too riding on his elephant Airavata and accompanied
by other gods brought up the rear of Mahadeva, the
granter of boons, marching in this way at the head
of the celestial army. And the great Yaksha
Amogha with his attendants—the Jambhaka
Yakshas and other Rakshasas decorated with
garlands of flowers—obtained a place in
the right wing of his army; and many gods of wonderful
fighting powers in company with the Vasus and
the Rudras, also marched with the right division
of his army. And the terrible-looking Yama too
in company with Death marched with him (followed by
hundreds of terrible diseases); and behind him was
carried the terrible, sharp-pointed, well-decorated
trident of Siva, called Vijaya. And Varuna, the
adorable lord of waters with his terrible Pasa,[40]
and surrounded by numerous aquatic animals, marched
slowly with the trident. And the trident Vijaya
was followed by the Pattisa[41] of Rudra guarded
by maces, balls, clubs and other excellent weapons.
And the Pattisa, O king, was followed by the
bright umbrella of Rudra and the Kamandalu served by
the Maharshis; and on it progressed in the
company of Bhrigu, Angiras and others. And behind
all these rode Rudra in his white chariot, re-assuring
the gods with the exhibition of his powers. And
rivers and lakes and seas, Apsaras, Rishis,
Celestials, Gandharvas and serpents, stars,
planets, and the children of gods, as also many women,
followed him in his train. These handsome-looking
ladies proceeded scattering flowers all around; and
the clouds marched, having made their obeisance to
that god (Mahadeva) armed with the Pinaka bow.
And some of them held a white umbrella over his head,
and Agni (the Fire god) and Vayu (the god of winds)
busied themselves with two hairy fans (emblems of
royalty). And, O king, he was followed by the
glorious Indra accompanied by the Rajarshis,
and singing the praise of that god with the emblem
of the bull. And Gauri, Vidya, Gandhari, Kesini,
and the lady called Mitra in company with Savitri,
all proceeded in the train of Parvati, as also all
the Vidyas (presiding deities of all branches of knowledge)
that were created by the learned. The Rakshasa
spirit who delivers to different battalions the commands
which are implicitly obeyed by Indra and other gods,
advanced in front of the army as standard-bearer.
And that foremost of Rakshasas, by name Pingala,
the friend of Rudra, who is always busy in places
where corpses are burnt, and who is agreeable to all
people, marched with them merrily, at one time going
ahead of the army, and falling behind again at another,
his movements being uncertain. Virtuous actions
are the offerings with which the god Rudra is worshipped
by mortals. He who is also called Siva, the omnipotent
god, armed with the Pinaka bow, is Maheswara.
He is worshipped in various forms.
[40] A kind of missile.
[41] Another kind of weapon.