Śaṅkhacūḍa quickly got up, bowed down to Lord Śiva, and ascended his chariot with his ministers. Lord Śiva ordered his army to be ready immediately, and Śaṅkhacūḍa did the same. Musical instruments blared out, formally announcing the start of war. There was a great clamor along with the cries of the warriors.
Then the fight between the demigods and demons began, and both sides fought righteously. Indra fought with Vṛṣaparvan, Bhāskara (the sun god) with Vipracitti, Niśākara (the moon god) with Dambha, Fire with Gokarṇa, Kuvera with Kālakeya, and Viśvakarmā with Māyā. Mṛtyu (the death god) battled with Bhayaṁkara, Yama with Śambara, Vāyu with Bala, Varuṇa with Vikaca, Budha with Dhṛṭapṛṣṭha, Śani with Raktākṣa, Jayanta with Ratnasāra, the Vasus with the groups of Varcasas, the two Aśvini-kumāras with the two Dīptimāns, Nalakūvara with Dhūma, and Dharma with Dhurandhara. Maṅgala contended with Gaṇakākṣa, Vaiṣvānara with Śobhākara, Manmathā with Pipita, the twelve sun gods with Gokāmukha, Cūrṇa, Khaḍga, Dhūmra, Saṁhala, Viśva and Pālāśa. The eleven Rudras fought with eleven terrible and powerful asuras, Mahāmaṇi fought with Ugracaṇḍā and others, and Nandīśvara and the rest fought with the leading demons.
Lord Śiva, the goddess Kālī and their son Kārttikeya encamped at the root of the holy fig tree.
King Śaṅkhacūḍa, adorned with gems and surrounded by millions of demons, sat down on a beautiful jeweled throne.
Then a great battle ensued. Many mystical and supernatural weapons were hurled, and numerous demigods and demons were killed. Maces, long and short swords, paṭṭiśas, bhuśuṇḍis, mudgaras (different types of iron clubs), javelins, spears, axes and other weapons glowed in the soldiers’ hands. Fighting with these weapons, the jubilant warriors roared and cut off each other’s heads. Elephants, horses, chariots and foot soldiers, along with their drivers and passengers were hit and torn apart. Arms, thighs, hands, hips, ears and feet were cut off. Flags, arrows, swords, coats of mail and beautiful ornaments were split apart. From the tussle, glowing heads with earrings as well as elephantlike thighs were strewn about the earth. Severed arms with their ornaments and weapons were scattered about like honeycombs.
Warriors running on the battlefield saw several headless bodies that jumped and which were still holding their weapons. The warriors discharged so many arrows at each other that the sun became obscured and it appeared as if the rainy season had arrived. Heroes roared like lions, blew conches loudly and fought furiously. Though the combat was terrible and tumultuous, it was pleasurable to the fighters. Then the demigods were defeated. Many were wounded by weapons and missiles, and, frightened, they fled the battlefield.
