arth and succeeding by her creative
forces in upholding the universe. That Nature is identical with the fruit
of all acts (in the form of the diverse regions of felicity to which
creatures attain through their acts). She is also the pure Chit. She is
immortal, and invincible, and is called the Soul of the universe. From
her flows all the modifications of both Creation and Destruction. (She is
identical with my Prakriti or Nature). Divested of sex, She or He is the
penances that people undergo. He is both the sacrifice that is performed
and the sacrificer that performs the sacrifice. He is the ancient and the
infinite Purusha. He is otherwise called Aniruddha and is the source of
the Creation and the Destruction of the universe. When Brahma's night
wore off, through the grace of that Being of immeasurable energy, a lotus
made its appearance first, O thou of eyes like lotus petals. Within that
lotus was born Brahma, springing from Aniruddha's grace. Towards the
evening of Brahma's day, Aniruddha became filled with wrath, and as a
consequence of this, there sprang from his forehead a son called Rudra
vested with the power of destroying everything (when the hour for
destruction comes). These two, viz., Brahma and Rudra, are the foremost
of all the deities, having sprung respectively from the Propitiousness
and the Wrath (of Aniruddha). Acting according to Aniruddha's direction,
these two deities create and destroy. Although capable of granting boons
unto all creatures, they are, however, in the matter of the concerns to
which they attend (viz., Creation and Destruction), merely instruments in
the hands of Aniruddha. (It is Aniruddha that does everything, making
Brahma and Rudra the visible agents in respect of the universe). Rudra is
otherwise called Kaparddin. He has matted locks on his head, and
sometimes displays a head that is bald. He loves to dwell in the midst of
crematoriums which constitute his home. He is an observer of the
austerest vows. He is Yogin of mighty puissance and energy. He is the
destroyer of Daksha's sacrifice and the tearer of Bhaga's eyes. O son of
Pandu, Rudra should be known to have always Narayana for his Soul. If
that deity of deities, viz., Maheswara, be worshipped, then O Partha, is
the puissant Narayana also worshipped. I am the Soul, O son of Pandu, of
all the worlds, of all the universe. Rudra, again, is my Soul. It is for
this that I always adore him. If I do not adore the auspicious and
bo