For a brief, shining moment, the two beings engaged in playful sport, their hearts overflowing with the essence of deep emotion. Always striving for victory, neither was ever defeated, not even for an instant. Then, as dawn approached, Nārāyaṇa spoke: Rising during the sacred brāhma-muhūrta from a delightful bed adorned with fragrant flowers, he left his nightly resting place and bathed in auspicious waters. He performed all the daily rites as prescribed by tradition and offered reverence to his chosen guru. He was adorned with the finest jewels and gems, clothed in excellent garments, and surrounded by gold. Every priceless jewel—pearls, rubies, diamonds—was in his possession. He owned the best of elephants, the swiftest horses, and herds of charming cows. His wealth was vast: a thousand treasuries, and he ruled over three hundred thousand cities. He made his own son the lord of kings, a radiant figure among the Dānavas. He gathered multitudes of subjects, amassed heaps of wealth, and acquired a great variety of vehicles. Through his loyal servants, he assembled a mighty army in perfect order. This force included ten thousand chariots and thirty crores of skilled archers. O Nārada, the lord of the Dānavas thus formed an army beyond measure. He was renowned as a great chariot-warrior, the foremost among all in battle, commanding thirty akṣauhiṇīs and a splendid collection of equipment. Ascending a celestial chariot adorned with the most exquisite jewels, he journeyed to the banks of the Puṣpabhadrā river, where the auspicious and imperishable banyan tree stands. This was the very place where Kapila had performed his austerities—a sacred region in Bhārata. The full and blessed Puṣpabhadrā flowed there, to the north of Śrīśaila and south of Gandhamādana. His wife, ever fortunate and fond of salt water, mingled her waters with the Sharavati and emerged from the Himalayas. It was in this holy place that Shankhacuda arrived and beheld Chandrashekhara. There stood the great god, having assumed a yogic posture, his gestures graceful and his smile gentle. He bore a trident and a spear, was clad in a tiger skin, and radiated excellence. With three eyes and five faces, a serpent draped as his sacred thread, he stood as the remover of death for his devotees—peaceful, beloved of Gauri, and supremely delightful. Easily pleased and ever gracious, he bestowed favor upon those who approached him with devotion. He is the sustainer of the universe, its greatest being, and the cause of its dissolution—the giver, the seed, and the bliss of eternal knowledge. Filled with devotion, Shankhacuda, along with all the others, bowed his head in reverence. Then Kali, Skanda, and Shankara each bestowed their blessings upon him. In that sacred moment, they engaged in mutual conversation. With a serene mind, the great god, the blessed one, addressed him: “Marichi was his son, a devotee of Vishnu and righteous in conduct. Kashyapa, too, was his son—virtuous and a great progenitor. Among them was Danu, virtuous and prosperous through his good fortune, and also Vipracitti, renowned for his great strength and valor. Vipracitti recited the supreme mantra at Puṣkara for a hundred thousand years, and by that merit, he obtained you as a son—one wholly devoted to Krishna.