Journeying from one hermitage to another, the pilgrim eventually arrived at the hermitage of Kālī. There, he offered worship to her in the customary manner, and then respectfully asked her, “Where and when will you depart? Please tell me quickly.” He continued, “I am now setting out on a pilgrimage to Pṛthūdaka. As I travel, I have bathed at various sacred places—what merit have I gained by doing so?” He then described his journey: “I have bathed at the holy site of Kubjāmra and at Jayanta Caṇḍikeśvara. On the banks of the Sarasvati, at the fire altar, and at Bhadra in the heavenly realm, I performed my ablutions without desire. After these rites, I came to your hermitage.” With humility, he said, “I wish to ask you something. Please do not be angered by my inquiry. Even in childhood, self-restraint of the body is praiseworthy among the twice-born. O timid one, you have embraced austerity, but I sense some doubt within you. Pleasures, once tasted in their proper time, depart even while youth remains. You possess beauty, noble birth, and wealth in abundance. Yet, having cast aside your silken garments, why do you now wear bark-cloth?” To the wandering mendicant, Narada, Kālī spoke truthfully: “Listen, this Kāli desires Hara—Shiva—as her husband.” At this, the mendicant burst into laughter and said, “How will your hand, soft as a tender shoot, unite with Shiva’s hand, which bears a serpent? You are anointed with sandalwood, while he is adorned with ashes—such a union seems unfitting to me.” Kālī replied firmly, “Do not speak so, mendicant; Hara surpasses all in virtues. Whether adorned or unadorned, the Lord of gods is always the same. One who merely hears, O moon-bright one, is not as sinful as one who slanders.” Then, the mendicant abandoned his disguise, revealing himself as Shiva in his true form. He said to Kālī, “For your sake, I will send the great sages to the house of Himavat. He will be known throughout the world as Bhadreśvara. People who desire auspiciousness will always worship him.” Having spoken, Shiva ascended into the sky and returned to his father’s abode. Meanwhile, Pṛthu went to the water and performed his bath according to the prescribed rite. Filled with joy, accompanied by his attendants and vehicle, he journeyed to the great mountain Mandara. There, together with all the lords of the gaṇas, he worshipped the mighty three-eyed mountain-lord with offerings of divine fruits, pure water, roots, and tubers. At this point, the great sage remembered, along with Arundhatī. They arrived at the splendid mountain Mandara, renowned for its beautiful caves. Rising to greet and honor them, the mountain-lord spoke, “By the dust of your lotus feet, I have become purified of sin—even upon the rocks, which are lotus-colored, smooth, and soft.” Together with Arundhatī, the sage entered the mountain slope. He worshipped with arghya and other offerings, standing with a concentrated mind. To increase his own fame, he honored the seven sages, who were endowed with humility. He addressed them: “Bharadvāja, listen; and you, Aṅgiras, listen as well. Long ago, Sati gave up her life by the vision of yoga.