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VĀSUPUJYACARITRA
81
kingdom? Now he seeks horses, elephants, et cetera, from us by strength of arm. We shall certainly seek them from him by strength of arm. Go right now, messenger ! Know that we have arrived there to take horses, elephants, et cetera, together with his head, from your master."
The battle (241-275) Offended at hearing this proud, caustic speech of Dviprştha, he went quickly to Tāraka and reported. Angered by Vişņu's speech, when it was heard, like a rutting elephant by the odor of another elephant, Tāraka had the marching-drum beaten. At once soldiers, generals, vassals, ministers, crowned kings, and warriors with chariots, their arms itching with power, seeking battle after a long time, like relatives of Yama, approached the king. Then Tāraka set out, unfavorable results being strongly indicated by shaking of the earth, flashes of lightning, cawing of Crows, etc. Inflamed by anger, the Ardhacakrabhrt quickly traversed half the road, though it was very long, with uninterrupted marches.
Dviprstha, together with Brahmā, Vijaya, and an army, came there in front of him, eager to challenge, like a lion. The soldiers of both sides armed themselves with difficulty, all the meshes of their chain-armor bursting repeatedly from the swelling of their bodies. A mutual attack took place, the cause of great slaughter, like a huge kitchen for a meal for Death. Umbrella-ed heads 112 fell by lacs on both sides. Not even the number of other soldiers who fell was known. The battle-field became a pleasurepool of Yama, as it were, which had white lotuses made from the umbrellas and was filled with water from blood.
Then Dviprştha got into his chariot Jaitra and blew Pāñcajanya whose sound resembled a charm for summoning victory in battle. Tāraka's soldiers trembled at the loud noise from Pāñcajanya, like deer at a lion's roar, like
112 250. I.e., persons of rank entitled to an umbrella.
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