Volume 2 / Book 8 — Chapter L.

Then first Mahotpáta silenced the arrows of Siddhártha with his arrows, and after cleaving his bow, slew his horses and charioteer. Siddhártha, though deprived of his chariot, charged him angrily, and with a large iron mace broke in pieces his chariot and horses. Then Siddhártha fought on foot with Mahotpáta also on foot, and in a wrestling-bout hurled him to the ground. But while he was trying to crush him, that Vidyádhara was delivered by his father Bhaga, and flying up into the air left the battle-field. And Prahasta and Brahmagupta destroyed one another’s chariots, and then fought with swords, shewing various arts of fence; and Prahasta cleft his foe’s shield in the course of their sword-play, and with a dexterous sleight laid him low on the earth; but when he was about to cut off his head, as he lay on the ground, he was forbidden by his father Brahmá himself by a sign from a distance; then all the Dánavas laughed the gods to scorn, saying, “You gods have come to save your sons, not to behold the fray.” In the meanwhile Vítabhaya, after cutting in two the bow of Sankrama, and slaying his charioteer, slew him by piercing his heart with the weapon of Káma. And Prajnáḍhya, fighting on foot with Chandragupta, sword to sword, after both their chariots had been destroyed, killed him by cutting off his head. Then the Moon, angry at the death of his son, himself came and fought with Prajnáḍhya, and the two combatants were evenly matched. And Priyankara, who had lost his chariot, fighting with Ákrama, who had also had his chariot destroyed, cut him in two with one blow of his sword. And Sarvadamana easily killed Atibala in fight, for when his bow was cleft, he threw his elephant-hook and smote him in the heart.

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And in the meanwhile a conflict went on between Prabhása and Dámodara, terrible from its unceasing exchange of missiles. Then Dámodara, though his bow was cleft asunder, and his charioteer slain, took another bow and fought on, holding the reins in his own hands. And when Brahmá applauded him, Indra said to him, “Revered one, why are you pleased with one who is getting the worst of it?” Then Brahmá answered him,—“How can I help being pleased with one, who fights for so long with this Prabhása? Who but Dámodara, who is a portion of Hari, would do this? For all the gods would be a scant match for Prabhása in fight. For that Asura Namuchi, who was so hard for the gods to subdue, and who was then born again as Prabala, one entire and perfect jewel, has now been born as the invincible Prabhása son of Bhása, and Bhása too was in a former birth the great Asura Kálanemi, who afterwards became Hiraṇyakaśipu and then Kapinjala. And Súryaprabha is the Asura who was called Sumuṇḍíka. And the Asura who was before called Hiraṇyáksha is now this Sunítha. And as for Prahasta and others, they are all Daityas and Dánavas; and since the Asuras slain by you have been born again in these forms, the other Asuras, Maya and others, have espoused their cause. And see, Bali has come here to look on, for his bonds have been broken by virtue of the great sacrifice to Śiva, duly performed by Súryaprabha and the others, but keeping his promise faithfully, he remains content with the realm of Pátála until your allotted period of rule is at an end, and then he will be Indra. These are now favoured by Śiva, so it is not now a time of victory for you, make peace with your foes.” While Brahmá was saying this to the king of the gods, Prabhása sent forth the great weapon of Śiva. When Vishṇu saw that terrible all-destroying weapon let loose, he also sent forth, out of regard for his son, his discus called Sudarśana. Then there took place between those divine weapons, which had assumed visible shapes, a struggle which made the three worlds dread a sudden destruction of all creatures. Then Hari said to Prabhása—“Recall your weapon and I will recall mine,” and Prabhása answered him,—“My weapon cannot be launched in vain, so let Dámodara turn his back, and retire from the fight, and then I will recall my weapon.” When Prabhása said that, Vishṇu answered—“Then do you also honour my discus, let not either of these weapons be fruitless.” When Vishṇu said this, Prabhása who possessed tact, said “So be it, let this discus of thine destroy my chariot.” Vishṇu agreed, and made Dámodara retire from the fight, and Prabhása withdrew his weapon, and the discus fell on his chariot. Then he mounted another chariot and went to Súryaprabha, and then Dámodara, for his part, repaired to Śrutaśarman.

Then Súryaprabha, the tamer of his foes, intent on observing the command of Śiva, went to a remote extensive plain, and sitting in full court, himself made Śrutaśarman, who came to him, sit down on half of his throne. And his companions, headed by Prabhása, and Śrutaśarman’s companions, headed by Dámodara, sat at the side of the two princes. And Sunítha and Maya, and the other Dánavas, and the kings of the Vidyádharas too sat on seats in order of precedence. Then the Daityas, who were kings of the seven Pátálas, headed by Prahláda, and the kings of the Dánavas came there out of joy. And Indra came with the Lokapálas, preceded by Vṛihaspati, and the Vidyádhara Sumeru with Suvásakumára. And all the wives of Kaśyapa came, headed by Danu, and the wives of Súryaprabha in the chariot Bhútásana. When they had all sat down, after shewing one another affection, and going through the prescribed courtesies, a friend of Danu’s, named Siddhi, spoke to them as from her: “O gods and Asuras, the goddess Danu says this to you—‘Say, if you have ever felt before the joy and satisfaction which we all feel in this friendly meeting! so you ought not to wage against one another war, which is terrible on account of the sorrow it produces. Hiraṇyáksha and those other elder Asuras, who waged it to obtain the empire of heaven, have passed away, and Indra is now the eldest, so what cause is there for enmity?

“‘So let your mutual antagonism drop, and be happy, in order that I may be pleased, and the prosperity of the worlds may be ensured.’” When they had heard this address of the revered Danu, uttered by the mouth of Siddhi, Vṛihaspati, Indra having looked him in the face, said to her—“The gods entertain no design against the Asuras, and are willing to be friends with them, unless they display a treacherous animosity against the gods.” When the preceptor of the gods said this, Maya the king of the Dánavas said—“If the Asuras entertained any animosity, how could Namuchi have given to Indra the horse Uchchhaiḥśravas that resuscitates the dead? And how could Prabala have given his own body to the gods? And how could Bali have given the three worlds to Vishṇu, and himself have gone to prison? Or how could Ayodeha have given his own body to Viśvakarman? What more shall I say? The Asuras are ever generous, and if they are not treacherously injured, they cherish no animosity.” When the Asura Maya had said this, Siddhi made a speech, which induced the gods and Asuras to make peace and embrace one another.

Then the wedding being over, Sumeru said to all present; “Gods, Asuras, Vidyádharas, mothers of the gods, and all. To-day all of you must eat in my house, you must do me this honour, I entreat you with palms folded above my head.” They all were inclined to refuse Sumeru’s invitation, but in the meanwhile Nandin arrived; he said to them, who bowed humbly before him, “Śiva commands you to feast in the house of Sumeru, for he is the god’s servant, and if you eat his food, you will be satisfied for ever.” All of them, when they heard this from Nandin, agreed to it. Then there came there innumerable Gaṇas sent by Śiva, under the leadership of Vináyaka, Mahákála, Vírabhadra and others. They prepared a place fit for dining, and caused the guests to sit down in order, gods, Vidyádharas and men. And the divine beings Vírabhadra, Mahákála, Bhṛingin and others, ministered to them viands produced by Sumeru by magic, and others supplied by the cow Kámadhenu ordered to do so by Śiva, and they waited upon every single guest according to his rank, and then there was a concert, charming on account of the dancing of heavenly nymphs, and in which the bards of the Vidyádharas kept continually joining out of delight. And at the end of the feast, Nandin and the others gave them all celestial garlands, robes, and ornaments. After they had thus honoured the gods and others, all the chiefs of the Gaṇas, Nandin and the others, departed with all the Gaṇas as they had come. Then all the gods and Asuras, and those mothers of theirs, and Śrutaśarman and his followers took leave of Sumeru, and went each to his own place. But Súryaprabha and his wife, accompanied by all his former wives, went in the chariot first to that ascetic grove of Sumeru. And he sent his companion Harsha to announce his success to the kings and to his brother Ratnaprabha. And at the close of day he entered the private apartments of his wife Kámachúḍámaṇi, in which were splendid jewelled couches, and which were admirably built. There he flattered her by saying to her, “Now other women dwell outside of me, but you alone live in my heart.” Then the night and his sleep gradually came to an end.

And in the morning Súryaprabha got up, and went and paid compliments to his head-wives, who were all together. And while they were rejecting him, as being in love with a new wife, with playfully sarcastic, sweet, affectionate, and bashful turns of speech, a Vidyádhara named Sushena came, announced by the warder, and after doing homage, said to that triumphant king—“Your highness, I have been sent here by all the princes of the Vidyádharas, the lord of Trikúṭa and others, and they make this representation to your highness—‘It is auspicious that your coronation should take place on the third day at the mountain Ṛishabha, let this be announced to all, and let the necessary preparations be made.’” When Súryaprabha heard that, he answered the ambassador—“Go, and say to the king of Trikúṭa and the other Vidyádharas from me—‘Let your honours begin the preparations, and say yourselves what further is to be done; I for my part am ready. But I will announce the day to all, as is fitting.’” Then Sushena departed, taking with him this answer. But Súryaprabha sent off his friends Prabhása and the others, one by one, to invite all the gods, and the hermits, Yájnavalkya and others, and the kings, and the Vidyádharas, and the Asuras to the great festival of his coronation.

“Thus by virtue of the favour of Śiva, Súryaprabha, though a man, obtained of yore the empire of the Vidyádharas.”

Having told this story in the presence of the king of Vatsa, and having bowed before Naraváhanadatta, Vajraprabha, the king of the Vidyádharas, ascended to heaven. And after he had gone, that hero, king Naraváhanadatta, together with his queen Madanamanchuká, remained in the house of his father the king of Vatsa, waiting to obtain the rank of emperor of the Vidyádharas.