Ordinary Ganas and Asuras Fight

Vyasa said

Sanatkumara, omniscient one, you have let me hear a wonderful account of the purifying pastimes of great lord Shankara. Show me your compassion, great sage, and lovingly tell me where Rahu went after that being released him.

Suta said

Hearing the infinitely intelligent Vyasa, the great sage, Brahma's son, was pleased and replied.

Sanatkumara said

The being released Rahu in the domain of the Varvaras. Having gone there, he too came to be known as a Varvara. Counting this a second birth, he became humble, his pride gone, and slowly made his way to Jalandhara's city. Vyasa, he approached Jalandhara and told him everything Isha had done. He was afraid of Isha and also of the lord of daityas. Hearing it, Jalandhara was overwhelmed by rage. The excellent Indra among daityas, the ocean's son, was powerful, and his mind fell under the sway of anger. He ordered all the daityas' soldiers to prepare.

Jalandhara said

Let all the daityas, led by Kalanemi, come out. Let Shumbha, Nishumbha and the other brave ones advance with their forces. Let those born in the line of Kotivira, in the line of Kambu, the Dourhridas, Kalakas, Kalakeyas, Mouryas and Dhoumras come.

Sanatkumara said

So commanded the powerful lord of asuras, the ocean's son. The daityas quickly advanced, surrounded by crores and crores. Shukra advanced in front. Rahu was there too, his head severed. As he stepped on the ground, the force of his motion kept knocking his crown off his head. The sky was covered with clouds as in the monsoon, and there were many ill omens, signifying a time of great sleep.

The gods with Vasava saw these preparations. Unnoticed, they went to Kailasa, Shankara's abode, saw Shiva and bowed to him, shoulders lowered, hands clasped, and praised him.

The devas said

Lord of the gods, Mahadeva, compassionate Shankara, Mahesha, we bow to you. Save those who have taken refuge. Lord, we are shaken by what fierce Jalandhara has done. By his depredations Indra and the gods have been dislodged from their positions and are now on earth. Lord, master, it cannot be that you do not know the calamity facing the gods. So, to save us, slay the ocean's son. Lord, earlier you engaged the one with Garuda on his banner for our protection, but he cannot protect us now; he too is under Jalandhara's control and lives in his house with Rama, where we live too. We are under the asura's control and obey his commands. Shambhu, unnoticed, we have come to you. The powerful ocean's son is coming here to fight you. Lord, omniscient one, kill him in battle and save those who have taken refuge in you.

Sanatkumara said

Having said this, all the gods with Vasava bowed before him and stood humbly looking at Mahesha's feet. Hearing the gods, Vrishadhvaja laughed. He quickly summoned Vishnu and spoke.

Ishvara said

Hrishikesha, great Vishnu, the gods have come here suffering from what Jalandhara has done and, greatly shaken, have taken refuge. Vishnu, why did you not kill Jalandhara in the battle? Instead you left your Vaikuntha and went to his house. I engaged you to protect the virtuous and chastise the crooked, ruling yourself so you could roam at will.

Sanatkumara said

Hearing Mahesha, the one with Garuda on his banner humbly bent and replied with joined hands.

Vishnu said

He was born from a portion of you and is Shri's brother. Besides, you will slay the danava. That is why I did not kill him in the battle. He is immensely strong and valiant and has beaten all the other residents of heaven. Lord of the gods, I tell you the truth: I fought him a long time with the gods, but my methods did not succeed against this bull among danavas. Satisfied by his valour, I told him to ask a boon, and hearing me he asked an excellent one: "Great Vishnu, stay under my control; with my sister and with the gods, live in my house." That is why I went to his house.

Sanatkumara said

Hearing Vishnu, Shankara Maheshvara laughed, always kind to his devotees and extremely pleased.

Maheshvara said

Noble Vishnu, hear my words lovingly. I will certainly kill the great daitya Jalandhara. Go back to your own abode without fear. Gods, you too go back without fear and do not doubt. Think that the lord of asuras is already killed.

Sanatkumara said

Hearing Mahesha, Rama's husband and the immortals at once returned to their abodes, their doubts gone.

Vyasa, the Indra among daityas was immensely valiant. Armoured and ready, with the asuras, the powerful one reached the edges of the mountain and laid siege to Kailasa with his great army. He took his stand there like the Destroyer and roared loudly like a lion. Hearing the tumult the daityas made, Mahesha, who plays great pastimes and destroys the deceitful, was enraged. He ordered his own very strong ganas to fight. Mahadeva Hara, who plays great pastimes, instructed Nandi and others. Nandi and all the other foremost soldiers obeyed Shiva's command, and the ganas quickly armed themselves for battle. Wrathful and indomitable, all the ganas came down from Kailasa and, ready to fight, raised war cries. The valleys round Kailasa were wonderful to behold. The lords of the pramathas and daityas were there with terrible astras and shastras, with the sounds of war drums, mridangas and conches that delight heroes, and the noise of elephants, horses and chariots. The roar made the earth tremble. As they were loosed, spears, spikes, arrows, clubs, nooses and swords flashed and filled the sky as if with pearls. The earth shone with dead elephants, horses and foot soldiers that covered it like giant mountains shattered by the vajra. Pramathas killed daityas and daityas killed ganas. A mire of fat, blood and flesh made the ground impossible to cross. Bhargava revived the daityas killed by the pramathas; though killed in battle, they were repeatedly revived by the power of mritasanjivani. Seeing it, all the ganas were shaken and afraid, and all went and told the lord of the gods what Shukra was doing. Hearing it, Bhagavan Rudra was filled with rage, fearful and extremely fierce, blazing in all directions. Supreme among sages, a terrible Kritya came out of Rudra's mouth, her thighs like palm trunks, her belly protruding, bent forward by her heavy breasts, her hair on end. The awful one swiftly reached the battlefield and wandered about devouring the great asuras. She rapidly reached the centre of the battle where Bhargava stood surrounded by the Indras among the best of daityas. Sage, her energy filled sky and ground. She took Bhargava into her body and vanished into the sky. Seeing Bhargava gone, the great host of daitya soldiers left the field, their faces pale though they were indomitable in battle. Afraid of the ganas, the daitya soldiers fled, as if the ground, once covered with grass, had had it all blown off by the wind. Seeing the daitya soldiers routed and frightened of the ganas, the commanders Shumbha, Nishumbha and Kalanemi were filled with wrath. Those three very strong ones met the gana soldiers and rained arrows like monsoon clouds. The volleys the daityas shot were like locusts, covering all directions and making the gana soldiers tremble. Hundreds of ganas were mangled by the arrows and bled in streams, taking the colour of kimshuka flowers, not knowing what to do. Nandi, Lambodara and Kartikeya saw their army shattered and, unable to bear it, quickly came up to repulse the intolerant asuras.