When the gods' store of merit was exhausted, they found themselves afflicted by the weight of their diminished virtue. Instructed by a divine voice, they were told that when such a time comes, they must descend to the earth and there perform sacred bathing, acts of charity, and other holy rites to restore their merit. Hearing these words, which seemed to echo through the very sky, all the gods made their way to the sacred forest of Maheśvara. This forest was a wondrous place, teeming with the four castes and attended by great sages and celestial gandharvas. In this blessed city, there was no poverty, ignorance, folly, disease, or envy. Instead, its people were generous, peaceful, virtuous, and untouched by old age or sickness. Men lived in harmony, and women were devoted to their husbands, creating an atmosphere of righteousness and contentment. Beholding such a city, the gods were filled with supreme joy. The city was constantly served by the virtuous and endowed with all the sacred bathing places. There, by performing acts of merit and receiving imperishable rewards, the gods restored their strength and were able to return to their celestial abode. It is said that those fortunate ones who perform bathing, charity, and worship in this city gain great merit, and therefore, the wise should always strive to do so with all their effort. In every age, this city has been known and remembered as Avanti. Having thus fulfilled their purpose, the gods returned to their supreme realm. Moreover, whoever recites this auspicious, divine, and meritorious tale—which removes all sin—will be blessed: a man without a son will gain a son, and a poor man will acquire wealth. Those who gain merit through these acts are always honored in the realm of Shiva. Now, listen attentively, for I will explain further. Tripura, the great demon, was always the lord of all the demon clans. In his quest for power, he performed severe austerities: in the heat, he served fire; in the rainy season, he endured the tumult of clouds; he ate fallen leaves, drank only water, sometimes subsisted on air, and lived without shelter. In this way, for a thousand years, he practiced the most difficult penances. Pleased by his austerities, the Creator appeared and said, "Choose, O best of demons, a boon you desire from me." Thus addressed, the demon Tripura asked for power over the gods, celestial beings, gandharvas, spirits, serpents, and rakshasas. Having granted his request, Brahma vanished from that place. From that moment, Tripura began a vast slaughter of the gods. He settled himself in Tripura, and moved his cities wherever he wished, sowing destruction by various means as his mind grew ever more corrupted. Under his influence, the sacred rituals ceased: there were no fire sacrifices, no drinking of soma, and the sacred utterances "svāhā," "svadhā," and "vaṣaṭ" were forgotten. There were no temples for the gods, nor any worship of Shiva. People of good conduct vanished, and compassion and respect for humanity were lost. Because of this, the world itself was nearly destroyed. The gods, their strength overcome and their hosts nearly annihilated, formed an alliance and took counsel together. They spoke of the cause of their suffering and, united, journeyed to the most excellent Mahakala forest. There, in the divine city of Avanti—honored by all sacred waters—they performed bathing, acts of charity, recitation, and offerings in the lake of Rudra, seeking to restore balance and merit to the world.