O wide-eyed goddess, listen as the glory of Ānandeśvara, the Lord, is revealed. Those who behold Ānandeśvara, even for a moment, find the sins amassed over a hundred million births utterly destroyed. Instantly, the soul is freed from the cycles of birth, death, old age, and all their burdens. The mere sight of Ānandeśvara grants liberation, and here, the supreme liṅga is worshipped by the gods themselves. This divine power, which destroys all sin, has been described to you, O goddess. By simply seeing the Lord, all sins are washed away. Now, hear the tale of a brāhmaṇa who once lived on the beautiful banks of the Vitastā river. He was abandoned by his relatives and his wicked wife, left utterly alone. Yet, longing for a son, he sought to please me within a mountain cave. Through my favor, a son was born to him—this child, Kaṃtha, took up his own garment from his neck and was granted to the brāhmaṇa by my grace, O beautiful-faced one. When the boy reached his sixth year, his father desired to perform the sacred thread ceremony. Bowing to the sages and worshipping them with devotion, he did the ceremony as best he could, offering fruits according to his means. He prayed, “O best of sages, let blessings be given to this son.” Yet, upon hearing this, the sages remained silent, offering no answer. Through meditation, the father realized: “Surely my son has little lifespan.” Overwhelmed by this revelation, the sage fell into confusion. Long ago, Rudra, pleased with the sage, had granted him a boon: “Your son, equal to me in strength, shall emerge from the center of the Kaṃthā.” Witnessing his father’s distress, the child sage became silent. Then, with resolve, he spoke, “Abandon your fear now; for your sake, though you are sorrowful and your efforts have failed, I will subdue Yama, the lord of death. By severe austerities, I will please Śaṃkara, and with devotion to my father, I will destroy Death’s hope of victory. I go for refuge to Rudra, the great Lord, never separated from Umā, to obtain a boon. By fierce austerities, I will propitiate the feet of the blue-throated one and soon banish Death.” The assembled sages questioned him, “Child, how do you know Rudra, the supreme one? Even we do not know the great Lord; how have you, a mere child, come to know him? Where and how have you known Maheśa, the sole master of the worlds?” Hearing their words, the child replied, “As I was playing here, the giver of success, who grants accomplishments, appeared before me. He said, ‘Go, my son, at my command, to the most excellent Mahākālavana. Quickly worship him; you will become long-lived. There is no other god in the worlds—truly, truly, O best of sages.’ I will worship the liṅga; let your sorrow be abandoned here.” The father and all those present were astonished, O goddess. Then, from the center of the liṅga, a divine voice issued forth, O daughter of the Mountain: “Freed from the bondage of sin, may they live long. O illustrious one, those who, having heard the words of the child, do not speak in the presence of the liṅga, will always be free from old age and death. They will obtain their highest desires and become foremost among the gaṇas.” Thus, having received the boon, Kaṃtha approached with joined palms. Such a boon is indeed rare in this world, even among gods, demons, and yakṣas.