In the midst of the tumultuous battle at Daksha’s sacrifice, Ganesha stepped forward, blocking the mighty plough with his mace. Khagadhvaja, enraged by the resistance, hurled his discus at Virabhadra. Then, abandoning his trident, the lord of the gods with the fish-shaped body rushed at the flying discus, as though it were the demon Madhu himself. Murari, the slayer of Madhu, approached the lord of the hosts, seized him, and dashed him forcefully to the ground. Blood poured from the mouth of the defeated, and the discus was halted. Hrishikesha, undeterred, took up the discus and hurled it again at Virabhadra. After suffering defeat, he went and reported the outcome to Vasudeva. Hearing of the defeat, the imperishable Vasudeva grew angry, hissing like a serpent. At the place previously designated, he stood armed and ready. The trident-bearer, his eyes burning red with rage, entered the sacrificial enclosure. He who brings destruction entered Daksha’s sacrifice, and the foremost of the seers was struck with fear. Withdrawing from the chaos, he remained hidden within the crooked mango tree. She, transformed, became the best of rivers, known as Sita Sarasvati. The Kandishikas, approaching Shankara, attained dissolution. Having obtained the sacrificial cake and other foods, O great sage, he sprang up, ascended the sky, and took his own abode. With hands joined in reverence and offering flowers, they stood bowed, O sage. She lamented pitiably for Indra and the other lords of the gods, mourning their fate. Many of the immortals were struck down by blows of the palm, while others—gods and their kin—were destroyed by the fire of his gaze. Then, out of anger, one stretched out his arms and rushed at Maheśvara. Śaṅkara caught him with both arms, holding him firmly with one hand. Streams of blood flowed from his fingers in all directions. He swung his opponent about constantly, like a lion with a young deer, until the arms became limp and the sinews and joints were torn apart. Again and again, he called out, "Come here, Kāpālin," to the Lord of the chariot. Struck by a fist, his teeth fell to the ground. He collapsed, unconscious, like a mountain struck by a thunderbolt. With his two terrible eyes, he glared at Vṛṣadhvaja and cast him down to the earth, agitating all the gods. Then, having bowed, all stood with joined palms, O sage, humbled before the power of Maheśvara. In his wrath, he sought to burn up all the gods and asuras. Out of fear, seeing Hara’s fury, many fled to the abode of Yama. The moment they were seen by his third eye, they were reduced to ashes. He fled, movement faltering, accompanied by the southern direction, into the sky. Taking up the Pāśupata missile, Maheśvara, in the form of Time, stood ready. With half his form in the sky, Śarva was described as the embodiment of Time. O foremost sage, you are asked to explain in full his characteristics and true nature. By whom, indeed, was the sky pervaded, desiring the welfare of the worlds? The sign of Aries, the field of Mars, is said to be the head of that Time-formed one.