You alone are the primal creator of all beings, and as Time itself, you are also the destroyer of all creatures. You are the moon, the sun, and the wind; you sustain and create the worlds, the supreme ancient one. You are Mahākāla, the great lord of time; you are the bull, remover of obstacles, and bestower of secret boons. When these praises were spoken, the liṅga addressed Śatakratu, the thousand-eyed Indra: “You shall indeed 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 was empowered. After vanquishing the fierce Dānavas in battle with ease, and through my power, you all 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, by beholding this liṅga, the splendid city of Indra flourished. Whoever sees daily the liṅga named Śrī Indreśvara, and whoever worships with devotion the liṅga adored by Indra, attains great merit. Indeed, by properly worshipping the god Indreśvara with devotion, one also worships the sages and guardians of the worlds—there is no doubt. Thus addressed by the gods, Śakra, along with those from Vaikuṇṭha and others, was satisfied. Thus has the power of the god Indreśvara been recounted. By merely seeing him, a man is blessed with a son. Born in the lineage of Brahmā was a sage named Mṛkaṇḍu. Desiring a son, he pondered deeply, “How might I obtain a son?” Determined, he resolved to undertake austerity to fulfill his longing. He established his dwelling in a sacred place, his mind purified, and subsisted on vegetables, roots, and fruits, sometimes eating only one or two leaves. For twelve years, that sage performed severe austerity. Then, perceiving his unwavering resolve, you approached me at that time. With his radiance, the sage illuminated the mountain, drying up the reservoirs of water. The oceans were agitated, as were the moon and the sun; indeed, O god, an untimely dissolution of the world seemed imminent. Moved by his devotion, the gods declared, “Let a son be given to that sage, Mṛkaṇḍa. Let him be imperishable, like another thousand-eyed Indra. O queen of the gods, this great sage Mṛkaṇḍa desires a son with the hue and eyes of a blue lotus petal.” You, too, O goddess, spoke again out of compassion, for you are the lover of devotion. “How are you praised by the wise as the giver of the fruits of austerities? You cause turmoil among all the demons and the hosts of gods. No one else would grant me the supreme boon out of compassion. The great lord Maheśa is compassionate and devoted to his devotees. Through austerity, when sin is exhausted and the mind is purified, one attains Brahmanhood.” With affectionate and auspicious words, I have described you, O mother of Skanda, whose face shines like the full moon adorned with beauty. O elephant-gaited one, you said, “I will accomplish what you have spoken.” You are illusion, fortune, radiance, the glorious one, the stream of faith and beauty. You shine forth in many forms, bewildering the entire world. To this sage, whose body is now exhausted by austerities, I too have spoken, O wide-eyed one—listen to my words.