The Fire for the Rākṣasas

Persuaded by Vasiṣṭha, Parāśara held back his anger from the worlds. But remembering his father's death, he began a great sacrifice against the rākṣasas, and in it he burned rākṣasas old and young. Vasiṣṭha did not stop him from killing the rākṣasas, for he resolved not to break the boy's second vow. Before the three blazing fires of that sacrifice, Parāśara sat like a fourth fire, and the sky was lit by it as by the sun after the rains, and Vasiṣṭha and the other sages thought him a second sun shining in heaven.

Then Atri, generous of mind, came, wishing to bring to its end that sacrifice, which others could hardly have undertaken, and the seers Pulastya, from whom the rākṣasas are descended, and Pulaha and Kratu came too, wishing to save the lives of the rākṣasas. Pulastya told Parāśara that Vasiṣṭha's dead sons were already happy among the gods. He said to him: Is your sacrifice going on without hindrance, my child? Do you take pleasure in killing all these rākṣasas, who knew nothing and did no wrong? You are the best of those who drink soma, Parāśara, and you are wiping out my descendants, a thing most unrighteous. King Kalmāṣapāda is about to go to heaven. Vasiṣṭha's sons, Śakti's younger brothers, are rejoicing together with the gods. Vasiṣṭha knows all this. Let go of the sacrifice, and may it be well with you. Let it be finished.

When Pulastya had said this, and the wise Vasiṣṭha had told him the same, Parāśara, the son of Śakti, brought the sacrifice to a close. He let the fire he had gathered for the rākṣasas go into a great forest on the northern side of the Himālaya, and there to this day it is seen at every turn of the moon, devouring rākṣasas and trees and stones.