andsire then, having worshipped
the divine and eternal Vishnu, addressed that great boon-giving god,
saying, "It behoveth thee, O Kesava, to show mercy on the present
occasion. Let it be so ordained by thee that the confusion that has
occurred may disappear." Thus addressed, that foremost of deities, armed
with an enormous Sula,[370] having reflected long, created his ownself
into the form of Chastisement. From that form, having Righteousness for
its legs, the goddess Saraswati created Danda-niti (Science of
Chastisement) which very soon became celebrated over the world. After
this the great god armed with the enormous Sula, having again reflected
for some time, appointed a few among the gods as the lords or rulers of
their respective classes. It was then that he made the divine Indra of a
thousand eyes the ruler of the deities. Yama the son of Vivaswat was made
the lord of the Pitris. Kuvera was made the lord of treasures and of all
the Rakshasas. Meru was made the king of the mountains, and Ocean was
made the lord of the rivers. The puissant Varuna was installed into the
sovereignty of the waters and the Asuras. Death was made the lord of life
and all living things, and Fire was appointed as the lord of all things
possessed of energy. The puissant Isana the high-souled and eternal
Mahadeva, of three eyes, was made the lord of the Rudras. Vasishtha was
made the lord of the Brahmanas, and Jatavedas was made the chief of the
Vasus. Surya was made the lord of all luminous bodies, and Chandramas was
made the king of Stars and constellations. Ansumat was made the lord of
all herbs, and the puissant and foremost of deities, viz., Kumara or
Skanda, of twelve arms, was made the chief of all the spirits and ghostly
beings (that wait upon Mahadeva). Time, possessing the seeds of both
destruction and growth, was made the sovereign of all creatures as also
of the four portions of Death (viz., weapons, diseases, Yama, and acts)
and lastly of grief and joy. The Srutis declare that the supreme god
Mahadeva, that lord of lords, O king, armed with Sula, is the chief of
the Rudras. The rod of chastisement was given to Brahmana's son of
subsequent birth, viz., Kshupa, that lord of all creatures and the
foremost one of all virtuous persons. Upon the completion of that
sacrifice according to due rites, Mahadeva, after doing proper reverence
made over Chastisement, that protector of Righteousness, unto
Vishnu.[371] Vishnu gave it to Angiras;