Chikshuraचिक्षुर

The General’s Sequence of Attacks

Chikshura is named among the commanders who meet the goddess in the great battle. As her weapons and lion destroy Mahisha’s forces, he advances in anger and pours arrows at her. She cuts through the arrows, shoots his horses and charioteer, and destroys his bow and raised standard.

With his chariot useless and his bow broken, Chikshura takes a sword and shield and closes on the goddess. He strikes her lion on the head and then hits her left arm. The sword breaks against her arm, leaving the general to change weapons again.

Chikshura takes a pike and hurls it toward the goddess. She answers with a pike of her own, which breaks his weapon into fragments and destroys Chikshura as well. The account then identifies him again as Mahisha’s valiant general and moves to the attack of Chamara, another commander who comes forward on an elephant.

The fighting continues after Chikshura’s death. The goddess defeats several other Asura chiefs, and Mahisha himself finally attacks in buffalo form. Chikshura’s duel belongs to this ordered collapse of the command structure around Mahisha before the goddess’s encounter with the Asura king.