In deep reverence, the devotee gazed upon the supreme presence and spoke with heartfelt devotion: “You are the supreme Brahman, the source and pervader of all that exists. To you, who are the Truth beyond all darkness, I bow in surrender. It is in your very form that I seek refuge. I offer my obeisance to your form as Prāṇa, the vital force, and I honor your aspect as Puruṣa, the cosmic being. I bow to your form that forever retains its unique distinctions. “O Goddess, I offer my worship to your form endowed with every divine quality. I bow to your manifestation as the cosmic egg, the origin of creation. I honor your presence abiding within the solar orb, and I bow to your form as Nārāyaṇa. I revere your aspect as Time itself, and I bow to your form as Śeṣa, the cosmic serpent. I offer my salutations to your form as Rudra, the fierce one. I honor your most venerable form, worthy of all reverence. “O divine Lady, O auspicious one, I bow to you again and again. I take refuge in you alone—please be gracious to me, O Supreme Lady. The mother of the universe has now become my daughter, born of my austerities. Truly, the greatness of Menā, the mother of all worlds, is wondrous indeed. I worship your lotus feet and seek refuge in your auspiciousness. O great goddess, O Śaṅkarī, command me—what shall I do?” With these words, the devotee stood near Girijā, palms joined in humility. Girijā, with a gentle smile, remembered her husband Paśupati and spoke lovingly to her father. She imparted the supreme teaching, honored by the knowers of Brahman. “This teaching,” she said, “is endowed with all powers, infinite, and the supreme mover. Be steadfast and devoted to this alone; seek refuge in this alone. Worship this always, with all sacrifices, austerities, and gifts. “By my instruction, O sinless one, I shall free you from the bondage of worldly existence. From this vast ocean of worldly life, I will swiftly lift you up. You will attain me, O best of mountains, not otherwise—even by millions of actions. Always practice, for liberation, that which is united with knowledge of the Self. “Dharma, beginning with sacrifice, is declared by the Veda and Smṛti. Therefore, one who seeks liberation should resort to my form, the Veda, for the sake of dharma. At the beginning of creation, this dharma proceeds as Ṛg, Yajur, and Sāma. Then, the Brāhmaṇas and others were created, each assigned their respective duties. Below them, the hells such as Tāmisra were established. “One who delights elsewhere is not to be associated with by the twice-born. Those whose resolves oppose the Veda and Smṛti are indeed enveloped in darkness. There exist other such things, too, meant for delusion. The scriptures created by me are for the delusion of beings in other states of existence. Therefore, those who are devoted to me strive diligently in this pursuit.” Thus, with warmth and wisdom, the goddess revealed the path, guiding her devotee toward liberation and the highest good.