With utmost delight, Lord Viṣṇu addressed the two mighty demons before him, saying, “Ask of me whatever you wish for in battle. Many demons have engaged me in combat before, but never have I seen or heard of any who equal you two in power and valor. Therefore, I am pleased with your incomparable strength. O mighty ones, tell me your desire—whatever you wish, I shall grant.” Hearing these words, the two demons—Madhu and Kaitabha—were filled with pride and longing, their hearts captivated by the presence of Mahāmāyā, the great goddess who brings joy to the world. Overwhelmed by desire, they gazed at her, then turned to Viṣṇu, the lotus-eyed Lord, and spoke, “O Hari, we are not petitioners—why do you wish to grant us boons? O Lord of the gods, if you wish to give, then give equally, for we are givers, not beggars.” They continued, “O Hṛṣīkeśa, you ask for whatever boon your mind desires. Be pleased with the wondrous battle you have had with us, O Vāsudeva.” Hearing their words, Janārdana replied, “Let it be so—today you shall be pleased with me. The boon I choose is this: both of you shall be slain by me.” Sūta, the storyteller, said: Upon hearing Viṣṇu’s words, Madhu and Kaitabha were utterly astonished. They felt deceived and stood there, filled with sorrow, reflecting deeply. Looking out, they saw the entire earth as nothing but water, devoid of any dry land. Then, they spoke to Viṣṇu, “O Hari, the boon you granted before—O Janārdana, you are ever truthful, O Lord of the gods—grant us this one wish we now desire. In a vast waterless place, slay us, O Madhusūdana. Let it be by your hand, O Mādhava, and remain true to your word.” Viṣṇu, remembering his discus, smiled and replied, “Today, O mighty ones, I shall slay you both in a vast waterless place.” Having spoken thus, the Lord of the gods made his thighs exceedingly vast, raising them above the waters so that they were dry. “Here,” he said, “there is no water, O demons. Place your heads upon my thighs. I am ever truthful, and today I shall fulfill my word to you.” Hearing these truthful words, the two demons pondered, then expanded their bodies to a thousand yojanas in size. But the Lord made his thighs twice as large, astonishing them. At last, they placed their wondrous heads upon those mighty thighs. Then, with the axle of a chariot, the mighty Viṣṇu swiftly severed their heads. In that moment, Madhu and Kaitabha lost their lives, and the entire ocean was filled with their fat. From that fat, the earth came to be known everywhere as “medinī”—the sages thus declared the soil to be unfit for consumption. Sūta concluded, “Thus have I told you all that you asked, with certainty. The great knowledge and the great illusion should always be revered by the wise. The supreme power is to be worshipped by all gods and demons; there is nothing higher or greater in all the three worlds. This is the essence of the Vedas and scriptures—truth, truth, again truth: the supreme power, whether without qualities or with qualities, is ever to be worshipped.” The sages then inquired, “Sūta, you have previously told us that Vyāsa, of immeasurable brilliance, composed the entire Purāṇa and taught it to Śuka, the auspicious one. But how did Vyāsa, after performing austerities, produce Śuka? Tell us in detail all that you heard from Kṛṣṇa.” Sūta replied, “I shall relate to you the origin of Śuka, born from Vyāsa, son of Satyavatī, and how Śuka became the foremost among yogis. On the beautiful summit of Mount Meru, Vyāsa, son of Satyavatī, performed severe austerities with a firm resolve, desiring a son. He recited the one-syllabled mantra, the very seed of speech, learned from Nārada, and meditated upon the supreme great illusion, longing for a son who would be a treasury of ascetic power. He prayed, ‘May my son be equal in strength to fire, earth, wind, and the sky.’ For a hundred years, Vyāsa remained without food, worshipping Mahādeva and Sadāśiva. Over and over, he reflected that true power is to be sought everywhere, for the powerless are despised in the world, while the powerful are greatly honored. On that wondrous mountain peak, adorned with groves of karṇikāra trees, all the gods and great ascetics devoted to austerity sport and play. The Ādityas, Vasus, Rudras, Maruts, the twin Aśvins, and the foremost sages who are knowers of Brahman, all reside there. Amidst this, on the summit of the golden mountain, resounding with song and music, the righteous Vyāsa, son of Satyavatī, performed his austerities. By the power of his penance, Vyāsa’s radiance filled the entire universe—both moving and unmoving things. The matted locks of the wise son of Parāśara blazed with the color of fire. Seeing this dazzling brilliance, Indra, lord of Śacī, was seized by fear. Beholding Indra trembling and exhausted, the blessed Rudra addressed him, ‘O Indra, why are you afraid? What troubles you, lord of the gods?’ Rudra continued, ‘One should never harbor resentment toward ascetics. The sages perform austerities knowing me, endowed with power. They never wish harm in any way.’ Thus reassured, Indra replied, ‘Why is Vyāsa performing such austerities? What desire occupies his mind?’ Śiva answered, ‘The son of Parāśara seeks a son and undertakes severe penance. Though a full hundred years have passed, today I shall grant him an auspicious son.’ Thus, with a face beaming with compassion, Rudra spoke these words to Indra.