At her father's command—"Go, you are given to him; make every effort for my sake"—Jayanti, dutiful and devoted, accepted his words and set forth. She journeyed to where Kavi, known also as Shukra, was immersed in fierce austerity. There she found him, his face turned downward, sustaining himself on nothing but smoke, his body purified by a stream poured by a Yaksha. Jayanti beheld the ascetic sage steadfast in his practice, though he appeared weakened from the destruction of enemies and the rigors of his penance. Remembering her father's instructions, Jayanti approached Kavi with gentle, pleasing words. She spoke sweetly, serving him at the right moments with soothing massages and tender care. For many years, she attended to him in ways suited to his vow, supporting him through the dreadful thousand-year austerity of subsisting only on smoke. When at last that immense vow was completed, Shiva himself, pleased by this extraordinary feat, appeared and offered a boon. "This vow has been performed by you alone, not by anyone else," Shiva declared. "Therefore, by your austerity, intelligence, learning, strength, and brilliance, you alone will surpass all the gods. Whatever exists in me, O Brahman, son of Bhrigu, I grant all of it to you; but you must not reveal it to anyone. What need of many words? You will become invincible." Thus, Shiva bestowed upon Bhargava—Kavi—lordship over all creatures, lordship over wealth, and invincibility. Kavi, filled with joy at these boons, stood before the blue-red Lord with joined palms, bowing in reverence. When Shiva had vanished, Kavi turned to Jayanti and asked, "Who are you, O fortunate one? Why do you share in my sorrow? Endowed with great austerity, for what purpose do you seek to conquer me? You stand here with devotion, humility, and self-restraint, and with affection. O beautiful-hipped one, I am pleased with you. What is it you desire, O lovely one? Speak your wish, and even if it is difficult, I will grant it." Jayanti replied, "Through austerity, you ought to know. Indeed, I wish to accomplish something, O Brahman. You must tell me truly." Gazing upon her with divine sight, Kavi said, "O beautiful-hipped and radiant one, you wish to unite with me here for a hundred years, unseen by all beings. O goddess, dark as a blue lotus, worthy of boons, with lovely eyes, you have chosen your desire well. I grant it to you, O sweet-spoken one." "So be it," Jayanti agreed. "Let us go to my house, O intoxicated one," Kavi said, and together with Jayanti, he returned home. There, with the goddess, Kavi—also known as Bhargava or Ushanas—dwelt for a hundred years, invisible to all beings, sustained by his vow and magical power. When Shukra had accomplished his purpose and returned, all the sons of Diti, filled with joy, hurried to his house, eager to see their teacher. But when they arrived, they could not see him, for he was concealed by magic. Not recognizing any sign of his presence, they said to one another, "Our teacher has not come today." And so, each returned to his seat as before. Meanwhile, the hosts of gods approached Angiras, the sage, and pleaded, "O Lord, go to the abode of the Dānavas and there, quickly bewilder their army, making them subject to your will—do this at once." Dhiṣaṇa, another name for Angiras, assured the gods, "In this very way, I shall go." He went to the Dānavas, and Prahlāda, their lord, was brought under his control. Assuming the form of Śukra, Dhiṣaṇa remained there, performing the duties of priest for over a hundred years while the real Ushanas was away. Eventually, when Ushanas returned, the sons of Danu saw both Bṛhaspati (the real priest of the gods) and the disguised one in their assembly and wondered, "Here is Ushanas, but who is this second one, and why has he come here?" Great curiosity arose among them, and a tense conflict seemed imminent. They questioned, "What will people say about this one who stands at the door? What will our guru, seated in the assembly, say to us?" While the Dānavas discussed among themselves, the true sage arrived. Seeing Bṛhaspati seated in his own form, Ushanas spoke angrily, "For what purpose have you come here? You are bewildering my disciples; this is fitting for you, O guru of the gods. Surely, they do not recognize you, deluded by your magic. It is not proper for you, O Brāhmaṇa, to harass another's disciples. Go to your own world of the gods; remain there and you will attain righteousness. Formerly, my disciple Kaca was killed by the foremost of the Dānavas. He was a seeker of knowledge, your son, O Brāhmaṇa; your presence here is not appropriate." Hearing these words, Bṛhaspati smiled and replied, "There are thieves on earth who steal the property of others. In the same way, there are those who steal forms and bodies. When Indra slew Vṛtra, he incurred the sin of killing a Brāhmaṇa. By your materialistic doctrine, she (the sin) was concealed. I know you, O son of Aṅgiras, Bṛhaspati, the teacher of the gods." Ushanas continued, "He has come here assuming my form—see, all you Dānavas! He has come only to bewilder you, by the contrivance of Viṣṇu. Therefore, bind him with chains and cast him into the salt ocean." Again, Śukra spoke to the priest of the gods, "Surely, by him you have been deluded, and you Dānavas will meet your destruction. O lord of the Dānavas, I have been deceived here by this wicked one." Thus unfolded the tale of Jayanti's service, Kavi's austerities and boons, and the subtle contest between the gods and the Dānavas, as wisdom, devotion, and divine power shaped the destinies of all.