On a certain day, the sage approached the Lord and spoke with urgency: “O Lord, this mighty mountain stands in my way; please strive to make Vindhya lower.” The Lord reassured him, saying, “This mountain, subdued by your radiant power, will be under my protection. What distress can possibly trouble you?” With determination, the venerable sage, his body aged and weary, departed from Daṇḍaka and journeyed to Mount Vindhya. Standing before the towering peak, he addressed it, “I am old and weak, unable to climb you. Therefore, become lower at once.” Responding to the sage’s ascetic might, Vindhya lowered itself, and the sage, foremost among ascetics, stepped over the mountain. Once he had crossed, he turned to Vindhya and commanded, “You must not grow here until I return; otherwise, I will curse you for your disregard.” Vindhya, filled with hope and reverence, awaited the sage’s return, holding its growth in check. Having placed the princess of Vidarbha safely there, the sage made his way back to his gentle hermitage. Radiant with the power of his austerities, he remained in Daṇḍaka, practicing penance for the rest of his days. He resolved not to withdraw, and so stayed at the lower peak of Vindhya. At the upper peak, the goddess Durga, praised by sages, stood ready for the destruction of demons. The apsaras gathered around Katyayani, offering her comfort, and together they stood free from sorrow. Meanwhile, among those who witnessed these events, two foremost demons, Chanda and Munda, beheld the ascetic woman. As messengers of Mahishasura, they hurried to the queen of the Daityas and spoke: “There is a goddess, a maiden of immense power, most beautiful among the divine beauties. With three eyes, she has conquered three fires; with her throat, she has subdued the conch. Thinking you are the illuminator of all, her breasts have become formidable fortresses by love alone. Knowing your valor, they have been made like mechanisms by desire. For those fearful and hesitant, love is like a staircase constructed for ascent, and in that climb, for the one fearful of you, O demon, the sweat of Manmatha flows. The seal of that house of beauty was given by the king of love himself. We see it as a city—well-fortified, guarded by the ramparts of the lord of desire. For dwelling, the god of love has settled people there as in a land. The creator, exhausted from his work, gave it into the palm for examination. Having seized the worlds, like one newly created, he stands with virtue gained only by beauty. By their command, a garland of jewel-like nails appeared, just as a garland of stars in the sky. We saw her as we wished, but we do not know who she is, whose daughter, or even if she is just a young girl. Go yourself to the Vindhya and see; do what you desire and what is fitting for you.” Hearing this, Mahishasura resolved in his mind, without doubt, and declared, “There is no buffalo here.” He spoke to the Brahmin, “Wherever one comes from, in whatever manner, he is led or goes on his own.” Then, the great lord of the asuras commanded Ugrāyudha, Cikṣura, and Raktabīja to go forth. Arriving at the base of Vindhya, these sons of Danu set up camp and stood ready. Dundubhi, son of Maya and crusher of enemy armies, the one who strikes the drum, was also present. He addressed the maiden: “O maiden, I am the messenger of the great asura, the matchless son of Rambha in battle. Speak truly, without delusion, the message that the son of Rambha has spoken.” Seated comfortably on the highest seat, the son of Rambha proclaimed, “Just as the gods, defeated by me in battle, wander the earth bereft of strength, so too shall others fall before me. I am Indra, I am Rudra, I am the sun; in all the worlds, O girl, I am the lord. Whoever has faced me in battle—spirit or yaksha—none has wished to live. O wide-eyed one, today in the month of Śrāvaṇa, all my hard-won achievements have gathered here.” Thus, the stage was set, with the sage’s command holding Vindhya low, Durga standing ready, and the asura forces assembling for the great confrontation.