Hearing the demon’s request, Lord Rudra—though displeased—laughed and granted him the boon, uttering the sacred syllable “Om.” It was as if nectar was being offered to a serpent, for the gift, though precious, would bring only ruin to its recipient. To test the boon’s power, the demon Vṛkāsura immediately tried to place his own hand upon Śambhu’s (Śiva’s) head. But Lord Śiva, suddenly fearful of the consequences of his own act, quickly withdrew. Vṛkāsura pursued him relentlessly, and Śiva, trembling with fear, fled with all his might. He ran to the very ends of heaven and earth, to every quarter, and even plunged into the waters, seeking escape. The lords of the gods, unable to find any remedy for this predicament, sat in silence. At last, Śiva made his way to Vaikuṇṭha, that radiant realm beyond darkness. There, Lord Nārāyaṇa himself resides—the supreme goal of those who have renounced the world, the peaceful sages who have laid down their staff and from whose abode none return. Seeing Śiva so afflicted, the Lord, destroyer of all evil, approached from afar. By his yogic power, he had assumed the form of a young brahmachāri, a celibate student. He wore a belt, deerskin, and staff, and his radiance blazed like fire. In his hand he held kuśa grass, and with humility he greeted Śiva respectfully. The Blessed Lord spoke: “O son of Śakuni, you seem weary—have you traveled from afar? Rest a while, for this Self is the fulfiller of all desires. If your purpose is not too secret for us to hear, O mighty one, please share it. For generally, men seek to achieve their aims through others.” Thus questioned by the Lord, whose words were like a shower of nectar, Śiva’s fatigue vanished, and he recounted all that had transpired. The Lord said, “If this is so, then we will not believe the words of one who, by Dakṣa’s curse, has become a demon and lord of ghosts and spirits. If you truly have faith there, O lord of the Dānavas, in the Teacher of the Universe, then, dear one, quickly place your hand on your own head and let it be proven. If the words of Śambhu are in any way untrue, O best of Dānavas, then abandon him as a speaker of falsehood, for one who speaks lies should not be followed again.” Confused by the Lord’s clever and artful words, the foolish Vṛkāsura forgot himself and placed his own hand upon his head. Instantly, his head split apart and he fell to the ground, struck down like a felled ox. From the heavens arose cries of “Victory!”, “Homage!”, and “Well done!” Showers of flowers descended as the wicked Vṛkāsura was slain. The gods, sages, ancestors, and gandharvas rejoiced, and Śiva was freed from distress. The Supreme Person then addressed the liberated Lord of the Mountain: “O great god, O divine one, this wicked being has been destroyed by his own evil. O Lord, who among the mighty, having committed sin, can survive? What then if one offends the Teacher of the World?” The Lord further declared, “Whoever recounts or hears of this deliverance of the Lord of the Mountain, wrought by the Supreme Self, Hari, whose power is unfathomable, is freed from the cycles of birth and death, as are their enemies.” In another time, on the banks of the Sarasvatī, the sages were performing a great sacrifice. Among them arose a debate: “Of the three Lords—Brahmā, Viṣṇu, or Śiva—who is the greatest?” Desiring to know the truth, they sent Bhṛgu, the son of Brahmā, to test each one. First, Bhṛgu went to the assembly of Brahmā. He did not offer obeisance or praise, deliberately testing Brahmā’s nature. The Lord became angry, his brilliance blazing, but, master of himself, Brahmā restrained the anger that had arisen within, just as a progenitor holds back fire with water from his own source. Bhṛgu then journeyed to Mount Kailāsa, where the god Maheśvara (Śiva), rising joyfully, embraced his brother. But Bhṛgu did not wish to return the embrace, thinking him disrespectful. The god’s eyes blazed with anger, and he raised his trident, intent on killing Bhṛgu. At that moment, the goddess Pārvatī fell at Śiva’s feet and soothed him with gentle words. Next, Bhṛgu went to Vaikuṇṭha, where the god Janārdana (Viṣṇu) resides. There, Viṣṇu was lying with Lakṣmī on his chest. Bhṛgu struck the Lord with his foot on the chest. Instantly, the Lord, the refuge of the virtuous, rose together with Lakṣmī. Descending from his bed, he bowed his head to the sage and said, “Welcome, O Brāhmaṇa, please be seated for a moment. O Lord, forgive us who did not know of your arrival. Purify me, along with the world and the guardians of the world devoted to me, with the water that has washed your feet, O maker of holy places among the holy. Today, O Lord, I have become the exclusive recipient of Lakṣmī’s favor; prosperity, freed from sin by the touch of your feet, will dwell upon my chest.” Hearing these gentle words in Vaikuṇṭha, Bhṛgu was deeply satisfied, fulfilled, silent, and overwhelmed with devotion; tears filled his eyes. He then returned to the assembly of sages devoted to Brahman and described all he had directly experienced. Hearing this, the sages, astonished and free from doubt, placed even greater faith in Viṣṇu, from whom peace and fearlessness arise. For from Him alone arise dharma, knowledge, renunciation, eightfold sovereignty, and fame that removes impurities of the self. He is declared the supreme goal of the sages who have laid down their rods, who are peaceful, equal-minded, possessing nothing, and virtuous. His beloved form is sattva, and the brāhmaṇas are his chosen deities; the peaceful, desireless, and wise worship him without seeking reward. By His māyā, endowed with the guṇas, the threefold classes—rākṣasas, asuras, and suras—are created; and sattva is the means to attain that holy place. Thus, the Sarasvata brāhmaṇas, for the removal of people’s doubts, attained the supreme destination by serving the lotus feet of the Supreme Person. Whoever, with their ears as vessels, repeatedly drinks this nectar—fragrant with the lotus feet of the sage’s son, which removes the fear of worldly existence and concerns the Supreme Person—such a traveler abandons the fatigue of wandering the path of life. Once, in Dvārakā, the newborn son of a brāhmaṇa’s wife, having just touched the earth, died, O descendant of Bharata.