Rudra, filled with righteous indignation, approached Brahmā and spoke: “O Lord, though you created me before all, why is it that in these sacrifices no share is ever assigned to me? Because of this neglect, O Lord of gods, these deities—born from sacrifice—have become confused and consumed by anger.” Hearing Rudra’s words, Brahmā addressed the gods and the Asuras alike: “O gods, for the sake of true knowledge, praise Śambhu with hymns. Whomever the blessed Rudra is pleased with, to that one comes omniscience and the fulfillment of all desires.” Thus instructed, the gods offered their heartfelt praises to the great-souled Rudra. Their voices rose in reverence: “Salutations to the god above gods, the three-eyed one, whose eyes are red and tawny, whose matted locks crown his head. O Lord attended by spirits and goblins, adorned with a great serpent as your sacred thread, with a wide mouth and terrible laughter—salutations to you, O matted-haired, O immovable one. “We bow to you, destroyer of Pūṣan’s tooth, who struck out Bhaga’s eye, future bearer of the bull-mark, great lord of beings. Salutations to you, future destroyer of Tripura, slayer of Andhaka, dweller of Kailāsa’s heights, wearer of an elephant hide. “Again and again we bow to you, fierce one with disheveled hair, Bhairava, terrible as blazing fire, wearer of the moon as a crest. Salutations to the supreme lord, the skull-bearer to be, the vow-keeper, destroyer of the Daru forest, wielder of the sharp spear. “Homage to you, adorned with serpent bracelets, blue-throated, trident-bearing, holding a fierce staff, with the mouth of submarine fire. Salutations to you, known through Vedānta, embodiment of sacrifice, destroyer of Dakṣa’s sacrifice, who brings awe to the world. “Salutations to the lord of the universe, to Śiva, Śambhu, Bhava, the matted-haired, the fierce, the great god.” Thus praised by the gods, Śambhu, the eternal wielder of the mighty bow, spoke: “O gods, I am the Lord of gods. Tell me, what would you have me do?” The gods replied, “O Bhava, grant us the Vedas, the scriptures, and knowledge without delay. Reveal to us the secret of sacrifice, if you are pleased with us, O Lord.” Mahādeva answered, “All of you shall become my cattle together; I shall be your Lord, and thus you will attain liberation.” The gods agreed, saying, “So be it!” Thus, he became known as Paśupati, the Lord of Living Beings. With a heart full of gladness, Brahmā addressed Paśupati: “O Lord of gods, the fourteenth lunar day shall be yours, without doubt. On that day, those who worship you with faith, after fasting, should eat wheat food together with the twice-born.” So, on that day, Rudra, who was fasting, received from Brahmā—the one born from the unmanifest—the teeth, eyes, and the fruits from the sacrifice of Bhaga and Pūṣan, and he also obtained complete knowledge among the gods. In this way, Rudra’s origin from Brahmā came to pass in ancient times, and by this very procedure, he is called the Lord of the gods. Whoever rises in the morning and listens daily to this story becomes free from all sins and attains the world of Rudra. The great ascetic continued: “O King, listen as I explain the origin of the ancestors. Long ago, Brahmā, Lord of creatures, wishing to create various beings, concentrated his mind deeply. He placed all the subtle elements outside himself and, desiring creation, meditated with intense effort on the supreme Brahman. Then, as the supreme lord united within himself, from his body emerged subtle elements, shining with a smoky color and form. These beings said, ‘Let us drink,’ and called the gods ‘Soma.’ Desiring to ascend, they remained in the sky, practicing austerity. Seeing them, Brahmā said to those lying horizontally with faces turned upward, ‘You shall be the ancestors of all householders.’ Those whose faces were turned upward are known as the Nāndīmukha ancestors, always to be honored at rites for prosperity, as prescribed by the scriptures. The twice-born who maintain the sacred fire should satisfy them with regular, occasional, and desired offerings, as well as with fortnightly rites. Kshatriyas, covered with outer garments, should also honor them, and those who drink clarified butter should always be honored by the people. Shudras, with permission from Brahmins, should properly honor their own ancestors, but without the prescribed mantras and rituals. Brahmins, Kshatriyas, and Vaishyas who do not maintain the sacred fire should always honor their ancestors at the proper time, in front of the household fire. When you worship the ancestors in this way, they grant your wishes—life, fame, wealth, sons, knowledge, noble lineage, and memory. Having established this, Brahmā gave them the path called the southern course, as the grandsire of the ancestors. He then created beings in silence, and the ancestors said to him, ‘O Lord, grant us a means of subsistence so that we may attain happiness.’ Brahmā replied, ‘Let the new moon day be yours. On that day, when satisfied by humans with water mixed with kusa grass and sesame seeds, you attain supreme satisfaction—never otherwise.’ Sesame seeds should be offered on this day, after fasting with devotion to the ancestors; thus satisfied, they quickly grant a boon. The great ascetic continued: Atri, the mind-born son of Brahmā, was a sage of great renown. His son was Soma, who became the son-in-law of Daksha. The twenty-seven daughters of Daksha are famous; they are known as the wives of Soma, with Rohini being the foremost. It is said that Soma delighted only in Rohini and not in the others. The rest, feeling neglected, went together and complained to Daksha about Soma’s lack of fairness. Daksha repeatedly spoke to Soma, urging him to treat his wives equally, but Soma did not change his ways. Finally, Daksha cursed him, saying, “Become hidden.” Afflicted by the curse, Soma was about to abandon his body. He said to Daksha, “So shall it be for you: though you will have many offspring, you too will abandon this eternal Brahma-body.” Thus, the tales of Rudra’s share in sacrifice, the origin of the ancestors, and the story of Soma and Daksha unfolded in the ancient days.