Start of the War

Brahma said

Hari and the other gods saw the lord's conduct. They were very pleased and filled with trust. Pervaded by Shiva's energy, they shouted and roared. Setting Kumara in front, they advanced to kill Taraka. Immensely strong Taraka heard of the gods' efforts and at once advanced with a large army to fight them. The gods saw Taraka coming with a large army, were surprised at its size, but roared like lions. A beautiful voice was heard at once from the sky, urged by Shankara, speaking to Hari and the other gods.

The voice from the sky said

Put Kumara at the front and make ready. You will defeat the daityas in the battle and be victorious.

Brahma said

Hearing the voice, all the gods were filled with enthusiasm. They roared bravely and lost all fear. With Kumara at the front they were no longer shaken. Wishing to fight, the gods went to the confluence of the Mahi with the ocean. With his large army Taraka quickly reached where the gods were, with many gods around him. Battle drums sounded, thundering like the clouds of dissolution. When that gathering took place other harsh instruments were also played. The daityas and asuras with Taraka roared, and the earth trembled under their steps as they did. Though they heard the fierce roars, all the gods were fearless. Together they prepared, wishing to fight Taraka. Indra of the gods had Kumara mount an elephant and put him at the front, surrounded by a large army of gods with the guardians of the worlds supporting him. Many battle drums, drums, kettledrums and trumpets sounded, with the sound of veenas, flutes and mridangas mixed with the singing of gandharvas. Kumara gave the elephant mount back to great Indra and mounted instead a vimana decorated with many jewels, greatly extraordinary. Shankara's son was immensely illustrious, handsome and perfect in every quality, with supreme prosperity, fanned with large, very costly whisks. The very resplendent umbrella Varuna had given, dazzling with many jewels, was held over his head, as if the radiant beams of countless moons shone above Kumara's head. All the gods with Shakra in the lead gathered around him, each with his own army, those immensely strong ones wishing to fight. So, wishing to fight, gods and daityas assembled on the ground. With those large armies they devised their own separate formations. Set against each other, the gods and daityas shone. Wishing to kill each other and praised by bards, both armies were like forests and roared at each other, terrifying cowards and delighting the brave.

Intoxicated with their strength, the immensely valiant daityas and gods fought each other, overwhelmed with rage. A tumultuous battle followed. In a short while the ground was strewn with hundreds and thousands of severed heads and torsos. Limbs were cut off with large weapons. Revered heroes were slain. Terrible sword strokes sliced off some men's arms, and in the battle other revered heroes had their thighs cut off. With clubs and bludgeons all the limbs of some were smashed. Others were brought down, hearts shattered by nooses and javelins. The backs of some were mangled by swords and goads. The heads of others were cut off and fell to the ground. Many headless torsos seemed to dance there. Mangled by weapons, hundreds of heads seemed to speak. Hundreds of rivers of blood began to flow. Hundreds of bhutas, pretas and others gathered there. Many male and female jackals fed on the flesh, and vultures, hawks, wild crows and other birds ate the flesh of the fallen.

Then immensely strong Taraka took a large army and advanced to fight the gods. The gods saw that Taraka, invincible in battle, was coming. Shakra and the others advanced at once, wishing to fight. The two large armies roared at each other. Duels and battles followed between gods and asuras, crushing each other. Seeing it, the brave rejoiced and cowards were filled with fear. Taraka, Diti's powerful son, fought Shakra. Samhrada fought Agni. Jambha fought Yama himself. Nairrita fought powerfully the great lord who wields the noose. Suvira fought Vayu. Pavamana fought the king of the guhyakas. Ishana fought Shambhu, skilled in fighting. Shumbha fought Shesha. The danava Kumbha fought Chandra. In the battle immensely strong, very valiant Kumbara fought Mihira, skilled in many modes of fighting and using supreme weapons. So there were great duels between gods and asuras. In the clash they were firm in resolve and fought with all their strength. The immensely strong daityas and immortals challenged each other. Sage, in the battle between gods and asuras both sides were invincible. As each sought victory, the battle between gods and danavas became tumultuous, giving pleasure to the brave and spirited but fear to the rest. The ground turned fearful and impossible to cross. Many gods and asuras were destroyed and fell. The ground was impassable and terrifying, yet brought great happiness to the spirited.