From the eyes of the sage Atri, radiant water flowed forth, its brilliance like the gentle light of the moon. This sacred stream illuminated the entire universe, touching all things, both moving and unmoving, with its cool, shimmering glow. In that moment, the very directions of the cosmos, overcome with longing, received this water in the forms of women. That which was born from Atri became an embryo within their wombs. Yet the directions, unable to bear the weight of this divine embryo, released it. Then Brahmā, the Four-faced Lord, gathered the embryo together with care. With his own hand, Brahmā fashioned it into a young man, strong and skilled in all weapons—a true man among men. He set this radiant being upon a chariot woven from the very power of the Vedas and led him to his own celestial realm. There, the great sages declared, “Let this one become our Lord.” As the seers, gods, Gandharvas, and Apsarases offered their praises, a marvelous and wondrous event occurred. From the canopy of this youth’s brilliance, a host of divine herbs sprang forth upon the earth. Because of this radiance, the herbs shine with greater glow at night. Thus, Soma became the lord of herbs and was counted among the twice-born, the Brāhmaṇas. This auspicious orb, Soma, became the very abode of the Vedas, the essence of all sap. Ever since, Soma waxes and wanes through the bright and dark fortnights. Dakṣa, son of Pracetas, bestowed upon him twenty-seven daughters, each endowed with beauty and charm. Along with them, Soma received ten thousand times a thousand powers. The cool-rayed Soma then performed great austerities, his mind wholly intent on meditation upon Viṣṇu. Pleased by his devotion, the Blessed Lord Nārāyaṇa, Hari, appeared before him and said, “Choose a boon.” Soma replied, “May I be able to perform sacrifices in the world of Indra. May the gods, Brahmā, and all four kinds of beings be my direct guests in my abode at the Rājasūya sacrifice. Let Śiva, wielder of the trident, be our protector and the guardian of the gods.” Hearing these words, Viṣṇu assembled the Rājasūya sacrifice for Soma. Atri served as the Hotṛ priest, Bhṛgu as the Adhvaryu, and Brahmā as the Udgātṛ, with Hari himself overseeing the entire sacrifice. All the gods gathered in the assembly, and the Vasus and Viśvedevas served as Adhvaryus as well. Soma offered the three worlds as a fee to the officiating priests, thus attaining a sovereignty that is difficult to obtain and established by creation itself. By his own austerity, Soma attained lordship over the seven worlds. One day, as Soma walked in a celestial garden, he beheld women adorned with flowers and splendid ornaments. Among them was Tārā, the wife of Bṛhaspati, the preceptor of the gods. She was weighed down by the heaviness of her breasts, her hips broad, her limbs delicate even as she bent to gather flowers. Her wide, beautiful eyes sparkled, and she was struck by the arrows of love. Tormented by desire, Soma, the lord of stars, seized Tārā by her hair in a secluded spot. Tārā, too, overcome by love, could neither resist nor find pleasure, her mind captivated by Soma’s beauty and radiance. After spending a long time together, Soma took Tārā to his own house, but even there, immersed in pleasure, he found no satisfaction, so deep was his attachment to her. Meanwhile, Bṛhaspati, scorched by the fire of separation from his wife, became wholly absorbed in meditation upon her. Yet he could not curse Soma, nor harm him with mantras, weapons, fire, or poisons of any kind. Despite trying many means, even acts of sorcery, Bṛhaspati, the lord of speech, could not recover Tārā. Burning with the pain of love, he finally approached Soma and pleaded for her return. But Soma, deluded by desire, refused to give Tārā back. Then, with Maheśvara (Śiva), Brahmā, the Sādhyas, the Maruts, and the guardians of the worlds, Bṛhaspati sought justice. Yet even then, Soma would not return her. Śiva, famed as Vāmadeva, whose lotus feet are worshipped by countless Rudras, became filled with wrath. Accompanied by his disciples, the wielder of Pināka, out of affection for Bṛhaspati, took up his bow and set out as the enemy of the cities, attended by the lords of spirits and perfected beings. Blazing for battle with Soma, Śiva’s face shone with the terrifying fire of his third eye. Sixty-six fierce forms of the lords of the Gaṇas marched with him. The lords of the Yakṣas, Vetālas, serpents, Kinnaras, and a vast host of beings followed, mounted on chariots, numbering in the hundreds of millions. Soma, his own anger greatly increased, assembled an army of twelve hundred thousand chariots, accompanied by Saturn, Mars, the powerful luminaries, and an army of stars, demons, and Asuras. The seven worlds, the earth, forests, continents, and the ocean depths trembled with fear as Pināka-wielder Śiva, blazing with mighty weapons and vast fire, confronted Soma. A dreadful, terrible battle erupted between the armies of Soma and Śiva. The clash grew fierce, consuming all beings, sharp and blazing like a single fire. With fierce and deadly weapons, the two sides destroyed each other’s armies, their blazing missiles burning the heavens, earth, and netherworld. In his wrath, Rudra released the Brahmāśira weapon, while Soma unleashed the unfailing Soma missile. At their descent, fear gripped the ocean, the earth, and the sky. Seeing that this great battle threatened to destroy the worlds, Brahmā himself entered with the gods and somehow managed to halt the conflict. Brahmā addressed Soma: “O Soma, why have you done this terrible, destructive act, bringing ruin to people? Because of your abduction of another’s wife, you have waged this dreadful war. Among people, you will become a malefic planet, the most sinful among those who consume fire as their mouth. Return this wife to Vākpati, as I command.” Soma, his radiant crown bowed, assented, saying “So be it,” and withdrew from the battle, now pacified. Bṛhaspati, delighted, took Tārā and returned home, and Rudra also departed. Then, at the end of a year, a wondrous child appeared, shining like twelve suns, adorned with divine yellow garments and ornaments. A son, radiant as the sun, emerged from Tārā’s womb, learned in all sciences and the initiator of the science of elephants. He was named the royal prince, renowned as the royal physician. Because he was the son of King Soma, he became known as Prince Budha.