There was a powerful woman who had three sons, each of whom possessed strength surpassing even Indra, the thousand-eyed king of the gods. The third son was Namuci, renowned for his immense might. Lord Hari, grasping the thunderbolt in his hand, resolved to destroy Namuci. He entered the chariot of the sun, seeking his foe, but Achyuta—another name for Hari—could not overcome Namuci there, for Namuci had obtained a boon granting him invulnerability to weapons and missiles. Leaving the sun’s chariot behind, Hari descended to the netherworld. There, the lord of the Dānavas spotted him, seized him, and spoke: “Let this foam touch me,” he said, grasping it with both hands. Śakra, the mighty Indra, then struck Namuci with the vajra, even though the lord was concealed within the foam. In this way, Namuci was destroyed. Yet, as a consequence, Brahmahatyā—the sin of killing a Brahmin—befell Hari. Namuci’s two heroic brothers, Sumbha and Niśumbha, were inflamed with rage at his demise. The gods, led by Indra, prepared for battle. Amidst the conflict, the Dānavas seized Śakra’s elephant and Yama’s buffalo by force, and carried off treasures such as the lotus and the conch. Emerging onto the earth’s surface, they encountered the great Asura. The Asura declared, “I am a Daitya, O lord, and a minister of Mahiṣa. Two ministers, famed as Canda and Muṇḍa, are valiant and splendid. Our lord is the Dānava named Mahiṣa. Tell us, what is your valor, what is your power? You should declare this. This is Niśumbha, my younger brother, destroyer of hosts of enemies. All the other mighty heroes have been conquered. Until then, we two, surrounded by our armies, will slay them.” Canda and Munda, the two Dānavas, emerged from the waters and spoke gentle words: “Who is this leader of yours?” They introduced Niśumbhaka, the younger brother. Sumbha proclaimed, “I will marry her who is the jewel among the three worlds. He who is the lord alone is worthy of the jewel; therefore, let her be given to Śumbha.” Once more, Kauśikī, endowed with beauty, was born in that very way. Sumbha sent a demon to the goddess dwelling in the Vindhya mountains. Niśumbha and Sumbha, filled with anger, spoke: “I went there today and spoke these words to her. He said to you, O greatly fortunate one: ‘I am the lord of the three worlds. There are so many jewels in my palace at all times. Therefore, choose either me or my younger brother Niśumbha.’” It was affirmed: “Śumbha is lord of the three worlds and worthy of the jewel.” The goddess replied, “Whoever conquers me in battle, that great Asura shall be my husband.” The ministers wondered, “How can she not defeat you? Rise up, O radiant one. Go with your desire, and report it to Sumbha. She, blazing like a mass of fire, will act as she sees fit.” Sumbha then addressed the distant demon Dhūmralocana, setting the stage for the next act in their cosmic struggle.