Upon the sacred slopes of Himālaya, a wondrous scene unfolded. The land was adorned with serene lakes, their waters alive with lotus and water-lily, where fish darted beneath the surface and ducks, dātyūha, and cranes glided gracefully. The trees around these waters teemed with birds of every hue, their splendid wings flashing as they played and called out to one another, their bodies stirred with passion. All around, the gentle, pleasantly cool breezes caressed the mountain, for it was the time of the wedding of the mountain’s own daughter. From Mount Malaya, soft winds carried pure white flowers, letting them fall gently from the trees, while the auspicious qualities of all the seasons seemed to mingle and shine together. Jasmine vines flourished, entwined in mutual embrace, their blossoms humming with intoxicated bees, while heaps of stone flowers added to the beauty. The waters themselves shimmered in shades of blue, white, and red, each colored by the lotuses that bloomed there, their leaves frequented by swarms of bees, heavy with nectar. In some broad lakes, golden lotuses blossomed everywhere; in others, beautiful stalks of beryl rose from the depths; and in still others, groves of lotuses sprang up on every side. Delightful ponds, blooming with lotuses and blue water lilies, were alive with flocks of birds, and their banks were lined with rows of golden steps. The mountain’s peaks soared upward, adorned with karṇikāra trees in full bloom, shining like gold. The directions themselves seemed painted by the pāṭala trees, whose red petals and slightly split blossoms swayed in the wind. All around, great trees—kṛṣṇa, arjuna, and the tenfold blue aśoka—stood in full flower, as if competing with one another in their splendor. The forests of kiṃśuka trees shone on every slope, their lovely calls echoing through the air. At that time, Himavat’s beauty was further enhanced by tamāla and gulma trees, their dark blue clusters like clouds hidden in the mountain’s crevices. Lavishly blossoming sandalwood and campaka trees, wide-branched and tall, filled the air with their fragrance, while the intoxicated calls of male cuckoos made the mountain shine even more brilliantly. The soft, melodious songs of cuckoos resounded from all sides, causing blue-throated birds to flutter their wings and sing even more sweetly. Stirred by these enchanting calls, Kāmadeva, bow in hand, became ready to pierce the hearts of the divine maidens. Yet, as the time of the goddess’s wedding arrived, the sun’s heat grew intense and water became scarce, for the summer season had come to Himālaya. Still, the mountain’s peaks all around were adorned with trees heavy with clusters of blossoms. Delightful breezes continued to blow, carrying the mingled fragrances of pāṭala, kadamba, and arjuna trees far and wide. The ponds, filled with blooming lotuses red with their filaments, echoed with the sounds of fruit-eating geese and flocks of waterfowl along their banks. Kurabaka trees, pale with blossoms, were attended by swarms of bees on every peak, while bakula trees scattered their charming flowers in all directions across the broad slopes. Thus, all six seasons, filled with trees adorned with diverse blossoms and alive with the songs of many birds, seemed to have arrived together to witness the wedding of the daughter of the snowy mountain. At this auspicious moment, as all beings gathered and the sounds of various instruments filled the air, I too was present, O twice-born ones. I adorned the mountain’s daughter with fitting ornaments and personally led her into the city. Then, standing as the officiating priest, I addressed the Lord: “I offer the oblation into the fire for you. If you grant me permission, this ritual must be performed.” Śaṃkara, the god of gods, lord of the world, replied, “O lord of the gods, whatever you have prescribed, do as you desire; I shall carry out all your commands, O Brahman, sovereign of the universe.” With a heart full of delight, I quickly took up the sacred kuśa grass and, through yogic union, joined the hands of the god and the goddess. There, Agni himself appeared, palms joined in reverence, accompanied by hymns from the Vedas and great mantras, manifest in form. I offered the clarified butter as oblation according to the prescribed rite, making Agni the witness and leading the divine couple in circumambulation. When their hands were released, all the gods, the mind-born sons, and the accomplished sages rejoiced, their hearts full of joy. At the moment of the marriage ceremony, the brahmins, through yoga, bowed to the bull-bannered one, to the supreme pair, Umā and Parameśvara. Thus was accomplished that supreme marriage, unknown even to the gods in any other place. This is the auspicious svayaṃvara, the wondrous wedding of the god, as I have narrated to you. Then, after the wedding of Bhava, whose brilliance knows no bounds, the gods, led by Śakra, were filled with unparalleled joy. They praised him with noble words and bowed to Maheśvara, chanting: “Salutations to the one whose emblem is the mountain, to the lord of the mountain; salutations to the swift as the wind, to the deformed and unconquered; salutations to the destroyer of afflictions, giver of auspicious wealth. Salutations to the one with a blue crest, to the lord of Ambikā; salutations to the one of wind-form, to the one of a hundred forms. Salutations to the one of Bhairava form, to the one with deformed eyes; salutations to the one with a thousand eyes, to the one with a thousand feet. Salutations to the companion of the gods, to the one whose limbs are the Vedas; salutations to the restrainer of Śakra, to the sprouting arms of the Vedas. Salutations to the lord of moving and unmoving beings, to the pacifier; salutations to the one whose emblem is water, to the ender of ages. Salutations to the one adorned with a garland of skulls, to the wearer of a skull-thread; salutations to the one who holds a skull in hand, to the wielder of staff and mace. Salutations to the lord of the three worlds, to the one delighting in the realm of creatures; salutations to the one holding the khaṭvāṅga, to the remover of the distress of the Pramathas.” Thus did the gods honor the supreme Lord at his divine wedding, their hearts overflowing with devotion and joy.