At that time Mahesh was performing a great penance in a valley of Himalaya. He was surrounded by all the groups of Ganas, Virabhadra and others.
Accompanied by Parvati, the intelligent Himavan went to Mahesh engaged in this penance, in order to see his sprout-like feet.
When he arrived thus in order to see (the Lord), he was stopped by Nandi who was standing at the entrance. Then for a moment he stood steady.
The mountain Himavan informed through Nandi. Sambhu (i.e. Siva) was informed by Nandi that the Parvatraj had come to see him (i.e. Siva).
On hearing his words, Paramesvara spoke these words to Nandin: "Bring the Parvatraj here."
Saying "So be it" and honoring (his words) Nandi brought the Mountain Himalaya to Sankara, the benefactor of the worlds.
He saw (Shiva) the lord of everyone engaged in penance with his eyes closed. He had matted hair with the digit of the moon as an ornament. He could be understood only through the Vedanta and was stationed in the Supreme Soul. On seeing him, Mountain Himalaya of unimpaired inherent strength, bent down his head and saluted him. He then attained the greatest joy. Himalaya, the foremost among those conversant with the use of words, spoke these words to the Lord who is the sole cause of auspiciousness to the universe:
"I am lucky, O Sankara, the great lord, thanks to your grace. I shall come here everyday, O lord, to pay a visit along with this (daughter of mine). It behooves you, O lord of Devas, to grant me permission.
On hearing his words, Maheshvara, the lord of Devas, (said):
"O Parvatraj, you may come here everyday to meet me after keeping this girl in the house. Otherwise there would be no audience with me."
With his neck bent down the Mountain replied to Girija: "Why should I not come along with this (girl)? Let that be told."
Shambhu who was performing the holy rites, laughingly spoke these words to the Mountain:
"This slender-bodied girl of good lips and exquisite speech should not be brought near me. I am forbidding it repeatedly."
She heard Shambhu's harsh words, devoid of blemishes and free from any desire. On hearing the words uttered by that ascetic, Gauri laughed and spoke to Shambhu:
Gauri said:
O Shambhu, you are endowed with the power of penance. You are performing a great penance. This inclination for performing penance you have because you are noble-soul. But let this be pondered over: Who are you? Who is the subtle Prakrti, O holy lord?
On hearing those words of Parvati, Mahesha spoke these words:
"I am destroying Prakrti by means of the greatest penance itself. In fact, O lady of good eyebrows, I will stay without Prakrti. Hence nothing that has been evolved out of Prakrti should be accumulated together at any time by Siddhas."
Parvati said:
What has been said by you, O Shankara, by means of 'Para' speech, is it not Prakrti? In that case how are you beyond it?
O lord, of what avail is our disputation and argument? Whatever you hear, whatever you see and whatever you eat, O Shankara, is entirely the evolute of Prakrti. An untrue speech is meaningless. Why should penance be performed after going beyond Prakrti?
O Lord Sambhu, just now on this mountain Himalaya you have met Prakrti. But you cannot understand it, O Sankara. What have we to do with (i.e. what is the propriety of) oral dispute and argument, O Lord?
If your statement that you are beyond Prakriti be true, you need not be afraid of me now, O Shankara.
Then Lord (Sankara) laughed and replied to Girija:
Mahadeva said:
Serve me everyday, O Girija of excellent speech.
After saying thus to Girija, Mahesh spoke these words to Himalaya: "Here itself, on this very ground, I shall perform a great penance with concentration on the ultimate truth.
Permission should be granted to me for performing the penance, O Lord of Mountains. Without (your) permission it is not possible to perform penance."
On hearing these words of the trident-bearing Lord of Devas, Himavan laughed and spoke these words to Shambhu:
"The entire universe along with Devas, Asuras and human beings belongs to you. I am an insignificant person, O Mahadeva. What can I give you?"
On being told thus by Himavan, Sankara, the benefactor of all the worlds, laughed and respectfully said to the Lord of Mountains: "You may go." Permitted to go by Sankara, Himavan went to his abode. Everyday he came there along with Girija to pay a visit.
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