named Madhu and Kaitabha and beholding Hari (in that posture) and the Grandsire with eyes like lotus-leaves seated on that lotus, both Madhu and Kaitabha wandered much and they began to terrify and alarm Brahma of immeasurable prowess, and the illustrious Brahma alarmed by their continued exertions trembled on his seat, and at his trembling the stalk of the lotus on which he was seated began to tremble and when the lotus-stalk trembled, Kesava awoke.  And awakened from his slumber, Govinda beheld those Danavas of mighty energy, and beholding them the Deity said unto them, “Welcome, ye mighty ones!  I am gratified with you!  Therefore, I will grant you excellent boons!” And thereupon both those proud and mighty Danavas, O king, laughingly replied unto Hrishikesa, saying, “Ask boons of us, O Divine one!  O thou that art the Supreme Deity, we are disposed to grant thee a boon.  Indeed, we will grant thee a boon!  Therefore, ask thou of us anything that cometh to thy mind.”  Thus addressed by them the holy one spoke, “Ye brave ones, I will accept a boon from you.  There is a boon that I desire.  Both of you are possessed of mighty energy.  There is no male person like unto any of you.  O ye of unbaffled prowess, submit ye to be slain by me.  Even that is what I desire to accomplish for the good of the world.”  Hearing these words of the Deity, both Madhu and Kaitabha said, “We have never before spoken an untruth; no, not even in jest; what shall we say of other occasions!  O thou foremost of male Beings, know that we have ever been firm in truth and morality.  In strength, in forms, in beauty, in virtue, in asceticism, in charity, in behaviour, in goodness, in self control, there is no one equal unto either of us.  A great danger, O Kesava, hath approached us.  Accomplish thou, therefore, what thou hast said.  No one can prevail over Time.  But, O Lord, there is one thing that we desire to be done by thee.  O thou best and foremost of all Deities, thou must slay us at a spot that is absolutely uncovered.  And, O thou of excellent eyes, we also desire to become thy sons.  This is the boon that we desire, know then, O chief of the gods!  Let not that, O Deity, be false which thou hadst at first promised to us.”  The Holy One then replied unto them saying, “Yes, I will do as ye desire.  Everything will be as ye wish!”

“Markandeya continued, ’Then Govinda began to reflect but uncovered space found he none and when he could not discover any spot that was uncovered on earth or in the sky, that foremost Deity then beheld his thighs to be absolutely uncovered.  And there, O king, the illustrious Deity cut off the heads of Madhu and Kaitabha with his keenedged discus!’”

SECTION CCIII