Salutations were offered to the Lord of the sacred syllable, the very essence of sound itself, to the One who destroyed Bhaga’s eye and hunted the deer, to Daksha and the destroyer of Daksha’s sacrifice. Praise was given to Him who is the soul of all beings, who surpasses all other lords, who razed the cities, who wields the most excellent weapons, the archer and bearer of the mighty axe. He was hailed as the destroyer of Pusha’s teeth and Bhaga’s eye, the fulfiller of desires, the most exalted, the one who burned the body of Desire itself. On the stage of the world, He stands with a fierce face, sometimes with the visage of the lord of serpents, the ender of demons, causing their cries to resound. He is the destroyer of snow, sharp and keen, clad in moist hides, ever delighting in the cremation ground, bearing a massive mouth. Salutations were offered to the protector of life, the one adorned with a garland of skulls, always surrounded by beings who have been freed from sorrow. His body is both man and woman, the source of joy for the goddess, with matted hair, carrying a skull, and wearing a serpent as his sacred thread. He is the lover of dance, delighting in the company of dancers, passionate, a lover of song, praised by sages through their hymns. He is both rattling and sharp, encompassing the unpleasant and the pleasant, terrifying and formidable, once more the destroyer of Bhaga. Hosts of perfected beings praise Him, the greatly fortunate, whose liberated laugh resounds, who snorts and cracks with power. He roars and leaps, his spirit gladdened; gracious, he breathes, runs, and presides over all. He meditates and yawns, weeps and melts, leaps and plays, possessing a large belly. Salutations to the uncreated and the created, the skull-bearer, the dark one, whose form is sometimes mad, adorned with bells. His attire is strange, fierce and unyielding, immeasurable, yet he is the protector, radiant, and beyond all qualities. He is beloved of the left, himself the leftward one, wearing the crest-jewel, slender, and of immeasurable virtues. He is virtuous and mysterious, moving in the unapproachable, supporter of the worlds, the earth itself his feet, honored by the good. His belly is the foundation of all attainments and yogas; in the middle is the vast sky, adorned with clusters of stars. Upon his chest shines a splendid necklace, like the path of the star Swati; the ten directions are his arms, adorned with armlets and bracelets. His neck, broad and thick, shines like a mass of dark collyrium, adorned with a golden thread. His face is fierce, fangs protruding, unconquerable and incomparable; his head, crowned with a garland of lotuses, outshines the heavens. He is the radiance in the sun, the form in the moon, steadfastness in the mountain, strength in the wind, heat in fire, coolness in water, and the very sound in the sky. The wise know all these qualities as arising from the unmoving, imperishable source—the recitation, the object of recitation, the Great God, the supreme yogi, the great Lord. He is Lord of cities, dweller in caves, mover in the sky, wanderer of the night, treasury of austerity, secret teacher, bringer of joy, increaser of delight. Sometimes horse-headed, ocean-born, creator and sustainer of beings, to be known, revealer, leader, unconquerable and unshakable. He rides a mighty chariot, performs fearsome deeds, is of great fame, conqueror of wealth, lover of bells, bearer of banners, holder of the umbrella, wielder of the bow Pinaka, and lord of armies. He is armored, armed with spear and sword, holding bow and axe, destroyer of evil, sinless, heroic, king of gods, crusher of enemies. By propitiating Him in former times, their foes were vanquished in battle; yet, like fire drinking the waters of the ocean, He is never satisfied. He is wrathful in form, yet serene in spirit, granter and fulfiller of desires, beloved, celibate, unfathomable, devoted to the Veda, honored by the virtuous. He is the inexhaustible treasury of the gods; sacrifice is established by Him; the oblation, offered according to the Veda, is borne to Him by the fire. When He is pleased, all are pleased. He is the Lord of Bhavani, beginningless, creator of all worlds and beings. The wise, knowing Him as the supreme beyond nature, having exhausted their meditation, enter into immortality. Yogis, meditating on Him as ever-perfect, renounce other yogic practices; others, pure and serene, devoted to Him through their own actions, attain divine enjoyments. As far as their knowledge allowed, they praised His greatness, acknowledging that His essence is beyond all reckoning. They prayed that Shiva be gracious everywhere, saluting Him as He truly is. Whoever recites this hymn to Brahman-Narayana with devotion, or has it recited by learned Brahmins, or listens with concentration, attains merit equal to performing ten thousand horse sacrifices. Even mortals of sinful conduct, if they listen or recite this in Shiva’s presence, are freed and reach the world of Brahma. Whether at a śrāddha, a divine rite, a sacrifice, or at the conclusion of a ritual bath, whoever recites this among the virtuous attains the presence of Brahman. As these praises were offered, Shiva beheld the utmost humility of the worshipers. His eyes, like honey and copper, shone with joy, his face radiant with pleasure at their true praise. The Lord of Uma, the three-eyed one, destroyer of Daksha’s sacrifice, Pinaki with the broken axe, Virupaksha, was greatly pleased. Having heard their nectar-like words, the blessed Mahadeva, though all-knowing, spoke playfully. “Who are you two, O great souls, seeking each other’s welfare, united here, lotus-eaters, in this dreadful, great flood?” he asked, his divine voice echoing amidst the cosmic waters.