In a spirit of inquiry and longing, a devotee approached the divine, asking, “O best of gods, in which place, at what time, with which deity, with what mantra, and at which sacred site will my intention be fulfilled?” Soma, after deep meditation, responded: “Whether it is enjoyment or liberation, all arises from the great god Maheśvara—there is no doubt about this.” The devotee, still yearning, asked Soma again, “How shall I see Maheśvara? I am but a child, with the understanding of a child, and I do not have the capacity for such austerity.” Soma, compassionate, advised, “Go to the Gautamī river, dear one, and praise Hara, the lord of the discus. If the lord is pleased with you, O little one, he will be gracious with little effort. If pleased, the great god, the compassionate Śiva, will appear directly. Śambhu, manifest, abides there, revealed to the mighty Viṣṇu. He granted a boon to Viṣṇu, and the discus worshipped by the gods. Go there, O wise one, to the Gautamī river in Daṇḍaka. The plants know that sacred place as Cakreśvara. Go there and praise Śaṅkara, the lord of gods, with all your heart; he, pleased in mind, my child, will grant you all desires.” Following the king’s command, the great sage Pippalāda journeyed to where Rudra, the lord of the world and giver of the discus, was present. Moved by compassion for the boy, the pippala trees returned to their hermitages. After bathing in the Godāvarī river, Pippalāda bowed to the lord of the three worlds, and, pure in heart, praised Śiva with all his being. He offered his prayers: “Renouncing all actions, the steadfast ones, having abandoned desires and conquered the mind and senses, strive for liberation and seek refuge in him. I bow to that primordial god Śambhu. May He, who is the witness of all, the inner soul of all beings, the Lord of all, the repository of all arts, who knows all that is in my mind—may that enemy of Smara show me compassion. Having conquered the guardians of the directions, and worshipped by the gods, he who shook Kailāsa—when the ten-headed one pressed it down to the netherworld with just his thumb, it was that very Purāri. Hearing the words of the one whose body was mangled, he laughed together with the goddess and granted the boon; thus, though angry, you are gracious even to the unworthy, O Maheśvara.” He recalled the acts of devotion: “He performed the Sautrāmaṇī rite and, having constantly worshipped Hari with great devotion, Bāṇa became renowned for his splendid and delightful worship of the moon-crested Lord. Having defeated his enemies, worshipped the hosts of gods, and bowed to his teacher, Viśākha became angry upon seeing Gaṇanātha seated on his lap, and Soma laughed as he lifted him up. Though mounted on Īśāna, the child, by his very nature, did not leave his mother's lap; even Soma was unable to pacify the angry boy, and thus he obtained the state of being half-defeated.” Then the self-born one, well pleased, spoke to Pippalāda: “Choose a boon, O blessed Pippalāda, whatever you desire.” Pippalāda replied, “My father, the illustrious Mahādeva, was killed by the gods; he was sincere and truthful, and my mother was devoted to her husband. Hearing in detail from the gods about their destruction, O Lord, I am overwhelmed by grief and anger and am unable to go on living. Therefore, grant me the power to destroy the gods, just as you, O moon-crested one, are invincible and unassailable in the three worlds.” Śiva answered, “If you are able, O sinless one, to see my third eye, then you will be capable of cutting down the gods.” Pippalāda resolved in his mind to see the third eye of the Lord, but he was unable; so he said to Śaṅkara, “I am not able.” Śiva instructed him, “Practice austerity, child. When you see the third eye, then you will obtain your desired boon—there is no doubt of this.” Hearing these words, the righteous son of Dadhīci resolved to undertake austerity and remained there for many years. Though a child, devoted solely to meditation on Śiva, he became strong; every day, rising at dawn, he bathed and bowed to his teachers in order. Sitting comfortably, making his mind steady in the suṣumnā, with undistracted focus, placing his hands in the svastika posture at his navel, he forgot the cycle of rebirth. He contemplated the supreme glory of Śambhu, surpassing from one state to another; Pippalāda beheld the third eye of the Lord, and, with palms joined in reverence and humility, he spoke: “Once, the god of gods, Śambhu, granted me a boon: whenever you see the light of the third eye, at that very moment—the lord of the immortals said, ‘Everything you desire will be fulfilled.’ Therefore, grant me that which will serve as the cause for the destruction of my enemies.” Then the Pippalā trees spoke, and the great Vaḍavā as well: “Your mother, who has gone to heaven, prophesied this for you. Men absorbed in harming others, forgetful of their own welfare, wander here and there with confused minds, and fall into the gates of hell.” Hearing his mother's words, Pippalāda became angry; pride burned within him, and praise from the virtuous became meaningless. From his eye emerged a witch, who cried, “Give me, give me!” Remembering Vaḍavā, the sage replied, and even the witch took on the form of Vaḍavā. To destroy all beings, she was pregnant with intense fire; she was radiant, bearing a child, and was the mother of Pippalāda. By meditation and yoga, the witch was born, carrying fire within; she appeared, fierce and terrifying, like Death with a protruding tongue. She asked Pippalāda, “Tell me, what should I do?” He answered, “Devour the gods, my enemies.” She accepted, saying “So be it,” and seized Pippalāda standing before her. He asked, “What is this, witch?” She replied, “It is as you commanded.” The gods created a body for her; frightened, Pippalāda went to Śiva, praised the god, and Śiva then addressed the witch: “Do not seize the living beings who dwell within a yojana, by my command. Therefore, go far away, witch, and perform your task elsewhere.” Thus, through devotion, meditation, and the grace of Śiva, Pippalāda’s journey unfolded, revealing both the power of divine boons and the guidance of the compassionate Lord, who always protects the world.