Salutations were offered to the Lord whose form is Rudra, the very fire of time, and who embodies the eightfold path beginning with dharma. He is the one whose body is pure like Kali, and who is the very cause of Kali herself. The assembled gods and sages bowed to Kālakaṇṭha, the blue-throated one, the foremost and excellent vehicle, the Lord of Ambika and the Lord of gold. They praised him whose seed is gold, who is Sharva, the wielder of the trident, and who bears the skull, staff, noose, sword, hide, and goad. They honored the Lord of Hemavati, whose radiance is golden-white and yellow-white, who protects the gods, and whose path is mysterious and dark. To the fifth one, bestower of fruits to those who perform the five great sacrifices, with five faces and serpent garlands, composed of five sacred syllables, they offered their salutations. They revered him whose form is worshipped by the fivefold, five-liberated gods, whose vision is of the five syllables, and who is beyond even the highest. They bowed to the Lord whose face and limbs shine with the brilliance of sixteen thunderbolts, whose form is imperishable, whose hands hold the fivefold beginning with 'ka', and whose hands are the very beginning. Salutations were offered to Rudra, whose feet begin with ‘ṭa’ and ‘ta’, whose feet are the foundation, and who bears the seven elements of the body. They praised the tranquil one, the destroyer of anger and desire, who is the sound ‘la’, the letter ‘ra’, and the consonant ‘pha’, and who is beyond all limbs. They honored him who causes the inner sound in the hearts of all beings, who is seen by the wise as the supreme radiance between the brows. Salutations went to the one whose eyes are the sun, moon, and fire, who is the supreme Self, who stands above the three qualities, and whose feet are holy places. Again and again, they praised him who is the very essence of the truth of all holy places, who is beyond even that, who is the Rig, Yajur, and Sama Vedas, and who is the sacred syllable Om. They honored him who assumes a threefold form in Om, who abides above, shining in yellow, black, and red, of supreme brilliance. Again and again, they saluted the one established in the five stations, who stands outside the five cosmic eggs, and who is Brahma, Vishnu, and Kumara. They bowed to the supreme Lord of Ambā, who surpasses all, whose form is the subtle root, and who is both gross and subtle. Again and again, they praised the one who is devoid of all intentions, who protects all, who has no beginning, middle, or end, and who abides in consciousness. To him who is always worshipped in every direction by Yama, Agni, Vāyu, Rudra, Water, Soma, Indra, and the night-walkers with their hosts, they offered their salutations. Everywhere and on every path, Rudra, the blue-throated, the fierce, the wise, the great Lord, the manifest Shiva, is worshipped. They pleaded for forgiveness for any actions performed in the sacrifices of Makha, Madana, Yama, Agni, and Daksha. They declared that whoever recites this hymn with devotion, praised by the gods led by Indra and Agni, or hears it from the learned, attains the supreme state. When the lords of the gods had thus bowed to the Lord, Bhava, the Lord of Ambikā and wielder of the Pināka bow, stood before them. He cast his gaze upon those foremost gods, who, with eyes moist with joy, bowed reverently to Hara. Bhava, his glances like nectar and ambrosia, looked upon them kindly and said, “May it be well with you, O lords of the gods.” The Lord of Speech, having bowed, spoke without fear: “O Lord, you are sought for boons; these gods have come to you for refuge. You are always entreated by gods and others for the removal of obstacles, for the accomplishment of all actions, especially against those who act contrary to the gods. Therefore, O Bhava, cause of proper and improper actions, grant us this boon: that those who act against the gods may be restrained.” Having heard their plea, Shiva, the Lord of gods who wields the Pināka, assumed the form of the Lord of Gaṇas, the leader of the divine hosts. The leaders of the Gaṇas and the gods praised this great and auspicious Lord, the source of all worlds and remover of suffering. Then, Ambikā herself bestowed a boon upon Gajānana, the elephant-faced one, the giver of boons, who holds the trident and noose, and who is the origin of all worlds. At that moment, Siddhas, great sages, celestial beings, and the hosts of gods showered flowers, praising Ekadanta and bowing, without fatigue, to Gaṇeśa, the great Lord. From Shiva and Ambikā, a most terrible and embodied being emerged—a child who danced joyfully, the very abode of all auspiciousness, adorned with wondrous garments and ornaments. Gajānana, the son of the great Lord, respectfully saluted his father and Ambikā. Seeing his newly born son, the blessed Lord Bhava assigned all duties to Gajānana, Lord of all. Taking him in his gentle hands, the great god, teacher of the world, embraced him and smelled his head with affection. He spoke: “My son, your descent is for the destruction of demons, for the benefit of the gods, the twice-born, and those devoted to Brahman. If any sacrifice is performed on earth without the prescribed fee, you must create an obstacle to that rite, standing on the path to heaven. Whoever teaches, studies, explains, or performs rites unlawfully—always take the life of such a one. For men and women who have fallen from their caste, or who have abandoned their own duty, take their lives, O Lord. “But for those women and men, O Vināyaka, who always worship you, grant them equality with yourself. O child Gaṇeśa, protect your devotees with all your effort—whether they are young, mature, or old—being worshipped here and hereafter.” Thus, with blessings and duties assigned, the Lord established Gaṇeśa as the protector and obstacle-remover for all the worlds, adored by gods and sages alike.