“’Vishnu said, “Ye gods!  To me is known the reason of the destruction of the born beings, I shall speak of it to you; listen with minds free from tribulation.  There exists an exceedingly fierce host, known by the name of Kalakeyas.  They, under the lead of Vritra, were devastating the whole universe.  And when they saw that Vritra was slain by the sagacious Indra endued with a thousand eyes, they, to preserve their lives, entered into the ocean, that abode of Varuna.  And having entered the ocean, abounding with sharks and crocodiles, they at night killed the saints at this spot with the view of exterminating the people.  But they cannot be slain, as they have taken shelter within the sea.  Ye should, therefore, think of some expedient to dry up the ocean.  Who save Agastya is capable of drying up the sea.  And without drying up the ocean, these (demons) cannot be assailed by any other means.”  Hearing these words of Vishnu, the gods took the permission of Brahma, who lives at the best of all regions, and went to the hermitage of Agastya.  Then they beheld the high-souled Agastya, the son of Varuna, of resplendent mien, and waited upon by saints, even as Brahma is waited upon by celestials.  And approaching him, they addressed the son of Mitra and Varuna at the hermitage, magnanimous and unswerving, and looking like an embodiment of pious works piled together, and glorified him by reciting his deeds.  The deities said, “Thou wert formerly the refuge of the gods when they were oppressed by Nahusha.  Thorn of the world that he was, he was thrown down from his throne of heaven—­from the celestial regions.  Vindhya, the foremost of all mountains, suddenly began to increase his height, from a wrathful competition with the sun (i.e., to rival him in altitude).  But he hath ceased to increase, as he was unable to disobey thy command.  And when darkness hath covered the world, the born beings were harassed by death, but having obtained thee for a protector, they attained the utmost security.  Whenever we are beset by perils, thy reverence is always our refuge; for this reason it is that we solicit a boon from thee; as thou ever grantest the boon solicited (of thee)."’”

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“Yudhishthira said, ’O great saint!  I am desirous of hearing in detail why it was that Vindhya, made senseless with wrath, suddenly began to increase his bulk.’

“Lomasa said, ’The sun between his rising and setting used to revolve round that monarch of mountains—­the great Meru of golden lustre.  And seeing this the mountain Vindhya spake to Surya saying, “As thou every day goest round Meru and honourest him by thy circumambulations, do thou even the same by me, O maker of light!” Thus addressed, the sun replied to the great mountain, saying, “I do not of my own will honour this mountain by my circumambulations.  By those who have built this universe hath that path been assigned to me.”  Thus addressed the mountain suddenly