Pierced by the sharp point of the Goddess’s trident, the limbs of the demon Mahisha were torn, and torrents of blood gushed forth from his body. Then Durgā, fierce and resolute, seized a sharp sword and severed his head in one swift motion. At this moment, the Siddhas, Gandharvas, and great sages, filled with awe, praised Durgā’s victory. The lord of the gods himself, hands joined in reverence, bowed and extolled the Goddess, declaring, “O Ambikā, you are devotion, faith, and power for all who worship you. You alone, of universal form, are known by countless names and distinctions. Having subdued and destroyed the enemy, O auspicious one, you are to be known and revealed to all.” Yet, even after the head was severed, it seemed to retain life, astonishing all who witnessed it. The lord of the gods prayed, “May your form, standing here after subduing the foe, always remain with us.” He continued, “With your trident, bell, goad, shield, skull, thunderbolt, and other divine weapons, you alone, O Mother, filled with these, destroy all our enemies. All those enemies defeated by you, though armed with various weapons, lose their strength in a moment when deprived of your favor.” He proclaimed, “Having attained lordship over the three worlds, he shines, adorned with fame. For those victorious in battle, there is no fear at all from enemies. He is always worshipped by the gods and their attendants for the fulfillment of desired goals. Along with his retinue, he is to be honored everywhere, at all times. He is always worshipped by your devotees, before you, due to their devotion.” The granting goddess, hearing these praises, replied, “So be it,” and departed towards heaven. She established guardianship of the place together with the Mothers, undertaking its protection. Turning her gaze, Durgā saw the distorted head of Mahisha, severed by her sword. Together with her companions, the maiden looked closely at his neck. Gauri, swift and observant, took the emblem that was situated on his throat. Amazingly, the emblem attached itself to her palm. The goddess wondered in amazement, “What is this?” Suddenly, realization dawned upon her: “He is a devotee of Shiva.” Overcome with sorrow, she lamented, “Without reflection, I began the destruction of a devotee of Shiva.” The maiden approached and confessed, “A rash act has been done by me. By reverence and in the form of righteousness, some unrighteousness has been committed. Out of ignorance, I harmed the demon Mahisha, who was devoted to Shiva. Though he gained favor by the grace of the Guru, he was afflicted by a hundred obstacles. Especially, Shiva greatly honors those who bear the liṅga. Those who were undefeated were previously destroyed by Shambhu only after abandoning the liṅga. How can I remove the sin incurred from killing a devotee of Shiva? I will undertake a pilgrimage until Shambhu becomes pleased. By performing ritual baths at sacred places, I shall obtain purification from sin.” Hearing her distress, a knower of Shiva’s dharma spoke to the troubled Goddess, “O daughter of the mountain, those who know the subtle meaning of dharma are rare. The scriptures declare twenty-eight crores, explained in five ways. Among them, even the greatest sages attain them only by bowing in reverence. These five are the great vows, the sources of the path of Shiva.