Drums
and large kettle-drums were sounded and the clash ensued between the two
armies. The warriors were seething with rage and they invaded the demons.
They made their steeds run about and held spears in their hands. The trident
and swords swung around in the air. Many enemies were killed in the battlefield.
The arrows shot by the gods rained on the demon-armies.||31||
The
tambourine was beaten and conch blowed and a fierce clash took place.
Durga took up a bow and stretched it full strength to shoot arrows at
the enemy. Many soldiers were sent by Chand and Mund to Sumbh to give
news of the battle front. Those who dared raise their weapons could not
save their lives. Both Durga and the gods killed Chand and Mund in this
battle.||32||
Pauri
Sumbh and Nisumbh got enraged on listening to the news of the death of their comrades. He convened a meeting and invited all warriors to it. The demon-warriors who had earlier routed the gods like Indra were now easily killed by the gods. They rubbed their hands in sorrow remembering their dead friends. Then receiving an order from the demon king Sumbh Shronatbij put betel leaves in his mouth. His soldiers now put on armour, tied belts on their waists and wore iron helmets. They swung their swords which seemed to have been like a roof over their heads. The brave demons roared and got ready to fight. These were the soldiers who never retreated once they entered the field. They are all great warriors : now it is to be seen how ferocious the battle might become.||33||
Sumbh and Nisumbh got enraged on listening to the news of the death of their comrades. He convened a meeting and invited all warriors to it. The demon-warriors who had earlier routed the gods like Indra were now easily killed by the gods. They rubbed their hands in sorrow remembering their dead friends. Then receiving an order from the demon king Sumbh Shronatbij put betel leaves in his mouth. His soldiers now put on armour, tied belts on their waists and wore iron helmets. They swung their swords which seemed to have been like a roof over their heads. The brave demons roared and got ready to fight. These were the soldiers who never retreated once they entered the field. They are all great warriors : now it is to be seen how ferocious the battle might become.||33||
Soldiers
of the demon army now reached near Durga and made a loud roar. Listening
to this nose Durga also mounted her lion. She swung a sword in her hand
and mace in another. Thus, she killed a major part of Shronatbij’s
army. The warriors wondered in the field like intoxicated jugglers. Some
warriors lay on the ground with their feet wide apart like those young
men who having played Hoil (an Indian festival of colours) feel tired
and go to sleep.||34||
Now
Shronatbij summoned the remaining soldiers. These soldiers were so tall
and healthy that they looked like minarets in the field. All of them raised
their arms and made cries of “kill ! kill !” they marched
upfront before the enemy. As the swords struck the armour they produced
a lot of mise. This noise was like the one xreated by the brass-maker
while making and shaping brass utensils.||35||
Drums
were sounded and the clash between the two forces ensued. The soldiers
swung around like dead leaves in a whirlwind. They fell from their horses
along with their saddles. The injured warriors would get up and ask for
water. The demons were so badly mauled as if lightening from the side
of the gods had struck them.||36||
The
fierce clash ensued which further escalated the sound of the drums. In
a matter of moments the entire army of demons was wiped out. Durga then
raised the lioness-like sword in her left hand. She, seething with rage
killing the demons struck her sword at the head of Shronatbij.||37||
Innumerable
huge bodied demons were blood stained. They looked like tall minarets
in the battlefield. They challenged Durga and came in front of her. All
demons who dared come in front of her were slain. Blood flowed from their
bodies as rain water gushes from pipes from roof tops. As the blood fell
on the ground many more demon warriors sprouted from it laughing. ||38||
Drum beaters gave a clarion call for war. The spear with tassel put many
a warrior to death. There was a fierce warrior –like contest between
Durga and the demons. On the battlefield there was a lot of crying and
killing. It seemed as if the acrobats had began to dance to the tune of
the war drums. Daggers pierced into the bodies lying down in the field
looking like fish caught in the net. The swords shone as does lightening
in the dark clouds. The swinging swords had so covered the sky it was
as if it were a foggy winters day.||39||
 |
The
drumsticks sounded the drums and clash ensued between the armies.
The young and bold warriors took their swords out of their sheaths.
Shronatbij caused the birth of many demons like him. All these
came to Durga seething with rage. All of them struck swords at
Durga who saved herself by taking these attacks on her shield.
The goddess also struck swords at demons as she saw them and her
unsheathed swords seemed to have bathed in blood as the goddesses
go and have a bath in the Sarsvati river. All of these forms which
grew out of Shronat’s blood that fell to the ground were
killed in action. However, soon many more were sprouted from his
blood.||40|| |