When the king of the demons had completed his intense austerities, his devotion reached the ears of the god born from the lotus, the serene and four-faced Brahmā. Pleased by the demon king’s unwavering penance, Brahmā addressed him with a gentle, compassionate voice, “Enough, my child. Cease this difficult hardship. Your son shall be named Tāraka, and he will possess immense strength.” With these words, Brahmā assured the king of demons that his wish would be fulfilled. The lord of the demons, hearing of the liberation of Dhammilla among the divine women, bowed respectfully to the grandsire. Filled with joy, he returned home, his face alight with happiness, and shared the glad tidings with his queen. Together, their hearts content, the couple retired to their hermitage, basking in the fulfillment of their longing. In time, the radiant and beautiful Varāṅgī, the demon queen, carried within her the embryo bestowed by Vajrāṅga. For a full thousand years, she bore the child in her womb. At the end of this long period, Varāṅgī gave birth to a son. As this lord of demons was born, his arrival struck terror throughout the worlds. The earth trembled, the oceans surged, mountains quaked, and fierce winds swept the land. Great sages chanted sacred hymns, wild beasts roared, even the sun and moon lost their brilliance, and the directions themselves grew dim and misty. As the mighty demon Tāraka entered the world, all the assembled demons and their women gathered in delight. Overjoyed, the demon women sang and danced, and a grand festival arose among the Dānavas. Yet, in the heavens, the gods and Indra became despondent, sensing the coming threat. Varāṅgī, seeing her newborn son, was filled with happiness and no longer regarded Indra’s previous victories as significant. The infant Tāraka, fierce in valor even from birth, was soon anointed by all the demons—Kujambha, Mahiṣa, and many others—as their supreme king, a ruler mighty enough to shake the earth itself. Having attained this great kingdom, Tāraka addressed the foremost Dānavas with wise and resolute words. “Hear me, O mighty demons,” he declared, “Let us all deliberate together for the welfare and proper conduct of our affairs. The gods bring destruction to our lineage, and it is our very nature to bear unending enmity against them. Today, relying on our own strength of arms, we shall set out together to subdue the gods—there is no doubt. Yet, I do not think it right to confront the gods without first performing austerity. Let me undertake ascetic practices, and then, with renewed power, the sons of Diti will wage fierce battle. Only after this shall we defeat the gods and enjoy the three worlds, for steadfast resolve surely leads to lasting fortune. But one who is fickle cannot protect, for prosperity itself is unstable.” The Dānavas, hearing these words, listened attentively to their mighty leader. Amazed by his resolve, the Daityas exclaimed in unison, “Well said! Well said!” Tāraka then departed for the finest cave on the sacred Pāriyātra mountain. This wondrous place was adorned with flowers of every season, aglow with luminous herbs, and filled with streams rich in minerals. It was dotted with diverse caves, hidden by dense thickets, shaded by wish-fulfilling trees, and alive with countless birds of every kind. Springs and reservoirs of pure waters abounded, making it a perfect place for penance. Within that secluded cave, Tāraka began his great austerities. He fasted, practiced the fivefold austerity, and subsisted only on leaves and water. For hundreds upon hundreds of years, he maintained these rigorous practices. In time, he intensified his penance further, cutting flesh from his own body and offering it into the sacred fire, until he was reduced to a fleshless form, his ascetic power blazing forth. The radiance of his energy spread throughout the worlds, causing all beings to tremble. The gods became deeply troubled and fearful of his growing might, but Brahmā was supremely satisfied by Tāraka’s devotion. Desiring to grant him a boon, Brahmā descended from the celestial realms and approached Tāraka in his mountain cave, addressing him with sweet and gentle words, “Enough, my child, with your austerity. Nothing is unattainable for you now. Ask for a splendid boon—whatever dwells in your heart.” Tāraka, bowing with joined palms before the self-born Lord, replied humbly, “O knower of all hearts and actions, people strive for victory, seeking reward or retribution. By birth and duty, we Daityas have enmity with the immortals, and many of our kin have been destroyed by them, forsaking righteousness. My resolve is to be their deliverer. Grant me invulnerability to all beings and to the mightiest weapons—this is the supreme boon I desire.” Brahmā responded, “Without death, embodied beings cannot exist, O best of demons. Choose another boon, except for death itself, since you do not fear it.” After reflecting, Tāraka, clouded by pride, asked that he might only be vulnerable to death for seven days after his birth as a child. Brahmā granted Tāraka whatever boon he desired and returned to his heavenly abode, while the demon lord returned to his own domain. When his austerities were complete, the lords of the demons gathered around Tāraka, just as the hosts of gods surround Indra in heaven. As Tāraka, the delight of the demons, held great sovereignty, the very seasons themselves seemed to appear in their fullness, each adorned with its own unique qualities, as if to honor his reign.