Thereupon an encounter took place between those two and Narayana. The Asuras Madhu and Kaitabha were embodiments of the qualities of Darkness and Ignorance. Narayana killed them both for pleasing Brahman. He thence passed by the name of Madhusudana (slayer of Madhu).
अथ युद्धं समभवत् तयोर्नारायणस्य वै॥ रजस्तमोविष्टतनू तावुभौ मधुकैटभौ। ब्रह्मणोपचितिं कुर्वन् जघान मधुसूदनः॥