Taraka's Death

Brahma said

Kumara, killer of enemy champions, held Virabhadra back, fixed Shiva's lotus feet in his mind and set his heart on Taraka's death. Surrounded by a great army, armoured and angry, mighty Kartikeya roared, and the gods and ganas shouted "Victory! Victory!" while the divine rishis praised him in fine words. Then began a duel between Taraka and Kumara that was terrible to endure and frightened every creature. Spears in hand, the two brave fighters fought, sage, a marvel that everyone watched. With great skill each tore the other's body with the spear, like two powerful lions feinting at each other. Spear rang on spear, and both used mantras named vaitalika, khecharaka and papanta, so that the duel of those two immensely brave warriors was beyond the ordinary. Each tried many methods, each wanted the other dead and showed tremendous force, and in the clash they speared each other in head, throat, thigh, knee, waist, heart, chest and back, boasting in heroic words as they used one technique after another. The gods, gandharvas and kinnaras looked on and asked one another who would win. An unseen voice then spoke from the sky to calm the gods: Kumara would kill the asura Taraka, no god need grieve, and they would be established in happiness, because Shankara himself stood there for their sake in the form of his son. Hearing the voice, Kumara rejoiced; with the pramathas around him he steadied himself, wanting Taraka dead. The mighty-armed Kumara, full of fury, drove the spear hard into Tarakasura between the breasts. The bull among daityas shrugged it off and angrily speared Kumara back. Struck, Shankara's son lost his senses, but within a muhurta he recovered and the great sages praised him.

Like a rutting, drunken lion, Kumara wanted the asura dead and struck Taraka powerfully with the spear. Both were enraged and expert with spears, both well trained and bent on beating the other. They fought on foot, spirited and varied in style, trading blows of many kinds, and roaring as they changed modes. The gods, gandharvas and kinnaras watched in great wonder and said nothing. The wind stopped, the sun lost its brightness, and the earth with its mountains, forests and groves shook. Then the mountains, Himalaya first, hurried there, tormented by love for him and seeking Kumara. Shankara's son saw them frightened and terrified, and Girija's son spoke to them, to ease their minds.

Kumara said

Fortunate mountains, do not be dejected. Do not worry. While everyone looks on I will slay this sinner now.

Brahma said

He told the mountains not to be dejected or anxious, since he would kill this sinner before everyone's eyes, and so calmed the mountains, the immortals and the ganas. Bowing to Girija and Shambhu, he lifted his bright spear and, resolved on Taraka's death, gripped it firmly. Brave Kumara, Shambhu's son, shone, and with the spear, whose energy was like Shankara's own, he struck Tarakasura, who had brought the worlds such hardship. With shattered limbs the asura crashed to earth. Taraka, mighty lord of asura hosts, was killed by Kumara, sage, in everyone's sight and sent to destruction. Though that great hero had fallen, Kumara, seeing him down, did not go near and strike again. So the immensely strong great daitya Taraka was slain. The gods' host sent many asuras to their end. Some in fear folded their hands, others were cut and mangled, thousands of daityas died, and some who sought refuge in Kumara found it, begging, "Save us, please save us." Some were killed and others fled; wretched as they ran, they were harried by immortals and ganas, and thousands, hoping to live, went down into Patala. Lord among sages, in this way the daityas' whole force was destroyed, and from fear of gods and ganas not one remained. Every thorn those evil beings had planted was pulled out. All the gods, Shakra and the rest, were happy. So Kumara and the gods won, and the three worlds were seen to be full of joy.

Learning of Kartika's victory, delighted Shiva went there with his ganas and beloved. He set his son Kumara, radiant as the sun, on his lap, and Shivaa fondled him with great joy and affection. Himalaya came there surrounded by his sons, relatives and followers and praised Shambhu, Shivaa and Guha. All the gods, ganas, sages, siddhas and charanas, intensely satisfied, praised Shambhu, Girija and Shankara's son. The minor gods showered down flowers, the lords of gandharvas sang and hosts of apsaras danced. Instruments were specially sounded, and from the sky cries of "Victory" were heard again and again. Achyuta and I were especially pleased, and lovingly praised Shiva, Shivaa and Kumara. Before Kumara, Hari, Indra, the gods and sages lovingly waved lamps. Again and again there was singing, music and recital of the brahman. There were great festivities with plenty of chanting. Sage, pleasing him with song and music, all the gods and ganas joined their hands and praised Jagannatha. Lauded by all, Bhagavan Rudra and Jagadamba Bhavani went back to their own mountain, ringed by all the ganas.