To the one whose body is smeared with sacred ash, the very cause behind the sun, the moon, and fire itself; to the radiant white one of pure complexion, the wanderer amidst the snowy Himalayan peaks—salutations were offered. Praise was given to the supremely white, the beautiful-faced, the one adorned with a white crest, the great and noble countenance, both white and red in aspect. Homage was paid to Hara, the excellent rescuer, the primal drum whose sound reverberates through creation, the one who manifests in a hundred forms and yet is formless, always bearing the sacred banner. Salutations were extended to the one who is untouched by both prosperity and sorrow, the wielder of the mighty bow Pinaka, the ascetic with matted hair, the unfettered one who binds well and yet destroys all bonds. He was hailed as the supreme sacrificer, the most worthy recipient of offerings, supremely holy, wise, blessed with an auspicious face and noble features, unconquerable and ever able to subdue. Salutations were offered even to his form as a heron, to the one who adorns himself with serpents, to Sanaka and Sanandana, the eternal sages. Homage was given to Sanatkumara, the charioteer, the forest-dweller of great soul, the observer of all worlds, the one with three abodes and ever pure. Salutations extended to Shankhapala, to the conch itself, to the essence of passion and darkness, to Sarasvata, to the cloud, and the one who rides upon the clouds. He was praised as the provider of good vehicles, the arranger of marriages, the bestower of success in disputes, as Shiva, as Rudra, the chief of all—again and again, salutations were offered. To the one who is the very embodiment of the three qualities, whose nature is the fourfold emanation, who is both the process and cause of the world-process—homage was paid. Salutations to the very form and giver of liberation, to the self, the seer, the master, to Vishnu himself. To the blessed one, lord of serpents, to Omkara, the all-knowing—salutations, again and again. He was hailed as the all-encompassing, as Narayana, as Hiranyagarbha, the primeval god, the unborn, the supreme lord, the cause of all beings’ emanation, the great god of gods, the ruler—salutations, again and again. To Sharva, to the true, to the pacifier, to Brahman, to all beings, the all-knowing—salutations were offered repeatedly. To the great-souled one, whose form is wisdom, whose very nature is consciousness and awareness, and whose essence is memory—homage was paid. He was praised as knowledge itself, as the one attained by knowledge, as ever-consciousness, as the supreme peak, as the blue-throated one. Salutations were offered again and again to the one whose body is half-female, to the unmanifest, to the steadfast one with eleven forms. Homage was paid to Soma, to Surya, to Bhava, to the remover of existence, to the bestower of fame, to the god Shankara and Ishvara. He was saluted as the lord of Ambika, the husband of Uma, the golden-armed one, the golden-seeded. To the blue-haired, the wealthy, the white-throated, the matted-haired one, who wears serpents as ornaments—salutations were given. Again and again, homage was paid to the bull-rider, the destroyer and creator of all, the supremely heroic, the delight of heroes, the lord of Rama, the mighty one. He was praised as king of kings, attainable by kings, lord of protectors, the one who cuts down the branches of protectors. Salutations were offered to the one adorned with armlets, the lord of cowherds, to Śrīkaṇṭhanātha, and to the wielder of the club. To the lord of the world, the essence of the Vedas and scriptures, the bearer of the bow, the royal swan—salutations were given. He was praised as adorned with golden bracelets and necklaces, wearing a serpent as his sacred thread, garlanded with serpent earrings, and girded by a snake. To the one who holds the Vedas within, who is the very womb of the universe, O Shiva—thus did Brahma, together with Hari, offer their praise as 'Virarama.' This excellent and holy hymn, it was said, destroys all sins. Whoever recites it, or has it recited to Brahmins learned in the Vedas, attains the world of Brahma, even if engaged in sinful deeds. Therefore, one should always recite, repeat, or have it recited to auspicious Brahmins, for the purification of all sins—this was spoken by Vishnu himself. At that moment, Mahadeva spoke, his voice filled with grace: “I am pleased, O best of the gods. Behold me, Mahadeva; let all fear be dispelled.” He revealed, “You two, of great strength, were born from my own body before. On my right side stands Brahma, the grandsire of the worlds. And on my left is Vishnu, the soul of the universe, born from my heart. I am well pleased with you both; ask of me any boon you desire.” Having spoken thus, the Supreme Lord, full of compassion, touched Vishnu with his auspicious hands. With a joyful heart, Narayana bowed to Maheshvara and addressed him, the lord who is both within and beyond the linga: “If you are truly pleased and wish to grant us a boon, may we always have unwavering devotion to you.” The god, adorned with the cool-rayed moon, granted Brahma and Vishnu unwavering faith in himself. Then Narayana himself, lowering to the ground on his knees, bowed to the Lord of the universe and spoke softly, full of self-control: “O Lord of gods, Lord of lords, you have come here because of the excellent dispute between us, to bring an end to our quarrel.” Hearing these words, Hara again spoke to Hari, who stood with bowed head, palms joined in reverence, and a gentle smile on his face.