In those terrible times, a dreadful discord took hold of the world: sons turned against their fathers, and fathers nursed hatred toward their own sons. The bonds of family were shattered—sons killed their mothers, and mothers destroyed their children. This madness was not confined to mortals alone; even among the gods and demons, all became fearsome and violent. They brandished spears with razor-sharp points and wielded all manner of deadly weapons. For the sake of gold, O great goddess, they shed torrents of blood. Swords, spears, maces, and arrows rained down upon the earth, and the warriors, their bodies smeared with blood, fell by each other’s hands. A great and terrifying clamor arose, echoing in thousands of voices. With iron clubs, nooses, and fists as hard as thunderbolts, they surged forward, shouting, “Cut! Break! Run forward! Strike down! Attack!” The battle raged on, tumultuous and dreadful, shaking the very foundations of creation—the oceans were agitated, and the mountains trembled. Witnessing this devastation, the sages, beginning with the Vālakhilyas, and the gods, led by Indra, stood breathless, their heads battered. In their distress, they began to speak. Hearing their anguished words, Brahmā, the grandsire of the worlds, asked them, “By whom have you been so battered? Who is that wicked Dānava who has brought you such suffering?” Thus questioned, the gods, along with Brahmā and the others, revealed to me the source of their terror: “We have all been destroyed out of greed, and because of gold.” When I heard their words, O beautiful one, I understood the truth—it was he who had suddenly brought about the destruction of the three worlds. The slayer of Brahmins, the son of Agni, was the cause of so much death; indeed, metals would arise in his body, of this there was no doubt. Meanwhile, Agni himself, witnessing the deeds of his son, came to me, O goddess, accompanied by Suvarṇa. He pleaded, “O god, this son of yours, O Śaṃkara, must be protected by you. When you are pleased, O great god, he will surely attain his goal—there is no doubt of this.” Hearing these words from the Pitṛ-devas, out of affection, I took the son of Agni and placed him upon my lap. I said to him, “I grant you, O highly fortunate one, a boon—choose a splendid blessing. I command you, and thus you will attain the highest good. O son, the auspicious Mahākālavana will remain undestroyed even at the time of dissolution. By its very sight, it removes great sins and bestows radiance. It will be supremely pure, meritorious, and difficult to attain. By your grace, one who is deformed will become beautiful. All sacrifices, fasts, pilgrimages, offerings of rice-balls, and the like—these will be accomplished through you. You will have lordship over all kinds of jewels.” Thus addressed, O great goddess, the divine one of radiant form received further blessings: “Gold is called suvarṇa by its sign, and by destiny it is called kāṃcana. O son of Agni, you must always remain near me.” Thus, by this pronouncement, the son of Agni became exceedingly pure.