Once, a teacher approached his disciple Kaṭha with a heartfelt request: “Accept my sister as your wife, according to proper rites; live with her with affection—this is the gift I request.” Kaṭha, mindful of the sacred relationship between teacher and disciple, replied, “A disciple should always be to the teacher as a brother or a son, and the teacher as a father; how then can this relationship be?” Yet the teacher insisted, “Do my bidding, which is true; my command is your gift. Remember everything, O Kaṭha, and take Revati with full intent.” Honoring his teacher’s words, Kaṭha agreed, saying, “So be it.” He took Revati by the hand as she was given to him, and gazed upon her. Together, Kaṭha and Revati worshipped Śaṅkara, the lord of the gods, seeking to please Śiva and to honor Revati’s beauty. Revati herself was radiant, with lovely limbs and incomparable form. As she was consecrated, the water from her ceremony flowed forth, and that water became a river in the Gaṅgā, named Revati, renowned for bestowing beauty and good fortune. Kaṭha then performed another consecration using various kinds of darbha grass, desiring auspicious form. This act gave rise to yet another river, Vidarbhā. It was said that whoever bathes with faith at the confluence of Revati and the Gaṅgā is freed from all sins and is honored in the world of Viṣṇu. Likewise, those who bathe with faith at the meeting of Vidarbhā and Gautamī attain enjoyment and liberation at that very moment. Along both banks of these rivers lie a hundred excellent sacred fords, which remove all sins and bestow every accomplishment. Among these holy places is Pūrṇatīrtha, on the northern bank of the Ganges. There, even if one bathes unknowingly, auspiciousness is attained. The greatness of Pūrṇatīrtha is beyond description, for even the wielder of the discus and the bearer of the trident—Viṣṇu and Śiva—have themselves been established there. Long ago, at the dawn of a kalpa, Dhanvantari, son of Āyuṣ, performed many sacrifices, foremost among them the Aśvamedha. After giving many gifts and enjoying abundant pleasures, he realized the inequality of worldly enjoyments and embraced supreme detachment. Whether on a mountain peak beyond the ocean, on the bank of the Ganges, or in the house of Śiva or Viṣṇu—especially at a holy confluence—all austerities, offerings, and recitations performed there become imperishable. Knowing this, Dhanvantari undertook great austerity at such a place. Endowed with knowledge and detachment, Dhanvantari took refuge at the feet of Bhīmeśa and performed intense austerity at the confluence of the Ganges and the ocean. In ancient times, a mighty demon, defeated in battle by a king, out of fear, entered the ocean for a thousand years. When Dhanvantari entered the forest, his son obtained the kingdom; and when the king became detached, the demon departed from the ocean. While Dhanvantari was engaged in austerity on the bank of the Ganges, a powerful demon named Tama took refuge there. Dhanvantari, constantly devoted to recitation and offering, intent on the knowledge of Brahman, resolved to destroy his enemy, prompting Tama to leave the ocean. Dhanvantari thought, “I, this powerful king, have destroyed him many times; I will destroy that enemy.” Tama, by his magic, assumed the form of a beautiful woman. She approached the king, danced and sang, laughing, and was lovely to behold. Seeing her, calm, devoted, and faithful, the king spoke to her with compassion: “Who are you? For what reason do you dwell in this dense forest? Whom have you seen that you seem so delighted? Tell me, O auspicious one, I ask you.” The woman replied, “While you are present, what other cause for my joy could there be in the world? I am the fortune of Indra; seeing you, I am filled with desire. Out of joy I move before you again and again, O King, but due to the absence of countless merits, I am difficult for all to attain.” Hearing these words, the king swiftly abandoned his difficult austerity, meditating on her alone, devoted and intent upon her. He became one who took refuge in her alone; when he entered darkness, he vanished, having destroyed his great austerity. At that moment, I arrived to grant boons. Seeing him bewildered, fallen from his austerity, as if dead, I consoled him with various reasons. I named his enemy “Darkness” and caused his fall from austerity. With his purpose accomplished, I told him, “O King, you should not grieve; women bring joy and also cause suffering to men. All of them do so, especially that one who is made of illusion.” Then, with hands joined, the king spoke to me, his confusion gone: “What shall I do, O Brahman? How may I reach the end of austerity?” I answered him, “Praise Janardana, the god of gods, with all your effort; then you will attain success. He is the creator of all worlds, ancient, to be known through the Vedas, the giver of all attainments to men; there is no other in the three worlds.” Thus, the best of kings went to the foremost mountain, Himavat, and with palms joined, praised Viṣṇu with devotion: “Victory to you, O Viṣṇu! Victory, O inconceivable one! Victory, O conqueror! Victory, O unchanging one! Victory, O cowherd, lord of Lakshmi! Victory, O Krishna, who is the universe!