By the command of Nandīśvara, the devoted Nandī, beloved attendant of Śaṅkara, intervened at once when the fearsome Aghora missile was unleashed—he seized it and hurled it away amidst the assembly, averting calamity. Then, assuming his own true and resplendent form, the Supreme Lord revealed himself before the young Śipra, his matted locks crowned with the crescent moon, radiating divine majesty. To the awestruck boy, Shiva unfolded a wondrous vision: he showed him a thousand vast oceans, each filled with pure milk, and alongside them, oceans brimming with nectar, curds, and clarified butter. Not only these—he revealed to the child an ocean overflowing with fruits, and still more, oceans of every kind of food and delicacy. Even a mountain of cakes rose before him, a symbol of abundance and grace. Thus did the Lord appear, not alone but together with the goddess Pārvatī, both seated majestically upon the sacred bull. They were encircled by the lords of the divine hosts, their presence adorned by celestial weapons such as the mighty trident. In the heavens above, the sound of drums reverberated, a shower of flowers descended, and all ten directions became filled with the gods, led by Viṣṇu, Brahmā, and Indra, who had gathered to witness this divine event. Overwhelmed by waves of bliss, the sage Upamanyu fell prostrate upon the ground, his heart and mind bowed in deep devotion. At that very moment, the blessed Lord Bhava, with a gentle smile, called to him, “Come, come,” and, in a gesture of affection, smelled his head and offered him boons. “Eat whatever food you desire, together with your kin, always,” Shiva declared. “Be happy, ever free from sorrow, and remain devoted to me. O Upamanyu, greatly fortunate, this Parvati is your mother. Today I have made her my daughter and given you the ocean of milk, the ocean of honey, the ocean of curd, the ocean of clarified butter and rice, and the ocean of fruits and more. The mountains of sweets, and the ocean of food and delicacies—these I have given to you; accept them, O great sage. Your father is Mahādeva, your mother is Jagadambikā; I have granted you immortality and eternal leadership of the Gaṇas. Choose boons with great delight, whatever your heart desires; I am pleased and will grant them—there is no need for deliberation.” Having spoken thus, Mahādeva embraced Upamanyu with his own hands, again smelling his head in blessing, and presented him to the goddess, saying, “This is your son.” The goddess, filled with affectionate joy, placed her lotus hand gently upon his head and bestowed upon him the everlasting status of Kumāra. Then the ocean of milk itself, taking on a wondrous form, approached Upamanyu, bearing sweet milk in its hand, and offered him a lump of imperishable milk. With a heart content, Shiva further granted him yogic power, constant contentment, imperishable knowledge of Brahman, supreme prosperity, and the highest fulfillment. Pleased by the greatness of Upamanyu’s austerity, Shambhu again bestowed a divine boon upon him: the Pāśupata vow, profound knowledge, the true practice of vows and yoga, supreme eloquence, and the ability to teach for a long time. Having received these divine boons and the status of Kumāra from Shiva and Pārvatī, Upamanyu was filled with joy. With a mind full of gratitude, bowing deeply with joined palms, the Brahmin Upamanyu requested yet another boon from the great Lord of gods: “Be gracious, Lord of gods, be gracious, Supreme Lord; grant me supreme, divine, unwavering devotion. Grant me faith, O Mahādeva, always in those connected to you; let me have supreme service, affection, and constant nearness.” Having spoken thus, his heart overflowing with joy and his voice choked with emotion, the best of twice-born, Upamanyu, offered heartfelt praise to the great god: “O God of gods, great Lord, lover of those who seek refuge, be gracious, O ocean of compassion, O Śaṃkara with Ambā, always.” Hearing these words, the great god, bestower of all boons, replied with a pleased heart to Upamanyu, foremost among sages: “Child Upamanyu, I am pleased; everything has truly been given to you by me. You are steadfast in devotion, O best of seers, and have been tested by me. Become ageless and immortal, free from suffering; may you be renowned, endowed with brilliance, and possessed of divine knowledge. Your relatives, lineage, and family shall always be imperishable, O best of twice-born; and your devotion to me shall be eternal. I shall always grant my presence in your hermitage, O best of Brāhmaṇas; you will dwell near me, rejoicing.” Having thus spoken, the blessed Lord, radiant as a crore of suns, granted these boons and then vanished from that very place. Upamanyu, his heart at peace and filled with supreme contentment, having received such divine gifts, returned to his mother’s abode and attained even greater happiness. Salutations to the cause of the ceaseless turning of the wheel of worldly existence, whose chest is marked with the saffron from the twin slopes of Gaurī’s breasts! Having thus received the Lord’s grace, and after completing his observance, Upamanyu rose at midday, when the sun was at its zenith. Meanwhile, the sages dwelling in Naimiṣāraṇya resolved among themselves to inquire into these wondrous events. After performing their daily duties as before, they saw the Blessed One approaching and respectfully took their seats. At the conclusion of his observance, the Blessed One, born of the wind, took the excellent seat prepared for him in the midst of the assembly of sages. Seated comfortably, Vāyu, honored by all the worlds, fixed the glorious power of the Lord within his heart and spoke these words: “I take refuge in that great God, all-knowing and unconquered, whose entire power is this moving and unmoving universe.