The army of the Daityas gathered, their hearts intent on beholding the Lord. Meanwhile, the goddesses, filled with eagerness and devotion, bowed low and sang hymns in reverence. In that sacred atmosphere, they beheld Nārāyaṇa, the flawless and radiant deity, seated upon his divine throne. Having paid their respects to Lord Īśāna, the noble women approached him with questions. They asked, “Who is this, so resplendent in form, whose eyes shine like lotus petals?” The great yogi, the imperishable Lord of all beings, answered their inquiry. The Lord revealed that he had established himself and then divided his essence in many ways. He explained, “This One alone is known—the soul of the universe. She is Bhavānī, and I am also Viṣṇu. People call me Keśava, the god, and the goddess as Ambikā. Viṣṇu is the creator and the cause, the giver of both enjoyment and liberation. Vāsudeva is the creator and protector, the soul of the universe, facing all directions. He is the deliverer, the person, the self, the one supreme state. Peaceful, true, ever-blissful—this, the Upaniṣad calls the supreme state. This alone is the highest goal among all the paths of beings. I see all this as one; whoever knows this is liberated. Know only the One; then you will attain bliss. Those who worship the Lord with divided vision are not dear to me. Though they suffer, they are not freed, even after hundreds of millions of aeons. Having understood properly here, the Lord should be meditated upon in every difficulty.” He lamented that some do not bow to Nārāyaṇa, the god, nor to the goddess, daughter of the Himalaya. At the twin feet of Bhavānī, at the lotus feet of Nārāyaṇa, they do not see the source of the world; it appears to them as a wonder. Deluded, one among them went to the mountain to seize the goddess Girijā. There, the Supreme Person manifested, ready to confront the demons in battle. The god Kālarudra approached, and another deity with a thousand arms also arrived. The blessed one, whose form is seen by women throughout all the worlds, shone with the brilliance of the sun. A shower of flowers fell upon him as all the hosts of the Gaṇas, chief among them, gathered in his presence. Mounting his celestial vehicle, which was devoid of vitality, he addressed Mahādeva, Bhairava, who was adorned with ashes. He declared, “Except for you, O Lord, no one else is able to slay him. He is praised with various mantras by wise Veda-knowers.” Seeing Viṣṇu, he resolved to destroy the lord of the demons. Those who move in the sky sang praises to the god Bhairava. They proclaimed, “You are the fire that eternally dwells within all beings. You are Brahmā, you are Mahādeva, you are the supreme abode, the highest state. Greatly powerful, lord of the gods, victorious ruler of all worlds.” Placing himself at the tips of the trident, Bhairava, refuge of the virtuous, began his dance. All bowed to the lord, the god Bhairava, the liberator from existence.