Again and again, salutations were offered to the gracious Giver of Boons, to the divine Boar, and to the auspicious Tortoise. The assembled gods, in their distress, addressed the Three-eyed One, the mighty slayer of Tripura, imploring, “May we be granted your protection.” The Lord looked upon the gods and saw their bodies, worn and emaciated from suffering. With his divine, blazing energy, filled with the essence of the threefold Veda and the power of his inner self, the Lord of the gods beheld the worship offered by Brahmā and the others. Moved by their devotion, he spoke to them, saying, “By this divine rite, I have indeed been greatly worshipped. Those who are steadfast in their vows, whether human or god, can perceive me. Whether you approach me one by one, in twos or threes, or all together, I am equally accessible to you all.” “For your welfare, I now proceed towards Ujjayinī. But tell me, for what reason does the earth tremble, and why are the three worlds thrown into confusion? For the protection of the gods, let the cause be revealed here.” The gods explained, “There is an asura named Drohaṇa, powerful and endowed with magical might. The Daityas, strong and conquerors of enemy cities, are his followers. Desiring to destroy Indra and the gods, they have risen up—masters of illusion and secrecy, armed and ready for battle. The earth trembles with the fall of their skulls, and chaos threatens the world’s order and stability.” They continued, praising the Lord: “You are the bestower of grace upon the gods, honored through the remembrance of virtues. With divine vision, your fame and might are exceedingly praised, O fearsome one. What is attained through meditation cannot be found among others. Austerity, difficult and hard to practice, is accomplished by mind, speech, and body. You have achieved it through great effort, with a subdued body and over a long period of time.” With humility, the gods bowed their heads, kneeling before the Lord, and spoke: “O bestower of boons, we mortals who have come forth seek your protection. Grant us safety, O Lord of the gods, you who give fearlessness to your devotees.” The Lord assured them, “Even those boons that are exceedingly rare, I will grant to you again, many in number.” When the Blessed One had spoken thus, Brahmā replied, “O Blessed One, we have received the great boon, and it is more than sufficient.” Then Śiva declared, “In this world, those who are my devotees and those whom I have slain—together with their matted locks and heads, bearing tridents in their hands—for the purpose of restraining them and addressing you, I have bestowed my grace upon those devotees who desire devotion. In the great Kāla forest, O sinless ones, the gods came to me. A secret name with two words will become renowned in the world. Indeed, this observance of the skull vow has been proclaimed by me.” He continued, “Kapālapāṇi, satisfied and steadfast in the vow of alms, is honored among all beings and remains always equal to friend and foe. Self-controlled and unattached, gathering clay, ashes, and water, he dwells in holy hermitages and sacred fords, his mind fixed on the Lord. Having undertaken the skull vow, I myself practiced it in ancient times. This skull vow is indeed difficult to sustain and supremely wondrous.” In this way, the Lord revealed the depth of his compassion, the power of devotion, and the sacred path he himself had walked, offering guidance and reassurance to the gods in their time of need.