He was a being of supreme strength and striking beauty, yet he showed no partiality to anyone. With a commanding presence never seen before, he initiated a grand, new offering. The ritual vessel was prepared, filled with fresh grains and steaming cooked rice. Unseen treasures were at his disposal, and with the help of others, the work was sure to be accomplished. At this moment, the buffalo demon, Mahishasura, heard the words spoken around him. He laughed loudly and addressed the maiden and the ascetic, boasting, “Listen, girl, ascetic, to the full extent of my wealth. I am the buffalo, a mighty hero and lord of the Daityas, honored even by the gods themselves. There is no heroism in the world to match mine; it is found only in me, by the strength of my own arms. Take me as your husband, for I am the true fruit of all austerity for living beings. By my penance, I create the universal craftsman from the very beginning. The nine treasures are always mine, and those who stand by my side share in them.” Hearing his proud words, the maiden began to recall the gods and their power. She thought to herself, “After such long austerity, perhaps I shall become the wife of the powerful one.” Viraca, perceiving the stirrings of her own feminine nature in these thoughts, saw Mahishasura drawing near, intent on seizing her for himself. Suddenly, she beheld the great Maya—radiant and formidable—standing before Mahishasura. The demon, in his arrogance, struck the peaks of the noble mountains with his horns again and again, displaying his might. In response, the gods, led by Brahma, bowed and offered her a host of weapons. Hari (Vishnu) gave five weapons, and Sadashiva bestowed ten more. The guardians of the directions, other gods, the mountains, and the oceans all contributed their own gifts. Maya, now possessing many hands and holding blazing collections of weapons, filled all the directions with her overwhelming radiance—so fierce that none could withstand her light. Her own fiery energy blazed forth, impossible to endure. It was clear that by some means, this wicked Mahishasura must be destroyed. A plan was formed: to draw him in with the words of a messenger—gentle words that would strike at his vital weaknesses. For those engaged in unrighteous conduct, sometimes hearing words of dharma can turn their minds to righteousness, bringing peace. And for those practicing austerity, renouncing anger always bears fruit. Thinking thus, Gauri (the goddess) addressed the sage, the guru of the gods, calling him by name. “Go, O great sage whose face resembles that of a monkey, endowed with Maya. Do not, O misguided one, oppress the lord of the Aruna mountain. Here, there is neither the distress of the Kali age nor oppression even by the Asuras. By the merit of good deeds from your previous births, you have attained great strength and prosperity. The riches you possess were given to you by Shiva himself, as a result of your former austerities. This is always the dwelling place of those devoted to righteousness and of worshippers of Shiva. You have attained incomparable sovereignty, and another power that is difficult for anyone to overcome. “The maiden has again been seen by me, and she is considered especially powerless. Or else, by various arguments or by scriptures approved by Shiva, you—proud of your strength—continue to trouble all the worlds. Therefore, bring forth your entire army, fully armed, and place it at the front. When your life, along with your army, is cut down by my weapon, you will see the consequences of your actions.