In the jeweled halls of Bhogavati, hidden away in a cool and fragrant abode strewn with blossoms, there lived alone a mighty and terrifying serpent, the lord of that realm. Though his home was splendid, his heart was troubled, for he often spoke to his mother and father, questioning, "My wife is a princess—why does she not come to me?" Moved by her son's words, the serpent's mother addressed the nurse, saying, "Go quickly to Bhogavati, and tell her: 'Your husband is a serpent.' Let us see how she responds." The nurse agreed and proceeded at once to Bhogavati, where she found the princess alone. With respect, she spoke, "O noble lady, your husband is a divine being. But you must never reveal this: your husband is indeed a serpent, not a man." Upon hearing these words, Bhogavati replied thoughtfully, "Among humans, a husband is usually a man; but a husband of divine birth is attained only through great merit." She then conveyed all these words to the serpent, his mother, and the king. The king, upon hearing this, wept, pondering the workings of fate. Bhogavati, again speaking to her friend, pleaded, "Show me your beloved husband, O noble one; my youth is passing away in vain." Her friend then revealed the serpent to her, alone upon a bed adorned with fragrant flowers. Beholding her husband, the fearsome serpent adorned with jewels, Bhogavati joined her hands in reverence and spoke without delay, "I am blessed, I am favored, for my husband is my divine lord." She remained on the bed and began to delight him, slender-limbed, with gestures of affection, songs, and gentle touches. With fragrant flowers and pleasing drinks, she brought joy to her husband. By her favor, memory returned to the serpent, and he recalled all that was divinely ordained. At night, he spoke to his beloved. The princess asked, "Beloved, how is it that I am not afraid upon seeing you?" He replied, "Who can transgress what is ordained by fate? The husband is always the path for women, especially so." Hearing this, the serpent, delighted, spoke with a smile, "I am pleased with your devotion; what shall I grant you? By my favor, O beautiful one, you have attained all remembrance." He revealed, "I was cursed by the god of gods, the wrathful Pinākin. In the hand of Maheśvara, the mighty serpent, son of Śeṣa, was born. Thus I am your husband, and you are my wife, named Bhogavatī. Once, at Umā’s words, Śambhu laughed aloud in secret, being pleased. I too laughed in the presence of the gods. Then Śambhu, angered, pronounced this curse upon me: 'You will be born as a serpent in the human world, endowed with knowledge.'" He continued, "Then, O blessed one, you propitiated Śambhu together with me; he said, 'O blessed one, in Gautamī, worship me.' While you worship me in Gautamī in the form of a serpent, I will bestow knowledge upon you; then, by the favor of Bhogavatī, the curse will be lifted." "Therefore," he said, "this has happened to both of us. Take me to Gautamī, and together let us worship Śiva. Then the curse will be lifted for us, and we will reach Śiva again. For all who are afflicted, Śiva alone is the supreme goal." Hearing her husband's words, Bhogavati went with him to Gautamī. There, after bathing, she performed worship of Śiva. The blessed Lord, pleased, revealed his divine form. After taking leave of his parents, the serpent, with his wife, prepared to go to Śiva’s realm. His wise father, knowing this, spoke, "You alone, my eldest son, bear the royal succession. Rule the kingdom fully, beget many sons, and when I depart to the highest abode, then go to Śiva's city." The king of the serpents replied, "So be it," and, assuming any desired form, together with his virtuous wife, ruled the vast kingdom with his father, mother, and sons. When his father went to the heavenly world, he established his sons in his own position. Then, accompanied by his wife, ministers, and others, he journeyed to Śiva's city. From that time, that holy place became known as Nāgatīrtha. There, where the Lord of Serpents is established in Bhogavatī, bathing and giving gifts bestow the fruit of all sacrifices. It is also known as Mātṛtīrtha, the holy place that grants all accomplishments. Even by remembering it, one is freed from afflictions. Once, a terrible battle took place between the gods and the asuras; the gods could not defeat the hosts of the dānavas. At that time, I approached the trident-bearing Lord, standing among the gods, and with joined hands, slowly praised him with various words. After conferring with all the gods and asuras, when the ocean was churned and the deadly poison appeared, O Great Lord, who but you was capable of consuming it? He who, with a shower of flowers, could bring the three worlds under his control—Kāma, worshipped even by Hari and other gods—was destroyed and vanished. Having churned the lord of waters, O enemy of Kāma, you gave the best to the gods, and, taking the poison upon yourself, O blue-throated one, who besides you is able to bear it?