“We shall not go to Kailasa, nor to Meru, nor to any such place,” the speaker declared with resolve. “This, right here, is our supreme Amaravati; this is our auspicious Bhogavati.” As these words were spoken, O Devi, a great change swept over heaven itself. Heaven became empty, for one, having resolved to depart, abandoned his body and left that celestial realm behind. All the gods, leaving me, journeyed together to Mahakalavana. Having said this, he himself arrived at the excellent Mahakalavana at that very moment and saw it encircled by the assembly of gods, a sight both delightful and wondrous. Just then, a bodiless voice resounded in the air, declaring, “To the east of Karkotaka and to the south of Mahamaya…” Thus addressed by the Lord of gods, he was filled with joy, his mind completely absorbed in these divine words. There, he worshipped with auspicious flowers and spoke to the lovely-faced goddess: “Even those who have committed evil deeds, if they strive to behold you—especially on the eighth or fourteenth day, or at the time of a great planetary transit—seated in a splendid celestial chariot, adorned with the jewels they desire, what need have they for various other gifts or for the performance of countless sacrifices? Whatever desire a person contemplates while worshipping, it shall be fulfilled. This has been declared by the gods themselves, upon beholding the supreme liṅga. Blessed indeed are those who worship the Lord of the triple world.” Having spoken thus, he again performed worship to the liṅga of the triple world. “O Goddess,” he continued, “I have now told you of this power of his, which destroys all sin. By merely seeing him, even the sin of killing a Brāhmaṇa is destroyed.” Long ago, in the age of Vaivasvata, when the Tretā era had just arrived, a gathering of Brāhmaṇas sat together, performing sacred offerings into the fire. Into their midst I came, O Goddess, clad in old rags, bald, bearing a staff topped with a skull, holding a skull in my hand, and adorned with ornaments made from skulls. The Brāhmaṇas, angered at the sight of me in the form of a wandering beggar, mocked me repeatedly, crying out, “Go away, sinner, go away!” They sang from the Vedas that only those who do not wear skulls are pure. I spoke to those Brāhmaṇas, saying, “Listen, O best of the twice-born! Compassion must always be shown by the virtuous to all embodied beings. I am a Brahmin ascetic, my body adorned with sacred ashes. I constantly worship Mahadeva, the Lord of the universe. I have undertaken the renowned ritual to destroy all sin, O twice-born ones.” After hearing my words, those eminent Brahmins declared, “A Brahmin adorned with skulls is especially condemned.” At that sacrifice, the Adityas and Vasus assembled, along with Brahma, Vishnu, the thousand-eyed Indra, Varuna, and Vayu. Garuda, the mountains, the serpents—all were summoned to the ritual, as well as the great Brahmin sages and the pure divine sages. They said to me, “Knowing it to be impure, how can you speak thus?” When I was addressed in this way by the Brahmins, I replied with further words. But as soon as I had spoken, O Devi, they struck me harshly. Then, laughing, I cast aside the altar covered with darbha grass and departed. After I had gone, the skull I carried was thrown outside the sacrificial pavilion.