do us good.  It behoveth thee to accomplish that promise.  That irresistible and best of cars, that router of our foes, hath been constructed out of the component parts of the celestials.  The Deity armed with Pinaka hath been made the warrior who is to stand on it.  Striking the Danavas with fear, he is prepared for battle.  The four Vedas have become the four foremost of steeds.  With her mountains, the Earth has become the car of that high-souled one.  The stars have become the adornments of that vehicle. (As already said) Hara is the warrior.  We do not, however, see who is to become the driver.  A driver should be sought for that car who is superior to all these.  Equal to thee in importance is that car, O god, and Hara is the warrior.  Armour, and weapons, and bow, these we have got already, O Grandsire.  Except thee, we do not behold any person that can make its driver.  Thou art endued with every accomplishment.  Thou, O lord, art superior to all the gods.  Mounting upon that car with speed, hold the reins of those foremost of steeds, for the victory of the celestials and the destruction of their foes.’  It has been heard by us that bowing with their heads unto the Grandsire that Lord of the three worlds, the gods sought to gratify him for inducing him to accept the drivership.

“’"The Grandsire said, ’There is nothing of untruth in all this that ye have said, ye denizens of heaven.  I will hold the reins of the steeds for Kapaddin while he will be engaged in fight.’  Then that illustrious god, that Creator of the worlds, the Grandsire, was appointed by the gods as the driver of the high-souled Ishana.  And when he was about to ascend quickly upon that car worshipped by all, those steeds, endued with the speed of the wind, bowed themselves with their heads to the Earth.  Having ascended the car the illustrious Deity, viz., the Grandsire resplendent with his own energy, took the reins and the goad.  Then the illustrious god, raising those steeds addressed that foremost one among the gods, viz., Sthanu, saying, ‘Ascend.’  Then, taking that arrow composed of Vishnu and Soma and Agni, Sthanu ascended the car, causing the foe to tremble by means of his bow.  The great Rishis, the Gandharvas, the throngs of gods, and the diverse tribes of Apsaras, then praised that Lord of the gods after he had ascended the car.  Resplendent with beauty, the boon-giving Lord, armed with scimitar, shaft, and bow, stayed on the car causing the three worlds to blaze forth with his own energy.  The great Deity once more said unto the gods headed by Indra, ’Ye should never grieve, doubting my ability to destroy the Asura.  Know that the Asuras have already been slain by means of this arrow’.  The gods then answered, saying, ‘It is true!  The Asuras have already been slain.’  Indeed, the gods thinking that the words which the divine Lord had said could not be untrue, became exceedingly gratified.  Then that Lord of the gods proceeded surrounded by all