Markandeya said: "Then the brahmarshis, the siddhas, and the divine and royal seers, placing Havyavaha-Agni before them, went to Brahma for refuge. Agni said: 'That mighty Dashagriva, son of Vishravas, whom the blessed one once made unslayable by a boon, torments all beings with manifold outrages, being immense in strength. Therefore protect us, blessed one; for there is no other protector.' Brahma said: 'Vibhavasu, he cannot be conquered in battle by either gods or asuras. But what must be done to restrain him has already been arranged. For this purpose, by my command, the four-armed Vishnu, foremost of strikers, has descended; he will accomplish this deed.' Then the Grandsire, in their presence, spoke a word to all the hosts of the gods: 'Together with all the hosts of the gods, be born upon the earth. In she-bears and she-monkeys beget heroic sons, helpers of Vishnu, endowed with strength and form at will.' Then the gods, gandharvas, and danavas, each in due portion, willingly began to descend to the earth. Before them, the boon-granting god commanded a gandharvi named Dundubhi, for the accomplishment of the gods' purpose. Hearing the Grandsire's word, the gandharvi Dundubhi then became, in the human world, the hunchback Manthara. Shakra and the other best of gods begot sons in the finest females among the monkeys and bears. All of them followed their fathers in glory and strength. They could shatter mountain peaks, wielded shala and tala trees and stones as weapons, were all built like the thunderbolt, and all possessed the strength of torrents. All held valor at will, all were skilled in battle, had vital force equal to ten thousand elephants, and in speed were like the wind. Some of these forest-dwellers lived wherever they wished. Having arranged all this, the blessed creator of the worlds instructed Manthara what deed and in what manner was to be done. She, learning his word, swift of mind, carried it out: going here and there, rejoicing in kindling enmity."