And from that time, O king, horses, afflicted by the
mighty Rudra of wonderful deeds, came to be without
teats. Then Sarva, having stringed his bow and
aimed that shaft with which he had united the Pasupata
weapon, waited thinking of the triple city. And
O king, as Rudra thus stood, holding his bow, the
three cities during that time became united.
When the three cities, losing their separate characters
became united, tumultuous became the joy of the high-souled
gods. Then all the gods, the Siddhas, and the
great Rishis, uttered the word Jaya, adoring Maheshwara.
The triple city then appeared immediately before that
god of unbearable energy, that Deity of fierce and
indescribable form, that warrior who was desirous
of slaying the Asuras. The illustrious deity,
that Lord of the universe, then drawing that celestial
bow, sped that shaft which represented the might of
the whole universe, at the triple city. Upon
that foremost of shafts, O thou of great good fortune,
being shot, loud wails of woe were heard from those
cities as they began to fall down towards the Earth.
Burning those Asuras, he threw them down into the
Western ocean. Thus was the triple city burnt
and thus were the Danavas exterminated by Maheswara
in wrath, from desire of doing good to the three worlds.
The fire born of his own wrath, the three-eyed god
quenched, saying, ‘Do not reduce the three worlds
to ashes.’ After this, the gods, the Rishis,
and the three worlds became all restored to their
natural dispositions, and gratified Sthanu of unrivalled
energy with words of high import. Receiving then
the permission of the great god, the gods with the
Creator at their head went away to the places they
came from, their object being accomplished after such
effort. Thus that illustrious Deity, that Creator
of the worlds, that Lord of both the Gods and the
Asuras, viz., Maheswara, did that which was for
the good of all the worlds. As the illustrious
Brahman, the Creator of the worlds, the Grandsire,
the Supreme Deity of unfading glory, acted as the driver
of Rudra, so do thou restrain the steeds of the high-souled
son of Radha like Grandsire restraining those of Rudra.
There is not the slightest doubt, O tiger among kings,
that thou art superior to Krishna, to Karna, and to
Phalguna. In battle, Karna is like Rudra, and
thou art like Brahman in policy. United, ye two,
therefore, are competent to vanquish my foes that
are even like the Asuras. Let, O Shalya, that
be done speedily today by which this Karna, grinding
the Pandava troops, may be able to slay Kunti’s
son owning white steeds and having Krishna for the
driver of his car. Upon thee depend Karna, ourselves,
our kingdom, and (our) victory in battle. Hold
the reins, therefore, of the excellent steeds (of
Karna). There is another story which I will narrate.
Listen once more to it. A virtuous brahmana had
recited it in the presence of my father. Hearing
these delightful words fraught with the reasons and
purposes of acts, do, O Shalya, what thou mayst settle,


