Thus requested by the gods, Agastya replied to them, saying, Yes, I can consume those Asuras who are living underneath the Earth; but if I achieve such a feat, my penances will suffer decay. Hence, I shall not exert my power.
इत्युक्तः प्राह देवान् स न शक्तोऽस्मि महीगतान्। दग्धुं तपो हि क्षीयेन्मे न शक्यामीति पार्थिव॥