Blessed by the gracious benediction he had received, Nandī humbly declared his devotion, affirming that he was ever to be employed in service. “Order me as you wish,” he said, “for I am commanded, O excellent gods.” Then Śakra, the mighty Indra, spoke to the assembled sages and gods: “Let us all, O sage, behold the mighty Lord, the chief among the gods—the immovable, fierce, and auspicious Śarva himself. O sage, tell us quickly, where can we find him?” Nandī, remembering Paśupati with reverence, replied to Śakra, “O lord of the gods, O lord of heaven, you are indeed worthy to hear the truth. On this very Muñjavaṭa mountain, when I worshipped the steadfast One, he was pleased and departed from here. I am afraid, for I do not know where he has gone. Let us diligently search for the Blessed Lord, O Indra.” Thus ends the chapter of the granting of boons by Nandikeśvara, in the section extolling the greatness of Gokarṇa. Now begins the account of the greatness of Gokarṇeśvara and Jaleśvara. Śakra, together with all the hosts of gods, assembled at that place. Rising from the great mass of rocks, the gods spread out to search all the realms—heaven, Brahmā’s world, and the world of the nāgas—seeking the Lord. Yet, exhausted and greatly distressed, they could not find that place again. Undeterred, they searched for Śiva through mountains and forests, wandering the widespread groves and all the pleasure gardens. Nowhere did the gods find any trace of Śambhu. Unable to see Śiva, fear entered their hearts. The immortals, gathering together, sought refuge in Nandī. Nandī considered the situation and saw only one means left: to meditate, even if adorned with the ornaments of enmity. “We have searched thoroughly through all the three worlds,” he declared, “except for the region of the śleṣmātaka forest on earth. Come, let us go there, O best of gods.” Without delay, the gods mounted their swift-flying aerial chariots and journeyed to that place. There, they beheld many delightful and pure abodes of the gods, in the forest regions of hermitages and in the mountain caves. Placing Indra at their forefront, the gods entered into the hollows of the mountains and the thickets of the trees. As they entered a certain forest region, the gods appeared radiant, standing upon the sandy banks of a mountain river, shining like swans, jasmine, and the moon, and the sand gleamed here and there like powdered pearls. There, having seen Nandī, all the wise gods urged him on. Nandī entered meditation for a moment, and then perceived what they sought. Ascending the lofty peak, the lords of the gods, in the midst of a herd of deer, saw him standing—like the protector of the herd. He had a lovely face, beautiful eyes and teeth, and white spots adorned his back. His lips were like the bimba fruit, his tongue and mouth coppery, adorned with tusk-like sprouts. But as soon as the gods beheld him in this wondrous form, they were seized by awe and fled from the peak. Yet Indra, wielder of the thunderbolt, seized the tip of the horn of this great being. Keśava, too, took hold of the base, and Nandī grasped the middle. Thus, the three of them, holding the horn, divided the lord of the deer into three parts.