The Ocean itself became dry.  The mountains of Himavat became riven.  When such dire omens appeared everywhere, O son of Pandu, Brahma surrounded by all the deities and the high-souled Rishis, soon arrived at that spot where the battle was raging.  The four-faced Brahma, capable of being understood with the aid of only the Niruktas, joined his hands and addressing Rudra, said,—­Let good happen to the three worlds.  Throw down thy weapons, O lord of the universe, from desire of benefiting the universe.  That which is unmanifest, indestructible, immutable, supreme, the origin of the universe, uniform, and the supreme actor, that which transcends all pairs of opposites, and is inactive, has, choosing to be manifested, been pleased to assume this one blessed form, (for though double, the two but represent the same form).  This Nara and Narayana (the displayed forms of Supreme Brahman) have taken birth in the race of Dharma.  The foremost of all deities, these two are observers of the highest vows and endued with the severest penances.  Through some reason best known to Him, I myself have sprung from the attribute of His Grace.  Eternal as thou art, for thou hast ever existed since all the past creations, thou too hast sprung from His Wrath.  With myself then, these deities, and all the great Rishis, do thou adore this displayed form of Brahma, and let peace be unto all the worlds without any delay.—­Thus addressed by Brahma, Rudra forthwith cast off the fire of his wrath, and set himself to gratify the illustrious and puissant God Narayana.[1879] Indeed, he soon placed himself at the disposal of the adorable boon-giving and puissant God Narayana.  That boon-giving God Narayana, who hath his wrath and the senses under control, soon became gratified and reconciled with Rudra.  Well-adored by the Rishis, by Brahma, and by all the deities, that great God, the Lord of the universe, otherwise called by the name of Hari, then addressed the illustrious Isana and said these words:—­He that knows thee, knows me.  He that follows thee, follows me.  There is no difference between thee and me.  Do thou never think otherwise.  The mark made by thy lance on my chest will from this day assume the form of a beautiful whirl, and the mark of my hand on thy throat will also assume a beautiful shape in consequence of which thou shalt, from this day, be called by the name of Sreekantha.’”

“The blessed and holy one[1880] continued.  ’Having mutually caused such marks on each other’s person, the two Rishis Nara and Narayana thus made friends with Rudra. and dismissing the deities, once more set themselves to the practice of penances with a tranquil soul.  I have thus told thee, O son of Pritha, how in that battle which took place in days of yore between Rudra and Narayana, the latter got the victory.  I have also told thee the many secret names by which Narayana is called and what the significations are, O Bharata, of one of those names, which, as I have told thee, the Rishis, have bestowed upon the