Matsyapurana 25.12

25.12

asurāstu nijaghnuryān surānsamaramūrdhani
na tānsaṃjīvayāmāsa bṛhaspatirudāradhīḥ //

Once upon a time the Devas and the Asuras fell out with each other for the kingdom of the three worlds. Then the Devas anxious to have the best of the contest made Bṛihaspati their sacrificial priest and similarly the Asuras made Sukra their priest. Both the sages—Bṛihaspati and Śukra—were at daggers drawn with each other. Śukra by his lore brought into life all the Asuras that were killed by the devas and they again appeared to face them on the battle field. Bṛihaspati could not similary restore to life the Devas killed by the Asuras, because he did not possess the same knowledge, at which the Devas were greatly dismayed. The Devas getting fearfully alarmed went to the son of Bṛihaspati named Kacha.—8-14.