Nandīśvara said:— In the meantime Vyāsa came there with the ashes decorating his forehead, with Rudrākṣa as an ornament and well bedecked in matted hair.
पञ्चाक्षरं जपन्मंत्रं शिवप्रेमसमाकुलः ।। तेजसां च स्वयंराशिस्साक्षाद्धर्म इवापरः ।। २३।।
He was repeating the five-syllabled mantra. He was fully engrossed in the love of Śiva. He was a heap of lustrous brilliance, a manifestation of virtue itself.
When they saw him they were delighted and they stood up to welcome him. Offering him a seat of deer-hide brightened by Kuśa grass they waited in front of him.