Note 7 — Chapter L

And then the single combat between Śrutaśarman, who was puffed up by being a son of Indra, and Súryaprabha, became exceedingly fierce. Whatever weapon Śrutaśarman vigorously employed, Súryaprabha immediately repelled with opposing weapons. And whatever delusion Śrutaśarman employed, was overmastered by Súryaprabha with opposing delusion. Then Śrutaśarman in fierce wrath sent forth the weapon of Brahmá, and the mighty Súryaprabha let loose the weapon of Śiva. That mighty weapon of Śiva repelled the weapon of Brahmá, and being irresistible, was overpowering Śrutaśarman, when Indra and the other Lokapálas, being indignant, sent forth their tremendous weapons beginning with thunderbolts. But the weapon of Śiva conquered all those weapons, and blazed exceedingly, eager to slay Śrutaśarman. Then Súryaprabha praised that great weapon, and entreated it not to kill Śrutaśarman, but to take him prisoner and hand him over to himself. Then all the gods speedily prepared for fight, and the other Asuras also, who had come to look on, did the same, being eager to conquer the gods. Then a Gaṇa named Vírabhadra, sent by Śiva, came and delivered this order of his to Indra and the other gods: “You came to look on, so what right have you to fight here? Moreover, your overstepping the bounds of propriety will produce other bad results.” When the gods heard that, they said—“All of us have sons here that have been slain, or are being slain, so how can we help fighting?7 Love for one’s offspring is a feeling hard to lay aside, so we must certainly revenge ourselves on their slayers to the utmost of our power; what impropriety is there in this?” When the gods said this, Vírabhadra departed, and a great fight took place between the gods and the Asuras: Sunítha fought with the two Aśvins, and Prajnáḍhya fought with the Moon, and Sthirabuddhi with the Vasus, and Kálachakra with Váyu, and Prakampana with Agni, and Sinhadanshṭra with Nirṛiti, and Pramathana with Varuṇa, and Dhúmraketu with Yama, and then Mahámáya fought with the god of wealth, and other Asuras8 at the same time fought with other gods, with missiles and opposing missiles. And finally, whatever mighty weapon any god sent forth, Śiva immediately destroyed with an angry roar. But the god of wealth, when his club was uplifted, was restrained by Śiva in a conciliatory manner, while various other gods, their weapons having been broken, fled from the field of battle. Then Indra himself, in wrath, attacked Súryaprabha, and let fly a storm of arrows at him and various other weapons. And Súryaprabha repelled those weapons with ease, and kept striking Indra with hundreds of arrows drawn back to the ear. Then the king of the gods, enraged, seized his thunderbolt, and Śiva made an angry noise and destroyed that thunderbolt. Then Indra turned his back and fled, and Náráyaṇa himself, in wrath, attacked Prabhása with sharp-edged9 arrows. And he fearlessly fought with him, opposing those and other missiles with his own missiles, and when his horses were slain, and he was deprived of his chariot, he ascended another, and still fought with that enemy of the Daityas on equal terms. Then the god enraged sent forth his flaming discus. And Prabhása sent forth a heavenly sword, after consecrating it with magic formulas. While those two weapons were contending, Śiva, seeing that the sword was gradually being overpowered by the discus, made an angry roar. That caused the discus and sword to be both destroyed. Then the Asuras rejoiced, and the gods were cast down, as Súryaprabha had obtained the victory, and Śrutaśarman was taken prisoner. Then the gods praised and propitiated Śiva, and the husband of Ambiká, being pleased, gave this command to the gods—“Ask any boon but that promised to Súryaprabha; who can set aside what has been once promised at a burnt-sacrifice?” The gods said—“But, Lord, let that also which we promised to Śrutaśarman be fulfilled, and let not our sons perish.” Then they ceased, and the Holy Lord thus commanded them, “When peace is made, let that be so, and this is the condition of peace;——let Śrutaśarman with all his retinue do homage to Súryaprabha. Then we will issue a decree which shall be for the weal of both.” The gods acquiesced in this decision of Śiva’s, and made Śrutaśarman do homage to Súryaprabha. Then they renounced their enmity and embraced one another, and the gods and Asuras also laid aside their enmity and made peace with one another. Then, in the hearing of the gods and Asuras, the holy Śiva said this to Súryaprabha: “You must rule yourself in the southern half-vedi, but the northern half-vedi give to Śrutaśarman. For you are destined, my son, soon to receive the fourfold sovereignty of all the sky-goers, Kinnaras and all. And when you receive this, as you will be in a distinguished position, you must also give the southern half-vedi to Śríkunjarakumára.” And as for the heroes slain on both sides in the battle, let them all rise up alive with unwounded limbs. After saying this, Śiva disappeared, and all those heroes, who were slain in that battle, rose up unwounded, as if they had awaked from sleep.