appointest another
person as thy Hotri, this sacrifice of thine shall not be completed, and
some Being the like of whom has not existed before will slay thee!'--In
consequence of this curse, Hiranyakasipu was slain by Vishnu in the form
of a man-lion. Viswarupa, having adopted the side of his maternal
relations, employed himself in severe austerities for aggrandising them.
Impelled by the desire of causing him to swerve from his vows, Indra
despatched to him many beautiful Apsaras. Beholding those celestial
nymphs of transcendent beauty, the heart of Viswarupa became agitated.
Within a very short time he became exceedingly attached to them.
Understanding that he had become attached to them, the celestial nymphs
said unto him one day,--'We shall not tarry here any longer. In fact, we
shall return to that place whence we came.' Unto them that said so, the
son of Tashtri replied,--'Where will you go? Stay with me. I shall do you
good.' Hearing him say so, the Apsaras rejoined,--'We are celestial nymphs
called Apsaras. We chose in days of old the illustrious and boon-giving
Indra of great puissance.' Viswarupa then said unto them, 'This very day I
shall so ordain that all the deities with Indra at their head shall cease
to be.' Saying this, Trisiras began to recite mentally certain sacred
Mantras of great efficacy. By virtue of those Mantras he began to
increase in energy. With one of his mouths he began to drink all the Soma
that Brahmanas engaged in Sacrifices poured on their sacred fires with
due rites. With a second mouth he began to eat all food (that was offered
in sacrifices). With his third mouth he began to drink up the energy of
all the deities with Indra at their head. Beholding him swelling with
energy in every part of his body that was strengthened by the Soma he was
drinking, all the deities, then, with Indra in their company, proceeded
to the Grandsire Brahma. Arrived at his presence, they addressed him and
said,--'All the Soma that is duly offered in the sacrifices performed
everywhere is being drunk by Viswarupa. We no longer obtain our shares.
The Asuras are being aggrandised, while we are being weakened. It
behoveth thee, therefore, to ordain what is for our good.'--After the
deities ceased, the Grandsire replied,--'The great Rishi Dadhichi of
Bhrigu's race is now engaged in performing severe austerities. Go, ye
deities, unto him and solicit a boon from him. Do ye so arrange that he
may cast off his body. W