The messenger came before Shankhachuda and spoke: “Hari has given you the trident, and Shiva himself has been sent to you.” He continued, urging Shankhachuda, “Grant them their domain, or else, prepare for battle.” Upon hearing these words, Shankhachuda laughed. Without delay, he went to the Lord, who sat beneath the vast banyan tree, and spoke with him. Meanwhile, Skanda arrived before Shiva. Gathered there were mighty warriors: Vishalaksha, Bana, Pingalaksha, and Vikampana. Also present were Kapilaksha, Dirghadamshtra, Vikata, and Tamralochana. Balonmatta, proud of his strength, stood among them, as did Rana-shlaghi, Durjaya, and Durgama. The Vasus, beginning with Vāsava, and the twelve Ādityas were remembered. Kubera and Yama were there, along with Jayanta and Nalakūbara. Dharma, Śani, Īśāna, and the powerful Kāmadeva joined the assembly. Then, a divine presence appeared, clad in red garments and adorned with red garlands and fragrant unguents. She granted fearlessness to her devotees, but to her enemies, she bestowed fear. In her hand she held a skull, round and deep, measuring a yojana. She was armed with a conch, discus, mace, lotus, arrows, and a terrifying bow. She possessed the Vaiṣṇava weapon, the Vāruṇa weapon, the Āgneya, and the serpent noose, as well as the Pārjanya, the Pāśupata, the Jṛmbhaṇa, and the Pārvata weapons, and many kinds of divine armaments—a hundred supreme missiles. Arriving at the scene, she stood with thirty million Yoginīs. Spirits, ghosts, piśācas, kūṣmāṇḍas, and brahmarākṣasas gathered around her. With all these beings present, Skanda bowed to Candraśekhara. Once the messenger had departed, the valiant Shankhachuda, hearing the news of impending battle, felt his throat, lips, and palate grow parched with anxiety. In this tense moment, Tulasī spoke: “O god who presides over life, protect my life for a moment.” She urged, “Enjoy in every birth whatever pleasure your mind desires. My life is unstable, and my mind is constantly scorched.” Hearing Tulasī’s words, the king, having eaten and drunk, replied: “Auspiciousness, joy, pleasure, pain, fear, sorrow, and inauspiciousness—all arise in time. Even trees grow branches according to time. Their fruits ripen and mature only in due time. Beings come into existence in time, and in time they depart. The creator brings forth at the appointed time, and the protector preserves according to time. The Lord, who is beyond nature, is the origin of Brahma, Vishnu, Shiva, and others; as creator, protector, and destroyer, He acts always in full measure. At the proper time, that very Lord fashions nature by His own will. From Brahma down to a blade of grass, all is indeed artificial.” He continued, “Worship the true, supreme Brahman—Radha’s Lord—who is beyond the three qualities. He creates water from water, and sustains water with water. By whose command the wind blows, swiftly and continually. As each moment passes, Indra sends rain, and death moves among creatures. The root of death is time; the root of time is the supreme Lord of Yama. Seek refuge in Krishna, the destroyer of the destroyer.