CHAPTER CLXXIX
(KRISHNA GOES TO SONITPURA AND FIGHTS WITH RUDRA'S FOLLOWERS ON THE WAY)
Vaishampāyana said:—At that time with the sound of conch-shells and bugles, the songs of bards and panegyrists by thousands and blessings of men exclaiming victory Janarddana appeared like the moon, sun and Sakra. O king, when Vinatā's son flew up into the sky his, beauty, increased by Hari's energy, became immense (1-3). Desirous of killing Vāna the lotus-eyed Keshava assumed a form having eight arms and resembling a mountain. At that time Janārddana, the holder of Shranga-bow, assumed innumerable heads. In his four right hands he had sword, discus, club and arrows and by his left four hands he held the leathern protector, the Srānga-bow, the thunder-bolt and conch-shell. Seated on Garudha's back, Sanghkarshana, holding a thousand forms and white weapons, irrepressible unto all creatures like the mount Kailāsha with its summit, shone like the rising moon. With a view to display his prowess in battle the high-souled Pradyumna assumed a form like that of Sanatkumār (4–8). Thereupon shaking innumerable mountains and obstructing the course of the wind with the forcible flapping of his wings the powerful Vinatā's son went on. Endued with the speed of the mind he crossed the most sacred route of the Siddhas and Chāranas. At that time Rāma said to Krishna, incomparable in battle:—"O Krishna, what wonder is this that we have all on a sudden been shorn of our effulgence? We have all a golden hue. What is the cause? Have we come to the side of the mount Sumeru?" (9–12) The Lord said:—"Methinks, O slayer of thy enemies, Vāna's city is near at hand. To protect him, the fire, stationed in his city, is coming out blazing. O holder of plough-share, we have been possessed by the effulgence of the fire of oblation: this has changed our colour." Rāma replied:—"If by approaching the city of Vāna we have been shorn of the lustre of our body, do what you think proper afterwards" (13–15). The Lord said:—"O Vinatā's son, do what you think proper. After you have found out a means I shall do what I think proper" (16).
Vaishampāyana continued:—Hearing those words spoken by Vāsudeva the highly powerful Garuda, capable of assuming forms at will, assumed a thousand mouths (17). Afterwards the highly powerful son of Vinatā leaped up and went to the etherial Gangā. Then drinking profuse water, he began to shower it on the fire. The intelligent son of Vinatā having concerted this measure the fire was at once extinguished. Then seeing that fire extinguished with the water of the etherial Gangā, Suparna, filled with surprise, said:—"Oh! How powerful is this fire like that at the end of a cycle. It disfigured the color of even the intelligent Krishna." After extinguishing the fire the king of birds, Garuda, went on making a great sound with the flapping of his powerful wings. Seeing them the fires, the followers of Rudra, thought:—"Who are these three dreadful men of many forms who are riding Garuda? Why have they come here?" Those fires of the mountain thought in this way for some, but could not settle anything. They then began to fight with the three Yadus. A great noise arose when they engaged in fighting (18-26).
Hearing their great uproar like that of roaring lions the intelligent Chief of the Fires Angirā sent a man to the scene of the action saying "Soon proceed where the battle is raging." Another Asura, fleet like the mind, was quickly despatched by Vanā saying "Go and see what is the matter." Saying "So be it" the man at once started and saw the fires fighting with Vāsudeva. He saw that the five principal fire-gods, Kalmāsha, Kusuma, Dahana, Shoshana and the highly powerful Tapana well known in the offering of Swāha and other minor fire-gods were all fighting with their respective armies. Pithara, Pataga, Swarna, Agādha and Vraja, these five presiding gods of Swadhā were also fighting; the two highly effulgent fire-gods, in charge of Jyotisthoma and Vasatkāra, were also fighting. Ascending a fiery car the great saint Angirā, uplifting his effulgent mace, was shining in that battle-field, in the midst of fire-gods. Then beholding Angira discharge his sharpened arrows, Krishna, filled with anger, smiled again and again and said:—"O ye fire-gods, wait patiently a few moments. The time of your destruction is drawing near. Within a moment, consumed by the energy of my weapons, you shall have to fly away on all sides." Thereupon in that great battle, as if to take Krishna's life Angirā ran with a burning Trishula in his hand. Then cutting off his mace with crescent-shaped and sharpened arrows the intelligent Krishna, effulgent like Yama, the destroyer of all creatures, struck Angirā on the breast with a death-like-arrow. Thereat Angirā fell down bathed in blood and with his body mangled. Seeing it the four fire-gods, the sons of Brahmā along with others speedily fled away to Vāna's city (27–40).
Thereupon seeing Vāna's city from a distance Nārada said "Behold, O large-armed Krishna, there is the city of Shonita. For protecting Vāna and for his well-being Kārtikeya and the highly effulgent Rudra with his consort always live there." Hearing the words of Nārada, Krishna smilingly said:—"Hear and understand what I say O great Muni. If Rudra himself comes to the battle-field for protecting Vāna we will also fight with him to our best." While Krishna and Nārada were thus conversing the quick-coursing Garuda at once took them to the city of Vāna. Then the lotus-eyed and cloud-like Keshava blew his moon-like conch-shell. Blowing that conch and creating terror in Vāna of wonderful deeds the powerful Mādhava entered into his city. Seeing them thus enter Vāna's soldiers got themselves ready for action sounding bugles and conch shells. Millions of paid soldiers, holding effulgent weapons, marched out to the battle-field. Those innumerable soldiers, of incomparable prowess, united, looked like huge black clouds.
Afterwards the Daityas, Dānavas and the leading Pramathas, with various burning weapons, began to fight with the eternal Krishna. When Krishna, Sangkarshana, Pradyumna and Garuda began to fight Yakshas, Rakshasas and Pannagas, irrepressible like burning fire, came from all sides, with their mouths wide open, to the battle-field for drinking blood. Beholding Vāna's army the highly powerful Balabhadra said to Krishna, the slayer of hostile armies:—"O large-armed Krishna, do that by which these soldiers may be completely terror-stricken." Thus addressed by the intelligent Balabhadra Purusottama Krishna, the foremost of the masters of weapons, took up fiery weapons dreadful like Death. Grinding the Asuras and birds of prey with those weapons Janārddana speedily went where the soldiers were seen. Standing on the ground in numberless detachments that Asura army, consisting mainly of Pramathas, holding darts, Pattiças, Saktis, Rishthis, Pinākas and Parighas, and having many dreadful beasts of burdens huge like mountains and clouds, appeared like clouds scattered by the wind. And many bow-men increased the beauty of that show. Running hither and thither with maces, darts, swords, clubs and Parighas that innumerable Asura host increased the beauty of the battle-field. Thereupon the beautiful Sangkarshana, seated on Garuda's back, said to Krishna, the slayer of Madhu:—"O large-armed Krishna, O Purusottama, I wish to fight with this Asura host." Hearing it Krishna said: (41-61). "I too feel the same inclination. I wish to fight in the battle-field with these leading warriors. When I will fight with my face towards the west Suparna will stand before me. Pradyumna will stand on my left side and you will stand on my right. In this dreadful fight we will all protect one another (62–63)."
Source: https://archive.org/details/AProseEnglishTranslationOfHarivamsh
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