Matsyapurana 138.45

138.45

paraśvadhahataḥ śūraḥ śailādiḥ śarabho yathā
dudrāva khaḍgaṃ niṣkṛṣya tārakākhyo gaṇeśvaram //

The awful red-eyed Târakâsura made a dash towards Śiva but Nandî held him at bay As a perfumer whets his sandalwood so Nandî sharpened his battle axe and hit the demon Târaka with it Thus struck by battle axe the powerful Târakasura with sword unsheathed dashed against Nandî like a Śarabha of a mountain (an eighteen foot animal stronger than a lion) Then Nandî attacked him and severed him from his body as one tears away one's sacred thread and roared aloud When Târakasura was thus killed the Devas blew the heavy conch shells and shouted out loud thundering noise—43 46