Let me tell you the tale as revealed in these sacred verses. The mighty teacher Kāvya, also known as Śukra, stood before the Asuras and declared, “I am your teacher, Kāvya; and this is Aṅgiras, the teacher of the gods. All of you, follow me and abandon Bṛhaspati.” The Asuras, hearing this, looked at both figures, but at that moment, they could not distinguish between them, for confusion clouded their minds. Bṛhaspati then spoke, seeking to clarify the situation: “This confused one is Aṅgiras; I am Kāvya, the guru of the Daityas. This form you see is Bṛhaspati.” He added, “He deludes me with his own form, O Asuras.” Hearing these words, the Asuras deliberated, discussing among themselves the purpose of these events. They recalled, “For ten years, this lord has continually ruled; now this twice-born one seeks to take the place of our teacher.” Deluded by the long-standing practice, all the Dānavas bowed down, offered their respect, and accepted the words spoken to them. Their eyes red with anger, the Asuras declared, “This is our well-wishing teacher; you go, you are not our guru. Let this one be Bhārgava or Āṅgirasa, but he is not our guru; we remain under his command. You go, do not delay, O good one.” Having spoken thus, they approached Bṛhaspati, but when they did not accept him as their teacher, he offered them great and beneficial advice. At this, Bhārgava (Śukra) became angry at their arrogance, for though he had instructed them, the Dānavas did not honor him. In his wrath, he cursed them: “Therefore, you will lose your senses and meet with defeat.” Having spoken thus, Kāvya departed as he had come. Bṛhaspati, knowing the Asuras had been cursed by Kāvya, joyfully resumed his true form. Seeing the Asuras fallen, he, having achieved his aim, disappeared from their sight. When he had vanished, the Dānavas were bewildered, lamenting among themselves, “Alas! Fie! We have been deceived here. We have turned our backs and been struck by the Creator; through his cunning, we have been burned and deprived in our own interests.” Frightened and seeking remedy, the Asuras hurried to the gods, placing Prahlāda at their head, and once again sought out Kāvya. Approaching him, they stood around him, facing east. Seeing them return, Kāvya addressed his worshippers: “I too instructed you at the proper time, but since you did not honor me, through that arrogance your group has met with defeat.” Prahlāda spoke humbly to him, “Abandon your pride, O Bhārgava, and care for your own worshippers, especially those who are devoted. We were deceived by the teacher of the gods whom you questioned; knowing with your far-seeing vision, you ought to protect your devotees. If you, O son of Bhṛgu, do not show us favor, then, condemned by you today, we shall enter the netherworld.” Sūta said: Knowing the truth, Kāvya was moved by compassion and pity. Thus addressed and appeased, praised by his followers, he restrained his anger and spoke, “Do not be afraid, nor should you go to the netherworld; this outcome was inevitable and has come to you while I was present. It cannot be otherwise; for what is seen is more powerful. The recognition you have lost today, you will surely regain. The appointed time has come—thus spoke Brahmā. And by my favor, you have enjoyed the strength of the three worlds. A complete cycle of ten yugas, having surpassed the gods at their summit—Brahmā declared that this would be the duration of your reign.” He continued, “In the era of Sāvarṇi, your kingship will indeed return; your grandson Bali will again become lord of the worlds. Thus, I was told by Brahmā himself about your grandson. When the worlds were thus taken away, his austerity did not remain. Because his actions were not motivated by desire, the pleased Unborn One granted him the Sāvarṇi interval. The Lord told me that Bali will become king of the gods; therefore, he remains invisible to beings, awaiting the right time.” Kāvya added, “And by the pleased Self-born, immortality was granted to you; therefore, do not be disheartened, endure the cycle with composure. Nor am I able to go before you; I have been forbidden by Brahmā, who knows the future, O lord. And these two disciples of mine are equal to Bṛhaspati; together with the gods, they will restrain you all, though you are enraged.” Thus addressed by Kāvya, whose actions are pure, the Daityas, led by Prahlāda, went together with those two disciples. Hearing from Śukra that the outcome was inevitable, the Dānavas, still hoping for victory, accepted the words spoken by Kāvya. All, armed and ready, challenged the gods. Seeing the gods and asuras assembled for battle, the gods donned their armor and fought with them. In that conflict between gods and asuras, which lasted a hundred years, the asuras defeated the gods, and the defeated gods consulted among themselves. They said, “We do not know the power of Ṣaṇḍa and Amarka among the gods; therefore, for our own welfare, we must perform a sacrifice. By depriving those two of their knowledge, we shall defeat the asuras.” The gods summoned Ṣaṇḍa and Amarka. They resolved, “We shall invite the two brahmins to the sacrifice—let them abandon the asuras; or we shall seize them, having conquered the Dānavas.” Thus, Ṣaṇḍa and Amarka abandoned the asuras, and then the gods attained victory, and the Dānavas were defeated. Thus concludes the tale as spoken in the scripture, revealing the cycles of wisdom, pride, defeat, and hope among gods and asuras, and the enduring guidance of the great Kāvya.