Vaishampāyana said:—Once on a time influenced by the Lord's Māyā all the winged mountains, the upholders of the Earth, left it. Thereupon coming to the eastern quarter they dropped into the abode of the Asuras governed by Hiranyaksha as the elephants are drowned into a lake. They then asked the Asuras about the sovereignty over the celestial region. (They said) "Although born after you the gods have acquired the sovereignty: you are not kings although you are born first." Hearing those words the Asuras made most excellent preparations (1–3). And setting their mind upon possessing the earth they took recourse to their incomparable wily understanding. The Asuras, of dreadful prowess, took up various weapons, such as, discus, thunder-bolt, sword, Bhushundi, bow, noose, Prāsa, Sakti, Mushala and club. Some, accoutered in coats of mail, rode upon infuriated elephants. Some great car-warriors drove chariots drawn by horses. Some rode on horses, some, depending on the strength of their own arma, rode on camels, some on bulls, some on buffaloes, some on asses and others proceeded on foot. The soldiers, desirous of fighting, issued out delightedly encircling Hiranyakasha (4–8).
Thereupon, hearing of the preparations made by the Daityas for battle the celestials, headed by Purandara, made also most excellent arrangements. Encircled by their four-fold army they were accoutered in coats of mail and finger-protectors and took up quivers and bows. Stationed in the midst of the army, the celestials, holding fierce weapons, followed Purandara who was seated on the Airāvata. Thereupon excited with blare of bugles and sound of trumpets Hiranyaksha encountered the king of gods. He covered Vāsava with sharpened axes, Nishtringshas, clubs, Tomaras, Saktis, Mushalas and Pattiças. Thereupon there took place a highly dreadful shower of arrows. With sharpened axes, iron swords, clubs, Kshepanis, stones, Satagnis and other weapons the remaining Daityas struck Vāsava and other gods. Beholding Hiramyaksha, having smoky hairs, yellow bears, holding various weapons, having the colour of dark evening clouds, wearing a most excellent crown, dark-blue and yellow raiments, having arms extending up to knees and adorned with Vaidurya made ornaments, stand before the Asura army like unto dreadful Death at the time of the universal dissolution, Vāsava and all the celestials were greatly pained (9-21).
Beholding Hiranyaksha proceed like the moveable mountain Mahendra the gods, who took up bows and arrows, stood in the battle-field with Purandara before them, filled with anxiety. That Daitya army, lighted up with the lustre of golden armours, stood there like the autumnal sky set with stars. They felled one another; some, desisting from duel fight, broke their own arms. Some had their limbs shattered with clubs and some had their breasts wounded with arrows. Some fell down and some were thrown down whirling. Some broke down cars and some were crushed down by them. And some cars could not move on in the thick of the fight. That battle, like unto an unfair day, covered with Dānava-like huge clouds and lightings, in the shape of celestial weapons, shone there with the downpour of arrows caused by both the armies. Worked up with anger the highly effulgent and powerful son of Diti, Hiranyaksha increased himself like unto an ocean on the occasion of a Parva. From Hiranyaksha's mouth, who was worked up with anger, came out burning cinders. With the air filled with fire and smoke the gods were scorched. Like unto an elevated mountain the whole sky was covered with weapons, bows and Parighas. Assailed with Hiranyaksha in battle with various weapons and having their breast and heads wounded with winged arrows the gods could not move in the battle-field. The gods, routed by Hiranyaksha in battle, albeit careful, lost their consciousness. All the gods were thus terrorized by Hiranyaksha. Assailed with weapons by Hiranyaksha the thousand-eyed Shakra, who was seated on the elephant, could not move on in the battle-field for fear. Having vanquished all the celestials and overpowered their king the Dānava thought the universe as subjected by himself (22-24).
CHAPTER XXXV. THE LORD COMES OUT AS A BOAR.
Vaishampāyana said:—When the gods were assailed and their king became motionless the holder of discus (Vishnu) made up his mind for the destruction of Hiranyaksha the holder of club (1). Assuming the form of a huge boar, described before, the Lord, the slayer of Asuras, came there (2). He took up his conch-shell shining like the moon and his discus of a thousand blades resembling the Chakra mountain (3). The immortals always recite the secret names of this undecaying Purusha, such as Mahadeva Mahabudhi, Mahayogin and Maheshwara. He is the foremost of those conversant with the knowledge of Atman. He is always served by the pious. That ancient Purusha, the creator of the universe, is worshipped in the three worlds. He is the Vaikuntha of the celestials, Ananta of Bhogis, Vishnu of the Yogins, and the presiding god of the sacrificial rites. By his grace the celestials partake of the three-fold sacrificial offerings. Having struck that foremost of Daityas with his discus the Lord blew his most excellent conch-shell. Hearing that dreadful blare of the conch-shell which strikes terror unto the Asuras the Dānavas fled away on all sides.
Thereupon the great Asura Hiranyaksha, having crimson coloured eyes, said in anger, "Who is he?" and cast his looks on Nārāyana, in the shape of a boar, the dispeller of the calamities of the celestials, who stood before him with the discus. Thereupon Hiranyaksha and other Asuras, with various weapons, encountered Nārāyana. Although assailed by the highly powerful Daityas with various weapons Hari stood unmoved in the battle-field. Afterwards the highly powerful Hiranyaksha discharged a burning Sakti on the breast of the boar-formed Nārāyana which filled Brahma with surprise. Seeing that Sakti about to fall upon him the highly powerful Boar, setting up a roar, felled it on the ground. Thereupon the Lord, whirling his sunny discus, shot it on the head of the Danava king. Like unto the summit of the mount Meru clapped by a thunder-bolt the Daitya-king fell down dead on earth; on his death, all the Daityas filled with fear, fled away on all sides (4–23).
CHAPTER XXXVI. RELEASE OF THE CELESTIALS.
Vaishampāyana said:—Having thus routed all the Asuras in battle, Hari released Purandara and all the celestials (1). Having regained their natural temperament all the gods, placing Purandara before them, approached Nārāyana (2).
The Gods said:—"O Lord, by thy favour, we have been released from the mouth of Death. What will Aditi's sons do for thee? We are willing to serve thy feet" (3-4). Hearing those words of the celestials, the Lord, having lotus eyes, was highly pleased and said to them who had their enemy slain (5). "Do ye all protect the religions severally alloted to you by me and obey my laws. You have been entitled to sacrificial offerings and therefore observe the laws established by me before." Having said this to the king of gods, he again continued:—"You should behave impartially towards the good and the wicked. O king of gods, you should allow the ascetics to enter always into your region that grants all desirable objects. May those, who propitiate the gods with sacrifices, obtain the fruits thereof. May the pious and religious flourish and the sinful become extinct. May the virtuous people, serving in various stages, conquer heaven. May men, who are truthful, humble, heroic and freed from envy, enjoy the fruits of heaven. Those, who are irreverent, lustful, avaricious, wicked and atheistic, should go to hell. O king of gods, you should observe these words of mine and your enemies will not be able to injure you as long as I am living." Having said this the holder of conch-shell, discus and club disappeared. All the gods were filled with great surprise and having saluted the Boar they repaired to the celestial region (6-16).