Chapter Summaries

Surya fought Mali and Sumali at the Ocean of Milk until the Asuras called for Shiva, whose arrival failed to stop Surya's next attack. Sage Kashyapa also sensed trouble and headed toward the Ocean of Milk.

• Surya blinded Mali and Sumali with solar light and knocked them across the Ocean of Milk.
• Mali and Sumali called on Mahadeva for help, and the gods sensed their cries from Vaikuntha.
• Indra flew toward the Ocean of Milk, while Sage Kashyapa left to investigate the disturbance.
• Shiva awoke from meditation and descended to the Ocean of Milk after hearing his devotees call.
• Shiva ordered Surya to stop, but Surya fired spheres of light at Mali and Sumali.

Shiva destroyed Surya’s Solar Divine Light with his trident, and Indra intervened but was struck and disappeared beneath the Ocean of Milk. Believing Indra dead, Kashyapa blamed Shiva and cursed him.

• Surya attacked Mali and Sumali, who appealed to Shiva for protection as his devotees.
• Shiva hurled his trident and annihilated Surya’s Solar Divine Light before it continued toward Surya.
• Indra appeared to shield Surya, but Shiva’s trident struck him and plunged him into the Ocean of Milk.
• The gods cried that Indra was dead, and Kashyapa arrived and grieved over his son.
• Kartikeya accused Shiva of killing Indra, and Kashyapa raised his staff and cursed Shiva.

Indra and Andhaka survived the trident’s plunge into the Ocean of Milk, where Andhaka began recovering in the depths. Indra spotted a flaming white horse charging toward them, and Andhaka begged him to break the trident so they could escape.

• Kashyapa cursed Shiva above the Ocean of Milk, while Vishnu arrived and urged him to calm down.
• Indra resisted Shiva’s trident with his blessing and Vishnu’s armor as it carried him and Andhaka deeper into the Ocean of Milk.
• Andhaka began recovering in the dark depths and celebrated when he realized he might survive.
• Indra used his Thousand-Eyed Power to spot a flaming white horse approaching through the water.
• Andhaka sensed Shiva’s destructive fire within the horse, and Indra suspected Andhaka and the trident had drawn it to them.
• Andhaka pleaded with Indra to break the trident and help them escape, but Indra admitted he was not confident he could do so.

Indra escaped the trident in the Ocean of Milk and returned to the gods, while Shiva stopped Andhaka and killed Mali and Sumali. After Kashyapa apologized for cursing him, Shiva forgave him and began granting Indra a blessing.

• Andhaka urged Indra to break the trident, and Indra shattered it as the blazing white horse charged; the horse sank into the depths and transformed into a burning egg.
• Andhaka celebrated his freedom and tried to flee, but Shiva hurled a trident from the surface and pierced him as Indra emerged alive.
• Indra confronted Mali and Sumali, who could not finish their prayer for Shiva’s protection, and killed them with his Vajra Pestle.
• Kashyapa apologized to Shiva for cursing him, and Shiva reassured him that his anger came from parental love.
• Shiva praised Indra for risking his life for his brother and began granting him a blessing.

Indra survived and received Shiva’s blessing, while the Asuras learned that Mali and Sumali had been killed. Sukra used blood from the still-living Andhaka to prepare a fire sacrifice intended to revive Vritra, as Dharaka looked for a way to eliminate the Son of Mahadeva.

• Shiva blessed Indra’s Vajra Pestle to make sinners feel the pain they had caused, and the gods praised him.
• Shiva told Kartikeya to visit Kailasa when he had grown into a qualified warrior, then departed with Vishnu.
• Kashyapa returned to the palace and found Kadru still dressing, while Adha escaped the Ocean of Milk and reported Mali and Sumali’s deaths to Dharaka and Sukra.
• Sukra detected Andhaka’s blood on Adha’s armor and collected the blood to use in a fire sacrifice that might revive Vritra with Andhaka’s power.
• Dharaka agreed to Sukra’s plan and said he would use Vritra to draw the gods away from the Son of Mahadeva; Maya Asura then appeared, and Dharaka asked whether he had succeeded.

Dharaka learned that Maya Asura had completed an army of monstrous creatures and vowed to use it against Kartikeya. In Vaikuntha, Kartikeya prepared to challenge Garuda, but revealed that he had brought Garuda’s descendant Flower Tail as his mount.

• Maya Asura showed Dharaka the monstrous creatures bred in a cavern, and Dharaka celebrated his new army.
• Kartikeya defeated Vishwamitra in their sparring match and said Garuda was the last mount he needed to outrun.
• Indra, the gods, and Garuda gathered as Kartikeya announced his challenge.
• Kartikeya brought Flower Tail, Garuda’s descendant and his own mount, to help him face Garuda.
• Kartikeya explained that he was borrowing strength like the fox in Indra’s story, leaving Indra stunned and Garuda resentful.

Kartikeya, Flower Tail, and Red Crown teamed up to catch Garuda in a flying challenge, but their reunion was interrupted by a horde of demonic monsters. Garuda carried them toward Vaikuntha, where the devas and Gandharvas were already assembled for battle.

• Garuda outpaced Kartikeya and Flower Tail across the Ocean of Milk, but Kartikeya took one of Garuda's feathers and continued the chase.
• Red Crown stopped Garuda by pretending to ask for a ride, then pulled on reins to slow him down until Kartikeya caught up.
• Kartikeya defended his friends' help as righteous, and Garuda conceded the challenge to their teamwork.
• Kartikeya spotted countless demonic monsters approaching, so Garuda carried him, Flower Tail, and Red Crown toward Vaikuntha.
• Shesha noticed the monsters and went to alert the devas, while Garuda found the devas and Gandharvas assembled in battle formation outside Vaikuntha.

The gods and the Gandharvas prepared to defend Vaikuntha as a vast monster army advanced across the Ocean of Milk. Indra sent Kartikeya charging ahead to draw out the hidden Asuras, then used Maya power to leave a double behind and secretly follow him.

• Indra inspected the gods’ battle preparations as Garuda warned that the Asuras had sent countless monsters to attack.
• Surya, Vayu, Varuna, and Agni declared that they would fight, while Kartikeya armed himself with a Curved Soft Sword.
• Monsters surged from the Ocean of Milk, and Indra ordered the Gandharvas to charge in a Thunder Pestle Formation.
• Indra told Kartikeya to charge ahead so the Asuras would target him, and Kartikeya rode Flower Tail into the monster army.
• Indra created an identical figure on Airavata and followed Kartikeya secretly.

During the battle against the monsters, Indra watched Kartikeya, Surya, and Agni fight before rescuing Vayu after the Asura Kanira swallowed him. Indra destroyed Kanira with a Halahala arrow, and three Asura generals then charged at Kartikeya.

• Kartikeya cut through the monsters with his Curved Soft Sword while Indra watched, and Surya and Agni attacked the horde with their divine powers.
• Kanira appeared and swallowed Vayu after absorbing his wind currents.
• Kanira attacked Indra and healed his wounds by drawing in the wind, but Indra shot a dark-blue Halahala arrow into his mouth.
• Kanira swelled and exploded, freeing Vayu, who realized he had been eaten.
• Three Asura generals flew toward Kartikeya.

Indra defeated Abhva and Nalanki with the God Cleaver while Kartikeya escaped Bahuka’s shadow grip and killed him. After the gods turned the demonic monsters into a fragrant cooked feast, Indra prepared to divide it, drawing the attention of Vishnu, Lakshmi, Brahma, and Parvati.

• Nalanki, Abhva, and Bahuka attacked Kartikeya, breaking his shield and sword while Bahuka pinned him by his shadow.
• Red Crown wounded Abhva but was poisoned by Nalanki, while Abhva cracked Indra’s Golden Solar God Armor with the God Cleaver.
• Indra’s armor restored itself, and he defeated Abhva and cut Nalanki in half with the God Cleaver.
• Kartikeya broke free, killed Bahuka, and thanked Indra as Red Crown recovered from the poison.
• Indra and the gods cooked the demonic monsters into a fragrant feast, and Indra announced that it was time to divide it.

Indra and the gods offered their share of the purified demon-beasts to the deities, then divided the rest and received divine power in return. When they heard that Soma had given birth, they hurried to Moon God Palace, where Soma named his son Buto and ordered him to leave for the Human Realm.

• Indra offered the purified food to Narayana, Goddess Lakshmi, Shiva, his wife, and Goddess Saraswati, and the gods received returned power.
• Indra divided the remaining offerings among the gods and the Gandharvas who had fought in the battle.
• The gods heard an infant crying from Moon God Palace and went to visit Soma, while Kartikeya followed out of curiosity.
• Soma's family introduced his newborn son, who looked like Soma, and Soma named him Buto.
• Soma told the grown Buto to leave Moon God Palace and go to the Human Realm, shocking him.

Soma tried to send his newly born son Buto away, but Indra argued that Buto should stay so Soma could experience raising a child. Buto hesitated over Indra’s advice as Indra turned to address Soma.

• Buto asked Soma why he was driving him away, while Anusuya and Lucini urged Soma to keep his son close.
• Indra and the gods arrived, praised Buto, and brought Soma sacrificial offerings.
• After tasting the offerings, Soma welcomed the gods and invited them to drink with him.
• Soma told Buto to travel and gain experience, but Indra argued that Buto should stay and let Soma raise him.
• Buto considered Indra’s argument that leaving would deny Soma the joy and duty of fatherhood, and Indra turned to speak to Soma.

Indra forced Soma to relive his painful memories, persuading him to accept Buto and recover so he could travel to Kailasa with the gods. He encouraged Kartikeya to embrace his ambition to become Emperor of Heaven and seek Mahadeva’s help, while Dharaka prepared a scheme involving Vajra Body.

• Indra struck Soma with a golden rod, making him experience painful memories until he agreed that he loved Buto and wanted him to stay.
• Indra told Soma that Kartikeya could leave the mountains and urged him to recover so they could all travel to Kailasa together.
• After learning that Mahadeva was his father, Kartikeya fled to the Ocean of Milk, then later told Indra he wanted to become Emperor of Heaven.
• Indra said Kartikeya needed Mahadeva to awaken his power, and the two set out with the gods for Kailasa.
• Dharaka learned the gods were heading to Kailasa and decided he needed help before Kartikeya’s power awakened.
• Lotus-Eyed, Star-Eyed, and Dianhuan visited Vajra Body in the Human Realm, bringing him an object hidden beneath black cloth.

Vajra Body agreed to protect Dharaka after Varani threatened to kill herself, while Lust Asura spread desire in the Human Realm. Kartikeya arrived at Kailasa and met Parvati, who introduced the trident-bound Andhaka as his older brother.

• Dharaka asked Vajra Body to help defend the Heavenly Realm, but Vajra Body refused until Varani threatened to kill herself, prompting him to agree.
• Lust Asura sensed a new source of indulgent love and spread his power in the Human Realm, affecting Lainuja by the river.
• Dhatrija saw Kartikeya flying over Kailasa and resolved to undertake ascetic practice with his wife so Mahadeva might become his son.
• Nandi met Kartikeya at Kailasa and led him toward Parvati after Indra and the other devas arrived.
• Parvati joyfully brought Kartikeya to Mahadeva and introduced the trident-bound Andhaka as his older brother.

Kartikeya learned that Andhaka was his elder brother and witnessed Shiva keep him impaled as punishment for trying to become the Heavenly Emperor. Kartikeya was consecrated as commander of the Heavenly Army, received divine weapons and power, and asked Indra to place the Sacred Thread upon him, leaving his teacher scrambling to respond.

• Parvati introduced Andhaka as Kartikeya’s elder brother, and Shiva explained that Andhaka was being punished for seeking the Heavenly Emperor’s throne.
• Kartikeya honored Shiva and Parvati and vowed to defeat Dharaka, protect the gods, and defend the Heavenly Realm from the Asuras.
• Shiva consecrated Kartikeya with the waters of seven rivers and milk, awakening his six-headed, twelve-armed form.
• Indra and the gods gave Kartikeya divine weapons, while Shiva and Parvati each presented him with a spear.
• Kartikeya sensed his immense power and asked Indra to place the Sacred Thread upon him, but Indra realized he had not prepared for that part of the ceremony.

Indra gave Kartikeya a Sacred Thread forged from the Trimurti’s power, and Kartikeya led the gods toward the Heavenly Realm. There, Agni challenged White Horse Uchchaihshravas, but Vajra Body appeared and declared that he had come to protect the Heavenly Realm.

• Shiva, Vishnu, and Brahma sent golden light to create a Sacred Thread, which Indra placed on Kartikeya as he recognized him as a mature warrior.
• Indra rallied the gods and Gandharvas behind Kartikeya, who vowed to defeat Dharaka and the Asuras.
• Kartikeya and his forces arrived at the seemingly empty Heavenly Realm, where Vajra Body waited with White Horse Uchchaihshravas and noticed Indra was absent from the front.
• Agni recognized Uchchaihshravas and, encouraged by the Gandharvas’ hymns, asked Kartikeya for a chance to avenge his earlier defeat.
• Agni charged Uchchaihshravas and knocked the horse back, but Vajra Body appeared, mounted it, and declared that he had come to protect the Heavenly Realm.
• Vajra Body sent Uchchaihshravas charging at Agni before Agni could respond.

Agni challenged Vajra Body but was defeated, and Vajra Body overwhelmed the gods until Indra intervened and rescued Agni. Indra confronted Vajra Body in the Heavenly Realm, then used Maya to approach with a Vajra Pestle, while Vajra Body believed Indra's attack could not harm him.

• Agni attacked Vajra Body and struck White Horse Uchchaihshravas, but Vajra Body defeated him and carried him from the flames.
• Vayu, Varuna, Surya, Kubera, and Moon God Soma attacked Vajra Body, but his blessing let him shatter their combined divine power and send them flying.
• Kartikeya shielded the gods with a wall of arrows as Vajra Body's golden warhammers battered it, until Indra arrived and destroyed the hammers with his blessing.
• Indra used his Thousand-Eyed Power to find Agni and pull him and the Golden Goat to safety, then confronted Vajra Body, who said he had promised Dharaka to defend the Heavenly Realm.
• Indra used the Power of Maya to distract Vajra Body and raised his Vajra Pestle to strike, while Vajra Body dismissed the illusion and believed he could endure the blow.

Indra used Mahadeva’s blessing through the Vajra Pestle to make Vajra Body experience the suffering caused by his past actions, leading him to admit his neglect helped Dharaka become evil. After Vajra Body revealed that Dharaka was performing austerities in the Netherworld, a powerful shockwave erupted, leaving Indra to wonder if Dharaka had completed them.

• Indra struck Vajra Body with the Vajra Pestle, triggering memories of the harm caused by his past actions and his support of Dharaka.
• Indra told Vajra Body that he had failed in his duty as a father by indulging Dharaka, and Vajra Body realized he had been wrong.
• Vishnu and the gods were relieved as Vajra Body accepted responsibility and Indra asked where Dharaka was.
• Vajra Body said Dharaka was performing austerities for the goddess Tara while Two hundred ten thousand female Asuras gnawed at his flesh and blood.
• A powerful shockwave erupted from the Netherworld, and Indra wondered if Dharaka’s austerities had been completed.

Dharaka completed his arduous cultivation, gained two blessings from Goddess Tārā, and prepared the Asura army for war. As Sani joined the gods and planned to marry Manda after the battle, Vritra revived in the starry sky and threatened Surya.

• Dharaka endured being devoured by Asura women until Goddess Tārā appeared and granted him the power to become a terrifying monster.
• Dharaka asked Goddess Tārā to hide half his life force at the birthplace of the Son of Mahadeva, and she granted his second blessing in secret.
• Sukra revived Vritra and sent him toward the Human Realm as Dharaka rallied the Asura army to attack the gods.
• Sani arrived in the Heavenly Realm, announced that Mahadeva had named him God of Saturn, and asked Surya to bless his marriage to Manda after the battle.
• Vritra's black mist spread through the stars and began to envelop the sun, weakening Surya as the gods recognized their returned enemy.

Indra and the gods confronted Vritra as he devoured the stars, but Vritra overwhelmed Surya, Sani, and Soma. Indra arrived and punched Vritra apart with his bare fist, then faced the demon without a weapon as Vritra prepared to attack again.

• Soma recalled that Indra had defeated Vritra in the past, while the gods saw that Vritra had grown stronger by devouring the stars.
• Vritra trapped Surya in black mist, and Sani broke the bindings with his divine staff before Soma empowered him with Soma Wine.
• Vritra overwhelmed Sani and captured Soma, while Dharaka waited for Kartikeya to arrive and planned to kill him.
• Indra rode White Horse Uchchaihshravas into the starry sky and struck Vritra's face with his fist, scattering his upper body into black mist.
• Indra recognized that Vritra's blessing made weapons ineffective, freed himself to move toward Surya and Sani, and faced Vritra without a weapon.