At the time, among the dwellers of the heaven there was a great panic owing to a battle between the gods and the Asuras and they (the gods) asked a boon of the noblesouled Nara and Narayana.
तदा देवासुरे युद्धे भये जाते दिवौकसाम्। अयाचत महात्मानौ नरनारायणौ वरम्॥