Daityas and Danavas Summon Kritya to Abduct Duryodhana

Deep in the nether regions, the daityas and the danavas — the ancient enemies of the gods, defeated long ago — learned what Duryodhana was doing. They understood immediately what it meant. If Duryodhana died by his own hand, their own side would be weakened. They could not allow it. They performed a sacrifice to summon him. They were skilled in mantras — the utterances of power that shape reality when spoken correctly. They pronounced mantras uttered by Brihaspati, the preceptor of the gods, and by Ushanas, the preceptor of the asuras. They performed the rites mentioned in the Atharva Veda and the Upanishads, those capable of being performed through mantras and prayers. There were brahmanas learned in the Vedas and the Vedangas, extremely firm in their vows. Extremely attentively, they uttered mantras and poured offerings of milk into the fire. When those rites were completed, Kritya arose from the flames. She was extremely wonderful and had a gaping mouth. "What must I do?" she asked. Extremely happy in their souls, the daityas told her: "The king who is Dhritarashtra's son is fasting to death. Bring him here." Thus commanded, Kritya agreed that she would do this, and departed. In an instant, she went to where King Suyodhana was — the same Duryodhana, sitting in silence on his darbha grass, cut off from the world, waiting for death. She grasped the king and entered the nether regions. Within an instant, she brought him and handed him over to the danavas. On seeing that the king had been brought, the danavas assembled at night. All of them were delighted in their minds and their eyes were dilated in delight. They then spoke proud words to Duryodhana.