Honored by the supreme goddess, Paśupati, accompanied by her and his mighty army, advanced to the field of battle. As the conflict unfolded, Paśupati concealed himself within the clouds, and suddenly the tumult of drums and instruments ceased; the loud cries and sounds of the warriors faded into silence. Meanwhile, Brahma and Acyuta—both heroic and resolute—were locked in combat, each intent on defeating the other. They unleashed the formidable Maheśvara weapon and the Pāśupata weapon. The fiery power of these weapons was so immense that the three worlds belonging to Brahma and Viṣṇu began to burn, threatening a terrible and untimely dissolution. Sensing this calamity, the Lord manifested himself in the midst of the chaos as an immense, pillar-like form of fire—terrifying, radiant, and without any discernible parts. The blazing weapons, capable of destroying the worlds, fell and were subdued in an instant by the appearance of this great fire. Witnessing this wondrous and auspicious sight that calmed even the most destructive forces, Brahma and Acyuta looked at each other in awe and asked, “What is this, of such a marvelous form?” They pondered, “This pillar, beyond the grasp of our senses, of fiery nature—what has arisen? Neither of us can see its top or its bottom.” Resolving to investigate, the two heroes, proud of their valor, joined forces and set out to examine the mysterious pillar. Realizing that a single task could not be accomplished by both together, Viṣṇu took the form of a boar and began searching for the base, while Brahma transformed into a swan to seek its summit. Hari, in his boar form, plunged deep into the underworld, but despite his efforts, the radiant, fiery pillar remained elusive. Exhausted, Hari returned first to the battlefield, unable to find its base. As Brahma soared through the sky in his search, he came upon a ketakī flower—wondrous, fragrant, and unfaded, though it had fallen years before. The Blessed Supreme Lord considered what must be done by the two seekers. Brahma, making a jest and shaking his head, caused the ketakī flower to fall, and he reached out to catch it. He questioned the flower, “Why do you fall, O Lord of Flowers, King of Blossoms? By whom have you been held? You have long 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.” Brahma then said, “From now on, my friend, today you must do what is desired. This must be spoken by you together with me in the presence of Vishnu.” At the end of the pillar, the Creator looked and declared, “There I am witness, O Achyuta.” He bowed to the ketakī flower, believing that even a falsehood may be justified in distress. When Achyuta returned, exhausted from his effort and deprived of joy, Brahma danced with delight and spoke to him the highest truth: “O Hari, this tip of the pillar was seen—there itself the ketakī is witness.” But the ketakī flower, present there, spoke, “It is false.” Thus Brahma, in Achyuta’s presence, had made his claim. Hari, believing Brahma’s words to be true, bowed to him and worshipped him with sixteen offerings. As Brahma, deceitful, was about to strike the fiery linga, the Lord appeared in a visible form. Overcome, Brahma’s hands trembled, and he grasped the Lord’s feet. He prayed, “Upon you, whose form is without beginning or end, may there not arise, through delusion, any further confusion born of desire. Be gracious, O source of compassion; forgive the stain that has been committed by your own sport.” The Lord then addressed Hari: “I am pleased with you, my child, because, though desiring lordship, you spoke the truth. Therefore, among people, you shall have equality with me, and you shall receive my honor. From now on, you and your distinct self shall perform the festival and worship for the establishment of the sacred site.” Thus, long ago, the pleased Lord granted supreme equality to Hari for his truthfulness, as all the assembly of gods looked on. Then, desiring to subdue Brahma’s pride, the great god created a wondrous being called Bhairava from between his brows. Bhairava bowed to the Lord in Shiva’s assembly and asked, “What should I do here? Command me quickly, O Lord.” The Lord replied, “This Brahma, the direct progenitor of the worlds, is indeed to be worshipped. Strike him swiftly with your sharp sword.” Bhairava seized Brahma’s fifth head, which was proud and speaking falsehoods, and cut it off. Intending to slay him, Bhairava brandished his sword fiercely. Brahma, his ornaments, garments, garlands, upper cloth, and matted hair cast aside, became unsteady like a creeper in a storm and fell at Bhairava’s lotus feet. Desiring to see the ordinance fulfilled, the compassionate Acyuta placed the dust of the Lord’s lotus feet upon his head. With hands joined and tears streaming, he spoke to his father in faltering words: “O Lord, what was once given by you with effort—the five-faced mark, the sign of sovereignty—because of that, forgive him; he is worthy of your grace. Show favor to him for the sake of the ordinance.” Thus entreated by Acyuta, the Lord, pleased, withdrew Bhairava from punishing Brahma in the assembly of the gods. The Lord then addressed the deceitful Vidhi, now without his head: “O Brahma, you who desire worship, you hypocrite, you have assumed lordship. May you never again receive honor in the world—no festivals or seats of respect. O Lord of great glory, be gracious now; I think the release of my head is the only boon I desire.” Brahma offered salutations: “Salutations to you, O Blessed One, kinsman, source of the universe, patient bearer of all faults, Śambhu, wielder of the mountain bow. Without a ruler, this entire world would not endure out of fear; therefore, punish the one deserving of chastisement, and bear the burden of the world, O child.” The Lord granted a boon: “I grant you a rare and supreme gift: in all Vaitānika and domestic sacrifices, you shall be the preceptor.” Thus, the divine drama unfolded, with truth and humility honored, pride subdued, and the order of the cosmos established by the Lord’s grace.