Desiring a power as invincible as that of the moon-crested Lord Śiva himself, Pippalāda approached the great god and prayed, “Grant me the strength to destroy the gods, just as you, O unconquerable one, stand unassailable in all the three worlds.” Śiva, ever compassionate yet wise, replied, “If you are truly able, O sinless one, to behold my third eye, then you will indeed be capable of striking down the gods.” With this challenge before him, Pippalāda fixed his mind on the task, striving to see the Lord’s third eye. Yet, despite his resolve, he found himself unable to perceive it and confessed to Śaṅkara, “I am not able.” Śiva responded with fatherly guidance: “Practice austerity, child. When you are able to behold the third eye, your desired boon will be granted—this is certain.” Taking these words to heart, the righteous Pippalāda, son of Dadhīci, resolved to undertake severe austerities. Though but a child, he devoted himself solely to meditation on Śiva, growing strong through his discipline. Each morning, he rose at dawn, bathed, and reverently saluted his teachers in proper order. Seated comfortably, he steadied his mind in the suṣumnā, focused unwaveringly, placing his hands in the svastika posture at his navel. In this deep meditation, he transcended all awareness of the cycle of rebirth. Pippalāda contemplated the supreme glory of Śambhu, moving through ever higher states of consciousness. At last, by Śiva’s grace, he beheld the Lord’s third eye. Awestruck, he joined his palms in humility and spoke, “Once, O god of gods, Śambhu granted me a boon: whenever I see the light of the third eye, at that very moment, all that I desire will be fulfilled. Therefore, O Lord of immortals, grant me now that which will bring about the destruction of my enemies.” At that moment, the Pippalā trees and the great Vaḍavā spoke as if with one voice: “Your mother, who has gone to heaven, prophesied this for you.” They warned, “Men who are absorbed in harming others, forgetful of their own welfare, wander aimlessly with confused minds and ultimately fall into the gates of hell.” Hearing his mother’s words, Pippalāda’s anger flared; pride burned within him, and he no longer cared for the praise of the virtuous. Then, from his eye, a witch emerged, demanding, “Give me! Give me!” Remembering Vaḍavā, the sage replied, and even the witch assumed the form of Vaḍavā. She was fierce and radiant, pregnant with an intense fire meant to destroy all beings; she shone with a terrifying light, bearing a child, and was called the mother of Pippalāda. Born of meditation and yoga, the witch appeared, carrying fire within her, fearsome and dreadful, like Death itself with a protruding tongue. She asked Pippalāda, “Tell me, what should I do?” He replied, “Devour the gods, my enemies.” She accepted, saying, “So be it,” and seized Pippalāda where he stood. Startled, he asked, “What is this, witch?” She replied, “It is as you commanded.” The gods, alarmed by her power, fashioned a body for her. Frightened by what he had unleashed, Pippalāda went swiftly to Śiva, praised him earnestly, and Śiva addressed the witch: “Do not harm the living beings who dwell within a yojana of this place, by my command. Go far away, witch, and perform your task elsewhere.” Thus, from the Pippalā tīrtha, before Pippalāda, the witch, in the form of Vaḍavā and created by the sage, departed as many yojanas as could be counted. Within her arose a fire so great it could destroy the worlds. Witnessing this, all the gods were seized by terror and approached Śambhu for refuge. They praised him, the Lord of the wheel and Pippalā, and, their minds trembling with fear, addressed Śambhu: “Protect us, Śambhu! The witch torments us, and her fire threatens to consume us all. Be our refuge, Lord of all, giver of fearlessness to the frightened. For all who are insulted, distressed, and weary in mind, for every creature, you alone are the refuge, Śiva. The witch, summoned by the sage, emerged from your eye as fire; she now seeks to destroy the three worlds. You are our protector, there is no other.” Śiva, Lord of the universe, spoke to those dwelling within a yojana: “That action does not trouble you; therefore, gods, remain here day and night. You need not fear it.” Yet again, the lords of the gods pleaded, “You have granted us heaven, O revered one. How can we dwell here, abandoning that realm so worshipped by the gods?” Hearing their words, Śiva replied, “That god is all-seeing, his face everywhere, ever shining with rays, and regarded as the creator. He alone is the sun here, always present in visible form; let him maintain his presence, and in his form all will abide.” At Śambhu’s command, the gods fashioned the sun from the Parijata tree. Tvashta addressed Bhaskara, the sun god: “Remain here, Lord of the world, and protect the gods yourself. We too shall stay here with our portions, in the presence of Śambhu.” Thus, around the Lord of the disc, as far as the count of yojanas, the best of the gods reached both banks of the Ganges and sat. On the bank of the Ganges, occupying a space half the length of a finger, there were three crore and five hundred tīrthas, O best of sages—so many that none could describe or recount their arrangement there. Then, all the hosts of gods, humbled, spoke to Śiva: “O Lord of the gods, O embodiment of the universe, bring peace to Pippalāda.” Śiva, uttering the sacred syllable “Om,” addressed Pippalāda gently: “Even if the gods are destroyed, your father will not return. Your life was given by your father for the accomplishment of the gods’ purpose. Who indeed is a friend to the distressed and afflicted like that? Thus, your mother, devoted to her husband, has gone to heaven, my son.