Her form was striking: broad hips bore a noble weight, and her thighs and breasts were full and radiant. When the gods beheld her in this appearance, they were filled with wonder at her beauty and presence. Sauti continued: The gods then made their way to the abode of Mālāvatī, who is renowned as a bestower of supreme auspiciousness. Upon their arrival, Mālāvatī—steadfast in her vows—greeted them with reverence, bowing low before the assembled deities. At that very moment, a Brāhmaṇa boy appeared in their midst. He carried a staff and umbrella, wore shining white garments, and bore a radiant tilaka on his forehead. His entire body was anointed with fragrant sandalwood, and he shone with the effulgence of Brahman itself. Seated among the assembly, he resembled the moon shining serenely among the stars. Addressing the gathering, the Brāhmaṇa spoke: “By what act does the Creator himself, the maker of the worlds, exist? Here, the all-powerful Śambhu himself is the destroyer of all the universes. How is the sun here? How is the moon, and how is the fire present? O Mālāvatī, in your lap lies a corpse, extremely dried up, O sinless one.” Having thus spoken, the sage fell silent in the assembly hall. Then Mālāvatī herself replied: “The gods are pleased, and Hari is pleased, by one who offers flowers and water. O Lord, please attend to the plea of one afflicted by sorrow. I am the wife of Upabarhaṇa and the daughter of Citraratha. For a divine hundred thousand years, I have dwelled with my beloved in delightful and charming places. O beloved, the affection of virtuous women for their husbands is as great as that of all women, O best of sages. “But suddenly, by the curse of Brahmā, my husband gave up his life. Now, all are engaged in accomplishing their own tasks upon the earth. Happiness, sorrow, fear, grief, and distress are the results of actions for men. O gods, you are all the givers of the fruits of actions. There is no friend greater than the gods, nor is anyone stronger than the gods. I beseech all the gods for the gift of my husband, which I desire. If the gods grant me the gift of my beloved as I wish, I will be satisfied. But if not, I will curse all of them with a dreadful and irresistible curse.” Having spoken thus, Mālatī, that virtuous and sorrowful one, addressed the assembly of gods. Then the Brāhmaṇa spoke again: “Not immediately, but only after a long time, does grain ripen for men—just as it does for a farmer. The householder, through the farmer, sows grain in the field of the kṣatriya. In due time, it ripens fully; in due time, the householder receives the harvest. In this world, the householder sows eight kinds of seeds by the power of Viṣṇu’s māyā. The virtuous person performs long austerities in the land of merit—in the mouths of brāhmaṇas, in the best field, and even in uncultivated land. “Neither strength, nor beauty, nor lordship, nor wealth is a son. He who serves Prakṛti with devotion, birth after birth, obtains unwavering prosperity, sons, grandsons, land, wealth, and progeny. The auspicious, the form of Śiva, the giver of auspiciousness, and the cause of auspiciousness—he who serves that Lord with devotion, birth after birth, obtains knowledge, wisdom, poetic skill, sons, grandsons, and supreme prosperity. He who worships Brahmā also attains progeny and prosperity.” Thus the assembly was filled with wisdom, and the words of the Brāhmaṇa resounded, offering guidance and solace for all who were present.