—cut to pieces; nisitaih—very sharp; bhallaih—with another type of arrow; asampraptan—the enemy’s arrows not being received; hasan iva—as if smiling. TRANSLATION Before Bali Maharaja’s arrows could reach him, Indra, King of heaven, who is expert in dealing with arrows, smiled and counteracted the arrows with arrows of another type, known as bhalla, which were extremely sharp. SB8.10.43 TEXT 43 tasya karmottamam viksya durmarsah saktim adade tam jvalantim maholkabham hasta-stham acchinad dharih SYNONYMS tasya—of King Indra; karma-uttamam—the very expert service in military art; viksya—after observing; durmarsah—being in a very angry mood; saktim—the sakti weapon; adade—took up; tam—that weapon; jvalantim—blazing fire; maha-ulka-abham—appearing like a great firebrand; hasta-stham—while still in the hand of Bali; acchinat—cut to pieces; harih—Indra. TRANSLATION When Bali Maharaja saw the expert military activities of Indra, he could not restrain his anger. Thus he took up another weapon, known as sakti, which blazed like a great firebrand. But Indra cut that weapon to pieces while it was still in Bali’s hand. SB8.10.44 TEXT 44 tatah sulam tatah prasam tatas tomaram rstayah yad yac chastram samadadyat sarvam tad acchinad vibhuh SYNONYMS tatah—thereafter; sulam—lance; tatah—thereafter; prasam—the prasa weapon; tatah—thereafter; tomaram—the tomara weapon; rstayah—the rsti weapons; yat yat—whatever and whichever; sastram—weapon; samadadyat—Bali Maharaja tried to use; sarvam—all of them; tat—those same weapons; acchinat—cut to pieces; vibhuh—the great Indra. TRANSLATION Thereafter, one by one, Bali Maharaja used a lance, prasa, tomara, rstis and other weapons, but whatever weapons he took up, Indra immediately cut them to pieces. SB8.10.45 TEXT 45 sasarjathasurim mayam antardhana-gato ’surah tatah pradurabhuc chailah suranikopari prabho SYNONYMS sasarja—released; atha—now; asurim—demoniac; mayam—illusion; antardhana—out of vision; gatah—having gone; asurah—Bali Maharaja; tatah—thereafter; pradurabhut—there appeared; sailah—a big mountain; sura-anika-upari—above the heads of the soldiers of the demigods; prabho—O my lord. TRANSLATION My dear King, Bali Maharaja then disappeared and resorted to demoniac illusions. A giant mountain, generated from illusion, then appeared above the heads of the demigod soldiers. SB8.10.46 TEXT 46 tato nipetus taravo dahyamana davagnina silah satanka-sikharas curnayantyo dvisad-balam SYNONYMS tatah—from that great mountain; nipetuh—began to fall; taravah—large trees; dahyamanah—blazing in fire; dava-agnina—by the forest fire; silah—and stones; sa-tanka-sikharah—having edges with points as sharp as stone picks; curnayantyah—smashing; dvisat-balam—the strength of the enemies. TRANSLATION From that mountain fell trees blazing in a forest fire. Chips of stone, with sharp edges like picks, also fell and smashed the heads of the demigod soldiers. SB8.10.47 TEXT 47 mahoragah samutpetur dandasukah savrscikah simha-vyaghra-varahas ca mardayanto maha-gajah SYNONYMS maha-uragah—big serpents; samutpetuh—fell upon them; dandasukah—other poisonous animals and insects; sa-vrscikah—with scorpions; simha—lions; vyaghra—tigers; varahah ca—and forest boars; mardayantah—smashing; maha-gajah—great elephants. TRANSLATION Scorpions, large snakes and many other poisonous animals, as well as lions, tigers, boars and great elephants, all began falling upon the demigod soldiers, crushing everything. SB8.10.48 TEXT 48 yatudhanyas ca satasah sula-hasta vivasasah chindhi bhindhiti vadinyas tatha rakso-ganah prabho SYNONYMS yatudhanyah—carnivorous female demons; ca—and; satasah—hundreds upon hundreds; sula-hastah—every one of them with a trident in hand; vivasasah—completely naked; chindhi—cut to pieces; bhindhi—pierce; iti—thus; vadinyah—talking; tatha—in that way; raksah-ganah—a band of Raksasas (a type of demon); prabho—O my King. TRANSLATION O my King, many hundreds of male and female carnivorous demons, completely naked and carrying tridents in their hands, then appeared, crying the slogans “Cut them to pieces! Pierce them!” SB8.10.49 TEXT 49 tato maha-ghana vyomni gambhira-parusa-svanah angaran mumucur vatair ahatah stanayitnavah SYNONYMS tatah—thereafter; maha-ghanah—big clouds; vyomni—in the sky; gambhira-parusa-svanah—making very deep rumbling sounds; angaran—embers; mumucuh—released; vataih—by the strong winds; ahatah—harassed; stanayitnavah—with the sound of thunder. TRANSLATION Fierce clouds, harassed by strong winds, then appeared in the sky. Rumbling very gravely with the sound of thunder, they began to shower live coals. SB8.10.50 TEXT 50 srsto daityena sumahan vahnih svasana-sarathih samvartaka ivatyugro vibudha-dhvajinim adhak SYNONYMS srstah—created; daityena—by the demon (Bali Maharaja); su-mahan—very great, devastating; vahnih—a fire; svasana-sarathih—being carried by the blasting wind; samvartakah—the fire named Samvartaka, which appears during the time of dissolution; iva—just like; ati—very much; ugrah—terrible; vibudha—of the demigods; dhvajinim—the soldiers; adhak—burned to ashes. TRANSLATION A great devastating fire created by Bali Maharaja began burning all the soldiers of the demigods. This fire, accompanied by blasting winds, seemed as terrible as the Samvartaka fire, which appears at the time of dissolution. SB8.10.51 TEXT 51 tatah samudra udvelah sarvatah pratyadrsyata pracanda-vatair uddhuta- tarangavarta-bhisanah SYNONYMS tatah—thereafter; samudrah—the sea; udvelah—being agitated; sarvatah—everywhere; pratyadrsyata—appeared before everyone’s vision; pracanda—fierce; vataih—by the winds; uddhuta—agitated; taranga—of the waves; avarta—whirling water; bhisanah—ferocious. TRANSLATION Thereafter, whirlpools and sea waves, agitated by fierce blasts of wind, appeared everywhere, before everyone’s vision, in a furious flood. SB8.10.52 TEXT 52 evam daityair maha-mayair alaksya-gatibhi rane srjyamanasu mayasu viseduh sura-sainikah SYNONYMS evam—thus; daityaih—by the demons; maha-mayaih—who were expert in creating illusions; alaksya-gatibhih—but invisible; rane—in the fight; srjyamanasu mayasu—because of the creation of such an illusory atmosphere; viseduh—became morose; sura-sainikah—the soldiers of the demigods. TRANSLATION While this magical atmosphere in the fight was being created by the invisible demons, who were expert in such illusions, the soldiers of the demigods became morose. SB8.10.53 TEXT 53 na tat-pratividhim yatra vidur indradayo nrpa dhyatah pradurabhut tatra bhagavan visva-bhavanah SYNONYMS na—not; tat-pratividhim—the counteraction of such an illusory atmosphere; yatra—wherein; viduh—could understand; indra-adayah—the demigods, headed by Indra; nrpa—O King; dhyatah—being meditated upon; pradurabhut—appeared there; tatra—in that place; bhagavan—the Supreme Personality of Godhead; visva-bhavanah—the creator of the universe. TRANSLATION O King, when the demigods could find no way to counteract the activities of the demons, they wholeheartedly meditated upon the Supreme Personality of Godhead, the creator of the universe, who then immediately appeared. SB8.10.54 TEXT 54 tatah suparnamsa-krtanghri-pallavah pisanga-vasa nava-kanja-locanah adrsyatastayudha-bahur ullasac- chri-kaustubhanarghya-kirita-kundalah SYNONYMS tatah—thereafter; suparna-amsa-krta-anghri-pallavah—the Supreme Personality of Godhead, whose lotus feet spread over the two shoulders of Garuda; pisanga-vasah—whose dress is yellow; nava-kanja-locanah—and whose eyes are just like the petals of a newly blossomed lotus; adrsyata—became visible (in the presence of the demigods); asta-ayudha—equipped with eight kinds of weapons; bahuh—arms; ullasat—brilliantly exhibiting; sri—the goddess of fortune; kaustubha—the Kaustubha gem; anarghya—of incalculable value; kirita—helmet; kundalah—having earrings. TRANSLATION The Supreme Personality of Godhead, whose eyes resemble the petals of a newly blossomed lotus, sat on the back of Garuda, spreading His lotus feet over Garuda’s shoulders. Dressed in yellow, decorated by the Kaustubha gem and the goddess of fortune, and wearing an invaluable helmet and earrings, the Supreme Lord, holding various weapons in His eight hands, became visible to the demigods. SB8.10.55 TEXT 55 tasmin praviste ’sura-kuta-karmaja maya vinesur mahina mahiyasah svapno yatha hi pratibodha agate hari-smrtih sarva-vipad-vimoksanam SYNONYMS tasmin praviste—upon the entrance of the Supreme Personality of Godhead; asura—of the demons; kuta-karma-ja—because of the illusory, magical activities; maya—the false manifestations; vinesuh—were immediately curbed; mahina—by the superior power; mahiyasah—of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, who is greater than the greatest; svapnah—dreams; yatha—as; hi—indeed; pratibodhe—when awakening; agate—has arrived; hari-smrtih—remembrance of the Supreme Personality of Godhead; sarva-vipat—of all kinds of dangerous situations; vimoksanam—immediately vanquishes. TRANSLATION As the dangers of a dream cease when the dreamer awakens, the illusions created by the jugglery of the demons were vanquished by the transcendental prowess of the Supreme Personality of Godhead as soon as He entered the battlefield. Indeed, simply by remembrance of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, one becomes free from all dangers. SB8.10.56 TEXT 56 drstva mrdhe garuda-vaham ibhari-vaha avidhya sulam ahinod atha kalanemih tal lilaya garuda-murdhni patad grhitva tenahanan nrpa savaham arim tryadhisah SYNONYMS drstva—seeing; mrdhe—on the battlefield; garuda-vaham—the Supreme Personality of Godhead, carried by Garuda; ibhari-vahah—the demon, who was carried by a big lion; avidhya—whirling around; sulam—trident; ahinot—discharged at him; atha—thus; kalanemih—the demon Kalanemi; tat—such an attack by the demon against the Supreme Lord; lilaya—very easily; garuda-murdhni—on the head of His carrier, Garuda; patat—while falling down; grhitva—after taking it immediately, without difficulty; tena—and by the same weapon; ahanat—killed; nrpa—O King; sa-vaham—with his carrier; arim—the enemy; tri-adhisah—the Supreme Personality of Godhead, the proprietor of the three worlds. TRANSLATION O King, when the demon Kalanemi, who was carried by a lion, saw that the Supreme Personality of Godhead, carried by Garuda, was on the battlefield, the demon immediately took his trident, whirled it and discharged it at Garuda’s head. The Supreme Personality of Godhead, Hari, the master of the three worlds, immediately caught the trident, and with the very same weapon he killed the enemy Kalanemi, along with his carrier, the lion. PURPORT In this regard, Srila Madhvacarya says: kalanemy-adayah sarve “Kalanemi and all the other demons were killed by the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Hari, and when Sukracarya, their spiritual master, brought them back to life, they were again killed by the Supreme Personality of Godhead.” SB8.10.57 TEXT 57 mali sumaly atibalau yudhi petatur yac- cakrena krtta-sirasav atha malyavams tam ahatya tigma-gadayahanad andajendram tavac chiro ’cchinad arer nadato ’rinadyah SYNONYMS mali sumali—two demons named Mali and Sumali; ati-balau—very powerful; yudhi—on the battlefield; petatuh—fell down; yat-cakrena—by whose disc; krtta-sirasau—their heads having been cut off; atha—thereupon; malyavan—Malyavan; tam—the Supreme Personality of Godhead; ahatya—attacking; tigma-gadaya—with a very sharp club; ahanat—attempted to attack, kill; anda-ja-indram—Garuda, the king of all the birds, who are born from eggs; tavat—at that time; sirah—the head; acchinat—cut off; areh—of the enemy; nadatah—roaring like a lion; arina—by the disc; adyah—the original Personality of Godhead. TRANSLATION Thereafter, two very powerful demons named Mali and Sumali were killed by the Supreme Lord, who severed their heads with His disc. Then Malyavan, another demon, attacked the Lord. With his sharp club, the demon, who was roaring like a lion, attacked Garuda, the lord of the birds, who are born from eggs. But the Supreme Personality of Godhead, the original person, used His disc to cut off the head of that enemy also. Thus end the Bhaktivedanta purports of the Eighth Canto, Tenth Chapter, of the Srimad-Bhagavatam, entitled “The Battle Between the Demigods and the Demons.”
karina nihata api
sukrenojjivitah santah
punas tenaiva patitah