"Having heard his words, I steadied myself by my own strength and, wishing to bewilder the illusory might of the danavas, said to the frightened Matali: 'Behold the strength of my arms, the power of my astras, and of Gandiva. Today, with an astra-maya, I will destroy their terrible maya and this cruel darkness. Fear not, charioteer, stand firm.' Having spoken thus, O ruler of men, I released an illusory astra that bewilders all enemies, for the good of the dwellers of the Tridiva. When those other illusions were struck down, the immeasurably mighty lords of the asuras again wrought many illusions. Now light appeared again, now darkness swallowed it once more; the world vanished from sight and sank again into the waters. When it grew light, Matali, holding the bay horses well in hand, drove the finest of chariots in that battle that made the hair stand on end. Then the fierce Nivatakavachas fell upon me one after another; seeing their weak point, I sent them to the abode of Yama. But as the battle went on -- that battle which became the end of the Nivatakavachas -- I suddenly ceased to see all the danavas, wrapped as they were in maya.'"