Upamanyu, filled with unwavering resolve, set aside his longing for milk and spoke sternly to Indra, whom he addressed as the lowest of the gods. “Let my desire for milk be forgotten for now,” he declared. “Armed with Shiva’s weapon, I will slay you, and then abandon this body.” He recalled his mother’s words from long ago, how she had told him, without a doubt, that in a previous birth they had failed to worship the Lord—an omission that now bore fruit. Having spoken thus, fearless Upamanyu, well-versed in sacred mantras, prepared to unleash the Atharvan missile against Indra. He, mighty and adorned with holy ashes, seized a handful of those ashes and, invoking the power of the missile, hurled it at his foe with a thunderous roar. Intent on sacrificing his own body, Upamanyu entered into deep, fiery meditation, standing unmoved and resolute, like dry wood awaiting the sacred flame. As the young brahmin’s determination blazed forth, the Lord—destroyer of Bhaga’s eye—gently restrained his yogic concentration. By the command of Nandī and Candraka, the Atharvan missile, which shone like the fire at the end of time, was withdrawn. Then, the blessed Supreme Lord revealed himself to Upamanyu in his own true form, crowned with the crescent moon. Around him, on all sides, flowed a thousand streams of milk, forming oceans of milk, curds, and clarified butter. There were oceans of fruits for the boy, oceans of delightful foods, and mountains of cakes standing all around—a vision of abundance and divine grace. The blessed Lord smiled kindly at Upamanyu, who was now surrounded by his relatives. Girijā too, smiling with compassion, gazed at him with gentle affection. The Lord spoke: “Enjoy all these pleasures as you wish, along with your family. Behold, my child: today I have made you my son. I have given you oceans of milk, honey, curds, clarified butter, fruits, sweets, and mountains of cakes—oceans of every food to enjoy.” He continued, “O sage, your father is the great god Mahadeva, the father of all worlds; your mother, O highly fortunate one, is the mother of the universe—let there be no doubt. I have granted you immortality and eternal lordship over the Ganas. Ask for further boons, without hesitation.” Having said this, Mahadeva embraced Upamanyu, smelling his head with affection, and, together with Devi, bestowed blessings upon him. Devi, pleased to see her son, granted him mastery in yoga and the supreme knowledge of Brahman. Upamanyu, blessed with perpetual youth, offered praises to Mahadeva, his voice trembling with joy. With hands joined in reverence, bowing repeatedly, Upamanyu requested one more boon from the stainless-eyed Lord: “Be gracious, Lord of gods; may unwavering faith and your presence, O Mahadeva, always abide in me.” Shankara, smiling, granted this wish to the devoted brahmin and then vanished from sight. In time, Vasudeva Krishna himself, whose deeds are ever pure, came to Upamanyu. From Dhaumya’s elder brother, Krishna received the divine vow of Pāśupata. How did Krishna, the wise one, gain this knowledge? Hear now this sacred story. Though Krishna, the eternal one, had descended by his own will, he performed bodily purification, as if reproaching the limitations of human existence. Desiring a son, the Blessed Lord undertook austerities and came to Upamanyu’s ashram. Upon seeing the sage, Krishna bowed in great respect, circumambulating him three times. Merely by beholding the sage, all impurities—bodily and karmic—were washed away from Krishna. Upamanyu, radiant and powerful, sprinkled Krishna with ashes and addressed him as Agni, Vayu, and other divine names. With a delighted mind, Upamanyu imparted to Krishna the divine knowledge of Pāśupata, and by the sage’s grace, Krishna became worthy of this supreme path. After a year of austerity, Krishna beheld Maheshvara himself, calm and radiant, accompanied by Samba and his attendants, and thus obtained the son he desired. From that time forward, all ascetic sages, devoted to vows, remained with Krishna, who was now endowed with the divine Pāśupata. Now, hear another practice that leads to liberation for all beings: one should make a golden girdle and carry a staff as a support. Men or women should offer a golden seat, a fan, a staff, as well as an inkpot and pen. Razors, scissors, or a vessel may also be offered to a Pāśupata whose body is smeared with ashes. These gifts, made of gold, silver, or copper according to one’s means, should be offered with wisdom and honor to the yogin. All who do so, along with their entire families, are freed from all sin and attain the divine state of Rudra—of this, there should be no doubt. Thus, by such giving, a householder is liberated from worldly existence; by honoring yogins, Shiva is quickly pleased. If one desires the highest liberation, one should give away kingdom, sons, auspicious wealth, horses, vehicles, or even all one’s possessions. With this unstable body, one should diligently pursue the eternal goal—the auspicious Pāśupata path, the means to cross the ocean of worldly existence.