अर्जुन उवाच निवर्तमानेन मया महद् दृष्टं ततोऽपरम्। कामचरं दिव्यं पावकार्कसमप्रभम्॥

Arjuna said: Then, while returning (to the abode of Indra), I beheld on my way a great celestials city, moving at will, endued with the splendour of the fire or the sun,

Vana Parva 173.1

रत्नदुममयश्चित्रैः सुस्वरैश्च पतत्रिभिः। पौलोमैः कालकजैश्च नित्यहृष्टैरधिष्ठितम्॥

Containing trees made of jewels, teeming with many-coloured birds of sweet voice, inhabited by the Paulomas and the Kalakanja ever merry,

Vana Parva 173.2

गोपुराट्टालकोपेतं चतुरं दुरासदम्। सर्वरत्नमयं दिव्यमद्भुतोपमदर्शनम्॥

Adorned with gate-ways, towers and four gates, impregnable, made of all sorts of jewels celestials wonderful to look at,

Vana Parva 173.3

दुमैः पुष्यफलोपेतैः सर्वरत्नमयैर्वृतम्। तथा पतत्रिभिर्दिव्यैरुपेतं सुमनोहरैः॥

Containing trees made of all sorts of jewels and bearing fruits and flowers, inhabited by beautiful and celestials feathery creatures,

Vana Parva 173.4

असुरैनित्यमुदितैः शूलटिमुसलायुधैः। चापमुद्गरहस्तैश्च स्रग्विभिः सर्वतो वृतम्॥

Surrounded on all sides by the Asuras, always cheerful, adorned with garlands and holding in their hands maces, swords, darts, bows and clubs.

Vana Parva 173.5

तदहं प्रेक्ष्य दैत्यानां पुरमद्भुतदर्शनम्। अपृच्छं मातलिं राजन् किमिदं वर्ततेऽद्भुतम्॥

Beholding that city of the Daitya, wonderful to look at, O king, I asked Matali "What is it that looks so marvellous?"

Vana Parva 173.6

मातलिरुवाच पुलोमा नाम दैतेयी कालका च महासुरी। दिव्यं वर्षसहस्रं ते चेरतुः परमं तपः॥

Matali said : (Formerly) a Daitya-female, named Puloma and another great giantess, Kalaka (by name), practised severe austerities for a thousand celestials years.

Vana Parva 173.7

तपसोऽन्ते ततस्ताभ्यां स्वयम्भूरदद् वरम्। अगृहणीतां वरं ते तु सुतानामल्पदुःखताम्॥ अवध्यतां च राजेन्द्र सुरराक्षसपन्नगैः। पुरं सुरमणीयं च खचरं सुमहाप्रभम्॥

When they had finished their austerities, the self-existent (god) Svayambhu granted them boons. (And), O king of kings, they obtained the boons-viz., that their children might never suffer distress; that (they) might obtain a highly beautiful and an exceedingly splendid aerial city,

Vana Parva 173.8

सर्वरत्नैः समुदितं दुर्धर्षममरैरपि। महर्षियक्षगन्धर्वपन्नगासुरराक्षसैः॥

Full of all sorts of gems, unassailable even by immortals, the Maharshis, the Yakshas, the Gandharvas, the Pannagas, the Asuras and the Rakshasas,

Vana Parva 173.9

सर्वकामगुणोपेतं वीतशोकमनामयम्। ब्रह्मणा भरतश्रेष्ठ कालकेयकृते कृतम्॥

Containing all the desirable objects and devoid of grief and desire. O best of the Bharatas, created by Brahma for the Kalakeyas,

Vana Parva 173.10

तदेतत् खपुरं दिव्यं चरत्यमरवर्जितम्। पौलोमाध्युषितं वीर कालकझैश्च दानवैः॥

This is that celestials city, devoid of gods, which is moving about. O hero, it is inhabited by the Pauloma and he Kalakeya Danavas.

Vana Parva 173.11

हिरण्यपुरमित्येवं ख्यायते नगरं महत्। रक्षितं कालकेयैश्च पौलोमैश्च महासुरैः॥

This mighty city is called Hiranyapura and is guarded by the powerful Asuras, the Kalakeyas and the Paulomas.

Vana Parva 173.12

त एते मुदिता राजन्नवध्याः सर्वदैवतैः। निवसन्त्यत्र राजेन्द्र गतोद्वेगा निरुत्सुकाः॥

O king of kings, there they dwell happily, indestructible by the gods, free from anxiety and having all their desires fulfilled.

Vana Parva 173.13

मानुषान्मृत्युरेतेषां निर्दिष्टो ब्रह्मणा पुरा। एतानपि रणे पार्थ कालकञ्जान् दुरासदान्। वज्रास्त्रेण नयस्वाशु विनाशं सुमहाबलान्॥

Formerly it was destined by Brahma that they should be killed by mortals. O Partha, (therefore) destroy speedily these invincible and exceedingly powerful Kalakanjas in battle by the weapon Vajra (thunderbolt).

Vana Parva 173.14

अर्जुन उवाच सुरासुरैरवध्यं तदहं ज्ञात्वा विशाम्पते। अब्रुवं मातलिं हृष्टो याह्येतत् पुरमञ्जसा॥

Arjuna said: O lord of earth, learning that they were indestructible by the gods and Asuras. I gladly said to Matali "do you go to this city speedily.

Vana Parva 173.15

त्रिदशेशद्विषो यावत् क्षयमस्त्रैर्नयाम्यहम्। न कथञ्चिद्धि मे पापा न वध्या ये सुरद्विषः॥

I will bring about the destruction of all these enemies of the celestials with weapons. There exist no wicked enemies of the gods whom I do not consider my victims."

Vana Parva 173.16

उवाह मां ततः शीघ्रं हिरण्यपुरमन्तिकात्। रथेन तेन दिव्येन हरियुक्तेन मातलिः॥

Thereupon, Matali had me speedily conveyed by that celestials car, yoked with steeds, towards the-neighbourhood of Hiranyapura.

Vana Parva 173.17

ते मामालक्ष्य दैतेया विचित्राभरणाम्बराः। समुत्पेतुर्महावेगा रथानास्थाय दंशिताः॥

On beholding me, those sons of Diti, wearing various sorts of garments and mounted on chariots, rushed at me with great violence.

Vana Parva 173.18

ततो नालीकनाराचैर्भल्लैः शक्त्यष्टितोमरैः। प्रत्यघ्नन् दानवेन्द्रा मां क्रुद्धास्तीव्रपराक्रमाः॥

Then those foremost of the Danavas (possessed) of fiery prowess, angrily assailed me with Nalikas, Narachas, Bhallas, Maces, swords and Tomaras.

Vana Parva 173.19

तदहं शरवर्षेण महता प्रत्यवारयम्। शस्त्रवर्षं महद् राजन् विद्याबलमुपाश्रितः॥

Thereupon, O king, availing myself of the strength of my knowledge (in arms), I warded off that shower of weapons by mighty discharges of arrows;

Vana Parva 173.20

व्यामोहयं च तान् सर्वान् रथमार्गश्चरन् रणे। तेऽन्योन्यमभिसम्मूढाः पातयन्ति स्म दानवान्।॥

And coursing through the field of battle on the car, bewildered them. Thus confounded, the Danavas began to fell down one another.

Vana Parva 173.21

तेषामेवं विमूढानामन्योन्यमभिधावताम्। शिरांसि विशिस्त्रैर्दीप्तै→हनं शतसङ्घशः॥

(And) with blazing arrows I cut off, by hundreds, the heads of those who, getting confounded, were rushing at one another.

Vana Parva 173.22

ते वध्यमाना दैतेयाः पुरमास्थाय तत् पुनः खमुत्पेतुः सनगरा मायामास्थाय दानवीम्॥

Thus smitten (by me) those sons of Diti, taking refuge in that city, again rose up in the air with it, by the help of illusion peculiar to the Danavas.

Vana Parva 173.23

ततोऽहं शरवर्षेण महता कुरुनन्दन। मार्गमावृत्य दैत्यानां गतिं चैषामवारयम्॥

Thereupon, O descendant of the Kurus, covering the passage of the Daityas by heavy shower of arrows, I obstructed their movement.

Vana Parva 173.24

तत् पुरं खचरं दिव्यं कामगं सूर्यसप्रभम्। दैतेयैर्वरदानेनधार्यते स्म यथासुखम्॥

(But) the sons of Diti, on the strength of their boon, easily supported themselves on that celestials and aerial city of sun-like splendour and moving at will.

Vana Parva 173.25

अन्तर्भूमौ निपतति पुनरूज़ प्रतिष्ठते। पुनस्तिर्यक् प्रयात्याशु पुनरप्सु निमज्जति॥

At one time it plunged into the earth and then rose up in the air again, now it took a curved direction and then again submerged under water.

Vana Parva 173.26

अमरावतिसंकाशं तत् पुरं कामगं महत्। अहमस्त्रैर्वहुविधैः प्रत्यगृहं परंतप॥

(Then), O tormentor of foes, I surrounded with various weapons that mighty moving about at will.

Vana Parva 173.27

ततोऽहं शरजालेन दिव्यास्त्रनुदितेन च। व्यगृहणं सह दैतेयैस्तत् पुरं पुरुषर्षभ॥

And, O best of the Bharatas, I assailed that city together with the Daityas by showers of arrows, shot from celestials weapons.

Vana Parva 173.28

विक्षतं चायसैर्बाणैर्मत्प्रयुक्तैरजिह्मगैः। महीमभ्यपतद् राजन् प्रभग्नं पुरमासुरम्॥

(And), O king, that city of the Asuras, riven and broken by straight-coursing steels darts shot by me, fell to the ground.

Vana Parva 173.29

ते वध्यमाना मद्वाणैर्वज्रवेगैरयस्मयैः। यथोर्मयः। पर्यध्रमन्त वै राजन्नसुराः कालचोदिताः॥

Those Asuras too, O king, wounded by my iron shafts, fleet as the thunder and propelled by Fate, began to rove about.

Vana Parva 173.30

ततो मातलिरारुह्य पुरस्तानिपतन्निव। महीमवातरत् क्षिप्रं रथेनादित्यवर्चसा॥

Then, Matali, soaring to the heavens, as if taking a leap in front, speedily came down to the earth on that chariot effulgent as the sun.

Vana Parva 173.31

ततो रथसहस्राणि षष्टिस्तेषाममर्षिणाम्। युयुत्सूनां मया सार्धं पर्यवर्तन्त भारत। तान्यहं निशितैर्बाणैर्व्यधमं गार्धराजितैः॥

O Bharata, then, desirous of fighting with me, they furiously hemmed me in with sixty thousand cars. (But) I destroyed those (cars) by sharpened arrows adorned with vulture feathers.

Vana Parva 173.32

ते युद्धे सन्यवर्तन्त समुद्रस्य नेमे शक्या मानुषेण युद्धेनेति प्रचिन्त्य तत्॥

They were, then, engaged in the fight, like billows on the sea. Thereupon, considering that they would not be destroyed by the manner of fighting peculiar to mortals,

Vana Parva 173.33

ततोऽहमानुपूर्येण दिव्यान्यस्त्राण्ययोजयम्। ततस्तानि सहस्राणि रथिनां चित्रयोधिनाम्॥ अस्त्राणि मम दिव्यानि प्रत्यघ्नन् शनकैरिव। रथमार्गान् विचित्रांस्ते विचरन्तो महाबलाः॥ प्रत्यदृश्यन्त संचामे शतशोऽथ सहस्रशः। विचित्रमुकुटापीडा विचित्रकवचध्वजाः॥

I took to discharging duly the celestials weapons. But the thousands of weapons, discharged by those car-warriors, the wonderful fighters, gradually repelled my celestials weapons, and I beheld hundreds and thousands of exceedingly powerful (Danavas) ranging on their cars, in battle, displaying various tactics. Adorned with variegated helmets ornamented mails, furnished with beautiful flags.

Vana Parva 173.34

विचित्राभरणाश्चैव नन्दयन्तीव मे मनः। अहं तु शरवर्षैस्तानस्त्रप्रचुदितै रणे।॥

And decked with various ornaments (they) attracted my mind. I, in that encounter, by showers of arrows shot from weapons,

Vana Parva 173.35

नाशक्नुवं पीडयितुं ते तु मां प्रत्यपीडयन्। तैः पीड्यमानो बहुभिः कृतास्त्रैः कुशलैयुधि॥

Could not oppress them; but they sorely afflicted me. (Thus) hard pressed by numerous (Asuras), furnished with weapons and skilled in battle,

Vana Parva 173.36

व्यथितोऽस्मि महायुद्धे भयं चागान्महन्मम। ततोऽहं देवदेवाय रुद्राय प्रयतो रणे॥

I was afflicted in that terrible encounter and was seized with a dreadful terror. Thereupon, mustering up (courage), I (bowed down) to the god of gods, Rudra,

Vana Parva 173.37

स्वस्ति भूतेभ्य इत्युक्त्वा महास्त्रं समचोदयम्। यत् तद् रौद्रमिति ख्यातं सर्वामित्रविनाशनम्॥

Saying "may all beings remain in place," and sent that mighty weapon which is named Rudra and is destructive of all enemies.

Vana Parva 173.38

ततोऽपश्यं त्रिशिरसं पुरुषं नवलोचनम्। त्रिमुखं षड्भुजं दीप्तमर्कज्वलनमूर्धजम्॥

Then I beheld a person with three heads, nine eyes, three faces, six arms and with hair blazing as the sun or the fire.

Vana Parva 173.39

लेलिहानैर्महानागैः कृतचीरममित्रहन्। विभीस्ततस्तदस्त्रं तु घोरं रौद्रं सनातनम्॥

(And) O destroyer of foes, as for his clothing he wore huge serpents issuing out their tongues.

Vana Parva 173.40

दृष्ट्वा गाण्डीवसंयोगमानीय भरतर्षभ। नमस्कृत्वा त्रिनेत्राय शर्वायामिततेजसे॥

Then, O best of the Bharatas, beholding that terrible and eternal Rudra and shaking off my fear, I fixed it on the Gandiva. (And) bowing down to the three eyed Sarva of unrivalled energy,

Vana Parva 173.41

मुक्तवान् दानवेन्द्राणां पराभावाय भारत। मुक्तमात्रे ततस्तस्मिन् रूपाण्यासन् सहस्रशः॥

O Bharata, I discharged (it) for the destruction of those foremost of the Danavas. No sooner had I hurled it, than it at once assumed a thousand shapes;

Vana Parva 173.42

मृगाणामथ सिंहानां व्याघ्राणां च विशाम्पते। ऋक्षाणां महिषाणां च पन्नगानां तथा गवाम्॥

(Such as), O lord of the earth, those of deer, of lions, of tigers, of bears, of buffaloes, of serpents, of cows.

Vana Parva 173.43

शरभाणां गजानां च वानराणां च सङ्घशः। ऋषभाणां वराहाणां मार्जाराणां तथैव च॥

O Sharabhas, of elephants, of monkeys in vast numbers, of bulls, of boars, of cats,

Vana Parva 173.44

शालावृकाणां प्रेतानां भुरुण्डानां च सर्वशः। गृध्राणां गरुडानां च चमराणां तथैव च॥

Of dogs, of ghosts, of all the Bhurundas, of vultures, of Garudas of Chamaras,

Vana Parva 173.45

देवानां च ऋषीणां च गन्धर्वाणां च सर्वशः। पिशाचानां सयक्षाणां तथैव च सुरद्विषाम्॥

Of the celestials, of the Rishis, of all the Gandharva, of the Pishachas, of the Yakshas, of the enemies of the gods,

Vana Parva 173.46

गुह्यकानां च संचामे नैर्ऋतानां तथैव च। झषाणां गजवक्त्राणामुलूकानां तथैव च।॥

Of the Guhyakas in battle, of the Nirritas, of elephant-mouthed sharks, of owls,

Vana Parva 173.47

मीनवाजिसरूपाणां नानाशस्त्रासिपाणिनाम्। तथैव यातुधानानां गदामुद्गरधारिणाम्॥

Of the creatures having the shapes of fishes and horses, of beings armed with various weapons and swords and of the Rakshasas, armed with maces and clubs.

Vana Parva 173.48

एतैश्चान्यैश्च बहुभिर्नानारूपधरैस्तथा। सर्वमासीज्जगद् व्याप्त तस्मिन्नस्त्रे विसर्मिते॥

These and numerous other (beings), wearing various shapes, filled the universe when the weapon was discharged.

Vana Parva 173.49

त्रिशिरोभिश्चतुर्दष्ट्रेश्चतुरास्यैश्चतुर्भुजैः। अनेकरूपसंयुक्तैर्मीसमेदोवसास्थिभिः॥ अभीक्ष्णं वध्यमानास्ते दानवा नाशमागताः। अर्कज्वलनतेजोभिर्वज्राशनिसमप्रभैः॥ अद्रिसारमयैश्चान्यैर्बाणैरपि निबर्हणैः। न्यहनं दानवान् सर्वान् मुहूर्तेनैव भारत॥

(And) repeatedly smitten by creatures of many shapes covered with flesh, fat, bones and marrow, having three heads, four tusks, four mouths and four arms, the Danavas met with destruction. O Bharata, then, with numerous other shafts, blazing like the sun or fire, glaring like the fire of thunderbolt and made of the essence of rocks, I killed all the Danavas in a moment.

Vana Parva 173.50

गाण्डीवास्त्रप्रणुन्नांस्तान् गतासून् नभसश्च्युतान्। दृष्ट्वाहं प्राणमं भूयस्त्रिपुरघ्नाय वेधसे॥

(And) seeing them cut to pieces by the Gandiva weapon, deprived of life and thrown down from the sky. I again bowed down to that god, the slayer of the (Asura), Tripura,

Vana Parva 173.51

तथा रौद्रास्त्रनिष्पिष्टान् दिव्याभरणभूषितान्। निशम्य परमं हर्षमगमद् देवसारथिः॥

The charioteer of the gods (Matali), beholding them, that were decked with celestials ornaments, crushed by the Rudra weapon was highly pleased.

Vana Parva 173.52

तदसां कृतं कर्म देवैरपि दुरासदम्। दृष्ट्वा मां पूजयामास मातलिः शक्रसारथिः॥

Seeing that I performed this unbearable feat (of arms), unachievable even by the celestials, Matali, the charioteer of Shakra, eulogised me;

Vana Parva 173.53

उवाच वचनं चेदं प्रीयमाणः कृताञ्जलिः। सुरासुरैरसह्यं हि कर्म यत् साधितं त्वया॥

And with great delight, said these words with joined-hands-the feat, that you have achieved, is incapable of being borne (even) by the gods and the Asuras.

Vana Parva 173.54

न ह्येतत् संयुगे कर्तुमपि शक्तः सुरेश्वरः। सुरासुरैरवध्यं हि पुरमेतत् खगं महत्॥

Even the lord of the gods cannot perform such a fcat in battle. This great aerial city, indestructible by the gods and the Asuras,

Vana Parva 173.55

त्वया विमथितं वीर स्ववीर्यतपसो बलात्। विध्वस्ते स्वपुरे तस्मिन् दानवेषु हतेषु च॥

Has been destroyed by you, O hero, by your prowess and strength of asceticism. That city being destroyed and the Danavas being killed,

Vana Parva 173.56

विनदन्त्यः स्त्रियः सर्वा निष्येतुर्नगराद् बहिः। प्रकीर्णकेश्यो व्यथिताः कुरर्य इव दुःखिताः॥

All their sorrowing wives smitten with grief and with hair dishevelled, issued out of their city lamenting like Kuraris.

Vana Parva 173.57

पेतुः पुत्रान् पितॄन् भ्रातृन् शोचमाना महीतले। रुदत्यो दीनकण्ठ्यस्तु निनदन्त्यो हतेश्वराः॥ उरांसि परिनिघ्नन्त्यो विस्रस्तस्रग्विभूषणाः। तच्छोकयुक्तमश्रीकं दुःखदैन्यसमाहतम्॥ न बभौ दानवपुरं हतत्विट्कं हतेश्वरम्। गन्धर्वनगराकारं हतनागमिव हृदम्॥ शुष्कवृक्षमिवारण्यमदृश्यमभवत् पुरम्। भां तु संहष्टमनसं क्षिप्रं मातलिरानयत्॥

Mourning for their sons, fathers and brothers, uttering piteous cries of distress for the loss of their lords and beating their breasts, (they) fell down upon the ground, their ornaments falling off from their bodies. That city of the Danavas, resembling the city of the Gandharvas, filled with lamentation, afflicted with sorrow and distress, devoid of beauty and deprived of its lords, looked like a lake devoid of elephants or like a forest with all its trees dead, (and then) vanished (from sight). (And) Matali speedily brought me, well-pleased,

Vana Parva 173.58

देवराजस्य भवनं कृतकर्माणमाहवात्। हिरण्यपुरमुत्सृज्य निहत्य च महासुरान्॥

And successful in my mission, to the abode of the king of the gods. Having destroyed Hiranyapur and killed those mighty Asuras,

Vana Parva 173.59

निवातकवचांश्चैव ततोऽहं शक्रमागमम्। मम कर्म च देवेन्द्रं मातलिविस्तरेण तत्॥ सर्वं विश्रावयामास यथाभूतं महाद्युते। हिरण्यपुरघातं च मायानां च निवारणम्॥ निवातकवचानां च वधं संख्ये महौजसाम्। तच्छ्रुत्वा भगवान् प्रीतः सहस्राक्षः पुरंदरः॥ मरुद्भिः सहितः श्रीमान् साधु साध्वित्यथाब्रवीत्। ततो मां देवराजो वै समाश्वास्य पुनः पुनः॥ अब्रवीद् विबुधैः सार्धमिदं स मधुरं वचः। अतिदेवासुरं कर्म कृतमेव त्वया रणे॥

The Nivatakavachas, I returned to Shakra. And, O highly effulgent (king), Matali narrated in detail to the lord of the gods, my entire feat (of arms) as it had happened. The prosperous hundred-eyed lord Purandara, together with the Vasus, hearing the fall of Hiranyapur, the dispersion of the illusion and the destruction of the exceedingly powerful Nivatakavachas in battle, became pleased and exclaimed “bravo! bravo!" Then the lord of the gods together with the celestials, repeatedly cheering me, spoke these highly delightful words: “The feat that you have displayed in battle, surpasses that of the gods and of the Asuras.

Vana Parva 173.60

गुर्वर्थश्च कृतः पार्थ महाशत्रून् घनता मम। एवमेव सदा भाव्यं स्थिरेणाजौधनंजय॥

O Partha, you have (now) paid your preceptor's fees by slaying my powerful enemies. O Dhananjaya, you will, thus, ever remain cool-headed in battle,

Vana Parva 173.61

असम्मूढेन चास्त्राणां कर्तव्यं प्रतिपादनम्। अविषह्यो रणे हि त्वं देवदानवराक्षसैः॥ सयक्षासुरगन्धर्वैः सपक्षिगणपन्नगैः। वसुधां चापि कौन्तेय त्वद्वाहुबलनिर्जिताम्। पालयिष्यतिधर्मात्मा कुन्तीपुत्रो युधिष्ठिरः॥

And be able to discharge your weapons unerringly. Neither the celestials, nor the Danavas, nor the Rakshasas, nor the Yakshas, nor the Asuras, nor the Gandharvas, nor the birds, nor the serpents shall be to stand you in fight. (And)O Kuru's son, O virtuous son of Kunti, Yudhishthira, having conquered the earth by the strength of your arms, will govern it.

Vana Parva 173.62