The gods, seeking help, approached the great-souled son of Mitra and Varuṇa, renowned for his steadfastness and immense austerity. He was immersed in his sacred rites, a treasury of spiritual power. With reverence, the gods addressed him, recalling how, in ages past, when the worlds suffered under the tyranny of Nahusha, he had been their refuge; for the sake of all beings, he had relinquished the sovereignty of the gods, relieving the world of its afflictions. They reminded him of another time, when the mighty Vindhya mountain, swollen with anger, defied his command and challenged the sun itself, ceasing its growth. When darkness enveloped the world and beings were oppressed by death, they had come to him for protection and found supreme peace. “For us, who are ever fearful,” the gods said, “you are always the refuge. Today, we beg you for a boon, for you are the granter of boons.” Bhīṣma, listening to this tale, asked, “For what reason did Vindhya suddenly swell with wrath? Tell me this in detail, O great sage.” Pulastya replied: “The sun, at its rising and setting, circles Meru—the golden king of mountains. Seeing this, Vindhya spoke to the sun: ‘Just as you always encircle Meru, performing circumambulation, do the same for me, O Bhāskara.’” The sun answered, “I do not circumambulate this mountain by my own will. This path has been assigned to me, by which the world is created.” Hearing this, Vindhya became furious and sought to block the path of the sun and moon, scorcher of foes. All the gods, led by Indra, gathered to restrain Vindhya as he rose up, but he ignored their pleas. So, the gods went to the hermitage of Agastya, the foremost among ascetics, righteous and wondrous in power, and addressed him: “Vindhya, overcome by anger, obstructs the path of the sun and moon, and the movement of the stars. No one else, O lord of sages, is able to restrain him.” Hearing their words, Agastya approached Vindhya, spoke respectfully, and said, “I desire the path granted by you, O supreme mountain. I must go south for some purpose. Until my return, you must wait. When I have returned, O lord of mountains, then grow as you wish.” Pulastya explained, “Even today, the southern region is not left by Vāruṇi. Thus, Vindhya does not grow, by the power of Agastya, as you have asked me.” Pulastya continued, “Just as the Kāleyas were destroyed by all the gods after reaching Agastya’s abode, hear this tale from me.” The gods, seeking aid, approached Maitrāvaruṇi and said, “For what purpose have you come? What boon do you desire from me?” The gods replied, “We wish for one wondrous boon, O divine sage, O great soul—let us drink the ocean. If you accomplish this, and the great ocean is drunk up entirely, then we will destroy, together with their kin, the force of the Kāleyas, enemies of the gods.” The sage answered, “So be it. I will fulfill your wish, which brings happiness to the worlds.” Then, accompanied by ascetic sages perfected in austerity and by the gods, he went to the ocean, the treasury of waters. Humans, serpents, gandharvas, yakshas, and kimpurushas followed the great-souled one, eager to witness this wondrous event. Together, they beheld the ocean, roaring fiercely, seeming to dance with its waves and leap about by the wind. It appeared to laugh with masses of foam, stumble in its channels, and was filled with various aquatic creatures and flocks of diverse birds. The gods, along with Agastya, gandharvas, mighty serpents, and illustrious sages, sat by the great ocean. Having reached the ocean, the divine sage Varuni addressed the assembled gods and sages. Desiring to protect the ocean, Agastya declared, “For the welfare of the worlds, I shall drink the abode of Varuna. Whatever is to be done by you, let it be arranged quickly.” Having spoken thus, Maitrāvaruṇi proceeded ahead. With righteous anger, Agastya drank the ocean as all the worlds watched. Seeing the ocean being drunk, the gods and Indra were struck with utmost wonder and honored him with praises: “You are our protector and creator, the sustainer of the worlds; by your grace, the universe attains its highest state.” Honored by the gods, the great-souled sage, amidst the singing of the chief gandharvas and showered with divine flowers, made the great ocean devoid of water. Seeing the ocean dry, all the gods were exceedingly delighted. Seizing their divine, excellent weapons, they attacked and slew the danavas, their spirits undaunted. Those danavas, though mighty, swift, and roaring, could not withstand the force of the powerful celestials. With terrifying cries, they fought a tumultuous battle for a moment. Previously burned by the austerities of sages with purified minds, though striving with utmost power, they were destroyed by the gods. Adorned with golden ornaments, earrings, and armlets, the slain danavas lay resplendent, like blossoming kimshuka trees.