Knowing the depth of her compassion, the two merciful gods gazed upon her with kindness. They comforted the sorrowful one and spoke gently: “O blessed one, he is burned and will not be reborn here; yet, even without a body, he will accomplish all his tasks. When the blessed Vishnu, son of Vasudeva, is born, then his son will become your husband.” Having received this boon, Kāmā’s wife, her face radiant with joy, departed happily to her desired place, her fatigue vanished. After burning Kāmā, the bull-bannered god, Shiva, rejoiced together with Umā on Mount Himālaya. They wandered in beautiful caves, lotus-filled ponds, grottos, delightful waterfalls, and forests adorned with yellow-flowered trees. On lovely riverbanks frequented by Kinnaras, on the peaks of the king of mountains, in lakes and pools, they found pleasure. In delightful groves resounding with many birds, at holy fords with sacred waters, and in the hermitages of sages, they enjoyed themselves. In these sacred and enchanting places, adorned by Vidyādharas and attended by Gandharvas, Yakṣas, and celestial beings, Shiva, the three-eyed god, delighted in the company of the goddess. Surrounded by gods with Indra, sages, Yakṣas, Siddhas, Gandharvas, Vidyādharas, chief Daityas, and many other diverse beings, Śaṃbhu found joy on that mountain. There, the Apsarases danced, the lords of gods sang, the joyful Gandharva hosts played divine instruments, and some swiftly praised Shiva, the best of gods. Thus, the god, accompanied by his powerful hosts—equal to Indra, Yama, and Agni—remained on the mountain, seeking to please the goddess, he who destroyed Bhaga’s eye. Standing there together with the goddess, Shiva, the destroyer of desire, performed some act. The sages wondered: “What did Mahādeva do? We wish to know this.” On the peak of Himavat, for the pleasure of the goddess, the blessed one repeatedly caused laughter among his hosts of various forms. Delighting the goddess, whose forehead bore the crescent mark, he enjoyed himself with noble, wise, and auspicious beings who could assume any form. Then, the supreme goddess approached her mother, who was seated on a wondrous, shining golden seat. Seeing Satī, the goddess, arriving in divine form, Menā, beloved of Himavat, honored her faultless daughter with a splendid seat and spoke: “After a long time you have come today, O daughter with auspicious eyes. Tell me, are you poor in amusements, for you are united with your husband in play? Those who are poor and without shelter, O Umā, they play in such a way as your husband does, O auspicious one.” Thus addressed by her mother, the goddess was not very pleased. Endowed with great patience, she said nothing, and, released by her mother, went to the god and spoke: “Lord, master of gods, I will not stay here on this mountain. O radiant one, make another dwelling for me among the worlds.” Shiva replied, “O goddess, whenever I have spoken to you about a dwelling, you have never chosen any other place to live, O Devi. Now, O beautiful one, you yourself seek another dwelling; why do you search for it? Tell me, O goddess with a pure smile.” The goddess answered, “I have gone home today, O lord of gods, to my great-souled father, and there my mother, in solitude, spoke to me about worldly matters. She worshipped me with seats and other offerings, then said: ‘O Umā, your husband is always poor in amusements, O auspicious one. He plays, but the play of the gods is not like this. O Mahādeva, you delight with various hosts, but this displeases my mother, O bull-bannered one.’” Then Shiva, smiling, spoke to the goddess, wishing to make her laugh: “Just so, there is no doubt—why were you angry? For Krittivasa is indeed unclad and dwells in cremation grounds. I have no fixed abode; I wander in forests and mountain caves, surrounded by naked attendants, O lotus-eyed one. Do not be angry with your mother; your mother spoke the truth. There is no relative on earth equal to a mother for living beings.” The goddess replied, “I have nothing to do with relatives, O lord of the gods. Do as you wish, O great god, so that I may find happiness.” Hearing the goddess’s words, Shiva, for her sake, left his own mountain and went to Meru, attended by gods and siddhas, accompanied by his wife and followers. Now, a new question arose: How did the horse sacrifice of Daksha, son of Prachetas, come to destruction during the reign of Vaivasvata? Knowing the goddess’s anger was the cause, the all-pervading lord grew wrathful. How was the sacrifice of the mighty Daksha destroyed by Mahadeva in his rage? The sages asked to hear this in detail. The narrator replied, “I will describe to you, O brahmins, how the sacrifice was destroyed by Mahadeva in anger, wishing to please the goddess. Long ago, O best of twice-born, there was a peak of Meru, worshipped by the three worlds, called Jyotishthala, wondrous and adorned with all gems. Immeasurable, unassailable, revered by all worlds—there, on the mountain slope, the god sat, surrounded by all kinds of minerals. He sat, broad as a couch, and the daughter of the mountain king always remained by his side. The mighty Adityas and the powerful Vasus were there, as well as the great Ashvins, best among physicians. Likewise, King Vaishravana, surrounded by Guhyakas, the illustrious lord of the Yakshas and master of Kailasa, was present.” Thus, the story continues, with the gods, sages, and celestial beings assembled, and the events leading to Daksha’s sacrifice unfolding in the presence of Shiva and the goddess.