Then, from amidst a garland of blazing flames, Vṛtra arose—his form vast and terrible. This mighty enemy of Indra, his true nature impossible to fathom, was magnified by the potent energy of Tvaṣṭṛ. When Indra beheld Vṛtra, the great asura, he felt a chill of dread, for he saw in Vṛtra the very cause of his own destruction. At that moment, Vṛtra, foremost among the powerful, approached. His immense form loomed over the battlefield as he began a fierce and terrible fight. Weapons clashed with such violence that bodies and armor were shattered and broken, and the earth itself was stained red with the blood of wrath. Headless bodies piled up as the armies of the gods gathered, and the quarters of the sky were reddened by the gushing torrents of blood. In the midst of this chaos, Vṛtra seized and bound Vāsava—Indra himself—and, holding the lord of the gods captive, made his way to the celestial realms. When Indra was thus bound, the wise Bṛhaspati, seeing his king in such a state, approached him with words of blessing and concern. Bṛhaspati spoke, “This is not a favorable time for you, lord of the gods. I have seen all the foremost and most powerful asuras gathered there. Each one alone, I believe, could defeat you, such is their might—whether known by sight or only by fame.” Hearing these words, Indra was filled with anxiety. He asked, “What should be done now, O Bṛhaspati? They will come for me, and Vṛtra is exceedingly strong.” To this, Bṛhaspati replied, “In the beautiful and great Kāla forest, to the south of Khaṇḍeśvara, worship with all your effort. There, he will grant you your desire. In that sacred forest, O goddess, when you behold the supreme liṅga, offer your salutations to the god of gods, to Śaṅkara, the bull-bannered one, the most excellent. Always offer your salutations to him who grants all desires.” He continued, “You alone are the primal creator of beings; as Time, you alone destroy all creatures. You are the moon, the sun, the wind; you are the sustainer, the creator, the ancient supreme one. You are Mahākāla, the bull, the remover of obstacles, the bestower of secret boons.” Moved by this praise, the liṅga itself addressed Śatakratu, saying, “You will slay Vṛtra, the destroyer of foes—there is no doubt.” By the greatness of that liṅga, O Pārvatī, from the foam of the waters, Indra gained the power he needed. After slaying the Dānavas in fierce battle with ease, he and the gods, through the power of that liṅga, attained lordship over the three worlds. By the greatness of this god, the mighty demon Vṛtra was slain. Because Indra worshipped the great god Maheśvara, and by seeing this liṅga, the splendid city of Indra was preserved. Whoever beholds daily the liṅga named Śrī Indreśvara, and whoever worships with devotion the liṅga adored by Indra, by properly worshipping the god Indreśvara with devotion, also worships the sages and the guardians of the worlds—of this, there is no doubt. Thus, addressed by the assembled gods, Śakra—Indra—together with those from Vaikuṇṭha and other realms, was satisfied. Thus has the power of the god Indreśvara been recounted. By merely seeing this liṅga, it is said, a man may obtain a son. In the lineage of Brahmā, there was a sage named Mṛkaṇḍu. Desiring a son, he pondered deeply, “How might I obtain a son?” Resolving to undertake austerities to fulfill this wish, he established his dwelling in a sacred place, purifying his mind. There, sustained by vegetables, roots, and fruits, he lived on leaves—sometimes one, sometimes two—dedicating himself to his penance.