Shiva's Attendants Fight the Demons off

Narada said:

1-4. Hearing that Jalandhara with his body overcome by anger went out surrounded by crores of (soldiers in the) army of the demons.

3ukra went before him. Rahu remained within (the range of) his sight. His crown quickly slipped and fell on the ground. The entire sky shone with hundreds of aeroplanes occupied by the army of the demons as with clouds in the rainy season. Then seeing his exertion, gods led by Indra and with their hurry unnoticed, respectfully said to Shiva: The gods said:

5. O master, how do you not know that the gods are respectfully speaking to you. For our protection kill the Ocean's son. Narada said:

6. Hearing these words of the gods Shiva laughed and calling the great Vishnu said these words to him: The lord said:

7. O Vishnu, how (i.e. why) did you not kill Jalandhara in the battle? Afraid of him, you left your Vaikuntha and went away. Lord(Vishnu) said:

8. In the battle I did not kill the demon, since he was born from your portion, and since he is also Lakshmi's brother. (Now) you (please) kill that demon. The lord said:

9. He, of a great lustre, cannot be killed by me with these weapons and missiles. All the gods should give me a portion of their lustre. Narada said:

10-17a. Then gods, led by Vishnu, gave their own lustres.

The lord saw a great lustre (formed) by their coming together suddenly. Mahadeva fashioned an excellent weapon, the disc (called) Sudarsana, very fierce(-looking) because of a series of flames (issuing forth). Then Shiva fashioned the thunderbolt with the remaining lustre. (Just) then Jalandhara was seen at the region at the footof Kailasa (mountain). He was surrounded by crores of elephants, horses, chariots and foot-soldiers. Seeing him as he came there, the gods being delighted went (to fight). (Shiva's) attendants hurriedly got ready to fight. All the attendants led by Nandin, Gajanana, Kartikeya, and maddened to fight, got down from Kailasa by Shiva's order. Then on the land at the foot of Kailasa a war between the lordly Pramathas (Shiva's attendants) and the demons took place. It was fierce, and full of weapons and missiles. The earth that resounded with the sounds of multitudes of drums, tabors, conches, giving joy to the heroes, so also with the sounds of elephants, horses and chariots, trembled.

17b-26. With the multitudes of saktis, iron clubs and arrows, with pestles, barbed missiles and sharp-edged spears, the entire sky shone, as if it was covered with meteors. The entire land shone with the chariots, elephants and horses that were struck down. (The ground) was as it were covered with the tops of mountains struck by thunderbolt. The ground was inaccessible due to the multitudes of demons killed by Pramathas (attendants), and with marrow, blood, mire of flesh etc. Bhargava brought back to life the multitudes of demons killed by Pramathas. Seeing (Bhargava) bringing repeatedly back to life by the power of the Sanjivani-vidya those that died in the battle, all the attendants (of Shiva) were perplexed and struck by fear. They told the lord of the god of gods all that Shukra had done. Then from Rudra's mouth a destructive, very fearful deity was produced. Having shanks like tala (trees), fat, crooked, and pressing the trees with her breasts, she reached the battlefield, and ate the great demons. Seizing Bhargava in her hand she went and vanished. Seeing Bhargava seized the divisions of the demon-army had their faces dejected; (but) maddened for fighting, they struck through pride. Struck by the fear of (Shiva's) attendants, the demon army was dispersed like the scattered heap of grass struck by the speed of wind. (Shiva's) attendants seeing the demon army broken, rejoiced.

27-32. The three very powerful ones — the two generals viz. Nisumbha and Kumbha and the brave Kalanemi — warded off the army of the attendants. They discharged arrows as clouds (discharge water) in the rainy season. Then the volleys of arrows of (i.e. discharged by) the demons, like swarms of locusts, blocked the sky and all directions, and they made the entire army of (Shiva's) attendants tremble. The attendants pierced by hundreds of arrows and shedding showers of blood appeared like kimsuka (trees) in spring season. Nothing could be clearly seen. Then (Shiva's) attendants fell, were knocked down, cut off and pierced. Leaving the battlefield, they all turned back. Then Gajanana, lordly Nandin and Kartikeya, overpowered for long, seeing their army broken and unable to stand (the demon-force) forcibly warded off the excellent demons.

 

CHAPTER ONE HUNDRED ONE

The Fight Goes On

Narada said:

1-19. Those demons on seeing the chiefs of the attendants like Nandin, Gajanana and Kartikeya, impatiently ran (to them) for duels. Kalanemi, Sumbha and Nisumbha, (each) equipped with an armor, speedily ran (respectively) to Nandin, Gajanana and Kartikeya. With five arrows Nisumbha pierced Kartikeya's peacock on his chest with speed and he fell down unconscious. Then, when the angry Kartikeya took his (missile called) sakti, Nisumbha forcibly knocked him down with sakti. Then Nandisvara pierced Kalanemi with arrows. With seven he pierced his horses and banners, and with three his charioteer. Kalanemi who was angry, cut off Nandin's bow. Throwing it off, he firmly struck him on his chest with a spear. He, with his chest pierced by a spear and with his horses and charioteer killed, took off the mountain's peak and threw it at Nandin. Then Sumbha and Gajanana, having a chariot and a rat as their vehicles, fighting with each other, pierced each other with volleys of arrows. The lord of the attendants (i.e. Gajanana) struck Sumbha in his heart with an arrow and knocked on the ground his charioteer with five arrows. Then Sumbha, being extremely angry, pierced Gajanana with sixty arrows, (his) rat with three, and thundered like a cloud. The rat, with his limbs pierced with arrows, walked painfully. Gajanana got down (from the rat) and became a foot soldier, O king. Then Gajanana, having struck Sumbha on his chest with a spear, knocked him down on the ground, and again mounted the rat. Kalanemi and Nisumbha both simultaneously struck Gajanana through anger with arrows, like a great elephant with a goad. Seeing him being troubled, the very strong VIrabhadra, along with a crore of imps, speedily ran (to him). Kusmandas, Bhairavas, vampires, goblins, bevies of witches and (other) attendants followed him. Then the earth, resounding with kilakila sound (expressing joy), roars like those of lions, growlings, (beatings of) drums, trembled. Then the imps ran and devoured the demons. They jumped and fell and danced on the battlefield. Nandin and Kartikeya hurriedly came (there) and struck the demons with continuous volleys of arrows in the battle. The army, cut off and broken with the demons killed, knocked down and threatened (by the attendants) was perplexed, and had a dejected face at that time.

20-31. Seeing (his) army destroyed, the strong son of the Ocean, in a chariot with a superior banner, marched against the attendants. Then in both the armies there were loud noise, sound of conches and drums, and roars like those of lions. Then with volleys of arrows, as with covers of mist, Jalandhara blocked the space between heaven and earth. Piercing Gajanana with five (arrows), Nandin too with five, and VIrabhadra with twenty, he thundered like a cloud. Then Kartikeya quickly pierced the demon with his (missile called) sakti. Pierced with the sakti he, with his mind a little agitated, rolled about. Then, with his eyes full of anger Jalandhara struck Kartikeya with a mace. He too fell on the ground. In the same way he speedily knocked down Nandin on the ground. Then the angry Gajanana cut off his mace with his axe. Virabhadra pierced the demon on his chest with three arrows, and cut off with seven (arrows) his horses, banners and concealed bow. Then the very angry lord of demons raising a fierce sakti, knocked down Gajanana and got into another chariot. Then, full of anger, he speedily marched against Virabhadra. Then the two, resembling the sun, fought with each other. Virabhadra knocked down his horses with arrows. The lord of demons cut off (his) bow, and with an iron bar as his weapon, fought. That demon, quickly attacking Virabhadra, struck him on his head with an iron club. The demon too, with his head pierced, and ejecting blood, fell on the ground.

 

CHAPTER ONE HUNDRED TWO

Jalandhara Plays a Trick

Narada said:

1-12. Seeing that Virabhadra fallen, Rudra's attendants leaving the battle through fear and crying came to Shiva. Then hearing the uproar of his attendants, Shiva having mounted on his bull and laughing a little, came to the battle. Seeing Shiva coming, the attendants roaring like lions, again returned (to the battlefield). In the battle they struck the demons with showers of arrows. All the demons, seeing the fierce Shiva, ran away as sins run away through fear on seeing him who observes the vow of Kartika. Then Jalandhara, seeing the demons fleeing on the battlefield, angrily ran to Shiva and discharged thousands of arrows. Sumbha, Nisumbha, Asvamukha, Kalanemi, Balahaka, Khadgaroman, Pracanda and Ghasmara went (i.e. rushed) to Shiva. Shiva, seeing the army of his attendants covered with the darkness caused by the arrows (of the demons), cut off the volley of arrows and with his own arrows covered the sky. He then troubled the demons with the hurricanes of his arrows. With fierce and continuous volleys of arrows he knocked (them) on the ground. Similarly he angrily cut off the head of Khadgaroman with a battle-axe. With a club having a skull at the top he also cut into two Balahaka's head; and binding the demon Ghasmara with a noose, he knocked him down on the ground. Some were struck by the bull; some were driven away by the arrows. The demons, like elephants tormented by lions, could not stand (before Shiva). Then Jalandhara with his mind full of anger and a voice sharp like (the sound of) thunderbolt, quickly challenged (Shiva) in the battle. Jalandhara said:

13. Fight with me today. What is the use of striking these? O you having matted hair, show me whatever might you have. Narada said:

14-27. Speaking like this he struck Shiva with seventy arrows. He, laughing a little, cut them off before they reached (him) with sharp arrows. Then with seven (arrows) he cut off his horses, banners, umbrella and bow. He the powerful one, with his bow cut off and without his chariot, took a mace. Shiva ran (to him) and cut into two his mace with arrows. Yet, raising his fist he went to kill Shiva. (Just) then Shiva drove him away up to a krosa with the volleys of arrows. Then the demon Jalandhara, thinking Shiva to be stronger, created a gandharvi illusion which was wonderful, and deluded Shiva. Then gandharvas and bevies of celestial nymphs sang and danced. They sounded musical instruments made of bell-metal, lutes and tabors with one another. Seeing that great wonder Rudra was deluded by the sound, and he did not even notice weapons dropped from his hands. The demon seeing Rudra concentrated, was overpowered by sexual desire, quickly went where Parvati was seated, after putting the very strong Sumbha and Nisumbha in (charge of) the battle. That Jalandhara became one having ten staff-like arms, five faces, three eyes, matted hair, and mounted upon a mighty bull. Then seeing Rudra coming, his beloved came from among her friends, and remained within the range of his sight. When the lord of demons saw Parvati of a charming body, he ejected his semen and his body became dull. Then Parvati, recognising him to be the demon, was overcome by fear, and vanished and went to Uttaramanasa. Not seeing her in a moment like a streak of lighting, he again quickly went to the battle(-field) where god Shiva stood. Then Parvati also mentally recollected the great Vishnu. Then the goddess saw him seated by her. Pdrvati said:

28. O Vishnu, the demon Jalandhara has done a great wonder. Do you not know the act of that wicked-minded (demon)? The lord said:

29. We are following the path shown by him only. Otherwise, he well-protected by (his wife's) chastity would not be fit to be killed. Narada said:

30-32. Speaking like this, Vishnu again went to Jalandhara city. And Shiva, followed by gandharvas remained in the battle. Seeing the illusion to have disappeared, he awoke. Then Shiva, with his mind amazed, again angrily went to fight Jalandhara. The demon too seeing Shiva to have come back again, covered him with volleys of arrows in the battle.

 

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