No sooner had Shiva reached Kailasa then all the gods returned to their own spheres. Shiva and Parvati are the parents of the world; therefore I refrain from portraying their amorous dalliance.

The divine pair lived on Kailasa with their attendants and indulged in luxuries and enjoyments of various kinds. Shiva and Parvati enjoyed some new delight every day, and in this manner a long time passed.

Then was born to them a son with six heads, who (later on) killed the demon Taraka in battle. The story of Karttikeya (the six-headed deity) is famed in the Vedas and the Agamas and the Puranas, and the entire world knows it. (Karttikeya or Svamikarttika is also called Shadanana, Shadvadana and Shanmukha. He is the six-faced son of Shiva, either by Parvati or without female intervention, proceeding from the Ganges who received Shiva’s seed from the fire.)

All the world knows the story of the birth of Shadanana (Svamikarttika), his exploits, his glory and his mighty courage; and that is why I have related but briefly the acts of Shiva’s son. All men and women who recite or sing of the wedding of Shiva and Parvati shall ever rejoice in all their acts of charity and on such festive occasions as a wedding, etc.

The exploits of Uma’s lord are like an ocean that not even the Vedas can sound; then how can Tulasidasa, a dull-witted clown, succeed in describing them?

The sage Bharadvaja was delighted to hear this pleasant, romantic story of Shambhu’s acts, and he longed to hear yet more; tears rushed to his eyes and the hair on his body bristled up with joy.

He was so mastered by love that he could not utter a word. On seeing his condition the enlightened sage Yajnavalkya was pleased. ‘Blessed indeed is your birth, O great sage’ he said, ‘for Gauri’s lord is dear to you as life!