While Kacha was gathering flowers in the forest, the Danavas saw him. Seizing their chance, they killed him once more, burned his body to ashes, ground those ashes into fine powder, and mixed them into the drink that Shukra, the Brahmin preceptor of the Asuras, would consume for the sake of the gods. Meanwhile, Devayani, noticing Kacha’s absence, approached her father Shukra and said, “Father, Kacha, who was sent to collect flowers, is nowhere to be seen.” Her heart heavy with grief, she implored, “Surely, father, whether Kacha is slain or dead, so it is. Without him, I cannot live—this is the truth I tell you.” Shukra tried to console his daughter. “O daughter, Kacha, the son of Brihaspati, has gone to the realm of the dead. Even if revived by knowledge, he is thus slain—what can I do?” He urged her, “Do not grieve for him, do not weep, Devayani. One such as you should not mourn a mortal, for whom Brahma, the Brahmins, Indra, the gods, the Vasus, and the Ashvins all exist.” Yet Shukra’s own heart was troubled. “The enemies of the gods, and indeed the whole world, are present because of my ascetic power. This twice-born cannot be revived—one who has been restored to life and then killed again.” Still, he lamented, “His great-grandfather is Angiras, the eldest; his father is Brihaspati, a treasury of austerity—how could I not grieve or weep for such a sage’s excellent son and grandson?” Devayani, overwhelmed by sorrow, declared, “He is a celibate, rich in austerity, ever diligent, and skilled in duties. I shall follow Kacha’s path and will not eat, for dear Kacha, handsome and beloved, is gone.” Hearing Devayani’s words, Shukra, the great sage Kavya, was moved and angered. “Without doubt, the Asuras hate me, for they slay my disciples who come to me. These fierce Danavas wish to make me unbrahminical; this act of theirs is in vain. Even by such a deed, there would be an end here—whom would the sin of Brahmin-murder not burn, even Indra?” Suddenly, a voice arose from within Shukra’s own belly. Though unbidden, Kacha spoke slowly, using his knowledge: “By whom have you been initiated, and why do you remain in my belly? Speak, my child,” Shukra asked. “By your grace, memory does not leave me; I remember everything, what happened and how. Yet, let not my ascetic merit be diminished in this way—therefore, I recall a greater suffering. By the Asuras, I was given to you in the drink, having been killed, burned, and crushed, O Kavya. The Brahmin’s magic is in you, but here the Asuric magic prevails—how can it overpower you while you remain?” Shukra, his heart torn, asked, “What dear thing shall I do for you today, child? Without you, my life would not remain; Kacha would be seen only by splitting open my belly, for he is within me, O Devayani. Two griefs, like fire, would consume me: the loss of Kacha and your own harm. With Kacha’s loss, I have no peace; with your harm, I am unable to live.” He continued, “You are perfected, O son of Brihaspati, since Devayani, devoted, cherishes you. Attain this knowledge that grants life; otherwise, today you will become Indra in Kacha’s form. No one else, except a Brahmin, can return to life from my belly; therefore, attain the knowledge. Become my son and emerge from my belly, breaking it open; revive me, dear one, and observe proper conduct. Having obtained knowledge from the teacher, be learned.” Thus, Kacha, having fully received the Sanjivani knowledge from his teacher, broke open Shukra’s belly and emerged, radiant like the moon rising from the peak of the snowy mountain at nightfall on the full moon. Seeing his teacher fallen, Kacha revived him with the same knowledge, and the collection of Vedas was again uplifted. Having attained that perfected wisdom, Kacha bowed in reverence and addressed his guru. He declared, “Those who do not honor the guru, who is to be worshipped, the best among treasures and boons, whose forehead shines like the blazing Himalayan peak—such people, unstable, go to sinful worlds. By making one drink liquor, by deception, and causing the loss of consciousness and reason, seeing the glass so attractive, one drinks, deluded by the liquor.” Kavya, now restored, rose in anger, intent on addressing the wrong done to Ushanas, and spoke: “Any Brahmin from this day onward who, out of delusion, drinks liquor, being dull-witted and fallen from dharma, is indeed a slayer of Brahmins, condemned in this world and the next. I have established this boundary of Brahmin conduct in all the worlds; let all the virtuous Brahmins, attentive to their teachers, and all gods and demons, listen.” Having proclaimed this, the sage of immeasurable brilliance, the treasure of ascetics, summoned the Danavas of hidden intent and addressed them: “I declare to you, O Danavas, you are childish; Kacha, the disciple, will remain with me. Having obtained the Sanjivani knowledge from me, this Brahmin, equal in power, will become like Brahma.” Having lived in his guru’s presence for a hundred years, and with Shukra’s permission, Kacha wished to return to the abode of the gods. When his vow was complete and his teacher released him, as Kacha set out for the dwelling of the gods, Devayani approached him and spoke: “Grandson of the sage Angiras, you shine by conduct, by birth, by knowledge, by austerity, and by self-restraint. Just as the sage Angiras, my illustrious ancestor, is honored, so too is Brihaspati, my father, worthy of honor and worship for me. Knowing this, understand what I say, O possessor of austerity, steadfast in vows and discipline, as I conduct myself toward you. You, having completed your studies, should not abandon me, your devoted one; take my hand in the proper way, with the prescribed mantras. Just as my father is worthy of honor and respect for me, so too are you, O faultless one, considered most worthy of worship.” Kacha replied, “By life and breath, you are most dear to the great-souled Bhargava; O gentle one, by righteousness, you, the guru’s daughter, are always worthy of my honor. Just as my guru Shukra, your father, is always honored by me, O Devayani, so too are you; you should not speak to me otherwise. You are to me as a guru’s daughter, not as my father’s daughter; therefore, O best of Brahmins, you are also to be honored and respected by me.” Devayani, recalling her devotion, said, “When you, Kacha, were repeatedly slain by the Asuras, remember the affection I had for you from that time onward. You know my supreme devotion, both in affection and love; O knower of dharma, you should not abandon your innocent devotee.” But Kacha, gentle and steadfast, replied, “O virtuous lady, you assign me to a task where I should not be assigned; be gracious, O beautiful one, for you are more venerable than even the guru.