He spoke, saying: “The liṅga of Pinākin has been cast down by the Vālakhilyas. Therefore, I have gathered all the gods at that very place. Until the dissolution of the world itself—should it come about through untimely calamity—at the hermitage of the Vālakhilyas, where that liṅga has fallen, let us offer our salutations. We bow to the One who dwells everywhere, the very essence of all sacrifices, the lord of all, the supreme light, the god. Salutations to Tryambaka, to Bhīma, to the wielder of the blessed Pināka. “O best of gods,” he continued, “in the entire world, both moving and unmoving, what is there that is not pervaded by you, O Lord, for the sake of creation and destruction? The elements, beginning with earth, were created by you according to your will. Therefore, O Lord of the gods, be gracious to this liṅga. How can I take it up again before purity is restored? I am able to restrain the Vālakhilyas easily, but this liṅga is immovable, O mighty one; it cannot be uprooted. “If you, O Grandfather, would worship this liṅga first on my behalf, then peace would come to us and to all beings, moving and unmoving.” Hearing this, Brahmā, with great devotion, worshipped the liṅga first. After Brahmā, Viṣṇu worshipped, then Śakra, and then all the other gods. At once, those terrible omens were pacified. Then Mahādeva himself spoke to all who dwelt in the abode of the gods: “O Lord of the gods, those who worship here will ascend to heaven, and their sins will be destroyed. Therefore, O Indra, let this excellent liṅga of yours be covered with the thunderbolt. Let Indra do this for the increase of all righteousness.” Pulastya relates: Then the lord of the gods, Indra, covered the liṅga with his thunderbolt. Even today, whoever touches the liṅga where the thunderbolt fell attains its presence. Because its greatness was proclaimed by Śaṅkara in that very liṅga, from that time onward, worship of the liṅga arose among mortals. Thus, this wondrous event occurred long ago on the great mountain Arbuda. On the fourteenth day at the end of the month of Phalguna, offerings should be made there with fresh barley meal. Whoever, with devotion, feeds Brahmins with new barley meal on that day, earns great merit—the eminent sages praise the giving of barley meal at that place. What need is there of other gifts, or of elaborate sacrifices? On the fourteenth day at the end of Phalguna, in the presence of the great Lord Shiva, this is the supreme act. Now, O King, hear what happened there in times past—an excellent and wondrous event. At that place, a certain man arrived seeking alms, accompanied by others. But, afflicted by disease, he could not eat the food; instead, he prepared barley meal and, using it as a cushion, fell asleep as night came. While he slept, a dog carried away the barley meal. Amazed by this, he soon approached death. That man was Bhima by name, O best of kings, the father of Damayanti. Year after year, on the fourteenth day at the end of Phalguna, he went there. In the presence of Lord Achaleshvara, he offered abundant barley meal, fulfilling the sacred tradition.