those cities, again, O monarch, had a separate king.  The beautiful city of gold belonged to the illustrious Tarakaksha:  the silver city to Kamalaksha, and the iron one to Vidyunmalin.  Those three Daitya kings, soon assailing the three worlds with their energy, continued to dwell and reign, and began to say, ’Who is he called the Creator?’ Unto those foremost of Danavas having no heroes equal to them, came from every side millions upon millions, of proud and flesh-eating Danavas who had before been defeated by the celestials, and who now settled in the three cities, desirous of great prosperity.  Unto all of them thus united, Maya became the supplier of every thing they wanted.  Relying upon him, all of them resided there, in perfect fearlessness.  Whoever amongst those residing in the triple city wished for any object in his heart had his wish fulfilled by Maya aided by the latter’s powers of illusion.  Tarakaksha had a heroic and mighty son named Hari.  He underwent the austerest of penances, upon which the Grandsire became gratified with him.  When the god was gratified, Hari solicited a boon of him, saying, ’Let a lake start into existence in our city, such that persons, slain by means of weapons, may, when thrown into it, come out with life, and with redoubled strength.’  Obtaining this boon, the heroic Hari, son of Tarakaksha, created a lake, O lord, in his city, that was capable of reviving the dead.  In whatever form and whatever guise a Daitya might have been slain, if thrown into that lake, he was restored to life, in the self-same form and guise.  Obtaining alive the slain among them, the Daityas began to afflict the three worlds.  Crowned with success by means of austere penances, those enhancers of the fears of the gods sustained, O king, no diminution in battle.  Stupefied then by covetousness and folly, and deprived of their senses, all of them began to shamelessly exterminate the cities and towns established all over the universe.  Filled with pride at the boons they had received, and driving before them, at all times and from all places, the gods with their attendants, they roamed at will over celestial forests and other realms dear to the denizens of heaven and the delightful and sacred asylums of rishis.  And the wicked Danavas ceased to show any respect for anybody.  While the worlds were thus afflicted, Sakra, surrounded by the Maruts, battled against the three cities by hurling his thunder upon them from every side.  When, however, Purandra failed to pierce those cities made impenetrable, O king, by the Creator with his boons, the chief of celestials, filled with fear, and leaving those cities, repaired with those very gods to that chastiser of foes, viz., the Grandsire, for representing unto him the oppressions committed by the Asuras.  Representing everything and bowing with their heads unto him, they asked the divine Grandsire the means by which the triple city could be destroyed.  The illustrious Deity, hearing the words of Indra,