Bhishma spoke of the flourishing Yadavas under their mighty leader, and recalled how the seven sages, Kubera, the Yaksha Manidhara, Satyaki, Narada, Shiva, Dhanvantari, the primeval god, and Vishnu—all these divine beings—had assembled together. He wondered aloud: for what purpose did these celestial-born beings suddenly appear on earth, and how many future manifestations would there be of this great soul? In every place and field, for what reason is he born? Why did Vishnu descend into the Vrishni and Andhaka clans, time and again among humans? Bhishma implored for answers. Pulastya responded: “Hear, O king, the most secret of secrets. I will tell you how Vishnu, of divine form, is born among men. At the end of each age, when time grows feeble, the Lord Hari is born among gods, demons, and humans alike.” He described how Hiraṇyakaśipu, the mighty demon, once ruled the three worlds, and after him, Bali succeeded in governing them. There was a time of highest friendship between gods and demons; ten ages passed in peace, and the world was undisturbed. Both sides remained obedient to their leaders. Yet, Bali was eventually bound, and a fierce conflict erupted. A terrible destruction arose among gods and demons, and to reestablish dharma, these events unfolded among humans. Due to Bhṛgu’s curse, for the sake of gods and demons, Bhishma asked: “How did Hari obtain a body for the gods and demons?” Pulastya explained that for their victory, fierce battles occurred. He recounted the ten pure incarnations remembered in the Manvantaras: Narasiṃha was the first, Vāmana the second, Varāha the third, and the fourth was the churning of nectar. The fifth was the fierce battle for Tāraka; the sixth, Āḍībaka; the seventh, the conflict of Tripura. The eighth was the slaying of Andhaka, the ninth, the killing of Vṛtra; the tenth was the banner, and after that, Hālāhala. The twelfth, renowned among them, was the dreadful Kolāhala. Pulastya described how Hiraṇyakaśipu was slain by Narasiṃha, and Bali was bound by Vāmana during his conquest of the three worlds. Hiraṇyākṣa was killed in a duel, opposing the gods. By the tusk of Varāha, the one in the ocean was split in two. Prahlāda was defeated in battle by Indra during the churning of nectar. Virocana, son of Prahlāda, was ever intent on killing Indra, but was slain by Indra himself in the battle for Tāraka. When the gods could not endure the demonic Tripura, after deceiving them and drinking the nectar, the enemy of the demons took the form of a cow. The demons who had drunk the nectar could not be revived again and again. Tryambaka slew all the Dānavas in the three worlds. The demons, spirits, and Dānavas were killed in the slaying of Andhaka, by gods, humans, and ancestors. Vṛtra, allied with the Dānavas, was slain in the dreadful Kolāhala; then, with the help of Viṣṇu, Mahendra struck him down. Vipracitti, concealed by illusion and skilled in yoga, was slain by Mahendra with the thunderbolt. The Daityas and Danavas, united, were all destroyed. These are the ten great battles between gods and asuras. Pulastya continued: King Hiranyakashipu shone for a hundred million years, bringing destruction to gods and asuras, for the welfare of beings. He possessed sovereignty over the three worlds for seventy-two more hundred million years, and eighty thousand besides. King Bali then ruled for a hundred million years, and sixty thousand plus twenty million. During Bali’s reign, Prahlada enjoyed happiness with the asuras. These mighty asuras strove for victory, while Mahendra governed the three worlds without disturbance. All remained incomplete until another ten thousand years passed, when the three worlds came under the rule of Paka (Indra). Then, abandoning the asuras, the sacrifice went to the gods. When the sacrifice reached the gods, the children of Diti spoke to Kavi. The Daityas lamented: “Our kingdom has been taken by Maghavan, and the sacrifice has gone to the gods. We cannot remain here; let us enter the netherworld.” Kavi comforted the dejected asuras: “Do not fear, O asuras, I will sustain you with my own power. All the mantras, herbs, and whatever exists upon the earth reside in me; only a fraction remains with the gods. All that I have held for your sake, I will give to you.” Seeing the asuras protected by the wise Kavi, the gods praised him. Yet, anxious and desiring to recover what they had lost, the gods consulted together: “This Kavi is diverting all of this from us by force. Let us go swiftly, before he displaces us; having conquered the remaining ones by force, let us send them to the netherworld.” Thus enraged, the gods approached the Danavas. As the Danavas were being slain by the gods, they rushed to Kavi for protection.