Thereupon, O Janamejaya, Brahmā, the foremost of those conversant with the Vedas, conferred upon him the sovereignty over seeds, plants, the Brāhmanas and water (20). After his installation on the throne, O monarch, the lord of rays lighted up the three worlds with his rays (21). Daksha had twenty-seven daughters of great vows. People knew them as stars. Pracheta’s son Daksha conferred them all on him (22). Having obtained that great kingdom the moon, the lord of ancestral manes, made arrangements for a Rajsuya sacrifice in which ten million kine were given away as presents (23). The divine Atri was the _Hota_⁵⁰ thereof, Bhrigu _Adhvaryu_⁵¹ Hiranyagarbha, _Udgata_⁵² and Brahmā himself was Brahma⁵³ (24). And the Divine Nārāyana, surrounded by Sanatkumār and other Prime Rishis, became the member thereof (25). O descendant of Bharata, we have heard that the Divine Soma conferred presents on the leading Brāhmana saints and all other Rishis of the three worlds who had assembled there (26). Sinivāli, Kuhu, Dyuti, Pushti, Prabhā, Vasu, Dhriti, Kirti and Lakshmi, these nine goddesses attended upon him (27). Having bathed after the termination of the Yagna the foremost of kings, the moon, worshipped of all the gods and Rishis, began steadily to light up the ten quarters (28). O my child, having been honored by the sages and acquired prosperity which it is very difficult to obtain his mind began to deviate from humility. And accordingly sullied by immorality he lost all control over himself (29). Having disregarded Vrihaspati, the son of Angiras, the moon by force carried away his illustrious wife Tārā (30). And albeit solicited by the gods and Rishis he did not return her. Vrihaspati, the the preceptor of the gods, was accordingly enraged with him (31). Ushanā (Suka) began to protect his sides. The illustrious deity Rudra was formerly a disciple of Vrihaspati’s father. Out of reverence for him he (Rudra) protected his rear, taking his Ajagava bow in his hands (32–33). A terrible battle, destructive of the gods and demons on account of Tārā, was fought at the place where the high-souled Siva discharged his mighty weapon Brahmasiras—for the destruction of the demons and where their glory was (accordingly) destroyed (34–35).