The mighty asuras strove relentlessly for victory, yet Mahendra—Indra—ruled the three worlds undisturbed. This state of affairs persisted, incomplete, until another ten thousand years passed, when once again the three worlds came under the rule of Indra, also known as Paka. At that time, the sacrifice, which had favored the asuras, abandoned them and turned towards the gods. When the sacrifice reached the gods, the children of Diti—the Daityas—spoke to Kavi, their wise teacher. They lamented, “Maghavan has taken our kingdom, and the sacrifice has gone to the gods. We cannot remain here; let us enter the netherworld.” Kavi comforted the dejected asuras, reassuring them, “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 Kavi’s wisdom, the gods praised him. Yet, anxious and wishing to recover what they had lost, the gods conferred among themselves: “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.” Enraged, the gods approached the Danavas and began to slay them. The afflicted asuras rushed to Kavi for protection. Kavi, seeing the gods pursuing the asuras, gathered them for their safety and withdrew them from the gods’ grasp. Standing firm, Kavi caused the gods, now free from anxiety, to withdraw. Reflecting, Kavi considered Brahma’s beneficial words and spoke to the asuras, recalling past events: “The entire three worlds have been taken from you by Vāmana in three strides. Bali has been bound, Jambha slain, and Virocana killed. Twelve great asuras have been defeated by the gods in battle. Most of your leaders have been destroyed by various means; only a few of you remain. In my view, there is no longer any war.” He advised them, “You must now rely on strategies and wait for the right time. I will go to Mahādeva to obtain mantras that bring victory. After receiving unfailing mantras from Maheśvara, we will fight the gods again; then you will surely attain victory.” The asuras agreed and said to the gods, “We have all laid down our weapons, exhausted and without chariots. We will undertake austerities, clothed in bark garments.” Hearing these truthful words, the gods accepted their vow. All, free from distress and joyful, turned away; as the Daityas laid down their weapons, the gods withdrew. Kavi then instructed them, “Remain steadfast in your austerities, devoted and undistracted, until the time for accomplishing your purpose arrives. Wait for me, O Dānavas, at my father’s hermitage.” With these words, Kavi approached Mahādeva. Śukra (Kavi) addressed the god, “O Lord, I desire those mantras that are with Bṛhaspati, for the defeat of the gods and the victory of the asuras.” Mahādeva replied, “O Bhārgava, undertake a vow for a full thousand years, standing with your head downward, inhaling only smoke. If you endure this, you will obtain the mantras.” Śukra, son of Bhṛgu, agreed, touching the god’s feet and saying, “So be it. I will perform the vow you have commanded, O Lord, starting today.” Thus instructed by the Lord of gods, the sage Bhārgava undertook the vow. Kāvya began his celibacy for the sake of obtaining mantras from Maheśvara. Knowing this, the kings lived happily, following proper conduct. But at that vulnerable moment, the gods, led by Bṛhaspati and armed for battle, attacked the asuras out of anger. Seeing the hosts of gods advancing with weapons once more, all the asuras rose up in fear and spoke, “O gods, we have laid down our weapons, while our teacher is engaged in his vow. Having received your promise of safety, you have now come to us intending to kill. We cannot endure this, standing here having abandoned our weapons, clad in bark and black antelope skin, inactive and possessing nothing.” “We will not be able to defeat the gods in battle by any means; without fighting, we will seek refuge with Kavi’s mother. Let us inform her of our distress until our teacher returns; and when Śukra comes back, we will fight again, weapons in hand.” Having spoken thus, they all together sought refuge with Kavi’s mother. Frightened, they approached her, and she granted them protection. She said, “Do not fear, do not fear; abandon your terror, O Dānavas. Remain in my presence—let there be no great fear for you.” Seeing the asuras protected by her, the gods attacked them forcefully, weighing their own strength and weakness. When the asuras were being bound by the gods, the goddess, enraged, declared, “I will bewilder you with sleep.” Gathering all her powers, she released sleep, empowered by asceticism and yoga, and paralyzed the gods by force. When Indra was thus paralyzed, the gods became confused. Frightened at seeing Indra subdued, they fled in disarray.