O King, there was a man who neither slept nor bathed, and thus he spoke. Nearby, the celestial nymphs—Rambha, Menaka, Pramloca, and Punjikasthali, along with Suryadatta, Vishalakshi, Chandra, and Chandraprabha—gathered together. They noticed among them a beautiful woman with lovely eyes, who wept for the sake of a mortal. They questioned her, saying, “Why do you weep, O beautiful one, for a mortal? A eunuch does not know the happiness that arises from the union of man and woman.” Hearing these words, the nymphs deliberated and became attentive. Then, they saw the king seated beneath the shade of a tree. All those heavenly women, afflicted by desire, gazed upon him. This king was Aila, known as Pururavas, renowned as the lord of the earth. As Urvashi spoke thus, the host of apsarases listened. At that moment, the venerable sage Narada arrived. Observing the gathering, he addressed them: “Why are you all making such noise here? Choose your boon quickly; separation will not occur.” He explained: “By bathing at this sacred place—though it is considered unfortunate—whether woman or man, whoever weighs themselves with sesame seeds or with salt, or with jaggery or honey, offering it to the goddess Parvati, the increase of offerings is with sugar, and fullness with jaggery upon the limbs.” He continued, “Twelve pairs must be offered to the goddess and the god as food. A belt made of vetra grass and a bodice, as well as garments of silk, should be given. In the months of Ashadha, Shravana, or Bhadrapada, a woman of highest quality is born, just as the goddess Uma herself. Those two deities must be worn by the woman herself during the weighing ceremony. Whatever is given, offered, or recited there becomes a millionfold. There is no doubt that, after death, she attains the realm of Gandharvas and Apsarases. Having seen the supreme attainment, the couple then, after worshipping with fragrant flowers, may reach the world of Rudra. Just as separation is never seen in the true form of the goddess, so too, O Brahmin, all those women have gone to heaven.” He further described, “To the south, behind the goddess, is the Maheṣa pond. There, at that sacred place, a man, after bathing and carefully worshipping the Mothers…” The story then turns to a question: How was the demon Maheṣa slain in the field of Rudra? The great Lord took up the fragment of the skull, radiant and filled with the brilliance of Brahma’s energy, and shone like a blazing flame. The Lord of the universe, sporting in play, bewildered the gods. Having reached the most sacred field, where the great Lord resided, he placed the flaming skull before the hosts of his attendants. Uttering a mighty roar, his attendants resounded in all ten directions. By that terrible sound, the demon—scourge of the gods—was unable to endure it. Seized by wrath, that wicked one, unconquerable by the gods, advanced, surrounded by fierce demons numbering in the tens of millions, all armed for battle. Seeing this, the Lord, bearer of the Pinaka bow, addressed all the hosts: “He comes swiftly—therefore, you must slay him.