Protect us,
therefore, O adorable one! There is none else save thee to protect us!"
"'Brahma said, "O Agni, he cannot be conquered in battle by either the
gods or the _Asuras_! I have already ordained that which is needful for
that purpose. Indeed his death is near! Urged by me, the four-headed God
hath already been incarnate for that object. Even Vishnu, that foremost
of smiters will achieve that object!"'
"Markandeya continued, 'Then the Grandsire also asked Sakra, in their
presence, "Be thou, with all the celestials, born on earth! And beget ye
on monkeys and bears, heroic sons possessed of great strength and
capable of assuming any form at will as allies of Vishnu!" And at this,
the gods, the _Gandharvas_ and the _Danavas_ quickly assembled to take
counsel as to how they should be born on earth according to their
respective parts. And in their presence the boon-giving god commanded a
_Gandharvi_, by name Dundubhi saying, "Go there for accomplishing this
object!" And Dundubhi hearing these words of the Grandsire was born in
the world of men as the hunchbacked _Manthara_. And all the principal
celestials, with Sakra and others begot offspring upon the wives of the
foremost of monkeys and bears. And those sons equaled their sires in
strength and fame. And they were capable of splitting mountain peaks and
their weapons were stones and trees of the _Sala_ and the _Tala_
species. And their bodies were hard as adamant, and they were possessed
of very great strength.
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