The great boon of the Goddess was upon the royal princes, and she proclaimed to them: “All of you shall become lords of the Manvantaras. Your progeny will flourish without end, and you will enjoy great pleasures and abundant unions. By my grace, you will have unbroken strength, sovereignty, fame, brilliance, and glory—each of you, in your due turn.” Having thus granted her blessings, Bhrāmarī, the Mother of the Universe, vanished swiftly from their sight, her form worshipped and praised with deep devotion by those blessed princes. In that very lifetime, the royal sons enjoyed supreme sovereignty and the delights of the earth, endowed with immense power. They established unbroken lineages, founding dynasties that would stand tall upon the earth, and each became a lord among the Manus. In the births that followed, these princes attained the exalted status of Sāvarṇi Manus. The first among them was Dakṣa Sāvarṇi, known as the ninth Manu, who, by the grace of the Goddess, became mighty and unconquerable. The second was Meru Sāvarṇi, the tenth Manu, also raised to lordship of a Manvantara by the favor of the great Goddess. The third was Sūrya Sāvarṇi, and the fourth, the eleventh Manu, was Candra Sāvarṇi, radiant with energy and perfected through austerity. The twelfth Manu was a mighty king, who by worship of the Goddess became lord of a Manvantara. The fifth was Rudra Sāvarṇi, remembered as the thirteenth Manu, who, endowed with strength and might, became lord of the world. The sixth was Viṣṇu Sāvarṇi, the fourteenth Manu, accomplished in great deeds and renowned among the worlds, again by the boon of the Goddess. Thus, these fourteen Manus, by their devotion to the Goddess, were ever honored and praised in all the worlds. Their brilliance and strength were unsurpassed, their glory radiant, all by the grace of Bhrāmarī. At this, the sage Nārada, filled with wonder and longing, asked: “Who is this Goddess Bhrāmarī? How was she born, and what is her nature? Tell me, O wise one, the wondrous story that destroys sorrow. Never do I tire of hearing the nectar of the Goddess’s tales, for those who drink this nectar by hearing are untouched by death.” Śrī Nārāyaṇa replied: “Listen well, Nārada, and I shall recount to you the deeds of the Mother of the Universe, whose form is inconceivable and unmanifest, wondrous and bestowing liberation. All her actions are for the welfare of the worlds, moved by a compassion as pure and unfailing as a mother’s for her child. In ancient times, there was a mighty demon named Aruṇa, of immense strength, dwelling in Pātāla among the Daityas. He was a great enemy of the gods, exceedingly wicked, and harbored the desire to conquer them. To this end, he undertook severe austerities, directing his penance to the Lotus-born Brahmā, believing that Brahmā would become his protector. Aruṇa journeyed to the slopes of Mount Himavat, where the waters of the Gaṅgā flow cool and pure. There, living only on fallen leaves, he restrained his breath and practiced deep yoga. Absorbed in the recitation of the Gāyatrī, filled with desire and shrouded in darkness, he subsisted for ten thousand years on nothing but water droplets. For another ten thousand years, he lived on air alone. Then, for yet another ten thousand years, he took no food at all. Such was the intensity of his austerities that fire arose from his body and threatened to burn the entire world—a marvel that filled all beings with awe and fear. The gods trembled, asking, “What is this? What is this?” Terrified, they sought refuge with Brahmā. Hearing their plea, Brahmā, the four-faced Lord, set out joyously, accompanied by Gāyatrī and mounted on his swan. He beheld Aruṇa, reduced to little more than breath, his veins prominent, belly shriveled, limbs emaciated, eyes closed in deep meditation. Yet, Aruṇa shone with a brilliance like a second fire. Brahmā spoke: “Choose a boon, good one, whatever is in your heart.” These words, sweet as nectar, filled Aruṇa with delight. Opening his eyes, he saw before him the lotus-born god, with Gāyatrī and the four Vedas at his side, holding a rosary and water pot, engaged in sacred japa. Rising, Aruṇa bowed and praised Brahmā with many hymns. He then asked for the boon fixed in his mind: “Let there not be death for me.” Brahmā, hearing this, instructed him with respect: “Even Brahmā, Viṣṇu, Maheśa and others are subject to death—what then of others? Ask for a boon within my power, for the wise never insist on the impossible.” Aruṇa, understanding, requested: “Let my death not come in battle, nor by weapons or missiles, nor from men or women, nor from two-footed or four-footed beings, nor from those of both forms. Grant me, O Lord, such a boon regarding death, and bestow upon me the strength to conquer the gods.” Brahmā replied, “So be it.” Having granted the boon, the lotus-born god swiftly returned to his abode. Now, filled with pride from Brahmā’s boon, Aruṇa summoned the Daityas of the netherworld. They came at his call, acknowledging him as their lord. Aruṇa then sent a messenger to Amaravati, the city of the gods, declaring war. Upon hearing the messenger’s words, Indra, king of the gods, trembled with fear. Quickly, he and the other gods went to the abode of Brahmā, and with Brahmā and Viṣṇu at the forefront, they proceeded to the dwelling of Śaṅkara, seeking refuge and counsel.