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Sthāṇu (the immovable one) said.
O lord, for the purpose of creating offspring, know that this effectiveness is mine. These beings have indeed been created by you. O grandsire, please do not be angry.
O god, all creatures are being burned by the fire of your brilliance. Seeing this, my compassion is stirred; O lord of the world, please do not be angry.
Prajāpati said.
I am not angry, nor do I desire it, nor would there be offspring for this reason. The destruction is sought for the sake of the earth's lightness.
This goddess has always urged me, being distressed by the burden. O Mahadeva, for the sake of destruction, she is sinking in the waters due to the weight.
Whenever I, after much consideration by intellect, could not find a solution regarding the destruction of these elders, then anger seized me.
The firm one spoke.
O lord of the gods, be gracious till the end of destruction; do not be angry. Do not destroy the creatures, both immobile and mobile.
All marshes, everything including every blade of grass, all immobile and mobile beings, and the aggregate of beings of four kinds.
This entire world has been reduced to ashes and overwhelmed. Be gracious, O Lord, O noble one. This is the boon I have chosen.
These creatures, once destroyed, will not return in any way. Therefore, let this energy be withdrawn by your own energy alone.
O scorcher of foes, consider another method for the welfare of the people, so that all these beings may desist.
O Lord, creatures whose progeny has been destroyed would fall into non-existence; I have been appointed here among the worlds by you through higher powers.
O Lord of the Universe, truly the world, both immobile and mobile, has arisen from you. Having propitiated you, O great god, I request for the beings who are born again through rebirth.
Nārada said.
After hearing the words, the god Sthāṇu (Śiva), whose speech and mind were controlled, again seized his own energy with his inner self.
Then the venerable lord, honored by the world, having taken up the fire, established both activity and cessation.
As he was withdrawing that fire born of anger, a woman of the great-souled one appeared in the sky before all.
She is dark-complexioned, dressed in red garments, with the lower part of her eyes tinged red, adorned with divine earrings and decorated with divine ornaments.
She emerged from the skies and took refuge in the southern direction; then, the two gods, the lords of the universe, both saw the maiden.
Then, having summoned her, the god, the origin and lord of the worlds, said: "O Death, O king, destroy these creatures."
You have been considered by me, in anger, as one with the intention to destroy; therefore, destroy all creatures, both the dull and the wise.
O radiant one, withdraw all beings without distinction. By my command, you will surely attain the highest good.
Thus addressed, the goddess Mṛtyu, adorned with a garland of lotuses, pondered deeply; the distressed girl shed tears exceedingly.
The lord of men took those tears with his hands; for the welfare of mankind, he again earnestly begged.
