[Pramāṇa](https://indike.org/pramana/) › [Studies](https://indike.org/pramana/ins) › [General history and culture](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.general) › [Ancient Indian Historical Tradition](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.general.pargiter-1922) › c22.40 # Ancient Indian Historical Tradition c22.40 Ancient Indian Historical Tradition c22.40 - **Language:** English ### [c22.40](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.general.pargiter-1922.c22.40) His original position comes out clearly from stories of the war between the devas (gods) and asuras.¹¹ He was on the asuras’ side and restored the slain asuras to life by means of a potent spell called mṛta-sañjīvanī,¹² which he had obtained from Śiva¹³ and which the devas did not know.¹⁴ The devas’ priest Bṛhaspati could not restore the slain devas to life, until (according to one version ¹) his son Kaca succeeded by stratagem in learning the spell from Śukra. Then the devas got it and vanquished Śukra and the asuras.² - [Previous: c22.39](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.general.pargiter-1922.c22.39) - [Next: c22.41](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.general.pargiter-1922.c22.41) - [Up: c22](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.general.pargiter-1922.c22) --- Source: [https://indike.org/pramana/ins.general.pargiter-1922.c22.40](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.general.pargiter-1922.c22.40) · Pramāṇa