The Rivalry Between Brahma and Vishnu

Nandikeshvara said

Lord of yogis, once in ancient times Vishnu was lying asleep with a serpent for a couch, surrounded by supreme prosperity and his attendants. Then Brahma, supreme among knowers of the brahman, travelling as he wished, came there. He spoke to lotus-eyed Vishnu, beautiful in all his limbs, who was lying down: "What kind of man are you? Even though you see me, you lie there like an insolent person. Child, get up and look at me. Your lord has come. When someone sees that a guru worthy of worship has come and still behaves so insolently, atonement is recommended for such a hater." Hearing this, Vishnu was filled with rage but outwardly stayed calm. "Child, may all be well with you. Come in and take this seat. Why does your face look anxious? Why are your eyes troubled?" Brahma answered: "Vishnu, child, with the speed of time a most important person like me has come. I am the grandfather of the universe. Child, I am your protector." Vishnu said: "Child, since the whole universe is inside me, your thoughts are like a thief's. You were born from a lotus in my navel. You are my son and are speaking in vain."

Confused, they argued with each other, each trying to prove himself higher. "I am the lord. I am higher, not you. I am the lord." Wanting to kill each other, they prepared to fight. As those two brave immortals fought, so did their mounts, the swan and the bird. The followers of Virinchi and Vishnu fought on either side too. Wanting to see this extraordinary battle, gods of every kind came on their own celestial cars and watched, showering flowers from the sky. The one whose mount is Suparna angrily loosed arrows and many kinds of weapons, impossible to resist, and struck Brahma on the chest. Brahma, angry too, loosed irresistible ones at Vishnu's chest. There were arrows like fire and many weapons. It was plain that this clash was wonderful, unclear and hard to grasp. The gods watched and praised it but were also greatly agitated. As Vishnu suffered he grew extremely enraged. The clever one fitted the Maheshvara weapon and aimed it at Brahma. Brahma too grew furious. He made the universe tremble, fitted the terrible Pashupata weapon and aimed it at Vishnu's chest. As these rose into the sky it was as though ten thousand suns had risen. There were thousands of fierce mouths and a fearful storm arose. In that terrible clash between Brahma and Vishnu these two weapons faced each other. Such was the battle. All the gods were distressed and greatly agitated, and they spoke to each other as agitated brahmanas do when kings fight.

Creation, preservation and destruction come through Bhava's favour. They flow from him, and the wielder of the trident is the brahman. Without his favour and wish no one anywhere can even split a blade of grass. In their fear the gods thought they should go to Shiva's eternal abode on Mount Kailasa where Chandrashekhara lives. They saw Parameshvara's abode, which is in the shape of Pranava. They bowed and entered his residence. They saw the bull among gods seated in an assembly hall, on a pavilion inlaid with jewels. He was resplendent and Uma was with him. His folded right leg rested on his left and his lotus hands lay on his legs. His many ganas were all around him and he had every auspicious mark. Accomplished women, absorbed in their task, fanned him with whisks. The Vedas praise him and Ishvara always shows favour. Seeing Isha, the immortals were content and their eyes filled with tears. Child, from a distance the crowd bowed down like staffs. Seeing them, the lord of the gods told his ganas to bring them near. Delighting the gods, the god who was like a crest jewel among them spoke to them in deep, sweet and auspicious words full of meaning.