No one else would have granted me the supreme boon purely out of compassion, for only the great lord Maheśa, with his boundless mercy and devotion to his devotees, could do so. When one’s sins are exhausted through austerity and the mind is purified, Brahmanhood is attained. O goddess, I have spoken of you with affectionate and auspicious words: O mother of Skanda, whose radiant face is like a full moon adorned with beauty, O elephant-gaited one, you declared, “I will accomplish what you have spoken.” You are the very embodiment of illusion, fortune, radiance, and glory; you are the stream of faith and beauty. You shine forth in countless forms, bewildering the entire world. To this sage, whose body is worn by austerities, I too have spoken, O wide-eyed one—listen to my words. In the east of Pattaneśvara stands a supreme liṅga. Hearing my words, you told the best of the twice-born, “By worshipping the liṅga there, you will obtain an excellent son.” Thus prompted by you, the brāhmaṇa resolved and acted accordingly. There, he beheld the great liṅga, bestower of sons and destroyer of sins. After some time, I emerged together with you. Know that I am Śarva; tell me, what shall I do for you? Whatever boon you desire, O Brahman, I shall grant you today. With devotion, that best of sages joyfully spoke from his heart. Then, O goddess, I said: “Let Mṛkaṇḍa, the best of sages, be endowed with prosperity and knowledge, long-lived, all-knowing, and wise.” Meanwhile, O goddess, the great ascetic appeared—righteous by nature, he remained in austerity from the moment of his birth. By you, I was satisfied with his austerity from the very moment of his birth. O best of brāhmaṇas, those who see me with supreme devotion, by that connection, wherever they go, will always be free from sorrow. The three-eyed one, lord of the hosts and perfected beings, attended by accomplished Gandharvas—those who worship me with heartfelt, fragrant flowers—thus spoken, with that liṅga, the great ascetic Mārkaṇḍeya’s power and the Lord’s power have been described. By whose mere sight all prosperity arises—there was once a king named Ripuṃjaya in the age of Brahmā. He performed worship of the gods, vows, charity, meditation, and the noble act of self-study. He protected his subjects as if they were his own children, caring for them completely. His people had children, were rich in wealth and grain, and possessed every desire. Meanwhile, as he ruled the earth, O Pārvatī, he found no pleasure anywhere except in going to Ujjayinī. Then, by me—Gaṇeśa, known as Śiva, the chief of the hosts—I also said to Gaṇeśa, “Go, my son, to my beloved.” Thus addressed by me, O goddess, he replied, “So be it,” with joined palms. When the host of Śiva departed, O fair-smiling one, I was satisfied.