Puranic Encyclopaedia: A Comprehensive Dictionary with Special Reference to the Epic and Puranic Literature c5.907

c5.907

(3) *Killing of the Asura, Virasena.* Once a powerful Asura named Virasena attacked Vaiśravaṇa. When lord Śiva came to know of it he tried to defeat Virasena, but in vain. At Śiva’s request, Mahāviṣṇu entered the scene. He was also unable to subdue the Asura. Viṣṇu advised Vaiśravaṇa to seek the help of Dilipa. Dilipa went to Alakāpurī and encountered Virasena. Under the shower of arrows from Dilipa, blood began to flow from the body of Virasena. But each drop of his blood came to life as a new Virasena and all those Virasenas continued a ceaseless battle with Dilipa. At last Dilipa prayed to Rakteśvarī who suddenly appeared and drank all the blood. In this way the king managed to kill Virasena. (Kampa Rāmāyaṇa, Yuddha Kāṇḍa).