With agitation in his heart, Madhusūdana—Lord Viṣṇu—turned to Brahma and said, “O Brahma, today the one born of sweat has been struck down by the one born of blood.” Hearing these words, Brahma too became disturbed and replied, “O Hari, from this day forth, in your next birth, this man will belong to me and live under my protection.” Pleased by Brahma’s response, Viṣṇu consented, saying, “So it shall be.” He then went to the two combatants, halted their battle, and addressed them both. He told them that in another birth, at the junction of the Kali and Dvāpara ages, when a great war would arise between them, he himself would unite them. Afterward, Viṣṇu summoned the lords of the planets and the gods, commanding, “These two noble men are to be protected by you, according to my wish.” He explained that the being born from sweat was a portion of the thousand-rayed Sun, and that at the end of the Dvāpara age, this being would descend to earth to accomplish the gods’ purpose. Viṣṇu then revealed, “In the lineage of the Yadus, there will arise a mighty man named Śūra. His daughter, Pṛthā, will be peerless in beauty upon the earth. This greatly fortunate maiden will be born for the fulfillment of the gods’ purpose. The sage Durvāsas will grant her a boon, bestowing upon her a collection of mantras. With these mantras, whichever god she invokes with devotion, by his favor, that god will become her son.” Viṣṇu continued, “At sunrise, seeing you, O blazing one, and filled with desire during her time of menstruation, she will be overcome by anxiety and worship you. In her womb, O son of Kuntī, you will be born as a son before marriage, for the accomplishment of the gods’ task.” The radiant Sun then said, “So be it. I will beget a son, born before marriage, proud of his strength. His name will be Karṇa, as all the world will call him. By my favor, O Viṣṇu, he will be devoted to the brāhmaṇas and noble in spirit. There is nothing in this world, O Keśava, that will be unattainable for him. Thus, by your word, I will beget him with such power.” Having spoken, the thousand-rayed Sun vanished, having addressed Nārāyaṇa, the great-souled slayer of the Dānavas. When Bhāskara, the remover of darkness, had disappeared, Viṣṇu, his heart joyful, spoke to Vṛddhaśravas as well: “This man, arisen from the blood of the thousand-eyed one by my favor, is a portion of myself. At the end of the Dvāpara age, you should employ him on earth.” He continued, “When the greatly fortunate Pāṇḍu obtains Pṛthā as his wife, and also Mādrī, he will go to the forest. While in the forest, a deer will curse him; because of this, filled with dispassion, he will go to Śataśṛṅga. Desiring no sons born of his own seed, he will tell his wife, and Kuntī, unwilling, will speak to her husband, ‘O king, I do not wish for sons from a mortal in any way; but by the favor of the gods, I desire sons, O lord of men.’” Viṣṇu instructed, “When she requests, O Śakra, a man should be given to Kuntī by you; and by my word, do thus, O lord of Śacī.” But Indra was distressed and said to Viṣṇu, “In a past Manvantara, in the cycle of twenty-four yugas, you descended in the Raghu dynasty, in the house of Dasharatha, for the destruction of Rāvaṇa and for the peace of the gods. Assuming the form of Rāma, you wandered in the forest for Sītā’s sake. O god, my son was harmed by you, who sought the welfare of the son of the Sun. Vāli, the king of the monkeys, was slain by you for the sake of Sugrīva. Afflicted by this sorrow, I do not accept having a human son.” When Indra, giving other reasons, still did not accept, Hari spoke to Shunāsīra regarding the removal of the earth’s burden: “I myself will descend to the world of mortals, O lord, to destroy the son of the Sun and to grant victory to your own son. I will also act as charioteer and bring about the destruction of the Kuru dynasty.” Hearing this, Śakra was gladdened by Viṣṇu’s words. Joyfully accepting, Indra said, “May your words be fulfilled.” With that, the god, after sending Achyuta, departed. Then Pundarīkākṣa—Viṣṇu—approached Brahma again and said, “All this, the three worlds with moving and unmoving beings, has been created by you. We two, O lord, are your helpers in the accomplishment of your task; though you yourself have created, you do not realize that you must also bring about destruction. In seeking to slay Śambhu, an act to be shunned has been done; and in your anger, you created a man from the lord of the gods.” “For the purification of this sin, perform the supreme atonement. Take up the three sacred fires and offer the agnihotra. In a holy place, or in a sacred region, or in a forest, O grandsire, perform the sacrifice with your own wife, accepting us as priests. All the gods, the Ādityas, and even the Rudras, O lord of the world, will carry out your command, for you are our master.” He instructed, “Let there be one household fire, the southern fire as the second, and the offering fire as the third—establish them in three pits. In the circular pit, worship yourself in the form of the sun; in the bow-shaped one, worship the god Hara in the four-cornered pit, with the names of the Ṛg, Yajur, and Sāma Vedas. Having kindled the fires through austerity and attained supreme prosperity, after offering oblations for a divine thousand years, you will pacify the fires. Nothing is declared purer here than the agnihotra; by the meritorious agnihotra, the twice-born are purified on earth.