From the sacred Pippalā tīrtha, before the sage Pippalāda, the witch—created by the sage himself—took the form of the fearsome Vaḍavā and departed, traversing as many yojanas as could be counted. Within her, a terrible fire arose, so mighty that it threatened to consume the very worlds. Witnessing this, all the gods were seized with terror and hastened together to approach Śambhu, the great Lord Shiva. Gathered before him, they offered their praises to Śambhu, the lord of the wheel, to Pippalā, and to Pippalāda, who had pleased the divine. The dwellers of heaven, their minds full of fear, addressed Shiva with earnest pleas: “Protect us, Śambhu! The witch torments us, and her fire threatens to destroy all. Be our refuge, O lord of all, you who grant fearlessness to those in dread. For all who are insulted, distressed, and weary in mind, for every creature, you alone are the refuge, O Shiva. The witch, at the sage’s request, emerged from your eye as fire itself; now she seeks to destroy the three worlds. You alone are our protector—there is no other.” Śiva, compassionate Lord of the universe, spoke to the gods who dwelled within a yojana of the place: “That action will not trouble you. Therefore, O gods, remain here day and night; you need not fear it.” Yet the lords of the gods, still anxious, spoke again to the Master: “You have granted us heaven, O revered one. How then shall we dwell here, abandoning that realm so worshipped by the gods?” Hearing their words, Shiva replied. He spoke of the god who is all-seeing, whose face is everywhere, who shines always with rays and is regarded as the creator. “He alone is the sun here, always present in visible form; let him remain, and in his form all will abide.” Thus, at Shambhu’s command, the gods fashioned the sun from the Parijata tree, and Tvashta addressed Bhaskara, the sun god: “Remain here, Lord of the world, and protect the gods yourself. We too shall stay here, with our own portions, in the presence of Shambhu.” So it was that 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 took their seats. Upon the bank of the Ganges, occupying a space no larger than half the length of a finger, there were three crore and five hundred tīrthas, O best of sages. Who could possibly describe or recount the arrangement of so many holy places there? Then, all the hosts of gods, humbled before Shiva, spoke: “O Lord of the gods, O embodiment of the universe, bring peace to Pippalada.” The Lord of the universe, uttering the sacred syllable ‘Om,’ addressed Pippalada: “Even if the gods themselves 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 truer friend to the distressed and afflicted than he? Thus, your mother, devoted to her husband, has gone to heaven, my son. Here, by some means, both Lopamudra and Arundhati are equal; by their bones, all the gods are always victorious and happy. By this, your mother’s fame has become abundant and imperishable; by you, her son, it has been accomplished everywhere. Nothing greater than this has been done. Because of fear of your might, you ought to protect those expelled from heaven, the Kandishikas; you ought to save the gods from your own wrath. Nowhere is there a greater good than rescuing the afflicted. “As long as your fame shines beautifully in the world of men, for that many days, each day, in the world beyond, the number of years becomes your residence, unchanging. Truly dead are those who lack fame here; truly blind are those deprived of learning. Those who are generous are not impotent, and those devoted to righteousness are not to be pitied.” Hearing the words of the Lord of gods, the sage Pippalada became peaceful. With joined palms, he bowed reverently to the Master and then spoke: “Those who, with words, thoughts, or deeds, sometimes help me and are devoted to my welfare—for their benefit, and for others as well, I bow to Soma, honored by the lords of the gods. May Shiva, adorned with the crescent moon, grant the wishes of those who have protected and nurtured me, who share my lineage and my dharma. I bow to him always. “O Lord, by whose name may a sacred place arise in the three worlds for those by whom I have always been raised as by a mother and father. Their fame will endure, and thus I shall be free of debt to them. Whatever fields of the gods and sacred places exist on earth—may the deities approve of whatever extra is given to them; then, being pure, I shall forgive any offense against the gods.” Then, in the presence of all, the gods led by the thousand-eyed Indra spoke words in divine language, honoring the speech uttered by Dadhichi’s son, Pippalada. Recognizing the child’s intelligence, humility, knowledge, valor, strength, courage, truthfulness, devotion to parents, and purity of heart, Shankara spoke to Pippalada: “Dear one, whatever cherished desire you have, and whatever is dear to the gods, you shall obtain. Speak your wish for good fortune; do not let your mind waver. “Those who, steadfast in dharma, bathe in the Ganga and behold your lotus feet, O Mahesha, may they obtain all desires by force, and at the end of their bodies, reach your Shaiva abode.” Pippalada replied, “My father has attained your feet, and my mother Ambika, O Lord, has also reached you. Pippala and Amara have found happiness. May they, beholding you, O Lord of lords, reach your abode.” Having said “so be it” to Pippalada, the great Lord Maheshvara, together with the gods, joyfully addressed him with these words. The gods, now filled with joy and freed from their fear, all spoke to Dadhichi in Shiva’s presence: “Whatever was desired by the gods, you have surely accomplished. You have upheld the command of the Lord of gods, the ornament of the three worlds. And what you previously requested was for the sake of others, not for yourself, O twice-born. Therefore, speak of something else; we shall grant it to you.