Upon beholding the majestic lord of mountains, one sees the noble Himavān and his consort Menā. This mountain is instantly recognized by its locks: its hair is formed of trees and creepers, and its matted tresses cascade down its slopes. On both sides of its radiant summit shine the sun and the moon, casting their brilliance over the heights. During the rainy season, thick, dark clouds gather beneath the peak, shrouding it in intense gloom. This lord of mountains is described as having a thousand feet and a thousand heads, a being of immense and awe-inspiring form. It is no wonder, then, that the streams of many rivers vanish into his head, their waters lost in his vastness. In the autumn, clouds encircle him like a girdle, while blue and red hues cling to the tips of his peaks, painting them with celestial color. Because the mountain is so difficult to access, it possesses a certain fierceness—though not in name, but in its very nature. Here, mighty serpents such as Takṣaka, Ananta, and other lords of snakes contend with one another, their struggles hidden amid the wilderness. The mountain displays its own eightfold form clearly, revealing the depth of its mystery. In the very midst of Śiva’s peak, the sacred river Suṣumnā, the lotus-river, flows gently. It was here that Brahma and Vishnu, seeking the truth of Śiva’s greatness, assumed the forms of a swan and a boar, respectively. Together with their beloveds, they approached the one known as the Lord of Arunachala. Through intense austerities, they sought a vision of Sadashiva, and at last, they beheld him directly. Yet, even with such devotion, it was not possible for them to obtain the left half of the gracious enemy of Manmatha. In this sacred place, the linga is established, conferring both enjoyment and liberation upon men. It grants the virtuous the accomplishment of mantra without obstacle, and by a single immersion in its presence, the five great sins of people are destroyed. Even one act of reverent salutation there is enough to wipe away all sins. Through the greatness of their devotion, union with Shiva was again attained. The two lords of the Vidyadharas, who had been bound by the curse of Durvasa, were released from their bondage in this place. Truly, there is no righteousness greater than that which comes from Maheshvara, nor is there any god greater than Maheshvara himself. There is no supreme Shaiva leader in Vishnu, nor is there protection from the powers of Maheshvara. No ornament surpasses rudraksha, and no scripture is greater than the Shiva Agama. No happiness is greater than detachment, and no state is higher than liberation. The abodes of the blessed are spread throughout these mountains, for this is indeed the Lord of the Mountain himself. With a joyful heart, the wise son of Mrikandu spoke to the delighted son of Shilada, sharing these profound truths. He then asked: “What actions of people lead to their well-being, and how are the various hells spoken of as arising from their deeds?” It is said that people endowed with the qualities of passion and darkness are easily found, but one who is of sattvic nature, through virtuous conduct, attains the highest good. Indeed, many kinds of hells have been created in various places for the consequences of sinful actions. A man who kills a Brahmin becomes a Chandala after death. If a twice-born drinks liquor, he falls to the status of a perpetrator of vile actions. Whatever a man steals will be absent for him in his next birth. One who approaches his teacher’s wife becomes impotent, while one who violates another’s wife dwells in the hell called Kālasūtra. A slanderer is consigned to the dreadful Avīci, and one who reviles dharma is sent to a most terrible place. A great sinner who speaks falsehood dwells in the terrifying hell of concealment at the time of dissolution. O twice-born, one who delights in betraying others and eats flesh is cast into the unstable hell called Vajra. Thus, the consequences of actions and the greatness of devotion are revealed, as are the glories and mysteries of the lordly mountain and the supreme Lord Shiva.