With deep reverence, I praise Narayana, the Supreme Being, Lord of lords, the highest among the high—beyond the reach of even the gods. He abides within the threefold creation, perceives all with the three sacrificial fires as his eyes, and is marked by the three principles and the three dissolutions; he is the three-eyed one. I bow to Narayana, immeasurable in nature: white in the Krita age, red in the Dvapara, and black in the Kali age. I honor him who created the Brahmins from his mouth, the very source of wisdom and spiritual guidance. From his arms, he brought forth the Kshatriyas; from his thighs, the Vaishyas; and from the tips of his feet, the Shudras. I bow to this universal form, ancient and transcendent, the highest of the high, the immeasurable one who helps souls cross beyond worldly bondage. I offer homage to the lotus-eyed Lord—subtle and great, the embodiment of knowledge, yet formless, the very armor of all the gods. I honor the Supreme Lord, with a thousand heads, a thousand eyes, and mighty arms, who pervades the universe and dwells everywhere. He is the refuge and shelter, the victorious and eternal Vishnu, dark as a raincloud, wielding the Sharnga bow. I honor Hari, pure, all-pervading, eternal, and of the nature of space—everlasting, beyond existence and non-existence, pervading all. O Achyuta, in you alone I see everything; all that moves and does not move is pervaded by you. As Rudra, the supreme lord, thus offered his praises, the eternal, supreme among the supreme, appeared before him in person. Seated upon Garuda, holding the divine wheel in his hand, he shone forth like the sun illuminating a mountain. The Eternal One addressed Rudra: “Choose a boon; I have come as the giver of boons.” Rudra replied, “O Lord of the gods, let me be completely purified. For the sin I have incurred, no other remedy is seen but your grace.” Overwhelmed by the sin of killing a Brahmin, Rudra’s body had turned black, the odor of death clung to his limbs, and his ornaments had become iron. He asked, “O Janardana, why do I remain in this form? What must I do, O great God, so that my former body may be restored? By your grace, let it be so—tell me, Achyuta, how this may come to pass.” Vishnu replied, “The sin of killing a Brahmin is supreme, terrible, and brings all suffering. One should not even allow such a thought to arise in the mind. By your words, O God, your resolve is clear. Now, O mighty-armed one, do as Brahma has instructed: rub ashes over your entire body three times a day. Place bones in your topknot, on your ears, and in your hand. Doing so, O Rudra, you will not experience suffering.” Having thus instructed him, the Blessed Lord disappeared, departing with Lakshmi, and Rudra did not recognize him. Thereafter, the Lord of the gods, holding a skull in his hand, wandered over the earth, accompanied by Himavat, Mainaka, and Meru. He traversed the sacred mountains—Kailasa, the Vindhyas, the great mountain Nila—and visited holy cities such as Kanchi, Kashi, Tamralipta, and the lands of Magadha and Avila. He journeyed to Vatsagulma, Gokarna, the northern Kurus, Bhadrashva, Ketumala, and the golden land of Hiranyaka. He also went to Kamarupa, Prabhasa, and the great mountain Mahendra. Afflicted by the sin of Brahman-killing, he found no refuge. Ashamed, always seeing the skull in his hand, Rudra repeatedly shook his hands, casting it away again and again. Yet, no matter how he tried, the skull would not fall. Then understanding dawned within him: “I will undertake this vow.” He realized, “By my very path, O twice-born, all will go everywhere.” Thus, having meditated for a long time, the god continued his wandering across the earth. At last, reaching Pushkara, he entered the supreme forest, filled with a multitude of trees and creepers, vibrant with the cries of many animals. The air was sweet with the fragrance of blossoms, and the earth was adorned with thoughtfully arranged flowers. There were all kinds of fragrant juices and ripe and unripe fruits; Rudra entered the grove, filled with the scent of blooms. There, he resolved, “Here, as I worship with devotion, Brahma will grant me a boon. By Brahma’s grace, the desired knowledge of Pushkara will be attained. This place destroys sin, subdues the wicked, and increases nourishment, prosperity, and strength.” Thus, Rudra of immeasurable brilliance meditated. Pleased by his devotion, Brahmā, the lotus-born, arrived, and raising the bowed Rudra, spoke: “By your observance of divine vows and offerings, you have worshipped me with great faith and longing for my vision. Those steadfast in vows—humans as well as gods—behold me. By that wish, I grant the highest boon you desire. Because you have observed this vow for the fulfillment of all desires, with mind, speech, body, and inner self fully satisfied, tell me, O blessed one, what wish you desire—I shall grant it.” Rudra replied, “This very boon, O Lord, is today most sufficient. That I have seen you, creator of the world, worshipped by all—I bow to you through great sacrifice and long-acquired austerity. By austerity that exhausts the life-breath, O God, you are seen. O Lord of gods, this skull has not fallen from my hand. This practice is a cause of shame among the sages and is considered base; yet, by your grace, this vow of the skull-bearer has been performed. Let this great vow be declared accomplished for the one who has sought refuge; tell me, in what sacred place shall I cast this, so that I may become pure among the sages of purified mind?