Upon the lofty slopes of Himavat, the mountain of snow, the forests of kiṃśuka trees flourished in radiant beauty. Their branches, alive with birdsong, adorned every hillside and filled the air with sweet, melodious calls. At that auspicious time, Himavat’s splendor was further enhanced by groves of tamāla and gulma trees, their deep blue foliage echoing the color of clustered rain clouds that seemed to nestle within the mountain’s crevices. Sandalwood and campaka trees, tall and wide-branched, stood in full bloom, their fragrance wafting through the air. Male cuckoos, intoxicated by the season, sang from branch to branch, their voices weaving a musical tapestry that made the Himalaya shine with even greater brilliance. The gentle, alluring notes of cuckoos echoed from all directions, inspiring blue-throated birds to flutter their wings and sing with heightened sweetness. Stirred by this harmony, Kāmadeva—the god of love, bow in hand—stood ready to pierce the hearts of the divine maidens. The sun’s heat grew fierce, and water became scarce; thus, as the time of the goddess’s wedding approached, the summer season arrived upon Himālaya. Yet, the mountain’s peaks, crowned with clusters of blossoms from countless trees, were beautifully adorned on every side. Despite the season’s heat, the most delightful breezes blew across the mountain, carrying with them the fragrant essence of pāṭala, kadamba, and arjuna trees, spreading their scent far and wide. Ponds nestled among the slopes brimmed with blooming lotuses, their filaments glowing red. The air was alive with the sounds of fruit-eating geese and flocks of waterfowl gathering along the banks. Kurabaka trees, pale with their delicate blossoms, were visited by swarms of bees on every peak. On the broad mountain slopes, bakula trees released their charming flowers in all directions. Thus, the six seasons themselves seemed to have gathered for the wedding of the daughter of the snowy mountain, each bringing trees adorned with diverse blossoms and the delightful songs of many birds, O best of sages. As all beings assembled and the sounds of various instruments filled the air, I too, O twice-born, was present amidst that gathering. Having adorned the mountain’s daughter with all appropriate ornaments, I personally led her into the city, O twice-born ones. Then, standing in the role of officiating priest, I addressed the Lord: “I offer the oblation into the fire for you.” Śaṃkara, the god of gods, lord of the world, replied, “If you grant me permission, this ritual procedure must be performed.” To this I responded: “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 the power of yogic union, joined the hands of the god and the goddess. There, Agni himself manifested, palms joined in reverence, accompanied by hymns from the Vedas and mighty mantras. Having offered the clarified butter as oblation according to the prescribed rite—an offering as sweet as nectar—I made Agni the witness and led the divine couple in circumambulation around the sacred fire. After releasing their joined hands, and surrounded by all the gods, the mind-born sons, and accomplished sages, I rejoiced within. At the time 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—a wondrous union unknown even to the gods. This, O sage, is the auspicious svayaṃvara and the marvelous wedding of the god, as I have recounted it to you. Then, after the wedding of Bhava, the one of immeasurable brilliance, the gods, led by Śakra, were filled with unparalleled joy. They praised him with noble words and bowed to Maheśvara, offering their salutations: “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. Salutations to the slayer of the head of the sacrifice, to the remover of Kṛṣṇa’s hair; to the one who struck out Bhaga’s eye, and took Pūṣan’s tooth. Salutations to the bearer of the bow, spear, sword, and club; salutations to Kālakāla, to the one with the third eye. Salutations to the destroyer of death, to the dweller on the mountain, to the one of golden seed, and to the wearer of earrings. Salutations to the destroyer of the discipline of the demons, to the guru of yogis, to the one whose eyes are the moon and the sun, and to the one with the eye on the forehead. Salutations to the one who delights in cremation grounds, to the giver of boons in the cremation ground, to the lord of the gods, and again and again to Tryambaka. Salutations always to the householder ascetic, to the matted-haired celibate, to the half-shaven and fully shaven one, and to the lord of creatures. Salutations to the one who is heated in the waters, to the giver of yogic powers, to the peaceful and restrained one, and to the maker of creation and dissolution. Salutations to the giver of grace and the sustainer, again and again salutations; salutations to Rudra, to the Vasus, to the Ādityas, and to the Aśvins. Salutations to the father, to Sāṃkhya, to Viśvedeva; salutations to Śarva, to the fierce one, to Śiva, and to the giver of boons. Salutations to the formidable one, to the commander, to the lord of creatures, to the pure one, to the destroyer of enemies, and to Sadyojāta.” Thus did the gods extol the supreme Lord, their hearts filled with devotion and joy at witnessing the wondrous union of Śiva and Umā.