After worshipping and praising the unconquered Lord, the supreme ruler of gods and all others, the assembled deities approached Janārdana with humility. Bowing deeply, their heads lowered in devotion, they spoke: “O Lord, there was once a brāhmaṇa named Dadhīca, renowned for his wisdom and mastery of dharma, self-controlled and formerly my friend. He was invulnerable to all, ever devoted to the worship of Śaṅkara. Yet, in the assembly, he struck me on the head with his left foot, showing disrespect. O Lord of gods, O Viṣṇu, Lord of the universe, he struck me and, intoxicated with pride, proclaimed everywhere, ‘I do not fear.’ O Lord of the world, I wish to defeat this brāhmaṇa Dadhīca. Please act as is proper, O Janārdana.” Hari, knowing Dadhīca’s invulnerability and his great soul, recalled the unrivaled power of Maheśa. After reflecting, Hari spoke: “O king, brāhmaṇas, born of Brahmā’s hunger, have no fear from Maheśvara. Especially for devotees of Rudra, there is perpetual fearlessness—even for the lowly everywhere; what then of Dadhīca? Therefore, O highly fortunate one, you will not be victorious, O king. Yet, for the sake of a curse, I will cause the brāhmaṇa pain, along with the gods. By his curse, O king, there will be destruction for myself and the gods at Dakṣa’s sacrifice, followed by a new rising. Therefore, having come before you, O best of Brahmins, I shall make every effort for your victory over Dadhīca.” Hearing these words, Kṣupa replied to Janārdana, “So be it.” Then the Lord proceeded to the hermitage of the sage Dadhīca. Assuming the form of a brāhmaṇa, the Lord—ever devoted to his devotees—approached Dadhīca. After offering obeisance, he addressed him as the teacher of the world: “O Dadhīca, great sage among Brahmins, ever intent on worship of the Lord, I ask you for one boon; grant it to me.” Thus requested, Dadhīca replied to Viṣṇu: “I know all that you desire; I do not fear even you. You have come in the form of a brāhmaṇa, O Janārdana. O Lord of gods, you are the past, future, and present. By the grace of Rudra, I know; abandon this guise of a brāhmaṇa, O steadfast one. You have been worshipped by Kṣupa, O slayer of Madhu. I know, O Lord, your affection for devotees; this devotion to your devotees is fitting for you, O Hari. If there is any fear in me, who am intent on worship of the Lord, you should tell me earnestly, O lotus-eyed giver of boons. Therefore, I speak truly: I do not fear, O Janārdana. I do not fear anyone in this world—god, demon, or Brahmin.” Hearing these words, Janārdana instantly shed his brāhmaṇa guise, smiling, and appeared in his own divine form. He said, “O Dadhīca, there is truly no fear for you anywhere, O steadfast one, for you are intent on worship of the Lord and are indeed all-knowing. Say just once, ‘I am afraid’—salutations to you! By my command, O best of Brahmins, say this to Kṣupa in the assembly.” Even after hearing these conciliatory words of Viṣṇu, the great sage Dadhīca replied, “I do not fear.” By the power of the god of gods, Śambhu, the wielder of Pināka, of Śarva, of Śaṅkara, Dadhīca, the all-knowing sage, stood firm. Then, hearing Dadhīca’s words, Hari became angry. Raising his mighty discus, the Lord prepared to burn the best of sages. Yet, before all, the Sudarśana discus of Viṣṇu became blunt at the tip, rendered powerless by Dadhīca’s spiritual might, in the presence of Kṣupa. Seeing his discus blunted, Viṣṇu was addressed by Dadhīca, who smiled, knowing himself to be the very cause of the manifest and unmanifest. Dadhīca said, “O Lord, the discus known as Sudarśana, which you obtained long ago with great effort, is renowned as Viṣṇu’s weapon. This auspicious discus of Bhava does not wish to harm me here; therefore, you should strive with Brahma’s weapons and others.” Witnessing his weapon’s impotence, Viṣṇu unleashed all missiles from every side. The imperishable gods rallied to assist him, mighty ones setting out to fight the Brahmin alone. Dadhīca, taking a handful of kusa grass and remembering Bhava, created the thunderbolt-bone for all the gods, sovereign in every way. A divine trident appeared, shining like the fire of destruction at the end of an age, intent on burning the gods like another cosmic fire. All the weapons abandoned by Indra, Narayana, and the other gods bowed to the trident. Their strength shattered, all the gods fled, O best of twice-born. Then, the blessed Viṣṇu, supreme among men, created from his own body divine hosts—hundreds of thousands in number, all resembling himself. Yet, the best of sages, Dadhīca, suddenly burned them all. For the sake of wonder, Hari then assumed the universal form. The best of Brahmins, Dadhīca, beheld Hari’s cosmic form directly. The blessed sage saw the hosts of gods, multitudes of Rudras, and their attendant groups. He also witnessed the multitudes of cosmic eggs within the body of the universal form. Seeing all this, Cyavana stood amazed.