Lomasha said : Living in the ocean, the abode of Varuna, the Kalkeyas began their operations for the destruction of the worlds.

They began to devour in the night in anger the Rishis (they found) in the hermitages and in the holy spots.

Those wicked-minded Daityas devoured one hundred and eighty Brahmanas and also ascetics in the hermitage of Vasishtha.

Going to the sacred hermitage hermitage of Chayavana, frequented by the Brahmanas, they devoured one hundred Rishis who lived on fruits and roots.

They thus acted during the night and during the day they entered into the sea. They devoured in the hermitage of Bharadvaja two Brahmanas of subdued soul and of Brahmachari life, living on air and water only. In this way did the Danavas one after another (invade) all the hermitages.

Being intoxicated with prowess of arms and their lives nearly run out, the Kalkeyas destroyed many Brahmanas.

O foremost of men, the Danavas acted in this way towards the ascetics in their ascetic retreats. Yet men could not discover them.

Every morning people saw lying on the ground the dead bodies of Rishis who were emaciated for living on frugal diet.

Many of those bodies were without flesh or blood. without entrails and with limbs separated from one another. Here and there lay heaps of bones like heaps of conch-shells.

The earth was scattered over with the (sacrificial) contents of broken jars and shattered ladles for pouring libations of ghee and with the sacred fires kept with care by the ascetics.

The universe, being afflicted with the terror of the Kalkeyas and being destitute of the Vedic studies, of the Vashats and the sacrificial festivals and religious rites, became very fearless.

O ruler of men, when men began to perish in this way, the survivors fled for their lives in all directions.

Some fled to caverns and some behind mountain streams and springs and some through fear of death gave up their lives.

Those among them who were bow-men and heroes cheerfully went out and took great trouble of find out the Danavas.

Failing to find them, for the Asuras had taken shelter in the bottom of the ocean, they came back to their homes greatly aggrieved.

O ruler of men, when the universe was being thus destroyed and when sacrificial festivals and religious rites were all destroyed, the celestials were filled with great afflictions.

Assembling all together with Indra in their midst, they consulted with one another out of fcar. They asked protection from the increate and exalted deity, Narayana.

Going to that unvanquished lord of Vaikuntha and bowing to that slayer of Madhu, the celestials thus addressed him,

“O lord, you are the creator, the protector and the destroyer of the universe as well as of ourselves. It is you who have created this universe with all its mobile creatures.

O lotus-eyed deity, it is you who in the days of yore assuming the form of a boar raised the sunken earth from the sea for the benefit of all creatures.

O foremost of Purushas, assuming the form of Narasimha (half man and half lion) you killed in the days of yore the ancient and greatly powerful Daityas, called Hiranayakashipu.

There was a great Asura named Bali, incapable of being killed by any crcature. Assuming the form of a dwarf, you exiled him from the three worlds.

It is by you that wicked Asura called Jambha who was a powerful bow-man and v.ho always obstructed sacrifices was killed.

Your acts are like those which, O slayer of Madhu, cannot be counted. You are the refuge of all who are afflicted with fear.

O god of gods, it is for this we tell you what is our present trouble. Save the worlds, the celestials and Indra also from this great fear.