Those who follow this sacred path receive delight, contentment, well-being, health, and a beautiful form. They attain pleasures that even the gods find difficult to obtain. O goddess, I have revealed to you the power that destroys sin. Simply by beholding him, one becomes wealthy in this world. O goddess, remember how, in the past, Dakṣa’s wrath compelled you to abandon your life. At that time, overwhelmed by love and afflicted by the arrows of Kāma, I sought union with you. Witnessing this intense passion, the gods became disturbed in their minds. Rudra, together with Gaurī, remained in divine union for a hundred celestial years. When the seed of these two would unite, the son born from them would possess such energy that none among the gods could bear it. The foremost guru of the gods discerned a solution: all the gods should approach Śiva. Thus resolved, O goddess, the gods hurried to Śiva. Nandī, lord of the gaṇas, stood vigilantly at the door, making entry to my side difficult for the gods. Then Agni spoke auspicious words on their behalf, and, deceiving the doorkeeper, acted cleverly. The immortal gods, led by Indra, stood restrained at the threshold. I received their proper salutations in due order, and they pleaded, "Abandon this exceedingly dreadful enjoyment." In response, I cursed Nandi: "Go swiftly to the earthly realm!" Heavy-hearted, sighing, and sorrowful, Nandi was greatly deceived by Agni and especially by Vāsava. In this state, the attendant was seen by the guardians of the world. He reported everything to them, Nandin among them. Hearing these words, Nandi, his hair standing on end, worshipped me in due form, adopting the appearance of a Kapālika. Then, beloved, a bodiless voice arose from the liṅga; the doorkeeper Nandin worshipped with great devotion. From that time onward, the lord of the doorkeepers became the lord of lords, his power granting the most desired fruits to all worlds. Those who worship Śiva, the lord of the doorkeepers, with devotion, find that the sins accumulated over seven births—whether little or much—are destroyed. Whoever remembers the lord of the doorkeepers, Śiva, in their mind, is freed from such burdens. The Lord declared that by merely seeing him, one does not attain birth among animals. There was a king named Kauśika, who, due to his actions, is always born as a rooster. By him, the earth was pervaded, along with its mountains, forests, and groves. His wife, renowned as Viśālā, belonged to that king. Together, this foremost of kings and his queen ruled the kingdom. Yet, O Pārvatī, there was never any intimacy between them. As time passed, tormented by desire, the queen and king saw a pair of insects agitated by the quarrel of love. That insect, again and again, sought to please his beloved, pleading, "Embrace me as you wish, for I am afflicted by the arrows of love.