Surrounded by her devoted attendants—each bearing nooses and goads, all auspicious in their presence—the radiant goddess sat enthroned, the very embodiment of grace and power. Around her, pure-hearted women fanned her gently with whisks, and in that serene atmosphere, the goddess, resplendent in her youth, undertook the sacred vow of maidenhood, preparing herself for intense austerity. She was at the height of youthful beauty, blessed with full and rounded breasts, and adorned with fragrant garlands of campaka, ashoka, punnaga, and naga flowers. Every limb of hers was reverently worshipped, honored by sages, gods, noble women, and maidens alike, who gathered around her in awe and devotion. Though she enjoyed every delight, the goddess remained steadfast in her austerities. It was at this time that Narada, the divine sage and son of Brahma, arrived. The goddess, perceiving his sudden presence, turned to her attendant Vidyutprabha and instructed her to prepare a seat and swiftly bring water for the sage’s feet and for sipping. Vidyutprabha, ever dutiful, immediately offered Narada a seat, water for his feet, and the traditional arghya. Once Narada was seated and respectfully greeted, the goddess, her heart filled with joy, welcomed him warmly: “O best of sages, for what reason have you come here from your world? Tell me what you wish to accomplish, so that your time is not wasted.” Narada, knower of all worlds, replied, “From Brahmaloka to Indraloka, and from there to the fierce mountain, I have come. Therefore, O goddess of the gods, I have come here to see you, O auspicious one.” As he spoke, the illustrious sage gazed upon the goddess, and in that moment, he was overcome with wonder: “Ah, what beauty! Ah, what radiance! Ah, what composure! Ah, what youth! And what freedom from desire in the goddess!” Nowhere among gods, gandharvas, siddhas, yakshas, kinnaras, or rakshasas had he ever beheld such beauty. Filled with amazement, he bowed to the boon-bestowing goddess, then rose into the sky and swiftly departed for the city ruled by the lord of the daityas. This city, named Mahisha, stood at the edge of the ocean. There, Narada encountered the asura Mahisha, who had assumed the form of a mighty buffalo—one who had received powerful boons and was famed as a destroyer of the gods’ armies. The asura, recognizing Narada, worshipped him with great devotion. Pleased, Narada described to Mahisha the goddess’s unsurpassed beauty, just as he had seen her in the city of the gods. “O lord of the asuras,” Narada said, “listen attentively to the jewel among maidens—she by whom the three worlds and all beings, moving and unmoving, have been obtained through boons. From Brahmaloka I have come, O daitya, to Mount Mandara; there I saw the city of the goddess, crowded with hundreds of maidens. Among them, the foremost is an ascetic devoted to vows, unlike any among gods, demons, or yakshas. Such a beautiful one as she I have never seen, wandering through the entire cosmic egg. All the gods, gandharvas, sages, siddhas, charanas, and even the leaders of the daityas worship her. Having seen that wish-bestowing goddess, I came here quickly; but know this: without conquering the gods and gandharvas, no one can win her.” Having spoken thus, Narada took leave and departed as he had come, vanishing instantly. After Narada’s departure, Mahisha, the daitya lord, found his mind completely captivated by thoughts of the auspicious goddess. Restless and unable to find happiness, he summoned his chief minister, Alamsharma, and the eight valiant and wise ministers: Praghasa, Vighasa, Shankukarna, Vibhavasu, Vidyunmali, Sumali, Parjanya, and the fierce one. These foremost ministers, seated before their king, declared, “Let the necessary action be done.” Mahisha, determined by Narada’s words, addressed them: “The girl described to me by the great sage Narada—such an excellent woman cannot be attained without conquering the chief of the gods. Consider now, and tell me: how can that girl be obtained, and how can the gods be defeated? Speak quickly.” The ministers conferred and replied, “We shall tell you, lord.” Praghasa spoke first: “That one whom Narada described to you, O Daitya, that supremely virtuous one, is the supreme goddess, Vaishnavi, the sustainer of the worlds. A king who desires to seize the wife of a teacher, another king, or a vassal, perishes—as does one who seeks the unattainable.” Vighasa then added, “What Praghasa has said about the goddess is correct, O king. Even if there is unity of opinion and resolve, the maiden is always to be sought by those who desire victory; yet, a maiden should never be seized by force anywhere. If my words please you, O best of ministers, then let the ministers go and request that auspicious goddess. We shall approach her noble kinsman first, with conciliation and gifts; then, if needed, by sowing division, and finally, by punishment, in proper order. If, by these means, she is not obtained, then we shall go forth fully armed and seize that auspicious one by force.” Thus, the stage was set for the asura’s pursuit of the goddess, his heart consumed by longing and his court preparing for action.