Hear, then, the account of creation and the binding of beings to past, present, and future—a tale that removes sin. In ancient times, driven by old enmity, Dakṣa criticized and performed a sacrifice to Bhava at the sacred ford of the Ganga. All the foremost sages, accompanied by many other seers, assembled at that holy place. Among them was the sage Dadhīci, who addressed Prācetasa with a question: “Why is the god Rudra not being worshipped now according to the proper rite?” Prācetasa replied, “Because there are no mantras together with a wife for Śaṅkara, he is not worshipped.” As all the gods listened, Dadhīci, who was full of knowledge, spoke further: “Śaṅkara is, in truth, worshipped by all sacrifices, once he is properly understood. Though he appears naked, bearing a skull, and deformed—the very soul of the universe—he does not fit the usual ritual forms. Yet that blessed one, whose essence is pure sattva, is honored in all rites. He is the supreme lord, the embodiment of time, the sole destroyer of all worlds. As the witness of all, blazing in brilliance, he is time itself, manifest as Śaṅkara. Behold the blessed sun, Āditya, the lord with a dark throat and fiery red hue. See Rudra, the universal creator, whose form is composed of the three Vedas. All are to be understood as Sūryas, for there is no other sun but Ravi.” Those who heard Dadhīci’s words assented, saying, “So be it.” Yet, by the hundreds and thousands, Śaṅkara was repeatedly reviled. Deluded by the māyā of Viṣṇu, they continued to honor only the words of Dakṣa. Except for Nārāyaṇa Hari, none among them perceived the divine lord. Then, before the eyes of all, the lord vanished in an instant. The god, protector of the worlds, himself sought refuge, for blessed Viṣṇu is ever the guardian of those who seek shelter. Having observed the hosts of sages and gods, who stood hostile to Brahman, it is declared: a man incurs great sin in such a gathering—there is no doubt of this. There, the punishment created by the gods falls swiftly and terribly. The brāhmaṇas who had assembled to assist Dakṣa joined in the reviling of Mahādeva Śaṅkara, revered by the world. Truly, those whose minds are attached to false teachings revile the divine path. And as the dreadful Kali age began, afflicted by the qualities of Kali, even Hṛṣīkeśa, though approached by his own devotees, would become indifferent. But then, turning his mind toward Rudra, the destroyer of all sins, the all-seeing lord recognized Paśupati, the Lord of beings, and spoke: “O Śaṅkara, having disparaged both your nature and my own self, I ask but one boon: swiftly destroy that sacrifice.” With the intent to bring Dakṣa’s sacrifice to an end, he suddenly created Rudra—a being with a thousand arms, unassailable, blazing like the fire at the end of the age. This mighty being, holding a staff, roaring fiercely, bearing a bow and adorned with ashes, as soon as he was born, approached the Lord of the gods with joined palms. “O Lord of Gaṇas,” he was told, “Dakṣa performs sacrifice at Gaṅgādvāra, having reviled me.” Thus, by Vīrabhadra, Dakṣa’s sacrifice met with destruction.