Having bound his own sister together with the mighty elephant, the demon Mahāśani, abandoning his cruelty, went to report this deed to Hiraṇya. Known for his insatiable appetite and surpassing his ancestors in strength, Mahāśani placed Śacī’s beloved, Indra, upon the ground and stood guard over him. Having defeated Hari, Mahāśani turned his ambition toward conquering Varuṇa. But Varuṇa, wise and discerning, instead offered his own daughter in marriage to Mahāśani. Along with his daughter, Varuṇa also gave his abode—the ocean—to the demon, and a deep friendship blossomed between them. Through his strength, fame, heroism, and power, Mahāśani became especially dear to Varuṇa’s daughter. In those days, Mahāśani, the great demon, stood without equal in all the three worlds. With Indra absent, the gods gathered together. They resolved, “Only Viṣṇu should be the giver of Indra—he alone, the slayer of demons, knower of mantras, can create another Indra.” Consulting among themselves, the gods presented their plan to Viṣṇu, saying, “Mahāśani, the great demon, must not be slain by you.” Viṣṇu then went to his father-in-law, the lord of waters, Varuṇa, and described Indra’s defeat. He urged, “You must act so that Purandara, Indra, may return.” At Viṣṇu’s request, Varuṇa quickly departed. Greatly honored by his brother-in-law, Varuṇa approached Mahāśani, the mighty son of Hiraṇya and lord of demons. The demon respectfully inquired about the purpose of Varuṇa’s visit. Varuṇa explained, “Give me Indra, the lord of the gods, whom you defeated and bound in the netherworld—he is my friend. Grant us always the one honored by all, O slayer of my enemy. If you bind and release your enemy, you will gain great fame among the virtuous.” With some reluctance, Mahāśani agreed, saying, “So be it,” and handed over Indra, still bound with the elephant, to Varuṇa. There, shining among the demons, Mahāśani honored Hari with great offerings in the presence of the lord of waters, and then addressed Maghavan, Indra himself. He asked, “By whom have you been made Indra today? By what power do you speak so boldly in battle? Though oppressed by enemies, you still become Indra—this is strange. Yet, if a woman is bound by a man, her husband should release her—this is proper. Women are not independent; men are foremost. You, O Śakra, will indeed become a man, O noble one.” He continued, “Bound by me in battle, your vehicle, your weapon—the thunderbolt of immense power, the wish-fulfilling jewel, the Nandana garden, those celestial women, your fame and strength—all these are for the enjoyment of the king of the gods. That which is life, which is the treasure of fame, is itself death when it opposes fame. Knowing this, O Śakra, how have you, having gained release from the lord of waters, not felt any shame?” Mahāśani remarked, “Dwelling in heaven, surrounded by all the gods, fanned by your beloved, praised by the Apsarases—surely, I think, shame is afraid of you. You are the slayer of Vṛtra and Namuci, destroyer of cities, breaker of enclosures, wielder of the thunderbolt. Thus the gods honor you—therefore, O conqueror, renounce all this. Those who, having undergone a transformation born of enmity, continue to live and move among the worlds—how could one born from a lotus, like you, not feel a breaking of the heart at such disgrace?” Having spoken thus, the lord of the Daityas returned Indra to mighty Varuṇa and addressed him further: “From this day forward, Indra shall be the disciple, and Varuṇa the teacher—my father-in-law—by whom, O Vāsava, you have obtained your release. Thus, you must conduct yourself as a servant toward Varuṇa; if not, I will bind you again and cast you down to the netherworld.” Mahāśani rebuked Śakra, laughing again and again, and said, “Go, go,” granting his consent to Varuṇa. Indra returned to his own abode, his mind clouded with shame, and told Paulomī, his wife, all that had happened, including his defeat by the enemy. Thus addressed and treated by the enemy, Indra said to Paulomī, “O fair-faced one, tell me by what means I may restore myself.” Paulomī replied, “I know, O destroyer of strength, the origin of the Dānavas, their magic, their defeat, the boons they received, and their death. Therefore, listen as I tell you everything by which his death or defeat might occur, for your satisfaction.” She explained, “A hero, son of Hiraṇya, and also the son of his uncle, powerful—thus he is my brother, made arrogant by the boon he received. He pleased Brahmā through austerity and discipline; having attained such power through austerity, what cannot be accomplished? Therefore, you should not allow attachment or amazement to arise in your mind in any way. Listen now to what must be done, as it comes in order.” Having spoken thus, Paulomī addressed Indra with humility: “Nothing is unattainable through austerity, nothing is unattainable through sacrificial acts, nothing is unattainable for Viṣṇu, the lord of the worlds, or for Hara, through devotion. Once again, my dear, I have heard something most excellent: only women themselves know the nature of women, O lord of the gods. Therefore, O master, nothing is unattainable for the earth and for women; whether through austerity, sacrificial rites, or other actions, it is from them that these arise. Among these, the earth that is a sacred place should be visited by you; there, by worshipping Viṣṇu and Shiva, you will obtain all desires. Again, I have heard this: those women who are devoted to their husbands alone know everything, all that is held by them, both moving and unmoving.” Thus, Paulomī guided Indra, revealing the wisdom and power that lies in austerity, devotion, and the knowledge of women and the earth, setting him on the path to reclaim his strength and honor.