The Asuras could not believe it when the Devas just would not attack them in Shukracharya's hermitage. The Asuras enjoyed peace for sometime where they did not need to fight or run from the attack of the Devas, all the time.

Overjoyed, Bali went to Shukracharya and prostrated before the sage. "Thank you so much for giving us refuge here, my Lord! You will keep us safe!" Bali said with heartfelt sincerity. "With you around, I do not think the Devas can ever hurt us!"

Shukracharya studied the morning rays of the sun falling through the window of his hermitage and was silent for some time.

Bali frowned realizing that the silence was powerful and wondered what the sage was thinking.

"You have fought with the Devas for so many years and you have always lost," Shukracharya told Bali softly. "Have you ever wondered why!"

Bali frowned studying Shukracharya but did not say anything.

"It is Lord Vishnu," Shukracharya said softly. "He is the real power behind the Devas. He is the reason that the Devas keep winning."

Bali still did not say anything but Shukracharya himself suddenly fell silent for a few minutes.

Shukracharya then nodded to himself. "I will have to leave the hermitage to severe penance towards Lord Shiva!" Shukracharya told Bali slowly.

Bali was numb unable to believe what he was hearing. And Bali was terrified. Bali knew that if Shukracharya left the hermitage than it was all over for the Asuras. The Devas were just waiting for that chance.

And Bali knew that the Asuras could not survive another attack of the Devas.

"Why?" Bali cried at Shukracharya. "How could you leave us? Without you, the Devas would rout us. They would run through all of us in the hermitage. Why?...What do you think you can do after leaving the hermitage?" Bali demanded panting.

"You need to think of long term consequences, Bali!" Shukracharya told the king of the Asuras gently, "Right now the Devas do not attack. But that is just a matter of time. I am sure that Indra and the other Devas would be able to defeat you eventually, if you just keep hiding in this hermitage," Shukracharya told Bali bluntly.

Bali was lost for words as Shukracharya continued, "If I need to counter Lord Vishnu, then I need to have the Mantra Shakthi."

"Mantra Shakthi?" Bali murmured confused, trying to think, beyond the pounding in his head.

"Yes! That mantra is available only with Lord Shiva!" Shukracharya said. "Once the Asuras have it, we will be able to face the Devas when they fight us the next time."

"BUT WHAT DO WE DO UNTIL THEN?" Bali shouted.

Shukracharya frowned as he studied Bali and Shukracharya realized that he was looking at a man who was the king of a group of people who had faced repeated defeats at the hands of their enemies.

Slowly, Shukracharya had a small smile on his lips. "Have you forgotten the rules of warfare which were taught to you, Bali?"

Bali frowned as Shukracharya continued, "The scriptures for the kings speak of four ways of handling their enemies – "Sam", "Dan", "Dand" and "Bhed". "Sam" is conciliation or forming alliances. "Dan" is bribery. "Dand" is punishment or open attack and "Bhed" speaks of dividing the enemies." Shukracharya looked enquiringly at Bali. "What do you think you should do right now?" Shukracharya asked.

Bali knew what had to be done. He was a king after all. But he knew of the problems which they would face because of that. "Even if we go to the Devas claiming that we are meek and we have given up our old ways, the Devas would not believe us!" Bali told Shukracharya angrily.

"Then send the Devas someone whom the Devas already believe!" was all Shukracharya told Bali.

***********

Bali was a little worried as Prahlada went to Indra and the other Devas. Shukracharya had left to meditate to Lord Shiva and right now the hermitage was under the care of Shukracharya's mother.

Bali was thinking all these things as he was trying to calm himself as he saw Prahlada go. And Bali knew that there was nothing more that he could do other than wait for the reaction of the Devas.

Prahlada in his ascetic garb and with his powers of penance, looked very impressive as he walked towards Indra in the Skies.

Indra realized the power of Prahlada as Indra got down from his throne and nodded at the former Asura king – the one who was protected by Lord Vishnu himself.

"Speak, sir!" Indra told Prahlada.

"I come on behalf of all the Asuras," Prahlada told Indra.

Indra frowned but did not say anything as Prahlada continued, "The Asuras no longer wish to fight, Indra! They wish to give up their ways and they want to pursue asceticism like me," Prahlada told Indra.

"All the Asuras?" Indra demanded incredulously.

Prahlada nodded firmly. "All of them wish to give up their old ways. They just wish to be left alone to do as they please and live in peace in the hermitage of Shukracharya," Prahlada told Indra. "That is all they wish."

Indra nodded uncertainly but he still gave Prahlada his word that the Devas would not attack the Asuras as long as they did not bear any arms.

Prahlada was satisfied and he went his way.

Indra was still moodily staring at the path Prahlada had walked out of his palace as Indra was thinking deeply.

Nodding to himself, Indra summoned his spies. "Find out all you can about the whereabouts of Shukracharya!" was all Indra told them.

Slowly, Indra through his spies came to know that Shukracharya was not in the hermitage at all. And Indra was furious when he realized exactly where Shukracharya had gone.

Angrily he turned to his Devas, "Arm yourself! We are going to war!" Indra said savagely.

"Where?" Vayu, the Lord of the Wind, asked confused.

"To Shukracharya's hermitage!" Indra said in the same tone. "Shukracharya is not there in the hermitage, right now. All the Asuras there are under the protection of Kavyamata, Shukracharya's mother," Indra said taking a deep breath. "And we attack at dawn."

The next morning, the Asuras in the hermitage of Shukracharya were in for a rude shock as they saw the Devas surrounding the hermitage and all of the Devas were dressed in their magnificent armours and looked furious with the weapons in their hand.

Bali did not know what to expect as he went outside the hermitage to talk to Indra.

"What is going on here?" Bali asked Indra, pretending to look confused. "I thought you promised my father that..."

"ENOUGH!" Indra shouted as he saw Bali.

Bali did not say anything as Indra continued, "Where is Shukracharya, Bali?" Indra asked.

Bali still did not say anything and looking at Indra, Bali realized that Indra knew. Bali watched shocked as Indra furiously nodded his head. "All your asceticism, all this..." Indra said pointing at the hermitage, "it is just a disguise. I know you are just waiting for the proper time for Shukracharya to come with the mantra to destroy us." Indra shook his head angrily. "I cannot allow that. I am the king of my people too. I am not obligated to protect my enemies when they take to deceit and pretend to give up arms." Indra said softly.

Bali said nothing more.

There was nothing more for him to say as he ran inside the hermitage and told his people everything that had happened. A hasty Council of War for the Asuras was set up.

The Asuras were worried real bad because they had no weapons with them. Bali knew that they would not be fighting until Shukracharya came back and therefore, all the Asuras had abandoned their weapons.

Which was very bad news with the Devas waiting outside and declaring war on them.

And that was when the head of the hermitage came inside the room.

"What is going on here?" Kavyamata asked looking around the hermitage. "Indra and the Devas are surrounding my hermitage and you seem to be getting ready for war." Kavyamata saw Bali with steely eyes. "What is happening here?"

Slowly Bali told Kavyamata what was happening.

Bali had expected Kavyamata to be scared or at least worried. Instead she sighed. "Stop all this!" she told Bali and the other Asuras in an irritated tone.

"Mother!" Bali said in an aghast tone, "We have no weapons and that is the Devas out there. They will..."

"And my son left me in charge of the hermitage!" Kavyamata said interrupting Bali.

Kavyamata could see that the Asuras did not believe her as she turned and walked out of the hermitage. Bali ran after her to stop her but Kavyamata had a dangerous look in her face as Bali stood rooted at his spot. Two other Asuras ran near Kavyamata for her protection.

Kavyamata walked straight up to Indra. "Are you going to attack my hermitage?" she asked Indra.

Indra studied the Asura woman before him and looked angry at Bali and the others inside the hermitage.

"Yes! I..." Indra started savagely.

"You should stop!" Kavyamata said interrupting Indra as she spoke in calm, measured tones.

As a reply, Indra was about to kill the Asuras who had come out of the hermitage and were standing near Kavyamata, when suddenly....Indra blinked.

Indra staggered as he could see something glowing before him. Indra was feeling too tired...far too tired and he turned to see the other Devas falling to the ground.

Indra never even knew what happened as he was asleep long before he had even hit the ground.

The Asuras watched Kavyamata aghast as they saw the entire Deva army which was before them in a deep, deep slumber.

"Let us go inside the hermitage," Kavyamata told the two Asuras.

"Mother!" The Asura asked Kavyamata in a whisper. "Did you...?"

"The Devas should have known better than to make me invoke the powers of my penance! I have invoked Nindra Devi [The Goddess of Sleep]. The Devas shall sleep here, forever!" Kavyamata said finally.