Govinda, with his slender belly, was gently teased: “What food could ever satisfy you? You should go to Parvati’s house—she will surely fill your stomach.” Following these words, the god instructed Nandi, the gatekeeper, as he had been told, to prepare food, for the gods wished to eat. Soon, the two supreme deities ascended a soft bed and lay down to rest. Afterward, they went together to a deep pond to bathe. Sages and rakshasas joined them, engaging in playful water games. They showered Shankara and Hari with handfuls of fragrant lotus pollen. From the stream of pollen, Kesava closed his eyes, and Shankara, taking Hari’s head in both arms, submerged him beneath the water. Hari, pressed down, gently pushed Shankara under in turn. In their playful rivalry, they struck each other’s chests and pushed one another down. Hari scattered pollen on Shambhu’s head, and Shambhu reciprocated, scattering it on Hari. Amid the excitement, their matted locks came undone, and the other great sages tied their hair together. Some pushed each other, others shouted and wept in playful abandon. In the sky above, the lord of monkeys danced and roared with delight. Those who sang sweetly performed ten kinds of songs, their melodies charming all. A gentle song began—the Lalita song, sung slowly and softly by a divine singer, who adopted the fixed note with all its proper qualities. Vasudeva played the mardala drum with his hands, adding rhythm to the music. Tānakā, Gautama, and others were present, and the singer was none other than the son of Vāyu, Hanuman. As the music filled the air, those who were weak became strong, and the feeble regained their vigor. The hosts of gods, sages, and Dānavas fell silent, listening in awe. Then, each deity mounted their own vehicle and departed. Shiva addressed Hanuman: “O monkey, at my command, ascend the bull without fear.” But Hanuman, the tiger among monkeys, replied to the blessed great Lord, “O Lord, if I mount your vehicle, I would become a sinner. But I will sing facing you—behold this.” When Shankara, the god, had mounted Hanuman’s shoulders, Shiva listened to the nectar of song and then went to Gautama’s house, where Gautama was honored at the time of the meal. All flourished as Hanuman sang, and during that song, the minds of all were filled with wonder. Hanuman appeared in a gracious, youthful form, seated in the midst, with heads and hands raised in reverence. Seated in the lotus posture, Hanuman placed one foot in his cupped hands and the other at his mouth. His pose was divine: on his shoulder, at his mouth, on the palm of his hand, at his throat, on his chest, in the middle of his breasts, and at his heart. Shankara, taking Hanuman’s head and bowing it down, touched his back with his own chin along the way, a gesture of affection and honor. Shiva then made a necklace of pearls and placed it on Hanuman’s neck, declaring, “There is no one equal to Hanuman in the entire sphere of the universe.