Of noble character and incomparable worth, he is honor itself—rich in dignity, the very creator, Brahma and Vishnu, protector of all creatures. He is the swan and the path of the swan, Yama himself. He creates, supports, and ordains; he is the eater and taker, the four-faced one, dwelling on Kailasa’s peak and everywhere else, the refuge of the virtuous. Golden-wombed and marked by the deer, he is the ancient-born person, the father and abode of all beings, lord and giver of life, master of the world. United and the knower of yoga, he is Brahma, devoted to Brahman, beloved of Brahmins and gods alike, lord and knower of the gods, the very thinker of the divine. With uneven eyes, he is the master of all arts, marked and increased by the bull, free from pride, ego, delusion, and trouble. He destroys arrogance, yet is himself mighty and proud, the changer of seasons, seven-tongued and radiant with a thousand rays—gentle and skillful by nature. He is the lord of past, present, and future, the origin, the destroyer of confusion, the meaning and the non-meaning, the great treasury and the sole expert in all tasks. Free from thorns, he is the creator of bliss, without deceit and the destroyer of deceit, possessed of virtue, sattvic, of true fame, and the creator of the pillar of tradition. Unshaken, he receives all qualities, embodies many natures, and performs countless deeds. He is well-pleased, auspicious in 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 everything. Unheld and self-supported, he is attainable, ancient in form, bearer of fame, with the boar’s tusk, the wind, strong, and the sole leader. He is the illuminator and possessor of the Vedas, the sole friend, bearing many forms, beloved of fortune, the origin of Shiva, peaceful, auspicious, and upright. Dwelling in the earth, he is the creator and embodiment of prosperity, the ornament, bearer of beings, both bodiless and established in the devotee’s body, knower of time, and the very form of art. He is the great renouncer of truth and vows, devoted to steadfastness and peace, acting for the benefit of others, bestower of boons, distinct, and an ocean of the Vedas. Unwearied, he discerns qualities, bears marks yet removes blemishes, is naturally fierce, impartial, destroyer of enemies, and annihilator of the middle. Crested and armored, wielding spear, fierce, adorned with skulls and rings, girdled and sword-bearing, master of illusion, charioteer of worldly existence. Deathless and all-seeing, lion-like, he is the repository of brilliance, a great jewel, innumerable and immeasurable, powerful, and expert in action. He is knowable, knower and protector of Vedic meaning, universal in conduct, lord of sages, unsurpassed and unassailable, gentle, and pleasing in appearance. He is the lord of gods, refuge of all, embodiment of sound-brahman, goal of the virtuous, devourer of time, creator of blemishes, with Vasuki as his bracelet. A great archer, sustainer of the earth, stainless and unrestrained, radiant as a jewel, sun-like, fortunate, bestower of siddhi, and the means to accomplishment. Withdrawn and concealed, skillful, broad-chested, mighty-armed, a single light, free from obstacles, human, beloved of Narayana. Untainted, essence beyond the world, undisturbed, destroyer of agitation, worthy of praise, fond of hymns and the praiser himself, the form of Vyasa, 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, and affectionate to those who seek refuge. He is essence and knower of essence, omniscient, the support of all beings. Thus, with a thousand names, the bull-bannered one was praised. The mighty one then bathed and worshipped him with lotuses, testing Hari, offering lotuses in worship to Maheshvara. Yet the lord of the world concealed one lotus, and when deprived of a flower, Hari wondered at this mystery. Understanding, Hari plucked out his own eye—the support of all beings—and worshipped the teacher of the world with devotion and that sacred name. Then, seeing this act, the mighty Hara swiftly descended from the circle of fire. He appeared like millions of suns, adorned with matted hair and a crown, enveloped in a garland of flames, divine, sharp-fanged, and terrifying. Bearing spear, club, mace, discus, lance, and noose, Hara stood with hands granting boons and fearlessness, clad in tiger skin. Seeing Bhava thus, adorned with ashes, Janardana was delighted and immediately bowed to the god of gods. The gods, along with Indra, circled the three-eyed one in awe and then fled; the world of Brahma trembled, and the earth quaked. The radiance of Shambhu blazed for a hundred yojanas in every direction, above and below, and on earth arose cries of “Alas!” Then Mahadeva, Shankara, as if smiling, looked affectionately upon Vishnu, who stood with joined palms, and spoke: “Now I understand this divine purpose, O Janardana. I give to you the splendid discus called Sudarshana. The form you have seen, which terrifies all the worlds, has appeared for your benefit, O steadfast one, for the sake of your own being. Peace in battle, O Vishnu, brings suffering to the gods; for the peaceful, a weapon is peaceful—what fruit is there in a peaceful weapon? For the peaceful in battle, their weapon is indeed peace; for ascetics, peace is strength; by peace, the warrior cuts the strength of his foe and increases his own. But when the gods are not at peace, my imperishable form is to be contemplated. O slayer of the gods’ enemies, what use is a weapon for fighting?” Thus spoke the great Lord, bestowing wisdom and the Sudarshana discus upon Hari, revealing his boundless compassion and might.