As Brahmā beheld the dazzling form before him—one who seemed to possess eight manifestations yet appeared established as elevenfold—he asked with wonder, “Who are you, possessing eight forms, yet established as elevenfold?” Hearing this, Maheśvara, the great Lord, gently touched Brahmā with his auspicious hands and replied, “Know me as the Supreme Self, and this as my unborn Māyā.” He continued, “These Rudras are established here, having come to protect you.” With deep reverence, Brahmā bowed to the Lord of gods. His palms joined, his voice choked with joy, he confessed, “O Lord, O God of gods, I am afflicted by sorrows. O Lord Śaṅkara, you should deliver me from this cycle of existence.” The blessed Lord, consort of Umā, smiled kindly at Pitāmaha. Then, in a wondrous moment, the Lord of the universe vanished, along with the Rudras and Māyā. Thus, O Śilāda, it is rare in the worlds for one not born from a womb to exist. Know that a man who is free from death is exceedingly rare; even the lotus-born Brahmā is subject to death. Yet, if Lord Rudra, God of gods, is pleased, such a blessing is possible. “Your son, not born from a womb and free from death, is not unattainable—by me, by Viṣṇu, and by the great-souled Brahmā,” the Lord assured. “It is not possible to describe one who is unborn and deathless.” So saying, the compassionate one blessed the best of Brāhmaṇas. Surrounded by the gods, the Lord departed, riding upon a white bull. When Indra, the thousand-eyed, and the granter of boons had departed, Śilāda, filled with longing, worshipped the great god Bhava, seeking to please him through severe austerity. For Śilāda, the devoted Brāhmaṇa intent on the highest, a divine thousand years passed as if in a single wondrous moment. His body became covered by an anthill, swarmed by hosts of insects and red creatures with needle-like mouths. Devoid of flesh, blood, and skin, untouched like a wall, only bones remained; thus did Śaṅkara regard him. When the sage was touched by the hand of the enemy of Kāma, at that very moment, the twice-born released his fatigue. Pleased by his austerity, the glorious Śaṅkara—accompanied by his attendants and Nandi—spoke: “I am satisfied with your penance. O great-minded one, what is the purpose of this austerity for you? I shall grant you a son who is all-knowing and accomplished in the meaning of all the scriptures.” Bowing to the Lord of the gods and offering praise, Śilāda spoke with a voice choked with joy to Soma, the one adorned with the moon: “O Lord, God of gods, destroyer of Tripura, Śaṅkara, I desire an unborn, deathless son, O most excellent one.” Formerly, the supreme Lord Rudra, pleased by austerity, had spoken to Śilāda through Brahmā with great affection: “O twice-born, I was formerly worshipped by Brahmā, by ascetics rich in austerity, and by the foremost of sages and gods, for the purpose of incarnation. I shall become your son, unborn and named Nandi; you shall be my father, O sage, as Brahmā is the father of the worlds.” Having spoken thus, and seeing the sage standing there in reverence, Soma, radiant as the moon and pleased, vanished on the spot. Having obtained a son from Rudra, the father, delighted, reached the great sacrificial ground as the best among those who know sacrifice. From that ground of Śambhu, by his command, Nandi was born, shining like the fire at the end of an age. Then, clouds poured forth rain, celestial beings, kinnaras, siddhas, and sādhyas sang in the sky; when Nandi became the son of Śilāda, Upendra caused a shower of flowers to fall. Those who beheld Nandi saw him radiant like the sun at the end of time, wearing a matted hair crown, three-eyed, four-armed, a boy holding trident, axe, and mace. He was a child bearing a thunderbolt, with thunderous fangs, worshipped by the wielder of the thunderbolt, adorned with thunderbolt earrings, fierce, with a roar like a raincloud. All the gods—Brahmā, Indra, and the great sages—praised him; everywhere there was music, and the hosts of apsarases danced. The seers, with joy, praised him with great Śaiva mantras drawn from the Ṛg, Yajur, and Sāma Vedas, bowing down. Brahmā, Hari, Rudra, Śakra, Śiva and Ambikā in person, Jīva, the radiant Moon, Bhāskara, the Wind, and Fire; Īśāna, Nirṛti, Yakṣa, Yama, and Varuṇa as well; all the Viśvedevas, the Rudras, and the mighty Vasus; Lakṣmī in person, Śacī, Jyeṣṭhā, the goddess Sarasvatī, Aditi and Diti, Śraddhā, Modesty, and Fortitude; Nandā, Bhadrā, Surabhī, Suśīlā, Sumanā, and the radiant Vṛṣendra, Dharma, and the son of Dharma—all surrounded and embraced Nandi, praising him. Śilāda, his father, seeing this wondrous sight, joyfully bowed and praised his son, the bestower of wishes: “O Lord, God of gods, Three-eyed one, my imperishable one—because you are the protector of the worlds, my son, what more need be said? Since you are the guardian of the worlds, my son is all-pervading. Unborn one, I bow to you, source of the universe, Grandfather, father, son, great Lord, teacher of the worlds. Child, child of great fortune, protect me, Supreme Lord. Because I have been gladdened by you, O Lord of gods, I am called Nandī by name. Therefore, gladden me, O Nandin. I bow to the Lord of the universe. Be gracious—my parents have today gone to the world of Rudra, O mighty one.” Thus, in the presence of all the gods and sages, Nandi was born, and Śilāda’s heart overflowed with joy and reverence.