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Friday, August 26, 2022

Indra Army

Prominent among Devas got themselves accoutred and decorating them¬ selves with gold, (they became) ready with ten thousand horses- “Let my Amaras (Devas) equip and deploy their vehicles and aerial cars. O Devas, start (march) immediately after appointing Yama as the Commander-in-chief. You all possess many wonderful qualities and are unvanquishable to Devas and Danavas.” The chariot of Mahendra, got properly yoked by Matali, was also seen. 

  1. Mounted on a buffalo, Yama occupied a place in the front line of the army. He was surrounded on all sides by groups having fierce tinkling bells. 
  2. Hutasa (the Fire-god) was seated on a ram with a javelin in his hand. He had filled the whole sky with bright flames, as at the time of the Kalpa period (i.e. end of the world). 
  3. Pavana (the Wind-god) was seated on a great bear with a goad in his hand. His terrific speed then was extremely enhan¬ ced. He was (also) seen in the front line of the army. 
  4. The Lord of waters himself was seated on a big serpent. The hero holding a great noose was present in the army. 
  5. Dhanadhyaksa (Kubera) moved about in a divine chariot to which men had been yoked. He had an iron club in his hand in the battlefield. He roared like a great lion. 
  6. Nirrti, the lord of Raksasas, was seen in a chariot fitted with horses having the faces of Raksasas. He had a bow (in his hand). He was seen surrounded by groups of Raksasas. He had a loud sound. 
  7. The Moon-god, the Sun-god, Asvins, Vasus, the deities called Sadhyas, Visvedevas and Rudras—all stood ready for the battle. 
  8. Gandharvas were seen with Visvavasu at the head. They had golden stools and gold-embroidered upper garments. Their armours, weapons and emblems were of various colours and sizes.
Flags 
  1. Similarly, the Raksasas of red hair were seen with vulture as their emblem on their flags. They had red upper garments and iron ornaments without any impurities. 
  2. Crores of Yaksas beginning with Manubhadra were seen clad in black garments. They were great warriors with terrible ASanis (‘thunderbolts’) in their hands. Terrible Pisacas (ghosts) shone there with copper (covered) flagstaffs with owl as the emblem. Panther skin con¬ stituted their garments. They had great impetuosity and energy. 
  3. Similarly Kinnaras stood there (ready for) battle with white garments and white silk banner. Most of them had elephants in rut for their vehicles. 
  4. The gentle flag of the Lord of the Ocean shone with a swan for its emblem. It was beautified with clusters of pearls and had the lustre of a (pearl) necklace.
  5. The lofty flagstaff of Dhanada (Kubera) with its pinnacle made of the great precious stone, ruby, appeared as though it was desirous of going into the sky. 
  6. The great flagstaff of Yama was made of black iron. Crow was its emblem. 
  7. On the flag of the Lord of Rak$asas (i.e. Nirrti) was the face of a ghost. 
  8. The Moon-god and the Sun-god of unmeasured splendour had respectively gold and lion for their emblems. 
  9. The flag of Asvins had the emblem of pitcher of variegated colours. 
  10. Elephant in golden (lines) adorned with precious gems was the emblem on the flag of Indra. It was fixed along with white chowries. 
  11. The flags of others too of various forms shone in the battle. 
That army of the king of Devas including Serpents, Yaksas, Gandharvas, Nagas and the Night-walkers appeared very invincible. The groups of different Devas numbered thirty- three crores. The enemy of Paka (i.e. Indra) was seated on his elephant Airavata. It had the lustre (and the height) of the Himalaya mountain. It had white chowries on its ears. It had a beautiful and pure garland of golden lotuses. There was fascinating and brilliant saffron mark. It sportingly trumpeted from the cheek(?) Indra was seated on it. The extremely power¬ ful Lord had garments of exceptional beauty and very many varieties of colours. He was adorned with a vast canopy above with diamonds studded (therein). He had armlets fitted on either arm. He had a thousand eyes. He was panegyrized by thousand of bards and panegyrists. Thus Indra appeared splendid in heaven.

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