After a fierce clash, the shield was crushed and the armor that emerged from it was cut through. As dusk descended and the warrior Bhagadatta was slain, Lakṣaṇa, sensing the urgency of the moment, rallied himself. The king, furious at Bhagadatta’s death, sent forth his forces for battle the very next day. Among those who marched to war were Aṅgada, Kaliṅga, Trikoṇa, and Śrīpati. Suketū joined them, as did nine other kings, each bringing nine thousand warriors. Seeing the assembled armies, the heroic Lakṣaṇa gathered his own kings, and King Rudravarmā arrived with ten thousand brave men. Kālīvarmā, with tens of thousands, confronted Kaliṅga directly. Lakṣaṇa’s valiant younger brother, also with tens of thousands, engaged Śrīpati and reached King Śrītāra, where a great battle was waged. Vāmana, leading tens of thousands, advanced against Mukuṇḍa, while Lallasiṃha, with his own host, moved against Guhila. Three hundred minor kings gathered to face other minor kings, and the field was crowded with warriors. Then Cāmuṇḍa, witnessing the kings slain all around, took note. Lakṣaṇa, aware that Raktabīja was highly esteemed by the brāhmaṇas, prepared himself. As evening fell, Lakṣaṇa stood upon an elephant, surveying the field. At dawn on the second day, Kṛṣṇāṃśa, accompanied by the gods, arrived. Tāraka and Cāmuṇḍa, each commanding two hundred thousand troops, placed all the kings at the forefront. These two mighty ones, with their armies, swept through the battlefield, and within a single watch, slew all the earth’s rulers. Cāmuṇḍa and Tāraka, cunning and seeking an opening, approached each other. Within three watches, a tremendous battle erupted; with a blow from his palm, one valiant hero caused his foe to swoon. Meanwhile, Tāraka seized Devasiṃhaka. Hearing the tumult, Cāmuṇḍa, of great strength, cast off his faint and, seizing the heads of his enemies, went to the king of the earth. The king, upon seeing them, was filled with supreme joy. Yet in Lakṣaṇa’s army, a cry of “Alas!” arose. Brahmānanda, recovering from his swoon, spoke to Velā: “Dear one, go swiftly to battle, for Harināgara is occupied.” Hearing this, Velā, endowed with a portion of Rāma, set out. Lakṣaṇa, accompanied by Tālanena, also prepared for battle. At dawn on the third day, Tāraka became even mightier. Raktabīja, Cāmuṇḍa, and the Rāma-portion grew exceedingly strong. Within a single watch, the Rāma-portion slew his great elephant. Then, within three watches as evening approached, Velā confronted the great enemy, the powerful Tāraka. Meanwhile, the goddess, daughter of Drupada, prepared the funeral pyre according to the sacred rite. By the joyful command of her father-in-law, she remained pure with her husband, Indula, who upon the pyre became even more powerful. That night, King Parimala, bearing auspicious marks, appeared. At that time, among the great warriors, one and a quarter lakhs had fallen. Dhānyapāla slew a hundred kings, and Lakṣaṇa likewise killed a hundred. The earth-king, distressed by the carnage, meditated on Rudra, the great lord. Alone, he mounted an elephant and went forth into the dreadful battle, his heart resolute amidst the chaos.