गालव उवाच । पुरा दैवासुरे युद्धे दानवा बलदर्पिताः । देवान्निजघ्नुः संग्रामे घोररूपाः सुदारुणाः
gālava uvāca | purā daivāsure yuddhe dānavā baladarpitāḥ | devānnijaghnuḥ saṃgrāme ghorarūpāḥ sudāruṇāḥ
Gālava said: Long ago, in the war between the gods and the Asuras, the Dānavas—drunk with strength and pride—struck down the gods in battle, terrible in form and exceedingly fierce.
Gālava
Listener: Paijavana
Scene: A fierce battlefield where towering Dānavas overwhelm the devas; broken chariots, swirling dust, and darkened sky foreshadow divine intervention.
Pride in power leads to downfall and disorder, setting the stage for refuge in dharma and divine protection.
Not named in this verse; it serves as narrative groundwork within the broader Hāṭakeśvara-kṣetra-māhātmya context.
None—this is narrative background.