Whether adorned with ornaments or without, the Lord of gods, Shiva, remains ever the same—unchanging in his essence. O moon-bright one, know this: simply hearing of the Lord is not as sinful as slandering him; the weight of slander is far greater. Then, the mendicant set aside his assumed form, and Shiva revealed himself in his true, resplendent nature. For your sake, he declared, I shall send the great sages to the house of Himavat, the king of mountains. There, he will be known in the world as Bhadreśvara, and those who seek auspiciousness will always worship him. Having entered the sky, Shiva journeyed to his own father’s abode. Meanwhile, King Pṛthu went to the waters and performed his ritual bath as prescribed. Cleansed and joyful, he gathered his attendants and his vehicle, and together they set out for the great mountain Mandara. There, with all the lords of the gaṇas, he worshipped the mighty, three-eyed Lord of the mountain, offering divine fruits, pure water, roots, and tubers. At that time, the great sage, accompanied by Arundhatī, remembered the purpose of their journey. They arrived at Mandara, with its lovely caves and tranquil beauty. Rising to greet them, the mountain honored the sage and his wife, saying, “By the dust of your lotus feet, I am purified of all sin—even these rocks, lotus-colored, smooth, and soft, are blessed by your presence.” Together, the sage and Arundhatī entered the mountain slope. There, with focused mind, he performed worship with arghya and other offerings. To increase his own fame, he honored the seven sages, who were renowned for their humility. He called out, “Bharadvāja, listen! And you too, Aṅgiras, hear my words. Long ago, Sati gave up her life through the power of yogic vision. O best of the twice-born, for my sake, let the lord of mountains be approached and asked.” Having uttered, “Om, obeisance to Śaṅkara,” they set out for Himālaya. Indeed, noble women know the righteous path among women. Saying, “Salutations to Rudra,” Arundhatī departed with her husband. Soon they beheld the city of the king of mountains, shining like the city of the gods. As they entered, they were honored by the tranquil mountains—Sunabha and others—who welcomed them. They entered the splendid mansion of Himavat, which shone with golden brilliance. Upon reaching the great gate, they stood, halted by the doorkeeper, who held in his hand a great staff made of padmarāga gem. They said, “Announce to your master that we have arrived, seeking an important audience.” The doorkeeper went to the place where Himavat, the king of mountains, was seated, surrounded by other mountains. Placing his staff in his armpit, he addressed his king: “Those who stand at your door are guests, eager for your audience.” Himavat himself came to the door, bringing the finest offerings of hospitality. After the guests had accepted their seats, the wise king addressed them: “Your arrival here is truly unfathomable and beyond thought. Today, my very body is purified because you have entered my home. It is as if my house has become a sacred Sarasvata pilgrimage, sanctified by your sight and touch. For whatever purpose you have come, please instruct me—I am your servant, ready to carry out your command. Speak, and it shall be done.