As the great conflict raged, a voice of admonishment rang out: "Where has your manliness gone, that you abandon your pride and greatness? Why do you not swiftly recall your resolve, your noble lineage, and your glory?" The speaker reminded that even the self-born, lotus-born Brahma—though endowed with the virtues of the Supreme Lord—had once, out of fear, offered futile salutations upon the earth. Having spoken thus, Hari—clad in radiant yellow garments and holding conch, discus, and mace, the sustainer of all beings—mounted his mighty vehicle, Garuda. Then arose a hair-raising battle between Hari (Vishnu) and Hara (Rudra). Rudra, with great force, struck Hari with the mighty Pashupata weapon, and Hari, angered, responded by hurling the Narayana weapon at Rudra. These two celestial weapons, unleashed in wrath, clashed in the sky. The gods beheld a fierce and terrible contest, each deity intent on overcoming the other, and for a thousand years their divine battle raged on. One combatant wore a crown adorned with matted locks; one blew a conch, while the other sounded a beautiful drum. One brandished a sword, the other a staff; one’s body shone with the Kaustubha gem, the other was adorned with sacred ashes. One whirled a mace, the other a staff; one’s neck gleamed with jewels, the other with bones. One was clothed in yellow garments, the other wore a serpent as a belt. Thus, these two—Rudra and Narayana—fierce and rivalrous, each surpassing the other, were observed by the Grandfather, Brahma. Seeing the devastation, Brahma addressed them: "Let the weapons be withdrawn, O virtuous ones, each according to his own nature." Hearing Brahma’s words, both deities set aside their wrath and became peaceful. Brahma then spoke to Vishnu and Hara: "Both of you, Hari and Hara, shall become renowned throughout the world as gods. Though this sacrifice was disrupted, it will be completed; the world shall gain fame through Daksha and his lineage." Having thus addressed Hari and Hara, Brahma turned to the assembly and proclaimed, "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 Pūṣan’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, O Three-eyed One; salutations to the thousand-eyed, salutations to you who hold the trident. Salutations to you who bear the skull-staff, salutations to you who hold the rod; 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 Pūṣan, 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, Śarva, Mahādeva, 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, Maheśvara, was pleased and addressed all the gods: "Let Bhaga's eye be restored, Pūṣan'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 you from seeing me has now been taken away; you shall be freed from it at once. "I am the eternal, original lord of all knowledge; I am established as the master among animals by virtue of my lordship. Therefore, my name in the world shall be Paśupati; those who worship me shall have the Paśupati initiation." When Rudra had spoken thus, Brahmā, the grandsire of the worlds, affectionately and with a smile, addressed him: "Certainly, O god, Paśupati will become renowned in the world; and this deity will be known by your name; you will be worshipped by all gods and others." Then Brahmā, wise and gracious, turned to Daksha: "Give Gaurī to Rudra, whom you had previously prepared." In the presence of Brahmā, Daksha gave that maiden, Gaurī of supreme beauty, to the great Rudra. Rudra accepted her according to the proper rites, with great respect, honoring Daksha's wishes. When the maiden, daughter of Daksha, had been accepted, the grandsire gave Rudra his abode, the sacred Mount Kailāsa, in the presence of all the gods. Rudra, accompanied by his attendants, went to Mount Kailāsa. The gods, filled with joy, returned to their own abodes, while Brahmā and Daksha went to the city of the progenitors. Now, while Rudra, the supreme lord, was residing there, Gaurī became angry, recalling her father's enmity against her husband. She reflected on how Daksha had previously wronged her by destroying the sacrifice, and resolved, "I shall assume another body. Having performed austerities, I will be born in his house; but how can I go to my father Daksha, whose family has been ruined?