With hands joined in reverence, all those gathered worshipped you alone, O Lord, offering their salutations with full devotion. For you, O great Lord, are indeed the giver of the fruits of all meritorious acts, even of the simplest salutations. Hearing these words, Śaṅkara turned to Janārdana, the God of gods, and spoke: “But all this was done by me for the sake of engaging those who are atheistic beings. Therefore, everything I did was for the benefit of the world.” At that very moment, the divine sages arrived at the house of Gautama. There, the god remained with Hanumat, singing in joy, O lord of sages. Taking Hanuman’s hand, Shiva joined with the two gods. Hanuman sat singing, as did Tumburu and others, their voices blending in celestial praise. Then, calling Parvati, the Lord spoke these words to her. The goddess replied, “It is not proper for a wife to serve her husband in that way, O Lord. I do not wish for all that pertains to the arrangement of my hair.” Yet, with a gentle touch, Shiva cleaned her hair and the flowers adorning it. “What answer should be given then, O you praised by gods?” he asked. Thus speaking, Shankara drew Parvati close with his hand. With his hands, he separated her hair and arranged it with his nails, weaving a braid and fashioning a garland which he held. Maheshvara made a garland of celestial flowers, gifts from Brahma himself. He then cleaned the area near her shoulder and back, and, saying, “What is this, O goddess?” he tied her waistband. Parvati, daughter of the mountain, smiled and spoke to Shambhu: “I had already come to know almost everything beforehand, O Lord. My head is adorned with a garland from Brahma’s head. Shesha and Vasuki, both bearing poison, are your bracelets. The great bull is your vehicle, and your lineage and family are already known to me.” As Girijā spoke thus, Viṣṇu replied, not with anger but with calm: “Difficult to sustain is life, O gentle one—surely because of your lack of restraint.” Having said this, Hari moved as if to cut off her head with his nails. But he added, “All the words of Pārvatī are dear to me; none are disagreeable.” Saying “Om,” the blessed Hari fell silent. Then Parvati said, “I request, without desire, my worship and vow as well.” Hearing this, Śaṅkara, the lord, smiled and spoke to the lord of the pond: “Who is your teacher? What is your mantra? And what kind of worship is it?” Trembling in all his limbs, the lord of the pond began to praise thus: “Salutations to you, the origin and sustainer of yoga, the guru of yogis. Salutations to you, lord of the Vedas, lord of the gods. Salutations to you, O eight-formed one, lord of creatures. To you, who delights in the flowers of dhattūra, droṇa, and the king of bees, salutations. Salutations to you, salutations to you, again and again, salutations.” Then, abandoning all fear, Hanumān, skilled in speech, spoke forth.