Amidst the thunderous clash of battle, the demons surged forward, wielding spears, maces, nooses, clubs, corpses, sharp-faced arrows, discs, and more, hurling their weapons in a relentless assault. Yet Janardana, the wondrous warrior, stood firm. With arrows blazing like tongues of fire, he countered every missile the demons released, multiplying each one into hundreds, overwhelming their attack. Soon, the demons found their weapons spent and their strength drained. Bewildered and confused, they could no longer even lift their arms to fight. Still, the Daityas, in countless numbers, pressed on from all sides. In desperation, they hurled the corpses of elephants and horses at Janardana, turning the horrors of war into their weapons. At that moment, Vishnu, assuming many forms, appeared with subdued arms. Amidst the tumult, he addressed Garuda, his loyal companion: “Garuḍa, are you not yet weary in this fight? If you remain untired, fly towards Mathana’s chariot. But if fatigue weighs upon you, withdraw for a moment.” Thus spoke Vishnu, the mighty lord, offering Garuda a choice. Garuḍa, steadfast, approached the dreadful demon Mathana in battle. Mathana, seeing Vishnu adorned with conch, discus, and mace, faced him boldly. He struck Vishnu’s chest with a sharp arrow from a bhindipāla, but Vishnu, in that great conflict, regarded the blow as nothing. In response, Vishnu loosed five stone-tipped arrows, then ten more, striking Mathana’s chest. Though pierced in his vital spots by Hari’s arrows, Mathana did not falter. Recovering, he seized his iron club and struck Janārdana with a blazing blow, shaking Vishnu slightly. Then Mādhava, eyes wide with fury, seized his mace and, in his wrath, crushed Mathana and his chariot. The mighty demon fell to earth like a mountain at the end of its time. With Mathana’s fall, the Daityas lost heart, their courage sinking like elephants trapped in mud. As their arrogance faded, Mahisha, the fierce lord of the Daityas, enraged and relying on his own strength, advanced against Hari. With a sharp-pointed spear, Mahisha wounded Hari, and with a lance, he struck Garuda’s chest. Mahisha, opening his mouth wide like a mountain cave, sought to devour Garuda in battle. But Acyuta, perceiving the demon’s intention, filled Mahisha’s mouth with divine weapons, sealing it with missiles empowered by sacred mantras. Struck by these arrows, the buffalo demon, massive as a mountain, rolled and fell, but did not die. Seeing Mahisha fallen, Keśava spoke: “O Mahishasura, you are intoxicated; you do not deserve death by weapons here. The lotus-born one has declared you fit to be slain by a woman. Rise, preserve your life, and leave this battle at once.” Mahisha, the buffalo demon, turned away. Then Shumbha, the asura, lips bitten in anger and brow furrowed, crushed his own hand with his palm. He took up his dreadful bow, strung it, and readied arrows like venomous serpents. With a firm grip, Shumbha assailed Vishnu and Garuda with countless blazing arrows, each never missing its mark. Though struck by the asura king’s arrows, Vishnu took up a club dreadful as death, and with it smashed Shumbha’s shield, massive as a mountain. Leaping away from the slain ram and shattered shield, Shumbha stood on the ground, as Hari released volleys of arrows shining like the fire of destruction. Vishnu pierced Shumbha’s arm with three arrows, his head with six, his banner with ten, and struck his ear with a drawn bow, eyes wide open. Wounded, Shumbha was tormented, blood streaming from his wounds. As he wavered, Vishnu, bearing conch, lotus, and bow, spoke: “You are destined to be slain by the maiden; abandon the battle, O Shumbha. In a few days, you do not deserve death from me. Why pursue battle in vain?” Hearing Vishnu’s words, Nimi sought to crush him. Raising his fierce mace, Nimi struck Garuda hard on the head. Shumbha too struck Vishnu with his gem-adorned mace. By these fierce blows, both Vishnu and Garuda fell to earth like blazing clouds. Witnessing this, all the sons of Diti roared loudly, their cries echoing like lions. They struck their bows with force, shaking the earth, some shaking their garments, others blowing conches, trumpets, and horns. Regaining his senses, Garuda, with Keśava, swiftly turned away from the battle, fleeing with great speed. Seeing Hari fleeing, his banner and bow lost, the thousand-eyed god Indra believed Vishnu had been defeated in the terrible battle. He saw the delighted asuras and was uncertain what to do. Then, the lord of the gods, wielder of the thunderbolt, approached Vishnu and spoke sweetly, encouraging him: “Why do you play with these asuras of wicked minds, O god? When a person’s weaknesses are discovered by the wicked, how can he act? When the strong overlook the lowly, the inferior thinks himself powerful. Therefore, the wise should not abandon the lowly who lack protection; for, with the advantage of being at the forefront, charioteers attain victory.” Thus, amidst the tumult of battle, the gods and demons witnessed the shifting tides of fate, the wisdom of the divine, and the promise of destiny yet to unfold.