The worlds, it was said, exist in a delicate balance, each depending on the other. By the power of the Lord, they are protected and kept free from distress. But now, a great fear had arisen among the gods: the worlds trembled, for someone—or something—was slaying Brāhmaṇas in the darkness of night. The gods did not know who was responsible for these dreadful acts. They knew, however, the terrible consequences should the Brāhmaṇas be destroyed, for the earth itself would be ruined. Thus, the gods turned to the mighty-armed Lord of the world, Viṣṇu, acknowledging that by his favor alone were all beings preserved. Only under his protection could the worlds hope to avoid destruction; without it, all would surely perish. Viṣṇu, compassionate and all-knowing, addressed the anxious gods. “I know well the cause of this destruction,” he assured them. “Hear me, and let your fears be calmed. There exists a fierce race known as the Kālakeyas. When Vṛtra was slain by the wise, thousand-eyed Indra, these Kālakeyas, seeking to save themselves, fled into the abode of Varuṇa. There, they entered the dreadful ocean, teeming with countless sea creatures. Hidden in its depths, they emerge at night to slay sages, seeking to bring ruin upon the world.” Viṣṇu explained that the Kālakeyas could not be destroyed while they remained concealed within the ocean. He urged the gods to consider carefully how the ocean might be dried up, for only then could these enemies be overcome. Taking Viṣṇu’s words to heart, the gods sought the counsel of the supreme Brahmā. Together, they made their way to the hermitage of the great sage Agastya, son of Varuṇa, who blazed with the splendor of austerity and was revered by sages just as the gods revered the Grandsire himself. Approaching the steadfast and illustrious Agastya—son of Mitra and Varuṇa, a treasury of ascetic power—the gods paid homage as he performed his rites. They addressed him with reverence: “In times past, when Nahusha afflicted the worlds, you alone were our refuge. For the sake of the worlds, you even relinquished the sovereignty of the gods, O remover of affliction. When the mighty Vindhya mountain, swelled with anger, defied your command and sought to block the sun, you subdued him. When darkness covered the earth and death oppressed all beings, you brought them protection and peace. You are ever our refuge, and so today, we beg a boon from you, O granter of boons.” At this point, Bhīṣma, listening to the tale, asked the sage Pulastya to explain why the Vindhya mountain had grown so suddenly in wrath. Pulastya recounted: “The sun circles Meru, the golden king of mountains, at both its rising and setting. Observing this, Vindhya addressed the sun, ‘Just as you always circle Meru, so too should you circle me, O Bhāskara.’ The sun replied, ‘I do not follow this path by my own will; it is ordained for the creation of the world.’ Angered by this, Vindhya sought to obstruct the path of the sun and moon. The gods, led by Indra, tried to restrain him, but he ignored their pleas.” “So they turned to Agastya, the foremost of sages. The gods explained, ‘Vindhya, overcome by anger, blocks the path of the sun, moon, and stars. None but you can restrain him.’ Agastya approached Vindhya and spoke respectfully, ‘O supreme mountain, I desire to pass southward by your grace. Until I return, you must not grow.’ Vindhya agreed, and even to this day, by the power of Agastya, the mountain does not grow, as you have asked.” Pulastya then turned back to the story of the Kālakeyas. “Just as the gods overcame the Kālakeyas after reaching Agastya’s abode, hear now how this came to pass.” When the gods approached Agastya, he asked, “For what purpose have you come? What boon do you seek from me?” The gods replied, “We ask a wondrous boon, O great sage: let us drink the ocean. If you can accomplish this, we shall destroy the Kālakeyas and their kin, the enemies of the gods.” Agastya agreed, “So be it. I will fulfill your wish, which brings happiness to the worlds.” The great sage, accompanied by perfected ascetics and the gods, set out for the ocean, the vast treasury of waters. Eager to witness this marvel, humans, serpents, gandharvas, yakshas, and kimpurushas followed Agastya. When they reached the ocean, they beheld its fierce roaring, its waves leaping as if in a wild dance, driven by the wind. The ocean seemed to laugh with its foaming crests, stumble along its channels, and teemed with creatures and flocks of birds of every kind. The gods, along with Agastya, gandharvas, mighty serpents, and illustrious sages, seated themselves by the great ocean. At last, the divine sage Varuni addressed the assembled gods and sages, who had gathered there in anticipation of the wondrous event that was to unfold.