In this manner, dear friend, the daughter of the mountain—Umā—gradually brought joy to his heart. The surroundings were alive with curious wonders: lizards drew out delicate threads, while crocodiles carried away even the waterweeds. Camara antelopes, their thick hair shimmering, swept away refuse with their bushy tails. Monkeys plucked fruits and flowers, and bears gathered honey-laden leaves. The air was vibrant with the calls of cuckoos, owls, parrots, hawks, deer, tigers, and even green elephants. Everywhere, the fragrance of offerings from ancient sacrifices lingered, filling the atmosphere with sacredness. In this place, the enemies of crows recited the revered Śatarudrīya hymn. Amidst fields of vegetables and rice, tigers wandered alongside cows, illustrating the harmony of the sacred grove. In one particularly beautiful and enchanting spot, beneath a seven-leaved tree, an ascetic sat upon a variegated tiger skin. His matted locks were tinged red like rice stalks, his body pale with ash. He fixed his gaze at the tip of his nose, lips gently parted, immersed in deep contemplation—on the threshold of the final state of sleep. Like a snare prepared for the destruction of the sixfold enemies, Umā, having performed the proper rites, approached this ascetic. The Aruṇa mountain itself was revered among holy regions. Through the words of Vijayā and others, the ascetic learned about Umā. He honored her as a guest, offering roots, tubers, fruits, and other forest gifts. Beginning with the manifestation of the pillar of light, he narrated all events in their proper order. On the eastern side of Mount Shona lay the sacred place called Sthalishvara, densely populated by gods—including those of Vaikuntha and Parameshthi. At the foot of Mount Shona, known as Pravala Mountain, the Three-Eyed One was established. Near the sage’s hermitage, a great and holy field stretched out. With the sage’s permission, Umā accepted the hermitage as her own. To protect the hermitage, Satyavati, who dwelled in the forest, was appointed. She was instructed to safeguard the entire sacred grove. Immediately, Satyavati knotted her hair, adorning it with mandara flowers. She set aside her fine garment, marked with the emblem of a swan and light as mist. Her tender fingers could not even pluck flowers, and her limbs, delicate as a diamond needle, were scratched by thorns. In the sacred Kamala river, she performed her morning bath. Using water mixed with darbha grass, rice, sesame, and water from the sacred Gauri river, she worshipped. Within a circle of sand, she invoked the Sun, offering lotuses in reverence. She herself established a Shankara-linga, and worshipped the Sun with seat, image, root, and limbs. In every direction, she honored the planets, beginning with Soma, using the gesture of the cow and others. She sprinkled everything with exceedingly pure water for her ritual offerings. After purifying the elements, she undertook internal worship. She placed the energies—beginning with the left—on the petals, and at the tip of the petals, she established the solar and lunar penetrations. Above this, she formed the circle of energies and the fivefold Brahma, completing her sacred rites with utmost devotion.