Agastya said: 'Then, O Vasava, as he was disputing with the sages, he touched my head with his foot, afflicted as he was by adharma. By that act, O lord of Shachi, he became deprived of power and glory. Thereupon I, agitated, spoke to him, tormented as he was by fear: "Since you defile the sacred word — flawless as it is — set forth by the ancients and observed by the brahmarshis, and since you have touched my head with your foot, and since you, O fool, have turned these rishis, equal to Brahma and hard to approach, into your carriers and made them bear you — for this, deprived of your splendor from heaven, fall! O sinner, cast down and your merit exhausted, you shall wander the surface of the earth for ten thousand years, a great being wearing the form of a serpent. When those years are complete, you shall attain heaven once again. For ten thousand years you shall wander the earth in the form of a great serpent. When that period is complete, you shall be able to return to heaven. Thus was that wretch cast down from the heavenly throne, O tormentor of your foes." "How fortunate, O Indra, that we now prosper. This thorn in the side of the brahmins has been slain. O lord of Shachi, return to heaven, protect the worlds, master your senses, subdue your enemies, and be glorified by the great sages."' Shalya continued: 'Then, O ruler of men, the gods and the hosts of great sages were exceedingly pleased. So too were the Pitris, the Yakshas, the Serpents, the Rakshasas, the Gandharvas, and all the hosts of heavenly nymphs. The pools, the rivers, the mountains, and the seas were likewise greatly pleased. And all came forward and said: "How fortunate, O slayer of enemies, that you prosper! How fortunate that the wise Agastya has slain the wicked Nahusha!"'