O venerable Brahmins, know that there are five causes essential for discerning the assembly of the celestial luminaries. When the sun stood high at its zenith, the blessed one intoned a sacred prayer. All those present, with minds disciplined and hands joined in reverence, stood before him in devotion. The ever-blessed one then spoke: “Salutations to you, O Nīlakaṇṭha.” These assembled were the renowned Vālakhilyas, companions of the birds, whose hearts were pure and intentions noble. They approached Vāyu, the wind-god who subsists on wind and leaves, seeking wisdom. “This is a secret among the pure,” they said, “a blessing for those who know virtue. We wish to hear all of this, O Prabhañjana, by your grace. We desire to hear, O Deva, especially from your own mouth.” They entreated Vāyu: “When you enter the place of the letters, the function of speech arises. When you are purified, all remaining activities of the letters proceed. From you comes the existence of the letters; you are ever-present, O universal wind. This is your world of living beings, O wind, manifest everywhere and directly perceived. Tell us, what occurred in the region of the throat, causing a change in form?” Thus addressed, Vāyu, radiant and honored by all the worlds, replied: “There is Vasiṣṭha, righteous in spirit, born of the mind, a great progenitor. It was the eye-salve stolen from the women of the buffalo-demon. It was the form of the eyebrow-paste of Umā’s joyful mind. What you see, O excellent one, is bright, resembling pure white ointment. Reveal this, O shining, restrained, and devoted one, to the one who asks. O greatly fortunate one, for my sake, you ought to speak in full.” Then the mighty one, destroyer of the strength of the enemies of the gods, replied: “Seated on Umā’s lap, I shall recount as I have heard before. I will now declare this to you, O great sage, for your pleasure. Radiant like the rising sun, shining with the brilliance of molten gold, made of divine Jambū gold and adorned with various precious metals, there was a wondrous realm. It was filled with swans and waterfowl, beautified by chakravāka birds. In its caves echoed the calls of intoxicated cranes and peacocks, and it resounded with the cries of living beings and the calls of many birds. The air was alive with the cries of Saurabheya birds and the rumble of thunderclouds, mingling with the ringing of vīṇās and drums, all delightful to the senses and the mind. The clamor of bells on swinging palanquins adorned with banners filled the air, along with the sounds of marddala drums and other instruments, struck and beaten in celebration. Swans, pigeons, and kingly cranes dwelled there in happiness. Fierce roars of lions and tigers, terrifying and swift, echoed through the land, along with the dreadful faces of cats and forms resembling jackals and crows. There were beings with short legs, those with thick lips, and others with legs like palms; many-footed, great-footed, one-footed, and footless beings abounded. Some had single fangs, great fangs, many fangs, and some were without fangs. Amidst such wondrous and fearsome forms, endowed with great yogic powers, the Lord of beings was surrounded by all manner of creatures, manifest in glory and mystery.