For the fulfillment of his purpose, Gorakha, the master of all yoga, fixed his mind with unwavering concentration upon his heart. With reverence, those present bowed to him and humbly spoke: “If you wish to grant a boon, please give it.” Hearing these words and meditating deeply, Gorakha, with a clear mind, replied, “Afterwards, having become free of impurity, he will come to me.” Then, with firm resolve, Gorakha declared, “From today onward, O hero, I have renounced this world.” Having spoken thus, the great yogi vanished from their midst and departed for the battlefield. There, in the heat of combat, he slew ten thousand from the opposing army and plundered their house. Journeying onward, he came to the land of Kosala and conquered its king, joyfully obtaining the tribute of sixteen years and a hundred million coins. On the auspicious day of Holika, Lakṣaṇa became even more powerful. At that time, we sages and the king, absorbed in meditation, performed sacred rites. Having bathed at all the holy places, we satisfied the twice-born and the deities with offerings and devotion. Thus, O learned one, I have recounted to you how the conquest of the directions took place. On the seventh day of the dark fortnight, the mighty king of the earth received news—his own son had been offered to Śāradāvara. In response, the loyal vassal was honored by the king, who then summoned his son, Cāmuṇḍa, and spoke to him, “Son, always perform the king’s duty, for you delight in battle.” Cāmuṇḍa replied, “O king, give me your command; you will quickly attain victory.” The king instructed, “Having cut down my śirīṣa forest, take possession of the excellent kingdom. If you conquer Balakhāni and offer it to me—” With these words, he summoned Raktabīja and his own army. After three days’ journey, they reached the place called Śirīṣa. Hearing of Cāmuṇḍa’s approach, the mighty Balakhāni, with an army of a hundred thousand, marched out from the city, accompanied by his valiant younger brother Sukhakhani and their forces. Balakhani, mounted upon a pigeon, fiercely attacked and destroyed the enemy’s ranks. A great battle ensued between the two sides, bringing ruin to both armies. When morning dawned, after performing their rituals and bathing, Balakhani ascended his chariot, and Cāmuṇḍa mounted the back of an elephant. The two valiant warriors, swords and shields in hand, severed arrows with arrows and fought joyfully, their devotion offered to the goddess. As the battle raged, every drop of blood that fell from Raktabija’s body gave rise to fierce warriors, maddened by intoxication, and Balakhani engaged them all in combat. Meanwhile, the heroic Sukhakhani, his younger brother, recalled that he had previously offered oblations to the god of fire and, as a result, had obtained a splendid fiery arrow, capable of destroying his enemies. Despite the carnage, Balakhani, seeing the destruction of the enemy, was mindful of the sin of killing a Brahmin. Out of fear, he disguised himself in the form of a woman. With the remaining five hundred thousand soldiers slain, he made his way to Dehali. When the lord of the earth beheld Cāmuṇḍa in the guise of a woman, he wondered, “How will victory be mine, and how will Sukhakhani survive?” Their mother, known as Brahmi, was pure and devoted to her husband. Then, assuming the form of Brahmin women, they went to Balakhani’s house.