.

luminary that is dear to him,

      The five dear peoples (to him) were united.

      He filled two halves of the universe, as well as the middle …».

      However, not everything was so joyful among the Aryans. Mahabharata describes the time immediately after the destruction of Vritra, as a disaster that ended with the regression of the ocean.

      «Aranyaka. Chapter 99. Lomasha said: … When the greatest of the Daityas fell, Shakra, driven by fear, fled to take refuge in the lake; for fear he could not believe that the vajra had flown out of his hand and that Vritra was slain. The gods with the great sages, rejoicing and rejoicing, offering praises to Indra, united and began hastily to destroy the Daityas, shocked by the death of Vritra. Then, beaten by the Thirty, tormented by fear, they went into the ocean and plunged into its immeasurable depths, teeming with gigantic fish, full of treasures. They began to hold a council there together, wondering how to destroy the universe; and each of them, having a definite opinion, offered this or that remedy… So, falling into madness, they could not rejoice at the destruction of the world, hiding in the inaccessible, gigantic ramparts, concealing treasures – the abode of Varuna.

      Chapter 100. Lomasha said: Taking refuge in the ocean, the reservoir of waters, the possession of Varuna, the kalei began to destroy the threefold universe.

      Every night, enraged, they devoured the ascetics who lived in deserts and glorious sanctuaries… They did all this at night, during the day they plunged into the sea…

      So every night, drunk with confidence in the power of their hands, they attacked all those danava abodes of Kalei, the offspring of Kala, exterminating a great number of brahmanas… The earth was completely strewn with meatless, bloodless, without bone marrow and guts, torn apart by the remains, like heaps of shells. It was covered with split vessels, broken ladles and (coals) scattered sacrificial fires.

      Oppressed by the fear of the kaleis, the whole world was plunged into despondency: no one repeated the Vedas, exclaimed «Vashat!», The order of festivities and sacrifices was disrupted.

      The descendants of Manu, exterminated in this way, O lord of people, hoping to save their lives from danger, fled in fear in different directions. Some hid in caves, others hid behind waterfalls, and still others, languishing in death, died of fear. Among them were also brave men, proud and glorious archers who made great efforts to hunt down the Danavs. But they could not find them, hiding in the ocean, but only themselves, exhausted from their last strength, died.

      When silence reigned over the world, festivities and sacrifices ceased in it, Thirty great torment was experienced, O lord of the descendants of Manu!…

      Chapter 101 … But if the brahmanas are annihilated, then destruction will come to the whole earth, and with the destruction of the earth the end will come to heaven. By your grace, oh mighty ruler of the universe, may all the worlds entrusted to your protection not perish!

      Vishnu said: I know for certain, O gods, the cause of the death of living beings. Now I will open it to you too: listen, rejecting your fears! Kalei – this is the nickname for an extremely ferocious tribe, which, under the leadership of Vritra, persecuted the whole world. When they saw how Vritra was defeated by the wise Thousand Eyes, then, saving their lives, they entered the abode of Varuna.

      Plunging into a terrible abyss teeming with sharks and crocodiles, at night they exterminate the ascetics on the earth, in order to destroy the worlds. As long as they have a refuge in the ocean, you cannot destroy them. Better turn your thoughts on how to destroy the ocean! And who else is capable of draining the ocean besides Agastya!

      Chapter 102 … Hearing the speech of the Thirty, the son of Mitra-Varuna said: «Why did you come to me, what do you expect from me?» And to these words the gods answered the ascetic: «We want, O holy sage, that you do this: drink the great ocean, O strong in spirit! And then we will destroy those enemies of the celestials who are called kalei, with all their minions!»

      Hearing the words of the Thirty, «Let it be so!» The ascetic answered. «I will fulfill what you wish for the great good of the worlds!» And with these words the performer of wondrous vows, accompanied by the gods and holy sages who had attained perfection in asceticism, went to the ruler of the rivers – the ocean…

      Chapter 103. Lomasha said: Coming to the ocean, the saint sage, the great son of Varuna, addressed all the gods and sages who gathered there: «Now, for the good of the world, I will drink the abode of Varuna. Let the same that you have to do, let it be done quickly!» words, the unshakable son of Mitra-Varuna, full of anger, began to swallow the ocean before the eyes of the whole world…

      And the Great Spirit, while Thirty was honoring him and the trumpets of the Gandharvas sounded everywhere, showered with heavenly flowers, drained the great ocean. Seeing that the great ocean was deprived of its waters, the jubilant gods united, armed themselves with the best heavenly weapons and began, without knowing alarm, to destroy the Danavs. And those who were beaten by a great spirit, mighty, impetuous, emitting screams by the Thirty, could not hold back the onslaught of the impetuous, great-spirit celestials.

      Only for a moment, O Bharata, defeated by the Thirty, menacingly roaring Danavas entered into a noisy battle with them. But first, the ascetics, who cognized the Atman, incinerated them with tapas, and then, resisting with their last strength, they were exterminated by the Thirty. Decorated with gold jewelry, wearing bracelets and earrings, they were as beautiful as blooming Kinshuk trees. But some of those who survived the beating of the kalea, O most worthy of the descendants of Manu, tearing apart the goddess of the Earth, fled to the bottom of Patala…

      The great bull-ascetic answered these words: «But that water has already been digested by me; if you want to undertake something in order to fill the ocean, you need to find another remedy!"… Thirty together with Vishnu, discussing all sorts of plans for filling the sea, appeared to the Progenitor; hands folded respectfully, they spoke of filling the ocean.