Part 2 - Summary of the drama (Tripuradāha)

First Act –

As Nārada had observed, the demons had become haughty having been blessed by Brahmā. They started troubling the gods. Thus, Nārada decided to instigate gods against the demons. He reached the hermitage of Maheśa and saw that gods were already worshipping Maheśa. When Maheśa opened his eyes, he saw gods were looking dejected. Nārada told him that the gods were in trouble, because, the demons had already started war and he was living here as an ascetic. Thereafter, Indra asked Maheśa, as to what should be done. Maheśa replied to him that the obedient gods could defeat the Demons any time.

After getting inspiration from Maheśa, Yama, Vāyu, Indra, etc. decided to destroy demons. When Nārada asked about Tripurāsura, Bṛhaspati replied that Tripurāsura is like a comet in the three worlds that moves in the sky, makes the space weak, terrifies the earth and breaks the serpent Śeṣa, the hero of the hell. Pṛthivī and Śeṣa cried in front of Maheśa describing their conditions. In the mean time, Rāhu swallowed the sun. Maheśa became extremely angry and asked Nandī to bring his bow, as he would like to make the solar world free from Rāhu. However, Nandī convinced Maheśa not to kill Rāhu, because it is very small thing for him to kill that bodiless Rāhu. He further advised Maheśa to first burn Tripuras, by which the root could be destroyed and the heaven, space and earth could be freed.

When asked as to who shall be the chief of Commander in the war, Kārtikeya demanded the position of Commander. However, Maheśa decided to seek advice of Brahmā and Kṛṣṇa and sent Nārada to call them.

Second Act–

On the other side, Tripurāsua started making plans for the war with gods, getting news from the spy. He appointed Āloka and Viparīta to deceive Brahmā and Maheśa by the illusion. When Nārada was informing Viṣṇu about the invitation of Maheśa, Nandī reached there and accused Nārada of creating quarrel between Viṣṇu and Maheśa. Nārada became surprised listening to this from Nandī and asked as to when he did it. Nandī replied that he had come to Maheśa and told him that Viṣṇu alone could destroy the demons and he is not a stone to obey his order. Nārada disagreed and told that he has not said this; and even he has not gone to Maheśa. Consequently, Viṣṇu came to know by the meditation that it was the work of demonsand they did it through the deceit. Viṣṇu sent Nandī immediately to tell Maheśa that Nārada had never come to him and also that he would be reaching him with Brahmā. In the mean time, Brahmā reached there with artificial Nārada. He was scolding artificial Nārada saying that he was not his son, because he would listen to Viṣṇu, who blamed him. He would not fight with Viṣṇu but would kill him by the curse. However, when they reached the place of Viṣṇu, the real Nārada was present there and was hearing their conversation. The real Nārada asked his father (Brahmā) as to what was wrong with him, as Viṣṇu was greeting him. In the meanwhile, artificial Nārada vanished from the place. Thus, Brahmā came to know that he was miss-led by the artificial Nārada. Then Nandī told Maheśa the fact. Further, Maheśa reached the place of Viṣṇu. Brahmā and Maheśa told as to how the artificial Nārada cheated them. Nārada got angry by knowing that Brahmā blessed Tripurāsua. Brahmā realized his mistake and told that they could destroy Tripuras by a single arrow. Nārada retorted that since the Tripuras were flying hundred miles away, how they could be destroyed by a single arrow.

Then the demons started occupying the heavenand Viṣṇu hence, created the darkness everywhere. Thus, the demons started killing each other in the dark without knowing as to who they were killing.

Third Act–

When the demons came to know that the gods created the darkness artificially, they removed it by the illusion called “Kaumudī”. Then the gods started attacking Tripurāsura. The armies of demons also started fighting with the gods. Viśadāśaya, the priest of Sarvatāpa did so many things for the prosperity of Sarvatāpa, the lord of demon. Further, Sūryatāpapur started burning by the sun with the help of fire. Thus, Sarvatāpa decided to efface the sun. The iron city of the demons started melting and demons fell in it. Sarvatāpa got angry, when he came to know that the iron city of his brother Sūryatāpa has meltedand he could not help him because he was afraid of his death. There, Sūryatāpa entered desperately into the comet, to save himself.

Seeing the condition of his brother Sūryatāpa, Sarvatāpa became worried about the other brother Candratāpa. Meanwhile Himālaya and Candramā attacked Candratāpapura. They started raining snows heavily on Candratāpapura. Sarvatāpa used his firearms to save Candratāpapura but all efforts went in vain, as it started melting by the touch of firearms. Therefore, Sarvatāpa stopped firing and ordered Candratāpa to come out and fight with gods.

Around the same time, Nandi and Kārtikeya attacked Sarvatāpa and his army. The demons were being killed but they were regaining their life, because they were thrown into the pond of ambrosia. When Bhārgava came, he saw that Kārtikeya is fighting with Sarvatāpa, who (Kārtikeya) is his own brother. Then Sarvatāpa embraced Kārtikeya and also was blessed by Brahmā to be immortal. In the meanwhile, Nārada reached there by the order of Maheśa and said that Sarvatāpa and Kumāra should not fight with each other because it would shame him. Thus, Nārada went to Kumāra and said that Maheśa accepts Bhārgava as his son and Sarvatāpa is accepted by Bhārgava. Therefore, Kumāra should not fight with Sarvatāpa.

Fourth Act:

The gods readied themselves to destroy Tripuras. Brahmā became the charioteer, Śiva became the warrior, Pṛthivī became the chariot, Himālaya became the bow, Śeṣa became the string and Viṣṇu became the arrow. Then the chariot started moving and Maheśa saw all the Tripuras, i.e. Svarṇapura, Rājatapura and Lauhapura standing together in front of him, which could be destroyed by a single arrow. However, Viṣṇu said that these were not the real Tripuras. These Tripuras are artificially made by Bhārgava. Even Sarvatāpa did not know about these artificial Tripuras, which were created to cheat the gods and to protect the real Tripuras. When Sarvatāpa came to know about it from the spy, he felt offended.

Then Maheśa saw the real Tripuras, but he was confused, as to which Tripuras be attacked. In the meanwhile, Sarvatāpa ordered his brothers to destroy the artificial Tripuras, thinking that they are made by gods. However, then Śiva saw the real Tripuras, who were running for their life and started raining the firearms. After destroying the Tripuras, Śiva stopped the chariot on the Kailāsa Mountain and acknowledged all the gods that it was not his victory, but it was the victory of all of the gods.