This is the story of Agastya as narrated by Rishi Lomasha to Yudhishthira during the latter's pilgrimage (Mahabharata, Vana Parva, Tirthayatra Parva)

Agastyopakhyana: The story of Agastya

Agastya marries his own creation Lopamudra

Once, the illustrious Agastya beheld his deceased ancestors hanging in a pit with heads downwards. He asked those personages thus suspended in that hole, saying, “What is the matter with you?” Thus questioned those utterers of Brahma replied, “It is for offspring.” They also told him, “We are your ancestors. It is for offspring that we stay suspended in this pit. If, O Agastya! you can beget us a good son, we may then be saved from this hell and you also will obtain your blessed state of those having offspring.” Endued with great energy and observant of truth and morality Agastya replied, saying, “You Pitris! I will accomplish your desire. Let this anxiety of yours be dispelled.” The illustrious Rishi then began to think of perpetuating his family.

But he saw not a wife worthy of him on whom he himself could take his birth in the form of a son. The Rishi accordingly, taking those parts that were regarded as highly beautiful, from creatures possessing them, created therewith an excellent woman. The Muni, thereupon gave that girl created for himself to the king of the Vidharbhas who was then undergoing ascetic penances for obtaining offspring. That blessed girl of sweet face thus disposed of then took her birth in Vidarbha's royal line and, beautiful as the effulgent lightning, her limbs began to grow day by day. As soon as that ruler of the Vidarbhas saw her ushered into life, he joyfully communicated the intelligence unto the Brahmanas. The Brahmanas thereupon blessed the girl and they bestowed upon her the name Lopamudra. Possessed of great beauty, she began to grow quickly like unto a lotus in the midst of water or the effulgent flame of a fire. When the girl grew and attained to puberty, a hundred virgins decked in ornaments and a hundred maids waited in obedience upon her blessed self. Surrounded by those hundred maids and virgins, she shone in their midst, endued as she was with bright effulgence, like Rohini in the firmament amid an inferior multitude of stars. Possessed as she was of good behaviour and excellent manners, none dared ask for her hand even when she attained to puberty, through fear of her father, the king of the Vidharbhas. Lopamudra, devoted to truth, surpassing the Apsaras even in beauty, gratified her father and relatives by means of her conduct. Her father, beholding his daughter-the princess of Vidharbha-attain to puberty, began to reflect in his mind, saying, “To whom should I give this daughter of mine?”

When Agastya thought that girl to be competent for the duties of domesticity, he approached the ruler of Vidharbhas and addressing him, said, “I solicit you, O king! to bestow your daughter Lopamudra on me.” Thus addressed by the Muni, the king of the Vidharbhas swooned away. Though unwilling to give the Muni his daughter, he dared not refuse. That king then, approaching his queen, said, “This Rishi is endued with great energy. If angry, he may consume me with the fire of his curse. Tell me what is your wish." Hearing these words of the king, she uttered not a word. Beholding the king along with the queen afflicted with sorrow, Lopamudra approached them in due time and said, “O monarch! It behoves you not to grieve on my account. Bestow me on Agastya, and, O father, save yourself, by giving me away.” At these words of his daughter, the king gave away Lopamudra unto the illustrious Agastya with due rites.

Obtaining her as wife, Agastya addressed Lopamudra, saying, “Cast you away these costly robes and ornaments.” At these words of her lord, that large-eyed damsel of thighs tapering as the stem of the plantain tree cast away her handsome and costly robes of fine texture. Casting them away she dressed herself in rags and barks and deerskins, and became her husband's equal in vows and acts. Proceeding then to Gangadvara that illustrious and best of Rishis began to practise the severest penances along with his helpful wife. Lopamudra herself, well pleased, began to serve her lord from the deep respect that she bore him. The exalted Agastya also began to manifest great love for his wife.

Lopamudra asks Agastya for wealth

After a considerable time, the illustrious Rishi one day beheld Lopamudra, blazing in ascetic splendour come up after the bath in her season. Pleased with the girl, for her services, her purity, and self control, as also with her grace and beauty, he summoned her for marital intercourse. The girl, however, joining her hands, bashfully but lovingly addressed the Rishi, saying, “The husband, without doubt, weds the wife for offspring. But it behoves you, O Rishi! to show that love to me which I have for you. It behoves you to approach me on a bed like to that which I had in the palace of my father. I also desire that you should be decked in garlands of flowers and other ornaments, and that I should approach you adorned in those celestial ornaments that I like. Otherwise, I cannot approach you, dressed in these rags dyed in red. Nor it is sinful to wear ornaments on such an occasion.”

Hearing these words of his wife, Agastya replied, “I have not wealth like what your father has, O Lopamudra!”

She answered saying, “You who are endued with wealth of asceticism, are certainly able to bring here within a moment, by ascetic power, everything that exists in the world of men.”

Agastya said, “It is so as you have said. That, however, would waste my ascetic merit. Bid me do that which may not loosen my ascetic merit.”

Lopamudra then said, “My season will not last long, I do not desire, however, to approach you otherwise. Nor do I desire to diminish your ascetic merit in any way. It behoves you, however, to do as I desire, without injuring your virtue.”

Agastya then said, “O blessed girl! If this be the resolve that you have settled in your heart, I will go out in quest of wealth. Meanwhile, stay you here as it pleases you.”

Agastya goes in quest of wealth and kills Vatapi

Agastya then went to king Shrutarvan who was regarded as richer than other kings, to beg for wealth. That monarch, learning of the arrival of the pot-born Rishi on the frontiers of his kingdoms, went out with his ministers and received the holy man with respect. The king duly offering the Arghya in the first instance, submissively and with joined hands enquired then after the  reason of the Rishi's arrival. Agastya answered saying, “O lord of the earth! Know that I have come to you, desirous of wealth. Give me a portion according to your ability and without doing injury to others.”

The king, then, representing unto the Rishi the equality of his expenditure and income, said, “O learned one! Take from my possessions the wealth you please.” Beholding, however, the equality of that monarch's expenditure with income, the Rishi who always saw both sides with equal eyes, thought that if he took anything under the circumstances, his act would result in injury to creatures. Taking, therefore, Shrutarvan with him, the Rishi went to Vradhnashva. The latter, hearing of their arrival on his frontiers, received them duly. Vradhnashva also offered them the Arghyas and water to wash their feet. The monarch, with their permission, then enquired after the reason of their coming. Agastya said, “O lord of earth! Know that we have come to you desirous of wealth. Give us what you canst, without doing injury to others.”

That monarch then represented unto them the equality of his expenditure and income, and said, “Knowing this, take you what you desire.” The Rishi, however, who saw both sides with equal eyes, beholding the equality of that monarch's income with expenditure, thought that if he took anything under the circumstances, his act would result in injury to all creatures. Agastya and Srutarvan, with king Vradhnaswa then went to Purukutsa's son, Trasadasyu, of enormous wealth. The high-souled Trasadasyu, learning of their arrival on the confines of his kingdom went out and received them well. That best of monarchs in Ikshvaku's line, having worshipped all of them duly, enquired after the reason of their arrival. Agastya answered, “O lord of earth! Know that we have all come to you, desirous of wealth. Give us what you can, without injuring others.”

That monarch then, represented unto them the equality of his income with expenditure, and said, “Knowing this, take you what you desire.” Beholding, however, the equality of that monarch's expenditure with income, the Rishi who saw both sides with equal eyes, thought that if he took anything under the circumstances, his act would result in injury to all creatures. Then, all those kings looking at one another, together spoke unto the Rishis saying, “O Brahmana! there is a Danava of the name Ilvala who of all persons on earth, is possessed of enormous wealth. Let us all approach him to-day and beg wealth of him.” This suggestion of begging wealth of Ilvala appeared to them to be proper. All of them went together to Ilvala after this!

Ilvala was a Daitya living in the city called Manimati, whose younger brother was Vatapi. One day that son of Diti addressed the Brahmana endued with ascetic merit, saying, “O holy one! Grant me a son equal unto Indra.” The Brahmana, however, did not grant the Asura a son like Indra. At this, the Asura was inflamed with wrath against the Brahmana. From that day, the Asura Ilvala became a destroyer of Brahmanas. Endued with power of illusion the angry Asura transformed his brother into a ram. Vatapi also capable of assuming any form at will, would immediately assume the shape of a ram. The flesh of that ram, after being properly dressed, was offered to Brahmanas as food. After they had eaten of it, they were slain. For whomsoever Ilvala summoned with his voice, he would come back to Ilvala even if he had gone to the abode of Yama, in re-embodied form endued with life, and show himself to Ilvala. So having transformed the Asura Vatapi into a ram and properly cooked his flesh and feeding Brahmanas therewith, he would summon Vatapi. The mighty Asura Vatapi, that foe of Brahmanas, endued with great strength and power of illusion, hearing, those sounds uttered with a loud voice by Ilvala, and ripping open the flanks of the Brahmana would come laughingly out! And it was thus that the wicked-hearted Daitya Ilvala, having fed Brahmanas, frequently took away their lives.

When Ilvala learnt that those kings along with the great Rishi Agastya had arrived on the confines of his domain, he went out with his ministers and worshipped them duly. That prince of Asuras received them hospitably, entertaining them with well dressed meat supplied by his brother Vatapi transformed into a ram. Then all those royal sages, beholding the mighty Asura Vatapi, who had been transformed into a ram thus cooked for them, became sad and cheerless and were nearly deprived of themselves. But that best of Rishis, Agastya, addressing those royal sages, said, “Yield you not to grief, I will eat up the great Asura.” The mighty Rishi then sat himself down on an excellent seat, and the prince of Asuras, Ilvala, began to distribute the food smilingly. Agastya ate up the whole of the meat supplied by Vatapi transformed into a ram.

After the dinner was over, Ilvala began to summon his brother. But thereupon a quantity of air alone came out of the illustrious Rishi's stomach, with a sound that was as loud as the roar of the clouds. Ilvala repeatedly said, “Come out, O Vatapi!” Then Agastya bursting out in laughter, said, “How can he come out? I have already digested that great Asura.” Beholding his brother already digested, Ilvala became sad and cheerless and joining his hands, along with his ministers, addressing the Rishi and his companions, said, “What for have you come here, and what can I do for you?” Agastya smilingly answered Ilvala, saying, “We know you, O Asura! to be possessed of great power and also enormous wealth. These kings are not very wealthy while my need also of wealth is great. Give us what you can, without injuring others.” Thus addressed Ilvala saluted the Rishi and said, “If you say what it is that I mean to give, then will I give you wealth.” Hearing this Agastya said, “O great Asura! You have even purposed to give unto each of these kings ten thousand kine and as many gold coins. Unto me you have purposed to give twice as much, as also a car of gold and a couple of horses fleet as thought. If you enquire now, you will soon learn that your car is made of gold.”

Thereupon, Ilvala made enquiries and learnt that the car he had intended to give away was really a golden one. The Daitya then with a sad heart, gave away much wealth and that car, unto which were yoked two steeds called Virava and Surava. Those steeds took those kings and Agastya and all that wealth to the ashrama of Agastya within the twinkling of an eye. Those royal sages then obtaining Agastya's permission, went away to their respective cities.

Agastya obtains a son on Lopamudra

Agastya also with that wealth did all that his wife Lopamudra had desired. Lopamudra then said, “O illustrious one! You have now accomplished all my wishes. Beget you a child on me that shall be possessed of great energy.” Agastya replied unto her, saying, “O blessed and beauteous one! I have been much gratified with your conduct. Listen you unto me as regards the proposal I make in respect of your offspring. Would you have a thousand sons, or a century of sons each equal to ten, or ten sons equal each to an hundred, or only one son who may vanquish a thousand?” Lopamudra answered, “Let me have one son equal unto a thousand! One good and learned son is preferable to many evil ones.”

Saying, “So be it,” that pious Muni thereupon knew his devout wife of equal behaviour. After she had conceived, he retired into the forest. After the Muni had gone away, the foetus began to grow for seven years. After the seventh year had expired, there came out of the womb, the highly learned Dridhasyu, blazing in his own splendour. The great Brahmana and illustrious ascetic, endued with mighty energy, took his birth as the Rishi's son, coming out of the womb, as if repeating the Vedas with the Upanishads and the Angas. Endued with great energy while yet a child, he used to carry loads of sacrificial fuel into the ashrama of his father, and was thence called Idhmavaha (carrier of sacrificial wood). The Muni, beholding his son possessed of such virtues, became highly glad.

Agastya stops Vindhya mountain from growing

The sun between his rising and setting used to revolve round the great Meru of golden lustre. Seeing this, the mountain Vindhya spoke to Surya saying, “As you every day go round Meru and honour him by your circumambulations, you do 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 has that path been assigned to me.” Thus addressed the mountain suddenly began to increase from wrath, desirous of obstructing the path of the Sun and the Moon. All the assembled gods came to Vindhya, the mighty king of mountains, and tried to dissuade him from his course. But he heeded not what they said. Then all the assembled gods went to the saint, living in the hermitage, engaged in the practice of austerities, and the very best of persons devoted to virtue; and stated all that happened to Agastya, possessed of exceeding marvellous power.

The gods said, “This king of hills, Vindhya, giving way to wrath, is stopping the path of the Sun and the Moon, and also the course of the stars. Excepting yourself, there is none who can prevent him; therefore you make him desist.” Hearing these words of the gods the Brahmana came to the mountain. He with his wife, having arrived there, came near Vindhya and spoke to him, saying, “O you best of mountains! I wish to have a path given to me by you, as, for some purpose, I shall have to go to the southern region. Until my return, do you wait for me. When I have returned, you may increase in bulk as much as you please.” Having made this compact with Vindhya, up to the present day Varuna's son Agastya does not return from the southern region.

Agastya drinks up the ocean

There were in the Krita age certain family of fierce Danavas that were invincible in battle. They were known by the name of Kalakeyas and were endued with terrible prowess. Placing themselves under Vritra and arming themselves with diverse weapons they pursued the celestials with Indra at their head in all directions. The gods then all resolved upon the destruction of Vritra, and went with Indra at their head to Brahma. Beholding them standing before him with joined hands, Brahma addressed them all and said, "Everything is known to me, you gods, about what you seek. I shall indicate now the means by which you may slay Vritra. There is a high-souled and great Rishi known by the name of Dadhichi. Go you all together unto him and solicit of him a boon. With well-pleased heart, that Rishi of virtuous soul will even grant you the boon. Desirous as you are of victory, tell him, “For the good of the three worlds, give us your bones.” Renouncing his body, he will give you his bones. With these bones of his, make a fierce and powerful weapon to be called Vajra, endued with six sides and terrible roar and capable of destroying even the most powerful enemies. With that weapon will he of a hundred sacrifices slay Vritia. I have now told you all. See that all this is done speedily.”

Thus addressed by him, the gods with the Grandsire's leave came away, and with Narayana at their head proceeded to the ashram of Dadhichi. That ashram was on the other bank of the river Sarasvati and covered with diverse trees and creepers. It resounded with the hum of bees as if they were reciting Samas. It also echoed with the melodious notes of the male Kokila and the Chakora. Buffaloes, boars, deer, and Chamaras wandered there at pleasure freed from the fear of tigers. Elephants with the juice trickling down from rent temples, plunging in the stream, sported with the she-elephants and made the entire region resound with their roars. The place also echoed with the loud roars of lions and tigers, while at intervals might be seen those grisly monarchs of the forest lying stretched in caves and glens and beautifying them with their presence. Such was the ashram, like unto heaven itself, of Dadhichi, that the gods entered. There they beheld Dadhichi looking like the sun himself in splendour and blazing in grace of person like the Grandsire himself. The celestials saluted the feet of the Rishi and bowed unto him and begged of him the boon that the Grandsire had bade them do. Then Dadhichi, well pleased, addressing those foremost of celestials, said, “You celestials! I will do what is for your benefit. I will even renounce this body of mine myself.” That foremost of men with soul under control, having said this, suddenly renounced his life. The gods then took the bones of the deceased Rishi as directed. The celestials, glad at heart, went to Tvashtri, the celestial Architect, and spoke to him of the means of victory. Tvashtri, hearing those words of theirs, became filled with joy, and constructed out of those bones with great attention and care the fierce weapons called Vajra. Having manufactured it, he joyfully addressed Indra, saying, “With this foremost of weapons reduce that fierce foe of the gods to ashes. Having slain the foe, rule you happily the entire domain of heaven with those that follow you.” Thus addressed by Tvashtri, Indra took the Vajra from his hand, joyfully and with proper respect.

Armed with the Vajra then, and supported by celestials endued with great might, Indra then approached Vritra, who was then occupying the entire earth and the heaven. He was guarded on all sides by huge-bodied Kalakeyas with upraised weapons resembling gigantic mountains with towering peaks. The encounter that took place between the gods and the Danavas lasted for a short while and was terrific in the extreme, appalling as it did the three worlds. Loud was the clash of swords and scimitars upraised and warded off by heroic hands in course of those fierce encounters. Heads severed from trunks began to roll from the firmament to the earth like fruits of the palmyra palm falling upon the ground, loosened from their stalks. The Kalakeyas armed with iron-mounted bludgeons and cased in golden mail ran against the gods, like moving mountains on conflagration. The gods, unable to stand the shock of that impetuous and proudly advancing host, broke and fled from fear. Indra, beholding the gods flying in fear and Vritra growing in boldness, became deeply dejected. He himself, agitated with the fear of the Kalakeyas, without losing a moment, sought the exalted Narayana's refuge. The eternal Vishnu beholding Indra so depressed enhanced his might by imparting unto him a portion of his own energy. When the celestials beheld that Indra was thus protected by Vishnu, each of them imparted unto him his own energy. The spotless Brahmarshis also imparted their energies unto the chief of the celestials. Favoured thus by Vishnu, all the gods and by the high-blessed Rishis also, Indra became mightier than before.

When Vritra learnt that the chief of the celestials had been filled with might of others, he sent forth some terrific roars. At these roars of his, the earth, the directions, the firmament, heaven, and the mountains all began to tremble. The chief of the celestials, deeply agitated on hearing that fierce and loud roar, was filled with fear, and desiring to slay the Asura soon, hurled the mighty Vajra. Struck with Indra's Vajra the great Asura decked in gold and garlands fell head-long, like the great mountain Mandara hurled of yore from Vishnu's hands; and although the prince of Daityas was slain, yet Indra in panic ran from the field, desiring to take shelter in a lake, thinking that the Vajra itself had not been hurled from his hands and regarding that Vritra himself was still alive. The celestials, however, and the great Rishis became filled with joy, and all of them began to cheerfully chant the praise of Indra. Mustering together, the celestials began to slay the Danavas, who were dejected at the death of their leader.

Struck with panic at sight of the assembled celestial host, the afflicted Danavas fled to the depths of the sea. Having entered the fathomless deep, teeming with fishes and crocodiles, the Danavas assembled together and began to proudly conspire for the destruction of the three worlds. Some amongst them that were wise in inferences suggested courses of action, each according to his judgment. In course of time, however, the dreadful resolution arrived at those conspiring sons of Diti, was that they should, first of all, compass the destruction of all persons possessed of knowledge and ascetic virtue. The worlds are all supported by asceticism. Therefore, they said, “Lose no time for the destruction of asceticism. Compass without delay the destruction of those on earth that are possessed of ascetic virtues, that are conversant with duties and the ways of morality, and that have a knowledge of Brahma; for when these are destroyed, the universe itself will be destroyed.” All the Danavas, having arrived at this resolution for the destruction of the universe, became highly glad. Thenceforth they made the ocean with billows high as hills, their fort, from which to make their sallies.

The Kalakeyas then having recourse to that receptacle of waters, which is the abode of Varuna, began their operations for the destruction of the universe. During the darkness of the night those angry Daityas began to devour the Munis they found in woody retreats and sacred spots. Those wicked wretches devoured in the ashram of Vasishtha, Brahmanas to the number of a hundred and eighty, besides nine other ascetics. Proceeding to the Ashram of Chyavana that was inhabited by many Brahmacharis, they devoured a century of Brahmanas that lived upon fruit and roots alone. They began to do all this during the darkness of the night, while they entered the depths of the sea by day. They slew a full score of Brahmanas of subdued souls and leading a Brahmacharya mode of life and living upon air and water alone, in the retreat of Bharadwaja. It was thus that the Kalakeyas, intoxicated with prowess of arms and their lives nearly run out, gradually invaded all the Ashramas of the Rishis during the darkness of the night, slaughtering numerous Brahmanas.

Although the Danavas behaved in this way towards the ascetics in woody retreats, yet men failed to discover anything of them. Every morning people saw the dead bodies of Munis emaciated with frugal diet, lying on the ground. Many of those bodies were without flesh and without blood, without marrow, without entrails, and with limbs separated from one another. Here and there lay on the ground heaps of bones like masses of conch shells. The earth was scattered over with the sacrificial contents of broken jars and shattered ladles for pouring libations of clarified butter and with the sacred fires kept with care by the ascetics. The universe afflicted with the terror of the Kalakeyas, being destitute of Vedic studies and vashats and sacrificial festivals and religious rites, became entirely cheerless. When men began to perish in this way, the survivors, afflicted with fear, fled for their lives in all directions. Some fled to caverns and some behind mountain-streams and springs and some through fear of death, died without much ado. Some who were brave and mighty bowmen cheerfully went out and took great trouble in tracking the Danavas. Unable, however, to find them out, for the Asuras had sought refuge in the depths of the sea, these brave men came back to their homes gratified with the search.

When the universe was being thus destroyed, and when sacrificial festivals and religious rites had been suspended, the gods became deeply afflicted. Gathering together with Indra in their midst they began, from fear, to take counsel of one another. Repairing unto the exalted and uncreate Narayana, the celestials sought his protection. Bowing unto the slayer of Madhu, the gods addressed him, saying, “O lord! You are the creator, the protector, and the slayer of ourselves as well as of the universe. It is you who has created this universe with its mobile and immobile creatures. It was you who in days of yore had for the benefit of all creatures raised from the sea the sunken earth, assuming also the form of a boar. Assuming also the form of half-man and half-lion, you had slain in days of yore that ancient Daitya of mighty prowess known by the name of Hiranyakasipu. That other great Asura, Bali by name, was incapable of being slain by any one. Assuming the form of a dwarf, you exiled him from the three worlds. O lord! It was by you that that wicked Asura, Jambha by name, who was a mighty bowman and who always obstructed sacrifices, was slain. Achievements like these, which cannot be counted, are yours. We who have been afflicted with fear, have you for our refuge. It is for this that we inform you of our present troubles. Protect the worlds, the gods, and Indra also, from a terrible fear. Through your favour it is that all born beings of the four kinds increase. They being created, propitiate the dwellers of heaven by offerings made to the gods and the names of departed forefathers. Thus it is that people, protected by you and free from trouble live depending on one another, and so increase. Now this peril has befallen the people. We do not know by whom are Brahmanas being killed during the night. If the Brahmanas are destroyed, the earth itself will meet with destruction, and if the earth comes to an end, heaven also will cease to exist. O lord of the universe! We beseech you to act so that all the worlds, protected by you, may not come to an end, so it may please you.”

Vishnu said, “You 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. 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. 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. You should, therefore, think of some expedient to dry up the ocean. Who save Agastya is capable of drying up the sea. 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, as Brahma is waited upon by celestials. 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, “You were 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. But he has ceased to increase, as he was unable to disobey your command. When darkness has covered the world, the born beings were harassed by death, but having obtained you for a protector, they attained the utmost security. Whenever we are beset by perils, your reverence is always our refuge; for this reason it is that we solicit a boon from you; as you ever grantest the boon solicited of you.”

Having heard the words of the gods, Agastya said, “Wherefore are you come? What boon do you solicit from me?” Thus addressed by him, the deities then spoke to the saint, saying, “This deed we ask you to achieve is to drink up the great ocean. Then we shall be able to slay those enemies of the gods, known by the name of Kalakeyas, together with all their adherents.”

Having heard the words of the gods, the saint said, “Let it be so. I shall do what you desire, and that which will conduce to the great happiness of men.”

Having said this, he then proceeded to the ocean accompanied by sages, ripe in the practice of penances, and also by the deities. Men and snakes, celestial choristers, Yakshas and Kinnaras followed the magnanimous saints, desirous of witnessing that wonderful event. Then they came up all together near to the sea, of awful roar, dancing, as it were, with its billows, bounding with the breeze, laughing with masses of froth, stumbling at the caves, thronged with diverse kinds of sharks, frequented by flocks of various birds. The deities accompanied by Agastya and celestial choristers and huge snakes and highly-gifted saints, approached the immense watery waste.

Agastya, having reached the sea spoke unto the assembled gods, and the saints gathered together, saying “I surely am going to drink up the ocean, that abode of the god of waters. You be quickly ready with those preparations which it devolves upon you to make.” Having spoken these few words, Agastya, full of wrath, began to drink up the sea, while all the worlds stood observing the deed. Then the gods, together with Indra, seeing how the sea was being drunk up, were struck with mighty amazement, and glorified him with laudatory words, saying, “You are our protector, and the Providence itself for men, and also the creator of the worlds. By your favour the universe with its gods may possibly be saved from havoc.” The magnanimous one, glorified by the gods, while the musical instruments of celestial choristers were playing all round, and while celestial blossoms were showered upon him, rendered waterless the wide ocean.

Seeing the wide ocean rendered devoid of water, the host of gods was exceedingly glad; and taking up choice weapons of celestial forge, fell to slaying the demons with courageous hearts. They, assailed by the magnanimous gods, of great strength, and swift of speed, and roaring loudly, were unable to withstand the onset of their fleet and valorous foes.  Those demons, attacked by the gods, bellowing loudly, for a moment carried on terrible conflict. They had been in the first instance burnt by the force of penances performed by the saints, who had matured their selves; therefore, the demons, though they tried to the utmost, were at last slaughtered by the gods. Decked with brooches of gold, and bearing on their persons ear-rings and armlets, the demons, when slain, looked beautiful indeed, like palasa trees when full of blossoms. Then, a few, the remnant of those that were killed of the Kalakeya race, having rent asunder the goddess Earth, took refuge at the bottom of the nether regions.

The gods, when they saw that the demons were slain, with diverse speeches, glorified the mighty saint, and spoke the following words. “O you of mighty arms! By your favour, men have attained a mighty blessing, and the Kalakeyas, of ruthless strength have been killed by your power! Fill the sea now; give up again the water drunk up by you.” Thus addressed, Agastya replied, “That water has been digested by me. Some other expedient, therefore, must be thought of by you, if you desire to make endeavour to fill the ocean.”

Hearing this speech of that saint of matured soul, the assembled gods were struck with both wonder and sadness. Thereupon, having bidden adieu to each other, and bowed to the mighty saint all the born beings went their way. The gods with Vishnu, came to Brahma. Having held consultation again, with the view of filling up the sea, they, with joined hands, spoke about replenishing it.

Then gathered together, Brahma, the grandfather of men thus addressed, “Go you, O gods! Where your pleasure may lead you, or your desire conduct you. It will take a long course of time for the ocean to resume its wonted state; the occasion will be furnished by the agnates of the great king Bhagiratha.” Hearing the words of the universal grandfather Brahma, all the foremost gods went their way biding the day when the ocean was to be filled again.