“Salya continued, ’Thus having spoken to him, the gods with the saint went to inform Vrihaspati and the queen of Indra of the said news.  And they said, ’We know, O foremost of Brahmanas, that the queen of Indra hath betaken herself to thy house, for protection, and that thou hast promised her protection, O best of divine saints!  But we, the gods and Gandharvas and saints, beseech thee, O thou of great lustre, to give up the queen of Indra to Nahusha.  Nahusha, the king of gods, of great effulgence, is superior to Indra.  Let her, that lady of choice figure and complexion, choose him as her lord!’ Thus addressed, the goddess gave vent to tears; and sobbing audibly, she mourned in piteous accents.  And she spoke to Vrihaspati, ’O best of divine saints, I do not desire Nahusha to be my lord.  I have betaken myself to thy protection, O Brahmana!  Deliver me from this great peril!’

“Vrihaspati said, ’My resolution is this, I shall not abandon one that hath sought my protection.  O thou of unblamable life, I shall not abandon thee, virtuous as thou art and of a truthful disposition!  I do not desire to do an improper act, specially as I am a Brahmana knowing what righteousness is, having a regard for truth, and aware also of the precepts of virtue.  I shall never do it.  Go your ways, ye best of gods.  Hear what hath formerly been sung by Brahma with regard to the matter at hand.  He that delivereth up to a foe of a person terrified and asking for protection obtaineth no protection when he himself is in need of it.  His seed doth not grow at seed-time and rain doth not come to him in the season of rains.  He that delivereth up to a foe a person terrified and asking for protection never succeedeth in anything that he undertaketh; senseless as he is, he droppeth paralysed from heaven; the god refuse offerings made by him.  His progeny die an untimely death and his forefathers always quarrel (among themselves).  The gods with Indra and their head dart the thunderbolt at him.  Know it to be so, I shall not deliver up this Sachi here, the queen of Indra, famous in the world as his favourite consort.  O ye best of gods, what may be for both her good and mine I ask you to do.  Sachi I shall never deliver up!’

“Salya continued, ’Then the gods and the Gandharvas said these words to the preceptor of the gods, ’O Vrihaspati, deliberate upon something that may be conformable to sound policy!’ Vrihaspati said, ’Let this goddess of auspicious looks ask for time from Nahusha in order to make up her mind to his proposal.  This will be for the good of Indra’s queen, and of us as well.  Time, ye gods, may give rise to many impediments.  Time will send time onward.  Nahusha is proud and powerful by virtue of the boon granted to him!’