As the fierce confrontation reached its climax, Shiva addressed Jalandhara, the mighty Daitya, with a challenge: “O Jalandhara, if you possess true strength, stand and fight. This discus, forged by my own foot in the depths of the great ocean, is meant to be lifted—otherwise, do not attempt it.” Upon hearing these words, Jalandhara’s eyes blazed with anger; his gaze seemed to burn across the three worlds. With wrathful pride, he declared, “Having raised my mace, I will slay Nandi and you, Shankara. Once the worlds and their gods are destroyed, I will sound the Dundubha drums as Garuda once did.” He boasted further, “I am capable of annihilating all that moves and does not move, along with Indra and his retinue. Who, O Maheshvara, in the three worlds, can withstand my arrows? Even in childhood, the Blessed Lord was conquered by austerity; Brahma, mighty in his youth, was subdued by sages and the foremost gods. In a moment, the entire universe, all that moves and does not move, was burned by austerity. Why, Rudra, have you not been conquered, though you are the Blessed Lord?” Jalandhara continued, “Indra, Agni, Yama, Kubera, Vayu, Varuna, and others could not endure, just as serpents cannot bear the scent of Garuda. Not finding my arms either in heaven or on earth, I rubbed them against all the mountains, O Lord of the Ganas. Mandara, Nila, and Meru—all illustrious peaks—were rubbed by my arms merely to relieve an itch. For sport, I blocked the Ganga with my arms on Mount Himavat; for my female servants, I bound the gods’ thunderbolt. The mouth of the submarine fire was broken and seized by my hand, and in that instant, all became one vast ocean. Elephants like Airavata were thrown into the ocean’s waters, and even Indra, with his chariot, was hurled a hundred yojanas. Garuda himself was bound by my serpent noose, O Vishnu; noble women like Urvashi were led by me into another prison. Indra regained only one wife, Shachi, after bowing to me. Do you not know me, O Lord of Daityas? I am Jalandhara, O Consort of Uma.” Thus addressed, the great god Shiva created a chariot, agitated by a mere fraction of the fire from his eye. The Daityas gathered their strongest horses and elephants, and surrounded by serpents, Jalandhara, seeing the enemy of Tripura, spoke to Shiva, though his understanding was lacking, “Why should I bother fighting the hosts of gods and demons? I can destroy everything in a moment. There is no fear for me in battle, O Lord; yet my desire to fight is overwhelming—there is no doubt about it. Therefore, you, enemy of Madana, Daksha, and the sacrificer, foe of Tripura, if you have the strength to stand against me, my heroes, lords of spirits, Hari, and the hosts of gods, then stand firm.” Having spoken thus to Mahadeva, Jalandhara, son of Shiva’s enemy, stood unmoved, neither recalling his slain kin nor doubting himself. Arrogant and undisciplined, he struck his arms together, and, taking up the Sudarshana discus, prepared to kill. Yet, with great difficulty, he was struck by the irresistible chariot wheel, which split him in two, forcing him to stand upon his shoulders. Like a mighty mountain cleaved by a thunderbolt, the powerful Daitya fell, resembling another Mount Anjana. In a moment, the ground was flooded with his fierce blood, and by Rudra’s command, all that blood and flesh became mere meat. A great and terrible pool of blood appeared, and as Jalandhara lay slain, the hosts of gods and Gandharvas rejoiced. They uttered a great lion’s roar, exclaiming, “Well done, O god!” Whoever recites or hears the tale of Jalandhara’s destruction—or causes it to be properly recited—attains the favor of Ganapati. Then, a question arose: How did Vishnu obtain the Sudarshana discus from Maheśvara, the god of gods? O Sūta, please tell us. A most terrible conflict had erupted between the gods and the lords of Asuras, threatening the destruction of all beings. The gods, struck by the weapons, maces, arrows, and spears of the Asuras, were shattered and, overwhelmed by fear, fled. Defeated and sorrowful, the gods bowed to Hari, Lord of the gods and master of the gods of gods. Seeing them thus, the blessed Lord Hari approached the assembled deities, bowed to them, and asked, “Children, why have you gathered here, bereft of your ornaments and valor, afflicted and distressed? You who are steadfast in your vows, speak—what has happened?” Hearing these words, the excellent gods bowed and recounted to Lord Vishnu all that had occurred. “O blessed one, Lord of the gods, Vishnu, victorious Janardana, we have been oppressed by the demons and have come to you for refuge. You alone, O Supreme Person, are our way; you are the supreme soul, the father of the worlds. You alone are the sustainer, destroyer, enjoyer, and giver, O Janardana. Therefore, O subduer of demons, you must slay the demons.” They explained, “The Daityas are protected by fierce powers—Vaishnava, Brahma, Rudra, Yama, Kubera, Soma, Nairriti, Varuna—all strong and formidable. And also by the powers of Vayu, Agni, Ishana, Varsha, Surya, Rudra, Bhima, Kampa, Jrimbha, and other mighty forces. All of them, O lotus-eyed one, have become invulnerable by receiving boons; your own discus, born from the solar orb, is raised up. But it was blunted by Dadhichi and Cyavana, O preceptor of the world; your staff, Sharnga bow, and weapon were obtained by the Daityas through favor.” Thus, the gods pleaded with Vishnu, seeking deliverance from the overwhelming might of the Daityas, and the tale of Sudarshana’s origin and the battle’s fate awaited to be revealed.