The gods, after receiving counsel, departed for the sacred region near Mount Meru, their minds absorbed in contemplation of Janārdana. No sooner had they fixed their thoughts upon him than the divine wielder of the discus and mace appeared within their army—alone, yet his power was immeasurable. By his own will, the Lord of the universe manifested himself in countless forms: one, ten, a hundred, a thousand, a hundred thousand, and even ten million. As this mighty god stood among their ranks, every demon who depended on the strength of the army was struck down, falling lifeless to the earth. In a single instant, the entire fourfold army—filled with horses, elephants, and foot soldiers—was utterly destroyed by the wondrous might of the universal form. After annihilating the host, the god bearing the discus vanished from sight, leaving behind only the vision of their decimated forces. Witnessing such a deed by the bow-bearing god, the survivors sought refuge in him alone, desiring to worship him. They then addressed King Durjaya, saying, "O King, you are the son of our friend Supratīka. Here are our daughters—accept them, O lord of men. Hetṛ’s daughter is Sukeśī, and Prahetṛ’s is Miśrakeśī." Thus addressed by the matchmakers, King Durjaya lawfully accepted both auspicious maidens as his wives. Filled with great joy at obtaining them, the king returned swiftly to his own kingdom, surrounded by his army. After some time, two sons were born to him: from Sukeśī, a son named Suprabha; and from Miśrakeśī, a son named Sudarśana. Blessed with these excellent sons, King Durjaya later ventured to the edge of the forest. There, after slaying fierce wild beasts, he discovered a sinless sage dwelling in the woods. He beheld the great and fortunate ascetic Gauramukha, protector of the seers and savior of the sinful. The sage’s hermitage shone with pure waters, gentle breezes, and fragrant trees. It was as if a cloud had descended from the sky, resembling a splendid celestial palace upon the earth. Its atmosphere glowed like the fire of sacrifice; the dwellings were spotlessly clean, resounding with the chanting of Sāman hymns by disciples. The hermitage was filled with beautiful women and the daughters of sages, adorned with blossoming flowers on every tree. Upon seeing this delightful hermitage, King Durjaya reflected on its beauty and resolved, "I shall enter here and see these supremely righteous sages." With this thought, he entered the hermitage. The virtuous sage Gauramukha, filled with joy, welcomed him with worship. After the customary words of greeting, the sage said, "O best of kings, I shall provide food for you and your retinue to the best of my ability." He instructed, "Let your horses be unyoked, O noble one," and, observing his vow, remained silent. The king stood there with devotion, accompanied by his attendants—five divisions of his army were present. He wondered, "What food will this ascetic provide?" The sage Gauramukha invited King Durjaya and pondered what food he could offer. As he concentrated his mind on this task, Lord Hari Nārāyaṇa, the lord of the gods, became present in his heart. Remembering Nārāyaṇa, the sage entered the Gaṅgā to propitiate him. The Earth then asked, "How did Gauramukha please Viṣṇu, O mountain? I desire to hear this in detail." Gauramukha offered salutations: "Salutations always to Viṣṇu; to you who wear yellow garments; to you of the primordial form; to you who take the form of water. Salutations to you who abide in all things and recline upon the waters; to you who take the form of the earth and whose essence is fire. Salutations to you who take the form of air and space. You are Lord of all beings, master, and the desire within the heart. You are the syllable Oṃ, the vaṣaṭ call, present everywhere. You are the origin of all gods, and no origin exists for you. You are Bhū, Bhuvaḥ, Jana, and Mahaḥ. You are tapas, you are truth; in you abides all that moves and does not move. From you arises the entire world; from you come the Ṛg and other Vedas, the scriptures, and the sacrifices. From you come trees, herbs, forest plants, cattle, birds, and serpents—all arise from you, O Janārdana." "O Lord of gods, a king named Durjaya has come as a guest. I am eager to offer him hospitality. Today, O Lord, I am poor and bowed in devotion. Please grant me a supply of food. Whatever I touch with my hand, whatever I see with my eyes—tree, grass, or root—may all become the four kinds of food. And whatever else I may contemplate in my mind, let all that be accomplished for me. Salutations to you, Supreme Lord." Thus praised, the Lord of gods was satisfied. Keśava revealed his own form to the sage. With a mind filled with grace, he spoke, "Speak, O brāhmaṇa, choose the highest boon." Hearing this, the sage slowly opened his eyes. There, Janārdana appeared, holding conch and mace, clad in yellow garments, radiant, seated upon Garuḍa, shining with the brilliance of twelve suns.