Even Demons Followed Etiquettes Of Fighting

2010-01-13
Srimad Bhagavatam 08.10.07-25 - Even Demons Followed Etiquettes Of Fighting (download mp3)
by Radhika Vallabha Prabhu at ISKCON Chowpatty
www.iskcondesiretree.net





SB 8.10.7
sankha-turya-mrdanganam
bheri-damarinam mahan
hasty-asva-ratha-pattinam
nadatam nisvano 'bhavat

Translation: 
The sounds of the conchshells, bugles, drums, bheris and damaris [kettledrums], as well as the sounds made by the elephants, horses and soldiers, who were both on chariots and on foot, were tumultuous.

SB 8.10.8
rathino rathibhis tatra
pattibhih saha pattayah
haya hayair ibhas cebhaih
samasajjanta samyuge

Translation: 
On that battlefield, the charioteers fought with the opposing charioteers, the infantry soldiers with the opposing infantry, the soldiers on horseback with the opposing soldiers on horseback, and the soldiers on the backs of elephants with the enemy soldiers on elephants. In this way, the fighting took place between equals.

SB 8.10.9
ustraih kecid ibhaih kecid
apare yuyudhuh kharaih
kecid gaura-mukhair rksair
dvipibhir haribhir bhatah

Translation: 
Some soldiers fought on the backs of camels, some on the backs of elephants, some on asses, some on white-faced and red-faced monkeys, some on tigers and some on lions. In this way, they all engaged in fighting.

SB 8.10.10-12
grdhraih kankair bakair anye
syena-bhasais timingilaih
sarabhair mahisaih khadgair
go-vrsair gavayarunaih
sivabhir akhubhih kecit
krkalasaih sasair naraih
bastair eke krsna-sarair
hamsair anye ca sukaraih
anye jala-sthala-khagaih
sattvair vikrta-vigrahaih
senayor ubhayo rajan
vivisus te 'grato 'gratah

Translation: 
O King, some soldiers fought on the backs of vultures, eagles, ducks, hawks and bhasa birds. Some fought on the backs of timingilas, which can devour huge whales, some on the backs of sarabhas, and some on buffalo, rhinoceroses, cows, bulls, jungle cows and arunas. Others fought on the backs of jackals, rats, lizards, rabbits, human beings, goats, black deer, swans and boars. In this way, mounted on animals of the water, land and sky, including animals with deformed bodies, both armies faced each other and went forward.

SB 8.10.13-15
citra-dhvaja-patai rajann
atapatraih sitamalaih
maha-dhanair vajra-dandair
vyajanair barha-camaraih
vatoddhutottarosnisair
arcirbhir varma-bhusanaih
sphuradbhir visadaih sastraih
sutaram surya-rasmibhih
deva-danava-viranam
dhvajinyau pandu-nandana
rejatur vira-malabhir
yadasam iva sagarau

Translation: 
O King, O descendant of Maharaja Pandu, the soldiers of both the demigods and demons were decorated by canopies, colorful flags, and umbrellas with handles made of valuable jewels and pearls. They were further decorated by fans made of peacock feathers and by other fans also. The soldiers, their upper and lower garments waving in the breeze, naturally looked very beautiful, and in the light of the glittering sunshine their shields, ornaments and sharp, clean weapons appeared dazzling. Thus the ranks of soldiers seemed like two oceans with bands of aquatics.

SB 8.10.16-18
vairocano balih sankhye
so 'suranam camu-patih
yanam vaihayasam nama
kama-gam maya-nirmitam
sarva-sangramikopetam
sarvascaryamayam prabho
apratarkyam anirdesyam
drsyamanam adarsanam
asthitas tad vimanagryam
sarvanikadhipair vrtah
bala-vyajana-chatragryai
reje candra ivodaye

Translation: 
For that battle the most celebrated commander in chief, Maharaja Bali, son of Virocana, was seated on a wonderful airplane named Vaihayasa. O King, this beautifully decorated airplane had been manufactured by the demon Maya and was equipped with weapons for all types of combat. It was inconceivable and indescribable. Indeed, it was sometimes visible and sometimes not. Seated in this airplane under a beautiful protective umbrella and being fanned by the best of camaras, Maharaja Bali, surrounded by his captains and commanders, appeared just like the moon rising in the evening, illuminating all directions.

SB 8.10.19-24
tasyasan sarvato yanair
yuthanam patayo 'surah
namucih sambaro bano
vipracittir ayomukhah
dvimurdha kalanabho 'tha
prahetir hetir ilvalah
sakunir bhutasantapo
vajradamstro virocanah
hayagrivah sankusirah
kapilo meghadundubhih
tarakas cakradrk sumbho
nisumbho jambha utkalah
aristo 'ristanemis ca
mayas ca tripuradhipah
anye pauloma-kaleya
nivatakavacadayah
alabdha-bhagah somasya
kevalam klesa-bhaginah
sarva ete rana-mukhe
bahuso nirjitamarah
simha-nadan vimuñcantah
sankhan dadhmur maha-ravan
drstva sapatnan utsiktan
balabhit kupito bhrsam

Translation: 
Surrounding Maharaja Bali on all sides were the commanders and captains of the demons, sitting on their respective chariots. Among them were the following demons: Namuci, Sambara, Bana, Vipracitti, Ayomukha, Dvimurdha, Kalanabha, Praheti, Heti, Ilvala, Sakuni, Bhutasantapa, Vajradamstra, Virocana, Hayagriva, Sankusira, Kapila, Meghadundubhi, Taraka, Cakradrk, Sumbha, Nisumbha, Jambha, Utkala, Arista, Aristanemi, Tripuradhipa, Maya, the sons of Puloma, the Kaleyas and Nivatakavaca. All of these demons had been deprived of their share of the nectar and had shared merely in the labor of churning the ocean. Now, they fought against the demigods, and to encourage their armies, they made a tumultuous sound like the roaring of lions and blew loudly on conchshells. Balabhit, Lord Indra, upon seeing this situation of his ferocious rivals, became extremely angry.

SB 8.10.25
airavatam dik-karinam
arudhah susubhe sva-rat
yatha sravat-prasravanam
udayadrim ahar-patih

Translation: 
Sitting on Airavata, an elephant who can go anywhere and who holds water and wine in reserve for showering, Lord Indra looked just like the sun rising from Udayagiri, where there are reservoirs of water.

Purport: 
On the top of the mountain called Udayagiri are large lakes from which water continuously pours in waterfalls. Similarly, Indra's carrier, Airavata, holds water and wine in reserve and showers it in the direction of Lord Indra. Thus Indra, King of heaven, sitting on the back of Airavata, appeared like the brilliant sun rising above Udayagiri.