for our home,—­whence, indeed, O child, shall we obtain milk?  We, dear child, live (sometimes) on air and sometimes on water.  We dwell in asylums in the midst of forests and woods.  We habitually abstain from all kinds of food that are taken by persons living in villages and towns.  We are accustomed to only such food as is supplied by the produce of the wilderness.  There cannot be any milk, O child, in the wilderness where there are no offspring of Surabhi.[42] Dwelling on the banks of rivers or in caves or on mountain-breasts, or in tirthas and other places of the kind, we pass our time in the practice of penances and the recitation of sacred Mantras, Siva being our highest refuge.  Without gratifying the boon-giving Sthanu of unfading glory,—­him, that is, who has three eyes,—­whence, O child, can one obtain food prepared with milk and good robes and other objects of enjoyment in the world?  Do thou devote thyself, O dear son, to Sankara with thy whole soul.  Through his grace, O child, thou art sure to obtain all such objects as administer to the indulgence of all thy wishes,—­Hearing these words of my mother, O slayer of foes, that day, I joined my hands in reverence and bowing unto her, said,—­O mother, who this Mahadeva?  In what manner can one gratify him?  Where does that god reside?  How may he be seen?  With what does he become pleased?  What also is the form of Sarva?  How may one succeed in obtaining a knowledge of him?  If gratified, will he, O mother, show himself unto me?—­After I had said these words, O Krishna, to my mother, she, filled with parental affection, smelt my head, O Govinda, her eyes covered with tears the while.  Gently patting my body, O slayer of Madhu, my mother, adopting a tone of great humility, addressed me in the following words, O best of the deities.’

“My mother said, ’Mahadeva is exceedingly difficult to be known by persons of uncleansed souls.  These men are incapable of bearing him in their hearts of comprehending him at all.  They can retain him in their minds.  They cannot seize him, nor can they obtain a sight of him.  Men of wisdom aver that his forms are many.  Many, again, are the places in which he resides.  Many are the forms of his Grace.  Who is there that can understand in their details the acts, which are all excellent, of Isa, or of all the forms that he has assumed in days of yore?  Who can relate how Sarva sports and how he becomes gratified?  Maheswara of universal form resides in the hearts of all creatures.  While Munis discoursed on the auspicious and excellent acts of Isana, I have heard from them how, impelled by compassion towards his worshippers, he grants them a sight of his person.  For the purpose of showing a favour unto the Brahmanas, the denizens of heaven have recited for their information the diverse forms that were assumed by Mahadeva in days of yore.  Thou hast asked me about these.  I shall recite them to thee, O son.’