The mighty Dānavas, having gathered together, approached their revered teacher and humbly addressed him: “O blessed one, we stand here as embryos—initiate us.” The priest, fulfilling their request, performed the sacred initiation according to the prescribed rule. He then instructed them: “You must never, at any time, offer obeisance to any other gods.” He continued, guiding them further: “When you eat, do so in one place, using cupped hands. Ensure that the water you use is pure, free from hair and insects. In your conduct, treat what is dear and what is not dear with equal regard, never acting out of partiality. This is how you must take your food, O lord; practice accordingly. Remain together, all of you, and by this unity you will partake of liberation.” Having thus established these rules, the priest instructed those foremost among men. Afterward, Dhiṣaṇa departed for the world of the gods and reported to them all that the Dānavas had done. Meanwhile, the Asuras took up residence near the sacred river Narmadā, all except Prahlāda. Seeing these Dānavas assembled there, the king of the gods, Indra, was delighted. He turned to Namuci and spoke: “Hiraṇyākṣa, the destroyer of sacrifice and dharma, the reviler of the Vedas; the Rākṣasa of cruel deeds, the devourer and glutton; Muci, Bāṇa, Virocana, Mahiṣākṣa, Bāṣkala, Pracaṇḍa, Caṇḍaka, Rocamāna the exceedingly fierce, and Suṣeṇa, foremost of the Dānavas—all these and other lords of the Daityas are gathered here.” Indra then addressed them: “O lords of the Daityas, you were born long ago and once ruled the realm of the gods. How is it that you have now adopted this vow, which destroys the Vedas—standing here naked, shaven-headed, carrying water pots, and bearing peacock-feather banners?” The Daityas replied: “We have abandoned all demonic nature and now abide in the dharma of sages. Our actions serve to increase righteousness among all beings. O Śakra, enjoy the sovereignty of the three worlds and depart.” Accepting their words, Maghavan (Indra) replied, “So be it,” and returned to the realm of the gods. Thus, O Bhīṣma, all of them were deluded by the priest of the gods. The Daityas, having reached the river Narmadā, stood firm. But Śukra came and informed them of all that had transpired, making them aware. Stirred by this knowledge, the Daityas once again resolved to seize the three worlds with a cruel determination. At this point, Bhīṣma asked, “How was Arjuna, the slayer of enemy heroes, born from Tripura? And why is Karṇa, though called the son of a sūta, said to be born out of wedlock? How did these two come by their boons by nature? Please tell me, for I am most eager to know, and you are worthy to speak of it.” Pulastya replied: “Once, when his mouth was cut, Brahmā was seized by great anger. Sweat poured from his forehead, which he took and struck upon the earth. From that sweat was born Kuṇḍalī, armed with a bow and mighty arrows, a hero clad in a thousand armors. He asked, ‘What shall I do?’ The Creator pointed to mighty Rudra and said, ‘Let this evil-minded one be slain, so that he may not be born again.’ Hearing Brahmā’s command, Kuṇḍalī took up his bow, arrows in hand, and with a fierce gaze set out in pursuit of Maheśa (Rudra). Seeing this terrible man approach, the three-eyed Lord, Rudra, was afraid. Swiftly he fled to Viṣṇu’s hermitage, crying, ‘Save me, save me, O Viṣṇu, slayer of foes, from this man! Created by Brahmā, he is sinful, of mleccha form, and terrifying. O Lord of the world, act so that, in his anger, he does not kill me.’ Viṣṇu, with a mighty roar, bewildered the man. Unseen by all beings, the master of yoga, the all-seeing Lord Keśava, soothed the one with deformed eyes who had arrived there. Then, bowing to the ground, Rudra was seen by the god Viṣṇu. Viṣṇu said: ‘You are indeed my grandson, O Rudra. What boon shall I grant you?’ Rudra, standing before Nārāyaṇa, said, ‘Give me alms,’ and showed a skull blazing with fierce radiance. Seeing Rudra with the skull in his hand, Viṣṇu thought, ‘Who else is worthy to receive alms from me now?’ Concluding, ‘He is worthy,’ Viṣṇu offered his right arm. The moon-crested one, Rudra, pierced it with his exceedingly sharp trident. At once, a stream of blood, golden as jambūnada gold and appearing like a line of fire, began to flow from Viṣṇu’s arm. Śambhu received this stream in his skull-bowl, and it fell swiftly and forcefully, touching the sky as it rushed. The flow stretched fifty yojanas in length and ten yojanas in breadth, continuing for a thousand divine years. For all that time, the Lord, as a mendicant, received alms; Nārāyaṇa poured it into the excellent skull-bowl. Then Nārāyaṇa spoke these supreme words to Śambhu: ‘Is the bowl filled or not, O Supreme Lord?’ Hearing Hari’s words, which resounded like thunderclouds, Hara, whose eyes are the moon, sun, and fire and who is adorned with the crescent moon, fixed his three-eyed gaze upon Janārdana in the skull. He tapped the bowl with his finger and declared, ‘The skull is filled.’ Hearing this, Viṣṇu stopped the flow and pressed the blood with his own finger. For a thousand divine years, he churned it with his glances; as the blood was churned, gradually a mass of bubbles arose.