CHAPTER ONE HUNDRED FOURTEEN

The Fight between Nahusa and Hunda Starts

Kunjala said:

1-3. Then all the demons, Hunda's attendants, told Hunda, the lord of demons, the good words — the conversation — between Nahusa and Rambha as they had heard them. Having heard them, he got angry and said (these) words to his messenger: " O hero, go and know that man who converses with that daughter of Shiva."

4-8. Hearing the order of his master the demon left quickly. In a solitary place he said these words to Nahusa: " You stand round with a chariot along with horses and the charioteer, and with a bow and divine arrows, and you are fearful in an assembly. To whom to you belong? By whom are you sent, and for what purpose? Tell clearly to me all that this Rambha and the other (one i.e.) Shiva's daughter told you today. How is it that you are not afraid of Hunda, the destroyer of gods? If you desire to live, tell me all this. Leave quickly, do not remain (here). The lord of the demons is difficult to put up with." Nahusa said:

9. Know me to be the son of that powerful lord Ayu, who is the king of the earth, (and know me) to be the destroyer of all demons, worshipper of gods and brahmanas, and well known by the name Nahusa. O demon, in my childhood I was kidnapped by Hunda, your master.

10-14. This daughter of Shiva also was formerly kidnapped by (that) demon. She practised severe penance for the death of Hunda. (Tell Hunda: ) " O wicked one, I, who was taken away (when I was) a child from the lying-in chamber, and was handed over to the female attendant and the cook by you, the wickedminded one, have today come to kill (you) the wicked demon Hunda of sinful acts. I shall also take to Yama's abode other fearful demons." Tell the demon (Hunda) like this: " O most sinful one, know me to be like this."

15-I9a. That wicked-minded (messenger) having heard all those words of (i.e. spoken by) the magnanimous Hunda, narrated them to Hunda, after going to him. Having heard them from his mouth (i.e. as told by the messenger), the lord of the demons (i.e. Hunda) got angry. (He thought: ) 'Why was he not killed by the wicked cook and the female attendant? Now he, a disease, that was ignored by me, has augmented. Now I shall kill in a battle this wicked son of Ayu along with this daughter of Shiva with these arrows sharpened on a grindstone.' Thinking like this, he said (these) words to his charioteer: " Make ready the chariot (yoked) with excellent and lucky horses."

19b-21a. Calling the chief of the army he, who was overanxious, said to him: " Make my army ready; make ready the brave snakes, and horses with the riders, and the soldiers with the umbrellas and chowries. Quickly make ready today my army with (all) its four constituents."

21b-24a. Hearing the words of that Hunda, the swift and very intelligent chief of the army did everything according to the proper procedure. He (i.e. Hunda) surrounded by the complete army went to the battlefield to (fight) with the active hero Nahusa, wielding a bow and arrows, (seated) in Indra's chariot, best among the warriors, ready (to fight) on the battlefield, difficult to be obtained by (i.e. unassailable to) gods and demons. Gods of great prowess seated in their aeroplanes in the sky saw him full of bright flames, and as it were another sun.

Suta said:

24b-30. Then all the demons showered him with excellent arrows. In the battle they fought with the magnanimous Nahusa by means of swords, nooses, large lances, (missile called) sakti and battle-axes. They were excited, and roared like clouds on a mountain. Seeing their heroism, the brave son of Ayu stretched his bow resembling Indra's weapon, with the twang of its string. O brahmanas, Nahusa also made the sound of his great bow like the bursting (sound) of the thunderbolt. Due to that loud sound the demons trembled. They were dejected in mind and had their spirits broken in the great war.

 

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