As the time for the great wedding drew near, all six seasons themselves arrived, each resplendent, filling the world with the beauty of trees adorned in myriad blossoms and the joyous songs of countless birds. The very air was alive with celebration, for the daughter of the snowy mountain—Pārvatī—was to be wed. O best of sages, every being gathered there, and the sound of many auspicious instruments filled the sky. I, too, O twice-born, was present among them. When the moment was right, I adorned the mountain’s daughter with fitting ornaments, embellishing her with care and reverence. Personally, I led her towards the city, O twice-born ones, her radiance shining forth, ready for the sacred union. Then, standing as the officiating priest, I addressed the great Lord, saying: “I offer the oblation into the fire for you.” Śaṃkara, the god of gods, lord of the world, replied to me, “If you grant me permission, this ritual procedure must be performed.” He spoke with humility, seeking my assent for the rites. “O lord of the gods,” I said, “whatever you have prescribed, do as you desire. I shall carry out all your commands, O Brahman, sovereign of the universe.” My heart was filled with joy. Swiftly, I took up the sacred kuśa grass and, through the power of yoga, joined the hands of the god and the goddess, uniting them in the eternal bond. In that moment, Agni himself appeared, manifest in form, standing with palms joined in reverence. The air resounded with the hymns of the Vedas and mighty mantras. Following the prescribed rites, I offered the clarified butter—pure nectar—into the sacred fire, making Agni the witness and leading the divine couple in circumambulation around the flames. When their hands were released, all the gods, the mind-born sons, and the accomplished sages joined in, their hearts brimming with joy. At the auspicious hour of the marriage, the assembled brahmins, through yogic vision, bowed deeply to the bull-bannered one and to the supreme pair—Umā and Parameśvara. Thus was accomplished that supreme marriage, wondrous and sacred, a union unknown even to the gods elsewhere. O best of listeners, I have told you all of this auspicious svayaṃvara and the marvelous wedding of the Lord. After the wedding of Bhava—he whose brilliance knows no bounds—the gods, led by Śakra, were filled with unparalleled joy. They praised Maheśvara with noble words and bowed before him in reverence. Their voices rang out in adoration: “Salutations to you, whose emblem is the mountain, O lord of the mountain! Salutations to you, swift as the wind, deformed and unconquered, destroyer of afflictions and giver of auspicious wealth. Salutations to you with the blue crest, lord of Ambikā, of wind-form and a hundred forms. Salutations to you in Bhairava form, with deformed eyes, with a thousand eyes and a thousand feet. Salutations, companion of the gods, whose limbs are the Vedas, restrainer of Śakra, and sprouting arms of the Vedas. “Salutations to you, lord of moving and unmoving beings, the pacifier, whose emblem is water, ender of ages. Salutations to you adorned with a garland of skulls, wearer of a skull-thread, holder of a skull in hand, wielder of staff and mace. Salutations, lord of the three worlds, delighter in the realm of creatures, holder of the khaṭvāṅga, remover of the distress of the Pramathas. “Salutations to you, slayer of the head of the sacrifice, remover of Kṛṣṇa’s hair, who struck out Bhaga’s eye and took Pūṣan’s tooth. Salutations, bearer of bow, spear, sword, and club; salutations to Kālakāla, the one with the third eye. Salutations, destroyer of death, dweller on the mountain, of golden seed, wearer of earrings. “Salutations, destroyer of the demons’ discipline, guru of yogis, whose eyes are the moon and sun, with the eye on the forehead. Salutations to you who delights in cremation grounds, giver of boons there, lord of the gods, Tryambaka, again and again. Salutations always to the householder ascetic, the matted-haired celibate, the half-shaven and fully shaven one, lord of creatures. “Salutations to you, heated in the waters, giver of yogic powers, peaceful and restrained, maker of creation and dissolution. Salutations to the giver of grace and sustainer, again and again; salutations to Rudra, to the Vasus, to the Ādityas, and to the Aśvins. Salutations to the father, to Sāṃkhya, to Viśvedeva; to Śarva, the fierce one, to Śiva, the giver of boons. “Salutations to the formidable, the commander, the lord of creatures, the pure one, destroyer of enemies, and to Sadyojāta. Salutations to Mahādeva, to the wondrous and the various, the chief, the immeasurable, the effect and the cause. Salutations to the Person; salutations to you, who fulfills the Person’s will and brings about the union of the Person and the chief quality. “Salutations to the initiator of both nature and person in every way, to the doer of what is done and not done, and to the giver of union with the fruit. Salutations to the knower of time for all, the regulator, the maker of diversity, the giver of the functions of the qualities. Salutations to you, lord of the lords of gods, creator of beings. O Śiva, with gentle face, may you be gentle for us to behold, O Lord.” Thus praised by all the gods, the blessed lord of the world, husband of Umā, addressed the immortals: “O gods, I am easy to see and gentle. Choose a boon, for I will quickly grant it to you without doubt.” The gods bowed and replied to the three-eyed one, “O blessed one, let this boon remain in your hand; when the need arises, you will grant us the desired boon.” “So be it,” he replied. Having thus dismissed the gods, Hara entered his own abode, accompanied by the Pramathas and all the worlds, his divine union with Umā celebrated by all creation.