Hearing the words of Vishnu, those assembled understood that no fault would ever fall upon the maiden for her actions. Comforted by this divine assurance, they bowed reverently before the Lord and took their leave. One among them then addressed Vishnu, saying, “O God, may the boon you have granted truly come to pass for me. Let there be an incarnation in our lineage, so that dharma may be firmly established.” The speaker continued, “By your very sight, we are uplifted to dwell in heaven, and this maiden, the bestower of auspiciousness, will carry my lineage forward.” Vishnu responded, “So be it, Lord of gods; your boon is granted.” With this, the cowherds’ hearts were soothed by the Lord himself. At that time, Brahma also spoke, gesturing with his left hand. The maiden—modest and radiant—stood among her relatives, present for this sacred moment. Curious, she asked, “By whom have I been named? By whose will have I come to this place?” This was Gayatri, the Abhira maiden, who then addressed those gathered. With her left hand, Gayatri bowed before everyone. She said, “Here I stand, O mother, having approached Brahma. I have obtained as my husband the god, the ancient lord of all worlds. Therefore, neither you nor my father nor any of my relatives should grieve for me. Let my circle of friends, my sisters, and their children return home. Tell them of my well-being, for I remain here, united with the gods.” After her words, her friends and family departed. Gayatri, resplendent in form, entered the sacrificial enclosure alongside Brahma. There, the brahmins requested boons from Brahma, and he granted whatever they wished. The gifts bestowed by Gayatri herself were also approved, and she, the virtuous one, remained at the sacrifice, close to the deities. Under their auspices, the sacrifice flourished for more than a hundred divine years. Then, O Kapardin, you arrived at the sacrificial enclosure, seeking alms. Holding a large skull adorned with five heads, you stood apart from the officiating priests and participants, who shunned you. The brahmins, versed in the Vedas, reproached you, asking, “How have you come here, you who are condemned by the learned?” Despite their harsh words and efforts to drive you away, some among the brahmins said, “Let him eat food, then he may depart.” Kapardin replied, “O brahmins, after eating, I shall depart.” Having spoken, you sat down, placing the skull before you. Observing your actions, Ishvara acted with guile; leaving the skull on the ground, he looked at the brahmins and said, “I am going to Pushkara to bathe, O best of brahmins.” Urged by them to go quickly, the Supreme Lord departed. Yet, remaining in the sky out of curiosity and having bewildered the gods, Kapardin went to Pushkara for his bath. Meanwhile, the brahmins were troubled. “How can we perform the oblation in the presence of a skull? Long ago, Prajapati declared skulls to be impure,” they said. One among them declared, “I shall remove the skull.” Lifting it with his own hand, he threw it away. Yet immediately, another skull appeared in its place. Again and again, they removed the skull—two, three, twenty, thirty times—yet the skulls kept multiplying. Fifty, a hundred, a thousand, even ten thousand skulls appeared, with no end in sight. Overwhelmed, the brahmins bowed to Kapardin, seeking refuge in him. They journeyed to the Pushkara forest and, with earnest hearts, recited Vedic prayers. All together, they offered their praise, and Hara was pleased by their devotion. Out of compassion, Shiva granted the brahmins a vision of himself. The god then addressed the foremost brahmins, who were bowed in reverence: “The completion of the puroḍāśa offering cannot be without the skull. Follow my instruction, O brahmins; the share of the sviṣṭakṛt belongs to me. If this is done, all my command will be fulfilled.” The brahmins replied to Shambhu, “So be it; we will carry out your command.” Then the Lord, holding the skull in his hand, approached the blessed Pitāmaha, Brahma. He said, “Choose a boon, O brahmin, whatever dear wish abides in your heart. I will grant you everything; nothing is withheld from me, O Lord.” But Brahma replied, “I will not accept a boon from you; I am initiated and seated in the assembly. Here, I am the fulfiller of all desires for anyone who seeks me.” As the bestower of boons thus spoke at the sacrifice, Pitāmaha, Rudra replied, “So be it,” and then himself asked for a boon. When that manvantara had passed, the Lord again established a higher place for Brahma, by his own power as Shambhu. He who had mastered all four Vedas observed the city at that time. Out of curiosity, he entered the assembly where the brahmins were conversing, and Maheśvara, still in the guise of a madman, remained at the sacrificial fire. He entered Brahma’s residence and was seen by the gods and foremost brahmins. Some laughed at him, while others rebuked him. Some threw dust at the madman; others, proud of their strength, struck him with clods and sticks. They struck him with their hands, making a mockery of him. Some ascetics, grabbing his matted locks, dragged him near and questioned him about his observance: “By whom was this practice shown to you? Here are women of the left-hand path; you have come for their sake, have you not?” Thus unfolded the wondrous and mysterious acts of the Lord among gods and brahmins, revealing deeper truths through divine play and testing the hearts of all.