Sanatkumāra spoke, recounting how Nārāyaṇa himself, with great care, took up his conch and sounded it. In that sacred moment, the resplendent illuminator of the day—the lord of the gods, the blazing one, the foremost among those who burn—manifested. This was Viṣṇu, the bestower of boons, sinless and noble, the younger brother of Indra, radiant and adorned with rays, who is the very universe itself—the sun, fierce in brilliance. He is the god of gods, the one of deep waters, the supreme treasure of radiance, the awakener and very source of the world, the lord who governs all. He is powerful, pure, and radiant, the lord of those borne by the wind. He is both the house and its maker, the divine swan, the one with green horses, and the eater of offerings. Honored by all existence, he is the essence of past, future, and present, the ornament of the three worlds, the sacred ford, and the sun who faces every direction. He is time itself, the fire at the end of an age, the wheel of time, and the lover of sacrifice. As the shaper and expander, he is the universe and the witness to all deeds, whether good or bad. At the dawn of the day, Brahmā appeared—radiant, glowing with a red hue. Then Viṣṇu, in that sacred place, recited a divine collection of eight hundred names. Whoever follows this path faces no adversity; auspiciousness marks every step. Such a one attains supreme brilliance, wisdom, great gain, knowledge, and ultimately, the highest state. Beholding the radiant face of Keśava, shining like a padmarāga gem and the sun, one is blessed. Near Keśava and the sun lies the place known as Reṇu Tīrtha. Thus concludes the chapter describing the glory of Keśava Āditya, as found in the section on the sanctity of the Avantī region within the great Skanda Purāṇa. It was at that very place that Shiva once fashioned the auspicious matted locks of Skanda. There, after the slaying of the demon Tāraka—the fearsome enemy of the gods—a great event unfolded. But how was Skanda born? This, too, is a story worthy of knowing. In ancient times, during the fierce battle between the gods and the demons, the gods suffered defeat at the hands of their adversaries. At that place, the king of the gods, Indra, undertook severe austerities, seeking a remedy for their plight. Pleased by these efforts, Mahādeva appeared before Śakra, granting him audience. The gods prayed, "O Supreme Lord, grant us a great commander. Among all commanders, bestow upon us Mahāsena, who will remove the fear that oppresses the gods." Having heard their earnest plea, the lord Hara, master of all beings, vanished from their sight and withdrew into the Devadāru forest, where he became absorbed in profound knowledge and meditation. There, those of disciplined mind devoted themselves to meditation and the practice of breath control, seeking to understand his purpose. Yet, none could discern the reason for his meditation, for he was absorbed in the highest truth. At that time, Sati, Daksha’s daughter, was in the prime of her youth. Angered that her husband had not been invited to her father’s sacrifice, she harbored no thought of any husband but Bhava, longing only to be united with him. She wondered, "How will Lord Shankara become my husband?" Meanwhile, the gods assembled, placing the destroyer of armies at their forefront. They offered praise and spoke their wishes. Then Brahmā addressed the gods, saying, "The purpose is known and has been considered. Act, O lords of the gods, so that the Lord of the gods desires Pārvatī." Thus, gathering together at Mount Meru, they once again performed a sacred ritual, seeking to fulfill their aim.