As the guardians stood at the gate, their duty was suddenly thwarted by the intervention of two powerful beings. At that very moment, the Blessed Lord declared that there would no longer be an eternal stay in that sacred place. Thus, Vyāsa, those two gatekeepers were immediately cast into demonic births as a result of their actions. Through the long journey of transmigration, after a thousand cycles of birth, and by means of severe austerity, charity, and meditation, liberation could have been attained. However, when a being acts with evil intent, the descent is swifter—such a one is born in a dark, tamasic womb within just three lifetimes. So it was with these two: in each successive birth, they entered into such dark wombs, embodying the forces of ignorance and destruction. Thus, they became known as Kumbhakarṇa and Rāvaṇa, the terror of the worlds. In another form, one was famed as the mighty demon Hiraṇyākṣa. Having conquered all the gods, he seized power for himself, casting the deities out from heaven, depriving them of their kingdoms, and leaving them defeated. In those dark times, the sacred svadhā-invocation, the vaṣaṭ-call, and the svāhā-offering vanished from the world. No holy places were revealed, nor did the sacred shrines shine forth. Under the rule of that wicked king, all that was pure and righteous was destroyed. Heretical teachings arose everywhere, turning people away from the path of dharma. Many foreigners came, bringing much suffering and great affliction upon the earth. The whole world seemed shrouded in darkness. Whenever righteousness declines in such a way, O descendant of Bharata, the great Vishnu, ever self-mastered and all-knowing, takes form to restore balance. Knowing the plight of the world, Vishnu incarnated as a mighty Boar. This wondrous form had the sacrificial post as his tusk, the fragrance of oblations in his breath, and a body composed of seeds, herbs, and plants. His inner radiance shone from his mouth, his very being was the embodiment of sacrifice, and he was supremely generous. The breath of this Boar was itself the sacrificial offering, his devotion to the sacrificial act unwavering, and his limbs were like the members of the sacred assembly. The vast expanse of the Vedas was his marsh, Brahma was the officiating priest, and the forest became his abode. He is the primeval person, the Lord invoked and praised by many. Vishnu, in his Boar form, fought many fierce battles, enduring great hardship. At last, with his tusk shining like the crescent moon, he lifted up the earth from the depths. As he did so, auspicious winds began to blow, the sun shone with renewed brilliance, the rivers returned to their courses, and the oceans settled into their natural states. The blessed Boar, bestower of all desired fruits, had appeared. From the very heart of this divine Boar was born an eternal river—vast, abundant, and moving as she pleased. She flowed straight, her waves shimmering, attended by Yakshas and Gandharvas, dancing with Apsaras and praised by great sages. Amidst playful women, their beauty radiant, the river became a place of joyful sport. At all times and in every season, she grants success to men, together with the Siddhas. In the beautiful Mahākāla forest stands the delightful city of Padmāvatī. There, those who bathe in the sacred river attain the eternal realm of Śiva. The destruction of all wicked demons was accomplished by Varāha, the Boar incarnation of Vishnu. All the gods, led by Indra, stood before him with hands joined in reverence, praising the Lord of gods and Lord of the world, whose very praise and hearing brings merit. By the power of his merit, heaven was once again restored to its rightful order.