O Sage, listen with reverence to this sacred account. Once, in profound devotion, the Supreme Person was praised as the very lord of the wheel of time, the sovereign over all existence. Salutations were offered to Him, the Supreme Person, the Lord of men, the Lord of Brahma, and the Lord of the sun—He who rules over all beings and creators. In that moment of worship, He was recognized as the embodiment of Mitra and Varuṇa, yet also as formless, sinless, and supreme above all. He was venerated as the creator who dwells above, whose energy ever ascends, and to whom all bow in humility. In utter helplessness before the weight of all sins, the devotee sought refuge in Him alone, knowing that only by His grace could liberation be found. This sacred hymn, O sage, was once spoken by the great Lord Himself in Varanasi. In that holy city, Rudra, having been overcome by sin, was rendered tranquil and peaceful through this very praise. Freed from all sin, Rudra attained a serene form and became the object of worship for the renowned and illustrious gods. It is declared that whoever recites this hymn with devotion will see their sins destroyed. Therefore, salutations are offered to Hayashirsha, to Bhava, to Vishnu, and to Trivikrama. Again and again, homage is paid to Narayana, to Him who sits upon Garuda, to the undivided fruit of desire cherished by the Brahmanas. Salutations flow to Hamsa, to Shambhu, and to Brahma accompanied by the Prajapatis. With reverence, one bows to Shiva, to Vishnu, to the golden-eyed Lord, to the Lord of cows, and to Him who is clad in yellow garments. The form of Ardhanarishvara, the destroyer of sin, is also worshipped. Salutations are offered to the universal form, to the fragrant and ever-auspicious Shiva, to the lotus-eyed Keshava, whose scent is like that of milk. The tranquil one, Markandeya, and Jambuka are honored, as are Karttikeya, Bahlika, and the crested one. Langalisha and the Lord of Shri are praised, as well as the thrice-golden one and Him adorned with the moon. Kapardin, destroyer of all diseases, is worshipped, along with Padmanabha, Hiranyaksha, and the imperishable Skanda. Constant homage is paid to Hamsa and to the supreme object of offering. Srinivasa and the supreme Purusha receive salutations, as do the Lord of plants, Pashupati, and the unchanging Lord. The flawless Lord of all, Gaurisha, and the Lord of the Nagas are honored. Yashodhara, the mighty-armed, and He who is dear to kusa grass are praised. Bhadraksha, Virabhadra, and Shankukarṇika are venerated, as are Upendra, Govinda, and the one who delights in lotuses. Kalagni, Rudra, the lord of the gods, and He who is clad in hides are worshipped, as are the thousand-eyed one, Kokanada, and Hari-Shankara. The eternal Brahma and the one who is supreme in Brahman are honored, as is Dharmaraja, the god who rides Garuda. The great yogi, the unmanifest, the destroyer of sin, is also praised as the ultimate refuge. By reciting, remembering, and hearing these sacred names and hymns, one attains blessedness, fame, and the destruction of countless sins. In another time, Vali, the son of Virocana, journeyed to Kurukshetra with the intention of performing a great sacrifice. Shukra, of the noble Bhargava lineage, called forth the foremost among the twice-born. In response, the Kaushikas and Angirasas departed from the lands of Kuru and Jangala, thus beginning a new chapter in the sacred history.