Hearing the tumult of events, Turāṣāḍ was seized by anger and prepared himself for battle, determined to aid his revered teacher. Meanwhile, Śukra, upon learning of the conflict and harboring enmity toward the teacher, approached the moon and advised, “Do not yield.” He assured the moon, “If war arises between you and Indra, O Moon, I will support you with the power of mantra.” Śaṅkara, hearing of the violation committed against the teacher’s wife, regarded Bhṛgu as an enemy of the teacher and offered his own support. Thus, a fierce battle erupted between the gods and the demons, enduring for many years, reminiscent of the war waged against Tārakāsura. Witnessing the prolonged war and suffering, Pitāmaha, the grandsire Brahmā, mounted his swan and hastened to the battleground to bring relief. He addressed the lord of the moon, saying, “Release the teacher’s wife; otherwise, I shall call upon Viṣṇu to bring about destruction.” Brahmā then restrained Bhṛgu, questioning, “O wise one, why has this unjust intention arisen within you, born from the fault of association?” Bhṛgu, in turn, commanded the lord of herbs, “Release the teacher’s wife today; I have been sent by the father.” Sūta narrated that, upon hearing Bhṛgu’s wondrous words, the king of twice-born released the beloved, auspicious, and pregnant wife of the teacher. The teacher, overjoyed at regaining his wife, returned home, and both gods and demons retired to their own abodes. Brahmā returned to his own realm, Śaṅkara to Kailāsa, and Bṛhaspati, now satisfied, welcomed his charming wife. In due course, Tārā gave birth to a virtuous son on an auspicious day and under a favorable star, a child possessing qualities equal to the lord of Tārā. Filled with joy, the teacher performed all the prescribed birth rites and ceremonies for his son. The sages heard from the moon about the birth of this son, and the wise one sent a messenger to the teacher, declaring, “This is not your son, but born from my seed. How have you performed the birth rites and other ceremonies, fulfilling your desire?” Upon hearing these words, Bṛhaspati replied, “He is my son, equal to me; there is no doubt about it.” Another dispute arose, bringing together gods and demons for a new assembly, poised for battle. Brahmā himself arrived, desiring peace, and restrained those intoxicated by the prospect of war. He questioned Tārā, “Whose son is this, O auspicious one? Speak the truth, O beautiful lady, so that this distress may be resolved.” With lowered face and dark eyes, Tārā softly replied, “He is the son of Chandra,” and then withdrew within. Soma, filled with joy, took his son, named him Budha, and returned to his own house. Brahmā departed to his abode, and all the gods, Indra, and the assembled people dispersed as they had come. Thus, the birth of Budha from Soma in Gurukshetra was recounted, as Sūta had heard from Vyāsa, the son of Satyavati. Sūta continued: Then Pururavas was born from Ila, the son of Budha, exceedingly righteous and devoted to sacrifice and generosity. There was a king named Sudyumna, truthful and self-controlled, who mounted a Sindhu horse and went hunting in the forest. Accompanied by a few ministers and adorned with beautiful earrings, he carried a horn bow and a wondrous collection of arrows. He wandered through the forest, striking deer, hares, boars, rhinoceroses, and wild oxen. He slew sarabhas, buffaloes, sambars, and wild fowl, and after hunting sacrificial animals, the king entered the grove of youths. This divine place, nestled beneath Mount Meru, was adorned with mandara trees, asoka creepers, and fragrant bakula flowers. The forest was sheltered by sal, palmyra, tamala, champaka, jackfruit, mango, nipa, and madhuka trees, all covered by a pavilion of madhavi vines. It was further beautified with pomegranate, coconut, and clusters of banana trees, enveloped by creepers of jasmine, malati, and kund flowers. Swans and cranes filled the area, and the calls of kicaka birds, along with the humming of bees, made the forest a place of delight. Seeing this enchanting scene, King Sudyumna, surrounded by his attendants, was delighted by the trees in full bloom and the songs of cuckoos. Upon entering, the royal sage suddenly transformed into a woman; even his horse became a mare, and the king was overcome with anxiety. Distressed, he wondered repeatedly, “What is this?” Afflicted by sorrow and filled with shame, Sudyumna pondered, “What shall I do? How can I return home, bound in a woman’s form? How can I rule the kingdom? By whom have I been deceived?” The sages, hearing this tale, exclaimed to Sūta, “What you have told is astonishing, O Lomaharṣaṇa! Sudyumna, a king equal to the gods, has obtained womanhood. What is the cause of this? Tell us in detail what happened in that enchanting forest. What did the king do? Speak fully, O virtuous one.” Sūta replied: Once, the sages headed by Sanaka, wishing to see the Lord of the Mountain, arrived, making the quarters appear as if dispelling darkness.