re they instantly came back to
vigour and life. Taking up huge and terrible mountain summits and maces
and trees, they agitated the waters of the lake, causing them to swell up
to the height of a hundred yojanas. They then ran against the deities
numbering ten thousand. Afflicted by the Danavas, the gods then sought
the protection of their chief, Vasava. Sakra, however, was soon afflicted
by them. In his distress he sought the protection of Vasishtha. At this,
the holy Rishi Vasishtha assured the deities, dispelling their fears.
Understanding that the gods had become exceedingly cheerless, the ascetic
did this through compassion. He put forth his energy and burnt, without
any exertion, those Danavas called Khalins. Possessed of wealth of
penances, the Rishi brought the River Ganga, who had gone to Kailasa, to
that spot. Indeed, Ganga appeared, piercing through the waters of the
lake. The lake was penetrated by that river. And as that celestial
stream, piercing through the waters of the lake, appeared, it flowed on,
under the name of Sarayu. The place whereon those Danavas fell came to be
called after them. Even thus were the denizens of Heaven, with Indra at
their head, rescued from great distress by Vasishtha, It was thus that
those Danavas, who had received boons from Brahman, were slain by that
high-souled Rishi. O sinless one, I have narrated to thee the feat which
Vasishtha accomplished. Shall I go on? Or, will you say anything! Was
there a Kshatriya who could be said to surpass the Brahmana Vasishtha?'"'"

SECTION CLVI

"'Bhishma said, "Thus addressed, Arjuna remained silent. The god of wind
once more addressed him, saying, 'Hear me, O foremost one of the
Haihayas, as I narrate to thee the achievement of the high-souled Atri.
Once on a time as the gods and Danavas were fighting each other in the
dark, Rahu pierced both Surya and Soma with his arrows. The gods,
overwhelmed by darkness, began to fall before the mighty Danavas, O
foremost of kings! Repeatedly struck by the Asuras, the denizens of
heaven began to lose their strength. They then beheld the learned
Brahmana Atri, endued with wealth of penances, engaged in the observance
of austerities. Addressing that Rishi who had conquered all his senses
and in whom wrath had been extinguished, they said "Behold, O Rishi,
these two, viz., Soma and Surya, who have both been pierced by the Asuras
with their arrows! In consequence of this, darkness has overtaken us, a