Narada said: As soon as the festivals came to an end, they (Sunda and Upasunda), being desirous of the sovereignty of the three worlds, took counsel and commanded their forces to be arranged.

Having obtained the consent of their friends and relatives, of the elder, of the Danava race and of their ministers and having performed the preliminary rites of departure, they started on the night when the constellation Magha was on the ascendant.

A large army of the Danavas clad in mails and armed with clubs, axes, lances and maces, went with them. The Charanas chanted auspicious panegyrics indicative of their future victory; and they sat out on their expedition with joyous hearts.

Furious in war and capable of going everywhere at will, the two Danavas rose to the sky and went to the region of the celestials.

Learning that they were coming and knowing also what boons they had obtained from the Supreme Lord, the celestials left heaven and sought refuge in the region of Brahma.

The greatly powerful (Danava) brothers subjugated the region of Indra and defeated various tribes of Yakshas and Rakshasas. They then returned.

The two great car-warriors then subjugated the Nagas of the nether regions, then the inmates of the ocean and then all the Mleccha races.

Being desirous of subjugating the whole earth, those two greatly irresistible heroes, summoning their soldiers, spoke these cruel words, “The royal sages with the help of the Brahmanas increase the strength and prosperity of the celestials by pouring libations on the fire and offering other foods in grand sacrifices.

"Engaged in such works, they are the enemies of the Asuras. Therefore, the duty of all of us is to muster together and exterminate them."

Thus ordering them all on the eastern shore of the great ocean and forming such a cruel resolution, the Asura brothers started in all directions.

The two heroes immediately killed those that were performing sacrifices and the Brahmanas that were assisting in those sacrifices. Killing them all, they started for another place.

Their soldiers threw into the water the sacrificial fires that were in the hermitages o Rishis who had controlled their souls.

The curses uttered by the high-souled ascetics in anger became futile on account of the boons granted to them (by Brahma); but they did not any way affect them.

When the Brahmanas saw that their curses make no impressions on them like arrows shot at stones, they fled in all directions, forsaking their rites and vows.

Even those, that were crowned with ascetic success in the world and that were selfcontrolled and wholly engrossed in meditation of the Deity, fled in their fear as snakes at the approach of the son of Vinata (Garuda).

All the sacred hermitages were trodden down and broken; and their contents were scattered all over the ground. The universe became empty, as if every thing was destroyed at a Dissolution.

O king, when all the Rishis had disappeared, the two great Asuras resolved upon their destruction and assumed various forms.

They assumed the forms of maddened elephants with temples rent (from excess of juice) and they slaughtered the Rishis hidden in mountain caves.

Sometimes they became lions, sometimes tigers and sometime, they disappeared. By assuming such forms, they killed the Rishis wherever they saw them.

Sacrifice and study ceased; kings and Brahmanas were exterminated. The earth became destitute of festivals and sacrifices.

The people cried, “Alas! Alas!” and all buying and selling were stopped. The works of the celestials ceased and sacred ceremonies and marriages discontinued.

Agriculture was neglected and cattle were not tended; both cities and hermitages became desolate. The earth, being covered with bones and skeletons, looked fearful,

The ceremonies in honour of the Pitris, the sacred sound of Vashata (Vedas) and all auspicious rites ceased. The universe looked frightful to behold.

The moon, the sun, the planets, the stars, the constellations and the dwellers of heaven, became exceedingly sorry on seeing these works of Sunda and Upasunda.

Thus subjugating all the points of heaven by cruel acts, the Danavas lived at Kurukshetra having not a single rival (in all the earth).