He raised me up with his own hands and spoke gently, “Now I am present before you.” Turning to the god who stood before him—the lord whose form shone with blue and red hues—he addressed him with reverence and gravity. “He is to be protected by you, for he is your elder, your teacher, and your father. By the greatness of his own yogic power, he has sought refuge in me alone.” With these words, he issued commands: “You must discipline the son of Virin̄ci; you must bear his head. Constantly wander for alms and establish the gods and the twice-born in their rightful places.” Having given these instructions, he returned to his supreme abode, his own natural, divine place. By his will, Kālabhairava was made to take the head of Brahmā. The blessed one, holding the skull in his hand, began to wander, receiving alms from all directions. His appearance was fierce, his face adorned with fangs and a garland of flames. “Until then,” he was told, “you must follow the dreadful Time, O three-eyed one. Wander through all the worlds for alms, by my command. Then, in due course, the means for purification from sin will be revealed to you.” And so, the Lord—holding the skull in his hand, the very soul of the universe—wandered through the three worlds. Splendid and pure, incomparable, his matted locks shining, he moved with radiant glory. His eyes blazed like the fire of time, and surrounded on all sides, the Great God shone forth. Abundant in playful pastimes, the Lord moved among the worlds. He entered the assembly of women, whose beauty and charm were unparalleled. They gazed at his smiling face, but responded only with the slightest movement of their brows. From there, he journeyed to the abode of Vishnu, where Madhusudana himself resides. Together with the foremost of beings, he approached the entrance. But at the threshold, the mighty doorkeeper, marked with a trident, barred their way. This was Vishvaksena, born from a portion of Vishnu, fierce and formidable—known as Kālavega at Bhairava’s command. With great force, he hurled the Sudarshana, terrible and directed at Rudra. Yet the conqueror of enemies looked upon it with disdain as it approached. With a swift movement, he struck the doorkeeper in the chest with his trident, casting him to the ground. Life left the doorkeeper, as if death had come upon him like a sudden illness. Carrying the body, the Lord entered the inner chamber. There, he split the head at the forehead, causing a stream of blood to flow forth—a thing never seen before, O Tripuramardana. That stream of blood continued to flow for a thousand divine years. Throughout this time, he was praised with Vedic mantras, honored and respected by all. The blessed supreme lord recounted all that had transpired. The lord of the gods then requested the trident-bearer to release him from his penance. After meditating for a long time, the source of the universe, all-knowing, spoke to Shankara: “Go to the place where the Lord swiftly destroys all the faults of the universe.” Desiring the welfare of all worlds, the god went there, moving playfully. There, the great yogi danced, holding the body upon his hand. Then, eager to display his wondrous dance, he assumed another form, shining forth in his divine glory.