Śaṃkara, swift in bestowing happiness upon his devotees, is thus remembered and revered by all. For this reason, Kapālī—the lord adorned with the skull—is praised and invoked for his grace and compassion. In that sacred moment, the blessed one, a veritable treasury of mercy, vanished from sight. There he stood: the skull-bearing, garlanded figure at Rudra’s side, triumphant and radiant, having conquered even the mighty creator himself. Then, from the sweat that gathered on his own forehead, Śiva struck the earth. From that divine sweat arose Kuṇḍalī, a formidable being armed with a great bow and mighty arrows. Brahmā, perceiving Rudra’s energy manifest in Kuṇḍalī, addressed him accordingly. Upon hearing Brahmā’s words, Kuṇḍalī raised his bow and stationed himself behind the creator. When Bhava (Śiva) beheld this fierce and powerful being, he was filled with astonishment. He reflected, “This one is not to be slain by me; he shall become the powerful friend of Viṣṇu.” With this thought, the Lord made his way to Viṣṇu’s hermitage. Arriving there, filled with delight, he engaged in playful acts upon the earth. Yet, he remained invisible to all beings—he, the soul of the universe, the creator and sovereign of all. Standing upon the earth on a single toe, he performed severe and undisturbed austerities, the ancient and supreme person, radiant with merit. Before those assembled, he displayed a skull, fierce and blazing with fire. Who else, they wondered, could be fit to receive alms as a mendicant? Knowing what dwelled within him, the moon-crested one (Śiva) pierced the ascetic with his trident. From the wound, clear as molten gold and pure as a tongue of fire, the sacred river Śiprā flowed swift and straight, like a sunbeam in the sky. For a divine thousand years, Śiprā bore this current from the arm of Hari (Viṣṇu). At last, Nārāyaṇa presented it to the most worthy recipient, declaring, “Your vessel is now full.” Then the Supreme Lord—whose eyes are the moon, sun, and fire, and who is adorned with the crescent moon—tapped the skull with his finger, saying, “The vessel is overfilled.” Thereupon, the Lord of Hari drew blood from his own side with his finger. As the blood was churned, scum and bubbles gradually formed. From this, a thousand-armed being, red-eyed and repeatedly plucking the bowstring, appeared. Then, from within the skull, a man resembling Arjuna manifested—this blessed one, emerging from the skull itself. This man was named Nara, foremost among masters of supreme weapons. In times to come, both Nara and Nārāyaṇa would become renowned throughout the world. Nara would serve as the companion of Nārāyaṇa, and their combined brilliance would serve as a test for discernment among all beings. Endowed with the power of Brahma, this radiance arose from the blood of Hari’s arm. Born of this union, it would terrify the enemies of the gods, instilling fear even in Indra and his adversaries. At that very place, Hari offered praise to both Hara and Keśava, saying, “Salutations to you who hold the spear; salutations to you who wield the sword. Salutations again and again to the lord of speech, to the bearer of fortune.” With hands joined in reverence, he swiftly made his obeisance, honoring both lords with devotion.