Lord Shiva,the Great Helper,Glorifies Markandeya Rishi

Suta said:
"The great Lord Rudra , who, accompanied by Uma and surrounded by his entourage, traveled through the sky on his bull, saw how Rishi Markandeya was absorbed in deep meditation. Uma observing the seer then said to Giris'a: 'Look at this man of learning, who with his body, senses and mind motionless is as calm as the waters of the ocean when the wind has ceased and the fish remain still. Please, oh you who are the bestower of it, award him the perfection of his penances.'
The mighty Lord said: 'I am sure that the brahmin seer does not desire any benedictions in any field, not even liberation, for he has achieved the devotion unto the Supreme Lord, the Inexhaustible Primal One. Nevertheless Bhavani, let us talk to this pure devotee. It is indeed man's highest achievement to gain the association of saintly souls.' "
Suta said: "Thus having spoken He, the master of all knowledge, the controller of all embodied souls and the shelter of the righteous ones, approached him. Having arrested the functions of his mind, the sage had neither knowledge of himself or the outer world, nor was he aware of the arrival of the two powers of control over the universe in person. Mighty Shiva, the great Lord, understanding that, entered Markandeya's hidden sky of the heart by means of his mystic potency, just like the wind passing through an opening. Shiva appeared inside of him with hair locks blond like lightening, having three eyes and ten arms and rising as high as the sun. Together with a tiger skin He used for his garment, He exhibited his bow and trident, arrows and sword, shield, prayer beads, damaru (a small drum), ax and skull. When he saw him in his heart manifesting suddenly, the sage desisted from his trance and wondered in surprise: 'Who is this and where did he come from?'
Opening his eyes and seeing that Lord Rudra had arrived with his associates and Goddess Uma, the sage bowed his head in deep respect and humility to the Great One,the Guru of the three worlds. He honored him, together with his company and Uma, with words of welcome, sitting places, water for their feet, water to drink, perfumed oil, garlands, incense and lamps. He said:
'Oh mighty one, what can I do for you, oh Lord who pacifies the universe by the full satisfaction of your ecstatic experience? I offer you my deepest respect,You,wo as the Lord of goodness gives pleasure,You,who in contact with the mode of passion,appear most fearful,and You,who also come as the mode of ignorance.' "
Suta said: "Praised by these words he, the mighty Lord, the foremost of all and shelter of the truthful soul, perfectly satisfied and happy-minded addressed him with a smile.The great Lord said:
'Please, choose a boon to your liking, for of all givers of benedictions the three of us ,Lord Brahma,Lord Hari,and Myself,are the Lords by whose infallible audience a mortal being finds immortality. We glorify, worship and assist those who are saintly, peaceful and free from material attachment, who care for all living beings and free from enmity and equal towards all, are of a single-minded devotion unto us. These devotees do not even acknowledge the slightest difference between me, the Infallible One and the One Unborn, nor between themselves or other people and that is why we praise you. Mere bodies of water as holy places and deities on themselves purify the soul only after a long time, but you,and all Great Souls and Devotees, do so by simply being seen. We offer the brahmins our respects! For they are dedicated to Us in the form of the three Vedas ,and they by penances, study and concentration are absorbed in the True Self. Even the greatest sinners and outcasts find purification by seeing you and hearing about you, and what would yet mean when one directly speaks to you?!' "
Suta said:
"Thus listening the nectar of words full of the secret of dharma ,of the One decorated with the moon, the sage desired to hear more. He ,who because of Vishnu's maya was terribly exhausted from having wandered for such a long time, had been freed from a great load of trouble by the grace of Lord Shiva's nectarine words and spoke to him. Sri Markandeya said:
'Ah, how inconceivable for embodied souls this pastime is of the great controllers: for such Lords bow down to and offer praise to the very living beings they rule. In general the teachers act by precept and example for the embodied souls to accept the dharma and encourage and praise those who do so. Such an act of humility of the Fortunate One does not compromise the power of His activities formed by His Maya, any more than the tricks of a magician compromise his ability. He who as the Supersoul from His mind ,by Himself in the form of Time, created this universe and subsequently entered it, manifests Himself like being the doer through the operating modes of nature, just like a person witnessing a dream.
Let me bow to Him, the Supreme One, who, endowed with the three gunas, is the true Self on top of them. He is the pure, unequaled spiritual master who is the original form of the Absolute Truth. From seeing You a person can achieve whatever he desires, irrespective what. But what other benediction should I desire from you, oh All-pervading Lord whose presence itself is the highest? Nevertheless I would like to ask from you who ,the Complete One, that entails the fulfillment of all wishes, one benediction: the unfailing devotion and love for You,the Supreme and Your Devotees.' "
Suta said: "Thus being worshiped and glorified by the well-spoken words of the sage, the great Lord S'arva, thereto encouraged by his consort, said:
'Oh great sage full of devotion for Adhokshaja, may all your wishes be fulfilled. And may you also till the end of the kalpa enjoy fame, piety and freedom from old age and death. May you have knowledge of the threefold nature of time , oh brahmin,as also wisdom in combination with a free heart. May there for you,being blessed with brahminical potency, be the status of teacher of the Purana.' "
Suta said: "After having granted the sage these blessings he, the Lord with the three eyes, went away, on his way telling the Goddess what Markandeya in the past had accomplished and experienced. He,that best soul of Bhrigu, who had achieved the greatest of the great in yoga, even today demonstrably travels about, on his path of serving the Lord with single-minded devotion.
Book 12,Chapter 10