After bathing and donning pure white garments, the noble one stood before the radiant Sun, palms joined in reverence. With a heart full of devotion, the Lord of the gods offered libations to the celestial beings, the venerable hosts of sages, and the honored ancestors. He then worshipped Bhūteśa—Lord Shiva, the one adorned with sacred ashes, ever-present in the form of the liṅga. Having fed the foremost of sages and duly honored the brāhmaṇas, he gathered with his sons and companions. In their midst, they engaged in auspicious tales drawn from the Purāṇas, filling the air with sacred stories and wisdom. At that time, the sage Mārkaṇḍeya, his face alight with a gentle smile, spoke sweet and respectful words to Krishna: “O Krishna, you are worshipped by all through noble actions and are the supreme object of meditation for yogis. You, the Lord, took birth in the Vṛṣṇi clan for the purpose of relieving the earth’s burden. As your sons listened attentively, you spoke, your face brightened by a smile. Yet, I continue to worship the eternal Lord, the god of gods. Even so, knowing this supreme Shiva, I offer my worship to him. Realizing that he is the very root of my own self, I revere him. Thus, for the welfare of all worlds, one should worship Shiva in the liṅga form. Therefore, I worship the Lord of my own self with my very being. O shining one, know that there is no difference between us; this is the highest conclusion of the Vedas. Maheśvara, dwelling in the liṅga, is to be meditated upon, worshipped, honored, and known. Yet, O Krishna of wide eyes, tell me more, for this profound matter is truly supreme. The Vedas declare the great Lord, the imperishable God, as the one who bears the liṅga. For the sake of awakening Brahma, Shiva himself manifested from me. Let us worship the great Lord, desiring the welfare of all the worlds. But now, Krishna, for deeper understanding, you should speak yourself.” Then Krishna spoke: “In the midst of that single, boundless ocean, I lay eternal, bearing the conch, discus, and mace. Endowed with a thousand arms and united with my own self, I, the ancient one, reclined there, radiant like millions of suns, shining forth and enveloped in splendor. Then appeared the god with the dark blue throat, praised by the Ṛg, Yajur, and Sāma Vedas. At that moment, Brahma himself, brilliant and smiling, spoke: ‘I am the creator of the worlds, the self-born, the grandsire. I create the worlds, and again and again, I am their destroyer.’ For the sake of understanding, the supreme liṅga—of the nature of Shiva—manifested before us. It was free from decay and growth, without beginning, middle, or end. Desiring to know its end, I, the unborn one, ascended upward. Yet, even after searching for a hundred years, I, the grandsire, could not find its limit. Bewildered by his divine māyā, both of us—Brahma and I—meditated upon the Lord of the universe. With hands joined in reverence, we praised the supreme Shambhu, offering salutations again and again: Salutations to Shiva, the peaceful one, the embodiment of Brahman, whose form is the liṅga. Salutations to Shiva, the peaceful one, the embodiment of Brahman, whose form is the liṅga. Salutations to Shiva, the peaceful one, the embodiment of Brahman, whose form is the liṅga. Salutations to Shiva, the peaceful one, the embodiment of Brahman, whose form is the liṅga. Salutations to Shiva, the peaceful one, the embodiment of Brahman, whose form is the liṅga. Salutations to Shiva, the peaceful one, the embodiment of Brahman, whose form is the liṅga.” Thus, in that sacred assembly, the glory of Shiva, the eternal Lord, was revealed and celebrated for the welfare of all worlds.