Pundarīkākṣa, the lotus-eyed Lord, approached Brahma once more and addressed him with reverence: “O Grandsire, you have created all that exists—the three worlds, with their moving and unmoving beings. We, Vishnu and I, are your helpers in fulfilling this divine task. Yet, though you have accomplished creation, you do not seem to realize that destruction too must be brought about, for the cycle to continue. “In seeking to destroy Shambhu, an act that should have been avoided was committed; and in your anger, you brought forth a man from the Lord of the gods. To purify yourself from this sin, O Brahma, you should perform the supreme act of atonement. Take up the three sacred fires and offer the agnihotra. In a holy place, or a sacred region, or even in a forest, conduct this sacrifice with your own wife, accepting us as your priests. “All the gods, the Adityas, and even the Rudras, O Lord of the world, will act according to your command, for you are our master. Establish three fires: the household fire, the southern fire, and the offering fire, each in its own pit. In the circular pit, worship yourself in the form of the sun; in the bow-shaped pit, worship Hara, and in the four-cornered pit, worship with the names of the Rig, Yajur, and Sama Vedas. “By kindling these fires with austerity and performing the sacred rites for a divine thousand years, you will attain supreme prosperity and pacify the fires. Nothing is considered purer than the agnihotra; through this meritorious act, the twice-born are purified on earth. The Brahmins have shown these paths to the realm of the gods; a householder of twice-born status must always maintain a single fire. Without fire, such a person cannot obtain the fruits of household life.” At this point, Bhishma asked: “The one called Nara, born from the skull and wielder of the bow—was he born from Madhava, or by his own actions? Was he produced by Rudra, or through deliberate intent? O Brahmin, Hiranyagarbha is the one born from the cosmic egg, four-faced; how did his fifth wondrous face come to be? In sattva, rajas is not seen, nor is sattva found in rajas—how did Brahma, established in sattva, come to possess excess? Who sent that deluded man to slay Hara?” Pulastya replied: “Maheshvara and Hari alone walk the path of righteousness. Nothing is unknown to these two great souls, whether accomplished or not. Brahma’s fifth face was above, belonging to the great soul himself. But then, Brahma became deluded, overcome by rajas, and began to think that creation was his alone. He thought, ‘There is no other god besides me who sets creation in motion, along with the gods, Gandharvas, and all animals, birds, and beasts.’ “Thus deluded, the five-faced Virinchi arose again. His front face became the originator of the Rig Veda, the second of the Yajur Veda, the third of the Sama Veda, and the fourth for the Atharva Veda. With the fifth, upward-gazing mouth, he recited the Vedas with all their limbs, sub-limbs, histories, secrets, and collections. “All the gods and demons, before the radiant brilliance of that wondrous face, seemed dim, like lamps at sunrise. Even in their own realms, disturbed and bewildered, they could not see anyone else; his brilliance cast all others aside. Unable to approach or even see him from the front, the gods, frightened, could not come near the lotus-born Grandsire. “Feeling overwhelmed and their own radiance destroyed, the gods gathered and deliberated for their welfare. ‘Let us seek refuge in Shambhu, for we are powerless before Brahma’s brilliance,’ they decided. They prayed: ‘Salutations to you, Lord of all beings, Maheshvara, again and again! Source of the world, supreme Brahman, you are the eternal one among beings, the foundation of all worlds, the cause along with Vishnu.’ “As the gods, sages, ancestors, and even demons praised him thus, Maheshvara vanished and spoke: ‘O gods, ask for whatever you desire.’ The gods replied: ‘Having granted us your direct vision, O Lord, bestow upon us whatever you wish. Show compassion, and grant us a boon. Our strength, brilliance, vigor, and valor were all consumed by Brahma’s fifth face. By your grace, let our powers be restored as before, O great Lord.’ “Then, with a gracious face and saluted by the gods, Maheshvara went to where Brahma sat, his mind clouded by pride and passion. The gods surrounded and praised the Lord as they entered together, but Brahma, blinded by passion, did not recognize Rudra’s arrival. “Suddenly, shining upon the world with a radiance equal to a hundred thousand suns, appeared the Soul of the Universe—the Creator and Sustainer of all. Rudra approached Brahma, the Grandsire, who was seated among all the gods, and said, ‘O god, your face shines with even greater brilliance.’ The moon-crested Lord then let out a loud, echoing laugh. “With the tip of his left thumbnail, Rudra cut off Brahma’s fifth head as effortlessly as a man plucks a tender shoot of banana with his fingernail. The severed head remained in his hand, shining like a second moon among the planets. Holding the skull aloft, the great Lord danced, resembling Mount Kailasa crowned by the sun at its peak.