Narada, the illustrious sage, approached the goddess, the auspicious one revered by all the gods. With deep reverence he spoke, “O goddess of the gods, I have come here to see you.” Having said this, Narada gazed upon her, and in that moment, he was filled with astonishment. He marveled to himself, “Ah, what beauty! Ah, what radiance! Ah, what composure! Ah, what youth!” Yet, above all, he was struck by her utter freedom from desire—a quality unparalleled among gods, gandharvas, siddhas, yakshas, kinnaras, and rakshasas. Narada reflected that nowhere among all women was such beauty to be found. Overwhelmed by wonder, he bowed to the boon-bestowing goddess, then rose into the sky and swiftly journeyed to the city ruled by the lord of the daityas. This city, called Mahisha, stood at the very edge of the ocean. There, Narada encountered the asura manifest in the form of a mighty buffalo. The asura, renowned for his strength and the boons he had received, and famed as the destroyer of the gods’ armies, welcomed Narada with devotion. Pleased, Narada described to him the goddess’s unsurpassed beauty, just as he had witnessed in the city of the gods. “O lord of the asuras,” Narada said, “listen attentively. There is a jewel among maidens, by whom the three worlds and all beings, moving and unmoving, have been obtained through boons. From Brahmaloka I have come to Mount Mandara, and there I saw the goddess’s city, crowded with hundreds of maidens. Among them, the foremost maiden—an ascetic devoted to vows—is not to be found among gods, demons, or yakshas. Such beauty I have never seen, though I have wandered throughout 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 swiftly. But know this: without first conquering the gods and gandharvas, no one can win her.” Having spoken thus, Narada paused for a moment, then took his leave and vanished as suddenly as he had come. When Narada had departed, the daitya lord was left in astonishment, his mind captivated by thoughts of the auspicious goddess. He found no happiness, thinking only of her. Seeking counsel, he summoned his chief minister, Alamsharma, and his eight other valiant and wise ministers: Praghasa, Vighasa, Shankukarna, Vibhavasu, Vidyunmali, Sumali, Parjanya, and one fierce in might. These foremost ministers, gathered before the daitya king, said, “Let the necessary action be taken.” Hearing their words, the powerful lord of the danavas, now determined by Narada’s counsel, spoke of his desire to obtain the maiden. “The girl was described to me by the great sage Narada. That excellent woman cannot be attained without first conquering the chief of the gods. Therefore, consider well and tell me: how can that girl be obtained, and how can the gods be defeated? Tell me all this quickly.” The ministers conferred together and replied, “We shall tell you, lord.” Then Praghasa spoke: “That one whom Narada described to you, O daitya, that supremely virtuous one, is the supreme goddess herself—Vaishnavi, the sustainer of the worlds. A king who seeks to seize the wife of a teacher, another king, or of vassals, or who approaches the unattainable, perishes.” When Praghasa had spoken thus, Vighasa agreed, “What Praghasa says about that goddess is correct, O king. Even if there is unity of opinion and the mind is resolved, a maiden is always to be sought by those who desire victory; yet, a maiden should never be seized by force. If my words please you, let the ministers go and request that auspicious goddess. We should first approach her kinsman, who is noble, with conciliation, then with gifts; if needed, with division, and finally, with punishment, each in its proper order. If, by this sequence, she is not obtained, then we shall go forth fully armed and seize her by force.” The other ministers praised Vighasa’s words, saying, “He has spoken well regarding her of radiant face. Let this be done quickly—let a messenger be dispatched.” They agreed that someone skilled in all the policies of the scriptures, pure and valorous, should go to ascertain her appearance, form, and qualities. By understanding her through prowess, courage, heroism, strength, kinship, resources, and means, the right action could be undertaken. The daitya’s words and Vighasa’s counsel were commended by all, and they agreed to send Vidyutprabha—a most fortunate and magical minister—as their messenger. After dispatching him, Vighasa added, “Let the lords of the danavas be armed with their fourfold forces; let victory be achieved over the army of the gods, O master. When the gods are defeated and their valor subdued, then that maiden will come under your control, O Indra’s equal. When all the guardians of the worlds—Maruts, Nagas, Vidyadharas, Siddhas, Gandharvas, Rudras, Vasus, and Adityas—are conquered, you alone will become Indra. A hundred maidens of Indra, divine and Gandharva women, will come under your sway; and she too will certainly be brought under your control in every way.” Thus, with resolve and counsel, the daitya king and his ministers set their plans into motion, their hearts fixed on the goddess whose beauty and power surpassed all the worlds.