Chapter 29 - The Battle Between Suras and Tāraka

[Sanskrit text for this chapter is available]

Lomaśa said:

1. The two armies, that of Suras and that of Daityas, had all the four divisions of an army. They had many wonderful (weapons and equipments). They roared at each other like clouds at the advent of the rainy season. They shone well.

2. In the meantime, Devas and Asuras began to dance and jump with one another. All of them of great strength fought one another.

3. The fight between Daityas and Devas was very tumultuous and exciting. Within a moment the whole (battlefield) became marked (coloured) with mutilated trunks and severed heads.

4. Hundreds and thousands fell on the ground. The arms of some were cut off by terrible blows of swords.

5-6. Indeed Mucukunda was very powerful. He was (famous) in the three worlds (as a man) of unmeasured courage and valour. Tāraka was then hit in the chest with all might with a sword by the intelligent Mucukunda. Enduring that blow, Tāraka laughingly spoke these words:

7. “O dull-witted fellow, what is it that has been achieved by you through your strength? I do not wish to fight with you. It is shameful to fight with a human being.”

8-9. On hearing the words of Tāraka, Mucukunda spoke: “O chief Daitya, you have been (well-nigh) killed on being struck by me. You do not deserve to be otherwise. Experiencing the blow of my sword, you will never stand in front of me. I am going to kill you. See my valour, O king of Daityas; be steady.”

10-11. After saying thus, when the heroic Mucukunda of great strength struck with his sword, he was hit with a javelin. The son of Māndhātā fell down in the battlefield. Though fallen, the slayer of inimical warriors got up instantaneously.

12. Getting ready to kill Tāraka, the lord of Daityas then, the exceedingly powerful son of Māndhātṛ, the sole conqueror of the world, seized a bow and took a Brahmāstra (i.e. the miraculous missile with Brahmā as its presiding deity).

13. That warrior of great force and speed who became very furious and whose eyes were full-blown, got ready to fight with Tāraka. At that time Nārada, the son of Brahmā, spoke thus to Mucukunda, the human warrior:

14. “Tāraka cannot be killed by a human being. Hence do not discharge this great missile.”

15. On hearing the words of Nārada, the celestial sage, Mucukunda asked: “Who will then be his slayer?”

16-17. Then Nārada of divine vision and great splendour said: “Kumāra will kill him. This Kumāra is the son of Śiva. Hence all of you should stand (ready). Fight jointly. Restrain yourself, O Mucukunda of great intellect. Stand ready.”

18. On hearing these fascinating and auspicious words uttered by that (sage) of great refulgence, all the Suras became completely calm and quiet along with that most excellent one among human beings.

19. Then Dundubhis were sounded. Conchs were blown. Different musical instruments were played by both Suras and Asuras.

20-21. Asuras who had prepared (for a fight) with Devas roared. Vīrabhadra who was born of the anger of Śiva, became exceedingly furious. Accompanied by many Gaṇas, he approached Tāraka of great strength, after making Mucukunda and Suras stand behind him.

22-23. Then all the Pramathas kept Kumāra at the head and fought in the battle. There the Gaṇas beginning with Vīrabhadra killed the enemies with tridents, swords, daggers, nooses, axes and iron clubs. In that mutual clash of Suras and Asuras, all of them struck and killed one another.

24. Struck hard by Vīrabhadra with his trident, Tāraka fell down there at once. He was in a swoon for a short while.

25. Within a Muhūrta (=24 minutes) Tāraka, the great Daitya, regained consciousness and got up. He struck (back) Vīrabhadra with great force.

26. Vīrabhadra, the powerful follower of Śiva, whose splendour was great, attacked Tāraka who had a javelin, with a terrible trident.

27. Fighting thus, they struck at each other. A tumultuous duel took place between those two noble souls.

28-30. Then Suras became mere spectators in that war. The. three worlds were filled with the loud sounds of Bherīs, Mṛdaṅgas, Paṭahas, Ānakas, Gomukhas and Ḍamarus. By means of that loud sound, those two combatants of great strength shone splendidly. They were exceedingly excited and shattered completely on account of blows. Enraged furiously with each other, they resembled Budha (Mercury) and Aṅgāraka (Mars).

31-32. Nārada then revealed to Vīrabhadra the details about his (Tāraka’s) death. Vīrabhadra then did not like those words that Nārada said about the death of Tāraka. Just as Rudra so also Vīrabhadra was exceedingly powerful.

33. Fighting thus they struck at each other. They vied with each other in roaring like two lions.

34. While those two were thus fighting on the ground, Vīrabhadra was prevented by means of various words by Nārada, the noble-souled (sage), the most excellent one among those who had perfect knowledge.

35. On hearing those words coming out of Nārada’s mouth, Vīrabhadra who had become very furious replied to Nārada:

36-38, “I will kill Tāraka today. See my valour. Those heroes who make the master come down to the battle-ground are sinners and extremely unrighteous. Those who go to the battlefield but begin to ponder over (what they should do) should be known as cowards. They should never be talked to. O celestial sage, you do not know the reaction of (true) warriors. Those who keep the god of Death behind them, those who are devoid of any pain or distress ill the battlefield, and those whose bodies are cut and pierced by weapons and missiles are undoubtedly praiseworthy.”

39-40. After saying thus, Vīrabhadra of great power, spoke to Devas: “May Devas with Indra as their leader listen to my words. I will undoubtedly make the earth rid of Tāraka today.”

41. He then took a trident and fought with Tāraka along with many (followers) who rode on bulls and held excellent tridents.

42. Those Gaṇas had matted hair; they had bull for their emblem. They struck with force. They kept Vīrabhadra at their head. They were as valorous as Vīrabhadra.

43. All of them wielded tridents. All of them had serpents as ornaments for their limbs. All of them were adorned with twisted and matted locks of hair. They had the crescent moon as their crest jewel.

44-45. They were blue-throated. They had ten arms, five faces and three eyes. They had the royal insignia of umbrellas and chowries. All of them had fiercely powerful arms. With Vīrabhadra at their head (the Gaṇas), with the valorous exploit of Hara, fought with Daityas who were the dependents of Tāraka for their subsistence.

46. Those Asuras were defeated again and again by the Gaṇas. They were forced to turn their faces (to retreat). Then an exceedingly frightful battle ensued between them and the excellent Daityas.

47. Though Daityas were experts in the use of great missiles, the Gaṇas could not brook them. The Gaṇas became victorious. Defeated by the Gaṇas and therefore distressed very much, they (Asuras) intimated their discomfiture to Tāraka.

48. Tāraka who was desirous of fighting, was noble-souled and the most excellent one among Daityas, entered the army after keeping the bow well-bent, in the same way as a fish enters the ocean.

49. Indeed Vīrabhadra of great power fought (with Daityas) in the company of the Gaṇas.

The excellent Daitya of great strength, who became very furious, pounded and shattered all the Suras, the chief of whom was Indra, and the Gaṇas, Yakṣas, Piśācas and Guhyakas.

50. Then a tumultuous, exciting battle ensued between Devas and Dānavas, wherein Devas, Dānavas and Yakṣas took part collectively.

51. Roaring bulls killed the horses along with the horsemen. They struck at the chariots and killed the charioteers. They killed the elephants along with the elephant drivers.

52. All the Asuras were shattered and pierced (by the Gaṇas) who were driving in the chariots or riding on the bulls.

53-54. Many were completely destroyed. Some who were struck, fell down on the ground. Some entered Rasātala. Many fled (from the battlefield). Some of them sought refuge with the followers and servants of Rudras. Thus seeing his army destroyed and scattered, Tāraka, the protector of Asuras, became infuriated and he went ahead in order to kill the groups of Devas.

55. Tāraka, the king of Daityas, assumed ten thousand arms. He suddenly mounted a lion and killed them (i.e. the Gaṇas) in battle.

56. By the lion that had been equipped with an armour, some bulls were torn asunder. Similarly many Gaṇas were killed by Tāraka himself.

57. This was done by the noble-souled Tāraka then. The great Tāraka could not be tackled by all the Devas.

58-59. That Daitya of great and powerful arms became the destroyer of all the three worlds. The Daitya followers of Tāraka became superior in strength and invincible. They rode on great vehicles. They were terrific and fully equipped with armour. They were terrible strikers. The Gaṇas were swallowed by those Daityas and the bulls were killed by the lions.

60. Thus those Gaṇas were being killed in the battlefield. Viṣṇu laughed and said to Kumāra, the favourite (son) of Śiva:

Viṣṇu said:

61. Excepting you, O son of Kṛttikās, there is no one else who can kill this sinner. Hence, O mighty one, my suggestions should be carried out by you.

62. O Son of Śiva, you are born for slaying Tāraka. Hence slaying of Tāraka should be performed by you.

63. On hearing it, the great lord, the son of Pārvat! became angry. He laughingly said these proper words to Viṣṇu:

64-65. “The wonderful ways of fighting of the noble-souled (warriors) are being observed carefully by me. O Viṣṇu, I am not well-versed in deliberating upon what should be done and what should not be done. I do not at all know who are those who belong to us and who are our enemies. I do not know even why they are fighting and killing each other.”

66. On hearing the words of Kumāra, Nārada spoke these words:

Nārada said:

67. You are Kumāra, O mighty-armed one, born of a part of Śaṅkara. You are the master and saviour of all the worlds. You are the ultimate goal of Devas.

68. O heroic one, a very severe penance was performed by Tāraka formerly, whereby Devas have been defeated and heaven conquered.

69. He attained invincibility by means of severe penance. Indra and the Guardians of the Quarters have been defeated by him.

70-71. All the three worlds have been conquered by this vicious-souled one himself. Hence Tāraka, the sinful person, should be killed by you. The welfare of everyone should be caused by you, the lord.

On hearing the words of Nārada, Kumāra, the great lord, descended from his aerial chariot and began to walk on foot.

72-74. The son of Śiva in the form of an infant-boy, began to run about on foot. He took up in his hand a javelin of great potentiality, endowed with much refulgence like a great comet.

On seeing (the Infant-Lord) who was advancing towards him, who Was very fierce, whose form was unmanifest and who was the most excellent one among mighty persons, the Daitya spoke:

“This Kumāra (the Infant-Leader) belonging to the excellent Suras is the destroyer of the enemies (of the excellent Suras). I shall be the sole warrior fighting with him. I shall kill all heroic Gaṇas, the great īśvaras and the Guardians of the Quarters immediately.”

75. After saying this that ever mighty one proceeded towards Kumāra in order to fight. That Tāraka seized a javelin of exceedingly wonderful nature and spoke these words:

Tāraka said:

76. How and why is an infant placed in front of me by you all? O ye Devas, you are all shameless ones whose king happens to be Purandara.

77-80. Whatever has been done by him is all known (to me). Sleeping ones were bound and tortured; beings within the womb have been aborted and caused to fall down. Bahurūpa, the Asura, was killed by the son of Kaśyapa. Namuci, a great hero, was killed. Vṛtra was killed too.

This Devendra, the slayer of Bala, is desirous of killing Kumāra. This Kumāra, O Devas, shall undoubtedly be killed by me to-day.

Formerly, O Vīrabhadra, many Brāhmaṇas have been killed by you in the course of Dakṣa’s Yajña. I shall show you today the fruit of that action, O highly intelligent one, in the course of the battle, O you expert in battle.”

81-82. After saying thus that noble-souled lord of Daityas, the sole and excellent hero, took up his Śakti of great and wonderful qualities. That Tāraka is the most excellent one among those conversant with fighting.

Thus the son of Diti was attacked by the greatest Puruṣa (Lord). He was surrounded by leading Asuras. That powerful Tāraka who usually came out victorious in battles resolved to fight and kill (the Lord).