Shankhachuda's Soldiers Are Killed

Vyasa said

Wise one, what did Ishana say and do when he heard what Kali told him? Please tell me truly, for I am very curious.

Sanatkumara replied

When he heard Kali's report, Parameshvara Shankara, who plays great games, laughed and reassured her, for he is skilled in true knowledge. Hearing the voice from the sky, Shankara himself went to fight with his ganas. He rode a huge bull, with Virabhadra and the others, the Bhairavas and the Kshetrapalas, who are as venerable as he is. Reaching the field, Mahesha took on a hero's form, and as the embodied Destroyer Rudra shone even more brightly.

Seeing Shiva, Shankhachuda stepped down from his vimana, bowed his head in deep devotion and lay on the ground like a rod. After bowing he mounted the vimana again, got ready quickly and took up bow and arrows. The fight between Shiva and the danava lasted a hundred years, each pouring fierce arrows on the other like clouds shedding rain. Shankhachuda was very brave and shot terrible arrows, and Shankara, the refuge of the good and punisher of the wicked, cut them down as if playing, and in his anger struck the danava's limbs with floods of weapons. The danava quickly took a sharp sword and a shield and hit Shiva's fine mount, the bull, on the head. When the bull was struck, Rudra, playing, used a kshurapra arrow to sever the sword and shining shield. With his shield cut, the asura hurled a spear, and Hara cut it in two with an arrow as it came. The angry danava threw a discus and Hara broke it to bits with his fists. He lifted a club and threw it, and Shambhu shattered it and reduced it to ashes. The danava lord then took a battle-axe and, full of rage, rushed at Hara at speed. Ignoring it, Shankara, in his play, brought him down with a flood of arrows, and the asura fell with the axe in his hand. After a short time he recovered and climbed into a chariot, and with divine weapons and arrows in hand he covered the whole sky.

Seeing him come, Hara lovingly played his damaru and twanged his bowstring, a sound that could not be borne. He blew his horn and the sound filled the directions. Girisha himself roared and terrified the asuras, and when the lord of bulls roared the huge elephants lost their pride. Sky, earth and the eight directions were filled with the noise, and as Mahakala did it the earth seemed to rise and merge with the sky. The sound of his clapping surpassed all the others. The Kshetrapalas laughed loudly in an ominous way, and the Bhairavas roared in the middle of the battle. A tumult rose in every direction among the ganas and heroes, and at those harsh, frightening sounds all the danavas were terrified.

Hearing this, the strong Shankhachuda was enraged. Hara told him to stay where he was, calling him evil-souled, while devas and ganas cried out "Victory, victory." Dambha's powerful son came close and hurled a terrible spear like a garland of flames, a blazing fire. As it drew near, Kshetrapala drew a flaming torch from his mouth and countered it. The great battle began again, and heaven and earth with its mountains, oceans and waters shook. Shambhu met Dambha's son's arrows with his own, cutting thousands of fierce arrows with hundreds, and struck him angrily with his trident, so that he fell senseless. Soon the asura recovered and shot arrows from his bow at Rudra on all sides. Shankhachuda suddenly took on ten thousand hands and covered Shankara with discuses, but Durga's husband, who destroys every trouble, angrily severed these with his arrows, which was extraordinary. The danava swiftly grabbed a club and, surrounded by a large army, rushed to kill Hara. Hara, who humbles the pride of the wicked, cut the club down with a very sharp sword as it came. His club cut, the danava was furious; the spirited one took up a blazing spear no enemy could bear and advanced with it. With great force Hara struck him in the chest with his trident. As the brave Shankhachuda's heart split, another being burst out of it screaming "Wait, stand by." He laughed loudly and with a terrible sword quickly cut off the head, which fell to the ground.

Kali tore off the heads of many asuras with her sharp teeth and, opening her mouth wide, swallowed them. The furious Kshetrapalas ate many daityas, the Bhairavas' weapons killed some and mangled others, and the intelligent Virabhadra, enraged, destroyed many enemies. Nandishvara killed and crushed many more. The brave ganas, ready for battle, angrily destroyed the many daityas and asuras who had crushed the gods. So many of his soldiers were destroyed there, and many others fled, afflicted by fear.