As long as the Four-Faced Brahmā remained present, the goddess lingered outside the cosmic waters, her divine mission fulfilled. When Brahmā beheld her, seeing that her task was accomplished, the Grandfather of all addressed her, mindful of what the future would require. He spoke to the gods, saying, “Let this noble goddess go now to the mountain born of snow. All you gods, hasten there and rejoice in her presence. On the ninth day, let this goddess always be worshipped with focused devotion, for she is surely the granter of boons to all the worlds. Whoever, whether man or woman, partakes of pounded grain on this ninth day will have their heart’s desire fulfilled. And whoever recites this hymn—composed by you, O Mahādeva—both morning and evening, will be united with the goddess and rescued from all calamities.” With these words, Brahmā turned once more to the goddess and said, “O Devi, there remains yet another great task for you: in time, you must destroy the asura named Mahiṣa for our sake.” Having thus spoken, Brahmā and all the assembled gods departed as they had come, leaving the goddess established joyfully on the snowy mountain. Because she was established there with happiness, she became known as Nandā. Whoever hears or recites the story of this goddess’s birth is freed from all sins and attains the highest liberation. Mahātapā then said, “Listen attentively, O king, protector of the people, to the wondrous story of how the directions themselves arose from the ears of Brahmā. In the beginning, as Brahmā was creating the world, a concern troubled his mind: ‘Who among my creations will sustain the progeny?’ As he pondered this, from his ears emerged ten radiant maidens, creating space for all beings. Among these maidens were the personifications of the eastern, southern, western, and northern directions, as well as the upward and downward directions—these six were the principal ones at that time. The other four maidens were supremely beautiful, endowed with noble form, great fortune, and depth of character. With affection, all ten approached the sinless Lord of Creatures and pleaded, ‘Grant us a place to dwell happily with our husbands, O god of gods, and bestow illustrious husbands upon us.’ Brahmā replied, ‘O fair-hipped ones, this universe extends a hundred crores in breadth; dwell at its ends as you wish, blessed ones. I shall create worthy husbands for you, endowed with form and free from sin. Go wherever your hearts desire.’ Thus instructed, the maidens went as they pleased, and Brahmā swiftly created the powerful guardians of the worlds. Brahmā then summoned the maidens again, and as Grandsire, arranged their marriages: he gave one to Indra, another to Agni, one to Yama, one to Nirṛti, and one to the great-souled Varuṇa. Others he gave to Vāyu, Kubera, and Īśāna; Brahmā himself presided over the upward direction, and he assigned the downward to Śeṣa. Having thus given the maidens, Brahmā assigned to the directions a lunar day—the tenth day—named after their husbands, with curd-rice as their food. From that time onward, these goddesses, together with Indra and the other gods, became renowned, and the tenth lunar day became especially dear to them. Whoever, with discipline, eats curd-rice on that day has their sins removed by those goddesses, day after day. Whoever listens with focused mind to this account of the birth of the directions attains a firm position in the world of Brahmā—of this, there is no doubt. Mahātapā continued, “Hear also of another birth—the birth of the Lord of Wealth, which destroys sin—how Vāyu, dwelling in a body, became the bestower of riches. The first body in which Vāyu resided was ordained as the presiding deity of the field. Now, for the sake of fame, I recount the origin of Vāyu in embodied form: From the mouth of Brahmā, desiring creation, Vāyu emerged, fierce and raining gravel. Brahmā restrained him, saying, ‘Become embodied and peaceful,’ and so Vāyu assumed a gentle form. Brahmā then commanded, ‘Protect whatever wealth and fruits belong to all the gods; by this command, you shall become the Lord of Wealth.’ Pleased, Brahmā granted Vāyu the Ekādaśī vow: whoever, disciplined and pure, eats food not cooked by fire on that day, the god Dhanada, being pleased, quickly grants all desires. Thus is the form of the Lord of Wealth, destroyer of all sins. One who listens to or recites this with devotion attains all desires and reaches the heavenly world. Mahātapā spoke further: “Now hear of Manu and the state of being Manu. By necessity, that very Viṣṇu became embodied. The supreme Nārāyaṇa, higher than the highest, had a thought concerning creation: ‘This creation has been made by me; it must be protected by me. But ritual action cannot be performed by one without a body. Therefore, I shall create an embodied form by which this world may be protected.’ As he thus reflected with true resolve, before him appeared an embodied being, born even before creation itself. When this being stood before him, Nārāyaṇa saw him enter the three worlds from his own body, thus setting in motion the protection and sustenance of all creation.