By the command of the Supreme Lord, the sacred scripture was spread throughout the world by myself, Agastya the teacher, and by the great sage Dadhichi. In every age, the Lord himself descends to earth, bearing the trident. For the liberation of his devotees, he restores and upholds the continuity of true knowledge. Throughout these ages, many illustrious sages have been born: Ṛbhu, Satya, Bhārgava, Aṅgirā, Savitṛ the twice-born, Mṛtyu, the wise Śatakratu, and Vasiṣṭha, foremost among sages. Alongside them are Sārasvata, Tridhāmā, Trivṛta the eminent sage, Śatatejas, Dharma himself, and Nārāyaṇa, as the tradition has preserved. There are also Svara, Rakṣa, the wise Āruṇi, Kṛtaṃjaya, Bharadvāja, Gautama the foremost poet, Vācaḥsravā the sage, Sūkṣmāyaṇi the pure, Tṛṇabiṃdu, Kṛṣṇa, Śakti, and Śākteya the superior. Jātūkarṇya, Hari in person, and the sage Kṛṣṇadvaipāyana also belong to this noble assembly. All these are to be remembered as incarnations of Vyāsa and as masters of yoga, each in their appointed order. Within the Linga tradition, it is taught that, in each Dvāpara age, Vyāsa incarnates anew, taking noble vows, as do the teachers of yoga and the disciples of the trident-bearing Lord. In every place, there are four chief disciples of the Lord, each endowed with great energy, and from them spring hundreds and thousands of their own disciples and grand-disciples. Through their influence, and by fulfilling the commands of Shiva, these blessed ones bring liberation to the world, their devotion and faith unwavering. In all the cycles of time, the Lord assumes the forms of yoga teachers, and his disciples accompany him. Among these incarnations of Śarva and his followers are Śveta, Sutāra, Madana, Suhotra, Kaṅka, Laugākṣi, Mahāmāya, and Jaigīṣavya. There are also Dadhivāha, Ṛṣabha, the sage Ugra, Atri, Supālaka, Gautama, and Vedaśirā. Gokarṇa, Guhāvāsin, another called Śikhaṇḍin, Jaṭāmālī, Aṭṭahāsa, Dāruka, and Lāṃgulī are also among them. Mahākāla, Śūlī, Ḍaṇḍī, Muṇḍīśa, Saviṣṇu, Somaśarmā, and Lakulīśvara complete this sacred list. These twenty-eight teachers of yoga appeared in this Varāha Kalpa, during the interval of the seventh Manu, each in their appointed age. Every one of these great teachers had four tranquil-minded disciples. Their names, from Śveta to Ruṣya, are as follows: Śveta, Śvetaśikha, Śvetāśva, Śvetalohita, Dundubhi, Śatarūpa, Ṛcīka, Ketumān; Vikośa, Vikeśa, Vipāśa, Pāśanāśana; Sumukha, Durmukha, Durgama, Duratikrama; Sanatkumāra, Sanaka, Sanaṃda, Sanātana; Sudhāmā, Virajā, Śaṃkha, Aṇḍaja; Sārasvata, Megha, Meghavāha, Suvāhaka; Kapila, Āsuri, Pañcaśikha, Bāṣkala; Parāśara, Garga, Bhārgava, Aṅgirā; Balabandhu, Nirāmitra, Ketuśṛṅga, Tapodhana; Lambodara, Lamba, Lambātmā, Lambakeśaka; Sarvajña, Samabuddhi, Sādhyasiddhi; Sudhāmā, Kaśyapa, Vasiṣṭha, Virajā; Atri, Ugra, Guruśreṣṭha, Śravana, Śraviṣṭaka; Kuṇi, Kuṇibāhu, Kuśarīra, Kunetraka; Kāśyapa, Uśanā, Cyavana, Bṛhaspati; Utathya, Vāmadeva, Mahākāla, Mahānila; Vācaḥśravā, Suvīra, Śyāvaka, Yatīśvara; Hiraṇyanābha, Kauśalya, Lokākṣi, Kuthumi; Sumantu, Jaimini, Kubandha, Kuśakandhara; Plakṣa, Dārbhāyaṇi, Ketumān, Gautama; Bhallavī, Madhupiṅga, Śvetaketu; Uśija, Bṛhadaśva, Devala, Kavi; Śālihotra, Suveṣa, Yuvanāśva, Śaradvasu; Akṣapāda, Kaṇāda, Ulūka, Vatsa; Kulika, Garga, Mitraka, and Ruṣya. These, one hundred and twelve in number, are the disciples of the great Lord, manifesting as teachers of yoga. All are accomplished Pāśupatas, their bodies adorned with sacred ash, thoroughly knowing the essence of all scriptures and the Vedas with their branches. They dwell in the hermitage of Shiva, wholly devoted to his knowledge, free of worldly attachment, and their minds are absorbed solely in Shiva. Unshaken by the dualities of existence, they are courageous, intent on the welfare of all beings, upright, gentle, self-controlled, and have conquered anger and the senses. Adorned with garlands of Rudrākṣa beads, their foreheads marked with three sacred lines, some wear topknots, some have matted hair, others are shaven or without matted locks. Their sustenance is mostly fruits and roots, and they are devoted to breath-control, ever intent on meditation upon Shiva, filled with his spirit. Having uprooted the sprouts of worldly bondage, they are prepared to journey only toward the supreme city of Shiva. Whoever recognizes these as teachers and always worships Shiva through them, surely attains union with Shiva—of this there can be no doubt. O Lord, you are the master of all yogis, leader of the hosts, chief of sages, radiant as six-faced Karttikeya, a treasure-house of all knowledge, and the revered teacher of all. You have descended to earth again and again to cut the bonds of men, O Supreme Lord, dwelling in the city of great sages.