The Vedas themselves proclaim this truth: all that is, is truly declared therein. With this assurance, a vow was made to recover all those who had been taken to the netherworld. “Enough of them,” it was said, “I bow to you all.” Then came counsel to Devāpi: “Go to the Gautamī river, O Devāpi, and there offer your praises to the Great Lord. When the compassionate one is well-pleased, he will surely grant your wish. If the god Śiva is pleased by your praise, O wise one, then King Ṛṣṭiṣeṇa and his wife Jayā will be restored to you. Your father, Upamanyu, too, though dwelling in the netherworld, remains unharmed. By the Great Lord’s boons, and by the slaying of the demon, you will win fame and righteousness—this alone is possible, nothing else.” Heeding these words, Devāpi, guided by the authority of the Vedas, journeyed to the Gautamī. There, after bathing and performing the proper rites, the brāhmaṇa Devāpi began to praise the Great Lord. With humility, he spoke: “I am but a boy, O Lord of gods. You are the guru of all gurus; I have no power to praise you—O Śambhu, I bow to you. Neither the scriptures, nor the gods, nor the sages, nor Brahmā, nor even Viṣṇu truly know you; you are who you are—salutations to you. You protect the helpless, the afflicted, the poor, the sick, and the sinful in this world, O Great Lord. The gods of heaven, worshipped with austerity, discipline, and mantras, receive from you the fruits they desire, O Lord of the worlds. Whatever is desired by those who ask or those who give, it is not surprising if you grant it, for you reverse fortunes. Even those who are ignorant, sinful, or sunk in the ocean of hell—by merely uttering ‘Śiva,’ O Lord of the universe, you protect them.” As Devāpi thus praised him, the Three-eyed One appeared before him and spoke: “Speak your boon, O Devāpi; enough of this dejection, child.” Devāpi replied, “O Lord of the universe, I wish to have restored to me the king, the queen, my father, my teacher, and the death of my enemy.” Hearing this, the Lord of all said, “So be it.” By Śaṃkara’s command, all that Devāpi desired was accomplished. Again, Śaṃbhu, the ocean of compassion, spoke to Devāpi and sent Nandin, bearing the trident. Nandin descended to Rasātala, slew the foremost of the Asuras, and brought back their fathers and others, presenting them to Devāpi. Thereafter, the wise Ārṣṭiṣeṇa performed an Aśvamedha sacrifice. There, fire blazed, priests chanted, gods and sages recited the Vedas. Śaṃbhu himself appeared at that sacred place, devoted to his follower Devāpi. Thus, that site became a divine tīrtha of the Lord of the universe—a holy place that destroys all sins, grants all accomplishments, bestows merit, and ensures that Devāpi’s fame there will be eternal. When the Aśvamedha was completed, the gods granted boons to those assembled. Having bathed in the Gaṅgā, fulfilled and blessed, they ascended to heaven. From that time onwards, there have been fifteen thousand and eight hundred tīrthas at both tīrthas, and bathing and giving there are known to yield great fruit. In that region are found the sacred places: Tapovana, the confluence of the Nandinī, and Siddheśvara; the tīrtha of Gautamī lies on the southern bank. Śārdūla is also renowned. Listen now to its story, for by hearing it alone one is freed from all sins. In ancient times, Agni, the fire-god, was the hotṛ—the carrier of oblations for the gods. He obtained as his wife the beautiful Svāhā, daughter of Dakṣa. Once, Svāhā was childless and undertook severe austerities for the sake of a son. As she performed her penance, pleasing her husband, the blameless fire-god addressed her: “Children will be born; do not perform austerities, O beautiful one.” Hearing her husband’s words, Svāhā ceased her penance, for for women, nothing is more desirable than obedience to their husband’s word. Some time later, when fear from the demon Tāraka arose and Kārttikeya had not yet been born, a long period passed in secrecy. The gods, frightened of Maheśvara and Bhavānī, assembled together. For the fulfillment of their purpose, the celestials addressed Agni: “O illustrious one, go to Śaṃbhu, who is worshipped by the three worlds, and inform him of the fear that has arisen from Tāraka. It is not proper to go to a place where a husband and wife are alone; even for ordinary people this is the rule—how much more so for the wielder of the trident! If one listens to the words of a passionate couple conversing privately, there is no deliverance from hell for that person. He is the lord of all worlds, the great Kāla, bearer of the trident—by whom could he be observed while dwelling in privacy with Bhavānī? Yet, when great danger has come, what rule can be described here? Since fear has arisen from Tāraka, go—you must become Tāraka. When the ocean of great fear arises for the good, one’s life should be given for the sake of others; go, take another form or speak as is fitting. After conveying the words of the gods, return quickly to Śaṃbhu; then, O sage, we shall offer worship in both worlds.” Thus, by the command of the gods, Dhūtaśana took the form of a parrot and swiftly went to where the Lord of the worlds was enjoying himself with Umā. Approaching in fear, the fire-god, now a parrot, could not enter through the doorway. So he stood at the window, bowing his head and trembling. Seeing him, Śaṃbhu laughed and spoke to Umā in private.