With a mighty hand, I broke open the mouth of the submarine fire and seized it. In that very instant, the entire world was engulfed and became one vast ocean. Mighty elephants, like Airavata himself, were hurled helplessly onto the waters, and even Indra, the king of the gods, was cast away with his chariot a hundred yojanas across the sea. Garuḍa, the great celestial bird, I bound with the serpent noose, O Viṣṇu. Noble women, among them the famed Urvaśī, I led away into another prison. Indra, after much hardship, was able to regain only one wife—Śacī—by humbling himself before me. Bowing, he addressed me, “Do you not know me, O Lord of the Daityas? I am Jalandhara, O Consort of Umā.” Thus challenged, the great god created a chariot, its power kindled by just a fraction of the fire from his eye. The Daitya lord, surrounded by his own hosts—horses and elephants of unmatched strength, and encircled by serpents—beheld the enemy of Tripura. Though lacking true understanding, he spoke boldly to the Lord of the Devas: “What need have I to battle the hosts of gods and demons? I could destroy all of this in a single moment. There is no fear for me here in battle, O Lord; yet, my desire to fight is overwhelming—there can be no doubt.” He continued, “Therefore, you—enemy of Madana, Dakṣa, and sacrificers, foe of Tripura—if you have the strength to face me and my own champions, the lords of spirits, Hari, and the hosts of gods, then stand firm!” Having spoken thus to Mahādeva, the son of Mahādevā’s enemy stood unmoved, showing no thought for his slain kin. Arrogant and undisciplined in mind, he struck his arms together in his pride. Though weakened, he seized the discus called Sudarśana, preparing to kill. But with great effort, O best of the twice-born, he was struck by the irresistible chariot wheel—split in two and forced to stand upon his own shoulders by its power. Just as a mighty mountain is cleaved by a thunderbolt, so did the powerful Daitya fall, like another Mount Añjana, split asunder. In a moment, the earth was flooded with his fierce blood. By Rudra’s command, all that blood and flesh was transformed into mere meat. A great and terrible pool of blood appeared—alas! But when Jalandhara was slain, the hosts of gods and Gandharvas rejoiced. They raised a great lion’s roar and cried, “Well done, O god!” Whoever recites or hears the destruction of Jalandhara—or causes it to be properly recited—attains the favor of Gaṇapati. Now, how did Viṣṇu come to possess the discus called Sudarśana from Maheśvara, the god of gods? O Sūta, tell us this story. Once, a most terrible conflict arose between the gods and the lords of the Asuras, bringing destruction upon all beings. The gods, struck down by the weapons, maces, arrows, and spears of the Asuras, were shattered. Overwhelmed by fear, they fled the battlefield. Defeated, distressed, and sorrowful, the gods bowed to Hari, the lord and master of all the gods. Seeing them thus, the blessed Lord Hari approached the assembled deities, bowed to them, and spoke gently: “Children, why have you come together 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 all that had occurred to Lord Viṣṇu, the god of gods: “O blessed one, Lord of the gods, victorious Janārdana, we have all been oppressed by the demons and have come to you for refuge. You alone, O Lord, are our path; you are the supreme soul, the father of the worlds. You are the sustainer, destroyer, enjoyer, and giver. Therefore, O subduer of demons, you must slay the Daityas.” “The Daityas are protected by fierce powers—those of Viṣṇu, Brahmā, Rudra, Yama, Kubera, Soma, Nairṛti, Varuṇa—strong and formidable. They are also guarded by the powers of Vāyu, Agni, Īśāna, Varṣa, Sūrya, Rudra, Bhīma, Kampa, Jrimbha, and other mighty forces. All of them, O lotus-eyed one, have become invulnerable through boons. Your own discus, born from the solar orb, is raised up, but it was blunted by Dadhīci and Cyavana, O preceptor of the world. Your staff, Śārṅga bow, and weapon were obtained by the Daityas through favor.” “Long ago, to slay Jalandhara, the destroyer of Tripura fashioned a chariot wheel, sharp and terrible. With that, you must slay them. Only with that weapon can they be destroyed; not by hundreds of others.” Hearing these words, the lotus-eyed Hari, wielder of the discus, spoke to Bṛhaspati and the other gods: “O gods, together with all the eternal deities, let us approach the great god. Having now obtained everything, I will act for the celestials. To slay Jalandhara, a weapon was indeed fashioned by the destroyer of Tripura. Having obtained the chariot wheel, with it I will slay the great asuras—all the Daityas led by Dhundhu, sixty-eight in number, along with their hosts. Together with their kin, in a moment, I will deliver you all.” Having thus spoken to the best of the gods, and remembering the best of gods, the gods worshipped the excellent Śaṅkara. They established the liṅga with proper rites on the auspicious peak of Himavat. That liṅga, shining like Mount Meru, was fashioned by Viśvakarma, and Janārdana—called Tvarita—together with Rudra and Raudra, established it. Viṣṇu bathed and worshipped the radiant, flame-like, beautiful form. He praised Rudra, offering worship and bowing to the fire. With devotion, he worshipped Śiva—he whose names begin with ‘Bhava’—reciting a thousand names in their proper order, from the sacred syllable to “Salutations to the Ender.