With humble attire and pure minds, those who had bowed in reverence followed the Creator as he set forth. The Creator, honoring the bearer of the crescent moon—Shiva—performed the sacred sacrifice according to the proper rite. By his grace, he inspired the assembled gods to participate in these acts with heartfelt devotion. He bestowed gifts upon the deities, offering them freely and without opposition. Whatever practices were prescribed as Shaiva, along with those handed down through tradition and conduct, all were observed. Shambhu, the benefactor of all, was established and honored by all the gods. Then, as their astonishment faded, the one born from gold—Brahma—distributed gifts to them. These rites and offerings were known to destroy sin, remove suffering, and increase nourishment, prosperity, and strength. Therefore, it was urged that all should, with utmost effort and concentration, bathe themselves with sacred ashes. All carried water pots and adorned themselves with Rudraksha beads. Thus, in that forest, those observing their vows worshipped the great Lord Shiva. Endowed with supreme devotion and performing the highest rite, their sins were burned away by the fire of meditation on Rudra, and prosperity was bestowed upon them. Even Brahma, when addressed, acted with devotion towards the Lord. When a thousand divine years had passed, the Lord of the gods of gods—Shiva—appeared, surrounded by various hosts adorned with diverse ornaments. His forms were shaped both by desire and by its absence, granting every fulfillment of wishes. He was endowed with the divine powers beginning with aṇimā and the other yogic lordships. Shiva’s attendants appeared with fierce faces resembling tigers, wild beasts, crows, herons, and bats. There were beings of formless, formed, beautiful, and many-shaped figures; some had one, two, or three crests, and were adorned in countless ways. Some had one ear, two ears, many ears, or deformed ears. Some had one leg, two legs, many legs, or were legless. Their bodies were fair and dark, dark and fair, black, and mottled. They bore spears, swords, pattiśas, clubs, and iron weapons. Their hands held maces, mallets, stones, pestles, and other implements of power. The air resounded with the beating of drums and bhambhā and bherī, and the playing of vīṇā, paṇava, and flute. They played various instruments such as huḍaṅka, śṛṅgika, and others. Shiva was surrounded by the lords of the gaṇas, most difficult to approach, like the Sun encircled by the planets. At that time, O Vyāsa, Shiva was seen among Brahma and the other gods of heaven. Then, Brahma and the other gods, seeing the leader of the gaṇas before them, gathered their courage and beheld the god as prescribed. With hands joined atop their heads and foreheads touching the ground, they offered their salutations: “To you, seated on the bull, gentle, bearing trident and spear, homage to you! Clothed in the hide of the directions, pure one of intense radiance, salutations again and again to the destroyer of Andhaka, to the Supreme Lord! Salutations again and again to the Lord of the Mountain, the Lord of the gods, the Supreme Ruler! Salutations to the Lord of gods and asuras, to the Lord of ascetics! Salutations to you who are known as Virūpākṣa and Śubha, to you who are truly of universal form! Salutations to the Creator, to the one of universal form, to the destroyer of the daityas! Salutations to the formless, to the beautiful, to the one who bears a hundred forms!” Thus, in awe and devotion, the gods worshipped Shiva, the Supreme Lord, honoring his countless forms and his boundless power.