long while those of some were short.  Some were dwarfs of short limbs.  Some were hunch-backed.  Some had short hips.  The cars and heads of some were like those of elephants.  Some had noses like those of tortoises, some like those of wolves.  Some had long lips, some had long hips, and some were frightful, having their faces downwards.  Some had very large teeth, some had very short teeth, and some had only four teeth.  Thousands among them, O king, were exceedingly terrible, looking like infuriated elephants of gigantic size.  Some were of symmetrical limbs, possessed of great splendour, and adorned with ornaments.  Some had yellow eyes, some had ears like arrows, some had noses like gavials.  O Bharata!  Some had broad teeth, some had broad lips, and some had green hair.  Possessed of diverse kinds of feet and lips and teeth, they had diverse kinds of arms and heads.  Clad in diverse kinds of skins, they spoke diverse kinds of languages, O Bharata!  Skilled in all provincial dialects, those puissant ones conversed with one another.  Those mighty companions, filled with joy, gambolled there, cutting capers (around Kartikeya).  Some were long-necked, some longnailed, some long-legged.  Some amongst them were large-headed and some large-armed.  The eyes of some were yellow.  The throats of some were blue, and the ears of some were long, O Bharata.  The stomachs of some were like masses of antimony.  The eyes of some were white, the necks of some were red, and some had eyes of a tawny hue.  Many were dark in colour and many, O king, were of diverse colours, O Bharata.  Many had ornaments on their persons that looked like yak-tails.  Some bore white streaks on their bodies, and some bore red streaks.  Some were of diversified colours and some had golden complexions, and some were endued with splendours like those of the peacock.  I shall describe to thee the weapons that were taken by those that came last to Kartikeya.  Listen to me.  Some had noses on their uplifted arms.  Their faces were like those of tigers and asses.  Their eyes were on their backs, their throats were blue, and their arms resembled spiked clubs.  Some were armed with Sataghnis and discs, and some had heavy and short clubs.  Some had swords and mallets and some were armed with bludgeons, O Bharata.  Some, possessed of gigantic sizes and great strength, were armed with lances and scimitars.  Some were armed with maces and Bhusundis and some had spears on their hands.  Possessed of high souls and great strength and endued with great speed and great impetuosity, those mighty companions had diverse kinds of terrible weapons in their arms.  Beholding the installation of Kartikeya, those beings of mighty energy, delighting in battle and wearing on their persons rows of tinkling bells, danced around him in joy.  These and many other mighty companions, O king, came to the high-souled and illustrious Kartikeya.  Some belonged to the celestial regions, some to the aerial, and some to the regions of the Earth.  All of them were endued with speed like that of the wind.  Commanded by the gods, those brave and mighty ones became the companions of Kartikeya.  Thousands upon thousands, millions upon millions, of such beings came there at the installation of the high-souled Kartikeya and stood surrounding him.”