Once, desiring a son, the presiding deities of the directions assumed the forms of women and received a wondrous radiance, which took shape as an embryo within their wombs. There it remained for three hundred years, but the burden of this divine embryo proved too great for them to bear. Unable to contain its power, the directions released it, and Brahma, the Creator, took up the embryo, united its parts, and from it fashioned a young man—a mighty warrior, fully armed. Brahma placed this youth upon a magnificent chariot drawn by a thousand horses and, endowing him with the very power of the Vedas, led him to his own celestial world. There, the exalted Brahmarshis proclaimed, “Let this one be our lord.” Sages, gods, Gandharvas, and even the sacred herbs themselves praised him, while the deities of Soma, Brahma, and others extolled him with hymns. As he was being praised, a still greater brilliance arose from him, and from that radiance, a multitude of divine herbs sprang forth upon the earth. Thus, his radiance is always most splendid at night, and so Soma became known as the lord of the herbs and the twice-born. The very essence of the Vedas and the radiance that is the lunar orb wax and wane in their cycles, growing and diminishing during the bright and dark fortnights. In time, Daksha, the son of Prachetas, bestowed upon Soma his twenty-seven daughters, each endowed with surpassing beauty and charm, their splendor shining like the stars. Soma, wholly devoted to meditation upon Vishnu, undertook intense austerities, the merit of which was equal to ten thousand times a thousand blooming lotuses. Pleased by his devotion, the blessed Narayana Hari appeared before him and said, “Choose a boon.” Soma requested, “May I conquer Indra’s world; may those who dwell in my abode be manifest before me. At my Rajasuya sacrifice, may all the gods, Brahma and others, serve as my priests, and may Shiva, the trident-bearer, be our protector.” Janardana granted his wish, saying, “So be it.” Soma then performed the Rajasuya sacrifice with Vishnu himself. Atri became the Hotṛ priest, Bhrigu the Adhvaryu, and the Four-faced Brahma the Udgātṛ. Soma attained the status of Brahma, with Hari as the overseer, and Sanaka and the other sages took part in the rite. The ten Vishvedevas served as Camas and Adhvaryu priests, and the three worlds were given as sacrificial fees to the officiating priests. At the conclusion of the sacred ablution, nine goddesses, their hearts inflamed by desire and longing to behold Soma’s form, approached and attended upon him. Lakshmi left Narayana, Sinivali parted from Kardama, Dyuti abandoned Vibhavasu, and Tushti left the imperishable Dhata. Prabha left Prabhakara, Kuhū departed from Havishmat, Kirti left Jayanta, and Vasu left Marichi Kashyapa. Dhriti abandoned Pita and Nandi, devoting herself to Soma. Soma, in turn, desired them all as his own. Though their husbands had been wronged, none could retaliate against Soma, neither with curses nor with weapons. Thus, Soma ruled, fostering the ten directions. By his austerity, he attained rare sovereignty, sanctified by the sages, and became the sole lord of the seven worlds. One day, as Soma wandered through a garden, he beheld Tara, the beautiful wife of Brihaspati, preceptor of the gods. Adorned with flowers, her delicate limbs seemed wearied by the very weight of her beauty. Her enchanting eyes, wide and lovely, were filled with longing, and she too was struck by the arrows of love. Overcome by passion, Soma seized Tara by her hair in a secluded place. She, equally enraptured, delighted in his company, her heart captivated by his radiance. She spent a long time with him, and Soma took her to his own house. Even in his own home, Soma’s desire for Tara was insatiable, and he remained wholly attached to her. Brihaspati, tormented by separation, could think only of his lost wife, yet was powerless to curse Soma or to reclaim her by any means—neither by mantras, weapons, fire, poison, nor sorcery. In his distress, Brihaspati begged Soma to return Tara, but Soma, bound by pleasure, refused. When Brahma, the Four-faced Lord, along with the Sādhyas, Maruts, and guardians of the worlds, all pleaded with Soma, he still would not yield. At this, Shiva’s anger blazed. He who is known as Vamadeva, worshipped by countless Rudras, the mountain-dweller and wielder of the bow, was moved by affection for Brihaspati. Taking up his Ajagava bow, his third eye blazing, Shiva, attended by Ganesha and innumerable hosts of spirits and perfected beings, advanced to battle with Soma. The Lord of Yakshas and countless others followed, all mounted on chariots. Soma too gathered his forces—hosts of Vetalas, Yakshas, serpents, Kinnaras, Nakshatra-demons, Daityas, and Asuras, strengthened by Shani and Mangala. The seven worlds trembled in fear, and the earth, with its continents and oceans, shook. Pinaki, grasping blazing weapons, advanced straight toward Soma, and a terrible, fearsome battle erupted between the two armies, both as dreadful as Bhimasena. The conflict was fierce and ever-growing, bringing destruction to all beings; sharp weapons and missiles rained down, and the armies were utterly destroyed. Flaming missiles fell, scorching the heavens, earth, and underworld. Rudra, in his fury, released the Brahmashiras missile, while Soma unleashed the unfailing Soma missile. The unleashing of these two mighty weapons filled the sea, earth, and sky with fear. Even Brahma, the Grandfather, was alarmed at the threat of cosmic destruction. Somehow, Brahma intervened, standing between the two, and with the gods restrained the weapons. He questioned Soma, “Why have you done this, bringing ruin to the world without cause?” Brahma then pronounced, “Because you waged this terrible war for the abduction of another’s wife, you shall become a malefic planet among people, bringing harm even when calm. Now, at the end of this conflict, return this wife to Vākpati—there is no dishonor in restoring what belongs to another.