Slaying of Vidala and Utpala

Sanatkumara said

Vyasa, listen with joy to Paramesha's deed, by which, to convey a sign, he had daityas killed through his beloved. Once there were two great daityas, Vidala and Utpala. They got a boon from Brahma that no man could kill them and became very proud. By their own weakness they regarded every man in the three worlds as a blade of grass, and in battle those two defeated all the gods. The beaten gods took refuge with Brahma, bowed and lovingly told him everything. Brahma told them those two would certainly be killed by Devi; they should affectionately remember Shiva and Shivaa and be patient, for Shiva and Shivaa are kind to devotees, Shankara would arrange what was auspicious, and after some time Parameshvara would do what was best. Saying this Brahma remembered Shiva and was silent, and the gods went home happy.

Urged by Shiva, the divine sage Narada went to the daityas' house and spoke of Shivaa's beauty. Hearing him, the daityas were deluded by maya and, suffering greatly from desire, wished to abduct Devi. They kept thinking about when destiny would be kind to them and when and where they might find Shivaa. Then Shambhu decided to play. With her friends, in play, Shivaa began a game with a ball, happy in Shiva's presence. Sometimes she looked up, sometimes she showed the dexterity of her limbs. When she breathed deeply, bees with restless eyes gathered round the fragrance, flowers loosened from the garland in her hair fell before her, and sweat on her cheeks fell in drops bright with the paint there. As her clothes moved, the radiance of her limbs showed through the gaps. As she played delightedly her palms turned as red as red lotuses, and as the ball bounced her eyes followed it and her brows seemed to dance. As the mother of the universe played so, the daityas, travelling through the sky, glanced at her, and it was as if Death had arrived and seated them on his lap. Insolent because of Brahma's boon and regarding all men in the three worlds as blades of grass, afflicted by desire, Vidala and Utpala wished to abduct Devi. Using Shambara's maya they came down swiftly from the sky and, by deceit, approached Ambika in the guise of attendants. They were evil in conduct and fickle in mind, but by their flickering eyes Shiva, who easily slays the wicked, knew at once who they were. With a glance he signalled to Durga, remover of hardships, that these were daityas who could take any form and not ganas. Shankara Paresha engages in great play. From the signs in her husband's eyes, she who is half the body of the all-knowing one understood, and she struck both at once with the ball. Mahadevi hit those two very strong ones with the ball, and they were whirled round and fell like ripe palm fruit shaken by the wind, or like two peaks of a great mountain struck by a violent storm. Because they had tried to do what should not be done, those two great daityas were brought down. The ball became a lingam, known as Kandukeshvara, near Jyeshtheshvara, which destroys all that is wicked.

Meanwhile Hari, Brahma and the other gods and the rishis learned of Shiva's manifestation and came. By Shambhu's command all the gods got boons and, delighted, returned home. Kashi's residents also got boons, folded their hands on seeing Shankara with Ambika, bowed and praised them with devotion and love. Shiva, kind to devotees, went happily back to his own abode with his ganas, where the master of play sported with Ambika. In Kashi the Kandukeshvara lingam destroys the wicked, and for the virtuous always gives what they desire, enjoyment and liberation. This account is unmatched. If a person hears it gladly, has it heard or reads it, how could he have misery? Such a person enjoys every excellent joy in this world and in the next obtains a divine destination hard even for the gods to reach. Sanatkumara said he had thus described a supremely wonderful account that shows Shiva's and Shivaa's affection for devotees and brings auspiciousness to the good.

Brahma continued

After telling the account of the moon-crested one, my excellent son took leave of Vyasa and went through the air to Kashi. Best of sages, I have thus told you the Yuddha Khanda, which belongs to the Rudra Samhita and gives all one desires as its fruit. I have also described the Rudra Samhita in full. It is greatly loved by Sadashiva and gives enjoyment and liberation as fruits. A person who reads it constantly sees all obstacles set by enemies thwarted, gets everything he desires and in the end attains liberation.

Suta concluded

So Brahma's son heard of Shiva's supreme fame from his father. Having heard of Shambhu's hundred names he reached his aim and became Shiva's follower. I have narrated the conversation between Brahma and Narada in full. Shiva is the most important. What would you like to hear next?