Bhouma's Origin

Narada said

Disciple of Vishnu, fortunate Vidhatri, supreme among Shiva's devotees, lord, with affection speak to me in detail of Shiva's pastimes. Separated from Sati, what did Shambhu do? When did he go to the excellent Himalayan slopes to do austerity? Fulfil my wishes by telling me how the auspicious conversation of Shiva and Shivaa came about. After her austerities, how did Parvati win Shiva Shambhu? Brahma, tell me all this and Shiva's other conduct, which is auspicious and yields great joy.

Suta said

The supreme lord of the worlds heard Narada's question, and, extremely happy, Vidhatri remembered Shiva's lotus feet and spoke.

Brahma replied

Devarshi, devoted follower of Shiva, hear with love of his glory, which purifies, brings every blessing and deepens supreme devotion. Parted from his beloved, Shambhu went back to his own mountain, with Sati, dearer to him than life, held in memory. In grief he called his ganas together and gladly spoke to them of her virtues, which strengthened love; thus he showed how worldly people behave. The quarters of space were his only clothing, and he gave up the righteous path of householders. Expert in every kind of play, he began wandering the worlds again, and in his misery at losing Sati he could find her nowhere. Shankara, who grants his devotees welfare, came back to the mountain and strove to settle his mind in samadhi, which ends sorrow. In that state he beheld his own imperishable form, and for a long while he stayed unmoving, dissolving the three gunas. He is the supreme brahman, free of change, himself master of maya. After many years he left samadhi, and I will now tell you quickly what followed.

The strain of it made beads of sweat form on the lord's brow and drop to the ground, and from them sprang a marvellous child, red in colour and four-armed, charming to look at, handsome, with a glow not of this world, full of energy and impossible for others to bear. In Paramesha's presence the boy began to wail. Bhava treated him as any ordinary being treats his own son. The earth thought over this for a very long time, then took a lovely bodily form and came before Shankara in fear. Like a mother she swiftly lifted the child onto her lap and nursed him with milk that flowed from her breasts all over her body, and playing with him as with her own son she smiled and kissed his face lovingly. With Sati gone, she acted as the child's mother, to do Paramesha good. Seeing what she did, Shambhu was amused. Hara knows the inside of everyone; knowing she was the earth, he smiled and told her: "Earth, you are fortunate. Nurture this child of mine with love. He came from drops of my sweat falling on you, and he will be supreme and very energetic. He is born of my exertion, but because you have shown him love he will be known on earth by your name. The three kinds of distress will never touch him. This child of yours will have good qualities yet bring inauspicious results. For me he will bring happiness, though for householders he will give as he pleases." Saying this, he stopped, his mind a little relieved from the ache of separation. Rudra is detached and loves the virtuous, but he was following the ways of the world. The earth accepted Shiva's order and quickly went home, overjoyed at having a son. The boy called Bhouma soon grew into a young man. In Kashi he served Lord Shankara for a very long time, and through Vishveshvara's grace the earth's son became a planet. He quickly reached a divine world, a supreme region beyond Shukra's. Thus Shambhu's conduct after his parting from Sati has been told. Sage, now hear lovingly how Shambhu did austerities.