In this way the heroic and mighty Kartikeya slew
innumerable foes of the gods possessed of great strength that came to
fight with him.
Then Bali's son Vana of great might, getting upon the Kraunca mountain,
battled with the celestial host. Possessed of great intelligence, the
great generalissimo Skanda rushed against that foe of the gods. From fear
of Kartikeya, he took shelter within the Kraunca mountain. Inflamed with
rage, the adorable Kartikeya then pierced that mountain with that dart
given him by Agni. The mountain was called Kraunca (crane) because of the
sound it always produced resembled the cry of a crane. That mountain was
variegated with shala trees. The apes and elephants on it were
affrighted. The birds that had their abode on it rose up and wheeled
around in the welkin. The snakes began to dart down its sides. It
resounded also with the cries of leopards and bears in large numbers that
ran hither and thither in fear. Other forests on it rang with the cries
of hundreds upon hundreds of animals. Sharabhas and lions suddenly ran
out. In consequence of all this that mountain, though it was reduced to a
very pitiable plight, still assumed a very beautiful aspect. The
vidyadharas dwelling on its summits soared into the air. The kinnaras
also became very anxious, distracted by the fear caused by the fall of
Skanda's dart. The daityas then, by hundreds and thousands, came out of
that blazing mountain, all clad in beautiful ornaments and garlands.
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