In the midst of a great war, Indra, the illustrious Śakra, spoke to Bṛhaspati, lamenting the dire state of the gods. "Because of him," Indra said, "we wander homeless, like birds trapped in a cage. Our infallible weapons have lost their power before the enemy of the immortals. For twenty thousand years, O Bṛhaspati, even Viṣṇu fought valiantly, yet could not slay him. If even mighty Viṣṇu could not defeat this foe, how can we hope to stand against him in battle?" Moved by Indra's words, Jīva, together with the lords of the gods and Indra, approached the illustrious Kuśadhvaja and spoke. Hearing their plight, Pitāmaha, the Grandfather, out of affection and as the remover of distress, addressed Jīva in the presence of all the gods and Indra. "I know your suffering, O lords of the gods," Pitāmaha said. "Listen well. The goddess Satī, born from Rudra's body, once rejected Dakṣa. Then Umā, daughter of Himavat, was born, revered by all the worlds. Through her form, O best of celestials, and when the great mind of Rudra was drawn forth by Viṣṇu, their union brought forth Skanda, the mighty bearer of power. Skanda is six-faced, twelve-armed, commander of the army, born of fire, son of Svāhā, called Kārtikeya, son of Gaṅgā, and born in the abode of reeds. He is known as Śākha, Viśākha, the valiant Naigameśa, the general Kumāra, honored by all the worlds. By his play alone, Mahāsena, though but a child, will single-handedly slay the powerful Tārakāsura and deliver the gods." Upon hearing this from Brahmā, the supreme lord, Bṛhaspati, Indra, and the other gods bowed to Skanda. They ascended to the summit of Meru, where the virtuous one remembered Smara, the god of desire. By this remembrance, Smara and his wife Rati were called forth. Smara, together with Rati, bowed with joined palms and, along with Śakra, addressed the life of the world. Smara said, "Remembered by you, O Jīva, I have come. Tell me, what must I do?" Śakra, honoring the bannered one of desire, replied, "Today, unite Śaṅkara and Ambikā as you wish. By the path through which the Lord with the bull-banner delights with her, so too should you, with your wife Rati, follow that way. Then, pleased, Mahādeva will grant you an auspicious state; once separated from her before, he obtained Girijā, Umā." Bowing to the lord of gods, Smara resolved to go, together with Rati, to the hermitage of the lord of gods. Reaching the abode of Śambhu, with Rati and aided by Spring, Smara set his mind on influencing the god. But when Madana appeared, the three-eyed god, Śiva, smiled and glanced at him with his third eye, disdainful. From that eye, fire arose and burned Madana to ashes in an instant, leaving Rati wailing in grief. Hearing Rati's lament, the compassionate Śiva spoke to her. "Though your husband is now formless, blessed one, he will accomplish all acts at the time of union; there is no doubt. When Viṣṇu becomes Vāsudeva, renowned through Bhṛgu's curse, blazing with splendor for the good of all worlds, then your son and the one who will be your husband will arise." Kāma's wife, pure-smiling, bowed to Rudra, and having obtained Madana, departed accompanied by Vasanta. Meanwhile, through the austerity of the great goddess Pārvatī, Śarva, the Bull-bannered One, was pleased, just as Brahmā had foretold. For the welfare of the hermitages and for divine play, Bhava married the golden-born goddess according to proper rites. Brahmā himself, along with Marīci and other great sages, went to the forest of austerities where the great goddess Pārvatī dwelled. Circumambulating her, Brahmā, the fire-stick of the worlds, asked, "O daughter of the mountain, for what purpose do you afflict the worlds with your austerity? All the world has been created by you, O Mother; do not destroy it. You alone sustain all these worlds with your radiance. Bhava, the glorious lord of gods, master of all worlds, is the one for whom we declare ourselves as servants. That supreme lord himself will choose you, O giver of boons, by whom you were created and without whom, O Ambikā, he does not exist. There is no doubt—he will be your husband." Having said this, Brahmā bowed repeatedly and gazed at Pārvatī. When the Grandfather departed, the blessed supreme lord came to the hermitage in the form of a twice-born, to bestow his grace. Seeing Mahādeva in this form, Pārvatī recognized the lord by his signs and bowed to the Bull-bannered One. Honoring the boon-giving god who had come disguised as a Brāhmaṇa, Pārvatī praised the supreme lord, Parameśvara. Smiling, the lord blessed the goddess, protecting the family duty of the great soul of the mountain. Thus, the gods’ hopes were fulfilled, and the auspicious union of Śiva and Pārvatī was achieved for the welfare of all worlds.