Upon the lofty peaks of the Himalayas, the goddess—daughter of the mountain king—stood before the mighty Graha, her heart resolute and filled with compassion. With utmost reverence, she addressed the king of the Grahas, saying, “By the supreme austerity I have performed atop these sacred heights, I beseech you: release this child. Salutations to you.” The Graha, perceiving her determination and auspicious presence, responded gently, “Do not let your austerity be wasted, O goddess, O maiden of auspicious face. Follow my guidance, and by doing so, you shall attain liberation.” Eager to act according to virtue, the goddess replied, “O lord of the Grahas, speak quickly what is blameless among the virtuous. Let it be done without hesitation, for Brahmins are dear to me.” The Graha then instructed, “Whatever austerity you have performed—whether little or supreme—grant it all to me at once. Then liberation will be yours.” Without delay, the goddess declared, “All the merit I have accumulated since birth, O mighty Graha, I give to you. Release the child, O great one.” As she spoke, the Graha blazed forth, adorned by the goddess’s transferred austerity, shining with a brilliance as fierce as the midday sun. His heart filled with satisfaction, he addressed the goddess, the sustainer of the world: “O goddess, what is this act of yours, so firmly resolved? Even acquiring austerity is difficult, and its renunciation is not praised.” He urged her, “You yourself should reclaim your austerity, O slender-waisted one, and take back the child as well. I am pleased by your devotion to Brahmins. Therefore, I grant you a boon.” Thus addressed, the goddess replied with unwavering resolve: “Even with my body, O Graha, I must protect the Brahmin with utmost care. I must regain my austerity, but the Brahmin cannot be taken again.” She continued, “Having firmly resolved, O great Graha, the liberation of the child has been accomplished. The highest austerity is never withheld from Brahmins, whom I esteem as the best.” “Having given, I do not take back, O lord of the Grahas, what is ordained for you. No man should reclaim what has been given to a Graha. This has been given by me to you; I do not take it back. Let it abide in you, and let this child be released.” Thus addressed, the Graha praised the goddess, released the child, and bowed to her before vanishing, shining like the sun. The child, freed by the Graha on the lake’s bank, disappeared, as if a treasure found in a dream had vanished. Considering the loss of her austerity, the goddess, daughter of Himavat, steadfastly began her austerities anew. Śaṅkara, knowing her desire to perform penance again, spoke to her: “O Brahmin, do not undertake austerity. This austerity, O goddess, O great-vowed one, has been given to me by you; by that, it will become inexhaustible for you a thousandfold.” Thus, having received the boon of supreme, inexhaustible austerity, the goddess stood joyful and delighted, awaiting her own choice of husband. It is said that whoever recites this account of the child-like deeds of Śaṃbhu, upon departing from the body, becomes purified and attains the status of Gaṇeśa, equal to Kumāra. In due course, on the broad slopes of Himavat, crowded with hundreds of palaces, the self-choice ceremony of the mountain’s daughter was arranged. Himavat, skilled in meditation, understanding through the god of gods that this was divinely ordained for his daughter, acted accordingly. Though the great mountain knew the outcome, desiring to uphold the agreement, he proclaimed the self-choice ceremony of the goddess throughout all the worlds: “Among all the gods, demons, siddhas, and inhabitants of every world, let my daughter choose Parameśāna openly, if she wishes.” Thinking, “This alone is virtuous and praiseworthy, and favored for my prosperity,” Himavat fixed Maheśvara in his heart. Among all the gods up to Brahmā, the noble lord of the mountains prepared a place adorned with jewels and conducted the self-choice ceremony for the goddess. As soon as the ceremony was announced, all the gods and residents of the worlds, assuming various forms, gathered for the mountain princess. Seated upon a blossoming lotus throne, surrounded by siddhas and immeasurable yogis, I was informed by the king of the mountains and arrived, accompanied by the celestials. The king of the gods, Indra, bearing a thousand eyes and adorned with divine ornaments and garlands, came riding Airāvata, the foremost among elephants, whose streams flowed with intoxicating ichor. Ascending, Indra, holding the thunderbolt, approached before the gods, his radiance and splendor surpassing all, illuminating every direction like the sun. Mounted upon a golden palace adorned with banners and flags, he came swiftly, earrings shining with jewels, his form in the palace resembling the brilliance of fire and the sun. Bhaga, the son of Kaśyapa among the Ādityas, arrived alone, robust and adorned with auspicious ornaments, possessing radiance, strength, and authority equal to his splendor. Taking up his staff, Kṛtānta arrived, mounting a formidable buffalo with speed; his body massive as a great mountain, adorned with gold and precious gems. Samīraṇa, sustainer of all worlds, ascended his palace and approached, overwhelming all lords of gods and demons, his energy greater than theirs, established in brilliance. Fire arrived, blazing among the gods, standing in the midst with a splendid form, his limbs shining with various jewels, his foremost divine palace the best in the worlds. The lord of wealth, king of kings, ascended swiftly, filling all lords of gods and demons with his radiance and appearance, beautiful in form. The moon, shining, arrived mounted upon a palace of wondrous gems, his body dark and splendidly adorned, his whole form wrapped in fragrant garlands. He, bearing the mace, swiftly mounted Tārkṣya, who was like a great mountain, and together with the two Ashvins, the foremost physicians, hurriedly boarded a single celestial vehicle. The two illustrious gods, radiant and splendid in form, arrived—valiant heroes, bearing a thousand serpents, their bodies shining with fiery hues, blazing with the brilliance of fire and the sun. That great soul, together with other serpents, ascended the celestial vehicle and approached the sons of Diti and the mighty demons, whose radiance equaled fire, sun, Indra, and wind. Adorned in attire befitting their status, the assembly gathered before the gods; the king of Gandharvas, handsome in form, adorned with divine ornaments, moved about in a celestial vehicle. Thus, upon the sacred slopes of Himavat, amidst a gathering of gods, demons, siddhas, and celestial beings, the self-choice ceremony of the goddess was set in motion, heralding the momentous union that would shape the course of the worlds.