The sages, eager to understand the intricacies of the marriages that had taken place, asked for the truth in detail. The bard began his narration, recounting how the king, after worshipping Tamasi—the power that deludes all beings—received from her a supreme armor, terrifying to all creatures. Armed with this divine protection, the king set out upon the earth. His wife, Pramada, bore him ten sons: Matta, Pramatta, Unmatta, Sumatta, Durmatta, Durmukha, Durdhara, Bahu, Suratha, and Viratha. Their sister, Su, was a woman of exceptional beauty, her eyes rolling from intoxication, captivating all who beheld her. Maya Varman, humble in mind, approached and promised to accomplish their entire task without doubt. Meanwhile, Kitava, dwelling in a cavern shrouded in terrible darkness, abandoned Su at dawn and retreated deeper into the cave. When Varmadeva was born, the king, overcome with pride, sent for Taraka to be summoned to the king of the earth, who was powerful and commanded an army of one hundred and sixty thousand. On the fifteenth day of the dark fortnight, those devoted to vows gathered together. Maya Varman saw Taraka accompanied by kings. Kitava, intelligent and renowned among the Daityas, was present as well. The princes, assembled for the sake of the king’s son, were slain, and their wealth was plundered in many ways by Kitava, who departed intoxicated by his deeds. Upon hearing of these events, the king of the earth gathered his entire army. Yet Kitava, the magician, defeated all the mighty ones. Taraka, distressed by the turn of events, meditated upon the supreme Shankara. Meanwhile, the inhabitants of Mahavati arrived. The king of the earth, seeing the strength of their armies, was awed. Through deceit, the Dānava destroyed Taraka. When this news reached the steadfast ones—Krishnamsa and the lion among the gods—they joined the fray, and battle raged day and night. Bewildering the army, their adversary roared again and again. Then Sukhakhani, the valiant one, overcame the powerful gambler. The three companions, now happy, praised Sukhakhani. The queen, daughter of the king, chose Sukhakhani as her own. Addressing him with various words, she brought the king of the earth to the scene. The king, pleased, gave ten million gold coins to Balakhani, a man of great strength. Prabhavati, Balakhani’s daughter, became the younger sister of ten sons: Bala, Prabala, Subala, Balavan, and Bali. A yaksha named Karabha, servant of King Lallara, after five years, enjoyed the maiden. Mulavarma summoned the king of the earth along with his army. He declared, “I give Prabhavati, the auspicious maiden, to Nrhara,” and thus gave his daughter to Nrhara according to Vedic rites. Within a fortnight, the yaksha Karabha arrived there. The king of the earth was sorrowful, for his two sons, Vatsaja, were very powerful. Hearing of these events, Krishnamsa approached Karabha, the yaksha-servant. The two brothers, united, used a sword to cut the naga-bond, freeing themselves. The king of the earth, his mind pleased, joyfully entered the threshold. Then Suta spoke: In Kashmir, there was a king renowned by the name Kaikaya. He was desirous, exceedingly passionate, filled with both desire and lack of desire, and utterly shameless.