The Asuras, having received guidance, spoke among themselves, “Whether he is of the Bhārgava or Vāṅgirā lineage, this revered one is our guru; we remain under his command. You must depart now, do not delay.” With these words, all the Asuras approached Bṛhaspati, having rejected the great benefit offered by Kāvyā. Bhārgava, also known as Kāvyā, became angry at their arrogance, for despite his instruction, the Dānavas did not honor him. In his wrath, Kāvyā declared, “Because you have not respected me, you will lose your awareness and suffer defeat.” Having pronounced this curse, Kāvyā departed as he had come. Realizing that Kāvyā had cursed the Asuras, Bṛhaspati, having fulfilled his purpose, joyfully resumed his own form. Understanding that the Asuras had been overcome by wisdom, Bṛhaspati vanished, leaving the Dānavas confused in his absence. Bewildered, they turned to each other and lamented, “Alas, we have been deceived!” They recognized that they had been struck by the cunning of Āṅgirasa. Deceived by illusion and trickery, each Asura dissatisfied in his own way, they quickly pursued Kāvyā, with Prahlāda at their head, seeking his presence. Approaching Kāvyā, they stood before him with faces cast downward. Seeing them gathered once more, Kāvyā addressed the sacrificers, saying, “Because you did not honor me after I had instructed you, you have been defeated through your own disrespect.” Hearing these words, Prahlāda, his voice choked with tears, pleaded, “Do not abandon us, Bhārgava. Honor those who seek refuge in you and are your devotees. When you are unseen, we are deceived by that divine teacher. With your vision born of long austerities, you ought to recognize your devotees. If you do not show us your favor, O son of Bhṛgu, then, condemned by you, we shall enter the netherworld today.” Moved by compassion and understanding the truth, Kāvyā restrained his anger and spoke gently, “Do not fear, do not go to the netherworld. What is destined must indeed occur while I am vigilant; fate is most powerful and cannot be otherwise. The awareness you lost today, you will regain. After defeating the gods even once, you will then attain the netherworld.” When the appointed time arrived, Brahmā spoke to them, “By my grace, you have enjoyed the three worlds with great power. Ten complete cycles, called yugas, have passed, and having surpassed the gods, you ruled for this entire period. In the era of Sāvarṇi, kingship will again be yours; your grandson Bali will once more become lord of the worlds. Indeed, your grandson was addressed by Viṣṇu himself; when the worlds were taken away, those boons became his. Because his undertakings were resolved with clarity, and by his virtuous conduct, this was granted to you by the Self-born. ‘Bali will become king of the gods,’ the Lord told me; therefore, he remains invisible to beings, awaiting the proper time. Another boon was also given to you by the Self-born, out of satisfaction; so you should remain unconcerned, together with the Asuras, until the appointed time. I could not tell you this before, mighty one, for Brahmā forbade me, knowing the future. These two disciples of mine, both from Bṛhaspati, have come to me; together with the gods, they will sustain all beings.” Thus addressed, all the Asuras, with Kāvyā whose deeds are pure, joyfully departed together with the great-souled Prahlāda. Hearing what Śukra (Kāvyā) had said about what must certainly come to pass, and hoping for victory as Śukra spoke, all the armed Asuras challenged the gods. Seeing the Asuras assembled for battle, all the gods gathered their forces and engaged them in combat. The battle between gods and Asuras raged for a hundred years, during which the Asuras defeated the gods. The gods then consulted among themselves, saying, “Let us summon those two by sacrifice; then we shall defeat the Asuras.” So the gods invited Śaṇḍa and Amarka. Having summoned them to the sacrifice, the gods said to the two Brahmins, “Abandon the Asuras; we will honor you both after we have conquered the Dānavas.” Thus, having made an agreement, Śaṇḍa and Amarka sided with the gods. Thereafter, the gods gained victory, and the Dānavas were defeated. Abandoned by Śaṇḍa and Amarka, the Dānavas became powerless. Thus, in ancient times, the Daityas were struck down by Kāvyā’s curse. Overcome by the curse, deprived of all support, and expelled by the gods, they entered the netherworld. In this way, restrained by the gods, the Dānavas were subdued with great difficulty; from that time onward, this outcome came to be due to the incidental curse of Bhṛgu. Again and again, whenever righteousness declined, Viṣṇu was born, establishing dharma and bringing about the destruction of the Asuras. By Prahlāda’s command, those Asuras who would not stay, and all who were destined to be slain by men, the Lord declared all of them to be Brahmins. From dharma itself, a portion of Nārāyaṇa arose in the Cākṣuṣa Manvantara, and the gods maintained the sacrifice in the Vaivasvata Manvantara. At the manifestation of that One, Brahmā was the chief priest; in the fourth Yuga, when the gods were afflicted, this was so. At the end of the ocean, for the slaying of Hiraṇyakaśipu, in the second incarnation as Narasiṃha, Rudra was the chief priest.