He is the manifest light beyond all worlds, the three-eyed Lord, adorned with serpents, the slayer of Andhaka, who stands apart from conventional sacrifices, and once even felled the neck of Vishnu. Free from all faults and imperishable in his virtues, he is the enemy of Daksha, the destroyer of Pushadanta’s teeth. With matted hair and a broken axe in hand, he is whole and partless, untouched by sin. He is the universal support, the very foundation of all existence. Pale in complexion, gracious and a divine dancer, he is complete and the fulfiller of all, virtuous, tender, and possessed of beautiful eyes. The Sama hymns sing his glory, for he brings delight and virtuous fame. Free from illness, as swift as the mind, he creates sacred fords, and as the matted-haired lord, he is master over life itself. He ends life and is eternal; his seed is wealth, and he is beloved by the wealthy. He is the good path, noble in conduct, attached, dark-throated, and master of every art. Proud and worthy of honor, he is great time itself, truly existent, devoted to the good, reviver of the moon, teacher, hidden in the worlds, and lord of immortals. He is the friend and lord of all worlds, knower of all deeds, the ornament of the virtuous, unfailing and imperishable, beloved, and foremost among those who uphold the scriptures. Radiant and splendid, he is the source of the world’s illusion, the subtle leader, with a pure smile and serene spirit, unconquerable and impossible to transgress. He is made of light, formless, lord of the universe and of waters, the player of the gourd-vina, vast-bodied, free from sorrow, and destroyer of sorrow. He is the soul and lord of the three worlds, pure and purifier, born from the chariot’s axle, with unmanifest marks, yet manifest—both manifest and unmanifest—lord of all beings. Of noble character and incomparable worth, he is honor itself, rich in honor, creator, Brahma, Vishnu, protector of creatures, the swan, following the swan’s path, and Yama. He is creator, supporter, ordainer, eater, taker, four-faced, dweller on Kailasa’s peak and everywhere, refuge of the virtuous. Golden-wombed, deer-marked, ancient person, he is father and abode of beings, lord and giver of beings, lord of the world. United and knower of yoga, he is Brahma, devoted to Brahman, dear to Brahmins and gods, lord and knower and thinker of the gods. With uneven eyes, master of arts, marked by the bull and increaser of the bull, he is free from pride, ego, delusion, and trouble. Destroyer of arrogance, yet proud and mighty, he changes all seasons, is seven-tongued and thousand-rayed, gentle, and skillful by nature. He is the lord of past, present, and future, the origin and destroyer of confusion, the meaning and non-meaning, the great treasury, sole expert in others’ tasks. Free from thorns, he is creator of bliss, without deceit and destroyer of deceit, virtuous, sattvic, truly famed, and creator of the pillar of tradition. Unshaken, he receives all qualities and possesses many natures, doer of many deeds, well-pleased, with an auspicious face, subtle, easy to approach, skillful, and fire itself. He is the shoulder and bearer of burdens, capable and manifest, increaser of affection, unconquered, enduring all, wise, and bearer of all. Unheld and self-supported, attainable, ancient in form, bearer of fame, of the boar’s tusk, wind, strong, and the sole leader. He illuminates and possesses the Vedas, sole friend, bearing many forms, beloved of fortune, origin of Shiva, peaceful, auspicious, and upright. Dwelling in the earth, creator of prosperity and prosperity itself, ornament and bearer of beings, bodiless yet established in the devotee’s body, knower of time, with the form of art. He is the great renouncer of truth and vows, devoted to steadfastness and peace, acting for others’ benefit, bestower of boons, distinct, and ocean of the Vedas. Unwearied, discerning qualities, bearing marks yet removing blemishes, naturally fierce, impartial, destroyer of enemies, annihilator of the middle. Crested and armored, wielding a spear, fierce, skull-adorned, ringed and girdled, sword-bearing, master of illusion, charioteer of worldly existence. Deathless and all-seeing, lion-like, repository of brilliance, great jewel, innumerable and immeasurable in essence, powerful and expert in action. He is knowable, knower and protector of Vedic meaning, universal in conduct, lord of sages, unsurpassed, unassailable, gentle, and pleasing in appearance. Lord of gods and refuge of all, embodiment of sound-brahman, goal of the virtuous, devourer of time, creator of blemishes, with Vasuki as his bracelet. He is the great archer, sustainer of the earth, stainless and unrestrained, radiant jewel, sun-like, fortunate, bestower of siddhi, means to accomplishment. Withdrawn and concealed, skillful, broad-chested, mighty-armed, single light, free from obstacles, human, and beloved of Narayana. Untainted, his essence is beyond the world, undisturbed, destroyer of agitation, worthy of praise, fond of hymns, the praiser, form of Vyasa, and untroubled. He is the means to flawless attainment, treasury of knowledge, unwavering in valor, tranquil-minded, never petty, destroyer of the petty, and eternally beautiful. Foremost in courage, lord of the earth, master of divisions, lord of night, supreme teacher of truth, vision, guru, affectionate to those who seek refuge. He is essence, knower of essence, omniscient, and the support of all beings. Thus, with a thousand names, the mighty one praised the bull-bannered Lord. Then, the mighty one bathed him and worshipped him with lotuses, wishing to test Hari, offering lotuses in devotion to Maheshvara. But the lord of the world concealed one lotus; deprived of a flower, Hari wondered, “What is this?” Realizing the truth, he took out his own eye—he who is the support of all beings—and worshipped the teacher of the world with devotion and with that name. Witnessing this act of devotion, the mighty Hara swiftly descended from the circle of fire. He appeared, resplendent as millions of suns, adorned with matted hair and a crown, encircled by a garland of flames, divine, with sharp fangs, and awe-inspiring in his terrifying form.