The Skanda Purana

by G. V. Tagare | 1950 | 2,545,880 words

This page describes Preparations of Devas and Daityas for War which is chapter 28 of the English translation of the Skanda Purana, the largest of the eighteen Mahapuranas, preserving the ancient Indian society and Hindu traditions in an encyclopedic format, detailling on topics such as dharma (virtous lifestyle), cosmogony (creation of the universe), mythology (itihasa), genealogy (vamsha) etc. This is the twenty-eighth chapter of the Kedara-khanda of the Maheshvara-khanda of the Skanda Purana.

Chapter 28 - Preparations of Devas and Daityas for War

[Sanskrit text for this chapter is available]

Lomaśa said:

1. After placing Kumāra in his lap, Rudra, the valorous Bharga, the lord of the universe, said to Devas including Indra:

2. “What is to be done by my son, O Devas? Let it be stated.”

Then all of them together said to Lord Paśupati:

3. “A threat has come from Tāraka to all the worlds, O Lord. You are the saviour. You are the master of the worlds. Hence let protection be accorded.

4. Today itself, O Lord, Tāraka shall be killed by Kumāra Kārttikeya. Hence we shall go today itself in our endeavour to kill Tāraka.”

5-9. Thinking that it should be so, Suras started at once keeping Kārttikeya, the son of Śaṅkara, at the head. All of them, with Brahmā and Viṣṇu as leaders, had soon gathered there.

On hearing about the preparation of Devas, Tāraka, the mighty one, marched against Suras to fight them with a great army. The great army of Tāraka that had come (there) was seen by Devas.

Then an ethereal voice said consoling them: “All of you have started after keeping the son of Śaṅkara at the head. You will become victorious after defeating Daityas in the battle.”

10. On hearing the ethereal voice, all the Devas became enthusiastic. Keeping the infant-lord (Kumāra) at the head, they got rid of all their fears.

11. When all the Suras who were desirous of fighting had arrived, the invincible daughter of Mṛtyu came there to woo Kumāra.

12. Formerly she had been urged by Brahmā to resort to great penance (to enable herself to attain) Kumāra by means of that great penance. That beautiful lady named Senā,[1] the daughter of Mṛtyu, came there.

13. On seeing her, all of them said to Lord Paśupati: “A very beautiful lady has come for this Kumāra.”

14. At the instance of Brahmā she was wooed by Kumāra. Then Kumāra, the son of Śaṅkara, became Senāpati (‘Lord of Senā’, also ‘commander-in-chief of the army’).

15. Then conchs and drums (such as) Bherī, Paṭaha, Ānaka, Gomukha and Dundubhi as well as Mṛdaṅgas of loud sound were sounded.

16. The entire firmament was filled with that loud sound. At that time, Gaurī, Gaṅgā and Mothers and Kṛttikās told one another, “This is my son. This is my son.”

17-18. Thus all of them—Mothers and others—who were engaged in arguments were forbidden by Nārada: “Do not commit any foolishness. He is born of Pārvatī and Śaṅkara for the sake of accomplishing the task of Devas.”

Then all the Kṛttikās along with the Mothers became silent.

19-21. Then all the wives of the sages, the Kṛttikās, were told by Guha: “All of you resort to the constellations and stay there forever.”[2] So the groups of mothers also were established ill the firmament by the Lord. Accepting the daughter of Mṛtyu hurriedly, Kārttikeya, the infant-lord, the son of Śaṅkara, said to Indra: “Go back to heaven along with Suras.”

22-23. Kumāra was told by Indra: “Indeed all of us have been harassed by Tāraka. We have been driven out of heaven and we have dispersed to all the ten directions. Now what are you asking of us who have been ousted from our positions, O magnanimous one?”

On being told thus by the Vajra-bearīng Lord (Indra), the son of Śaṅkara laughed and said to Indra: “Do not be afraid.” Thus he granted him freedom from fear.

24. Even as the noble-souled son of Śaṅkara was saying thus, Rudra went back to Kailāsa along with Pārvatī and Pramathas.

25. The great Daitya, surrounded by the armies of Daityas came (there). Great war drums were played. They were as terrifically loud as (the sounds at the time of) the great Deluge.

26-28. There were intensely harsh sounds of martial musical instruments. Wonderful drums such as Ḍiṇḍimas and Gomukhas were sounded. There were many trumpets and large and harsh-sounding military drums like Kāhalas and Kharaśṛṅgas.

Different kinds of musical instruments were played when Daityas gathered there. The heroes shouted and roared along with Tāraka. Nārada spoke these words to Tāraka, a thorn unto Devas:

Nārada said:

29. O excellent one among Asuras, effort has already been made by Devas for slaying you. There is no doubt about it. What is said by me cannot be otherwise.

30. This son of Śarva has been intended for you. After knowing this, O mighty one, try (to save yourself) with great concentration.

31-35. On hearing the words of Nārada, the intelligent Tāraka laughingly spoke these words:

“Go to Purandara, O great sage, and report my words immediately and truthfully: ‘You wish to fight with me, keeping (the infant) Kumāra at the head; you are resorting to a foolish step if you wish to do so. It cannot be otherwise. Depending upon a man named Mucukunda, you stayed in Amarāvatī on the strength of his glory and not otherwise. You are now standing before me relying on the power of Kumāra. I will kill you, O dull-witted one, along with the Guardians of the Quarters.’ Tell him this, O celestial sage. Do not tell Devendra anything else.”

36. Thinking that it should be so, the holy sage Nārada went to Suras whose leader was Śakra. The intelligent (sage) repeated to them all that was uttered by the leader of Asuras along with derisive laughter.

Nārada said:

37. O Devas, let my words be heard. They should not be misunderstood. What has been said by Tāraka along with his followers may be heard.

Tāraka said:

38-39. I will kill you, O stupid one; my speech cannot be otherwise. You who had been honoured by the Guardians of the Quarters, have resorted to Mucukunḍa. I would rather not fight with you, a coward who has resorted to a man despite (your) being a Deva.

40. On hearing his words all the Devas including Vāsava said to Nārada, the excellent sage, referring to Kumāra:

41-43. “Indeed, O celestial sage, you know the relative strength and weakness of Kumāra. How is it that his (Tāraka’s) words were uttered before me as if you had become ignorant?”

Nārada laughed and spoke these words in his presence: “I too laughed satirically and spoke (befitting) words to Tāraka. O immortal Suras, understand ye all that Kumāra will be victorious. What I say will (surely) take place. There is no doubt about it.”

44. On hearing the words of Nārada, all the Devas became joyous. They jointly rose up desirous of fighting with Tāraka.

45. Placing Kumāra on an elephant Devendra proceeded ahead accompanied by the big army of Suras and surrounded by the Guardians of Quarters.

46. Then Dundubhis were sounded. Many Bherīs and musical instruments were played. Lutes, flutes and Mṛdaṅgas were played. There were the vocal songs of Gandharvas.

47. After giving the elephant to Mahendra, Kumāra rode in an (aerial) chariot. It was studded with many gems and jewels. It was equipped with many wonderful features. It was extremely spacious and equipped with various marvels.

48. Getting into the aerial chariot that son of Śaṅkara of great fame shone well. He was accompanied by all the Gaṇas. He was endowed with great glory and radiance. The great lord was fanned with chowries of great lustre.

49. The umbrella (offered by) Varuṇa was held above the head of Kumāra by Candra (Moon). It had great refulgence on account of jewels. It was fitted with many precious gems and stones. It was made highly splendid by means of the rays of the Moon.

50. Then all the Devas assembled together with Indra at their head. They were accompanied by their respective armies. All those mighty ones were desirous of fighting.

51-53. Yama came with his followers. The Wind-god came with Maruts; Varuṇa with Pāthas (waters) (or Yādas—aquatic animals); Kubera with Guhyakas; Īśvara with Pramathas; Nairṛta with Vyādhis (ailments). Thus all the eight Guardians of the Quarters joined together desirous of fighting. In order to kill Tāraka they had as their leader Senāpati, the son of Śaṅkara, the most excellent one among the knowers of the Ātman worthy of being saluted by the entire universe.

Thus desirous of fighting, they descended to the earth. They stood within the doab in the middle of Gaṅgā and Yamunā.

54. (Some of) the dependents of Tāraka came from Pātāla, with all types of subsidiary armies. They moved about (here and there) desirous of killing Suras in battle.

55-56. Tāraka who shone in an aerial chariot came (there). (The Daitya) of great splendour had an umbrella held over his head. Being fanned with chowries, the king of Daityas shone well.

57. Thus Devas and Daityas stood in the region between Gaṅgā and Yamunā.[3] They had separate arrays of soldiers. They were accompanied by great armies.

58-60. They kept the elephants on one side, different kinds of horses (on another side). Chariots of various kinds set with many gems and precious stones stood (on another side). There were many foot-soldiers who were splendidly equipped with javelins, tridents, axes, swords, mallets, iron clubs, steel-tipped arrows, nooses and maces. The two armies of Suras and Daityas shone (while they faced) one another. They were desirous of killing one another. They were being eulogized by their kinsmen.

Footnotes and references:

[1]:

Mbh does not know ‘Senā’ as the daughter of Mṛtyu—both of male and female Mṛtyu. BhP. V mentions one ‘Sena’ but he is a prince—a male. Skanda is called Senā-pati which means ‘commander of the army’ (of Devas).

[2]:

The credit of transforming the wives of six sages—the ‘mothers’—into the constellation Kṛttikā (Pleiades) is given to Skanda.

[3]:

The battle between Tāraka and Kumāra and their armies took place in Antarvedī or the Doab between Gaṅgā and Yamunā. But the exact location is not recorded.

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