In the midst of a fierce and terrible war, warriors struck horses against horses, while others battered their enemies with maces and staffs. Some, having drunk the nectar, took refuge in their aerial chariots, soaring above the chaos. Assuming divine forms, the gods rushed upon the Daityas, eager for victory. Fierce in battle, the gods slew the Daityas with many kinds of weapons, driven by their desire for Indra’s sovereignty and the defeat of their enemies. The battlefield blazed with fire-barriers, knives, spears, wheels, and spikes. Javelins, stones, dreadful hundred-slayers, nooses, and palm-sized weapons flew in all directions. The clash grew ever more crowded, with chariots, horses, elephants, and foot soldiers pressing together in the tumult. Thus, eight thousand warriors fought in a most terrible war. But in the end, all abandoned the realm of the gods, fleeing in fear. In the aftermath, Vairochani, devoted to Narayana, came to rule over the three worlds. He performed horse sacrifices, seeking to please Vishnu. Indeed, it is for the sake of pleasing the gods that sacrifices are performed by twice-born men. Amidst these events, Aditi, mother of the gods, saw her sons' plight and was deeply distressed. For some time, she remained seated, lost in sorrow, and continued to stay in that state. She began to subsist only on fruit, and then on fallen leaves, withdrawing from the world. In her austerity, she meditated upon the essence of bliss, contemplating the Self by the Self. Hearing of her relentless penance, the deceitful Daityas approached Aditi and questioned her, “Mother, why do you perform such austerity, exhausting your body? Abandon this suffering, which only wastes your strength. The body must be protected by those intent on dharma. Rest comfortably, O blessed one; do not distress us, your sons.” They spoke further, saying, “Whether cows or other animals, wherever there are cows or trees, even if one is poor or afflicted by disease, or has gone to a foreign land, whether it is in food, or in water, or in wealth, or among loved ones—a virtuous woman whose life is bound to her husband must accompany him to the forest. A house deprived of children is just as a mortal deprived of his mother.” Though thus addressed by the Daityas, Aditi did not waver. She remained absorbed in her meditation, unmoved by their words. Seeing her steadfastness, the Daityas became angry and resolved in their minds to kill her. With their fangs, they produced fire and in a moment set the forest ablaze. Yet, by that very fire, the Daityas who had come to violate her were themselves burned. Aditi remained unharmed, protected by Vishnu’s Sudarshana, the destroyer of Daityas and compassionate guardian of his devotees. How was it that the fire, leaving Aditi untouched, consumed the Daityas in an instant? For noble sages are always devoted to instructing others, and who is capable of harming the virtuous who are absorbed in meditation on Hari? The gods, the Siddhas, and the great sages always remain among the excellent, and what, then, of those whose minds are devoted to the name of Hari? Wherever such a one abides, there Lakshmi and all the deities are present. Neither kings nor thieves nor diseases exist there; witches and demons do not trouble the worshipper of the infallible one. Wherever he abides, there are all sacred places and deities.