Brahmā, the Grandsire born from the lotus, journeyed with Marīci and other great sages to the forest of austerities where the great goddess Pārvatī dwelt. Upon reaching her sacred hermitage, Brahmā and his companions reverently circumambulated the goddess. Then, Brahmā, the fire-stick of the worlds, addressed her: “O daughter of the mountain, why do you subject the worlds to such severe austerities? O Mother, you alone have created all the worlds—please, do not destroy them. With your own radiance, you sustain all that exists.” He continued, “Bhava, the glorious lord of all gods, master of all the worlds, is the one whom we, the gods of gods, serve. That supreme lord himself, by whom you were created and without whom he does not exist, will choose you, O giver of boons. There is no doubt—he will be your husband.” Having spoken thus, Brahmā bowed to Pārvatī again and again, gazing upon her with devotion. When Brahmā departed, the blessed supreme lord himself came to the hermitage, taking the form of a twice-born sage to bestow his grace. Pārvatī, recognizing Mahādeva by his divine signs even in this guise, bowed to the Bull-bannered One. Honoring the boon-giving god disguised as a Brāhmaṇa, Pārvatī praised Parameśvara, the supreme lord. Smiling, Mahādeva blessed the goddess, all the while upholding the family duty of the noble mountain. He spoke gently, “O goddess of divine beauty, for the joy of the virtuous, the lord of all gods will be present at your svayaṃvara. Assuming a gentle form, I will come together with you.” With these words, the god gazed at her with divine sight, then returned to his desired celestial city, while Pārvatī departed as well. When she arrived, her mother Menā and her father, the snowy mountain, rejoiced. The mountain, embracing and honoring his daughter, did not realize she had been enchanted by the god of gods. At this time, the self-choice ceremony, the svayaṃvara of the goddess, was proclaimed throughout all the worlds. The venerable Brahmā and Viṣṇu, the very Janārdana, arrived. Indra, Agni, Sūrya, Bhaga, Tvaṣṭṛ, Aryaman, Vivasvān, Yama, and Varuṇa also came. Vāyu, Soma, Iśāna, the Rudras, sages, the Ashvins, the twelve Ādityas, Gandharvas, and Garuḍa likewise attended. Yakṣas, Siddhas, Sādhyas, Daityas, Kimpuruṣas, serpents, oceans, rivers, the Vedas, mantras, hymns, and even moments of time themselves were present. Nāgas, all mountains, sacrifices, the sun and other planets, the thirty-three gods, and three times three hundred others assembled. Three times three thousand and many more gods came to this unparalleled svayaṃvara of the mountain king’s daughter. Then the goddess, daughter of the mountain, ascended a splendid golden chariot, auspicious and adorned with every jewel. She was surrounded by Apsarases dancing, all adorned with ornaments, and by Gandharvas, Siddhas, and various Kinnaras, radiant in beauty. Praised by bards, the mountain’s daughter stood, shaded by a white parasol mingled with rays of jewels. Malinī held a garland for her; Sandhyā bore the full-moon disc, and she was attended by divine women holding fly-whisks. Jaya stood with a garland from the celestial tree; Vijaya stood nearby, holding a fan. As the goddess stood in the assembly of gods holding the garland, Mahādeva, the bull-bannered one, for play, took the form of a child. The venerable Bhava lay asleep in her lap, and the gods, seeing this wondrous child resting there, were bewildered. They deliberated among themselves, “Who is this here?” Confusion and agitation arose. Indra, the slayer of Vṛtra, raised his arm, brandishing the thunderbolt, but as he brought it near, the god of gods, in the playful form of a child, stopped him. Indra could neither throw the thunderbolt nor move his arm. Likewise, Agni was unable to unleash his power. Yama could not wield his staff or sword, nor could Nirṛti, the foremost sage, Varuṇa with his serpent noose, or Samīra with his banner staff. Soma, with his mace, Dhanesha with his staff, the best among staff-bearers, and Iśāna with his fierce trident, all stood motionless. The Rudras held their tridents, the Ādityas their clubs, the Vasus their hammers—every god in heaven was restrained at once by the god. Other gods, too, were held fast by the Lord of gods. Even Viṣṇu, shaking his head and holding his discus aloft, found himself unable to hurl it or move his arms; the boy’s power rendered him motionless. Pūṣan, grinding his teeth in confusion, gazed at the boy, but at a mere glance from Śambhu, his teeth fell out. The mighty one subdued the strength, brilliance, and power of all those assembled. As the gods stood there, filled with anger and awe, Brahmā, greatly disturbed, entered deep meditation upon Śaṅkara. He realized the Lord, the ruler of gods, seated calmly on Umā’s lap. Recognizing the Lord of gods, Brahmā quickly rose, astonished, and bowed to Śambhu’s feet. The Grandsire praised him, exclaiming, “You are the intellect of all worlds; you are the ego, O Lord. You alone are the initiator of beings and their senses, O ruler.