thinking of the sorrow that attends birth and death, attained to that prosperity which is acquired by persons devoted to Yoga, in course of seven births, in consequence of my favour.  In days of yore, O Partha, I was, for some reason, born as the son of Dharma, O chief of Kuru’s race, and in consequence of such birth of mine I was celebrated under the name of Dharmaja.  I took birth in two forms, viz., as Nara and Narayana.  Riding on the vehicle that helps towards the performance of scriptural and other duties, I practised, in those two forms, undying austerities on the breast of Gandhamadana[1876] At that time the great sacrifice of Daksha took place.  Daksha, however, in that sacrifice of his, refused to give a share unto Rudra, O Bharata, of the sacrificial offerings.  Urged by the sage Dadhichi, Rudra destroyed that sacrifice.  He hurled a dart whose flames blazed up every moment.  That dart, having consumed all the preparations of Daksha’s sacrifice, came with great force towards us (Nara and Narayana) at the retreat of Vadari.  With great violence that dart then fell upon the chest of Narayana.  Assailed by the energy of that dart, the hair on the head of Narayana became green.  In fact, in consequence of this change in the hue of my hair I came to be called by the name of Munjakesa.[1877] Driven off by an exclamation of Hun which Narayana uttered, the dart, its energy being lost, returned to Sankara’s hands.  At this, Rudra became highly angry and as the result thereof he rushed towards the Rishis Nara and Narayana, endued with the puissance of severe austerities.  Narayana then seized the rushing Rudra with his hand by the throat.  Seized by Narayana, the lord of the universe, Rudra’s throat changed colour and became dark.  From that time Rudra came to be called by the name of Sitikantha.  Meanwhile Nara, for the purpose of destroying Rudra, took up a blade of grass, and inspired it with Mantras.  The blade of grass, thus inspired, was converted into a mighty battle-axe.  Nara suddenly hurled that battle-axe at Rudra but it broke into pieces.  In consequence of that weapon thus breaking into pieces, I came to be called by the name of Khandaparasu.’[1878]

“Arjuna said, ’In that battle capable of bringing about the destruction of the three worlds, who obtained the victory, O Janarddana, do thou tell me this!’”

“The blessed and holy one said, ’When Rudra and Narayana became thus engaged in battle, all the universe became suddenly filled with anxiety.  The deity of fire ceased to accept libations of even the purest clarified butter duly poured in sacrifices with the aid of Vedic Mantras.  The Vedas no longer shone by inward light in the minds of the Rishis of cleansed souls.  The attributes of Rajas and Tamas possessed the deities.  The Earth trembled.  The vault of the firmament seemed to divide in twain.  All the luminaries became deprived of their splendour.  The Creator, Brahman, himself fell from his seat.