You are well acquainted with the beloved abode of Śambhu—Kailāsa—having served him eternally and faithfully. I have already spoken to you about the sacred places known as Khaṇḍaparaśu. Having thus addressed these matters, the son of Śilāda turned to the illustrious sage, the son of Mṛkaṇḍu, and spoke further. He asked, “Is there any disciple like me for you? Your compassion alone stands as witness to this. In the holy places you mentioned before, the results and merits are each distinct and unique. Among all beings, whether they move or are still, whether they possess knowledge or not, see, O Lord, it is by this alone that I have not yet worshipped you as I ought. You have been worshipped by Pulaha, Pulastya, Vasiṣṭha, and Marīci; by Jābāli, Jaimini, Dhaumya, and Jamadagni; by Pippalāda, Kaṇṭha, Kumuda, and Upamanyu; by Vibhāṇḍaka, Vyāsa, the sage Kaṇva, and Kaṇḍu; by Caṇḍa, Kauśika, Śāṇḍilya, Śākaṭāyana, and Kauśika again; by Āpastamba, Pṛthustamba, Bhārgava, Udaṅka, and Parvata; by Kauṇḍinya, Puṇḍarīka, Raibhya, and Tṛṇabindu; by Bodhāyana, Subodha, Hārīta, and Mṛkaṇḍu; by Kāṃkvārya, Nadanta, Devadatta, and Nyaṃku; by Lokākṣi, Viśravas, Saiṃdhava, and Sumaṃtu; by Ṛṣyaśṛṅga, Ekapāt, Krauñca, Dṛḍha, Gomukha, and Devala; with Sanatkumara, Sanaka, Sanandana, and Sanatana; with Maitreya, Pushpajit, Satyatapa, Shalisha, and Shaishira; with Vaishampayana, Kaushalya, Sharadvata, and Kapidhvaja; with Krishnatapa, Uttaman, Anta, Karuna, Amala, and Kapriya; and with Nara and Nārāyaṇa, and many other divine, great sages. Among all these, you are foremost among the attendants of Maheshvara, the one who has mastered all the sacred scriptures. O Lord, it is from your own mouth that all of us have received excellent instruction. The divine scriptures and the Purāṇas are to be seen and revered by the Supreme Lord. If we possess devotion to you, and if you, in turn, have compassion for us, then grant us your grace.” Thus, with a gentle smile, Mrikandu’s son humbly addressed Nandikeśvara. Nandikeśvara replied, “If I do not tell you, for whom else would I speak these things? Is there anyone else in this world like you, so devoted to the path of Shiva’s dharma? For whom else would the Lord command his own servant? You alone truly understand all the secret teachings of Shaiva dharma. By you alone, and by no other, have I been served in this way for so long. Therefore, I will instruct you in that secret field, safeguarded by the teachings of dharma. The teacher himself, with reverence, should engage the disciple who is attentive and eager. With a composed mind, establish unwavering trust. Remember the god who destroyed Kāma, and praise him through the Śāṃkarī hymn. In the southern direction, among the Drāviḍa lands, O possessor of austerities, there is a place—three yojanas wide—worshipped by yogis devoted to Śiva. There, the god Śambhu himself has taken the form of a mountain.