An Index to the Names in the Mahabharata, with Short Explanations and a Concordance to the Bombay and Calcutta Editions and P. C. Roy's Translation c5.s2.1121.9

c5.s2.1121.9

The Asuras had in days of yore three cities in the sky (of iron, silver, and gold respectively); Indra was unable to pierce them; the gods then repaired to Rudra (Çiva), who made Viṣṇu his shaft-head, etc. (γ), and pierced the city and burnt it together with the Asuras. Beholding Mahādeva (Çiva) transformed into a child with five locks of hair, lying upon the lap of Pārvatī, the latter asked the gods who he was. Indra resolved to kill him with his thunderbolt, but the child paralysed his arm; the gods and the Prajāpatis could not realise that it was the lord of the universe, but Brahmán by his penances found out that it was Mahādeva, and praised him, and so did the gods; Indra's arm became restored. Taking birth as Durvāsas, Çiva resided for a long time at Dvāravatī in my house. He is Rudra, etc. (δ) (XIII, 161). Kṛṣṇa continued: "Çiva has two forms: (1) one which is terrible (= Agni, lightning, and Sūrya) and engaged in all operations of destruction; (2) one which is mild and auspicious (= Righteousness, water, and the moon) and engaged in brahmacarya. These two forms again are subdivided into many forms. Half his body is Agni (fire), half is Soma (the moon)." Then Kṛṣṇa enumerated and explained many of Çiva's names, (ε) R., D., G., and Aps. worship that emblem of his which is always erect and upraised. He loves to reside in crematoria, and there he burns and consumes all corpses; those persons who perform sacrifices there attain to the regions set apart for heroes.