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22
USĀŅIRUDDHA
reached Bali's metropolis; and the town of śoṇita was completely besieged to the great confusion of the citizens there (ii.16-21). Hara was encouraged by his attendants and began the battle, at the gate, being completely equipped with his bow, etc. He frowned with anger, mounted the bull, and marched on with his followers against the oceanic army of Yādavas (ii.22-9). There ensued a terrific battle between Pradyumna and Kārtikeya (ii.30-2).
Bāna came to the field of action, but his arrows were soon overpowered by those of the enemy (ii.33-4). Iśvara occupied himself in a severe arrow-to-arrow fight against Janārdana, and it was an engrossing sight for gods. The Windmissile discharged by Krsna was swallowed by the serpents in the matted hair of Isvara, while the Serpent-missile of the latter was smashed by the chariot of the former. The Firemissile of Krsna was cooled down by the water of the Ganges on the head of Isvara, while the Darkness-missile of the latter was overpowered by the brilliance of Krsna's disc. The fire from Iśvara's eyes consumed the Water-missile of Kęsna who then discharged his Swoon-missile that brought a temporary faint on Iśvara and made all his followers flee from the field (ii.35-44). Finding that his elephant was crushed by Balarāma, Bāna rushed against Krsna but had his weapons destroyed one after the other and was made delirious. Kotřavī, the mother of Bāna, intervened; so Krsna had to return, and Bāņa went home (ii.45-51). When Iśvara sent forth a distressing demon, Three-headed Fever, Krsna immediately reacted it by another demon, a counter Fever of Four-arms (ii.52-8).
[Both the Fevers tried to overpower each other, but at last īśvara's Fever was overpowered by that of Kļšņa. With all
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