As the divine assembly gathered, Mahadeva declared, “Let this become a river.” At his command, Vrishadhvaja released the sacred water, which emerged full and dark, auspicious in every way. This celestial river, adorned with blooming lotuses and lilies, began to flow forth with splendor. Addressing the river, Mahadeva spoke, “Because you have arisen from the water of the matted locks, you are a great river; therefore, you shall be known as Jatodaka, the sacred and foremost stream. Whoever bathes in you will be freed from all sins.” Then Mahadeva, the Lord, turned to the son of Shilada, speaking through the goddess. The goddess said, “This is your son,” and with great affection, she placed me at her feet, embraced me, smelled my head, and gently stroked me with her hands. Overflowing with motherly love, she bathed me with three streams of milk flowing from her breasts, all the while gazing at the Lord of gods, pure as a conch. From these three streams of milk arose three rivers. The blessed Lord then proclaimed, “Let this be the river of three streams.” Upon witnessing this river of three streams, the bull, Vrishadhvaja, was filled with joy and bellowed loudly; from that sound, yet another river sprang forth. This river became known as Vrishadhvani, famed by the Lord of gods, made of golden jambū wood, wondrous and adorned with all manner of gems, auspicious in every respect. Then the Lord, Vrishadhvaja, placed upon my head a marvelous, divine crown, crafted by Viśvakarman himself. The great Lord Maheśvara himself fastened beautiful, divine earrings adorned with diamond and beryl upon me. As I stood thus honored in the sky, the sun, O sage, bathed me with rainwater from the clouds, as if anointing a king. As I was anointed, a strong current began to flow, and because it issued from gold, this river came into being. The three-eyed Lord of gods named it Svarṇodakā, 'the golden-watered,' for it arose from golden jambū wood, while the second, auspicious one, emerged from the crown. A sacred river then began to flow, and people called it Jambūnadī; this is the famous Pañcanada, near the lord Japyeśvara. Whoever, having reached Pañcanada, bathes and worships Japyeśvareśvara attains union with Śiva without doubt. Afterward, the great god, Lord of all beings, addressed the goddess Śarvāṇī, Umā, the unborn daughter of the mountain. The goddess asked, “Shall I anoint Nandīśvara, the lord of beings, and proclaim him chief of the gaṇas, or what do you think, O imperishable one?” Hearing these words, Bhavānī, her face radiant with joy, smiled and spoke to Bhava, her lord and the lord of beings: “O Lord of gods, you should grant him lordship over all worlds and leadership of the gaṇas, for he is the son of the mountain, mine.” Then the blessed Śarva, Lord of all lords, Vrishadhvaja, remembered the divine gaṇas. By merely remembering Rudra, all the lords of the gaṇas arrived, each possessing a thousand hands and bearing a thousand weapons. These great-souled, three-eyed ones, honored even by the gods, shone with the brilliance of millions of fires of time and wore crowns of matted hair. With faces fierce as fangs, eternally awakened and pure, they were equal to countless multitudes, themselves lords of hosts—innumerable and noble—arriving there, filled with joy. Singing, running, and dancing, mighty in strength, they played loud instruments with their mouths as well. On chariots, elephants, horses, and riding lions or monkeys, the hosts ascended celestial vehicles adorned with golden designs. The air resounded with the beats of drums, mridangas, and other instruments—panavas, anakas, gomukhas—and many other varieties, including patahas and single-skin drums. The sounds of bheris and murajas, loud kadindimas, mardalas, flutes, veenas, and various resonant cymbals filled the heavens. With darduras, strikes of cymbals, kacchapas, and panavas being played, the great yogis entered the divine assembly. These lords of hosts, mighty and noble, rulers of all gods, after bowing to the god and goddess, spoke: “O Lord, God of gods, Three-eyed one, Bull-bannered, for what purpose have we been summoned, O radiant one? Command us. Shall we dry up the oceans, or slay Yama with his attendants? Shall we kill the son of Death, Death himself, or the Lotus-born like beasts? Binding Indra with the gods, or Vishnu with the wind, shall we, greatly enraged, bring the demons and their hosts? Whose terrible calamity shall we bring about today at your command? Or whose festival, O God, for the fulfillment of all desires?” To all those lords of hosts, honored by all, who spoke thus, the Lord, worshipping them, addressed the hundreds of millions: “Hear for what purpose you have been summoned here for the welfare of the world. Having listened, with focused minds, do this without hesitation. This Nandi is our son, lord of all lords; he is a Brahmin, a leader, and your prosperous commander. By my command, all of you, esteemed ones, anoint him as commander, the great yogi, the master.” Thus addressed by the Lord, all the hosts, after consulting among themselves, replied, “So be it,” and brought forth the necessary items. They brought for him a divine seat, made of jambunada gold, splendid and enchanting, resembling Mount Meru itself.