O greatly fortunate sage, you have entreated me to speak in full, and so I shall recount everything as I once heard it, seated upon the lap of Umā. The mighty Lord, the destroyer of the strength of the gods’ enemies, was thus addressed, and he replied for your delight. Listen, then, as I describe that radiant realm, shining like the rising sun, glowing with the brilliance of molten gold. It was fashioned from divine Jambū gold and adorned with many precious metals. Its waters teemed with swans and waterfowl, and chakravāka birds lent it their beauty. In the caves, the calls of intoxicated cranes and peacocks resounded, echoing with the cries of living beings and the songs of many birds. Saurabheya birds called out, mingling with the thunder of clouds. The air was alive with the ringing of vīṇās and drums, a delight to the senses and the mind. The clamor of bells from swinging palanquins adorned with banners filled the space, as did the rhythmic sounds of marddala drums and other instruments. Swans, pigeons, and kingly cranes dwelt there in happiness, while the fierce roars of lions and tigers, terrifying and swift, rang through the land. Dreadful faces of cats, and forms resembling jackals and crows, moved among them, as did beings with short legs, thick lips, and legs like palms. There were many-footed, great-footed, one-footed, and footless creatures; some had single fangs, others great fangs, many fangs, or no fangs at all. In such wondrous and fearsome forms, endowed with great yogic powers, the Lord of beings was surrounded by all manner of creatures. Seated comfortably, the destroyer of Kāma was then addressed by the daughter of the mountain king, Pārvatī: “O Mahādeva, upon your neck shines something like a mass of clouds. What is this that glows so, O Lord, destroyer of Kāma? Please tell me all this properly, for I am truly curious.” Śaṅkara, the auspicious one, began to recount the sacred tale: “In the beginning, a terrible poison arose, blazing like the fire of destruction. All present became downcast, for they had reached the end ordained by Brahmā. I asked them, ‘Why are you afraid, O highly fortunate ones? Why are your minds so disturbed? Because of this, your lordship has been taken away, O best of gods. In the creation of beings, none can transgress my command, whether in spiritual, material, or divine matters—always. Then why are you seized by fear, like deer terrified by a lion? Tell me everything, and do so quickly.’ Then, together with the sages, the gods and the chiefs of the Daityas and Dānavas spoke. They described the poison: it was like a serpent or a black bee, resembling a dark raincloud. It arose like Death at the end of time, shining with the brilliance of the sun at the end of an age, blazing with the fire of time. When Janardana, with his fair and red body, saw it, he became dark. Having heard the terrifying words spoken by the gods and asuras, I declared: ‘Let all the deities and the ascetics, rich in austerity, listen!