Śrī Vināyaka said:: It behoves you to burn the trio of the cities even as the Puṣya conjunction still prevails. O lord of Devas, it behoves you to burn the three cities quickly lest they should get separated. Then the great lord Virūpākṣa, glanced at the three cities. Instantaneously they were reduced to ashes. All those deities, viz., Soma (Moon), lord Viṣṇu, Kālāgni (Black fire) and Vāyu who were stationed in the arrow bowed down to the lord and said:—“O lord of Devas, although the trio of the cities has been burned by your glance it behoves you to discharge the arrow for our welfare.” Thereupon O leading brahmins, Īśvara, Tripurārdana, laughingly brushed the string of the bow, pulled it as far as his ear and discharged the arrow.