When this sacred hymn touches the body, O beautiful-hipped one, it immediately wards off all harm. Whoever bears its presence finds favor among women and in the assemblies of kings. Such a person journeys safely along the road and enjoys constant prosperity at home. The one who is blessed by this hymn is described as having a tawny beard, a blue throat, and hair marked by the crescent moon—strong as Nandi himself, radiant and possessed of valor that matches Nandi’s own. Nothing can hinder his progress, just as the wind moves freely across the sky. By my devotion, O lovely one, and for those who listen to these words with faith, wondrous fruits are bestowed: the Brahmin attains mastery over the Vedas, the Kṣatriya gains dominion over the earth. The afflicted are freed from disease; those bound are released from captivity. Lost wealth is recovered, both in this world and the next. Merely by hearing this divine and wondrous tale, a mortal attains these fruits. But whoever always upholds and cherishes it ascends to the world of Rudra. Whoever recites this hymn daily, with a mind absorbed in me, and, O Goddess, recites it with devotion and encourages others to do the same, finds that obstacles cannot remain in the house where this hymn is present. This hymn, endowed with the fruits of merit, was composed by the Four-Faced One himself. With me, the beloved of the cave, he journeyed to the cave of Kailāsa, riding upon the bull. Having studied all of it, complete with its characteristics, the best among the twice-born attains the radiant solar realm. Then, O Lord, the assembled gods spoke: “We wish to hear in full the detailed account of your majesty and virtues. Tell us of your deeds.” They recalled how you, having bound Bali, the mighty one who was once lord of the three worlds, brought order to the cosmos. After this, all the gods came together to see the eternal Lord. The Siddhas, Brahmarshis, Yakshas, and hosts of Gandharvas and Apsarases approached the great-souled one, praising the Supreme Person, Hari. They declared, “By your grace, the three worlds have attained imperishable welfare.” Thus addressed by the gods, the Siddhas, and the supreme seers, Viṣṇu spoke: “Listen, O best of gods, and I will declare the cause by which, together with Brahmā, I created the worlds through māyā. Long ago, when the three worlds were enveloped in darkness and unmanifest by me, I assumed a form with a thousand heads, a thousand eyes, and a thousand feet. Then, from afar, I beheld one of boundless radiance—a four-faced, supremely yogic Person, shining with golden brilliance. In a mere moment, that Supreme Person arrived before me. I asked him, ‘Who are you? From where have you come? And why do you stand here? Tell me, O Lord.’ Thus addressed, Brahmā replied. As we conversed, each of us desiring victory over the other, a wondrous sight appeared: a flame, ever-increasing and supremely marvelous. That flame pierced both heaven and earth, forming a circle of fire. Within it was an unmanifest liṅga, radiant, about the size of a span—indescribable, inconceivable, sometimes visible, sometimes vanishing from sight.