Dadhīci, the noble sage, was filled with joy as he welcomed the gods into his hermitage. With deep reverence, he honored each deity individually and, together with his beloved wife, performed all the sacred duties of a householder to serve them. After these offerings, Dadhīci inquired about the gods’ well-being, engaging them in warm conversation. The gods, pleased to be in his company and seeing him happy with his wife, spoke kindly to the sage. Seated comfortably, Dadhīci’s mind shone with delight, and the gods bowed to him again and again. They addressed him with affection, saying, “O sage, with compassionate souls like you on earth—who are as wish-fulfilling trees—what is there that we cannot obtain in this world? Truly, the greatest blessing for living beings is to bathe in holy places, to show compassion to all creatures, and to behold sages such as yourself. “What we say to you, O sage, springs from our affection. Having conquered the Daityas and slain the foremost Rākṣasas, we have come here. We are happy, especially upon seeing you, O Brahman. Yet, we find ourselves unable to bear the burden of weapons any longer, nor is it our destiny to do so. O lord of sages, no place remains for us to keep our weapons. In heaven, our enemies know of them and seize them; in the netherworld, our weapons are also taken. Therefore, O bestower of honor, let us entrust these weapons to your sacred hermitage. “Here, O Brahmin, there is no danger—not from the Dānavas nor from the fierce Rākṣasas. By your command, this holy place is secure, and none can match your austerity. Our enemies have been vanquished, O foremost knower of Brahman. The Daityas were slain by us with these weapons, and now, having fulfilled their purpose, these burdensome arms should be placed near you, O lord of sages. “We enjoy divine pleasures with our chosen companions in the Nandana garden of the gods. When our work is done, we return to our own realms, and the weapons are guarded.” Having heard these words, Dadhīci replied to the gods, “So be it.” Though his wife tried to restrain him, he said, “Why should one act against the purpose of the gods?” He continued, “Those who know the scriptures and are devoted to the highest truth, who have cast aside attachment to worldly affairs—what concern have they for the misfortunes of others, when they seek no happiness either here or hereafter? Those who hate the gods pursue enmity. Listen, O best of Brahmins: when weapons are lost or taken, the gods become angry, and those who took them become their enemies. “Therefore, O foremost knower of the Veda, it is not right to claim another’s property as one’s own. Friendship endures as long as the object remains, but when it is lost or taken, those others become your enemies. If you have the power to give, then you must give to one who asks—what is there to consider? Otherwise, the virtuous serve others with words, thoughts, and deeds.” Hearing her husband’s wise words, Dadhīci’s beloved wife fell silent, understanding that nothing happens apart from fate. Then, the gods, having deposited their radiant weapons, departed. They bowed to the lord of sages and, their purpose fulfilled, returned to their own worlds. Dadhīci, the eminent sage, joyful and righteous, remained in his hermitage with his wife. A long time passed—a full thousand divine years—during which the gods neither spoke nor thought about their weapons, nor did they take any action regarding them. Dadhīci said to his virtuous wife, “O gentle one, the enemies of the gods now hate me. The gods do not wish to reclaim the weapons they left here—tell me, what is proper?” She replied respectfully, “You know, lord, what is right. The Daityas have grown greatly in power, possessing extraordinary austerity and strength. They will seize the weapons.” To protect them, Dadhīci performed a sacred rite, purifying the weapons with mantras and holy water. That sanctified water, infused with the energy and merit of all the weapons, Dadhīci drank. In time, by the force of destiny, the power of the weapons waned and they gradually perished. Then, the gods assembled and approached Dadhīci, saying, “A great danger has come upon us from our enemies. Give us, O eminent sage, the weapons that were entrusted to you by the gods.” Dadhīci replied, “Out of fear of the enemies of the gods, and because you did not return soon, the weapons have been drunk and now reside within my body, as has been said. Let the gods declare what is proper for me.” Hearing these words, the gods humbly addressed him: “O best of sages, it is possible to say, ‘Give us your weapons and body,’ but nothing else can be said in reply. Without these weapons, our enemies will always overpower us. Where shall we go, O lord of sages? Today, there can be no dwelling for the gods in the world of mortals, nor in the underworld, nor in heaven. You, excellent brahmin, endowed with ascetic power, alone can decide what should be done.” Dadhīci then said, “Let the gods take the weapons formed from my bones—there is no doubt about this.” The gods replied, “What use is this to us? Deprived of weapons, O lord, we have become powerless.” The sage answered, “I shall abandon my bodily life in union with yoga. Let the supreme weapons, possessing excellent forms, be fashioned from my bones.” The gods agreed, saying, “Do so,” to Dadhīci, whose spirit was unwavering. At that moment, his beloved wife, radiant like fire and full of affection, was not present. The gods, not seeing her, quickly and anxiously urged the sage, “Do it.” Dadhīci, full of affection, relinquished his difficult-to-renounce life, saying, “Enjoy this body as you wish.” Having spoken thus, he sat in the lotus posture, his gaze fixed at the tip of his nose, serene and radiant. Through mastery of breath, inner fire, and the central channel, he gradually led his vital air into the space of the heart. Fixing his mind on that immeasurable, supreme state—the very form of Brahman and worthy of meditation—the great soul attained union with Brahman. When the gods and immortals saw his lifeless body, they hurried to Tvaṣṭṛ and said, “Quickly make many weapons now.” Tvaṣṭṛ replied, “How should this be done, O gods? I fear to act cruelly toward a brahmin’s body, and I am unable to do so. Yet, the excellent weapons must be fashioned. For your benefit, the thunderbolt’s head will be made. The cows, together with the gods, will provide weapons.” In an instant, Dadhīci’s body was split open, and his pure bones were gathered. At the gods’ command, the bones were given to them. The gods, now full of vigor, quickly departed, and the cows returned to their own abodes. Having made the weapons for the gods, Tvaṣṭṛ too departed, following their command. After some time, Śīlavatī, the virtuous and fortunate wife of Dadhīci, who was pregnant, hastened toward her husband’s hermitage. Carrying a water-filled pot, and bowing to Umā with fruits and flowers, she came quickly, longing to see the sacred fire, her husband, and the hermitage.