A divine and auspicious voice was once heard, proclaiming that what is destined to happen will surely come to pass, what is being given is as good as already bestowed, and what is to be attained is as though already achieved. In those days, a noble soul, oppressed by many enemies and suffering the pain of humiliation, sought refuge in worship of Someśvara. Through his devotion, he obtained the sacred liṅga, and with it, lordship over all directions, abundant wealth, forgiveness for past offenses, as well as a loving wife and sons. Hearing the celestial voice, the Lord of Wealth—Dhanada—addressed the supreme god, the wielder of the trident, Mahādeva, saying, “So be it, let it be as you have spoken.” The Lord of the gods accepted this, agreeing to the divine pronouncement, and in his grace, he also granted Pulastya and the sage Viśravas auspicious boons. After congratulating the Lord of Wealth, the Lord of the gods departed. From that time onward, the holy place became renowned as Paulastya and Dhanada, sanctified by their presence. There, Vaiśravasa—the auspicious one who fulfills all desires—resides. Any act of bathing or offering performed in that sacred place bestows great merit upon the devotee. This holy site is also known as Agnitīrtha, famed for bestowing the fruits of all sacrifices and for removing every obstacle. Listen to the story of its merit. Here dwells Jātavedas, brother of Agni and carrier of offerings for the gods, on the banks of the sacred Gautamī. Once, in the assembly of sages, the powerful son of Diti, named Madhu—beloved of his brother and of Dakṣa—struck down Agni’s excellent brother before the very eyes of the sages and gods. With Jātavedas slain, the gods could no longer receive their offerings. Agni, overcome with grief and anger at the loss of his beloved brother, entered the waters of the Ganges. When Agni submerged himself in the Ganges, both gods and humans released the vital spark of Agni from within themselves, and thus they became known as “those with Agni’s life.” At the spot where Agni entered the water, all the gods, sages, and ancestors gathered together. Lamenting, they said, “Without Agni, we cannot live.” They especially praised Agni, sorrowful to see him immersed in the waters. They implored him, “Revive the gods with offerings, the ancestors with ancestral rites, humans with cooked food, and seeds by moistening—such is your power.” Agni replied, “He who left, my younger brother, was able; whatever fate befell Jātavedas while your work was being done, let that be. Whether that fate be mine or the gods’, I am unable to accomplish the task; in all respects, the work belongs to Jātavedas, not to me. I have come to this state, but I do not know what will become of me; whether here or elsewhere, I may not have the power to pervade all. Even so, when an action is being performed, that alone is my course.” The gods and sages, filled with devotion, spoke to Agni: “We shall grant you long life, delight in your duties, power to pervade, and strength. We shall also give you the preliminary and concluding offerings, O carrier of oblations. You are the foremost mouth of the gods, the first to receive oblations; whatever is offered by you, O best of gods, we shall enjoy.” Pleased by their words, Agni became satisfied—both in this world and the next, in sacrificial and worldly matters alike. By the command of the gods, Agni, the knower of all births, radiant and possessing seven blue and red flames, became fearless and capable everywhere. He is called “born from water,” “born from the śamī tree,” and “born from sacrifice.” Drawing him from the water, the gods anointed the radiant one, and thus Agni became all-pervading, dwelling in both realms. As they had come, the gods departed, and this place became known as the sacred Agni-tīrtha. There were seven hundred holy places there, endowed with virtue. Whoever, self-controlled, bathes and performs offerings there attains the full and flawless fruit of an Aśvamedha sacrifice—auspicious and complete. There, too, is the divine ford, the Agni-tīrtha of Jātavedas. A liṅga established by Agni stands there, resplendent in many colors; merely by seeing this deity, one attains the fruit of all sacrifices. The knowers of the Veda call this the sacred place of debt-release. Hear now its nature. In ancient times, there was one named Pṛthuśravā, beloved son of Kakṣīvat. Out of detachment, he did not marry nor worship Agni. Though the younger brother was capable, out of fear of inheriting, he too did not perform marriage rites nor the worship of the fires. Then the hosts of ancestors spoke separately to both good sons of Kakṣīvat, the elder and the younger: “Let marriage be undertaken for the removal of the threefold debt.” The elder replied, “No; what debt, and by whom is it incurred?” The younger said, “Marriage is not suitable for me.” Since the elder was present, the younger refrained out of fear of inheritance, and thus both spoke again to the ancestors. The ancestors then advised, “Let both sons of Kakṣīvat go to the sacred Gautamī; let them perform bathing in the Gautamī, which grants all desires. Let those who go to the Gautamī Ganga, purifier of the three worlds, bathe and make offerings there with faith. The Gautamī, when seen, bowed to, or meditated upon, grants all desires; there is no restriction of place, time, caste, or other conditions for entering her. The eldest who is free from debts becomes so; not otherwise.” Following this counsel, Pṛthuśravas, the eldest, bathed and made offerings, and thus became free of debts to the three worlds. From that time, the sacred place became known as the “debt-releasing ford.” By bathing and giving there, one is freed from Vedic, ancestral, and other debts, and becomes truly happy.