Therefore, it is said that the union within the womb of the śamī tree and the aśvattha took place, as described in the ancient accounts. From this sacred union, a son was born—beneficial and excellent—who is known as the fourth among them. In this way, the fifth mouth of Brahmā came into being. Whoever understands this supreme creation, the radiance of the gods, and whoever listens with faith to this story of Agni’s origin—which subtly reveals the greatness of Paśupati—and, O Vyāsa, whoever recites it with devotion before the foremost of the twice-born and the gods, that person, though deeply engaged in worldly life, is greatly honored by the gods in the city of Śiva. Now, you may wonder, what did Brahmā do there, and what expiation did he perform for those actions? What deeds were carried out by Janārdana and by Śaṅkara, O sage? With excellent kuśa grass and kindling, as was formerly prescribed by Hari, the sages Nara and Nārāyaṇa journeyed to the hermitage at Badarī. There, the Lord of the gods himself, bearing a skull in his hand, wandered upon the earth. The hermitage and its surroundings were a marvel to behold—covered with a great variety of trees and creepers, all adorned with many kinds of flowers. The air was heavy with the fragrance of trees laden with blossoms, and both ripe and unripe fruits hung from the branches, each endowed with its own taste and quality. Withered leaves, grasses, dry wood, and fruits lay scattered about. The wind carried the sweet scent of clustered flowers, and everywhere green, glossy leaves—unbroken and unblemished—could be seen, with hollows that showed no flaw. Healthy, well-formed trees stood here and there, while some grew wild and untamed. The trees were covered with beautiful new shoots, mingling with the breeze; their tops, tossed by the wind, touched one another gently. In some places, nāga trees stood adorned with flowers, their branches tangled with swarming bees. Elsewhere, karṇikāra trees displayed their thick canopies of blossoms, and rows of sinduvāra trees shone with the splendor of abundant, magnificent flowers. Jasmine creepers, bright with splendid blooms, shone here and there, while yūthikā creepers clustered together, radiant with coral-red flowers. In the forest’s depths, śāla and arjuna trees blossomed in full glory. The trees, entwined with flowering vines, were never left bare; even the mango and tilaka trees were adorned with clusters of blossoms, as if the trees themselves had hands to decorate their own forms. Tilaka and aśoka trees were joined together by their tender shoots, bending low beneath the weight of fruit and flowers, gentle and noble in their bearing. Content in the embrace of the wind and surrounded by fields of rice, the trees seemed to move swiftly, as if the flowers themselves strode forth in beauty. Their tops, heavy with the splendor of blossoms, swayed and trembled in the breeze. Bees, seeking refuge in the nectar-rich creepers, were scattered by the playful wind. In some places, trees were covered by the blossoms of jasmine creepers, while ahead, the Mādhavī creeper bloomed in full. The trees stood green and radiant, shining with a golden hue, bearing both fruit and flowers. Their blossoms were abundant with filaments, their interiors rich and vibrant. Some places were bright with the delicate blooms of Śirīṣa trees, and pairs of parrots flitted among the branches. Peacocks with splendid plumage gathered with their companions, calling out in flocks with wondrous and varied sounds, filling the sacred grove with life and beauty.