Afterward, the sages and their families dwelled peacefully and without sorrow in the Devadāru forest. Their sacred practices continued not only in the heart of the forest but also upon diverse altars, atop mountains, and within the quiet seclusion of caves. It was then that the great god, assuming his divine form, entered that very forest. Mahesha—the Great Lord—made his way into the forest hermitage, which echoed with the melodious songs of birds, filling the air with gentle beauty. Seeing his arrival, all the sages, their minds fully concentrated, gathered together to offer him praise. Alongside their wives, sons, and attendants, these greatly fortunate ones approached the Lord with reverence. With humility, they confessed, “Out of ignorance, whatever we have done against you, O god of gods—the various deeds, both secret and profound—we acknowledge our unknowing faults. We do not know the proper way to welcome you, nor your true path, nor anything at all of your vastness. Yet, the great-souled ones praise you, O Maheshvara, god of gods. Salutations to you, Lord of beings, of infinite strength and power. Salutations to the sacred Ganga, the river of life, the support of all, the very embodiment of auspicious qualities. Salutations to you as Kāma, the god of desire; salutations to you as the supreme self. Salutations to you who holds the staff, to Time itself, and to you who wields the noose. “Whatever is past, present, or future, whatever is stationary or moving—may you be auspicious. Protect us, O Lord, and may good fortune be yours. Be gracious toward us. All that is, indeed, is accomplished by you alone, O Lord, through the wondrous power of your yoga and illusion. Those engaged in austerity beseech you: may we behold you as before. “Salutations to you, ever clad in the directions, adorned with a garland of bells. Salutations to you who are formless, beautiful, and whose very form is the universe itself. Salutations to you, the soul of all living beings, whose body is composed of all qualities. Salutations to the blue-throated one, the divine being whose limbs are smeared with ashes from the funeral pyre. Salutations to you who ever dwell in the cremation ground, who assume the form of spirits. “The soul of all beings, O Lord, is called ‘puruṣa’ by the Sāṅkhya philosophers. Among sages, you are Vasiṣṭha; among gods, you are Vāsava. Among all creatures of the forest, you are the lion, O Supreme Lord. Whatever state exists, or will exist, in any manner—desire, anger, greed, dejection, and intoxication—all these are within your domain. When the great dissolution arrives, O God, you, having become the Self, bring about the end of all things. “Then, by that fire, the worlds are enveloped everywhere by flames, and all beings, stationary or moving, are consumed. O Lord of the gods, be our protector as we are being consumed. O great Lord Maheshvara, master of auspicious vision, who possesses thousands of millions of forms, and hundreds of millions more.” Hearing their heartfelt praise and supplication, the blessed Lord spoke these words: “Those who act as instructed, who are self-restrained, and who are devoted to meditation, O Brahmans, let them not speak what is displeasing here or elsewhere, but always speak for the welfare of others. Act in this way; may good fortune be yours. From me, you will attain perfection.” Freed from fear, greed, delusion, and anxiety, the sages and their families bowed together before the Lord, their faces radiant. With pure, scented water, mixed with sacred grass and flowers, they offered their worship, their hearts filled with devotion and peace.