Witnessing the fierce conflict unfolding, the hosts of gods grew deeply anxious and distressed. In the midst of this turmoil, Viṣṇu, overcome by anger and breathing heavily with agitation, readied the mighty Maheśvara missile, aiming it against Brahmā. Brahmā, in turn, was seized by an even greater fury, his rage so intense that the entire universe trembled. With a terrible resolve, he unleashed the dreadful Pāśupata weapon upon Viṣṇu’s chest. As this weapon soared into the sky, it blazed forth with the brilliance of ten thousand suns. The weapon itself was a terrifying sight—its thousand fierce mouths roared like a violent wind, striking fear into the hearts of both Brahmā and Viṣṇu. The battle between these two great beings became mutually destructive, threatening cosmic ruin. Seeing this, the gods were deeply troubled and dismayed, murmuring among themselves, “O sages, this is like the turmoil of kings.” They reflected: “From Brahmā and the wielder of the trident proceed creation, preservation, dissolution, concealment, and grace. Without their favor, not even a blade of grass can be destroyed by anyone else, not even by chance.” Overcome by fear, the gods resolved to seek help and journeyed to the abode of Śiva. Ascending to the peak of Kailāsa, where the moon-crested Lord resides, the immortals arrived at his supreme mansion, entering reverently, their forms bowed in the shape of the sacred syllable Oṃ. Within the central pavilion, upon a jeweled seat, they beheld the illustrious Lord of gods, shining resplendently alongside Umā. Seated with one foot over the other, his hands in a posture of worship, surrounded by his devoted attendants and marked by every auspicious sign, he radiated divine majesty. Devoted women fanned him with lotus-leaf fans, the Vedas sang his praises, and he bestowed blessings upon all as the gracious Lord. Seeing him thus, the immortals felt their hearts overflow with satisfaction, their eyes brimming with tears of joy. From afar, they prostrated themselves, and the great hosts offered their salutations. Observing their approach, the Lord summoned them closer with his attendants, delighting the gods as he spoke words filled with deep meaning and sweet blessings. “Children, is all well with you?” he inquired kindly. “Does the world and the lineage of gods abide by my command? Is each engaged in their proper duty or not? I was already aware of the battle between Brahmā and Viṣṇu, O gods; your anxious words have only confirmed it.” With a gentle smile, the Lord’s sweet words pleased the Mother, and then he turned to the assembly of gods. To address the conflict, the Lord of Hari and Brahmā commanded a hundred leaders of the divine hosts to prepare for departure. Immediately, many kinds of instruments sounded, marking the Supreme Lord’s departure. The chiefs of the hosts, adorned with various ornaments and riding their splendid vehicles, assembled fully equipped. The Lord, husband of Bhadrāmbikā, mounted a chariot adorned with five circles, its form embodying the sacred syllable Om from beginning to end. All the gods, with their sons and hosts—including Indra—followed after him. Honored by the supreme goddess, Paśupati, together with her, proceeded to the battlefield at the head of his army. Observing the ongoing battle, the Lord concealed himself within the clouds. The tumult of instruments ceased, and the loud sounds of the hosts grew quiet. Meanwhile, Brahmā and Acyuta—each a mighty hero—eagerly sought each other’s destruction, wielding the Maheśvara and Pāśupata weapons. The flames of these weapons burned so fiercely that the three worlds of Brahmā and Viṣṇu were threatened with destruction. The Lord perceived this as a terrible, untimely dissolution. At that very moment, he manifested himself as an immense, pillar-like, terrifying form of fire, without beginning or end, without parts. The blazing weapons, capable of destroying the worlds, fell away in an instant before this great fire. Witnessing this wondrous, marvelous, and auspicious phenomenon, which calmed the raging weapons, Brahmā and Viṣṇu said to each other, “What is this, of such a wondrous form?” They wondered aloud, “This pillar, beyond the senses, of fiery form—what has arisen? Neither of us can see its top or bottom.” Resolving to discover the truth, the two heroes, proud of their valor, joined forces and set out to examine the mysterious pillar. “For us two, joined here, one task is not possible,” they agreed. Thus, Viṣṇu took the form of a boar and began searching for the pillar’s base, while Brahmā assumed the form of a swan to seek its summit. Hari, as the boar, pierced through to the very depths of the underworld, journeying far below. Yet, despite their efforts, neither could find the end of that fiery, radiant pillar. Exhausted, Viṣṇu in the form of a boar returned first to the battlefield. Meanwhile, as Brahmā soared through the sky, he came upon a ketakī flower, wondrous to behold, fragrant and unfaded, though it had fallen many years before. The Blessed Supreme Lord considered what this encounter might mean for both seekers. Making a playful jest, Brahmā shook his head, causing the excellent ketaka flower to fall, and he reached out to catch it. “Why do you fall, O Lord of Flowers, King of Blossoms?” he asked. “By whom have you been held? You have long since fallen from the middle of the immeasurable, primal pillar. Therefore, I do not see you; abandon hope of seeing that. For the sake of serving him, I have come here in the form of a swan.” Brahmā then said to the flower, “From now on, my friend, today you must do what is desired. You must bear witness with me in the presence of Viṣṇu.” At the end of the pillar, the Creator looked and declared, “There I am witness, O Achyuta.” Saying this, he bowed to the ketaka flower, justifying his words with the thought, “Even a falsehood may be proper in distress—so goes the teaching.” When Brahmā returned and saw Achyuta, exhausted and disheartened from his great effort, he danced with delight and spoke to him, declaring the highest truth—thus Brahmā spoke to Achyuta, completing this wondrous episode.