03.260
Markandeya said.
Then the Brahmarṣis, Siddhas, and divine royal seers, led by Agni, approached Brahmā for refuge. (03-260-1)
Agni said.
That Daśagrīva, the greatly powerful son of Viśravas, was formerly made invulnerable by the boon granted by the divine being. (03-260-2)
He, of great strength, harasses all creatures by various means. Therefore, O Lord, protect us; for truly, there is no other protector. (03-260-3)
Brahmā said.
He cannot be conquered in battle by gods and asuras, O Vibhāvasu; therefore, whatever should be done for his restraint has been prescribed. (03-260-4)
For that purpose, that four-armed Viṣṇu has descended by my command; he who is the best among fighters will accomplish this task. (03-260-5)
Markandeya said.
Then Grandfather (Brahmā), in their presence, said, 'Together with all the hosts of gods, you should be born on earth.' (03-260-6)
As helpers of Viṣṇu, in every way, you all beget heroic sons among the female bears and monkeys, who are endowed with the strength and the ability to assume forms at will. (03-260-7)
Then, by division and portion, all the gods, gandharvas, and dānavas descended to the earth and colored it completely. (03-260-8)
In their presence, the god who grants boons commanded Gandharvī named Dundubhi, in order to accomplish the divine purpose. (03-260-9)
Hearing the words of the grandsire, the Gandharva woman Dundubhī was then born as Mantharā, a hunchbacked woman, in the human world. (03-260-10)
Indra and the others, all these foremost gods, indeed begot their own sons in the women of the best among monkeys and bears. All of them emulated their fathers, both in fame and in strength. (03-260-11)
They pierce mountain peaks, armed with śāla, tāla (palm) trees, and stones as their weapons, all as hard as thunderbolts, each one possessing immense collective strength. (03-260-12)
All of them, possessing the vigor of desire, skilled in battle, possessing the strength of a multitude of elephants and swiftness equal to the wind; and here some forest-dwellers reside wherever they wish. (03-260-13)
Having thus arranged everything, the blessed creator of the world instructed Manthara in all the actions she was to perform, in every detail. (03-260-14)
She, whose speed was like the mind, upon understanding those words, acted accordingly; moving here and there, she delighted in fanning enmity. (03-260-15)
