Vasiṣṭha said: On hearing the words of Brahmā, Rāma became much delighted in his mind. After bowing down to the preceptor of the Universe, he went to Śiva’s region.

Vasiṣṭha said: It was a hundred thousand Yojanas (1 Yojana—12 km) above the world of Brahmā. It was different from it. It was difficult to explain or describe it clearly. It could be approached only by Yogins and was greater than the greatest.

Vasiṣṭha said: Vaikuṇṭha was to the right of it and the world of Gaurī was to the left. The world of Dhruva was beneath it. It was higher than all the worlds.

Vasiṣṭha said: Rāma who could go there due to the power of his penance, saw the world of Siva which was unparalleled and which was full of many things generating curiosity and wonder.

Vasiṣṭha said: Leading Yogins, Siddhas, auspicious and holy Pāśupatas (Devotees of Paśupati i.e. Śiva) etc. live there. So also people of quietude, devoid of enmity and having the meritorious benefits of austerities of ten million Kalpas.

Vasiṣṭha said: It was rendered splendid by pārijāta and other divine trees as well as wish-yielding cows, the Kāmadhenus. It had been created by Śaṅkara, the Yogin, by means of his yogic power, out of his own will.

Vasiṣṭha said: It was so wonderful that it had never been seen even in his dream by Viśvakarman, the preceptor of all artisans and craftsmen. It was rendered splendid by hundreds of divine lakes beautified by rubies. It was very beautiful, being equipped with altars studded with gems and surrounded by golden rampart walls.

Vasiṣṭha said: It was so wonderful that it had never been seen even in his dream by Viśvakarman, the preceptor of all artisans and craftsmen. It was rendered splendid by hundreds of divine lakes beautified by rubies. It was very beautiful, being equipped with altars studded with gems and surrounded by golden rampart walls.

Vasiṣṭha said: It was very lofty touching even the sky. It was as white and clean as milk. It had four gateways. It was rendered splendid by gem-set altars and daises.

Vasiṣṭha said: It was endowed with gemset (lit. red) flights of stairs, and gemset pillars and doors having different wonderful paintings. It was beautified by various fascinating articles and fittings.

Vasiṣṭha said: There was a beautiful abode in the middle, rendered splendid by the principal gateway. Rāma of virtuous soul saw it. He appeared to have come across something very wonderful.

Vasiṣṭha said: He saw two gatekeepers of terrifying forms there. Their teeth and mouths (or faces) were very frightful. Their eyes were deformed and reddish in colour. They resembled mountains that had been burnt (and hence black). They had great strength and exploit. They had bedecked themselves with holy ashes. Their garments were the hides of tiger. They held Triśūlas (tridents) and Paṭṭiśas (spears with sharp edges). They were brilliant with Brahminical splendour. On seeing them he felt a bit afraid in his mind. He spoke thus humbly—

Vasiṣṭha said: He saw two gatekeepers of terrifying forms there. Their teeth and mouths (or faces) were very frightful. Their eyes were deformed and reddish in colour. They resembled mountains that had been burnt (and hence black). They had great strength and exploit. They had bedecked themselves with holy ashes. Their garments were the hides of tiger. They held Triśūlas (tridents) and Paṭṭiśas (spears with sharp edges). They were brilliant with Brahminical splendour. On seeing them he felt a bit afraid in his mind. He spoke thus humbly—

Vasiṣṭha said: He saw two gatekeepers of terrifying forms there. Their teeth and mouths (or faces) were very frightful. Their eyes were deformed and reddish in colour. They resembled mountains that had been burnt (and hence black). They had great strength and exploit. They had bedecked themselves with holy ashes. Their garments were the hides of tiger. They held Triśūlas (tridents) and Paṭṭiśas (spears with sharp edges). They were brilliant with Brahminical splendour. On seeing them he felt a bit afraid in his mind. He spoke thus humbly—

Vasiṣṭha said: “I bow down to you two, O Lords. I have come here to see lord Saṅkara. It behoves you to let me in after obtaining the permission of the Lord.”

Vasiṣṭha said: On hearing his words, those two followers of the lord went in and got permission of Śiva. Then they gave him permission to go within.

Vasiṣṭha said: On getting their permission, he joyously entered the harem. The Brāhmaṇa saw a beautiful assembly hall filled with groups of Siddhas. On seeing this hall of the lord filled with many fragrant scents, he was surprised and awestruck. There he saw Śiva, the quiescent moon-crested lord with three eyes.

Vasiṣṭha said: On getting their permission, he joyously entered the harem. The Brāhmaṇa saw a beautiful assembly hall filled with groups of Siddhas. On seeing this hall of the lord filled with many fragrant scents, he was surprised and awestruck. There he saw Śiva, the quiescent moon-crested lord with three eyes.

Vasiṣṭha said: His hand appeared rendered splendid by a trident. He had excellent garment of tiger’s skin. His limbs were smeared with holy ashes and made beautiful. A serpent served the purpose of sacred thread.

Vasiṣṭha said: He was delighted in His own self. All his desires had been perfectly realized. He had a lustre equivalent to that of ten million suns. He had five heads and ten arms. His person was ever eager to bless the devotees.

Vasiṣṭha said: He was expounding true knowledge and yogic principles to the Siddhas by means of the Tarka-Mudrā (i.e. esoteric gesture by means of fingers to indicate arguments). He was joyously being eulogised by leading Yogins and Pramathas.

Vasiṣṭha said: He was encircled by Bhairavas, Yogins as well as Rudras. On seeing Him, Rāma bent down his head (in reverence) with very great joy.

Vasiṣṭha said: On seeing Kārttikeya to His left, Gaṇeśvara (i.e. Gaṇapati) to the right, Nandīśvara, Mahākāla and Vīrabhadra in front of him and the hundred-armed Durgā on his lap, he bowed down to her too. Thereafter, the scholarly sage began to eulogise the lord in faltering convulsive speech (overwhelmed with emotions):

Vasiṣṭha said: On seeing Kārttikeya to His left, Gaṇeśvara (i.e. Gaṇapati) to the right, Nandīśvara, Mahākāla and Vīrabhadra in front of him and the hundred-armed Durgā on his lap, he bowed down to her too. Thereafter, the scholarly sage began to eulogise the lord in faltering convulsive speech (overwhelmed with emotions):

Vasiṣṭha said: “I bow down to Lord Śiva, Īśāna, the eternal (imperishable) all-pervasive lord, lord Ugra with serpents for his ornaments, the lord dazzling with the garland of human skulls.

Vasiṣṭha said: I know you as that lord of all the worlds, who creates, sustains and annihilates the worlds, who assumes the forms of Brahmā and others, who is the eldest of all and who is an ocean of mercy.

Vasiṣṭha said: I bow down to that lord who is beyond the pale of speech and mind; whom even the Vedas are not competent to eulogise; who cannot be realized through knowledge and intellect and who has neither form nor shape.

Vasiṣṭha said: I bow down to that lord who is greater than the greatest and whom Indra and other Devas, the sages, the Manus and the Asuras do not understand in reality.

Vasiṣṭha said: I bow down to that lord who is identical with the Universe, by whose minutest part all the worlds consisting of the mobile and immobile beings are created, and in whom all of them get merged once again.

Vasiṣṭha said: I bow down to Hara that great lord from whose slightest anger bursts forth that fire which bums down everything including the upper worlds as well as the Nether worlds.

Vasiṣṭha said: The following eight Mūrtis (forms of Śiva) are worthy of being worshipped by the entire world viz. the Earth, wind, fire, water, ether, Yqjvan (sacrificial priest), moon and sun. I bow down to that Yajña (the lord identical with Yajña).

Vasiṣṭha said: I seek refuge in that lord who has the form of Kāla (Time, god of death), who is the primordial creator of the Universe in the form of Kāla; who is the protector (of the Universe) by assuming a separate form and by being identical with the universe, and who in the end annihilates everything by assuming the physical form of Rudra.”

Vasiṣṭha said: After saying this, sage Bhārgava joyously and enthusiastically fell down near his (Śiva’s) feet. The ocean of mercy (the lord) sportingly lifted him up with his left hand and placed his right hand on his head.

Vasiṣṭha said: He eagerly congratulated and blessed him. He placed him in front of Gaṇeśa. With his eyes wet with compassion, the lord who fulfils the desires of everyone, glanced at his wife Umā and spoke.

Śiva said: “O boy, who are you? In whose family were you born? What is the purpose for which you have come here? Tell us about it. Delighted by your devotional attitude, I shall grant whatever you have in your mind.”

Śiva said: On being told thus eagerly by the able-souled Hara, the dispeller of the distress of the whole Universe, (the scion of the family of) Bhṭgu, once again bowed down to the lord of the Devas, the preceptor, the ocean of mercy and spoke immediately.

Paraśurāma said: O lord, I am born as the son of Jamadagni in the family of Bhṛgu. My name is Rāma. I seek refuge in you, who are worthy of being honoured by the whole universe.

Paraśurāma said: O lord of the Universe, fulfil my cherished desire for the work of which I have come to your presence, O lord.

Paraśurāma said: Jamadagni, my father, O lord, accorded hospitable reception to king Kārttavīrya who had been on a hunting expedition.

Paraśurāma said: Out of greed that silly and foolish king struck that sage down by using force. On seeing him killed, the cow went away to the world of cows.

Paraśurāma said: Without feeling any remorse for the death of my innocent father the king returned to his city. Afterwards, my mother lamented very bitterly.

Paraśurāma said: On coming to know of it, our great-grandfather Bhṛgu who is aware of the events of the world, came there, O great lord. Indeed I too came back from the forest.

Paraśurāma said: After consoling the extremely distressed brothers of mine along with me and my mother, that sage who is conversant with Mantras resuscitated my father back to life.

Paraśurāma said: Before the arrival of Bhṛgu, I had been highly infuriated by the grief of my mother. Consoling my mother, O lord, I had taken a vow.

Paraśurāma said: Since her chest had been beaten twenty-one times by my mother, I will rid the earth of Kṣatriyas as many times.

Paraśurāma said: This is the vow. Lord of the Universe, Mahādeva will fulfil it. Hence, O lord, I have come to your presence.

Vasiṣṭha said: On hearing these words of his and glancing at the face of Durgā, Hara remained absorbed in thought for a moment with his face bent down.

Vasiṣṭha said: In the meantime surprised as she was, Durgā laughed a lot, O great king and said to Bhārgava who was bent on wreaking revenge.

Vasiṣṭha said: “O ascetic, O son of a Brāhmaṇa, out of anger you wish to make this Earth devoid of kings twenty-one times. Great indeed is your daring rashness, O boy.

Vasiṣṭha said: Without any weapon you wish to kill Arjuna, the king with a thousand arms, by whom even Rāvaṇa was contemptuously discomfited by a sportive knitting of his eyebrows.

Vasiṣṭha said: To him the coat of mail of Lord Viṣṇu had been given as also the Śaktī (Divine javelin) of excessive potentiality. How do you aspire to kill him?

Vasiṣṭha said: Lord Śaṅkara, the ocean of mercy is competent to make it otherwise. None other than Śaṅkara, dear son, can carry out a noble deed.”

Vasiṣṭha said: Thereupon, after obtaining the consent of the goddess (by the previous hint) Lord Śambhu, the ocean of mercy addressed these gentle words to the son of Jamadagni.

Śiva said: From today onwards O Brāhmaṇa, you shall be like Skanda to me. O highly intelligent one, I shall give you the divine coat of mail and teach you the mantra thereof.

Śiva said: Due to its favour, you will sportingly kill Kārttavīrya and make the earth devoid of kings, twenty-one times.”

Śiva said: After saying this, Śaṅkara taught him the Mantra (esoteric formula) that is extremely difficult to obtain and the following weapons etc. viz.—extremely miraculous coat of mail named Trailokyavijaya; the Nāgapāśa (Serpentine noose), (missiles like) the Pāśupata, the Brahmāstra which is very much inaccessible, Nārāyaṇāstra, the Āgneya (Arrow with the fìregod as deity), the Vāyavya (of the wind god), the Vāruṇa (of Varuṇa the ocean-god), the Gāndharva, the Gāruḍa, the extremely wonderful weapon Jṛmbhaṇāstra, the mace, the Śakti, the Paraśu (Axe) the trident and the excellent Daṇḍa (baton).

Śiva said: After saying this, Śaṅkara taught him the Mantra (esoteric formula) that is extremely difficult to obtain and the following weapons etc. viz.—extremely miraculous coat of mail named Trailokyavijaya; the Nāgapāśa (Serpentine noose), (missiles like) the Pāśupata, the Brahmāstra which is very much inaccessible, Nārāyaṇāstra, the Āgneya (Arrow with the fìregod as deity), the Vāyavya (of the wind god), the Vāruṇa (of Varuṇa the ocean-god), the Gāndharva, the Gāruḍa, the extremely wonderful weapon Jṛmbhaṇāstra, the mace, the Śakti, the Paraśu (Axe) the trident and the excellent Daṇḍa (baton).

Śiva said: After saying this, Śaṅkara taught him the Mantra (esoteric formula) that is extremely difficult to obtain and the following weapons etc. viz.—extremely miraculous coat of mail named Trailokyavijaya; the Nāgapāśa (Serpentine noose), (missiles like) the Pāśupata, the Brahmāstra which is very much inaccessible, Nārāyaṇāstra, the Āgneya (Arrow with the fìregod as deity), the Vāyavya (of the wind god), the Vāruṇa (of Varuṇa the ocean-god), the Gāndharva, the Gāruḍa, the extremely wonderful weapon Jṛmbhaṇāstra, the mace, the Śakti, the Paraśu (Axe) the trident and the excellent Daṇḍa (baton).

Śiva said: After saying this, Śaṅkara taught him the Mantra (esoteric formula) that is extremely difficult to obtain and the following weapons etc. viz.—extremely miraculous coat of mail named Trailokyavijaya; the Nāgapāśa (Serpentine noose), (missiles like) the Pāśupata, the Brahmāstra which is very much inaccessible, Nārāyaṇāstra, the Āgneya (Arrow with the fìregod as deity), the Vāyavya (of the wind god), the Vāruṇa (of Varuṇa the ocean-god), the Gāndharva, the Gāruḍa, the extremely wonderful weapon Jṛmbhaṇāstra, the mace, the Śakti, the Paraśu (Axe) the trident and the excellent Daṇḍa (baton).

Śiva said: After saying this, Śaṅkara taught him the Mantra (esoteric formula) that is extremely difficult to obtain and the following weapons etc. viz.—extremely miraculous coat of mail named Trailokyavijaya; the Nāgapāśa (Serpentine noose), (missiles like) the Pāśupata, the Brahmāstra which is very much inaccessible, Nārāyaṇāstra, the Āgneya (Arrow with the fìregod as deity), the Vāyavya (of the wind god), the Vāruṇa (of Varuṇa the ocean-god), the Gāndharva, the Gāruḍa, the extremely wonderful weapon Jṛmbhaṇāstra, the mace, the Śakti, the Paraśu (Axe) the trident and the excellent Daṇḍa (baton).

Śiva said: After saying this, Śaṅkara taught him the Mantra (esoteric formula) that is extremely difficult to obtain and the following weapons etc. viz.—extremely miraculous coat of mail named Trailokyavijaya; the Nāgapāśa (Serpentine noose), (missiles like) the Pāśupata, the Brahmāstra which is very much inaccessible, Nārāyaṇāstra, the Āgneya (Arrow with the fìregod as deity), the Vāyavya (of the wind god), the Vāruṇa (of Varuṇa the ocean-god), the Gāndharva, the Gāruḍa, the extremely wonderful weapon Jṛmbhaṇāstra, the mace, the Śakti, the Paraśu (Axe) the trident and the excellent Daṇḍa (baton).