Trishasti Shalaka Purusa Caritra Part 3

Author(s): Hemchandracharya, Helen M Johnson
Publisher: Oriental Research Institute Vadodra

Page 66

ŚREYAŃSANĀTHACARITRA
37
and still another, the brother-in-law of his father,58 shameless from their relationship, seek a fight with me, like jackals seeking a quarrel.54 Go! Scatter them, like winds scattering clouds, like tigers scattering deer, like lions scattering elephants."
The battle (524-671)
Then all the Vidyadharas, their arms itching for battle, were delighted at the master's command, like thirsty people by water. Strong-armed, each one making a vow to fight, splitting the sky, as it were, by noise made by slaps on their arms, saying, "I hope no one else, either friend or foe, gets ahead of me from eagerness to fight," hurrying past each other, beating their horses with whips; urging elephants with the yatas;55 driving oxen with goads; striking camels with sticks; making sharp swords dance; banging shields frequently; fastening on quivers; making bow-strings resound; whirling hammers; shaking large clubs; brandishing tridents, and taking iron bludgeons, the soldiers of Aśvagrīva rushed to the attack, some through the air and some by the ground from eagerness, and arrived at Potanapura.
Hearing their confused murmur from afar, Jvalanajațin said to Prajapati who was bewildered and asked, "What is this?" "These soldiers come here, certainly sent by Hayagriva. Let them come. You see my eagerness. Do not let Tripṛṣṭha, do not let Acala fight with them ahead of me." Ardently he made preparations and set out for battle. The soldiers of Asvagrīva attacked him simultaneously with anger. For anger is especially severe with one's friends when they have become enemies. Jvalanajațin without exception struck down their weapons with weapons, just as one refutes general rules by exceptions. He attacked them all with showers of sharp arrows, like
58 522. Acala, the full brother of Mṛgāvati.
See Appendix I.
54 522. 55 527.
Voice, foot, and goad. See I, p. 99.