Having bathed at all the sacred places, the king duly satisfied the twice-born Brahmins and the deities with offerings and reverence. Thus, O wise one, I have described how the conquest of the directions was accomplished. On the seventh day of the dark fortnight, the mighty king of the earth prepared for a significant event. It is said that his own son was offered to Śāradāvara. At this time, the king honored his loyal vassal, and summoning his son named Cāmuṇḍa, addressed him with affection and wisdom: “My son, always fulfill the king’s duty, for you delight in the ways of battle. O king, give me your command, and you shall quickly attain victory. Go forth—cut down my śirīṣa forest and claim the excellent kingdom. If you conquer Balakhāni and offer it to me, my desire will be fulfilled.” Having thus spoken, Cāmuṇḍa summoned the mighty Raktabīja and gathered his own army. After three days of journeying, they reached the place called Śirīṣa. News of Cāmuṇḍa’s arrival reached Balakhāni, who was himself a mighty warrior. Balakhāni, with an army a hundred thousand strong, marched out from his city, accompanied by his heroic younger brother Sukhakhani and his own forces. Balakhāni, mounted upon a pigeon, fiercely attacked and destroyed the enemy’s army. A great and terrible battle erupted between the two sides, bringing ruin and devastation to both armies. When morning came, after performing the proper rituals of bathing and worship, Balakhāni mounted his chariot, while Cāmuṇḍa rode upon the back of a great elephant. The two valiant warriors, bearing sword and shield, severed arrows with arrows and fought each other with joyful devotion to the goddess. As the battle raged, every drop of blood that fell from Raktabīja’s body gave rise to fierce warriors, maddened by intoxication, and Balakhāni engaged each one in combat. Meanwhile, the hero Sukhakhani, Balakhāni’s younger brother, had previously offered oblations to the god of fire and obtained a splendid, fiery arrow—capable of destroying his enemies. Seeing the destruction of the enemy, Balakhāni, powerful and wise, became fearful of incurring the sin of killing a Brahmin. To avoid this, he disguised himself as 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, Brahmi, was renowned as pure and devoted to her husband. Assuming the forms of Brahmin women, they went to Balakhāni’s house. By fortune, the two sons were great heroes and destroyers of enemies. Then Brāhmī spoke: “The auspicious arrow belongs to Pāvaka.” Understanding this, the messengers set out toward Dehalī. Hearing of these events, the king approached Mahādeva, the consort of Umā, seeking divine guidance. Sūta then said: O sage, there is a lake named Bindu, situated in the southern direction. On its shore was a village, extending for a yojana in measure. In that village lived a king, born in the illustrious lineage of Viṣvaksena. By the power of his celibacy, his energy was established firmly in his head. Through sacrifices, he worshipped Prajāpati, the foremost of the gods. After ten months, a daughter was born to him—she who was the very abode of all virtues.