As the gods, men, and ancestors watched with anticipation, Keshava—Lord Vishnu—churned with great effort. From this churning, something wondrous began to arise, witnessed by all present. When it manifested before them, the Blessed Lord Keshava spoke, addressing the assembled beings. He entrusted the Moon, Soma, with the task of protecting all creatures. At that moment, Narada swiftly recounted everything that had transpired before Soma. Yet, Soma, oppressed by Daksha’s curse, faded from sight, his brilliance dimmed. As he went where the curse compelled him, Soma spoke falteringly, his suffering evident. Daksha, seeing his first son so afflicted by the Moon’s waning, was deeply troubled. But Vishnu bestowed strength upon Chandra, restoring his vigor. Witnessing this, Brahma addressed Vishnu, the slayer of Madhu, recounting again and again how Chandra was afflicted by the new moon, his radiance diminished. For the sake of the former Moon, Brahma, revered by the worlds, turned to Vishnu and offered salutations: “Salutations to Krishna, salutations to Vishnu, salutations to the victorious one—repeated salutations. Victory to you, Govinda of great power! Victory to you, Vishnu! Victory to you, Padmanabha!” At that time, Brahma, creator of the worlds, also praised the goddess, honoring her presence. Then Brahma commanded Soma: “Go, at my command, to the most excellent Mahākāla forest. Worship him there with all your effort—he will grant you a body.” Thus, repeatedly addressed by Vāsudeva and Brahma, Soma, the virtuous one, arrived at the sacred forest. Seeing the liṅga, he praised it with a hymn, offering heartfelt salutations: “Salutations to the god of gods, the three-eyed, the great-souled one; to the great god, the bearer of the trident, attended by spirits and goblins; to the destroyer of Pūṣan’s teeth and the slayer of Andhaka; to the wild one with hair standing upright, to Bhairava—salutations, salutations! To the one who destroyed the Daru forest and wields a sharp trident; to the one holding a fierce staff, whose mouth is like the submarine fire; to the destroyer of Daksha’s sacrifice, the one who causes fear in the world, the matted-haired, the fierce—salutations to you, lord of all gods.” Though invisible, Candra praised the Lord with these words. Pleased by the hymn, Shiva spoke: “Speak, Soma, what do you desire?” Soma replied, “By your grace, O Lord, I wish for brilliance, radiance, form, and beauty. By your favor, O great Lord, I wish to regain my own state.” This boon was granted to the king of the twice-born, Soma, through the grace of the liṅga. Thus, in the three worlds, the sacred site became renowned as Someśvara. Those who perform meritorious deeds there attain the supreme state, freed from the sufferings of birth and so forth, merging in Shiva himself. And those who have not seen or worshipped the god Someśvara—let them know that Someśvara alone is to be worshipped, the destroyer of leprosy. He is the foundation of all worlds. Whoever worships Someśvara, freed from fear and suffering, enjoys a long life in Shiva’s realm. With golden flowers, O goddess, the Someśvara liṅga is to be worshipped, for it possesses the power to destroy sin. This, O beloved goddess, is the truth I have revealed to you. By merely seeing him—even in a dream—how could hell arise for anyone? Once, O goddess, in the Kali age, in the era called Vārāha, people appeared who were without boundaries, without foundation, without homes, and atheistic.