Defeat of Puskala and Shatrughna

Shesha said:

1-7. Hanumat having come to Virasimha, said these words: " O brave one, stop; where are you going? In a moment I shall conquer you." Hearing these powerful words of the monkey, he burning with a flood of (i.e. great) anger sounded his bow having the sound of clouds and discharging sharp arrows shone on the battlefield. Hanumat, Anjani's son, seeing those sharp arrows firmly stuck to his body, (and therefore looking) charming as in a heavy downpour of rain from a cloud in Asadha, became extremely angry in his heart. With his fist having adamantine strength he struck (Virasimha) on his chest. The hero struck with the fist fell on the ground. Seeing his uncle fainting, Subhangada (came to the battlefield). Rukmangada also abandoning his swoon, went to the battlefield. Both of them showering arrows, loudly thundering like two clouds and causing great destruction, marched against the monkey (i.e. Hanumat).

8-11. Seeing that the two heroes had come the lord of monkeys having encircled with his tail the two holding bows along with their chariots, broke them (by throwing them) on the ground (and) they became unconscious just at that moment only. With their bodies tinged with blood the two became motionless. Balamitra fought with Sumada for a long time and made him unconscious with (i.e. by striking him with) arrows having very sharp joints. In a moment Puskala led him to a swoon (i.e. made him unconscious) which was (characterized by) loss of sensation. Shatrughna's army destroying the (enemy's) warriors got victory.

12-20. At that time Shiva seated in an excellent chariot and stretching his divine bow ran (i e. rushed) to these warriors. The great one carrying the crescent moon in his twisted hair and having as ornaments serpents touching at will, took up his bow. The great god, the remover of the afflictions of his devotees, seeing his own men unconscious, went along with mighty troops to fight with these warriors of Shatrughna. With his attendants and followers he causing the earth to tremble came there to protect his devotees as he formerly came to Tripura. The trident holder saluted by gods, the author of deluge, having eyes very red due to anger, saw very intelligent soldiers (there). Seeing the great god who had come there, the powerful younger brother of Rama went to the battlefield to fight with the crest-jewel of all gods. Seeing Shatrughna having come (there), the holder of the trident, held a bow with the string (stretched), and being very angry said: " Puskala, the servant of Rama's feet, who went to the battle after having killed my devotee, has done a great feat. Today where is that Puskala knowing (i.e. proficient in the use of) great missiles? Killing him who troubled my devotee in the battle, I shall get happiness." Shesha said:

21-28a. Saying so he sent Virabhadra to Puskala. " Go to fight with Puskala who is troubling my servant in the battle." He sent Nandin to (fight with) the very mighty Hanumat. He sent Bhrngin of mighty arms to (fight with) Kushadhvaja. He ordered his own attendant by name Canda to (fight with) Sumada. The large-minded Puskala seeing that the great attendant of Maharudra (i.e. Shiva) had come went to fight (with him). In the battle Puskala struck him with five arrows. With his body wounded by those arrows he directed the trident (towards him). The very strong one, having cut off the trident in a moment, roared. O brahmana, seeing his trident cut off the mighty follower of Rudra quickly hit Bharata's son on his head with (the missile called) Khatvanga. That great warrior, hit with the Khatvanga, became unconscious for a moment. That good warrior Puskala knowing (i.e. proficient in the use of) great missiles, giving up his swoon (i.e. regaining consciousness) that moment only cut off with his arrows the Khatvanga in his hand.

28b-42a. Virabhadra, with the Khatvanga in his hand cut off became extremely angry and shattered the warrior's chariot. Having broken the chariot of the warrior and having (thus) made him a foot-soldier, he fought with the magnanimous Puskala in a close right. That very mighty Puskala abandoning the chariot shattered to pieces by him (i.e. Virabhadra), hit Virabhadra with his fist. They hit each other with fists, thighs and knees. They were eager to kill each other. They desired to conquer each other. Thus (the fight) between the two powerful ones lasted for days, going on day and night. None lost in it and none of the very powerful ones won it. When the fifth day came, the very mighty VIrabhadra seized the great hero Puskala and jumped into the sky. There a great fight, attracting (even) the gods, took place between the two, with fists, strokes of feet, arms and excellent hoofs (i.e. feet). Then Puskala who was extremely angry seizing Virabhadra by the neck struck (i.e. threw) him on the ground. The very mighty Virabhadra distressed by that stroke seized Puskala by the foot and repeatedly shaking him and throwing him on the ground the very mighty one cut off his head with blazing ear-rings with his trident. The very strong Virabhadra having killed Puskala roared. That roaring follower of Shiva frightened great warriors. When Puskala fell in the battle, there was a very great wailing. All the very proficient men became frightened on the battlefield. They informed Shatrughna that Puskala killed by Virabhadra, the attendant of Shiva, had fallen on the battlefield. The great hero, the mighty (Shatrughna) having thus heard about Puskala's being killed in the battle, was very much grieved and due to great grief trembled.

42b-47a. Knowing that Shatrughna was distressed Rudra spoke to him who was grieving for the hero (viz. Puskala) when Puskala was killed in the battle: " O very powerful Shatrughna, do not be distressed on the battlefield. The fall of heroes in a battle is said (to lead) to fame. The hero named Puskala who fought for five days with Virabhadra who causes great destruction and who in a moment killed Daksha that insulted me, and who in a moment killed the demons, the soldiers of Tripura, is blessed. Therefore, O lord of kings, O very powerful one, giving up your distress fight; When I — -the warrior — am standing (before you), stand (i.e. wait) carefully, O best among the heroes.

47b-54. The brave Shatrughna, having abandoned his grief got angry with Shankara, and making his bow ready he covered the great god with arrows. Those arrows, it was a great wonder, did not produce any wound on the body of the lord of gods who had come there for the protection of his devotees. Those arrows (of Shatrughna) and also the arrows of Shankara remained in the sky, pervading this entire universe of the sage (i.e. Brahma) working wonders. Everywhere (people) on seeing that war of arrows thought it to be the deluge, destroying the world and deluding everyone. Those (gods) who had remained in their own cities having come to see it by resorting to (their) divine cars, praised very much that (fight) of the two: " This one is the author of the destruction and the creation of the three worlds. This one is also the younger brother of the great king Ramachandra. What will be this (i.e. what will it lead to)? Who, on the earth, will be victorious? Which hero will meet with a defeat on the battlefield? " The fight between the two thus continued for eleven days.

55-62. When the twelfth day came, the king (i.e. Shatrughna) full of anger discharged the missile called 'Brahma' to kill Mahadeva. Knowing that (his) enemy Shatrughna had discharged the great missile he laughed and absorbed it and discharged the great (missile called) Brahmasiras. Being very much astonished (he thought) what should be done hereafter? Into the chest of him (i.e. of Shatrughna) who was thinking like this, the crestjewel of gods (i.e. Shiva) quickly struck an arrow resembling fire. (Being struck) by that arrow Shatrughna became unconscious on the battlefield. The entire army served by the warriors, wailed. All heroes, led by Subahu, Sumada, and proud of the strength of their arms, were knocked down on the earth by the attendants of Shiva. Seeing Shatrughna pained by the arrow and fallen unconscious and Puskala being put in a chariot by the servants to protect him, the angry Hanumat, wagging his dreadful tail, remembering Rama, and delighting his own (colleagues) came to fight with Shiva, the author of destruction.

 

CHAPTER FORTYFOUR

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