Those who dwell in the vast oceans, in the fortresses formed by rivers, on the heights of mountains, within deep caves, at the roots of ancient trees, in cow-pens, and in the dense wildernesses; those who are present at crossroads, in the bustling streets and public squares, in assemblies of people, and in the stables of elephants, horses, and chariots, as well as in ruined gardens and deserted houses; those who abide within the five great elements, who fill all directions and the spaces between, who exist between Indra and the sun, and who shine in the rays of the moon and sun; those who dwell in the netherworlds and those who have transcended even those realms—to all these beings, I offer salutations again and again. O God, you are everything: the all-pervading Lord of all beings, the inner self dwelling in every creature. Therefore, you are never truly separate, never in need of invitation. You alone are worshipped through sacrifices of many kinds, you alone are the agent behind all actions—thus, there is no need to call you forth. Yet, perhaps, by the power of your subtle illusion, I have been deluded, or for some other reason, I have failed to invite you as I should have. Be gracious to me, O Lord of the gods. You alone are my refuge, my goal, and my foundation. I hold firmly that there is no other. Having thus poured forth his praise to the great god, the wise one became silent. The blessed Lord, pleased by these words, addressed Daksha: “I am satisfied with your hymn, O Daksha, virtuous one. What need is there for many words? You shall come close to me.” Thus spoke Bhava, the Lord of the three worlds, his words full of reassurance and wisdom. “Daksha, do not grieve over the destruction of your sacrifice. I am the destroyer of the sacrifice, and you have witnessed this before, O sinless one. Once again, O virtuous one, receive a boon from me. With a gracious and smiling face, listen to me with single-minded attention. By my favor, O lord of creatures, you shall obtain the fruit of a thousand horse sacrifices and a hundred Vājapeya sacrifices. Master the Vedas with their six limbs, and all the branches of Sāṃkhya and Yoga, having performed great austerities—difficult even for gods and demons. “For twelve years, hidden and criticized by the ignorant, living according to the duties of caste and stage of life, disciplined and steadfast, neither here nor there, you shall undertake the Pāśupata vow. This vow, established by me for all stages of life, is for liberation from the bonds of creatures. Daksha, this auspicious vow has been instituted, freeing one from all sins. Whatever abundant fruit arises from its proper observance, let that be yours, O greatly fortunate one. Let your mind abandon all distress.” Having spoken thus, the Lord of the gods, accompanied by his wife and attendants, vanished from Daksha’s sight, his splendor immeasurable. Having received the share as declared by the Lord, Bhava, knower of all dharmas, then distributed fever in many forms. For the peace of all beings, listen, O twice-born: the heat that sits on the crest is for serpents, for mountain rocks, and for shilajatu. Nīlikā is to be known as belonging to the waters, nirmoka to serpents, khoraka to saurabheyas, and ūkhara to the earth. Even among dogs, those who know dharma have their vision clouded; among horses, a flaw enters through the nostrils; among peacocks, the crest splits. Among cuckoos, redness of the eyes is seen; among great souls, aversion arises; among people, division is heard of everywhere. Among all parrots, hiccups are said to occur; among tigers, fever and fatigue are spoken of. Among humans, O wise ones, this fever is named and described—it is present at the time of death, at birth, and established throughout life. This is the mighty energy of Maheśvara, called fever, exceedingly fierce. He is to be worshipped and honored by all living beings, for he is the Lord. Whoever, with unwavering mind, always recites this origin of fever with concentration becomes free from disease, attains happiness, and obtains all desired objects. Whoever praises or hears this hymn spoken by Daksha does not encounter anything inauspicious and enjoys a long life. Just as among the gods, the blessed Bhava is supreme, so too is this hymn, created by Daksha, the foremost among hymns. Those who desire fame, heaven, sovereignty, wealth, and victory should recite it with devotion; those who seek knowledge should do so with effort. A person afflicted by disease, suffering, poverty, or seized by fear, or engaged in royal duties, is freed from great fear. In this very body, having received happiness in this world from Maheśvara and the Gaṇas, one becomes the lord of the Gaṇas. Neither Yakṣas nor Piśācas, nor Nāgas nor Vināyakas cause obstacles in the house where Bhava is praised. If a woman hears this with devotion and is absorbed in Bhava, she becomes honored in both her father’s and husband’s families. Whoever hears or repeatedly recites all this, all his undertakings succeed without obstacles. Whatever is thought in the mind or uttered by speech is accomplished for him by the repeated recitation of this hymn. Having offered oblations to the god Saguha, the goddess, and Nandīśvara, with self-restraint and discipline, and having performed the rite, one should quickly take their names in order. Such a person obtains the wealth, pleasures, and enjoyments they desire. One who dies attains heaven, surrounded by a thousand women, endowed with all desired pleasures, even if associated with all sins.