From all directions, the Ganapas—those revered by the gods—gathered a vast array of materials, diverse and abundant, without hesitation. The gods themselves, led by Indra and Narayana, assembled alongside the sages, the blessed Brahma, and the nine Brahmas. All the worlds, with their deities, arrived joyfully, and when everyone had gathered, the supreme lord issued his command. He instructed Pitamaha, the blessed Brahma, to perform all the necessary rites. Brahma, acting with devotion and concentration, carried out the consecration rituals as commanded. Brahma himself worshipped and anointed the lord. Then Vishnu, Shakra, and the guardians of the worlds followed, each anointing the lord of the Ganas in the prescribed manner, as Shiva had ordained. The sages offered praises, and the ancestors, led by the great ones, joined in their hymns. As these praises resounded, Vishnu, lord of all the worlds, bowed with joined hands upon his head, uttering words of victory with deep concentration. All the leaders of the hosts, the gods, and even the asuras, together with Brahma, praised and consecrated him at that auspicious moment. By the command of the supreme lord, a marriage was performed there, and the goddess Suyaśā, the daughter of the Maruts, became his wife. A radiant parasol, shining like the moon, was obtained and adorned by the goddess, surrounded by groups of women holding fly-whisks in their hands. The supreme throne was graced by the goddess and by me, decorated magnificently by Mahalakshmi with a crown and splendid ornaments. An exquisite necklace was placed upon the goddess’s neck; the lord received a bull, a white elephant, a lion, and a lion-banner. A chariot and a golden parasol, radiant as the moon’s disc, were bestowed; even today, none are equal to me, O mighty one. With his family and relatives, the lord ascended the bull, and together with the goddess and myself, Shiva departed. Witnessing the goddess Bhavā and myself, the hosts, sages, divine rishis, and siddhas requested the Pāśupata command, O twice-born. By the lord’s command, Nandikā, attendant of the mountain-born’s husband, granted them this auspicious Pāśupata command. Thus, the sages, having received the command from the foremost sage, became devoted to Bhava, establishing the proper mode of worship. One who utters the name of Bhava without bowing commits a sin equal to killing a Brahmin ten times; such a sin is most grievous. Therefore, in every way, one should recite with bowing and reverence; bowing at the beginning, and in the end, attaining the state of Shiva. At this point, Sūta, having narrated all about Śaṅkara, was requested to speak of Rudra, the soul of all. The worlds—Bhū, Bhuvaḥ, Svar, Mahas, Jana, Tapas, and Satya—as well as Pātāla, the realms of hell, and countless oceanic abysses, stars, planets, moon, sun, Dhruva, the seven sages, and celestial beings—all exist by his grace. By Rudra, all these are created; he is established as the totality, the soul of all, always as Śiva. Those deluded by his Māyā do not recognize this great soul, the great god, the great lord. The body of Rudra is indeed the three worlds; thus, bowing to him, Sūta declared he would speak the auspicious determination of the worlds. Previously, the creation of the cosmic egg had been described; now Sūta began to recount the nature of the worlds within the Brahmāṇḍa. From the cosmic egg arise the earth, the atmosphere, heaven, Mahar, Jana, Tapas, and Satya—seven auspicious worlds. Below these, O twice-born, are seven realms called Talas, beginning with Mahātala, and beneath them lie the hells. Mahātala is adorned with gold, gems, splendid palaces, and various abodes belonging to Bhava. It is associated with Ananta, the wise king Mucukunda, the mighty ruler, and those who dwell in Pātāla and Svarga. Rasātala is a mountain; Śārkara is Talātala; Pīta is Sutala; Vitala shines like coral. Atala and Tala are white, as are other regions among them, and their expanse is as vast as the earth below. The number of these Talas is thus established: the sky measures a thousand yojanas, and ten thousand as well. A hundred thousand and seven thousand is the measure of the dense Talas; the root of the sky is thirty thousand. Rasātala, renowned as golden and auspicious, is inhabited by Vāsuki and others. Talātala is served by Virocana, Hiraṇyākṣa, Naraka, and others, and is endowed with all splendor. Sutala is filled with ancient gods, led by Vaināyaka and Kālanemi, and others. Vitala is inhabited by Dānavas, Tāraka, Agnimukha, Mahāntaka, Nāgas, and the Asura Prahlāda. Vitala is also renowned as being served by Kambala and Aśva, by the heroic Mahākumbha, and the wise Hayagrīva. Such, O virtuous ones, is the wondrous arrangement and inhabitants of the worlds, all sustained by the grace of Rudra, the soul of all.