There, standing within the skull, the noble-minded hero stood with joined palms raised upon his head, offering heartfelt praises to Hara and Keśava. With deep reverence, he asked them, “What shall I do?” Awaiting their command, the illustrious Hara, manifesting his own energy as Brahma, addressed him: “A man holding a bow has been created by me; strike him down.” As the hero stood with hands joined in respect, Śaṅkara spoke directly to the archer. Then, taking both his reverently joined hands, Śaṅkara lifted him from the skull and spoke again: “This fierce man, whom I recognize as yours, has been plunged into a deluding sleep fashioned by Viṣṇu’s roar. Awaken him quickly.” Having said this, Hara vanished from sight. In the presence of Nārāyaṇa, the hero approached the sleeping man and struck him with his left foot. The powerful one awoke, and at once a great battle erupted between the one born of sweat and the one born of blood. The sound of their drawn bows thundered across the earth, and the one born of blood struck off the armor of his opponent. Thus, these two warriors, the one born of sweat and the one born of blood, fought fiercely for two divine years. Observing the battle between these two—one with two arms and the other born of sweat—Vāsudeva reflected deeply and journeyed to the supreme abode of Brahma. There, filled with agitation, Madhusūdana spoke to Brahma: “O Brahma, today the one born of sweat has been struck down by the one born of blood.” Hearing this, Brahma, himself disturbed, replied, “O Hari, in your next birth, this man will be mine, beginning today.” Viṣṇu, pleased, agreed: “So it shall be.” Then, approaching the two combatants, he halted their battle and spoke: “In another birth, at the junction of the Kali and Dvāpara ages, when a great conflict arises between you, I will unite you both there.” Summoning the lords of the planets and the gods, Viṣṇu commanded, “Protect these two noble men according to my word.” He then explained, “This being, born from sweat, is a portion of the thousand-rayed one, and at the end of the Dvāpara age, he will descend to earth for the fulfillment of the gods’ purpose. In the Yadu lineage, there will arise a mighty man named Śūra, whose daughter, Pṛthā—peerless in beauty—will be born to fulfill the gods’ purpose. The sage Durvāsas will grant her a boon, giving her a collection of sacred mantras. With this mantra, whichever god she invokes with devotion, by his favor, he will become her son. One day, at sunrise, when she is filled with longing and in her time of menstruation, she will see you, O blazing one, and, overcome by anxiety, will worship you. In her womb, before marriage, you will be born as a son, O son of Kuntī, for the accomplishment of the gods’ task.” The radiant Sun agreed, saying, “So be it. I will beget a son, born before marriage, proud of his strength. His name will be Karṇa, as all the world will know him. By my favor, O Viṣṇu, he will be devoted to the brāhmaṇas and noble in spirit. Nothing in this world will be unattainable for him; thus, by your word, I will beget him with such power.” Having spoken thus, the thousand-rayed Sun vanished after addressing Nārāyaṇa, the great-souled slayer of the Dānavas. When Bhāskara, the remover of darkness, disappeared, he spoke joyfully to Vṛddhaśravas as well: “This man, arisen from the blood of the thousand-eyed one by my favor, being a portion of myself, should be employed by you on earth at the end of the Dvāpara age. When the greatly fortunate Pāṇḍu obtains Pṛthā as his wife, and also Mādrī, he will journey to the forest. While dwelling there, a deer will curse him, and filled with dispassion, he will go to Śataśṛṅga. Desiring no sons of his own seed, he will tell his wife, and Kuntī, though reluctant, will speak to her husband: ‘O king, I do not wish for sons from a mortal in any way; but by the favor of the gods, I desire sons, O lord of men.’ When she requests, O Śakra, a man should be given to Kuntī by you; and by my word, do thus, O lord of Śacī.” Distressed, the lord of the gods then said to Viṣṇu, “In a past Manvantara, in the cycle of twenty-four yugas, you descended in the Raghu dynasty, in the house of Dasharatha, for the destruction of Ravana and the peace of the gods. Assuming the form of Rama, you wandered in the forest for Sita’s sake. O god, my son was harmed by you, who sought the welfare of the son of the Sun. Vali, king of the monkeys, was slain by you for the sake of Sugriva; afflicted by this sorrow, I do not accept a human son.” When Indra, giving other reasons, still did not accept, Hari spoke to Shunāsīra about removing the burden of the earth: “I myself will descend to the world of mortals, O lord, to destroy the son of the Sun and to grant victory to your son. I will also act as charioteer and bring about the destruction of the Kuru dynasty.” Hearing these words, Shakra was gladdened. Joyfully accepting the man, he said, “May your words be fulfilled.” Having spoken thus, the god, after sending Achyuta, departed himself.