Chapter 22 - Description of Jalandhara’s Battle

[Sanskrit text for this chapter is available]

Sanatkumāra said:—

1. Then the great lord Śiva assuming a terrible form went laughingly to the battle-field and sat on his bull, accompanied by his heroic Gaṇas.

2. On seeing Śiva coming, the Gaṇas who were formerly defeated returned to fight roaring like lions.

3. Other Gaṇas too shouted heroically and jubilantly. Well-equipped with their weapons they killed the Daityas with showers of arrows.

4. On seeing Śiva the terrible, all the Daityas fled for fear from the battle field as the sins on seeing a devotee of Siva.

5. On seeing the Daityas returning from the battle field, Jalandhara rushed at Śiva discharging thousands of arrows.

6. Thousands of leading Daityas, Niśumbha, Śumbha and others rushed at Śiva, biting their lips.

7. Similarly Kālanemi the hero, Khaḍgaromā, Balāhaka, Ghasmara, Pracaṇḍa and others rushed at Śiva.

8. O sage, the heroes Śumbha and others, covered the Gaṇas of Rudra with arrows and cut their limbs.

9. On seeing his army of Gaṇas enveloped in darkness by the volleys of arrows, Śiva split the net of their arrows and encompassed the sky with his own.

10. He afflicted the Daityas with the gusts of wind raised by the arrows. He felled them to the ground with fierce volleys of arrows.

11. He severed the head of Khaḍgaromā from his body with his axe. He shattered the head of Balāhaka with his club into two pieces.

12. He tied the Daitya Ghasmara with his noose and dashed him on the ground. With his trident, he chopped off the great hero Pracaṇḍa.

13. Some of the Asuras were killed by the bull. Some were struck by the arrows. Like elephants harassed by lions, the Asuras were unable to stay there.

14. Then the great Asura Jalandhara became infuriated and rebuked the Daityas in the battle. The courageous Daitya mocked at Śumbha and others and spoke thus.

Jalandhara said:—

15. Of what avail is your boasting about the pedigree of your mother if you flee back on being attacked? To die cowardly while you profess to be heroes is not commendable, nor does it yield heaven.

16. O trivial fellows, if you have faith in war or the essential strength in the heart or if you have no lurking pleasures for sexual indulgence then you come forward and stand before me.

17. Death in battle is preferrable. It yields all cherished desires. It is especially conducive to fame. It has been proclaimed as the bestower of salvation too.

18. The wandering recluse of supreme knowledge and wisdom as well as he who dies fighting face to face, attain the greatest region after breaking through the solar sphere.

19. No sensible man should ever be afraid of death. Death is inevitable notwithstanding all the remedies employed to ward it off.

20. O heroes, death is congenital to any being born. Either today or at the end of a hundred years all living beings are sure to die.

21. Hence, cast off all fear for death. Come and fight in war joyously. In every respect there is certainly a great bliss here and hereafter.

Sanatkumāra said:—

22. Saying this, he tried to encourage his heroes in several ways. But the frightened demons did not regain courage. They fled from the battle in a trice.

23. On seeing his army on the rout, the heroic son of the ocean Jalandhara became very furious.

24. Then the infuriated Jalandhara challenged for a battle in a stentorian voice like the sound of fierce thunderbolt.

Jalandhara said:—

25. O ascetic, fight with me now. What is the use of slaying these? Show me what little strength you have.

Sanatkumāra said:—

26. After saying this, Jalandhara the great Daitya hit the bull-bannered Śiva of indefatigable endeavour, with an incessant volley of arrows.

27. Laughingly, lord Śiva split all the arrows of Jalandhara by discharging his own sharp arrows even before his arrows reached him.

28. Then with seven arrows he split the horses, banner, umbrella and the bow of Daitya Jalandhara. O sage, it is not surprising in the case of Śiva.

29. The infuriated Asura the son of the ocean, devoid of a chariot and with bow split up rushed at Śiva lifting his mace vigorously.

30. O Vyāsa, lord Śiva of great sports immediately split asunder the mace hurled by him, by means of his arrows.

31. Yet the highly infuriated great Asura rushed at Śiva with the mailed fist lifted up, with a desire to kill him.

32. By a volley of arrows Jalandhara was hurled back a Krośa by Śiva of indefatigable enterprise.

33. Then, considering Śiva more powerful, Jalandhara the Daitya, created the illusion of Gandharvas that mysteriously fascinated even Śiva.

34. By the power of his Māyā, hosts of Gandharvas and celestial damsels came into view for fascinating Śiva.

35. The Gandharvas and celestial damsels sang and danced. Others played on flutes, mṛdaṅgas and cymbals.

36. On seeing that wonderful feat, Śiva was fascinated by the Gaṇas. He was not conscious of even the garments let down from the hands.

37. On seeing Śiva concentrated in the dance Jalandhara urged by lust immediately went to the place where Gaurī stood.

38-39. He entrusted the powerful Śumbha and Niśumbha with the conduct of war. With his demonaic Māyā he assumed the form of Śiva—with ten brawny arms, five faces, three eyes, and matted hair. He was seated on the great bull. In every respect, O Vyāsa, Jalandhara appeared like Śiva.

40. On seeing Śiva coming, the beloved of Śiva came out from the midst of her female friends within the range of his vision.

41. When the lord of Asuras saw the bauntiful Pārvatī, he let drops of semen fall and his limbs became benumbed.

42. On realising that he was the demon, the terrified Gaurī vanished immediately to the northern shore of the Mānasa lake.

43. Unable to see her who disappeared in a moment like lightning, the Daitya immediately went to the place where lord Śiva stood in order to fight him.

44. Pārvatī remembered lord Viṣṇu mentally. Immediately she saw the lord seated near her.

45. On seeing Viṣṇu bowing to her with palms joined in reverence, Pārvatī the beloved of Śiva, the mother of the universe, spoke delightedly.

Pārvatī said:—

46. O Viṣṇu, is it not known to you that the wicked Daitya Jalandhara perpetrated a wonderfully base deed?”

47. On hearing the words of the mother of the universe, the Garuḍa-bannered lord bowed to Pārvatī bending his neck and joining his palms in reverence and spoke.

Viṣṇu said:—

48. O mother, by your favour that incident is known to me. What you shall be pleased to commend I shall perform with your permission.

Sanatkumāra said:—

49. On hearing the words of Viṣṇu, Pārvatī said again. The mother of the universe desired to teach Viṣṇu the policy based on Dharma.

Pārvatī said:—

50. He himself has shown the path. Know that to be the way in the same manner. At my bidding, make the chastity of his wife violated.

51. O Viṣṇu, that great Daitya cannot be killed otherwise. In the earth there is no other virtue equal to chastity.

Sanatkumāra said:—

52. On hearing this command and accepting it with lowered head, Viṣṇu immediately went to the city of Jalandhara for practising deception.