adhava, the mountain became
incomparable in beauty. The ascetics, beholding the great deity who is
endued with a fierce form and who looks like a great festival, became
filled, O Janardana, with great joy. All the highly blessed ascetics, the
Siddhas who have drawn in their vital seed, the Maruts, the Vasus, the
Sadhyas, the Viswedevas, Vasava himself, the Yakshas, the Nagas, the
Pisachas, the Regents of the world, the several sacred Fires, the Winds,
and all the great creatures dwelt on that mountain with minds
concentrated in Yoga. All the Seasons were present there and scattered
those regions with all kinds of wonderful flowers. Diverse kinds of
blazing herbs illuminated the woods and forests on that mountain. Various
species of birds, filled with joy, hopped about and sang merrily on the
delightful breast of that mountain. Those birds were exceedingly lovable
in consequence of the notes they uttered. The high-souled Mahadeva sat,
displayed in beauty, on one of the peaks that was adorned with excellent
minerals, as if it served the purposes of a fine bedstead. Round his
loins was a tiger-skin, and a lion-skin formed his upper garments. His
sacred thread consisted of a snake. His arms were decked with a pair of
red Angadas. His beard was green. He had matted locks on his head. Of
terrible features, he it is that inspires with fear the hearts of all the
enemies of the gods. It is he, again, that assures all creatures by
dispelling their fears. He is adored by his worshippers as the deity
having the bovine bull for his device. The great Rishis, beholding
Mahadeva, bowed to him by touching the ground with their heads. Endued
with forgiving souls, they all became (in consequence of the sight they
had obtained of the great deity) freed from every sin and thoroughly
cleansed. The retreat of that lord of all creatures with many terrible
forms, shone with a peculiar beauty. Abounding with many large snakes, it
became unapproachable and unbearable (by ordinary beings). Within the
twinkling of the eye, O slayer of Madhu, everything there became
exceedingly wonderful. Indeed, the abode of that great deity having the
bovine bull for his device began to blaze with a terrible beauty. Unto
Mahadeva seated there, came his spouse, the daughter of Himavat,
surrounded by the wives of the ghostly beings who are the companions of
the great deity. Her attire was like that of her lord and the vows she
observed were like those of his. She held