Special Fights

Sanatkumara said

The danavas saw the Ganapatis, Nandi, Bhamukha and Shanmukha and rushed intolerantly at them for duels. Kalanemi fought Nandi and Shumbha fought Lambodara. With some hesitation Nishumbha rushed at the divinity Shanmukha. Nishumbha pierced Kartikeya's peacock in the heart with five arrows and it fell senseless. At this the enraged spear-wielder pierced Nishumbha's chariot and horses in their vitals with five arrows, and quickly struck Nishumbha, enemy of the gods, with another sharp arrow. Indomitable in battle, he roared. The asura Nishumbha was extremely brave and valiant. He hit Kartikeya with his own arrow and roared in the battle. Full of anger Kartikeya was about to seize his spear, but before he could, Nishumbha struck him hard with his own spear and made Kartikeya's spear fall to the ground. Vyasa, such was the duel between Nishumbha and Kartikeya, who roared like heroes. Nandishvara pierced Kalanemi, his horses, standard, chariot and charioteer with seven arrows. Kalanemi, enraged, cut Nandi's bow and shot great sharp stone-whetted arrows from his own. Ignoring them, brave Nandishvara struck Kalanemi, the great asura, firmly on the chest with a trident. The trident shattered his heart and killed his horses and charioteer. At this he uprooted a mountain summit and struck Nandi with it. Shumbha, on a chariot, and Ganesha, on a mouse, fought each other, shooting volleys of arrows and piercing each other. Ganesha pierced Shumbha in the heart with an arrow and with three arrows brought his charioteer to the ground. At this Shumbha grew furious and showered arrows on Ganadhipa. He pierced the mouse with three arrows and roared like a cloud. Mangled in its limbs, the mouse suffered much pain and trembled. Lambodara fell and fought like a foot soldier. Lambodara struck Shumbha on the chest with a battle axe, brought him down to the ground and mounted the mouse again. The lord with the elephant's face got ready to fight again. Like a huge elephant struck with a goad, he laughed and struck him angrily. Kalanemi and Shumbha together struck Lambodara with arrows, full of rage, like poisonous snakes.

Immensely strong Virabhadra saw him suffering. With a crore bhutas he attacked them powerfully. Kushmandas, bhairavas, vetalas, groups of yoginis, pishachas, dakinis and groups of ganas also came. There was chattering, lion roars and harsh sounds. Damarus sounded and the earth trembled. The bhutas rushed forward and devoured the danavas, jumping up and down and dancing on the battlefield. Vyasa, meanwhile Nandi and Guha regained their senses and got up. They roared in the battle again. Nandi and Kartikeya swiftly came and, with volleys of arrows, ceaselessly killed daityas in the battle. Daityas were cut, mangled, killed, felled and devoured. The army grew anxious, their faces pale. When Nandi and Kartikeya showed their fierce valour, Virabhadra and the other ganas roared more loudly still. The ocean's son's two great commanders, Shumbha and Nishumbha, the great daitya Kalanemi and other asuras were defeated. The ocean's son saw his soldiers routed. In a chariot with many flags the powerful one advanced on the ganas. The beaten daityas were filled with great enthusiasm; Vyasa, they roared and got ready for battle. All Rudra's ganas roared too, wanting victory. Sage, they were led by Nandi, Kartika, the tusked one, Virabhadra and others. There was the noise of elephants, horses and chariots, of conches and kettledrums. Facing each other, the armies roared like lions. Jalandhara's torrents of arrows covered the space between heaven and earth like a brown mist. He pierced Shailadi with five arrows and Ganesha with five more. He pierced Virabhadra with twenty arrows and roared like a rain-filled cloud. Immensely valiant Kartikeya, Rudra's son, at once pierced the daitya Jalandhara with his spear and roared. His body mangled by the spear, the daitya's eyes rolled and he fell to the ground, but the immensely strong one got up at once. Full of rage, Jalandhara, bull among daityas, struck Kartikeya on the chest with a club. That supreme club had been given by Vidhatri, and Shankara's son wished to show that the power of the club succeeded; so, Vyasa, he fell to the ground at once. Nandi too was struck by the club and fell. The immensely valiant slayer of enemies was slightly shaken in mind. Enraged, Ganeshvara remembered Shiva's lotus feet and, thus gaining greater strength, cut the daitya's club with a battle axe. Virabhadra pierced the danava on the chest with three arrows and with seven cut his horses, standard, bow and umbrella. Greatly enraged, the Indra among daityas seized a terrible spear, brought Ganesha down with it, and mounted another chariot. The immensely strong Indra among daityas rushed forward with great force, ignored the others and angrily rushed at Virabhadra. Immensely valiant Jalandhara, king of the daityas, quickly struck Virabhadra with a sharp poisoned arrow and roared. Angry Virabhadra cut that arrow with an extremely sharp one and pierced him with a large arrow. Both were like the sun and used many astras and shastras. Those two supreme brave ones fought each other a long while. Virabhadra brought down his horses with arrows, struck powerfully and cut his bow, chariot and flags. At this, club in hand, the king of the daityas leapt down to the ground. The immensely strong one swiftly approached Virabhadra, roared, and struck Virabhadra powerfully on the head with the club. The gana leader's head was shattered by the strong blow. Virabhadra fell to the ground and bled copiously. Seeing Virabhadra fallen, Rudra's ganas were afraid and gave up the battle, shrieking, and rushed to Maheshvara. Chandrashekhara heard the tumult the ganas made and asked the brave excellent ganas beside him.

Shankara said

Why are my ganas making this great tumult? Immensely valiant ones, find out the cause. I must certainly establish peace.

Sanatkumara said

While the lord of the gods was affectionately asking these ganas, other ganas came before the lord. Seeing them dejected, the lord Rudra asked whether all was well. The ganas then told him in detail what had happened. Bhagavan Rudra is a lord who plays many pastimes. Hearing it, he gave them freedom from fear and greatly raised their spirits.