Vaishampayana said Having said these words, the illustrious Vasudeva began his discourse on the qualities of the great Mahadeva gifted with the highest intelligence, after having purified himself by touching water.
वैशम्पायन उवाच एवमुक्त्वा तु भगवान् गुणांस्तस्य महात्मनः। उपस्पृश्य शुचिर्भूत्वा कथयामास धीमतः॥