At the time of the divine marriage ceremony, the assembled brahmins, absorbed in yogic concentration, bowed with reverence to the bull-bannered Lord, Śiva, and to the supreme pair, Umā and Parameśvara. This was no ordinary union, but a supreme wedding, wondrous and auspicious, such as even the gods had never witnessed anywhere in the three worlds. Thus was accomplished the svayaṃvara and the celestial wedding of the great god, a marvel recounted for all to hear. After the wedding of Bhava, the one of immeasurable brilliance, the gods, led by Śakra, were filled with unparalleled joy. Their hearts overflowing with devotion, they praised Maheśvara with noble words and bowed low before him. Their hymns rang out, filled with salutations: “Salutations to the one whose emblem is the mountain, to the lord of the mountain itself! Salutations to the swifter-than-wind, the deformed and unconquered, the destroyer of afflictions, the bestower of auspicious wealth! Salutations to the blue-crested lord, to the consort of Ambikā, to the one of wind-form and a hundred forms! Salutations to the Bhairava aspect, to the one with deformed eyes, with a thousand eyes and a thousand feet! Salutations to the companion of the gods, whose very limbs are the Vedas, the restrainer of Śakra, the sprouting arms of the Vedas! Salutations to the lord of all moving and unmoving beings, the great pacifier, whose emblem is water, the ender of ages! Salutations to the one adorned with a garland of skulls, the wearer of the skull-thread, the bearer of skull in hand, the wielder of staff and mace! Salutations to the lord of the three worlds, the one who delights in the realm of creatures, the bearer of the khaṭvāṅga, the remover of the Pramathas’ distress! Salutations to the slayer of the head of the sacrifice, the remover of Kṛṣṇa’s hair, the one who struck out Bhaga’s eye and took Pūṣan’s tooth! Salutations to the bearer of bow, spear, sword, and club, to Kālakāla, the one with the third eye! Salutations to the destroyer of death, the dweller on the mountain, the one of golden seed, and the wearer of earrings! Salutations to the destroyer of the demons’ discipline, the guru of yogis, the one whose eyes are the moon and sun, the one with the eye on the forehead! Salutations to the one who delights in cremation grounds, the giver of boons there, the lord of gods, again and again to Tryambaka! Salutations always to the householder ascetic, the matted-haired celibate, the half-shaven and fully shaven one, the lord of creatures! Salutations to the one heated in the waters, the giver of yogic powers, the peaceful and restrained one, the 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, to the fierce one, to Śiva, the giver of boons! Salutations to the formidable one, the commander, the pure one, the destroyer of enemies, Sadyojāta! Salutations to Mahādeva, the wondrous and various, the chief, the immeasurable, the effect and the cause! Salutations to the Person, to you who fulfill the Person’s will, to you who bring about the union of the Person and the chief quality! Salutations to the initiator of both nature and person, the doer of what is done and not done, the giver of union with the fruit! Salutations to the knower of time, the regulator, the maker of diversity, the giver of the functions of the qualities! Salutations to you, lord of lords of gods, creator of beings! O Śiva, with gentle face, may you be gentle for us to behold, O Lord!” Thus, surrounded by the praises of all the gods, the blessed Lord, husband of Umā and master of the worlds, spoke kindly to the immortals: “O gods, I am easy to approach and gentle. Choose a boon, for I will grant it to you without hesitation.” The gods, bowing low before the three-eyed one, replied, “O blessed one, let this boon remain with you; when the need arises, you will grant us the desired boon.” Śiva consented, saying, “So be it,” and, having dismissed the gods, he entered his own abode, accompanied by the Pramathas and the worlds. Whoever sings this wondrous festival of Hari before the gods and brahmins, that person, equal to the matchless lord of hosts, shall attain happiness after leaving the body. O best of brahmins, whoever hears or recites this hymn is honored by the gods in all worlds, like the king of immortals himself. Now, when the great god had entered his house and was seated upon an excellent seat, the crooked and cruel Manmatha, the god of love, became intent on striking Śiva. That wicked one, joined with misconduct and evil in mind, lowest of his lineage, the tormentor of all worlds whose form covered all his limbs, sought to cause disruption. He, who brings obstacles to sages and their vows, appeared in the guise of Cakra, accompanied by Rati. Then, O brahmins, the lord of the gods, perceiving the intent of that aggressor, cast upon Manmatha a glance of utter disdain from his third eye. From that eye, a fierce fire arose, bearing thousands of garlands of flame, and in an instant, it consumed Rati’s husband and his attendants. Burning, afflicted, and writhing in pain, Manmatha cried out piteously in a broken voice, seeking to appease the god, and fell to the ground. His body consumed by fire, the tormentor of the worlds suddenly fell unconscious. His wife, Rati, stricken with deep sorrow, lamented bitterly. Overcome with grief, she earnestly begged the goddess and the god for compassion, seeking mercy for her fallen husband.