Thc banyan ree under which Lond Śiva sat was cighe hunded miles high, and is branches spread for six hundred miles around. That tree cast a fine shade that permanently cooled
the space beneath the tree, yet there was no noise of birds.
The demigods saw Lord Śiva sitting under that tree, which was competent to give perfection to mystic yogis and deliver all people. As grave as time eternal, he appeared to have given up all anger. Lord Śiva sat there surrounded by saintly persons like Kuvera, the master of the Guhyakas, and the four Kumāras, who were already liberated souls. Śiva looked grave and saintly, situated as he was in his perfection as the master of the senses, knowledge, fruitive activities, and the path of yoga. He was the friend of the entire world, and by virtue of his full affection for everyone, he was very auspicious.
Wearing a deerskin, his body smeared with ashes, and bearing the sign of a half-moon on his head, he looked like an evening cloud. He was seated on a straw mat, speaking about the Absolute Truth to the great sage Nārada and others. His left leg was placed on his right thigh, and his left hand was placed on his left thigh. In his right hand he held Rudrākṣa beads. As he sat in this posture, called virāsana, he held his finger in the mode of argument. He was dressed in saffron garments and absorbed in trance, thus appearing to be the foremost of all sages.
All the sages and demigods, headed by Indra, offered their respectful obeisances unto Lord Śiva with folded hands. Indeed, his lotus feet were worshiped by both the demigods and the demons, but still, despite his exalted position, as soon as he saw that Lord Brahmā was among the assembly, he immediately stood up and offered him respect by bowing down and touching his lotus feet, just as Vāmanadeva offered His respectful obeisances to Kaśyapa Muni.
Nārada and the other sages sitting with Lord Śiva also offered their respectful obeisances to Lord Brahmā. After being so worshiped, Brahmā smiled and began to speak to Lord Śiva.