Upon being addressed by the gods, their revered grandsire Daksha turned to them and asked, “What should we do here? Tell us what you intend.” The gods, seeking guidance, awaited his direction. Daksha, resolute, declared, “Let weapons be quickly taken up, let battle be arranged here.” At his command, the gods armed themselves with various weapons and prepared for a great battle, joining forces against Rudra’s followers. The battlefield became a tumultuous scene, as ghouls, spirits, goblins, planets, and witches, all bearing their own weapons, clashed fiercely with the guardians of the worlds. The gods, determined, drove the fierce spirits toward Yama’s abode, unleashing dreadful arrows, swords, and axes. The spirits, enraged, retaliated by attacking the gods before Rudra, wielding blazing brands, bones, and arrows with great force. Amidst this exceedingly fierce and terrifying conflict, Rudra himself entered the fray and, with a single arrow, pierced Bhaga’s eyes. As Bhaga’s vision was destroyed by Rudra’s shower of arrows, Pushan, radiant and enraged, rushed to fight Rudra. Seeing Pushan releasing volleys of arrows, Rudra, the destroyer of enemies, responded by pulling out Pushan’s teeth. Witnessing Pushan’s teeth struck down by Rudra, the Vasus fled in all directions, and the eleven Rudras quickly departed. Seeing their sudden defeat and the gods scattering, the glorious Vishnu, younger brother of the Sun, addressed his own army: “Where has your manliness gone, abandoning pride and greatness? How is it that you do not quickly remember your resolve, your lineage, and your glory? Though endowed with the virtues of the Supreme Lord, formerly, out of fear, even the self-born Lotus-born one offered futile salutations on earth.” Having spoken thus, Hari—clad in yellow garments, holding conch, discus, and mace—mounted Garuda, his mighty vehicle. Then arose a hair-raising battle between Hari and Hara. Rudra struck Hari with the powerful Pashupata weapon, and Hari, enraged, retaliated with the Narayana weapon. These two mighty astras, released in anger, clashed in the sky, and the divine battle between Hari and Hara raged fiercely for a thousand years, each intent on destroying the other. During this epic confrontation, one wore a crown adorned with matted locks; one blew a conch, the other sounded a beautiful drum. One held a sword, the other a staff; one’s body gleamed with the Kaustubha gem, the other was adorned with sacred ashes. One whirled a mace, the other a staff; one’s neck shone with jewels, the other with bones; one was clad in yellow garments, the other wore a serpent as a belt. Thus, these two fierce rivals—Rudra and Narayana—each surpassing the other, were beheld by the Grandfather, Brahma. Brahma intervened, saying, “Let the weapons be withdrawn, O virtuous ones, each according to his own nature.” Thus addressed, both Hari and Hara became peaceful. Brahma then spoke to Vishnu and Hara: “Both of you, Hari and Hara, will become renowned in the world as gods. This sacrifice, though disrupted, will reach completion; the world will gain fame through Daksha and his lineage.” Having spoken thus, Brahma addressed the assembly: “Let Rudra’s share be given to him. Rudra’s share is the foremost portion—so declares the Vedic revelation. O gods, offer praise to Rudra, our supreme lord. Praise the god who destroyed Bhaga’s eye and Pushan’s teeth; quickly offer hymns with these names, so that, pleased in spirit, he may grant you boons.” Thus instructed, the gods, with utmost devotion, offered hymns of praise to the great-souled Shambhu, bowing to the self-born one. They said: “Salutations to the one with the fierce eye, salutations to you, Three-eyed One; salutations to the thousand-eyed, salutations to you who hold the trident. Salutations to you who hold the skull-staff, salutations to you who bear the rod in your hand; O god, your brilliance equals the blaze of a million suns and fires. O god, through ignorance and lack of discernment, we have acted wrongly; forgive us, O lord, for this offense. Salutations to the three-eyed remover of suffering, O Shambhu, trident-bearer, of fearsome face and form; lord of all gods, of pure nature, be gracious, O Rudra, imperishable one, all-pervading. O fierce-toothed Pushan, terrifying in form, whose neck is adorned by the serpent Pralamba, whose body is vast, O Achyuta, O blue-throated one, be gracious, Lord of all, embodiment of the universe. O performer of Daksha's sacrifice, whose eyes flash like Bhaga's, accept the principal share of the sacrifice; be gracious, Lord of the gods, O blue-throated one, protect us, endowed with all virtues. O deity whose form is adorned with white sandal paste, bearer of the skull, destroyer of the three cities, protect us from every danger, O consort of Uma, born from the lotus stalk. O Lord of the gods, we see within your body the origins of creation and the Vedas, complete with their limbs, knowledge, and verses—all absorbed in you, O God of gods. O Bhava, Sharva, Mahadeva, wielder of the bow, Rudra, Hara, we all bow to you, Lord of all; protect us, Supreme Lord.” Thus praised by the gods, the great Lord of gods, Maheshvara, was pleased and spoke to all the gods: “Let Bhaga's eye be restored, Pushan's teeth as well, and the sacrifice of Daksha be made whole; let the sons of Aditi regain their status, and I will remove the animal nature from you, O gods. The animal nature that arose among the gods from seeing me has been taken away by me; you shall be freed from it immediately. I am the eternal, original lord of all knowledge; I am established as the master among animals by virtue of lordship. Therefore, my name in the world shall be Pashupati; those who worship me shall have the Pashupati initiation.” Thus, peace was restored, the wounds healed, and the sacrifice completed, as the gods honored Rudra, the supreme lord, with devotion and praise.