From the sweat of the Creator was born a formidable being named Kuṇḍalī, a hero armed with bow and mighty arrows, clad in a thousand armors. He stood before Brahmā and asked, “What shall I do?” Brahmā, pointing to Rudra in his fearsome might, instructed Kuṇḍalī, “Let this evil-minded one be slain, so that he may not be born again.” Upon hearing these words, Kuṇḍalī seized his bow, arrows in hand, his gaze fierce and unyielding, and set out in pursuit of Maheśa. When Rudra, the three-eyed one, beheld this exceedingly terrible man approaching, he was seized by fear. Swiftly, Rudra fled and sought refuge at the hermitage of Viṣṇu. He cried out, “Save me, save me, O Viṣṇu, slayer of foes, from this man! Created by Brahmā, he is sinful, of mleccha form, and terrifying. O Lord of the world, act so that, in his anger, he does not kill me.” Viṣṇu, with a mighty roar, bewildered Kuṇḍalī, and, invisible to all beings, the master of yoga and all-seeing Lord Keśava soothed Rudra, who had arrived there with deformed eyes. Rudra then bowed to the ground before Viṣṇu, who saw him and said, “You are indeed my grandson, O Rudra. What boon shall I grant you?” Rudra, upon seeing the god Nārāyaṇa, requested alms, presenting before him a skull blazing with fierce radiance. Viṣṇu beheld Rudra holding the skull and pondered, “Who else would be worthy now to receive alms from me?” Concluding that Rudra was indeed worthy, Viṣṇu offered his right arm, and the moon-crested one pierced it with his exceedingly sharp trident. From Viṣṇu’s arm, a stream of blood began to flow, golden as jambūnada gold, appearing like a line of fire. Rudra received this stream in the skull; it fell swiftly and forcefully, touching the sky as it rushed. The stream measured fifty yojanas in length and ten yojanas in breadth, flowing for a thousand divine years from Hari’s arm. For that span, Rudra, as a mendicant, received alms, and Nārāyaṇa gave the blood into the excellent skull-bowl. After this, Nārāyaṇa spoke to Śambhu, “Is the bowl filled or not, O Supreme Lord?” Hearing Hari’s words, which resounded like thunderclouds, Hara—whose eyes are the moon, sun, and fire, and who is adorned with the crescent moon—fixed his three eyes upon Janārdana in the skull, tapped the bowl with his finger, and declared, “The skull is filled.” Upon hearing Śiva’s words, Viṣṇu stopped the flow and pressed the blood with his own finger. For another thousand divine years, he churned it with his glances. As the blood was churned, gradually a mass of bubbles arose. From these bubbles, a man appeared—crowned, armed with bow and arrows, two quivers bound, bull-shouldered, and marked with finger-lines. Radiant as fire, this man was seen in the skull. Seeing him, the blessed Viṣṇu addressed Rudra, “O Bhava, who is this man who has appeared in the skull?” Rudra replied, “Listen, O mighty one. This man is named Nara, foremost among those skilled in supreme weapons. Since you called him Nara, he shall be known as Nara. Nara and Nārāyaṇa—both will become renowned in the age, fighting in battles for the gods’ cause, for the protection of the worlds. This Nara will be your companion; in the destruction of the demons, this great and radiant one will be your ally. A sage will become foremost in the world in the examination of knowledge. This divine, exceedingly radiant fifth head of Brahma—born from the blazing energy of Brahma, from your arm’s blood, and from the glance of my eye—these three energies, arising from their union, will make him unconquerable in battle. Those who are invincible and others difficult to defeat will not be able to slay him. He will be terrifying to Indra and the Maruts.” Having spoken thus, Śambhu stood there, and Hari was amazed. The man standing in the skull praised Hara and Keśava, placing his joined hands upon his head, showing his noble mind. He asked them, “What shall I do?” and stood reverently. The illustrious Hara, with his own energy as Brahma, addressed him, “A man holding a bow has been created by me; strike him down.” Thus addressed, as he stood with joined hands, praising, Śaṅkara spoke to the man. Then, taking both his hands, which were joined in reverence, Hara raised him from the skull and spoke again, “This fierce man, whom I have recognized as yours, has been cast into the deluding sleep fashioned by Viṣṇu’s roar. Awaken him quickly.” Having said this, Hara vanished. In the presence of Nārāyaṇa, that man struck Kuṇḍalī with his left foot, and Kuṇḍalī, of great strength, rose up. A great battle then ensued between the one born of sweat and the one born of blood. The sound of drawn bows resounded across the earth; the armor of Kuṇḍalī, born of sweat, was struck off by the one born of blood. As these two met in battle, two divine years passed, O king, while Kuṇḍalī and the one born of blood fought fiercely. Seeing the one born of blood with two arms and Kuṇḍalī locked in combat, Vāsudeva, reflecting deeply, went to the supreme abode of Brahma.