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| SHURAPADMA LEADING HIS
ASURA TROOPS |
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| KARTIKEYA AND SHURAPADMA |
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| KARTIKEYA ATTACKING THE CHARIOT |
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SHURAPADMA CHANGING FORMS
FROM A BIRD TO A TREE |
Finally Shurapadma himself came to the battlefield with
mad courage, thinking
that he would kill Kartikeya. The two began a severe fight. Kartikeya cut the
arrows of Shurapadma, made his chariot tumble, and snatched away his sword too.
Then Shurapadma took his club. Kartikeya said, "In a man like you, immoral
and desiring another's wife, no weapon can be effective, Can one who gives up
morals secure victory?" Saying so, Kartikeya shattered his club into pieces.
Then Shurapadma began to fight with his supernatural powers
and tricks. He created
several types of wild animals and many ugly and terrible spirits and Rakshasas.
Kartikeya was not afraid. Just to see at what level was the mind of Shurapadma,
Kartikeya with his divine power showed him the 'Vishwaroopa,' his Cosmic Shape.
Shurapadma was overawed. But there was in him no righteous mood or devotion to
God. He only thought, "Perhaps that boy also knows a little of magic like
me." Shurapadma then used his powers and rose up in the sky in a chariot
and the next moment all the dead Asura soldiers rose alive. But Kartikeya with
a single weapon killed all the soldiers and with another attacked Shurapadma.
The next moment Shurapadma fell down and his chariot flew towards Kartikeya.
Kartikeya laughingly thanked Shurapadma for providing him with a chariot.
Shurapadma quickly assumed the form of a huge bird and attacked Kartikeya, but
Kartikeya however using Indra in the form of peacock as his mount lashed at him.
Shurapadma escaped in the nick of time by taking the form of a tree. Kartikeya
with a spear cut the tree in two and Shurapadma emerged unscathed in his natural
form.
![[kartikeya and shurapadma]](artwork/kartikeya_shakti.jpg) |
| KARTIKEYA ATTACKING SHURAPAMDA WITH HIS 'SHAKTI' |
"This Rakshasa has no love of virtue and righteousness," Kartikeya
concluded. "He has no desire for knowledge. For him, morality is bitter
and unwanted. He is incapable of piety and love of God. It is useless to employ
the mild method of persuasion. He has to be killed, to make the world safe." So
resolving, Kartikeya used his all-powerful 'Shakti' weapon against Shurapadma.
It flew towards him emitting fire, severed his head and returned to Kartikeya.
The rest of the Rakshasas ran for life. The gods brought down a rain of flowers.
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