Trishasti Shalaka Purusa Caritra Part 3

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

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CHAPTER ONE
Triprstha a divine bow named Śārnga, a club Kaumodaki, a conch Pāñcajanya, and a jewel named Kaustubha, a sword Nandaka, and a garland Vanamålā. They gave Balabhadra a plough named Sarivartaka, a pestle named Saumanda, and a club named Candrikā.
When they had seen these, all the other heroes, united, fought with their whole souls, like sons of Antaka. Triprstha made the jewel of a conch, Pāñcajanya, by which the sky was filled with noise, play the prologue of the play which was taking place. Hayakandhara's soldiers trembled at its noise which was like the thunder of the Puskaravārtaka clouds at the end of the world. Of some the weapons fell like leaves from trees; others fell to the ground themselves, as if they had epilepsy. Some disappeared quickly like timid jackals; some shut their eyes and cowered like hares. Some entered caves, like owls; some shrieked like conches out of water. When he heard of this collapse of his army, as unheard of as the drying up of the ocean, Hayagriva said to his men:
"O wretched Vidyadharas, where are you going, terrified just at the sound of a conch, like deer, et cetera, in a forest at the bellow of a bull? What power of Triprstha or Acala have you seen that you are terrified like cattle at the sight of a scarecrow? The glory that was gained by victory in various battles you have destroyed. A drop of collyrium is sufficient to destroy the beauty of a clean white cloth. Go back! Verily, this stumbling of yours has come by fate. What inhabitants of the earth are superior to you who are inhabitants of the sky? Or rather, do not fight. Be only witnesses. I, Hayagrīva, certainly am not asking for assistance in battle.”
Addressed in these terms by Hayakantha, their heads bowed, overcome by shame, the Vidyādharas turned back like the ocean that has beaten against a mountain. Then Hayagriva, unconfused, set out in his chariot, like another cruel planet with the sky for a vehicle, to devour his enemies. Like a curious missile-cloud, he rained arrows,