The hosts of heaven gathered and praised Hara, the unconquered and unborn Lord, with special words and wondrous ornaments. Upon the golden chariot—radiant as a mountain and adorned with celestial splendor—Shiva stood, and the chariot soared through the sky like a winged mountain, majestic and awe-inspiring. As it advanced, surrounded by makaras, whales, and great fish, its brilliance shone exceedingly, reminiscent of the ocean swelling at the dissolution of the worlds, accompanied by the thunderous roar of clouds struck by lightning. The worlds worshipped the chariot, and Shiva stood upon it, while the Pramathas roared fiercely. The people proclaimed, “Well done!” The lord’s voice resounded, the great bull bellowed, the victorious Brahmins chanted, and the horses neighed, filling the air with a sound that echoed through all realms. Then, rising from the battlefield, the divine sage Narada, radiant as the moon, swiftly journeyed to the city of Tripura. At that moment, a foreboding omen appeared among the Daityas in Tripura, and the blessed, ascetic Narada manifested before them. All the Danavas, assembled and cloud-like in appearance, rose up to greet Narada respectfully, honoring him with arghya, water for his feet, and a honey-mixture, just as Indra would honor Brahma. Narada, worthy of worship, accepted their homage and sat comfortably upon a splendid golden seat. While Narada sat, Maya, the lord of the Danavas, took his seat among his kin as was proper. Maya, seeing Narada seated, spoke with pleasure, his hair standing on end as he gazed intently: “O Narada, tell us why these omens appear in our city, for they do not occur elsewhere. You know what is happening. Fearful dreams are seen, banners are broken, and without any wind, the pennant falls to the ground. Towers with flags and gateways dance, and voices utter ‘violence, violence’—such fearful sounds echo in the city. O Narada, I do not fear even the gods with Indra, except for the one boon-giver, Sthanu, Hara, who grants safety to devotees. O blessed one, nothing is unknown to you regarding omens; you know the past and the future in truth. Therefore, tell us, O foremost sage, the cause of this fear arising from omens, for I have taken refuge in you, Narada.” Thus addressed by Maya, Narada, free from deceit, replied: “Listen, O Danava, to the truth of how omens arise. The root 'dhṛ' means ‘to hold,’ and in greatness it is called ‘dharma’; from its greatness, dharma is thus defined. That dharma, which brings desired results, is taught by teachers; the other, which brings undesired results, is not taught by teachers. If one leaves the path and enters a wrong way, or deviates from the path, destruction is declared for him—so say those who know the Vedas. You, mounted on the chariot of adharma, along with these intoxicated Danavas, act against the gods, aiding those who harm them. Thus, these and other omens are seen, portending destruction for the Danavas. Rudra, having mounted a chariot made of the great worlds, is coming to destroy Tripura, Maya, and you asuras as well. Therefore, always seek refuge in the mighty Lord; you will depart together with your son and the Danavas, O Manada.” Having announced the great fear approaching the Danavas, Narada returned to the abode of the lord of gods. When Narada departed, Maya, leader of the Danavas, addressed his kin, considering them valiant: “You are heroes, you have sons, you have fulfilled your duties, O Danavas. Fight together with the gods, and for us there is no fear. Having conquered, we shall all become members of the assembly of immortals; and having slain the gods along with Indra, we as asuras shall enjoy the worlds. Therefore, stand firm in the watchtowers, weapons in hand; remain vigilant, ready for battle, with your weapons raised. And you Danavas, stand at your assigned places in these three cities; the cities must not be breached. The valiant gods who have come here are known to you; those must be repelled with effort, and pierced with arrows.” Thus having spoken to the sons of Danu, Maya, the restrainer of the hosts of gods, with words that troubled the hearts of the young women, swiftly entered the city of Tripura. Then, with a mind pure as silver, Maya worshipped Bhava, the sky-clad one, with sweet words, seeking refuge in the god of gods—the destroyer of Madana, Ari, Andhaka, and the sacrificial bodies. The three-eyed blazing one did not perceive Maya, who had come seeking safety and refuge; yet he granted him his desired boon, and so Maya, the Danava marked with the moon, truly became fearless. Meanwhile, in the midst of battle, Narada again approached the army of the gods, having come from Tripura, and took his seat in their assembly. That region, vast and renowned, is known as Ilavrita, where the sacrifice of Bali was performed and where Bali himself was restrained. It is the birthplace of the gods, famed in the three worlds, where marriages, sacrifices, and rites such as birth ceremonies are performed. There, the giving of maidens and other deeds of the gods took place; there, Bhava ever delighted with his attendants and hosts. There, as on Mount Meru, the guardians of the worlds always stood; and the one with honey-colored eyes, adorned with the crescent moon, addressed the lord of the gods and the attendants, Maheshvara.