When the blessed Viṣṇu brought forth the universe, he did so together with the world's creator, Brahmā. Witnessing the immense glory of Viṣṇu, Brahmā—the Grandfather—realized he himself had been created by Viṣṇu. Yet, overcome by intense jealousy, Brahmā laughed and said to Viṣṇu, "Go, Viṣṇu, I have understood the cause of your creation. There is one greater than both of us—he is Rudra; of this, there is no doubt." Brahmā continued, "By the grace of that Lord of lords, the supreme Lord, you, O blessed one, are the first creator and truly the protector. And I, through ascetic practice, will worship Rudra, the leader of the gods. Together with you, I will create the entire world—of this there is no doubt." Thus, having spoken to Viṣṇu, the blessed one born from the lotus approached Śaṅkara, having attained his favor through austerity. Brahmā addressed Śaṅkara, "O blessed one, Lord of gods, Lord of the universe, great Lord, Viṣṇu was born from your left side, and I indeed from your right. Together with me, the entire world was created by Acyuta; he was reproached by me out of envy, relying on your strength. Because of my nature, I am not superior; this is the truth regarding you, O great Lord, for from you alone is the origin of us both, since we are alike. As you have formerly bestowed your grace upon him out of devotion, so, O Śaṅkara, you should grant all that to me as well." Thus addressed, the blessed lord—destroyer of Bhaga's eye—granted everything to Brahmā, being a treasure of compassion. Having obtained the state of being the self of all from the Lord, Brahmā, in an instant, hurried to meet the supreme person. He arrived in the pure abode of the ocean of milk, in a celestial palace shining like the sun, adorned with gold and jewels, divine, and created by Viṣṇu's mind. There, Viṣṇu lay upon the endless serpent-bed, lotus-eyed, four-armed, noble-bodied, adorned with every ornament. He bore conch and discus, gentle in demeanor, with a face like the orb of the moon, marked with the Srivatsa on his chest, and smiled sweetly and graciously. His feet, reddened by the touch of the earth's tender lotus-hands, rested as if upon the nectar of the milk ocean, lying in yogic sleep. Through darkness, he is known as Kālarudra; through passion, born of gold; through purity, he is all-pervading Viṣṇu; in transcendence, he is Maheśvara. Seeing this supreme person, Brahmā spoke boldly, "I shall consume you, O Viṣṇu, just as you once absorbed yourself." Hearing these words, Viṣṇu awoke, looked upon Brahmā, and smiled slightly. At that moment, Viṣṇu was consumed by Brahmā, and instantly created again, emerging effortlessly from between Brahmā's brows. At this, the blessed lord, adorned with the moon, assumed a form to witness both of them, though his true nature is beyond form. To grant them incomparable grace, he who had formerly given them boons arrived where Brahmā and Nārāyaṇa stood. Delighted and awed, they praised the god, and out of curiosity and fear, bowed repeatedly from a respectful distance. Bhava, the blessed lord, bearer of the Pināka bow, graciously regarded them, and while they watched, vanished from their sight. I shall now declare, for each cycle, the cause of Rudra's manifestation, by which Brahmā's creation proceeds when its continuity is broken. In every cycle, having created beings, Brahmā—born from the cosmic egg—became greatly troubled and confused due to their lack of growth. To relieve his sorrow and to increase the progeny, in each cycle, Rudra, lord of the Rudra hosts, manifests as the embodiment of time. Designated by the supreme lord, Maheśa, blue and red in hue, becomes Brahmā's son and graciously assists him, though younger in birth. That very blessed lord, master, repository of energy, without affliction, the origin without beginning or end, the mighty one who contracts all beings, endowed with supreme lordship, established in the state of the highest lord, governed by his own power, eternally marked by those signs. His name is nameless, his form is that form, capable of performing those deeds, conducting himself accordingly, and upholding those commands. He shone like a thousand suns, adorned with the crescent moon, with serpents as garlands, armlets, and bracelets, and a girdle of munja grass. He blazed with fragments of the skulls of Jalandhara, Brahmā, and Indra, and his matted hair was tawny, half-wet with the high waves of the Ganga. He was beautiful as a mountain at the edge, pressed by the sprouts of broken tusks, and on the left side of his ear, his earring formed a circle. He rode the great bull, his voice was like a mighty cloud, he was blazing like a great fire, and possessed immense strength and valor. Thus, in this terrifying and majestic form, Maheshvara, after giving knowledge to Brahma's daughter, assisted in creation. Therefore, by Rudra's grace, in every cycle, the perpetual creation of beings proceeds through Prajapati in the form of a current. Once, when requested by Brahmā to create, the blue-red one, by his own will, mentally created all beings similar to himself. He created matted-haired, fearless, blue-throated, three-eyed beings, free from old age and death, bearing blazing spears and excellent weapons. By them, the entire fourteenfold world was covered; seeing these various Rudras, Pitamaha addressed Rudra: "Salutations to you, Lord of gods and lords! O red-eyed one, create other beings; may it be well with you. These beings are endowed with death.