For those embodied souls who wander, troubled and weary, through the dreadful wilderness of worldly existence, there is but one true refuge: Śiva, the ocean of mercy. It was to him that Kaśyapa, lord of creatures, poured forth his praise, seeking solace and guidance. Moved by Kaśyapa’s devotion, the Bull-bannered Śiva appeared before him and, in his boundless compassion, offered to grant him a boon. With great humility, Kaśyapa bowed and spoke to Śiva, recounting in detail the actions of Indra—how a curse had come to pass, how sons had been destroyed, enmity had arisen, and how Śakra had incurred sin and received a curse. Vṛṣākapi had spoken of these matters both to Diti and to the sage Agastya. Kaśyapa then petitioned Śiva: “May the Maruts, my sons—fifty in number, save one—become fortunate and share in the sacrificial offerings. May they always live joyfully together with Indra. Wherever there is a share of offerings for Indra in any sacrifice, let the Maruts be present there first—of this, let there be no doubt. May Indra, together with the Maruts, never be defeated, but always victorious. Grant us happiness, O lord of creatures. And from this day onward, let it be decreed: whoever, in this way, commits the sin of fratricide, for them there shall always be the destruction of their lineage and utter ruin.” Śaṃbhu, ever careful and compassionate, then turned to Agastya, the tiger among sages, and addressed him: “Great sage, do not harbor anger against Indra, the husband of Śacī. Be at peace, O wise one; the Maruts have become immortal.” Śiva, the Bull-bannered Lord, also spoke graciously to Diti. He acknowledged her steadfast resolve: “Thinking, ‘May I have a single, great son, adorned with the sovereignty of the three worlds,’ you undertook severe austerities. Today, your efforts have borne fruit—your sons are virtuous, strong, and heroic. Therefore, cast off your sorrow, and do not hesitate to ask for other boons, O beautiful-browed one.” Hearing these words, Diti, with hands joined in reverence, bowed to Śambhu and replied: “In this world, there is no greater joy for parents than to behold their child; but especially for the mother, O honored by the gods, this joy is most dear. If that child is blessed with beauty, strength, and valor—even a single son is enough; what need is there for many? By your power, my sons will be mighty conquerors, brothers of Indra, and true sons of Prajāpati. By the grace of Agastya and the favor of Gaṅgā, O Lord, where your blessing is present, what doubt can there be of auspiciousness? Though my wish is fulfilled, still, out of devotion, I make this request: listen, O God, and do what is good for the world.” The creator of the world said, “Speak,” and Diti, humbly, continued: “To obtain offspring in this world is rare and honored by the gods; a son is especially dear to the mother—how can this be described? If that son is virtuous, prosperous, and long-lived, what need is there for heaven or even the highest station of Brahmā, O Lord of gods? For all beings who desire rewards in this world and the next, the attainment of a virtuous son is always most desired. Therefore, let your favor be granted here through bathing. “Indeed, childlessness—whether for a woman or a man—brings great sorrow and is considered a grave fault. But by merely bathing here, that fault is destroyed; whoever bathes and recites this hymn attains its reward. By giving gifts and bathing here for three months, one obtains a son; and a woman without children, by bathing here, will surely obtain a son. Any woman who bathes here after her period will obtain sons within three months; and a pregnant woman who bathes here with devotion—if she bathes with offerings and praises me with this hymn—her son will be born equal to Indra, without doubt. “Listen further, O Lord: for those who cannot obtain a son due to ancestral faults or the sin of stealing wealth, this is the supreme expiation. Here, by offering rice-balls and pleasing the ancestors, and especially by giving gold, a son is surely obtained. Those who steal deposits, conceal jewels, or neglect the rites for the ancestors—their lineage does not prosper. For those who have committed such faults, this is the path after death; but let a praiseworthy lineage be born among the living through the service of holy places. “At the confluence of the Diti and Gaṅgā rivers, after bathing, one should worship the Lord Siddheshvara, the beginningless, endless, undecaying embodiment of eternal consciousness and bliss. That great god, in the form of a linga, full of light and free from affliction, is served by gods, sages, perfected beings, gandharvas, and masters of yoga. “One who, with discipline and devotion, worships with offerings daily and praises with this hymn on the fourteenth and eighth lunar days—who gives gold and feeds Brahmins there at the Gaṅgā according to his ability—he obtains a hundred sons. Having attained all desires, he finally goes to Shiva’s city. Whoever recites this hymn anywhere, even a barren woman, will without doubt obtain a son within six months. “From this time onward, let this holy place be called Putra-tirtha; by bathing and giving gifts there, one attains all desires. Through friendship with the Maruts, it is called Mitra-tirtha; through Indra’s sinlessness, it is called Shakra-tirtha.” Thus, the blessings of Śiva, the prayers of Diti, and the sanctity of the tirtha were established for the welfare of all beings.