In ancient times, the demons who inhabited the nether regions wished to conquer the demigods and drive them from their abodes. Once a truce was called by the demons, after which they duped the demigods into working jointly to acquire nectar from the ocean of milk. The Lord, however, cheated the demons in His incarnation as Mohinī and gave the nectar of immortality to the demigods. Then the Lord returned to His abode in the spiritual world.
Most aggrieved at being deprived of the nectar of immortality, the demons again declared war against the demigods. Bali Mahārāja, the son of Virocana, became the commander in chief of the demons. In the beginning of the battle, the demigods prepared to defeat the demons. Indra, King of heaven, fought with Bali, and other demigods, like Vāyu, Agni, and Varuṇa, fought against other leaders of the demons. In this fight the demons were defeated, and to save themselves from death they began to manifest many illusions, thereby killing many soldiers on the side of the demigods. The demigods, finding no other recourse, surrendered to the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Viṣṇu, who then appeared before them riding on the back of His bird-carrier, Garuḍa. He at once counteracted all the illusions presented by the jugglery of the demons. Heroes among the demons such as Kālanemi, Mali, Sumāli and Malyavān fought the Lord. The demon Kalanemi, who was riding a lion, hurled his trident at Garuḍa's head. But Lord Viṣṇu caught the trident, and with that very same weapon He killed Kalanemi, along with his lion-carrier. In this way the Lord killed all the demons and freed the demigods from danger.