Let me tell you the sacred tale as revealed in these verses. For the auspiciousness and stability of prosperity, Bṛhaspati was called upon to perform the anointing ceremony of Mahendra, remembering both the divine presences. It was wished that all the good deeds performed in this or previous births would come to fulfillment, with salutations offered to the holy Godāvarī river. Whoever, remembering these events, bathes in the Gautamī river, by the grace of the divine, attains complete righteousness, becoming free from faults of previous births and virtuous in character. With joyful agreement, Indra and Bṛhaspati performed the great abhiṣeka—the ritual anointing—of Indra, with Bṛhaspati, the Guru of the gods, officiating. By this act, the river became auspicious and was named Maṅgalā. Its confluence was declared holy, bestowing auspiciousness akin to the sacred Gaṅgā. Indra praised Viṣṇu, the embodiment of the universe, who appeared directly; Śakra, Indra, obtained the earth, equal to the three worlds, from the Lord of the universe. Thus, Viṣṇu was known there as Govinda, and Indra, wielding the thunderbolt, gained sovereignty over the earth, equal to the three worlds. There, Hari granted this, and Govinda became Hari; the sovereignty over the three worlds was attained by Hari from Hari, as recounted to the sage. Stability was established by Maheśvara, the god of gods, and Bṛhaspati, the Guru of the gods, praised Maheśvara at that place. For the stability of the kingdom of the great-souled king of the gods, Siddheśvara, worshipped by the gods, manifested there as a liṅga. From that time, the tīrtha became famous as Govinda, as Maṅgalāsaṃgama, and as Pūṛṇatīrtha, the supreme. It was also known as Indratīrtha and Bārhaspatya, where Siddheśvara, Viṣṇu, and Govinda are present. Whatever bathing, giving, or meritorious acts are performed there, their merit is inexhaustible and most dear to the ancestors. Whoever hears, recites, or remembers daily the greatness of this tīrtha is granted restoration of lost kingdoms. On both banks, O sage, there are thirty-seven thousand tīrthas, all bestowing every accomplishment. There is no tīrtha as great as Pūṛṇatīrtha, yielding great fruit; the man who does not serve it from birth is fruitless. There is also Rāmatīrtha, renowned for destroying the sin of killing a fetus; by merely hearing of it, one is freed from all sins. In the illustrious Ikṣvāku lineage, there was a kṣatriya king, famed throughout the world, strong, intelligent, and heroic like Śakra, lord of the city. King Daśaratha ruled his ancestral kingdom as Bali once did, and he had three queens: Kauśalyā, Sumitrā, and Kaikeyī—noble, fortunate, and endowed with beauty and auspicious marks. While King Daśaratha ruled Ayodhyā, Vasiṣṭha, the foremost knower of Brahman, was his chief priest. Under his reign, there was neither disease, famine, nor drought, nor any affliction among Brāhmaṇas, Kṣatriyas, Vaiśyas, and especially among Śūdras. All the hermitages flourished, each experiencing joy, while Daśaratha, scion of the Ikṣvāku line, ruled. At this time, a conflict arose between the gods and the demons for the sake of sovereignty. Sometimes the gods prevailed, sometimes the demons did. As this struggle continued, O Nārada, the three worlds were greatly afflicted. Then, I addressed the Daityas and Dānavas, urging peace, but the gods did not heed my words. Again, a great battle erupted. The gods sought help from Viṣṇu and Īśāna, the lord of the universe. Both addressed the gods, as well as the Asuras, Daityas, and Dānavas, saying: “Let those who are strong through austerity perform penance again, then wage battle.” Thus, all departed, resolved to undertake austerities. Yet, the gods, filled with envy, approached the Rākṣasas again, and a most terrible battle arose between the gods and the Dānavas. In this fierce conflict, neither side was victorious. As the battle raged, a bodiless voice proclaimed, “Those who have King Daśaratha on their side are the victors, not the others.” Upon hearing this, both the gods and the Dānavas sought Daśaratha, desiring victory. Vāyu, hastening, approached the king and said, “O king, you must come to the battle between the gods and the Dānavas; wherever King Daśaratha is, victory is renowned to be there. Therefore, you should side with the gods, so that they may be victorious.” Hearing Vāyu’s words, King Daśaratha replied, “I will certainly come; go, Vāyu, as you please.” When Vāyu departed, the Daityas then came to Daśaratha and pleaded, “O lord, you ought to assist us as well. Victory rests with you; therefore, you ought to assist the lord of the Daityas.” Daśaratha, recalling his promise to Vāyu, replied, “I have already pledged this; let the Daityas and Dānavas depart.” Acting accordingly, Daśaratha ascended to heaven and fought a battle with the Daityas, Dānavas, and Rākṣasas. While the assembly of gods watched, the brothers of Namuci shattered the king’s axle with sharp arrows, marking a dramatic moment in the celestial conflict. Thus, the story unfolds, revealing the greatness of tīrthas, the glory of Daśaratha, and the interplay of divine will and virtue.