Tvastri became enraged at the death of his son. He gave offerings to Agni for the destruction of Indra. A huge and fearful Asura rose out of the sacrificial fire. The Devas threw their weapons at him, but he swallowed them all. Wonderstruck they prayed to Vishnu for help. Vishnu asked them to go to Dadhîchi and pray for his body and assured them that the weapon made of his bones by Visvakarmâ would cut off the head of Vritra. The Devas went to Dadhîchi and got his body. Visvakarmâ made the thunderbolt instrument (Vajra) out of his bones. Indra went with this instrument at the head of the Devas to fight with Vritra. _The fight took place at the commencement of Treta Yuga in the first Yuga cycle of Vaivasvata Manvantara,_ on the banks of the Narmadâ. After a severe fight, the chances shewed themselves favourable to the Devas. The Daitya and Dânava chiefs began to shew their backs to the enemies. "What is this my companions?" exclaimed Vritra, "Is not death inevitable? And what death is more enviable than that with honor and glory? There are two modes of death, rare though they be, that are given the palm in all religious books — one is by control of the Prânas by means of Yoga and the other is by facing enemies foremost of all, in the battle field." But the Asuras heeded him not. The Devas ran after them. "O ye cowards?" exclaimed Vritra, "What glory do you gain by running after those that fly away. Come and approach those that are in the field." So saying he attacked Indra. Indra in anger threw a large club at him. Vritra easily took it up with his left hand. He struck it with force on the head of Airâvata, the elephant of Indra. The elephant receded 28 cubits and vomitted blood, The magnanimous Vritra seeing the distress of the animal did not strike it again. Indra softly touched the injured animal, trying to give it relief and he took respite for some time. Vritra remembered the wicked deeds of Indra and addressed him thus "O thou assassinator of a Brâhmana! Thou didst kill thy own Guru, my brother Visvarûpa. Thou didst raise faith and trust in my brother’s mind and still thou didst kill that innocent, wise Brâhmana, your own Guru, having been initiated by him in Yajna. Your karma makes you worse than even Râkshasas. It is meet that I shall kill thee with this Trident and make over thy body as food for vultures. And if thou, O Indra, cuttest off my head, I shall be free from the bond of Karma, by offering my body as Bali (sacrificial food) to the animals. Here I stand before thee. Why dost thou not strike with the Vajra. Thou hast been favoured by Vishnu and by Dadhîchi. Victory and all the virtues always follow Vishnu. I will do as advised by my deity Sankarshana and attain after death the state of Yogins by sacrificing this body. O Bhagavat, may I ever and ever remain in the Service of thy votaries. This I deem a thousand times more desirable than the attainment of the Supreme Abode, or of Siddhis or of Mukti."