She stood before him, her chest adorned with a wide garland of gold, radiant and resplendent. Her face, serene and divine, seemed to be the very abode of infinite greatness. Seeing her thus, he cast off all fear, and his heart was gladdened. With devotion, he addressed the supreme goddess who was directly present before him—unmanifest and gracious, yet visible to his sight. “O Goddess,” he spoke, “everything dissolves into you alone, and you alone are the supreme goal. Those who know the highest truth call you Śiva, the refuge of auspiciousness. Ignorance, limitation, illusion, and countless powers such as the elements have arisen, yet you remain free from all distinctions—even as all distinctions rest within your own being. From the primordial substance, you create and transform the entire universe. You alone are supreme bliss; you alone are the giver of bliss. You are Śiva, all-pervading, subtle, the supreme eternal Brahman.” He continued, praising her manifold presence: “Among the strong, O Goddess, you are the wind; among yogis, you are Kumāraka. Among Sāṃkhyas, you are the god Kapila; among Rudras, you are Śaṅkara. Among the Vedas, you are the Sāma Veda; among meters, you are Gāyatrī. You are Māyā among all powers; among those who measure time, you are Time itself. Among the stages of life, you are householdership; among lords, you are the great Lord. O Goddess, among all Upaniṣads, you are called the secret Upaniṣad. Among all paths, you are the sun; among words, O Goddess, you are Sarasvatī. Among virtuous wives, you are Arundhatī; among those who fly, you are Suparṇa. You are Sāvitrī among recitations, and the Śatarudriya among Yajur Veda hymns. You are the supreme Brahman of all; indeed, everything is pervaded by you.” With reverence, he declared, “I bow to the Truth which is beyond darkness. I seek refuge in that very form. I bow to the form known as Prāṇa. I honor the form called Puruṣa. I bow to your form, which never loses its distinctions. O Goddess, I bow to your form endowed with all qualities. I bow to the form known as the cosmic egg. I honor the form abiding in the solar orb. I bow to the form called Nārāyaṇa. I honor your form known as Time. I bow to your form known as Śeṣa. I bow to your form known as Rudra. I honor this form of yours, which is to be revered. Salutations to you, O divine Lady, O auspicious one, I bow again and again.” He pledged his devotion: “I will take refuge in you alone; be gracious, O Supreme Lady. The mother of the universe has become my daughter, born of my austerity. Ah, the greatness of Menā, mother of all worlds, is indeed wondrous. I honor your lotus feet; I seek refuge in the auspicious one. Command me, O great goddess, O Śaṅkarī, what shall I do?” Thus, in awe and devotion, he praised and bowed to the goddess in all her forms, seeking her guidance and grace.