Asuras, in his left hand, the bow Sranga and other burning weapons in his remaining hands. The Lord Hari rode that huge-bodied younger brother of Aruna, the foremost of birds, Suparna, who was the best of the twice born living on serpents, who was the son of Kashyapa, who was superior even to the wind in fleetness, who used to agitate the sky, who had big serpents hanging from his mouth, who was huge like the mount Mandara that was set free after the churning of the ocean for ambrosia, who displayed his prowess hundreds of times in the encounter between the gods and demons, whose body was marked with thunder-bolt by the king of gods for ambrosia, who had tufts of down, who was adorned with shining ear-rings, who had a raiment of variegated feathers, who was huge like a mountain consisting of metals and who had on his spacious breast serpents of moon-like lustre shining with brilliant jems. He remained easily in the sky with his two beautifully painted wings like two clouds with rain-bow at the time of the universal dissolution. He was dreadful in the enemy’s camp adorned with red, dark and yellow flags. The gods followed him in battle. The great ascetics sang the glories of Gadādhara with excellent hymns (35–48). Assisted by Kuvera, headed by Vivaswan’s son Yama, encircled by Varuna the king of water, presided over by the king of gods, beautified by the rays of the moon, strengthened by the war-like gods, accompanied by the sounds of the wind, rendered brilliant by fire, and enveloped with Jishnu, Prahishnu, Bhrājishnu, and Vishnu energies the celestial army stood wonderfully for the battle. Angiras prayed for the well-being of the gods and Sukra, the preceptor of the Daityas, prayed for their well-being (49–52). ¹⁴⁹ The charioteer of Indra. ¹⁵⁰ A kind of ornament for the Arms. ¹⁵¹ One of Kuvera’s treasures or jems. ¹⁵² The word in the text is _Nidhipati_ a name of Kuvera. _Nidhi_ means divine treasures nine of which are enumerated, _viz._, the Padma, Mahapadma, Sankha, Makara, Kachchpa, Mukunda, Nanda, Nila and Kharba: their nature is not exactly defined though some of them appear to be precious jems; according to the Tankrik system, they are personified and worshipped as demigods attendant either upon Kuvera or upon Lakshmi, the goddess of prosperity. ¹⁵³ An appellation of the sun. _Dwadasha_, twelve and _Atman_ means identity; being represented in and identified with the twelve _Adityas_ or the sun in each month of the year. CHAPTER XLV. THE FIGHT BETWEEN THE GODS AND DEMONS.