Chapter 43 - The Preparation of the Danavas for the Battle

1. Vaishampayana said:—O sinless one, thereupon, hearing of the fear from Vishnu, the Daityas and Danavas, irrepressible in battle, began to make preparations for war on a great scale.

2-12. Being desirous of a battle the Danava Maya ascended a golden car as the sun rises over the mount Meru. It had four strong wheels twelve hundred cubits in circumference, could go anywhere, contained many huge weapons, was filled with the tinkling of small bells, was matted with leopard skins, adorned with jewels and gold, artificial figures of animals and various collections of birds, contained many celestial weapons and quivers, had the sound like the muttering of clouds, had beautiful axles, was the best of the most excellent cars, was filled with beautiful nests, and mountain-like clubs. It was huge like the very ocean itself, and its joints were adorned with golden Keyuras and bracelets. Its poles were made of gold and it was adorned with huge pennons and flags. It looked like the mount Mandara when the sun rises over it, like the prince of elephants and the ocean. It contained thousands of bears and the sound of its wheels was like the roaring of the ocean. It was effulgent, could course in the sky and strike the cars of the enemies. The Danava Tara got upon a most excellent iron car. It was two miles in dimension, was huge like a collection of mountains, was black like red collyrium and was made of strong and well seasoned iron. It had eight wheels, axles and poles and was dark like an ember. Its sound was like the roaring of an ocean and its windows were covered with iron nets. It contained iron Parighas, Kshepanyas, clubs, Prasas, maces, various other wooden weapons, Tomaras and Parashvadas. It was a dread to the enemies and was drawn by a thousand of mules huge like the mount Mandara. On its flag there was an emblem of a crow.

13. Being highly enraged and taking up a club Virocana stood before the army like a mountain with shining summits.

14. The Danava Hayagriva, the repressor of the hostile armies, began to drive a car drawn by a thousand steeds.

15. Stretching his huge bow, many thousand cubits in dimension, the Danava Varaha stood before the army like a fig tree covered with its branches,

16. Shedding tears of anger out of haughtiness and with his lips and teeth trembling the Danava Khara stood for the battle.

17. Ascending a car drawn by twelve horses and surrounded by Danava Vyuhas the energetic Aristha began to move about in the battle-field.

18. Adorned with golden ear-rings, Vipracitti’s son Sveta stood before the battle-field like a white mountain.

19. Armed with most excellent weapons made of stone and being tired thereby Bati’s son Aristha stood there for battle like a mountain.

20. A Danava, by name Kishora, resembling a young charger in pride, appeared like the sun in the midst of the Daitya army.

21. Being dressed with a long raiment resembling a cloud the Danava Lamva appeared in the midst of the Daitya Vyuhas^[1] like the sun possessed by Rahu^[2].

22. Taking up weapons in the shape of teeth, lips and eyes the huge-bodied and terrible warrior Sharbhanu smilingly stood before the Daityas.

23. Some shone on the horses and others on the elephants. Some sat on the lions and tigers and others on boars and bears.

24. Some rode the asses and camels and others rode the clouds. And others rode on various birds and some the winds^[3].

25. Other Daitya proceeded on foot. Some Daityas, with dreadful faces, some with one foot and some with two feet began to dance for battle.

26. Some began to strike their arms. Thus the leading Danavas began to roar there like proud tigers.

27. The Daityas, expert in the use of bows, began to assail the gods with fierce clubs, Parighas and their Parigha-like arms.

28-29. And sporting with maces, Prashas, clubs hooks, swords, Sataghnies, sharpened daggers, excellent iron Parighas and discuses they delighted the soldiers.

30. The Danavas, irrepressible in battle, desired for victory. Thus the Danavas, proud of their various weapons, confronted the gods like rising clouds.

31. That Daitya army, consisting of thousands of Danavas, resembling the air, the fire, the cloud and the mountain and filled with war-like speed and advancement, was maddened with desire for battle.

Footnotes and references:

[1]:

The arrangement of troops in various positions, as the array in line, that in column, that in circle, and that in mixed order.

[2]:

This is the mythological account of the solar eclipse.

[3]:

i.e. were fleet like the wind.