From Death himself arose the companions of suffering: disease, old age, sorrow, thirst, and anger. These, O best of men, are the children of affliction and are the unmistakable signs of unrighteousness in the world. They have no wife or son, and their essence is ever upward-flowing. Fierce and formidable, these forms, too, are born of Brahma, and they continually bring about the dissolution of creation. Now, let me tell you of the creation of Rudra, as Brahma himself brought it forth. At the dawn of the kalpa, Brahma desired a son like himself. As he contemplated, a boy appeared on his lap, his body shining blue and red. The child began to weep loudly, shedding many tears. Seeing him so distressed, the Lord of creatures spoke gently, “What is your name?” The weeping child replied not, but the Lord said, “Because you weep, you shall be called Rudra. Do not weep, take courage.” Yet, the boy wept again, seven times more. So, the Lord gave him seven other names, making eight forms in all. For each form, Brahma created a dwelling: Bhava, Sharva, Ishana, Pashupati, Bhima, Ugra, Mahadeva, and one more, each with its own abode—the sun, water, earth, fire, wind, space, the initiated Brahmin, and Soma. Thus, Rudra assumed these eight forms. In time, Rudra gained Sati as his wife. However, because of the anger of Daksha, Sati abandoned her own body. She was then reborn as the daughter of Himavat and Menā, O best of kings. When entreated, the blessed Bhava, ever compassionate, married her again. From Daksha were born Dhata and Vidhata; from Bhrigu, Khyati was born, and the goddess Śrī, who is the beloved of Nārāyaṇa, Lord of the gods. At this, Bhīṣma asked, “I have heard that Lakṣmī arose from the ocean of milk, and also that she was born as Khyāti, the daughter of Bhrigu. How can both be true? And how did Daksha’s daughter abandon her body, and how was Umā born from Menā? For what reason did the Lord of gods marry the daughter of Himavat? And what was the conflict with Daksha? O venerable one, please explain these mysteries.” Pulastya replied, “O king, listen well. I have heard this sacred account from my grandfather. Once, the sage Durvāsas, son of Atri, while wandering the earth, saw a Vidyādhara maiden adorned with a garland of fragrant flowers. He asked her, ‘Give me your garland; I will wear it on my matted locks.’ The maiden, pleased, gave it to him, and the sage wore it for a long time. Wild in appearance, yet radiant, Durvāsas gazed upon the maiden and was stirred by desire, though he was unversed in such matters. Disturbed in mind, he said, ‘I will go elsewhere for now, bearing my own fortune with me.’ And so, he wandered on. Soon, he encountered Indra, king of the gods, riding his mighty elephant Airāvata, shining with splendor. Durvāsas, with bees swarming about the garland, offered it to Indra. Indra, taking the garland, placed it upon Airāvata’s head, where it gleamed like the Gaṅgā upon Mount Kailāsa. But the elephant, maddened by the scent, seized the garland with its trunk and cast it to the ground. At this, Durvāsas, best among sages, was seized by anger. He rebuked Indra, saying, ‘O Vāsava, blinded by the pride of kingship, you have failed to honor the garland of Śrī, the abode of fortune, which I gave you. Because you cast it to the earth, the fortune of the three worlds will be lost. From now, the worlds shall be bereft of prosperity, for all beings fear the wrath that now dwells in me. In your pride, you have disregarded me, O king of gods.’ Realizing his error, Indra hurriedly descended from his elephant and tried to appease the sage, bowing before him and seeking forgiveness. But Durvāsas, unmoved, declared, ‘I will not forgive you—why say more, O wielder of a hundred sacrifices?’ With these words, the sage departed, and Indra, dismayed, returned to Amarāvatī. From that moment, the three worlds, along with Indra, became devoid of prosperity. Sacrifices ceased, ascetics abandoned their austerities, and gifts were no longer given. The world fell into ruin. In this state of misfortune and loss of virtue, the Daityas and Dānavas rose up, seeking to overpower the gods. Defeated and in despair, Indra and the other gods sought refuge with the blessed Grandsire, Brahmā, led by Agni. Hearing their plight, Brahmā guided them to the northern shore of the Milky Ocean. There, the venerable Grandsire addressed Vāsudeva, saying, “Arise, O Viṣṇu, and quickly act for the welfare of the gods!