13.140
Bhīṣma said.
Having thus been addressed, he (Vāyu) then became silent; then Vāyu spoke: "Listen, O king, to the greatness of the Brāhmaṇa Agastya." (13-140-1)
The gods have been defeated by the Asuras and rendered dispirited; all their sacrifices and the offerings to the ancestors have also been taken away. (13-140-2)
O bull among the Haihayas, tradition says that, due to being worshipped through ritual acts by humans and by asuras, the gods, having lost their power, then wandered upon the earth. (13-140-3)
Then, O king, at some time they saw the sage Agastya, endowed with brilliance and shining with the splendor of the sun, who was possessed of a great vow. (13-140-4)
Having greeted him, the gods, seeing him surrounded by fame, addressed these words to the great-souled one at the right moment, O lord of the people. (13-140-5)
We have indeed been defeated in battle by the Dānavas and likewise have been deprived of our sovereignty. Therefore, O best of sages, protect us from this intense fear. (13-140-6)
When thus addressed by the gods, Agastya became angry; he blazed with radiance like the fire of destruction at the end of time. (13-140-7)
O great king, by that blazing network of rays, the Daityas were burnt and then fell from the sky by the thousands. (13-140-8)
But those Daityas, scorched by the radiance of Agastya, abandoned both worlds and went to the southern direction. (13-140-9)
But Bali, having gone to the earth, performs the horse-sacrifice. The other great asuras who remain at ease on earth were not burnt. (13-140-10)
Then the gods regained the worlds and the turmoil was pacified. After that, the gods said to him: "Destroy the asuras who dwell on the earth." (13-140-11)
Having been thus addressed, he said to the gods: "I am not able to burn those who have gone to earth; for indeed, my austerity would be diminished, O king, thus I will burn." (13-140-12)
Thus, O king, the Dānavas were burned by the blessed Agastya, who possessed his own splendor, through his austerity and purified soul. (13-140-13)
Such an Agastya has also been described to you by me, O spotless one; I will tell, or you tell, about the boon of a Kṣatriya from Agastya. (13-140-14)
When thus addressed, he became silent; then Vāyu spoke: "Listen, O king, to the chief deed of the illustrious Vasiṣṭha." (13-140-15)
The Ādityas were conducting a sacrificial session near Lake Mānasa. By mind they reached Vasiṣṭha and heard there of his domain. (13-140-16)
But on seeing those sacrificers in an agitated state, exhausted by the rites, the demons named Khalinas, who are mountain-like and wicked, wish to kill them. (13-140-17)
However, not far from there is a lake granted by Brahma to them. The Dānavas who were thought to be slain are actually alive there, having plunged into it. (13-140-18)
They, having seized very terrible mountains, clubs, and trees, arose a hundred yojanas high, agitating the water. (13-140-19)
Those very ten thousand certainly attacked the gods; then, being oppressed by them, the gods took refuge in Indra. (13-140-20)
And he, distressed by them, Śakra (Indra), went to Vasiṣṭha for refuge. Then, Vasiṣṭha, the illustrious sage, granted them fearlessness. (13-140-21)
Thus, knowing them to be distressed, the compassionate sage, without any effort, burned all the wicked ones with his own energy. (13-140-22)
The great ascetic brought the river Gaṅgā, who had set forth toward Kailāsa; that divine lake was split by her, and that lake (was thus formed). (13-140-23)
When the lake was broken by her, by the river, she then became Sarayu. And where the wicked were destroyed, that region became of the wicked. (13-140-24)
Thus, the inhabitants of heaven, along with Indra, were protected by Vasiṣṭha; those Daityas who had received boons from Brahmā were also slain by the great-souled one. (13-140-25)
This deed of Vasiṣṭha has been told to you by me, O sinless one. I have spoken; or, if you wish, you may ask Vasiṣṭha for a boon fitting for a kṣatriya. (13-140-26)
