Indra, troubled and anxious, kept recalling the misfortunes that had befallen him. His heart heavy with sorrow, he turned to Brihaspati, the Lord of speech, and spoke: “O wise one, why do I keep losing my kingdom? Again and again, I am stripped of my position, suffering disgrace—surely the greatest calamity for any man.” Indra continued, “Who truly knows the mysterious workings of actions and the path of living beings? No one but you can fathom the secret behind all that happens.” Hearing this, Brihaspati addressed Hari: “Go and ask Brahma. He alone knows the past, present, and future—he can reveal the cause of your troubles.” So, Indra and Brihaspati, those two great sages, approached Brahma. With joined palms, they bowed reverently and asked, “O Lord, by what fault does Indra, the noble husband of Śacī, fall from his kingdom? Please, dispel our doubt.” After deep meditation, Brahma replied to Brihaspati: “It is the fault of incomplete duty that causes Indra’s fall from royal power. Errors arise from faults of place, time, faith, or mantra, from improper giving of gifts, or offering impure substances.” He continued, “Most especially, disrespect toward gods, ancestors, and deities breeds incompleteness of duty among embodied beings. Because of this, pride, suffering, and loss of position cling stubbornly; even if duty is performed, misfortune follows when the mind is disturbed.” Brahma explained further, “When one’s own duty is incomplete, work fails and agitation arises. Truly, what misfortune does not befall one who neglects their duty?” To illustrate, Brahma recounted a tale: “The illustrious Dhanvantari, son of Āyuṣ, was noble-minded, but an obstacle born of darkness arose and was destroyed by Viṣṇu. I described the events of previous births and their consequences.” Hearing this, Indra and Brihaspati were amazed and asked again, “O best of gods, by what means can the obstacle caused by such faults be removed?” After meditating, Brahma answered, “Hear the cause of the fault, the reason behind accomplishment, and the way to cross the ocean of suffering. This is the refuge for afflicted hearts, liberation for the living: go to the goddess Gautamī and praise Hari and Śaṅkara.” He declared, “There is no other means of purification. Leaving all else behind, those two immediately went to Gautamī. At the proper time, they bathed and joyfully praised her.” In their prayers, they offered salutations to Matsya, Kūrma, Varāha, again and again; to Nṛsiṃha, Vāmana, Hayagrīva, Trivikrama; to Buddha, Rāma, Kalkin; to the endless and infallible Lord, Jāmadagnya; to Varuṇa, Indra, and Yama; to the supreme Lord who pervades the three worlds and bears Sarasvatī on his lips; to the all-knowing One. They praised, “O sinless One, you are adorned with fortune, Lakshmi on your chest. You possess countless arms, thighs, feet, ears, eyes, and heads. Many, attaining you who are blissful, themselves become happy.” They reflected, “As long as people do not take refuge in you, O Hari, ocean of compassion, they remain deprived of fortune, afflicted by impurity and misery. Those seeking liberation proclaim you as the subtle, supreme, infinite light—the essence of Om, transcending nature, pure consciousness, pure bliss.” “Even those without desire worship you, O Lord, with great sacrifices of five kinds. Having fulfilled all desires, they cross the ocean of worldly existence and enter your divine realm. With equality toward all beings, perceiving the six waves, and possessing a peaceful heart, they abandon the fruits of actions through knowledge, and through meditation, O Shambhu, they enter into you.” They declared, “Neither caste nor duties, nor Vedic scriptures, nor meditation or samadhi—none of these; we bow with devotion to Rudra, Shiva, Shankara, the peaceful-minded god Soma. Even a fool, O Shambhu, by devotion to your feet, may attain your form of liberation—through knowledge, sacrifices, austerities, meditation, offerings, and great rewards.” “This supreme fruit is accomplished: devotion to Soma-īśvara day and night, always dear to every living being, the fruit seen and heard. This devotion to you is the ladder to heaven and liberation, O abode of the universe, for attaining the fruit of reaching your feet; but the wise do not call it a mere ladder.” “Therefore, O compassionate one, may I have devotion to you. There is truly no other means of serving your form. Seeing your own greatness, O Lord, show favor even to us sinners.” “You are both gross and subtle, beginningless and eternal, father and mother, both unreal and real. Thus praised by the Vedas and Puranas, I bow to Soma-īśvara, the Lord.” Pleased by their devotion, Hari and Hara, the two lords of the gods, spoke: “Ask for whatever your heart desires, even the most difficult boon.” Indra replied, “My kingdom is repeatedly gained and lost; may that misfortune come to an end. May I be firm in my kingdom, may everything of mine be unshakable. If you, O Lords of the gods, are truly pleased, may everything always remain steady.” Hari and Hara joyfully granted his wish, saying, “So be it.” Their faces smiled upon Indra and Brihaspati, and supreme grace was bestowed upon them. The two lords, whose nature is changeless, without decline or support, the refuge of all worlds, bestowers of enjoyment and liberation, revealed the threefold divinity and the great sacred place, Gautami, fulfiller of desires. There, with the prescribed mantra, one should bathe reverently. Thus, the story unfolds: through inquiry, humility, devotion, and proper worship, obstacles are removed, and blessings flow from the divine.