The vital breaths, the very essence of life, are present in all living beings. They belong to one who is exceedingly fierce, great, and virtuous in conduct. At a pivotal moment, the trident-bearing, blue-red Lord—Shiva Himself—restored these vital breaths to Brahma. Revived by Shiva’s grace, the blessed Brahma opened his eyes and beheld before him the God of gods, the great Lord who is the beloved of Uma. With deep reverence, Brahma bowed low and, joined by Gayatri, gazed upon the Lord of the Universe. Seeing this divine essence, the very soul of all worlds, Brahma—grandsire of all—offered heartfelt praise to the Lord. Filled with awe and wonder, he bowed again and again, and then addressed Sharva, the mighty one, saying, “O great Lord, how did you arise at the very beginning?” Hearing these words, the blessed Bhava, for the sake of instruction, assumed the very form of Brahma and, with a gentle smile, spoke to him: “When the White Age existed, I alone was present. I was adorned with white garlands, clad in white garments, radiant in white brilliance. My bones, hair, blood, and even my glow were all white and tinged with a gentle red. Because of this, that era was known as the White Age. From me was born the goddess, white-limbed and white-red, as radiant as I—Gayatri, known then as Brahma. Through your secret austerities, O lord of gods, you have recognized me once more, and I immediately attained the state known as Sadyōjāta. This is the name of that Brahman, a deep secret. Those twice-born who know this secret will draw near to me, to a realm from which there is no return. When you existed as Lohita, by name, it was due to the red hue I manifested. That age is remembered as the Red Age—Lohita—when beings arose with red flesh, bones, and blood. Gayatri, then called the Cow, was red-eyed and full-breasted. Because of her redness and the reversal of color, she was thus named. And due to the deity’s left-sidedness, the name Vamadeva arose. There too, O great-souled one, you have known me, steadfast in self-control, through your yoga. Thus, I became known as Vamadeva on earth. Those twice-born who recognize me as Vamadeva will reach Rudra’s realm, from which there is no return. When I appeared again with a yellow hue, as the ages turned, my yellow form was established. The goddess born from me was yellow-bodied and yellow-red, and was then called Gayatri, known as Brahma. There, too, O great-souled one, those devoted to yoga recognized me as Tatpurusha. Therefore, this is my Tatpurusha state, O Kanakanda. The pure ones, united with Brahma through austerity and who know me—Rudra, Rudrani, Gayatri, the mother of the Vedas—will reach Rudra’s realm, where return is difficult. Whenever I became black and terrifying, by my color, that age was called black. I appeared as Time itself, the ender of worlds. You understood me, O Brahma, as fierce and of terrible power. The Gayatri born from me was black-bodied and black-red; she was black in form and then known as Brahma. Thus, I embodied fierceness. For those who know me on earth in this way, I will become non-fierce, peaceful, and imperishable. Again, when I became universal in form, O Brahma, you perceived me through supreme meditation. Gayatri, too, became universal in form, sustaining all worlds. Those who know me on earth when I am universal, for them I will always be Shiva, the gentle one. Because this form is called universal, so too is Savitri called universal in form. Thus, all these forms have arisen, O my sons. These four, whom I have named, are my sons, esteemed in the worlds. And because there will be universality among all castes, all foods will be pure and permitted, and distinctions by caste will exist. Liberation, righteousness, wealth, and desire—these four, and because of them, the Vedas and what is to be known will also become fourfold. There are four groups of beings, four stages of life, four pillars of righteousness, and four are my sons. Therefore, the world, with its moving and unmoving beings, will exist in four ages, established in a fourfold form, with four supports. These supports are: the earth world, the atmosphere, the heaven, and the great world. Beyond them are Jana, Tapas, and Satya, and above all, the world of Vishnu. The world is established in the eight-syllabled mantra, and in each of these places is that sacred syllable. Earth is the first support, the atmosphere is the second, heaven is the third, and the great world is the fourth. The fifth is Jana, the sixth is called Tapas, and Satya is the seventh world, for those who do not return to rebirth. Vishnu’s world is the place where return is difficult; Skanda’s and Uma’s realms, too, are endowed with all perfections. Rudra’s world is the auspicious state for yogis—those who are free from possessiveness, egotism, desire, and anger.