At the time of death, the Brahmin’s son burst into loud laughter and then wept bitterly. Hearing this strange display, the king turned to the Vetala and the Brahmin, saying, “Listen, O Vetala, O Brahmin.” Sensing the situation, the middle son sought refuge with the king. Upon seeing the king, sword in hand and devoted to Shiva, the son laughed again. Thus concludes the nineteenth chapter, which summarizes 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 lived a great king named Vipulesha. In his village, a merchant was always busy trading for profit. This merchant, named Suvarna, received wealth from his father, but his greed drove him to stay there for a long time, seeking even more riches. By the arrangement of fate, a distinguished Brahmin visited the house of Anangamanjari. After a sacrifice, Anangamanjari’s beautiful daughter went to clean up. Her eyes rolling from intoxication, she made an appointment with the Brahmin. Hearing her words, the Brahmin meditated upon her. At midnight, the woman waited, intent on the Brahmin’s arrival. But, due to fate, the Brahmin did not come, and she died at that very moment. Seeing the beautiful-browed woman under the power of death, the Brahmin himself approached death. Then Suvarna came and lamented for his beloved. After these events, the Vetala addressed King Vikrama. That woman, out of affection for the Brahmin, died and went to the city of the gods. The Brahmin, possessing the form of Brahma, is always to be honored by the merchant class. Yet, the Brahmin did not obtain the woman; at that moment, Hari granted her the path to heaven. Suvarna realized in his heart that his beloved was dear to Brahma. Thus ends the twentieth chapter, the summary of the history of the Kali age and the cycles of the Four Ages, within the Pratisarga Parvan of the glorious Bhavishya Mahapurana. Sūta continued: In the beautiful city of Jayasthala, there was a king named Vardhamāna. In his village lived a Brahmin well-versed in the Vedas and their branches. He had four sons, each devoted to a different quarter of learning. Once, by the force of fate, they all fell into poverty. The sons asked their father, “O dear father, tell us how our wealth was lost.” The father replied, “Gambling, the root of sin and great wickedness, causes loss of wealth; through its influence, your possessions have been destroyed. O sons, seek a means of livelihood; follow your parents’ advice with discernment. O son, you are a libertine, associating with courtesans, which is most inauspicious. Indulgence in sensual pleasures, meat, and wine ever increases sin. Therefore, you should worship the supreme lord Vishnu, the victorious, the lord of the universe. Abandon atheism and reviling of the gods; set your mind rightly. The gods dwell within the limbs of the self and in the hearts of all living beings.” Hearing these words, the sons went to another holy place. At the end of the year, the great god granted them knowledge of reviving the dead. They began their experiment: one sprinkled mantra-purified water on the best of tiger bones; the libertine poured mantra-purified milk upon them; the sensualist poured pure water; and the atheist, seeing the tiger asleep, poured water upon it. Thus unfolds the stories, each reflecting the cycles of the Four Ages and the lessons of fate, devotion, and wisdom, as preserved within the Bhavishya Mahapurana.