Thereupon, O king, that great and glorious Yajna was being celebrated according to proper rites. O descendant of Bharata, all the kings, invited by the intelligent Brahmadatta, arrived at the sacrificial ground. Jarāsandha, Shisupala, Dantavakra, the Pandavas, the sons of Dhritarāshtra, the Mālava and Tangana kings, Rukshmi, Ahvriti, Neela, Nārmada, Vinda, Anuvinda, Avantya, Shalya, Shakuni and other heroic, noble and warrior kings encamped near Shatpura (24–28). Seeing this the beautiful Nārada thought:—"At this Yajna all the Kshatryas and Yādavas have assembled. Surely this will lead to a conflict. I shall therefore try to bring it about." Thinking this he repaired to Nikumbha's house (29–30). He was worshipped there by Nikumbha and other Dānavas. Thereupon taking his seat the pious-souled Rishi said to Nikumbha:—"Having caused a dissension with the Yadavas how are you sitting here at ease? Do you not know that Brahmadatta is the friend of Krishna's father (31–32)? The five hundred wives of the intelligent Brahmadatta have been brought at the sacrificial ground for satisfying Vasudeva's son: of them two hundred are of Brāhmana origin, one hundred of Kshatrya origin, one hundred of Vaishya and another hundred of Sudra origin. O King, they had all worshipped the learned and pious Rishi Durvāsā who had conferred on them all a boon saying 'You will all, one by one, get a son and a daughter.' O heroic Asura, by virtue of this boon and on account of their intercourse with their husband they have all given birth to fair daughters. They are of matchless beauty, tender, ever youthful and chaste. From their body comes out the fragrance of all flowers (33–38). O Daitya, by virtue of the boon of that intelligent Rishi, they know the arts of singing and dancing, the accomplishments of the Apsaras; and they are all well accomplished (39). The sons, in their order, are observant of the duties attached to their respective orders. They are clever in interpreting the the sacred texts and are beautiful (40). O hero, the intelligent Brahmadatta had conferred almost all of those daughters on the leading Bhaimas. And for the remaining hundred whom you have stolen the Yādavas will fight to their very best. Therefore O hero, you invite in proper order the help of other kings (41–42). O Asuras, if you wish to keep in your possession Brahmadatta's daughters pray for the help of the highly powerful kings, giving them various jewels and treat all the kings who will come here as your guests." Thus addressed by Nārada the Asuras, with great delight, carried out his orders (43–44).
Having obtained various jewels and five hundred devoted maidens the kings divided them duly amongst themselves. Returning in a moment on the other hand the great Nārada prevented the heroic sons of Pandu and so they did not take any share in the distribution. Thereupon the leading kings, delighted, said to the Asuras:—"Formerly the Kshatriyas had been adored many times by celestial heroes like yourselves, capable of coursing in the sky and possessed of all the objects of pleasure. And even now they have been duly honored by you. What will they now give you in return" (45-48)?
Hearing it Nikumbha, the enemy of the celestials, was filled with joy. Describing the greatness and truthfulness of the Kshatriyas he said to them:—"O ye leading kings, we shall have to fight with our enemies to-day. We wish you may help us to the best of your power." O lord, hearing the words of Nikumbha all the sinful Kshatriyas, save the heroic sons of Pandu, who had learnt the truth from Nārada, said "So be it" (41–51).
O king, on the other side, recollecting the words of Mahādeva in his mind, the powerful Krishna set out with his army for Shatpura leaving Ahuka at Dwarakā. Having arrived at Shatpura with that army the Lord Vāsudeva, according to Vasudeva's orders, encamped at an advantageous site near the sacrificial ground for the well-being of the citizens. Making that encampment difficult of access with bushes the powerful and beautiful Krishna engaged Pradyumna in the work of patrolling (52–56).
CHAPTER CCXXXI. WAR BETWEEN KRISHNA AND ASURAS.
Vaishampāyana said:—Within a moment of the clear sun coming within the range of people's vision, Baladeva, Krishna and Satyaki delightedly got upon Garuda's back. Having bathed in the water of the sacred river Avarta, who had obtained a boon from Rudra and who by his words had been made holy like the Ganges, and having put on coats of mail, finger-protectors and armours, those heroes, desirous of fighting, worshipped the god Siva, the lord of bel leaves and water. At that time having placed Pradyumna above in front of the army, the Pandavas in charge of the Yajna and the remaining soldiers at the door of the cave, the Lord Krishna, the giver of honors and the refuge of the pious, thought of Jayanta and Pravara. O descendant of Bharata, they arrived there as soon as they were recollected. The Lord only could see them and they were kept above along with Pradyumna (1-6).
Thereupon at Krishna's mandate, war-bugles, Jalaja, Muraja and other musical instruments were sounded. O descendant of Bharata, Sāmva and Gada arranged the soldiers in the shape of a Makara. Shārana, Uddhava, Vaitarana of Bhoja's race, the virtuous Anādhrishti, Viprithu, Prithu, Kritavarmā, Sudangsthra, Vichakshu, the grinder of enemies, the pious Sanatkumar and Chārudeshna began to help Aniruddha and protect the rear of the army (7-10). O thou the glory of thy race, the remaining portion of the Yadava army, consisting of cars, elephants, horses and men, remained in battle-array. Adorned with crowns, head-gears, bracelets and other ornaments and armed with various weapons, the Dānavas too, dreadful in battle, came out of Shatpura, emitting a roar like the muttering of clouds, on asses, elephants, crocodiles, hares, horses, buffaloes, lions and tortoises. Many of their cars were drawn by those animals. O king, as the lord of gods issues out at the head of the celestial host so Nikumbha came out at the head of that Asura army setting up a noise like the muttering of clouds produced by the sound of trumpets, rattle of car wheels, and the blowing of conches (11-16). Sending up again and again shouts of various sorts and leonine roars the highly powerful Dānavas filled the earth and sky with them. O Janamejaya, the soldiers of the Chedi and other kings were bent upon assisting the Asuras with great care. O heroic king, amongst the followers of the Chedi king Shishupāla, the hundred brothers headed by Duryodhana stood there with their cars, making a great rattle and coursing quickly like unto the city of Gandharva. Making up their mind to fight and moving their beautiful bows like unto two palm trees Rukshmi and Ahvati joined them. With a view to fight with the Yadavas and acquire victory the king Bhagadatta, Shalya, Shakuni, Jarāsandha, Trigarta, Virāta, Uttara and the Asuras headed by Nikumbha got themselves ready for the encounter (17–22).
Thereupon when in battle Nikumbha began to assail the dreadful army of the Bhaimas with arrows like serpents, Anādhristhi, the commander-in-chief of the Yadu army, could not bear it. He too, with shafts, adorned with variegated feathers and whetted on stone, began to slay the enemy's army (23–24). At that time when everything was covered with arrows, Nikumbha, his chariot, standard and horses became invisible. Seeing it the heroic Nikumbha, the fore most of those possessed of illusive powers, was filled with anger. And he, by his illusive powers, startled the Bhaima chief Anādhristhi (25–26). Resorting to his illusive powers, bewildering Anadhristhi and bringing him to the cave named Shatpura the heroic Nikumbha imprisoned him there. And returning again to the battle-field, he, by his illusive powers, took there Kritavarmā, Chārudeshna, Vaitarana of Bhoja's race, Sanatkumār, Jāmvavati’s son Arksha, Nishatha, Ulmuku and numerous other Yādavas (27–29). O king, when he led the Yadavas to the dreadful cave of Shatpura he so covered himself by his illusive powers that no body could see him. Beholding that fearful onslaught of the Bhaimas the Lord Krishna, Baladeva, Sātyaki, Sāmva, the slayer of inimical heroes, the irrepressible Aniruddha and numerous other Bhaimas, especially Pradyumna, were greatly filled with anger (30-32).
Thereupon, O king, setting string to his Srānga bow and shooting arrows the holder of the Srānga (Krishna) began to move about amongst the Dānavas as the god of fire ranges on grass (33). Seeing him, taking up thousands of Sataghnis, Parighas, fiery lances, burning axes, dreadful rocks, and huge stones and throwing up infuriated elephants, cars and horses the Danavas ran towards the effulgent god as the locusts, drawn by the noose of Death, run towards the burning fire. However, O hero, Narayana-fire consumed all those things. And smiling the highly effulgent Yadu chief, the slayer of his enemies and the benefactor of the world, baffled them all with the fire of his arrows. And as a bull suffers the downpour of rain in the autumn so he bore the shower of their arrows. In this way, when the battle continued for some time the Asuras could not withstand the arrows shot off Nārāyan's bow as a sandy bridge cannot stand showers (34–39). O descendant of Bharata, as the bulls cannot stand before the five-mouthed god Siva with his mouths wide open so the Asuras could not stand before Krishna (40).
O Janamejaya, while thus slain by Nārāyana Krishna the Asuras, stricken with fear, rose up into the sky. O Lord, as soon as they rose up into the sky Jayanta and Pravara killed them all with arrows burning like fire (41–42). At that time the heads of the Asuras, fell down on earth like palm fruits from the tree (43). Like five headed serpents killed by Time the arms of the Daityas dropped on the surface of the earth (44). Having created another dreadful illusory cave for the destruction of the Kshatriyas the heroic and virtuous son of Rukshmini imperceptibly came out by the route by which Gada, Shārana, Shatha, Shāmva and other heroes had entered there. As soon he came out the powerful son of Krishna began to assail Nikumbha, although careful, who was ranging hither and thither in front of the battle-field (45–47). Thereupon, O king, resounding the cave with his leonine shouts he said to the king Duryodhana, Virat, Drupada, Shakuni, Shalya, Neela, Bhishma, Vinda, Anuvinda, Jarāsandha, the kings of Trigarta and Mālava, the highly powerful Vāsālyas, Dhristadyumna and other princes of the Panchala country, conversant with the use of arms, Ahvriti, his uncle Rukshmi, emperor Shishupala, and Bhagadatta:—"O kings, in consideration of your superior position and relationship with me I am not throwing you into this dreadful cave. Even the intelligent, trident-handed God of bel leaves and water has ordered me to throw you all into this cave. I shall exert my best to release the Yādavas who have been imprisoned by the highly powerful Nikumbha resorting to his Shamvari Māyā (48–54)".