Philosophy and Religion / Harivamsa

Harivaṃśa

184. Kārtikeya goes to the battle-field

JANAMEJAYA said:—After the high-souled Krishna and Rudra had retired from the battle-field, how did the hair stirring battle of the enemies continue (1)?

VAISHAMPAYANA said:—Stationed on the car brought by Kumbhānda, Guha (Kārtikeya) drove towards Krishna, Baladeva and Pradyumna and struck them with hundreds of dreadful and sharpened arrows.

Bathed in blood those three gods, like unto three fires, fought with Kumara (2–4).

After those heroes, expert in fighting, had struck Kumāra with three weapons given by Wind-God, Fire-God and Indra he, too, with three weapons, counteracted them and struck the Yādavas with three other weapons, namely Shaila, Vāruna and Sāvitri.

They however, devoured, by virtue of their illusory powers, all the weapons shot by the great Kumāra, the holder of burning bow and shaft.

Then the highly powerful Guha, burning in effulgence and biting his lips, took up the dreadful weapon Brahmashira like unto the Destroyer himself (5-8).

When the highly dreadful weapon Brahmashira, endued with the effulgence of a thousand suns and destructive of the world, was discharged by Kumāra the creatures lost their consciousness through its warmth and fled away on all sides and the whole universe bewailed.

Seeing it the powerful Keshava, the slayer of Keshi, took up his discus the destroyer and counteractor of all weapons. As in the rainy season the clouds cover the rays of the sun, so that discus, of the high-souled Keshava, clouded, with its lustre, that of Brahmashira weapon (9-12).

When that Brahmashira weapon was shorn of its lustre, power and energy, Guha, with his eyes reddened in anger, was worked up like fire to which oblation of clarified butter is offered.

He then took up a dreadful burning, golden Sakti of sure aim, destructive of enemies and creating terror in all creatures.

He then discharged, in anger, that celestial burning Sakti set with bells, effulgent like a fire-brand and resembling the fire of dissolution (13–15).

He then set up a powerful shout which struck terror unto his enemies. When that Sakti was discharged by the high-souled Guha, it went up into the sky, yawned and moved about with great force as if desirous of slaying Krishna.

Beholding that burning Sakti the gods and their king were greatly depressed and said-‘‘Perhaps Krishna will be consumed.”

However as soon as that great Sakti appeared before him in that great battle the highly powerful Mādhava shouted and as if remonstrating struck it down on the ground.

When that great Sakti was struck down there arose from all sides exclamations “Well done! well done!” And Vāsava together with the celestials sent up a leonine shout.

When the gods were thus roaring the powerful Vāsudeva took up his discus for killing the Daityas (16–21).

When Krishna, of incomparable energy, was about to discharge his discus, the beautiful Kottavi, at the mandate of Mahādeva, came there naked for protecting Kumāra.

The eighth portion of the goddess, Lamvā, intervened between them like a beautiful golden Sakti. Seeing the goddess stand before Kumāra the large-armed Krishna was baffled and said:—

“Oh fie on you? Fly away soon from this place; why do you throw obstacles in the way of certain destruction” (22–25)?

VAISHAMPAYANA said:—Hearing even those words of the mighty-armed Krishna Kottavi did not put on her cloth
for protecting Kumāra (26).

THE LORD said:—“Take Guha with you and fly away soon from the battle-field. It will be well for us to-day, if you do this. Or else if I refrain from fighting he will fight with me” (27).

Thereupon beholding that naked goddess in the battle-field the divine younger brother of Vāsava the Lord Hari put away his discus.

Hearing those words of the intelligent Mādhava, the god of gods, the goddess brought Guha before Hara. Then when the great danger took place and Guha was protected by the goddess, Vāna came to that place.

When he saw Guha realeased from Krishna’s discus and retire from the battle-field he felt an inclination for fighting himself with Mādhava (28–31).

Thereupon bewildered the ghosts, Yakshas and Vāna's soldiers fled away on all sides. Of that broken army only Pramathas remained there. And with them the great Asura soon marched for the battle-field.

As the weilder of thunderbolt proceeds in the company of the leading celestials so Vāna went out with highly dreadful, powerful, energetic and great Daitya commanders.

Thereupon chanting the destruction of his enemies his priests and other elderly persons, well read in Srutis, performed benedictory ceremonies, on behalf of the high-souled Vāna with Mantras, recitation and herbs (32–37).

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