Thereupon seeing Vāna's city from a distance Nārada said "Behold, O large-armed Krishna, there is the city of Shonita. For protecting Vāna and for his well-being Kārtikeya and the highly effulgent Rudra with his consort always live there." Hearing the words of Nārada, Krishna smilingly said:—"Hear and understand what I say O great Muni. If Rudra himself comes to the battle-field for protecting Vāna we will also fight with him to our best." While Krishna and Nārada were thus conversing the quick-coursing Garuda at once took them to the city of Vāna. Then the lotus-eyed and cloud-like Keshava blew his moon-like conch-shell. Blowing that conch and creating terror in Vāna of wonderful deeds the powerful Mādhava entered into his city. Seeing them thus enter Vāna's soldiers got themselves ready for action sounding bugles and conch shells. Millions of paid soldiers, holding effulgent weapons, marched out to the battle-field. Those innumerable soldiers, of incomparable prowess, united, looked like huge black clouds.
Afterwards the Daityas, Dānavas and the leading Pramathas, with various burning weapons, began to fight with the eternal Krishna. When Krishna, Sangkarshana, Pradyumna and Garuda began to fight Yakshas, Rakshasas and Pannagas, irrepressible like burning fire, came from all sides, with their mouths wide open, to the battle-field for drinking blood. Beholding Vāna's army the highly powerful Balabhadra said to Krishna, the slayer of hostile armies:—"O large-armed Krishna, do that by which these soldiers may be completely terror-stricken." Thus addressed by the intelligent Balabhadra Purusottama Krishna, the foremost of the masters of weapons, took up fiery weapons dreadful like Death. Grinding the Asuras and birds of prey with those weapons Janārddana speedily went where the soldiers were seen. Standing on the ground in numberless detachments that Asura army, consisting mainly of Pramathas, holding darts, Pattiças, Saktis, Rishthis, Pinākas and Parighas, and having many dreadful beasts of burdens huge like mountains and clouds, appeared like clouds scattered by the wind. And many bow-men increased the beauty of that show. Running hither and thither with maces, darts, swords, clubs and Parighas that innumerable Asura host increased the beauty of the battle-field. Thereupon the beautiful Sangkarshana, seated on Garuda's back, said to Krishna, the slayer of Madhu:—"O large-armed Krishna, O Purusottama, I wish to fight with this Asura host." Hearing it Krishna said: (41-61). "I too feel the same inclination. I wish to fight in the battle-field with these leading warriors. When I will fight with my face towards the west Suparna will stand before me. Pradyumna will stand on my left side and you will stand on my right. In this dreadful fight we will all protect one another (62–63)."
CHAPTER CCLXX. KRISHNA'S BATTLE WITH JVARA (FEVER).
Vaishampāyana said:—Thus conversing with one another they, holding mace, club and ploughshare respectively huge like mountain summits, rode Garuda the foremost of birds. Thereupon, O Janamejaya, when Rohini's son engaged in the battle his form grew dreadful like Kāla, as if desirous of consuming all, at the end of a cycle. Ranging in the battle-field the highly powerful Baladeva, expert in fighting, drew the enemies with his plough-share and grinded them with his mace. The highly powerful Pradyumna, the foremost of men, thwarted the fighting Dānavas with his arrows. Blowing his conch-shell Janārddana, the holder of conch-shell, discus and club, resembling a mass of collyrium, fought in many ways. Having struck the Daityas with his wings and mutilated them with his nails and beak the intelligent son of Vinata despatched them to the abode of Yāma. Thus assailed with a downpour of arrows and overpowered by those four heroes the dreadful army of the Asuras fled away from the battle-field (64–70). Beholding his army thus routed and with a view to protect them Rudra's follower, Jvara, came walking to the battle-field sighing again and again like a maniac. He had three legs, three heads, six arms, nine faces and a consuming weapon and was like Yama himself. He roared like thousands of muttering clouds, sighed and yawned repeatedly, was dozing, had his hairs erect and eyes filthy. Having made his face more terrible with his eyes he, in anger, said to the holder of plough-share:—(71–74). "Why are you elated with the pride of your strength? Do you not see that I have come to the battle-field? Wait a few moments. While you have come before me in the battle-field you will not return with your life." Saying this, smiling and showing his fist dreadful like the fire of dissolution Jvara ran towards Halāyudha (75–76). Rohini's son however began to move about so quickly in thousands of circular ways that Jvara could not find an opportunity. Then aiming at his body huge like a mountain Jvara, of incomparable energy, hurled his consuming weapon which fell on his breast. Dropping on the summit of the mount Sumeru from Rāma's breast that burning weapon shattered it into pieces. Krishna's elder brother was however being consumed by the remnant that was left on his breast. Sighing and yawning every moment he began to move about recklessly. His eyes were dilated, hairs stood erect and all his senses were bewildered. He began to sigh like a maniac. Thereupon almost losing consciousness Haladhara said to Krishna:—"O Krishna, O large-armed Krishna, O thou the giver of protection, I am being consumed, nay I am being consumed completely. How shall I be saved?" Thus addressed by the highly powerful Bala Krishna, the foremost of strikers, smilingly said:—"No fear." Saying this he embraced Halāyudha (77–84). He was then saved by loving Krishna from being burnt. Having saved Rāma from being consumed the slayer of Madhu, Vasudeva, highly angered, said to Jvara:—"O Jvara, come and fight with me. Show to me the extent of your strength and power in this battle". Thus addressed the highly powerful Jvara, with his right hand, discharged his great burning weapon on Krishna's body. At this the powerful Krishna, the foremost of strikers, experienced a burning sensation for a few moments. Immediately after the fire was put out. Thereupon Jvara, with his serpent-like long arms, struck Krishna on the neck and then dealt a blow on his breast. Thus there took place a great encounter, in the battle-field, between Jvara and the highly energetic Krishna the foremost of men. The sound of the stricking of arms caused by Krishna and Jvara in that highly dreadful battle was like that of a thunder striking a mountain summit. Occasionally was heard "Do not strike in this way: you should do it in this way." In that great battle those two highly powerful ones so fought for a moment, that Lord of the Universe, under the guise of a man, thinking that he would come to an end, grinded the sky-ranging Jvara adorned with golden ornaments with his arms (85-93).
CHAPTER CCLXXI. KRISHNA'S BOON TO JVARA.
Vaishampāyana said:—Considering Jvara, assailed with his arms, dead Krishna, the slayer of enemies, threw him down on the surface of the earth. Released from his arms, Jvara, of incomparable energy, did not leave Krishna's body but entered into it. Possessed by Jvara (fever) of incomparable energy Krishna had his movements slackened and repeatedly supported himself by touching the ground. He was possessed by sleep, his steps were slackened and his hairs stood erect. He repeatedly sighed and yawned. Thus possessed by weakness and yawning repeatedly the great Yogin Krishna, the victor of the enemy's cities, regained his natural state after a long time (1-5).
Thereupon knowing himself possessed by Jvara Purosottama created another for its destruction. With his energy, the energetic Janārddana, of dreadful power, created a dreadful Jvara, highly terrible unto creatures. Catching hold, by force, of the former Jvara the one, created by Krishna, presented it before him. Having thus driven out that Jvara from his body through one created by him the highly powerful and angry Vāsudeva struck him down on the ground and was about to tear him into pieces. Thereat Jvara, bewildered, said "O Janārddana, it behoveth thee to protect me." However while Krishna, of incomparable energy, was about to strike that Jvara on the ground an invisible voice was heard in the sky:—"O Krishna, O large-armed Krishna, the enhancer of the delight of the Yādavas, do not kill this Jvara. O sinless one, he is worthy of being protected by thee" (5–12). Thus addressed Hari, the lord of the past, future and present and the great preceptor of the world let Jvara off. Thereupon prostrating himself with bent head at Hrishikesha's feet Jvara said:—"O descendant of Yadu, O Govinda, hear what I have to submit unto thee. Hear, O large-armed deity, what I have got in my mind and do thou accomplish it. O lord, I pray from thee for this boon only that I may be the only Jvara in this world and no one else may flourish." The lord said:—"It is proper to confer a boon on one who prays for it. Besides you have sought my protection. May you fare well therefore, O Jvara. You will have what you are praying for. As before you will be the only Jvara. May he, whom I have created, dissolve in me" (13–18).
Vaishampāyana said:—Having said this the highly illustrious Krishna, the foremost of strikers, again spoke to Jvara:—"Hear, how you will range in the world, having spread yourself amongst the entire creation mobile and immobile. If you seek my pleasure divide yourself into three parts. With one do you possess the four-legged animals, with the second the immobile objects and with the third the human beings. And with the fourth portion of your third part you will always live in the midst of the birds. Dividing yourself into four parts namely appearing every day, after two days, three days and four days you are to live amongst mankind. Hear how you are to live amongst other creatures. In trees you will live in the shape of an insect and the disease that withers up the leaves and turns them pale; in the fruits you will live like Aturya disease; in the lotuses like frost, in the earth like a desert, in the water like Neelikā (a plant), in the peacocks like the growing of the tuft, in the mountain like mineral and in the cows like Khoraka or a cow-disease; you will live on earth under these numerous forms. With your very view and touch the animals will be shorn of their lives. Only gods and men will be able to withstand you" (19-28).
Vaishampāyana said:—Hearing the words of Krishna Jvara was delighted and with folded hands saluted him and said:—"O Mādhava, blessed I am for thy giving me soverignty over all creatures and objects. O Purusottama I wish now to carry out any other order of yours. O large-armed Govinda, order me what I am to do. Formerly I had been created by Hara the slayer of Tripura and of other animals. Now vanquished by thee in battle I have become thy servant. Thou art now my master (29–32)".
Vaishampāyana said:—Hearing the words of Jvara Vasudeva said:—"Hear, what resolution I cherish at heart." Jvara said:—"O holder of discus, I have been favoured and blessed with what good thou hast done for me. Order me, what what pleasure of thine I may carry out." The lord said:—"O Jvara, the man, who having saluted me, will attentively read this account of prowess displayed only by our arms in the great battle, will be freed from fever." Thus addressed by Krishna, the foremost of Yadus, the highly powerful Jvara said:—"So be it." Having thus obtained the boon and promised, Jvara, saluting Krishna, left the battle-field (33–37).