O Lord, how is Gokarṇa situated to the north and how to the south? What is the extent of its sacred field, and what is the merit of the holy waters remembered there? How did all the gods, led by you, once again attain this place? And how, where, and by whom was the proper rite duly performed there? Thus addressed with these questions, the blessed Brahmā, foremost among those who know Brahman, replied: “O sage among knowers of Brahman, this Purāṇa is most secret, and I shall recount it to you just as it was heard. To the north of the pure and lofty Mandara, king of mountains, lies a wondrous place. There, the land is made of adamantine crystal rock, studded with coral shoots and gravel. Creepers adorned with a variety of flowers bloom there, their clusters heavy with blossoms. The valleys glisten especially with streams flowing with many kinds of minerals. In this place, clusters of ketaki and kunda flowers are always in bloom. Clear springs, their waters sparkling like split sapphires and washed clean, flow through the land. The beauty of the place rivals Indra’s bow and shines with the splendor of Kubera’s palace. It is here that divine couples play, and groups of Apsarases dance in delight. The lakes are adorned with kalhāra flowers, frequented by swans and cranes. Herds of elephants roam nearby, and the forests are filled with deer and birds. In the caves, the songs of Kinnaras mingle with the cries of other creatures, creating a symphony of life. Streams of water cascade in torrents, sparkling with thousands of flashes of light. The woodland gardens are beautiful in every season, always adorned with clusters of flowers. Upon this delightful, splendid, and worthy mountain, the blessed Lord Sthāṇu, the great god and bestower of boons, abides—compassionate to his devotees, resplendent, together with the daughter of the king of mountains. All who travel in celestial vehicles approach that unborn and imperishable God. Other hosts of gods also descend to serve him. Desiring to please Śarva, a great sage once undertook severe austerities there. With arms raised and unsupported, sustained only by water, air, and fire, the sage always offered recitations and flowers at the proper times. Firm in his vow, he engaged in fierce austerities, his body growing emaciated and dark in complexion. At last, Śaṅkara was pleased. The great god appeared before the sage and said, ‘See my form, which is invisible, O child; I am pleased with you, O sage.’ The god’s form blazed with the radiance of a thousand suns, wreathed in flames and full of energy. His matted locks were bound together, adorned with the crescent moon as a crest-jewel. Though beautiful and about a span in size, he possessed a hundred heads and a hundred bellies—smaller than the smallest, yet greater than the greatest. Upon beholding the great god, the ascetic’s hair stood on end and he was filled with joy. With joined palms and bowed head, he praised the eternal Brahman, the sustainer of the world, the three-eyed one—Śaṅkara, Śiva, the blue-throated, the terrible, he who is past, present, and future, the lord of hosts, the creator, the withdrawer, the formidable one, the dweller among cremation grounds, Rudra, and the bestower of boons.