Chapter 16 of 59 · Rudra Samhita - Yuddha Khanda · Overall chapter 186 of 464
Devas Fight Back
The routed gods flee to Vishnu at Vaikuntha with an extended hymn cataloguing his avatars, including Buddha and the future Kalki. Though Jalandhara is technically his own brother-in-law (Lakshmi's brother) and Lakshmi begs him not to fight, Vishnu agrees to confront him in battle for the gods' sake.
Sanatkumara said
Seeing the daityas coming again, all the gods with Vasava shook with fear and fled together. With Prajapati leading, they all went to Vaikuntha, and with Prajapati bowed and praised Vishnu. They hailed him as Hrishikesha, mighty-armed Bhagavan Madhusudana, destroyer of all daityas; as Matsya, who brought back the Vedas and saved the virtuous King Satyavrata from the deluge; as Kurma, who bore Mount Mandara when the gods made the great effort to churn; as Kratu and support of the people, who as Sukara lifted up the earth; as Vamana, called Upendra, who in a brahmana's form deceived Bali, Indra among daityas; as Parashurama, who in anger for his mother's sake wiped out the kshatriyas and harms the wicked; as Rama, who delighted the worlds, set the norms of good conduct, swiftly ended Ravana and was Sita's lord; as Krishna the paramatman of mysterious knowledge, who played with Radha and in many pastimes; as the mysterious-bodied one who criticised the Vedas, the acharya who taught yoga to Jainas, Uma's lord who took the form of Buddha; as Kalki, who will end the mlecchas, infinite in powers and establisher of virtuous dharma; as Kapila, who spoke of samkhya yoga to Devahuti and was samkhya's acharya; as the Paramahamsa who spoke of supreme knowledge, the creator in the form of delight-bringing knowledge; as Vedavyasa, who gathered the Vedas and for the worlds' welfare composed the Puranas. Thus, they said, engaged in tasks for devotees, he took the forms of Matsya and the rest. They bowed to him as brahman, cause of creation, preservation and destruction, dispeller of his servants' afflictions, giver of happiness and welfare, Hari in yellow garment with Tarkshya as his mount, doer of every rite, the refuge, a vajra to destroy miseries when the immortals are tormented by daityas, who lies on Shesha as a couch and has sun and moon for eyes. "Ocean of compassion, Rama's husband, we have taken refuge in you. Jalandhara has expelled all the gods from heaven. Surya has been dislodged, and so have Chandra and Vahni; the king of nagas has been driven from Patala and Dharmaraja too. Roaming the earth, the gods no longer shine. We have taken refuge in you; please think of killing him." Madhusudana heard the gods' distressed words and, an ocean of compassion, answered in rumbling words.
Vishnu said
Gods, put your fear aside. I will go to the battlefield and show the daitya Jalandhara my valour.
Sanatkumara said
Saying this, with a distressed mind the enemy of daityas rose, kind to his devotees and full of pity, and quickly mounted Garuda. Lakshmi, born of the ocean, saw her beloved leaving with the gods, joined her hands and spoke with tears in her eyes.
Lakshmi said
Lord, I am loved by you. Ocean of compassion, if I have always been devoted to you, how can you kill my brother in a battle?
Vishnu said
I will show my valour against the daitya Jalandhara. Praised by them, I am leaving quickly to fight him. He was born of a portion of Rudra. Brahma too said I cannot kill Jalandhara. Besides, you love him as well.
Sanatkumara said
Saying this, the bearer of conch, chakra and mace mounted Garuda, and with the gods, Shakra and the others, Vishnu swiftly left to fight. He quickly reached where the daitya Jalandhara was, Vishnu blazing with energy with the gods, roaring like a lion. When Aruna's younger brother beat his wings hard, the daityas suffered from the gusts and were blown away like clouds in the sky. Jalandhara saw them suffering and, uttering words of rage, advanced on Vishnu. Meanwhile the delighted gods began to fight, nourished by Hari's energy and full of great strength. Seeing the gods' soldiers present and ready, indomitable in battle, he commanded the daityas.
Jalandhara said
Supreme daityas, we will give them a fight they will find hard to handle. Shakra and the immortals may have an army but they are always cowards. At my command let a hundred thousand Mouryas, a hundred Dhoumras, a crore asuras, a crore Kalakeyas, Kalakas, Dourhridas and a hundred thousand Kankas advance. Let others join with their own armies. All of you get ready and advance with many soldiers. Use many kinds of astras and shastras. Be fearless and have no doubts. Shumbha, Nishumbha, in fighting the gods are cowards. You two are immensely valiant; in an instant you will destroy these insignificants.
Sanatkumara said
Commanded so by the daitya Jalandhara, all the skilled asuras fought with the four kinds of forces, using clubs, sharp arrows, tridents, spears and javelins. Some killed the enemy with tridents and battle axes, powerful, slaughtering with many weapons. The gods too were immensely valiant, strengthened by Hrishikesha, and roared like lions, shot sharp arrows and fought. Some used arrows, some clubs and javelins, some battle axes and spears to slaughter the enemy. So a great battle between gods and asuras began, very fierce and frightening to sages and siddhas.
Retold in our own words from Bibek Debroy's English translation of the Shiva Purana (Penguin Classics). Names, numbers and the order of events follow the source.