"Moreover thou wast my wife in a former birth." When Siva had thus spoken, Párvatí asked, "How can I have been thy wife in a former birth?" Then Siva answered her. "Long ago to the Prajápati Daksha were born many daughters, and amongst them thou, O goddess! He gave thee in marriage to me, and the others to Dharma and the rest of the gods. Once on a time he invited all his sons-in-law to a sacrifice. But I alone was not included in the invitation; thereupon thou didst ask him to tell thee why thy husband was not invited. Then he uttered a speech which pierced thy ears like a poisoned needle; 'Thy husband wears a necklace of skulls; how can he be invited to a sacrifice?' "And then thou, my beloved, didst in anger abandon thy body, exclaiming,--'This father of mine is a villain; what profit have I then in this carcase sprung from him?' "And thereupon in wrath I destroyed that sacrifice of Daksha. Then thou wast born as the daughter of the mount of snow, as the moon's digit springs from the sea. Then recall how I came to the Himálaya in order to perform austerities; and thy father ordered thee to do me service as his guest: and there the god of love who had been sent by the gods in order that they might obtain from me a son to oppose Táraka, was consumed, [9] when endeavouring to pierce me, having obtained a favourable opportunity. Then I was purchased by thee, [10] the enduring one, with severe austerities, and I accepted this proposal of thine, my beloved, in order that I might add this merit to my stock. [11] Thus it is clear that thou wast my wife in a former birth. What else shall I tell thee?" Thus Siva spake, and when he had ceased, the goddess transported with wrath, exclaimed,--"Thou art a deceiver; thou wilt not tell me a pleasing tale even though I ask thee: Do I not know that thou worshippest Sandhyá, and bearest Gangá on thy head?" Hearing that, Siva proceeded to conciliate her and promised to tell her a wonderful tale: then she dismissed her anger. She herself gave the order that no one was to enter where they were; Nandin [12] thereupon kept the door, and Siva began to speak.