Shankhachuda's Advance

Vyasa said

Wise son of Brahma, may you live long. You have told a wondrous tale of the moon-crested one. After the messenger left, what did mighty Shankhachuda do? Tell me fully.

Sanatkumara replied

After the messenger left, Shankhachuda went inside and told Tulasi all that had happened.

Shankhachuda said

Queen, what Shambhu's messenger said has made me ready for war. I shall go out to fight, and you must do as I tell you.

Sanatkumara said

He was wise, and with many words he gave his beloved understanding. Setting Shankara aside, the pair played happily, sunk in an ocean of joy, and passed the night in varied pleasures. He rose at brahma muhurta, did the prescribed ablutions and morning rites, and gave gifts without number. He made his son king of all the danavas and entrusted him with wife, kingdom and wealth. When his beloved wept and tried to hold him back, the king comforted her gently.

He summoned his brave commander, honoured him and ordered that preparations be made for the battle.

Shankhachuda said

Commander, have every skilled warrior arm and do whatever is needed to march out. Ready eighty-six divisions of daityas, the danavas and the mighty Kankas; let the troops advance without fear. Let fifty clans of asuras and crores of heroes go out against Shambhu, who has taken the gods' side. Let a hundred clans of Dhoumras arm at once, and the Kalakeyas, Mouryas, Douhridas and Kalakas prepare, to follow my orders against Rudra.

Sanatkumara said

So the mighty asura lord commanded, and he marched out with a vast army. His commander was a master of war, a great maharatha and foremost among charioteers. Three hundred thousand akshouhinis were drawn up in a circle, and when the commander came out of the camp all who saw him judged him terrible in battle. The king boarded a vimana of the finest jewels, honoured his elders and set off. On the bank of the Pushpabhadra stands an auspicious, eternal banyan in the siddhas' hermitage, a place that grants siddhi and is Kapila's holy ground in Bharata. It lies east of the western sea, west of Malaya, north of Shrishaila and south of Gandhamadana, five yojanas across and a hundred times that in length. The Pushpabhadra there is as lovely as the Sarasvati, very holy, its water clear as crystal. It descends from the Himalayas, joins the Sarasvati, bestows lasting fortune, and is the beloved wife of the salt sea; with Gomanta on its left it flows into the western ocean. Shankhachuda came to that place and saw Shiva's army.