In the haunted cremation grounds, crowded with spirits, Bhava—Lord Shiva—took the form of a child and wept, his cries echoing through the night. This was not ordinary grief: by his divine māyā, Shiva sought to drink the fire of the goddess’s anger. Seeing this child, Īśāna, who appeared deluded by his own māyā, the wrathful goddess lifted him up, smelled his chest as mothers do, and offered him her breast, O twice-born one. As the child drank her milk, he also drank away her anger. Through this act, the child became the protector of sacred fields. From him, eight wise forms of Kṣetrapāla arose, and thus, the goddess, overwhelmed by wrath, was pacified by the child. To further appease her, the God of gods—Shiva himself—performed the Tāṇḍava dance at twilight. He danced with all the lords of beings, spirits, and the pleased wielder of the trident. The Supreme Lady, having drunk the nectar of Śambhu's dance to the full, herself began to dance, and the yoginīs, in the place of spirits, danced as they pleased. In that sacred moment, the gods, led by Brahmā, Indra, and Upendra, bowed and praised Kālī and again the goddess Pārvatī. Thus, in brief, the Tāṇḍava of the trident-bearing Lord has been told, as well as the Tāṇḍava of the mighty one, filled with yogic bliss, as others call it. Now, O Sūta, listen to how Upamanyu obtained the Gāṇapatya teaching from Maheśvara, and how he gained the ocean of milk. After propitiating Kālī, and when the three-eyed god had departed, Upamanyu, through worship and austerity, obtained the fruit. O best of twice-born, there was a sage named Upamanyu, radiant like a youth, who played as he pleased. Once, in his uncle’s hermitage, Upamanyu drank a little milk. Out of jealousy, his cousin drank the finest milk. Having drunk his fill, Upamanyu turned to his mother and said, “Mother, O greatly fortunate one, O ascetic, give me some.” He praised cow’s milk for its sweetness and mildness, bowing to her. Cherished by her son, she embraced him affectionately. Yet, distressed and recalling her own poverty, she lamented in anguish. Again and again, Upamanyu cried out to her, “Give, give,” weeping, radiant as he was. Determined, she gathered seeds from gleaning, ground them, mixed them with water, and spoke gently: “Come here, my son.” She embraced her sorrowful child and gave him the artificial milk. Upamanyu drank the artificial milk, but troubled, he told his mother, “This is not milk.” Seeing him, she sorrowfully spoke, smelling his head, and gently wiped his lotus-like eyes with her hands. She spoke of rivers filled with jewels in heaven and the netherworlds, accessible only to the fortunate and the devoted to Shiva. Those lacking devotion do not see them. Kingdom, heaven, liberation, and food produced from milk—these dear things are not obtained, for Shiva is never pleased with those who lack devotion. All is gained by Shiva’s grace, not by the favor of other gods. Those devoted to other deities wander in delusion, afflicted by suffering. “How could we have milk here, when Mahadeva has not been worshipped? Whatever was given in a former birth, O son, by worshipping Shiva—that alone is obtained, not anything else, even by worshipping Vishnu, the Lord.” Hearing his mother’s words, Upamanyu, though a child, bowed to her and said, “Abandon grief, O greatly fortunate one; Mahadeva exists somewhere. Whether after a long time or soon, I will obtain the ocean of milk.” Thus speaking, he bowed to her and began to undertake austerities. His mother encouraged him to perform auspicious acts and permitted him to pursue his purpose. With her consent, Upamanyu undertook severe austerities. He reached Mount Himavat, sustained by air alone, and concentrated so deeply that his austerity shook the whole world. All the excellent gods bowed and spoke to Hari. Hearing their words, the blessed Supreme Person thought, “What is this?” Knowing the reason, he quickly went to Mandara, desiring to see Maheshvara. Upon seeing the god, he bowed and spoke with joined palms: “Lord, there is a certain brahmin named Upamanyu, so it is heard. He has given all for the sake of milk; restrain him from his austerity.” Meanwhile, the god Pinaki, the Supreme Lord Shiva, assumed the form of Shakra (Indra) and resolved to go. Sadashiva, together with gods, asuras, siddhas, and great serpents, assuming the body of the king of the immortals, went to the sage’s forest of austerity, riding a great white elephant. With Shachi on his left and a white parasol in his other hand, the blessed Soma—Sadashiva in the form of Shakra—shone like Mandara with the orb of the moon. Thus, the Supreme Lord, having taken the very form of Shakra, went to Upamanyu’s hermitage to bestow his grace. Seeing the Supreme Lord Shiva in the form of Shakra, the sage Upamanyu, foremost among sages, bowed his head and spoke: “This hermitage is purified, for the Lord of gods himself has come; Shakra, Lord of the universe, the blessed, radiant master.” Having spoken thus, and seeing the brahmin standing with joined palms, Hara, bearing the form of Shakra, addressed him with deep words: “I am pleased with you; ask a boon, O steadfast one. By this austerity, I will grant you all you desire, O wise elder brother of Dhaumya.