Mahisha, the mighty Daitya, was seized by an intense desire for a maiden whose beauty and virtues had been vividly described to him by the great sage Narada. Narada had told him that this extraordinary woman could not be won unless the chief of the gods himself was conquered. Driven by longing and ambition, Mahisha assembled his ministers and demanded their counsel: “How can I obtain that maiden, and how might the gods be defeated? Tell me quickly.” His ministers, eager to serve, conferred among themselves and assured him, “We shall tell you, lord.” Praghasa, one of the foremost among them, spoke with gravity: “O Daitya, the maiden Narada described to you is no ordinary woman. She is the supreme goddess, Vaishnavi, the sustainer of the worlds. One who seeks to seize the wife of a teacher, another king’s wife, or the wives of vassals, perishes—so does one who approaches the unattainable.” Vighasa, another minister, agreed wholeheartedly: “What Praghasa has said about the goddess is true, O king.” He continued, “Even if there is unity of opinion and resolve, victory can only be sought through proper means. A maiden should never be seized by force anywhere. If my words please you, O best of ministers, let us send our own to request the auspicious goddess.” Vighasa laid out a plan: “We shall approach her kinsman, noble and worthy, first with conciliation, then with gifts. If that fails, we will try division, and finally, punishment, in due order. If by these means she is not won, then we shall go forth fully armed and seize her by force.” His words were met with praise and joyful agreement from the other ministers. “Vighasa has spoken well regarding her of radiant face,” they said. “Let this be done quickly; let a messenger be dispatched.” They chose Vidyutprabha, a greatly fortunate messenger skilled in magic and auspicious qualities. He was to ascertain the goddess by her appearance, form, and qualities, guided by the wisdom of the scriptures and valor. Vighasa then addressed the assembly: “Let the lords of the Danavas be armed with fourfold forces; let victory be achieved over the army of the gods, O master. When the gods are defeated and their valor subdued, that maiden will come under your control, O Indra’s equal. When all the guardians of the worlds—the Maruts, Nagas, Vidyadharas, Siddhas, Gandharvas, Rudras, Vasus, and Adityas—are conquered, then 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.” Inspired, Mahisha turned to his general, Virupaksha, whose form was dark as a great cloud and radiant with blue-black light. “Bring swiftly the army of elephants, horses, chariots, and infantry, by which I shall conquer the gods and Gandharvas, who are difficult to defeat in battle.” Virupaksha obeyed, and soon a vast and unconquered army was assembled. Each Danava was equal in battle to a wielder of the thunderbolt; each sought to conquer a god by his own strength. Among them were ninety million foremost warriors, each with their own followers. Countless thousands of great-souled Daityas formed the battle array, undistracted and eager for combat, setting out to destroy the army of the gods. The Daityas rode in wondrous chariots adorned with many banners, wielding diverse and fearsome weapons, taking on terrifying forms. With dreadful arms raised, they danced in anticipation, eager to conquer the gods. Then, as Śrī Varāha recounts, Mahisha, master of many forms and immense strength, mounted a maddened elephant, intent on ascending Mount Meru. He and his companions reached the city of Indra and charged at Śatakratu and the gods. The gods, filled with wrath, responded swiftly, taking up their weapons and mounts, and rushing into battle against the Asuras. A tumultuous and hair-raising battle erupted, fierce with mighty warriors roaring at each other. Among the Daityas, Añjana, Nīlakukṣi, Meghavarṇa, Balāhaka, Udarākṣa, Lalāṭākṣa, Subhīma, and Bhīmavikrama—eight in all, along with Svarbhānu—charged at the Vasus. Twelve other Daityas, each with their own armies, attacked the Ādityas. Chief among these leaders were Bhīma, Dhvaṅkṣa, Dhvastakarṇa, Śaṅkukarṇa, Vajrakāya, Vidyunmālī, Raktākṣa, Bhīmadaṃṣṭra, Vidyujjihva, Atikāya, Mahākāya, Dīrghabāhu, and Kṛtāntaka. Other enraged Dānavas attacked the Rudras. Among them were Kāla, Kṛtānta, Raktākṣa, Haraṇa, Mitrahā, Anila, Yajñahā, Brahmahā, Goughna, Strīghna, and Saṃvartaka—eleven Daitya lords, mad with desire for battle. The remaining Daityas attacked other gods as appropriate. Mahisha himself, emboldened by a boon from Brahmā, rushed directly at Indra with great speed. This powerful Daitya, protected by Brahmā’s blessing, could not be slain by any man in battle, even by the wielder of Pināka. Thus, the forces of the Daityas and the gods clashed on Mount Meru, and the heavens trembled with the fury of their battle.