O beautiful-faced one, by my favor, a son was obtained. When six years had passed, thoughts turned to his sacred thread ceremony. With humility, he bowed to all the assembled sages and worshipped them with deep devotion. According to his means, he performed the ceremony for his son, using fruits as offerings. Then he addressed the sages: “O best of sages, let blessings be given to this son.” Hearing this, all remained silent and gave no reply. Through meditation, he perceived the reason: “Surely my son has little lifespan.” Realizing this truth, the sage was suddenly overcome by confusion and sorrow. He recalled: “Long ago, Rudra, being pleased, granted me a boon: ‘Your son, equal to me in strength, will emerge from the center of the Kaṃthā.’” Seeing his father so distressed, the young sage himself became silent. Then the son spoke with resolve: “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, ever united with Umā, to seek a boon. By fierce austerities I will propitiate the feet of the blue-throated one and soon banish Death.” The astonished 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 all accomplishments, appeared before me. He commanded me: ‘Go, my son, 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.’” Hearing this, the father and all those assembled were filled with astonishment, 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 attain their highest desires and become foremost among the gaṇas.” Having received this rare boon, Kaṃtha approached with joined palms, humbled and grateful. Such a boon, indeed, is rare in the world—even among gods, demons, and yakṣas. The child then spoke to Mahādeva: “If another boon is to be granted—” Parvati, pleased, spoke through the liṅga: “So be it. By merely seeing it, a person attains long life. Whoever beholds that liṅga, the Lord of Kaṃthaḍeśvara, the Lord, O Gauri, is freed from the bondage of sin and will attain liberation. By uttering my name, he purifies all sins. Those men in the world who do not behold this are unfortunate; their birth is in vain. O goddess, thus I have told you the power that destroys sin.” O goddess, this liṅga bestows great accomplishment and destroys even the sin of killing a Brāhmaṇa. Now, hear of Prajāpati Tvaṣṭṛ, whose son was Kuśadhvaja. When Tvaṣṭṛ heard that his son had been slain, he was seized with anger. He declared, “Today, let the three worlds with the gods witness my power!