As all the gods gathered, their voices rang out in cries of victory and auspicious sounds, for before them appeared a being of awe-inspiring majesty. He manifested with a thousand arms, his matted locks crowned by the crescent moon. Half his body was that of a beast, adorned with wings and a sharp, powerful beak. His fangs were immense and razor-sharp, and his weapons resembled adamantine claws. Around his neck coiled Time itself, mighty and four-legged, born of fire, roaring deeply and terrifyingly, like thunderclouds gathering at the end of an age. His form was fierce beyond measure, three eyes blazing outward like consuming fire. His teeth were bared, his lower lip pronounced, and he stood—Hara himself—joined with a thunderous roar. Witnessing this formidable sight, Hari, the radiant Vishnu, felt his strength and prowess leave him. Though his upper form shone with the brilliance of the sun, below he flickered like fireflies, his power diminished. Then, with a whirling of wings, this mighty being seized Hari—lifting him by the navel and feet, binding his feet with his tail, encircling his arms with his own. Striking Vishnu’s chest with his arms, Hara seized him and ascended into the sky, accompanied by the gods and great sages. Out of fear, the bird-like form lifted Vishnu higher and higher, only to hurl him down, again and again, casting him down repeatedly. Soaring ever upwards, bewildered by the blows of wings, the Blessed One was carried along—Hari, the bull-bannered Lord, ruler of all—now powerless in the grip of the mighty being. The gods followed, offering words of reverence and praise. Vishnu, led thus, wore a dejected expression, his hands joined in respectful supplication. In his humility, Hari began to praise the Supreme Lord with gentle words: “Salutations to Rudra, to Sharva, to the great devourer, to Vishnu. Salutations to the fierce one, to the terrible one, to the wrathful, to the angry; salutations to Bhava, to Sharva, to Shankara, to Shiva, to you. To the time of time, to Time itself, to great Time, to Death, to the hero, to Virabhadra, to the destroyer of heroes, to the wielder of the spear. To the great god, to the mighty one, to the lord of beasts—salutations; to the solitary one, to the blue-throated and glorious-throated, to the wielder of the bow. “Salutations to the infinite, to the subtle, to you, wrath of death; to the supreme, the highest of the high. Salutations to the form of the universe, to the consort and field of Vishnu, to the radiant one. To the boatman, to the hunter, the great disease, the eternal, to Bhairava, to the refuge, to he of the great Bhairava form. Salutations to the destroyer of Narasimha, to the slayer of Kama, Kala, and Purā, to the destroyer of great bonds, to the ender of Vishnu’s illusion. To Tryambaka, to the three-lettered, to the all-pervading, to the gracious, to the conqueror of death, to Sharva, to the all-knowing, destroyer of sacrifices. “To the lord of sacrifices, to the most excellent, to you of fire-form; to the great nose, the tongue, the mover of breath and expiration. Salutations to the one of three qualities, bearer of the trident, transcender of qualities, the yogi, the flow of worldly existence, the great mover of the cosmic mechanism. Homage to the one who is moon, fire, and sun, cause of the diversity of liberation, giver of boons, the one who descends, the cause of all causes. To the skull-bearer, the fierce one, the lord famed for virtue, the unfailing one, the fire-eyed, the club-bearer, the auspicious one—salutations. “Salutations to the supreme physician, the skull-bearer, the staff-holder, embodiment of yoga, cloud-rider, god, lord of Pārvatī. To the unmanifest, the sorrowless, the steadfast, the firm-bowed, the immovable, the one clothed in hides, the cause of the five meanings—salutations. Salutations to the boon-giver, the one-footed, the wearer of the crescent moon, the lord of sacrifices, the master of ages. Salutations to the lord of yogis, the eternal, the true, the supreme, the soul of all; salutations to you, the lord of all. “Let there be salutations to you once, twice, thrice, four, five, and ten times; let there be salutations to you a thousand times. Having offered countless salutations, infinite times, again and again, and yet again, salutations to you.” Thus, having praised him with eight hundred immortal names, Narasimha prayed again to Śarabheśvara: “Whenever my ignorance, corrupted by excessive ego, arises, at that time, O Supreme Lord, may you yourself remove it.” After expressing these words to Śaṅkara, the lion-man declared, “Indeed, O Viṣṇu, you are powerless, defeated at the end of life.” Then, Vīrabhadra, leaving only the face remaining and destroying the entire form, instantly subdued that fierce being. At this, all the gods, led by Brahmā, spoke: “O Vīrabhadra, by your sight, we gods have been revived, like trees by rain. By your command, fire burns, the sun rises of itself, and the wind blows—such is your power; death itself runs as the fifth. That which is unmanifest, the supreme space beyond all divisions, the eternal Śiva—O Lord, knowers of Brahman declare you alone to be that. “Who are we, indeed, in the realm of elements and perception? The Supreme Lord is not to be known by descriptions of form, beauty, or color. In all calamities, protect us, O lord of the gaṇas, eleven-formed one; the blessed Hara exists in manifold forms. Having witnessed so many of your incarnations, O Shiva, though darkness may sometimes arise, we are not affected, for our thoughts are dispelled by contemplation of you. “All the various forms you have assumed on the slopes of Guñja Mountain, withdraw them now; your true destination is not to be determined by distinctions of higher or lower.” Thus did the gods and sages praise and revere the Supreme Lord, witnessing his wondrous forms and the restoration of cosmic order.