Within the magnificent city of Tripura, celestial women mingled with Gandharvas, Siddhas, and Cāraṇas, filling its homes with divine presence. In every household, the foremost twice-born performed sacred fires in shrines dedicated to Rudra, maintaining a tapestry of spiritual devotion throughout the city. Tripura was surrounded on all sides by wells, ponds, reservoirs, and long pools, and herds of intoxicated elephants and splendid horses roamed freely, adding to its grandeur. Chariots of wondrous forms stood ready, facing every direction, while assembly halls, gateways, and special places for sport adorned the city, reflecting its prosperity and vitality. Encircling Tripura were diverse schools for Vedic study, each unassailable even in thought by outsiders, protected solely by the power of Maya. Everywhere, devoted wives attended their husbands, and even those who had committed great sins became sinless through the worship of Śaṅkara. The great and fortunate lords of the Daityas, along with their wives and sons, were steadfast in the duties of the Vedas and Smṛtis, always engaged in dharma. They had abandoned all gods except the Great God, standing firm in his worship—broad-chested, bull-shouldered, and always bearing every weapon. Among them were the hungry, those with eyes like blazing fire, calm or enraged, as well as the hunchbacked and dwarfish. Their hair was dark as blue lotus petals, curled and deep blue, resembling the blue mountain and Meru; their voices thundered like clouds. All were guarded by Maya’s warriors, trained and eager for battle. Tripura was always surrounded by those devoted to battle, whose strength was easily gained by worship of Śiva’s feet. Resembling the sun, wind, and Indra—firm and heroic—the city was well protected. But then, O best of twice-born, a calamity struck. The gods with Indra, and even the trees, were burned up by the fire of Tripura, perishing through the might of the Daityas, as if consumed by a forest fire. When they were thus destroyed, the gods approached Hari, the Lord of the gods, and praised him, for his splendor was unmatched. The glorious Nārāyaṇa pondered deeply: “What should be done for the sake of the gods?” So thought the Lord. Janārdana, the embodiment of sacrifice, remembered the sacrifice—the Lord, the enjoyer of offerings, the giver of fruits to sacrificers, and master of all sacrifices. Remembering the sacrifice for the gods’ purpose, they bowed and praised that divine Person. The Blessed Lord, seeing the eternal sacrifice, spoke. The eternal Acyuta, beholding the gods with Indra, addressed them: “With this approach, O gods, worship the Supreme Lord, for the destruction of the three cities and the manifestation of power over the three worlds.” Hearing the words of the wise Lord of gods, the gods let out a great roar and praised the Lord of sacrifice. Thereafter, blessed Janārdana, having reflected, again addressed all those gods, he who is the Lord of the immortals. He said, “Even if one kills, burns, or consumes beings unjustly, if he worships Mahadeva, he becomes free from sin—of this there is no doubt. The sinless must never be slain; only the sinful, without doubt, should be killed with all effort—how could the best of gods be fit for killing? The Asuras, though arrogant and sinful, are not to be slain by the mighty gods; therefore, due to the power of Rudra, the Supreme Lord, they must not be killed.” “Who am I, or Brahma, or the gods, or the Daityas, or the slayers of the enemies of the gods, or even the great sages—without the grace of the Lord? He who is the twenty-seventh, eternal, the supreme among the supreme, Lord of the universe and the immortals, worthy of worship, the supporter of all, the great Lord—he alone, the Lord of all gods, the beneficent one of all, by his play divided the gods and the lords of the Daityas.” “By worshipping even a portion of him, the gods attained divinity, Brahma attained the state of Brahma, and I, indeed, attained the state of Vishnu. Who in this world, without worshipping him, could desire success? Therefore, by the power of the rite of worshipping the Linga, they must be slain by him alone.” “All of them are established in righteousness, in both Vedic and Smriti rites; yet, by the fierce approach of the sacrificer, having duly worshipped Rudra, we shall conquer the foremost of the Daityas. Tripura, protected by the virtuous-eyed Maya, and secure, shining like crystal—who indeed is capable of destroying it, except for the one Lord with three eyes?” Having spoken thus, Hari performed the sacrificial approach and sat down, beholding thousands of hosts of beings. He saw them holding tridents, spears, maces, axes, stones, and various weapons, adorned in diverse forms. Resembling the fire of destruction, like Rudra at the end of time, the Lord Hari, having bowed, addressed those who stood before him: “Having burned, pierced, and consumed the three cities of the Daityas, you heroes should return as you came, for the benefit of beings.” Then, having bowed to the Lord of gods, the hosts of beings entered the three cities and all perished, like moths in a flame. By the command of the Lord of the gods, all those beings perished; the Daityas, by the thousands, danced, rejoiced, and sang. They praised the Lord of gods, the Supreme Self, the Lord. The gods, having been defeated and their strength destroyed in a moment, joined by Indra, approached Upendra, the Lord of gods. Out of fear, the Blessed Supreme Person, seeing them, began to reflect. Afflicted, he wondered, “What should be done?” Seeing the afflicted gods with Indra, he considered: “How, by effort, can the strength of those Daityas be destroyed?” He resolved, “By the grace of the Supreme Lord, I will accomplish the task of the gods; there is no sin in acting righteously—of this there is no doubt for the virtuous. Therefore, those Daityas are not to be slain by beings born of ritual or by spirits; sin is dispelled by righteousness, and all is established in righteousness.” Thus, the gods and their leaders, guided by wisdom and devotion, sought the grace of the Supreme Lord alone, knowing that only through his power could Tripura and its mighty Daityas be overcome.