Listen to this sacred account, O seeker. There is a sin most grievous in all the worlds: when one takes land that has been given in charity, whether by oneself or by another, it is said that for sixty thousand years, the soul is reborn as a worm in excrement. No greater sin exists anywhere. Such a terrible transgression is never accepted again; if this is so for reclaiming land one has given, how much worse it must be when seizing land given by another. Yet, when land is obtained through proper purchase, the gods themselves consented. On the southern bank of the Ganga, at the site of the land, they bestowed a Kapila cow of auspicious marks. There, Lord Vishnu himself stands in embodied form, granting both worldly joys and liberation to those who approach. The confluence where the Kapila cow was given is a place that destroys all heaps of sin. From the water of that gift, a river arose, known as the Kapila. Among all gifts—even from fertile earth—the gift of a cow is supreme. The sage who made this exchange ensured the protection of the world. The site where this event occurred is called Gotirtha, a holy place where, as the wise declare, a hundred sacred sites bestowing merit exist. By bathing and giving gifts there, one attains the fruit of donating land. That confluence with the Ganga is renowned as the Kapila confluence. There is another holy place, Shankhahraḍa, where the bearer of the conch and mace, Lord Vishnu, resides. Bathing there and beholding him frees one from the bonds of worldly existence. Let me recount an event there that bestows both enjoyment and liberation: In the beginning of the Krita Yuga, the singers of the Sama for Brahma faced danger. Rakshasas of many forms, born from the cosmic egg, intoxicated with power and armed, came to devour Brahma. For protection, I appealed to Vishnu, the teacher of the world. Vishnu, ready to destroy the Rakshasas, took up his discus. He cut down the Rakshasas and filled his conch with their defeat. He made the earth free of thorns and heaven free of enmity. In great joy, Hari filled the conch, and all the Rakshasas were utterly destroyed. The place where this wondrous event occurred, empowered by Vishnu’s conch, is called Shankhatirtha, bringing welfare to all people. It grants all desires, is meritorious, auspicious to remember, bestows long life and health, and increases wealth and sons. By remembering or reciting its story, one attains all wishes; it is equal to ten thousand sacred places and removes all sins. These sacred sites, numbering ten thousand, are destroyers of all sin, their power spoken of by Maheśvara. Nowhere else is there a place equal to these in destroying sin. There is also the holy site of Kiṣkindhā, which grants all desires and pacifies all sins, for Bhava himself is present there. Hear its true nature, O Nārada. Long ago, Rāma, son of Daśaratha, slew Rāvaṇa, the terror of the worlds. With the dwellers of Kiṣkindhā, he fought Rāvaṇa on the battlefield, defeating him, his sons, and his army, and thus retrieved Sītā. With his brother Saumitri, the mighty monkeys, and the powerful Vibhīṣaṇa, the king returned, accompanied by the gods. After performing auspicious rites, glorious Rāma shone in the celestial Puṣpaka chariot, which once belonged to the lord of wealth and moved at will with great speed. They journeyed to Ayodhyā. As they traveled, Rāma, refuge of those seeking shelter and destroyer of enemies, beheld the Gaṅgā. He saw the Gautamī, purifier of the world, bestower of all desires, devoted to removing the sorrows of mind and eyes. Seeing her, the king entered the bank of the Gaṅgā; overcome with joy, he addressed all the monkeys led by Hanumān. He said, “By her power, O monkeys, my father, the lord, was freed from all sins and attained heaven. She is the mother of all beings, giver of enjoyment, and even grants liberation; she destroys even the most terrible sins. No other river equals her. By her power, enemies and misfortunes are destroyed; Vibhīṣaṇa attains constant friendship, Sītā was recovered, and Hanumān became a kinsman. Lankā was destroyed, the hosts of demons slain, all by serving her. Gautama, having worshipped the best of gods, attained Śiva, the refuge with matted locks. She is the mother who grants all desired things, destroyer even of inauspiciousness, the sole expert in purifying the world, the manifest source of all rivers, the Savitrī.” Hearing these words, all the monkeys at once plunged into the waters and performed worship according to rule, offering many flowers and gifts from all the worlds. Having duly worshipped Śarva, the king praised him with words suited to every feeling; all the monkeys, delighted, danced and sang. Surrounded by loving companions, Rāma spent that night in happiness; all sorrow from enemies vanished—what suffering remains for one who serves the Gautamī? With wonder, he gazed upon his assembly and joyfully praised the Godāvarī. Honoring his attendants, Rāma attained happiness beyond compare. Still unsatisfied at this holy place, he said, “Let us remain here for some time; let us stay for four more nights, then return to Ayodhyā.” The monkeys agreed, and after worshipping the Lord for four nights, they went to the sacred place dear to his brother. There they found the renowned Siddheśvara, famous in the world, by whose power the mighty ten-headed one was subdued. They spent five days there, each worshipping the liṅga they had established. Hanumān, son of the wind, followed the king, performing service. As they departed, the king said to Hanumān, “Remove all the liṅgas.” Thus, the sacred journey unfolded, filled with devotion, merit, and the blessings of holy places and gods.