t that that child was
the foremost of all Beings, the lord of Uma, Mahadeva of immeasurable
prowess. He then praised the Lord. The deities also began to hymn the
praises of both Uma and Rudra. The arm (which had been paralysed) of the
slayer of Vala then became restored to its former state. The Mahadeva,
taking birth as the Brahmana Durvasa of great energy, resided for a long
time at Dwaravati in my house. While residing in my abode he did diverse
acts of mischief. Though difficult of being borne, I bore them yet from
magnanimity of heart. He is Rudra; he is Shiva; he is Agni; he is Sarva;
he is the vanquisher of all; he is Indra, and Vayu, and the Aswins and
the god of lightning. He is Chandramas; he is Isana; he is Surya; he is
Varuna; he is Time; he is the Destroyer; he is Death; he is the Day and
the Night; he is the fortnight; he is the seasons; he is the two
twilights; he is the year. He is Dhatri and he is Vidhatri; and he is
Viswakarma; and he is conversant with all things. He is the cardinal
points of the compass and the subsidiary points also. Of universal form,
he is of immeasurable soul. The holy and illustrious Durvasa is of the
complexion of the celestials. He sometimes manifests himself singly;
sometimes divides himself into two portions; and sometimes exhibits
himself in many, a hundred thousand forms. Even such is Mahadeva. He is,
again, that god who is unborn. In even a hundred years one cannot exhaust
his merits by reciting them."'"

SECTION CLXI

"'Vasudeva said, "O mighty-armed Yudhishthira, listen to me as I recite to
thee the many names of Rudra as also the high blessedness of that
high-souled one. The Rishis describe Mahadeva as Agni, and Sthanu, and
Maheswara; as one-eyed, and three-eyed, of universal form, and Siva or
highly auspicious. Brahmanas conversant with the Vedas say that that god
has two forms. One of these is terrible, and the other mild and
auspicious. Those two forms, again, are subdivided into many forms. That
form which is fierce and terrible is regarded as identical with Agni and
Lightning and Surya. The other form which is mild and auspicious is
identical with Righteousness and water and Chandramas. Then, again, it is
said that half his body is fire and half is Soma (or the moon). That form
of his which is mild and auspicious is said to be engaged in the practice
of the Brahmacharya vow. The other form of his which is supremely
terrible is engaged in all operations of dest