Salutations were offered to Śiva, the peaceful one, the very embodiment of Brahman, whose divine form is the liṅga. Again and again, reverence was paid to Śiva, the tranquil lord, who is Brahman itself and whose form is the sacred liṅga. He, the great yogi, shone forth with a radiance as brilliant as ten million suns. With a thousand hands and feet, his eyes were the sun, the moon, and fire itself. Around his body, a serpent was worn as his sacred thread, and when he spoke, his voice resounded like the deep, rolling thunder of a storm cloud. “Behold me, the great god,” he declared, “let all fear be released.” On his left side stood Viṣṇu, the protector of the worlds, and in his heart dwelled Hara. Embracing Brahmā, the creator, Śiva became inclined toward grace. When Nārāyaṇa and Pitāmaha beheld his radiant face, they spoke in devotion, “May our devotion to you, O great god, be constant and unwavering.” Pleased and joyful at heart, the great god addressed them: “Child, child, O Hari, protect this entire universe, both moving and unmoving. Though I am beyond all attributes and untouched, I possess the powers of creation, preservation, and dissolution.” He proclaimed further, “This blessed one will become your son, eternal in nature. I myself shall appear as your son, born from wrath and bearing the trident.” Having bestowed these blessings, the god vanished from their sight. It was revealed that by merging into the liṅga, the supreme form of Brahman is attained. This truth is understood by those who know yoga—not by gods, nor by demons. Through this, those endowed with knowledge perceive the subtle and inconceivable. Once more, salutations were offered: to Mahādeva, to Rudra, to the god of gods, to the one with the liṅga; homage to the formidable, the peaceful, the steadfast, the cause of all; to Śaṅkara, to Maheśa, to the lord of mountains, and to Śiva. A promise was given: “You will soon cross over this ocean of worldly existence.” With mind intent, he approached the god Īśāna, who faces all directions, and journeyed to the desired abode of the god of gods, the wielder of the trident. It was declared that whoever hears or recites this sacred account is freed from all sins. O best of Brahmins, by the grace of Vāsudeva, a person is released from all transgressions. Thus spoke the great yogi, the revered Kṛṣṇa Dvaipāyana. In time, she gave birth to Sāmba, a noble and excellent son. Both sons were endowed with every virtue, being none other than other forms of Kṛṣṇa himself. Having effortlessly conquered Indra and overcome the great demon Bāṇa, Nārāyaṇa, with supreme wisdom, resolved to return to his own celestial abode. The eternal one, having fulfilled his purpose, came to Dvārakā to be seen by all. There, he sat upon the seats together with the wise Rāma. He declared, “All deeds have been accomplished; be pleased, O best of sages. In this age, people will indeed follow after sin, but by this, the best of the twice-born will be freed from the sins born of Kali. Let the sins of those devoted to the Supreme Person perish. By the procedures prescribed in the Vedas, they will attain the highest state. Even in the age of Kali, they will have devotion to Nārāyaṇa.