Though the exalted Rudra was in this plight, he did not kill Mahisha, for he knew that the wicked wretch would be killed by Skanda.
तथाभूते तु भगवान् नावधीन्महिषं रणे। सस्मार च तदा स्कन्दं मृत्यु तस्य दुरात्मनः॥