When the moon-god Soma was confronted by Brihaspati, the revered teacher of the gods, he was unyielding. “Go wherever you wish, fool,” Soma declared, his voice cold and resolute. “I will not give you the woman you desire. Do whatever you can, but this beautiful woman will not be returned to you.” Brihaspati’s pleas fell on deaf ears, and Soma continued, “Your curse, born of desire, cannot harm me. I will not give you my beloved, O teacher—do as you wish.” Stung by this refusal, Brihaspati’s heart burned with anger and worry. Unable to contain his distress, he hurried to the palace of Indra, the lord of Shachi, seeking refuge and counsel. Indra, seeing his teacher weighed down by sorrow, received him with the highest honor—offering water for his feet, sacred gifts, and refreshments, as custom demanded. With deep concern, Indra asked, “O blessed one, what troubles you? Why are you so afflicted, great sage? Who in my kingdom has dared insult you, my teacher and master? All the hosts of the gods and this army are under your command. Brahma, Vishnu, Shiva, and all the best of the gods will support you. What is your concern now? Tell me.” Brihaspati, voice trembling with pain, replied, “My wife Tara, beautiful-eyed, has been taken by the moon. Though I have pleaded again and again, that wicked one does not return her. What shall I do, lord of the gods? You alone are my refuge. Help me, O Shatakratu; I am afflicted.” Indra spoke words of comfort: “Do not grieve, knower of righteousness. I am your servant, steadfast sage, and I will surely bring back your wife. If, when I send my messenger, Soma does not return her, then I will wage war, surrounded by the armies of the gods!” Thus reassuring his teacher, Indra sent a most eloquent messenger to the moon’s realm. The swift and discerning envoy approached Soma, the lord of Rohini, and conveyed Indra’s message faithfully: “O greatly fortunate one, I come with a message from Indra. You are righteous, illustrious, and steadfast in your vows, son of virtuous Atri—do not act in a way that brings censure. A wife must be protected by all beings, each according to their ability and without negligence; for this reason, conflict may arise—there is no doubt of this. “As you would protect your own, so should Brihaspati strive to protect his wife; consider all beings as yourself, O treasure of nectar. You have twenty-eight beautiful daughters of Daksha as your consorts—how can you desire your teacher’s wife? These charming ones, like Menaka, always dwell in heaven; enjoy them as you wish, but release your teacher’s wife. If the great ones act wrongly, the ignorant will follow, and righteousness will decline. Therefore, release your teacher’s lovely wife, so that there will not be conflict among the gods because of you.” Hearing these words, Soma became agitated with anger. With a crooked smile, he replied to the messenger, “You are righteous, mighty-armed, and lord of the gods; your priest is also of such a kind, and your minds are alike. Many are skilled in giving advice to others, but it is rare to find one who acts when the time comes. People accept the treatises composed by Brihaspati—what fault is there in enjoying a woman whom one desires? For the strong, everything is their own; for the weak, nothing is theirs. The distinction between one’s own and another’s is a delusion of the dull-minded. “Tara is attached to me, not to her teacher; how can one who is devoted be abandoned, by righteousness or by justice? How can a household begin with one who is indifferent? When she became indifferent, I desired another woman. I will not give up the beautiful one; go, messenger, and tell him yourself. You are the lord, O thousand-eyed one—do as you wish.” The messenger returned to Indra and reported all that Soma had said. Hearing this, Turashada, filled with anger and loyalty to his teacher, prepared for war. At the same time, Shukra, ever an enemy of Brihaspati, went to Soma and encouraged him, “Do not give her back. I will assist you with the power of mantras if battle arises between you and Indra.” Shankara (Shiva), upon hearing that the teacher’s wife had been taken, considered Bhrigu an enemy of the teacher and offered his support to Indra. Thus, a terrible battle broke out between the gods and the demons, lasting many years, like the ancient struggle with Tarakasura. Witnessing the devastation of this war, Pitamaha Brahma, the grandsire of the worlds, mounted his great swan and descended to the battlefield to end the suffering. He addressed Soma, “Release the teacher’s wife; otherwise, I will summon Vishnu and bring about destruction.” Brahma then restrained Bhrigu, saying, “Why has this unjust intention arisen in you, O wise one, from the fault of association?” Bhrigu, thus admonished, forbade Soma, “Release the teacher’s wife today; I have been sent by the Father.” Hearing these wondrous words from Bhrigu, Soma, the king of the twice-born, at last relented. He returned the beloved, auspicious, and now pregnant wife of the teacher, Tara, thus bringing an end to the strife among the gods.