Brahmā, the Four-faced Creator, gathered the serpents and declared, “I will establish an agreement between you and humans. Therefore, all of you, listen closely to my command with one mind.” He granted the serpents three delightful realms—Pātāla, Vitala, and Harmya—as their abodes, instructing them to go there. “By my command,” he continued, “enjoy many kinds of pleasures in these places, and remain there until the seventh night, again and again.” He foretold, “Then, at the dawn of Vaivasvata’s era, you, descendants of Kāśyapa, will become heirs to all the gods and to the wise Suparṇa. At that time, all your offspring will be consumed by Citrabhānu, but for you, there will be no fault in this—of this, there is no doubt. Those serpents who are cruel and unruly—their end will come, inevitably. When the time is right, you may bite and devour, especially if wronged by a human.” Brahmā also cautioned them, “Those humans who move about protected by mantras, herbs, and Garuḍa-circles, or are bound and seen—toward them, behave with fear; do not act otherwise, for if you do, you will perish.” Thus addressed, all the serpents went to the earth’s surface and remained, enjoying pleasures, playfully established in Rasātala. Having received both curse and favor from the Four-faced One, they dwelt joyfully in Pātāla, their hearts content. All these events occurred for those great souls on the fifth lunar day, making this date blessed, auspicious, and a remover of all sins. Whoever, on this day, restrains himself, avoids sour things, and bathes the serpents with milk, will find the serpents become his friends. At this point, Prajāpāla, full of curiosity, asked, “How was Kārttikeya born from ego, O best of twice-born? Please resolve this doubt, O great sage.” Mahātapā replied, “The Supreme Person, remembered as the essence of all principles, from him arose the unmanifest, and from that, the threefold principles beginning with the elements. Between the person and the unmanifest, the great principle (mahat) arose; that is called ahaṃkāra, ego, which is declared as the great one. The person is called Viṣṇu, or, by name, Śiva; the unmanifest is the goddess Umā, or Śrī with lotus-like eyes. From their union arises ego, and he is the commander Guha. I will now tell you of his origin—listen, O king of great wisdom.” He continued, “First was the god Nārāyaṇa; from him came Brahmā; then from him, others such as Svāyambhuva and the Marīcis, born from the sun. From them arose the gods, the demons, the gandharvas, humans, birds, cattle, and all beings—this is creation. When creation expanded, the mighty gods and demons, adopting rivalry, fought each other, each seeking victory.” Among the powerful demons, Mahātapā named their leaders: Hiraṇyakaśipu first, then Hiraṇyākṣa, Vipracitti, Vicitti, Bhīmākṣa, and Krauñca. These strong heroes, in great battles, continually defeated the army of the gods with sharp arrows, day after day. Seeing their defeat, Bṛhaspati spoke to the gods, “Your army is weak, O gods, for lack of a leader. The divine army cannot be protected by Indra alone; therefore, quickly seek out a commander.” So, the gods went to the Grandfather of the worlds, Brahmā, and with agitation, pleaded, “Give us a commander.” Brahmā pondered, “What should I do for them?” He then reflected in his mind upon Rudra. The gods, with gandharvas, sages, siddhas, and cāraṇas, placing Brahmā at their head, journeyed to Mount Kailāsa. There, they saw the great god Śiva, Lord of beings. Indra and the other gods of heaven praised him with various hymns: “We all bow down, seeking refuge, to the great Lord, the three-eyed, the creator of beings; O husband of Umā, Lord of the universe, Lord of the winds, Lord of the world, Śaṅkara, protect us yourself. O bearer of the trident, supreme person, unfailing one, whose matted locks are adorned by the crescent moon, whose radiance illumines all three worlds—protect the three worlds within the belly from the demons. You are the primordial god, the supreme person, Hari, Bhava, the great Lord, destroyer of the triple city, the mighty one, destroyer of Bhaga’s eye, ancient foe of the demons, bull-bannered one—protect, O best of the gods. O Lord born of the mountain, beloved of the mountain’s daughter, master, worshipped by all the immortal realms, Lord of the Gaṇas, Lord of beings, eternal, imperishable Śiva—protect us, destroyer of the foremost demons, unfailing one. You are established in the elements beginning with earth; you are the essence of sound, especially in the sky; in air you are twofold, in fire threefold, in water fourfold, in earth fivefold—protect us. You are of the nature of fire, present in trees and stones; you are of the nature of existence, likewise in waters. The glorious great Lord is of the nature of radiance. O Hara, protect us who are afflicted by hosts of demons. When this universe did not exist, O Three-eyed One, how could there be the sun, the moon, or the lord of wealth? At that time, you alone, O One with opposing eyes, existed, free from all limitations and measures. O Lord adorned with a garland of skulls, crowned with the crescent moon, dwelling in cremation grounds, covered in white ash, whose body is wrapped by the king of serpents, remover of death, O Lord of the gods, protect us with your wise power. You are the Supreme Person, and this power is the daughter of the mountain; O Lord, she is present in all your limbs. In the form of the trident, the three worlds are held in your hand, and in your three eyes dwell the three sacrificial fires. In the form of your matted hair are all the oceans, the great mountains, and all the rivers. The moon, supreme knowledge, abides in you. O God, those with faulty vision do not perceive this. You are Nārāyaṇa, the origin of the worlds; likewise, you are Bhava and the Four-faced One. According to the distinctions of existence and fire, and according to the divisions of the ages, you are established in threefold ways. These leaders of the gods, O Lord, desiring their own welfare, praise you and not another. Therefore, O Ornamented with Ashes, be gracious to us. O Lord of the universe, Rudra, we bow to you; protect us.” Thus praised by the gods, Rudra, the Lord of creatures, spoke to them without agitation, “Tell me quickly, what is to be done?