Rudra

While Yudhishthira and Bhimasena are locked in conversation, Vyasa appears — having perceived Yudhishthira's hidden fear about the Kuru warriors. He promises to show how Bhishma, Drona, and the others can be legitimately killed, then teaches Yudhishthira the secret knowledge called pratismriti and tells him that Arjuna must go to the gods for weapons.

Yudhishthira asks the sage Lomasha about his travels. Lomasha is pleased to reply — he has been sent by Indra himself with news of Arjuna. He tells Yudhishthira that he saw Arjuna seated on half of Indra's throne, that Arjuna has obtained the Brahmashira weapon from Rudra and other divine weapons from the guardians of the world, and that he has mastered the gandharva veda. Then Lomasha delivers Indra's message: Arjuna will return after accomplishing a great task for the gods, Yudhishthira should devote himself to austerities, his fear of Karna will be dispelled, and he should accept Lomasha's guidance on tirthas.

Lomasha shows Yudhishthira Kalinga, where the river Vaitarani flows and where Dharma himself once performed sacrifices. But this is also the place where Rudra seized the sacrificial animal and demanded it as his share — forcing the gods to negotiate with the destroyer.

Arjuna learns the danavas of Hiranyapura can only be killed by a human. He orders Matali to drive him to the city, and a battle begins that pushes even the greatest archer to his breaking point — until he bows to Rudra and unleashes a weapon that assumes a thousand terrible forms.

Markandeya narrates the origin of Skanda's terrifying companions — sons and daughters born when the vajra struck him. The mothers of the world approach Skanda and ask to be made supreme, worshipped by all. He grants their wish, and through his favour, each mother bears a terrible son named Shishu, establishing the group of eight brave ones and the nine including Bhadrashakha.

The maharshis and Shakra offer Skanda the position of Indra, praising his strength and asking him to become lord of the three worlds. Skanda refuses, declaring that Shakra alone should rule and that he will remain Shakra's servant — but when Shakra proposes he become general of the gods instead, Skanda accepts on one condition: that it be for destroying danavas and protecting cows and brahmanas.

Vinata and the group of mothers come to Skanda, asking to be his mothers and to devour the offspring of other mothers. Skanda grants them motherhood but redirects their hunger: he allows them to afflict children up to sixteen years of age, and from his own body springs a being that becomes the graha Skandapasmara — the first of eighteen terrible seizers.

Rudra embraces Skanda and gives him permission to leave — and the universe responds with a portent: the sky blazes, the earth trembles, darkness envelops everything, and a terrible army of danavas appears to attack the gods.

When the gods confront the terrible danger from Mahisha, Skanda arrives flaming like the sun and hurls a spear that severs Mahisha's head — killing the danava who had a boon from Brahma and whom the gods could not touch. In a single day, he subjugates all three worlds.

With Skanda instated as general of the gods, Rudra departs for Bhadravata in a chariot yoked to a thousand lions, followed by a vast celestial procession — gods, yakshas, rishis, weapons, rivers, and the very branches of knowledge — establishing the new cosmic order.

The danava Mahisha tears a mountain from the earth and hurls it at the gods, scattering them like small animals before a lion. He advances on Rudra's chariot and seizes its pole — and Rudra does nothing to stop him, knowing that Mahisha's death belongs to another.