Vishnu, Brahma and all the other gods mounted their several vehicles and joined the marriage procession. The gathering of the immortals was incomparable in every respect, yet the procession was hardly worthy of the bridegroom!

Then Vishnu summoned all the guardians of the different quarters and smilingly said, ‘Do you all proceed separately, each with his own retinue.

This procession, friends, is not worthy of the bridegroom! Will you expose yourselves to ridicule in a strange city? The gods smiled at Vishnu’s words and parted, each with his own troops.

Mahadeva smiled to himself, and thought, ‘Hari would never give up being sarcastic!’ As soon as he heard these loving words of his dear friend, he sent Bhringi and summoned all his attendants.

On receiving Shiva’s command they all came and bowed their heads at the lotus feet of their lord. Shiva laughed to see his retinue appearing in motley attire and riding every kind of vehicle.

Some had no mouths at all, while others had many, some were without hands and feet, while others had many; some had a number of eyes, while others had none; some were stout and sturdy, while others thin and weak.

Some had lean and thin bodies, while others were very stout; some looked pure and some impure. They wore frightful ornaments, carried skulls in their hands and were all smeared with fresh blood. Their faces looked like those of donkeys and dogs and swine and jackals, who could count the numberless forms in which his hosts appeared? Troops of spirits there were and goblins and witches of various kinds, a host no tongue can tell!