KSHUVADADHICHI FIGHT AND VISHNUDADHICHI FIGHT

Narada, who was listening to the divine tales of Shiva with rapt attention, was
very curious to know about the reasons why lord Vishnu attended a yagya
where Shiva was not invited and why did he fight a battle against Veerbhadra
despite knowing about his invincibility.
Lord Brahma told him that all this happened due to the curse of Sage Dadhichi-
In the ancient times, there used to live a king named Kshuva, who was a great
friend of Sage Dadhichi. Due to some reasons both of their developed
animosity towards each other. Dadhichi considered himself superior because of
being a brahmin, on the other hand Kshuva considered himself superior on
account of his wealth. The dispute took a worst turn and Dadhichi punched
him on his head. As a result Kshuva felt down unconscious. When he regained
his consciousness he struck sage Dadhichi with his weapon named Vajra, which
injured Dadhichi.
Dadhichi sought the help of Shukracharya. Shukracharya healed his wounds by
his mantras. He also taught Dadhichi the mahamrityunjay mantra.
Dadhichi then did a tremendous penance to please lord Shiva. Lord Shiva
appeared before him and blessed him with three boons, they were 1) his bones,
would become as hard as lightning (Vajra), 2) he would not be killed, 3) he
would never be humiliated.
Armed with these three boons, Sage Dadhichi again went to fight
Kshuva. He kicked him, in return Kshuva too attacked him with his weapon
named Vajra, but it did not have any effect on Dadhichi as his bones had
become as hard as lighting.
King Kshuva did a tremendous penance to please lord Vishnu. Vishnu
revealed to him that Dadhichi had become immortal because of the blessings
of lord Shiva, but assured him that he would certainly help him in defeating
Dadhichi.
Lord Vishnu then visited the hermitage of Sage Dadhichi, disguised as a
brahmin. On being asked by Dadhichi about the purpose of his arrival, he said
that he had come with a desire of a boon on his heart.
Sage Dadhichi, by his yogic power came to know about the real identity of a
'Brahmin'. He told that he had been caught. Lord Vishnu was ashamed.
Lord Vishnu then went back to Kshuva and instructed him to go to sage
Dadhichi and act as if he had accepted his superiority.
"Kshuva went to sage Dadhichi and did as he was instructed to do, but
Dadhichi did not believe his words. Now lord Vishnu became angry and tried
to kill him by his sudarshan chakra, but he was not successful, as the chakra,
which was given to him by lord Shiva himself, was not willing to harm a
devotee of Shiva.
"Lord Vishnu then tried to kill Dadhichi by shooting volley of arrows. The
deities too attacked with their weapon. Sage Dadhichi threw a handful of Kusha
grass, initiated with mantras towards them, which destroyed all the weapons of
the deities."
"In the meantime lord Brahma arrived on the scene accompanies by Kshuva.
He told the deities that it was futile to fight with Dadhichi as he was
invincible, due to the boon given by lord Shiva."
"Ultimately King Kshuva begged his forgiveness for his offence. Dahichi
forgave him but cursed Vishnu including all the deities that they would be
burnt to ashes by the wrath of Rudra." "This was the reason why all the deities
and lord Vishnu attended the yagya, organised by Daksha and got defeated by
Veerbhadra."