Bana and Pralamba Are Killed

Brahma said

Sage, meanwhile the mountain called Krouncha came there. Oppressed by Bana, he had sought refuge with Kumara. Bana, unable to bear the lord's excellent energy, had fled from the battle, but with an army of ten thousand crores he was making Krouncha suffer. Krouncha devotedly bowed at Kumara's lotus feet and with loving words praised Guha.

Krouncha said

Kumara, Skanda, lord of the gods, destroyer of Tarakasura, I have taken refuge with you; save me. I am being oppressed by Banasura. He was overshadowed in the great battle and ran away, protector, ocean of compassion, but came to me and harassed me. I am very unhappy because of his oppression, and have run away to take refuge with you. Lord of the gods, born of the reeds, show me compassion. Lord, destroy the daitya called Bana and make me happy. You in particular destroy daityas; the gods have made you their emperor.

Brahma said

Hearing Krouncha, Skanda, protector of his devotees, was pleased. He remembered Shiva in his mind and took up his unmatched spear. Shankara's son hurled it toward Bana. With a great roar it blazed through the sky and directions and in an instant reduced the asura and his forces to ashes. Sage, having done this, the supreme spear returned to Guha. The lord Kumara spoke to Krouncha, supreme among mountains: "Go back to your own home without fear. The asura and his forces are destroyed." Hearing the lord, the king of mountains was delighted, praised Guha, slayer of his enemy, and went home. Sage, by the norms Skanda lovingly set up three lingams of Mahesha there to destroy sins, called Pratijneshvara, Kapaleshvara and Kumareshvara. These three yield every kind of success. Near a victory pillar Guha also set up another lingam to Sarveshvara, called Stambheshvara. Rejoicing, Vishnu and the other gods established a lingam to the lord of the gods, the trident-wielder. The greatness of all these Shiva lingams is extraordinary; they give everything desired, grant liberation and increase devotion. All the gods, Vishnu in the lead, were pleased in mind and, putting the foremost of mountains in front, went happily to see Guha.

Meanwhile Shesha's son Kumuda came and took refuge with Kumara, suffering at the hands of daityas. An asura called Pralamba, a powerful follower of Taraka, had run away from the battle and was causing trouble there. Shesha's son Kumuda was greatly tormented by him. Having taken refuge with Kumara, he praised Girija's son.

Kumuda said

Lord of the gods, son of supreme Mahadeva, great lord, I am being oppressed by Pralamba and have taken refuge with you; save me. Kumara, Skanda, lord of the gods, Taraka's enemy, great lord, you are a friend to the afflicted, an ocean of compassion, kind to those who bow low, chastiser of the wicked, the refuge, the goal of the virtuous.

Brahma said

So praised by Kumuda, who asked him to do the killing, he remembered Shiva's lotus feet and took up his spear. Girija's son hurled it toward Pralamba. Thundering loudly it blazed through sky and directions and in an instant reduced him and his huge army to ashes. Having done this without great effort, it returned to Guha. Kumara said to Kumuda, the naga's son: "Go back to your home without fear. The powerful asura is destroyed." Hearing Guha, the serpent lord's son praised Kumara, bowed, and went gladly back to Patala. Lord among sages, I have thus described Kumara's victory. I have told of the one who performed supreme and extraordinary deeds and killed Taraka. This account is divine and destroys all sins and gives men all they wish for. It is blessed and gives the virtuous fame, long life, objects of pleasure and liberation. Men who recite this greatly illustrious, divine account of Kumara's conduct gain infinite good fortune and go to Shiva's world. People who hear these deeds with devotion and faith enjoy supreme happiness in this world, and afterward win divine liberation.