Desiring to begin creation anew, the blessed Lord brought forth seven mind-born sons, starting with Daksha. Through these sons, the world of creatures once again flourished. Among Daksha’s children were born the gods, led by Indra—the eight Vasus, the Rudras, the Adityas, and the Maruts, all manifesting from his lineage. Gauri, she of beautiful hips, was given by Brahma to Daksha as his daughter. She was formerly wedded to Rudra, the great soul. This goddess, Dakshayani, was born again, and Daksha, delighted at the growth of his grandsons, beheld the increase of his lineage. Rejoicing, he commenced a grand sacrifice for the joy of Prajapati. At this sacrifice, all the sons of Brahma, beginning with Marichi, undertook their priestly duties, each steadfast in his own sacred path. Brahma himself, Marichi, and the others took their assigned places. Atri engaged in the sacrificial rites, Agnidra became Angiras, Pulastya served as the hotṛ priest, Pulaha as the udgātṛ, and the great ascetic Kratu was the prastotṛ at the yajña. Pracetas took the role of pratihartṛ in that supreme sacrifice, Subrahmaṇya was Vasiṣṭha, and Sanaka and his brothers sat as members of the assembly. Brahma himself was the yajamāna—the chief sacrificer—revered and worshipped by all. The grandsons of Daksha—the Rudras, Adityas, Angiras, and others—were honored as the visible ancestors, for by pleasing them, the world itself is satisfied. The gods who sought their shares of the sacrifice included the Adityas, Vasus, Visvadevas, Pitṛs, Gandharvas, and the hosts of Maruts. Each received their proper portion as long as the offerings were made. At that very moment, Brahma again rose up from the cosmic waters. Rudra, who had been born from anger and previously immersed in the great waters, then emerged, radiant as a thousand suns. This god, pure and all-knowing, embodying all the gods within himself, became visible through his ascetic power, perceiving all the worlds. At that time, O best of men, five kinds of creation came into being: the divine beings and the four classes dwelling upon the earth. The Raudra creation—the fierce and terrible beings—arose immediately then. Now, listen to the account of the creation of Rudra. After performing austerity for ten thousand years in the great waters, Rudra awoke and beheld the earth, lush with forests, abundant crops, and teeming with humans and animals. As he gazed upon this scene, he heard the sounds of officiating priests at Daksha’s abode, their voices rising in concentrated yogic recitation during the sacrifice. Hearing this, the all-knowing Lord, blazing with energy, was seized by intense anger and spoke: “I was created by the great sage, the all-pervading one, with the command: ‘Create beings!’ This was truly spoken. But now, who has performed this act—this creation and its beginning?” Thus speaking, the Supreme Lord, filled with wrath, let out a mighty roar. From his ears, as he roared, flames burst forth, and from those flames arose fearsome beings—vetālas, fierce spirits, pretas, and piśācas. Kūṣmāṇḍas and yātudhānas, all with blazing faces and armed with various weapons, appeared there by the millions. Beholding these hosts, Rudra created a most splendid chariot, endowed with the limbs of Vedic knowledge. Upon this chariot were the Ṛg and other Vedas, horses, the threefold essence, the triple braid, the triple worship, the three pressings, the righteous dice, and the sound of the wind. Day and night served as his two banners; righteousness and unrighteousness as his two rods. The chariot itself was all knowledge, with Brahma as the charioteer, accompanied by the other gods. Gayatri was his bow, Om the bowstring, and the seven notes became the arrows of that Lord of gods. Having assembled these divine implements, the glorious Lord, filled with wrath, set out for Daksha’s sacrifice. As Rudra advanced, leading the Angirasa spirits through the sky, the collection of mantras chanted by the priests was lost at his arrival. Witnessing this ominous reversal, the priests cried out, “Let the gods arm themselves; a great danger has come upon you!” They warned, “Some powerful being, created by Brahma, is coming here to claim a share of the sacrifice, which is most difficult to obtain in this rite.” Thus alarmed, the gods turned to their grandsire, saying, “Daksha, revered one, what should we do? Tell us your will.” Daksha replied, “Let weapons be quickly taken up; let battle be arranged here.” At his command, the gods, bearing many weapons, prepared for a great battle against Rudra’s followers. There, ghouls, spirits, goblins, planets, and witches, all armed, fought fiercely with the guardians of the worlds. The gods drove the fierce spirits toward the abode of Yama, hurling dreadful arrows, swords, and axes. In return, the spirits, enraged, attacked the gods before Rudra, wielding blazing brands, bones, and arrows. In the midst of that terrifying battle, Rudra pierced Bhaga’s eyes with a single arrow. Blinded, Bhaga fell, and the radiant Pushan, enraged, fought with Rudra. When Rudra saw Pushan releasing volleys of arrows, the destroyer of enemies struck out and pulled out Pushan’s teeth. Seeing Pushan’s teeth knocked out by Rudra, the Vasus fled in all directions, and even the eleven Rudras quickly departed. Witnessing their sudden defeat and the flight of the gods, the glorious Vishnu, the younger brother of the Sun, addressed his own army with these words.