Day after day, in the endless cycle of existence, beings die and are born anew. Amidst this ceaseless flow, a discerning person, having awakened to wisdom, gathers the fruits of his actions, aware of their consequences. Such a one, having recognized the serpent of worldly existence and its dangers, develops detachment while living upon the earth. From intention arises desire, and from desire, greed is born. One who is born of the nature of water possesses taste and all its modifications. In the age of Kali, from Rudra himself, delusion was born—a force that destroys people from within, striking at the very heart. From this delusion, false perception emerged, becoming its beloved companion. From their union, suffering was born, accompanied by sorrow. There was a friend—proud, heroic, clever, authoritative, and virtuous. To her, a Brahmin bestowed a child, and, having received gold in return, departed. Once, at the end of ten months, Shiva spoke to Mohini. In the midst of a swing, a thousand pieces of gold and the child were present. Instructed by Shiva, a king—who longed for a son and was devoted to Rudra—acted accordingly. After the birth rites were performed, he distributed great wealth among the people. When his father passed away, the prince inherited the kingdom and ruled with righteousness. Then, something marvelous occurred: three hands were born, astonishing the king. At this point, the Vetala addressed the king, saying, “O King…” He explained that a learned man who seeks wealth and a king who is like a guru are to be recognized as such. The Brahmin, having emerged from hell, attained the world of heaven. Now, on the sacred mountain of Citrakūṭa, there lived a king named Rūpadatta. One midday, as he strolled along the bank of a lake, he beheld the son of a sage. When their eyes met, it was as if their vision became one. Merely by seeing the sage’s son, knowledge blossomed within the king. The wise sage then spoke: “Nourishing unrighteousness out of compassion, or giving equally to all without discernment, has never happened, nor will it ever happen. One should punish the undeserving and honor the worthy. Truthfulness is the worship of the gods; self-control is the worship of the guru.” Having imparted this wisdom, the sage gave his daughter in marriage to the king and returned home. But then, a rākṣasa—eager to devour the king’s wife—appeared. For the sake of charity, this flesh-eater kept a twice-born boy of seven years. With the consent of his ministers, the king gave a hundred thousand gold coins to a Brahmin. At the time of his death, the Brahmin’s son laughed loudly and then wept. Hearing this, the king addressed the Vetala and the Brahmin, seeking understanding. Knowing the situation, the middle son sought refuge with the king. Upon seeing the king, sword in hand and devoted to Shiva, the boy laughed. Thus concludes the nineteenth chapter, summarizing the history of the Kali age and the cycles of the Four Ages, within the Pratisarga Parvan of the glorious Bhavishya Mahapurana. In the beautiful city of Vishala, there was a great king named Vipulesha. In his village lived a merchant, ever engaged in trade for profit. To a merchant named Suvarna, his own father gave wealth; yet, desiring ever more, Suvarna remained there, driven by greed. By the workings of fate, a distinguished Brahmin came to the home of Anangamanjari. At the conclusion of a sacrifice, the beautiful daughter of the house went forth to clean up, thus weaving her story into the tapestry of destiny.