The wise have declared the proper time for performing śrāddha, the sacred rite honoring one’s ancestors. At the conclusion of the water-ritual, those dwelling in holy places should offer water mixed with sesame seeds. Holding darbha grass in one hand, a person should proceed to perform śrāddha at home; this act is said to be supremely meritorious, purifying, life-bestowing, and a destroyer of all sins. Brahmā himself once spoke of the greatness of performing śrāddha at sacred places. Whoever hears or recounts these teachings becomes truly fortunate. At the time of śrāddha, those who dwell in holy places should declare its power—it is known to remove all sins and destroy misfortune. This rite is pure, a source of lasting fame, and a destroyer of even the gravest sins. The wise proclaim that the glory of śrāddha is honored by Brahmā, the Sun, and Rudra. At this point, Bhīṣma, filled with curiosity, asked, “How did the illustrious lunar dynasty arise? Tell me, O learned sage, which famous kings appeared in that lineage?” Pulastya replied, “In the beginning of creation, Brahmā instructed the great sage Atri. For the sake of creating the world, Atri undertook severe austerities known as Anantara. The blessed Lord—remover of suffering, bringer of joy, beyond the senses, and present within Brahmā, Rudra, and the Sun—was pleased with Atri’s penance. Atri, his mind calmed and fully self-controlled, remained steadfast in his austerity, for such discipline is said to bring supreme bliss. At that time, Atri and his devoted wife were established together. Then, Soma, the Moon, spoke to him, and from Atri was born Soma, the illustrious one. From Atri’s eyes flowed forth water, radiant like moonlight, which illumined the entire universe—both moving and unmoving beings. Overcome with longing, the directions themselves took the form of women and received this radiance, which became an embryo within their wombs. Unable to bear it, the directions released the embryo, and Brahmā, the Four-faced Creator, gathered it together. Brahmā fashioned this being into a young man, a master of all weapons, and placed him upon a chariot made of Vedic power. Leading him to his own world, Brahmā declared, along with the assembly of Brahmarṣis, ‘Let this one be our Lord!’ As the seers, gods, Gandharvas, and Apsarases praised him, a wondrous event occurred: from the canopy of his brilliance, divine herbs sprang forth upon the earth, their glow always greater at night because of his radiance. Thus, Soma became lord of the herbs and was counted among the twice-born. This auspicious orb, Soma, is the abode of the Vedas and the very essence of sap. He waxes and wanes in the bright and dark fortnights. Dakṣa, son of Pracetas, gave him twenty-seven daughters, each endowed with beauty and charm, as well as thousands upon thousands of powers. The cool-rayed Soma performed great austerities, his mind wholly intent on meditating upon Viṣṇu. The blessed Lord Nārāyaṇa, pleased with his devotion, appeared before him and said, ‘Choose a boon.’ Soma asked, ‘May I perform sacrifices in the world of Indra; may the gods, Brahmā, and the four kinds of beings be my guests at the Rājasūya sacrifice in my abode; and may Śiva, the trident-wielder, protect us as guardian of the gods.’ Viṣṇu, thus addressed, assembled the Rājasūya sacrifice. Atri was the Hotṛ priest, Bhṛgu the Adhvaryu, and Brahmā the Udgātṛ; Soma himself attained the status of Brahman, while Hari oversaw the rite. All the gods gathered for the assembly, following the procedure of the Rājasūya; the Vasus and Viśvedevas served as Adhvaryus. Soma gave the three worlds as a fee to the officiating priests, thus attaining the sovereignty established at creation—a status difficult to obtain. By his own austerity, Soma gained lordship over the seven worlds. One day, as he walked in a celestial garden, he saw women adorned with flowers and ornaments. Among them was Tārā, the wife of Bṛhaspati, preceptor of the gods, her beauty striking—broad-hipped, weighed down by her full breasts, her limbs delicate and weak even from plucking flowers, her eyes wide and charming. Overcome by desire, the lord of stars seized Tārā by her hair in a secluded place. She too, captivated by love, could neither resist nor find pleasure, her mind enthralled by Soma’s radiance. After a long time spent with Tārā, Soma took her to his own house. Yet, even there, he found no satisfaction in pleasures, so deeply was he attached to her. Meanwhile, Bṛhaspati, scorched by the fire of separation, became absorbed in meditation upon his wife, but he could not curse Soma, nor harm him with mantras, weapons, fire, or poisons of any kind. Despite many efforts—even resorting to acts of sorcery—the lord of speech could not recover Tārā. Burning with the pain of love, he approached Soma and pleaded for her return. But Soma, deluded by passion, refused to give her back. Then, accompanied by Maheśvara, the Four-faced Brahmā, the Sādhyas, the Maruts, and the guardians of the worlds, Bṛhaspati sought justice. Yet, Soma would not relent. At this, Śiva—famed as Vāmadeva on earth, his lotus feet worshipped by countless Rudras—was filled with wrath. With his disciples, the Pināka-wielder, moved by affection for Bṛhaspati, took up his bow and, as the destroyer of cities, set out for battle, attended by the lords of spirits and perfected beings. Blazing with fury for battle with Soma, Śiva’s terrifying face shone like the fire of his third eye. Sixty-six fierce forms of the lords of the Gaṇas went forth with him. The lords of the Yakṣas, along with their hosts, followed on chariots, as did Vetālas, Yakṣas, serpents, Kinnaras, and a hundred million beings, accompanied by a single Padma host. Soma too, his anger greatly aroused, arrived with twelve hundred thousand chariots, accompanied by Saturn, Mars, the powerful luminaries, and an army of stars, demons, and Asuras. At this, the seven worlds, along with the earth, forests, continents, and ocean depths, trembled in fear as the mighty Pināka-wielder, blazing with weapons and vast fire, confronted Soma.