Then, at a time of great turmoil, Brahmā, accompanied by the gods and Asuras, hastened to a certain place. There, together with the gods, he beheld Dharma himself, manifest in the radiant form of a bull, luminous as the moon, wandering about. Upon seeing this wondrous being, Brahmā addressed the assembled gods. He said, “This is my firstborn son, Dharma, who now suffers greatly because of Soma’s transgression—Soma, who sought to seize his own brother’s wife. O great sages, this is the cause of Dharma’s distress.” Brahmā then instructed all the gods and Asuras, “Appease him, so that the balance of your states may be preserved, both gods and Asuras alike.” Hearing these words, all present—filled with joy and reverence—offered praises to Dharma, now understanding from Brahmā’s words that he was extraordinary, shining like the full moon. The gods proclaimed, “Salutations to you, O moon-like one! Salutations to you, Lord of the world! Salutations to you, divine in form, who show the path to heaven, embodiment of righteous action, all-pervading one—salutations again and again! By you is this earth protected, and by you alone the three worlds are sustained. The realms of men, ascetics, and truth are all guarded by your presence. There is nothing in the world, moving or unmoving, without you; bereft of you, the world would instantly perish. You are the soul of all beings, the very essence of goodness; you are rajas among the passionate, and tamas among the inert. You are four-footed, O god, four-horned, three-eyed, seven-handed, three-bonded, in the form of a bull—salutations to you! Without you, O god, we all stray from the right path; lead these deluded ones to the true way, for you are our supreme goal.” Thus praised by the gods, Prajapati, in the form of the bull, was pleased. With a tranquil mind and peaceful gaze, he looked upon them all. At his mere sight, the gods were instantly freed from confusion and firmly established in true righteousness. The Asuras, too, were likewise set right. Then Brahmā spoke to Dharma, “From this day forth, let the thirteenth lunar day be sacred to you, O Dharma. Whoever, having observed that day, approaches you with his sins gathered, from that person, O man, those sins shall be released. And because this forest has long been pervaded by your presence, O Lord, it shall be known as Dharmāranya, the Forest of Dharma. O Lord, the worlds know you as having four, three, two, or one foot, according to the ages beginning with Krita; thus, in the field of action and in the heavens, being properly engaged, protect your own abode and the universe.” When Brahmā had spoken thus, he became invisible before the assembled gods and Asuras. The gods, together with the bull, departed to their own abodes, free from sorrow. It is said that whoever recites this account of the origin of Dharma at a śrāddha ceremony, and satisfies the ancestors on the thirteenth day with milk-rice as best he can, attains heaven and joins the company of the gods. Śrī Varāha then continued, “O King, listen to the account of the earliest birth of Rudra.” Thus he spoke of the one great in austerity, pleased, righteous, patient, and a sage of fierce energy. Rudra was born as the lord of creatures, filled with fierce power, having realized supreme knowledge and the true nature of reality. Desiring to create, he became greatly agitated with anger at the time when the world was expanding. As he performed austerities, he became renowned and ancient, his path free from rajas and tamas. He was a bestower of boons and worthy to receive them, a giver of blessings, powerful, dark-red in hue, and a man with tawny eyes. As he cried out, Brahmā addressed him, “Do not weep; you are Rudra.” Thus he became known as the ancient one. Brahmā continued, “Lead forth creation, which has many forms; you are capable, O great one.” Upon hearing this, Rudra plunged into the waters. From himself, Daksha was born and created. At that time, the excellent gods, born from Brahmā’s mind, extended creation upon earth. In that expanded creation, the Grandsire’s supreme sacrifice was performed. Long ago, Rudra, immersed in the waters, abandoned the world, wishing to create the gods. He poured forth the sacrifice; the gods, siddhas, and yakshas approached. But Rudra, consumed by anger, thought, “By whom, out of delusion, has this world been created, surpassing me?” In his blazing wrath, he cried out, “Ha! He!” and from that cry, flames blazed forth. There arose hosts of small piśācas, vetālas, bhūtas, and groups of yogis. When the sky, earth, all directions, and worlds were filled by these beings, Rudra, in his omniscience, fashioned a bow measuring twenty-four cubits. Out of anger, he made a triple-twisted bowstring, took up the divine bow and string, and struck out the teeth of Pūṣan, the eyes of Bhaga, and the testicles of Kratu. The sacrificial priest, his seed pierced, departed from the sacrificial ground like the wind, bearing the stream of life. All the gods then approached Paśupati and offered obeisance to Bhava. Arriving there, Brahmā joyfully embraced Bhava and the gods, who were filled with devotion, and gazed upon the Lord of gods, saying, “O strong-armed one, understand the inner knowledge.” Rudra replied, “I was created by you before, yet in these sacrifices why am I not assigned a share? Because of this, O Lord of gods, these gods, born of sacrifice, have become deluded and distorted by anger.” Brahmā then said, “O gods, praise Śambhu with hymns for the sake of knowledge, and you Asuras as well; by whom the blessed Rudra is pleased, to him comes omniscience and the fruit of satisfaction.” Thus instructed, the gods offered their praises to the great-souled one: “Salutations to the god above gods, the three-eyed great soul, whose eyes are red and tawny, who wears matted locks as a crown. Salutations to the one attended by spirits and goblins, adorned with a great serpent as a sacred thread, whose mouth is wide with a terrible laugh, O matted-haired, O immovable one. Salutations to the destroyer of Pūṣan’s tooth, to the one who struck out Bhaga’s eye, to the future bearer of the bull-mark, to the great lord of beings. Salutations to the future destroyer of Tripura, to the slayer of Andhaka, to the dweller in the best of Kailāsa, to the wearer of an elephant hide. Salutations again and again to the fierce one with disheveled hair, to Bhairava, as terrible as blazing fire, to the one who wears the moon as a crest. Salutations to the supreme lord, the future skull-bearer, the vow-keeper, the destroyer of the Daru forest, the wielder of the sharp spear. Salutations to the one adorned with serpent bracelets, blue-throated, trident-bearing, holding a fierce staff, and with the mouth of submarine fire.” Thus, with reverence and devotion, did the gods praise Rudra, the great and terrible lord.