O king, listen as I recount the events that unfolded when the gods, seized by great distress, gathered together in urgent council with Indra at their head. Fearful of the calamity that threatened the worlds, they placed Nārāyaṇa—the unconquered Lord of Vaikuṇṭha—at the forefront and addressed Him, Madhusūdana, with reverence and supplication. “O Lord of the world,” they said, “You are our creator, protector, and sustainer. All that moves and all that is still has arisen from You. In ages past, when the earth was submerged in the cosmic ocean, You took the form of a mighty boar and raised her up for the sake of the world. Long ago, when the demon Hiraṇyakaśipu terrorized the universe, You manifested as Narasiṃha and slew him, O Supreme Person. When the invincible asura Bali threatened the three worlds, You became Vāmana and cast him down. The fierce asura Jambha, renowned for his archery and his enmity toward sacrifices, was also slain by You, together with the gods. “O slayer of Madhu, Your deeds are countless. In our terror, we turn to You as our refuge. Therefore, O Lord of gods, we entreat You: protect the worlds, the gods, and Indra from this grave peril. By Your grace, all four kinds of beings flourish—humans thrive, and the celestials are satisfied by offerings and ancestral rites. The worlds function in mutual dependence, sustained and protected by Your power alone. “But now, a supreme fear has seized the worlds. We know not who slays the Brāhmaṇas at night. If the Brāhmaṇas perish, the earth itself will be destroyed. Only by Your favor, O mighty-armed Lord, are all beings preserved. If You protect them, they will endure; if not, they will surely perish.” Hearing their plea, Viṣṇu replied, “O gods, I know well the cause of this destruction. Listen calmly as I reveal it to you. There exist fierce beings known as the Kālakeyas. When Vṛtra was slain by mighty Indra, the Kālakeyas, seeking to save themselves, entered the domain of Varuṇa and hid within the dreadful ocean, teeming with all manner of sea creatures. From there, they emerge at night and kill sages, seeking to destroy the world. But they cannot be destroyed, for they dwell hidden in the depths of the ocean. Consider among yourselves how the ocean might be dried up, for only then can they be overcome.” Hearing Viṣṇu’s words, the gods went to the supreme Brahmā and then journeyed to the hermitage of the great sage Agastya. There they beheld Agastya, the illustrious son of Varuṇa, radiant with splendor and revered by sages as the gods revere the Grandsire. Approaching him, steadfast and devoted to his own rites, the gods spoke: “In former times, when the worlds were afflicted by Nahusha, you were our refuge. For the sake of the worlds, you relinquished the sovereignty of the gods, O remover of affliction. When the great mountain Vindhya, swollen with anger, ceased to grow and defied the sun, it was at your command that he halted. When darkness shrouded the world and death oppressed beings, they turned to you for protection and attained peace. For us, who are ever fearful, you are the refuge. Therefore, we beg you today for a boon, O granter of boons.” At this point, Bhīṣma, eager to understand, asked, “For what reason did Vindhya suddenly swell in wrath? Tell me this in detail, O great sage.” Pulastya replied, “The sun, at both rising and setting, circles Meru, the golden king of mountains. Seeing this, Vindhya spoke to the sun: ‘Just as you always circumambulate Meru, do the same for me, O Bhāskara.’ The sun answered, ‘I do not choose my own path; it is assigned to me for the creation of the world.’ “Enraged by this reply, Vindhya sought to block the path of the sun and moon. The gods, with Indra, tried to restrain the mountain king as he rose higher, but he paid them no heed. Thus, they went to the hermitage of Agastya, the foremost among ascetics, and implored him: ‘Vindhya, in his anger, obstructs the path of the sun, moon, and stars. No one else can restrain him.’ “Agastya approached Vindhya and spoke respectfully: ‘O supreme mountain, I seek a path from you. I must go south for a purpose. Until I return, you must wait. When I have returned, then grow as you wish.’ Even today, O king, the southern region is not left by Agastya, and thus Vindhya does not grow, restrained by the sage’s word. “All this I have recounted as you asked. In the same way, the Kālakeyas were destroyed by the gods after they reached Agastya’s abode. Hear now how this came to pass.