Overwhelmed by grief and fear, the wife of Śakti—Vasiṣṭha’s daughter-in-law—approached the great sage Vasiṣṭha, who was renowned as the foremost among speakers. Tears streaming down her face, she pleaded with him: “O revered one, best of Brāhmaṇas, preserve your blessed body, O lord, so that you may live to see your grandson, my own son. Please, do not abandon this splendid form, for my child—the son of Śakti, who fulfills all purposes—is still in my womb.” Having spoken these words, the righteous, lotus-eyed woman gently raised her father-in-law with her hands, bowed respectfully, and tenderly wiped his eyes with water. Though she herself was afflicted with sorrow, she sought to comfort her grieving father-in-law and also appealed to Arundhatī, the virtuous wife of Vasiṣṭha, who was equally distressed. Moved by his daughter-in-law’s words, Vasiṣṭha rose from the ground, regained his composure, and embraced her. Overwhelmed by grief, she collapsed. Arundhatī, her eyes brimming with tears, touched her gently, and Vasiṣṭha—tiger among sages, loving his wife as dearly as a son—wept. At that moment, something wondrous occurred. Just as Brahmā sits in Viṣṇu’s navel-lotus, the boy within the womb recited a Vedic verse. Hearing this mysterious utterance, Vasiṣṭha, with reverence and curiosity, wondered who had spoken it and concentrated his mind to discern its source. Then Hari, the Supreme Lord, appeared in the sky—his eyes like lotuses, the soul of the universe and repository of compassion. With kindness, he addressed Vasiṣṭha: “O dear child, O foremost of Brāhmaṇas, Vasiṣṭha, lover of your son! From the lotus-face of your grandson, this Vedic verse has emerged. This son of Śakti, your grandson, is both mine and yours. He is powerful; therefore, arise, O best of Brahmā’s sons, and abandon your grief. Even while still in the womb, he is a devotee of Rudra, intent on worshipping Rudra. By Rudra’s power, your lineage will be preserved.” Having spoken thus, the compassionate Supreme Person vanished from Vasiṣṭha’s sight. Vasiṣṭha, radiant and reverent, bowed his head to the lotus-eyed Lord, and though the Lord was now invisible, he touched the womb respectfully. Overcome with sorrow, Vasiṣṭha cried out, “Alas, son, son!” and fell down in grief. Seeing Arundhatī wailing, the other Brāhmaṇas comforted her. Remembering his own son in his sorrow, Vasiṣṭha called out again, “Come, come, my child! Behold, O Śakti, your son, the upholder of the lineage. I will go to you, together with your mother, without doubt.” Having spoken thus, the Brāhmaṇa, weeping, embraced Arundhatī. At that moment, the noble wife of Śakti, struck by pain, hit her own belly with her hand and vanished, destroying the abode of Śakti. Distressed, she lamented on the ground and fell down. Arundhatī was afraid, and Vasiṣṭha, the great-minded sage, too. Together, they raised their young daughter-in-law, shaken by fear, and spoke to her: “O bewildered one, why have you struck your womb with your lotus-like hands, intending to destroy the entire, rare lineage of Vasiṣṭha? Tell us, noble lady, how you have become ready for such a deed. Seeing your own son, the son of Śakti, and tasting the nectar of his mouth, the noble son of the sage was determined to protect this body; therefore, preserve the body.” Thus reproaching their daughter-in-law, Arundhatī stood beside Vasiṣṭha. Distressed and agitated, she addressed him: “O virtuous one, the life of this sage depends on you alone; protect my life, and as the nurse of the body, do what is beneficial. If I am determined to protect the great sage, then whether my body is auspicious or inauspicious, I will somehow preserve it. I have received both joy and sorrow, and am unchaste—there is no doubt of this, O sage; I am burned by grief because I am your daughter, O sage. Ah, I have seen something wondrous; I am indeed a vessel of sorrow, O Lord. Become the remover of sorrow, O Brahman, son of Brahma, teacher of the world. Still, a woman deprived of her husband becomes miserable here; protect me, O noble lord, otherwise I will be dishonored. Father, mother, sons, grandsons, and father-in-law—these are not true relatives for women; the husband is the true relative and the highest refuge. Even what has been spoken by the wise about the self is only half true; even that proved false here, for Śakti is gone and I remain. Ah, how hard is my mind, O foremost sage, that I remain here for a moment, having abandoned my husband, who is as dear as life. Relying on Vasiṣṭha, like a creeper on a tree, I am immortal even though uprooted; abandoned by my husband, I remain miserable.” Hearing these heartfelt words from their daughter-in-law, Vasiṣṭha and his wife, wise and resolute, decided to return to their own hermitage. With great difficulty, the blessed Vasiṣṭha, along with Arundhatī, quickly went to his hermitage, entering unseen and reflecting deeply. The wife of Śakti, devoted to her husband, somehow preserved her pregnancy, O foremost sages, for the sake of maintaining the lineage. Then, in the tenth month, she gave birth to a radiant son, just as Arundhatī had once given birth to a powerful son according to her ability. Her birth was as auspicious as Diti bearing Viṣṇu, Svāhā bearing Guha, the wife of Agni bearing a son from the fire-stick, and Śakti’s wife bearing Parāśara himself. At that time, when Śakti’s son descended to earth, Śakti was freed from his suffering and attained equality with the ancestors. Dwelling among them, the illustrious Vasiṣṭha shone with his brothers, like the sun among the Ādityas, foremost among sages.