Listen now to the tale as revealed in the sacred verses: It is said that the guest and the slanderer are kin to all beings. The slanderer, by his very nature, removes sin, while the guest, when honored, brings passage to heaven. Yet, whoever looks upon a weary traveler who has arrived on the road with contempt, in that very moment, his righteousness, fame, and prosperity are destroyed. Thus, O best of the twice-born, a traveler arrived, weary from his journey, and addressed the household: “I am exhausted and have come to you. I ask you—if you grant my wish, I will eat; otherwise, I will not.” Shakalya responded, “Given,” and the Rakshasa, who stood nearby, said, “Eat.” Then Parashu, the Rakshasa, spoke: “I am the foremost of Rakshasas. I am not a twice-born, nor your enemy, nor old, nor gray, nor emaciated; many years have passed as I have watched you. My limbs are drying up, as in summer with little water; therefore, I will take you along with your followers and eat you, O best of the twice-born.” Hearing Parashu’s words, Shakalya spoke calmly. Those born in great families, who know all the scriptures, always fulfill what they have promised; there is never any deviation in this. “Do as is proper, friend; yet listen to my words: even when one is about to be killed, the wise must speak what is beneficial.” He continued, “I am a Brahmin, with a body like a thunderbolt; Hari protects me on all sides. May Vishnu guard my feet, may Janardana, the god, guard my head. May Varaha guard my arms, may the king of turtles guard my back; may Krishna guard my heart, and the deer guard my fingers. May Vagisha guard my mouth, may the bird-god guard my eyes, may the lord of wealth guard my ears, may Shiva protect me on all sides. In all dangers, the god Narayana himself is my sole refuge.” Having spoken thus, Shakalya said, “Lead me away or eat me at your pleasure, O lord of Rakshasas Parashu, now without delay.” At his words, the Rakshasa prepared to devour him; truly, there is not even a drop of compassion in the hearts of the wicked. With a face made fierce by protruding fangs, Parashu advanced to the place. But as he approached the Brahmin, he paused and spoke: “O best of the twice-born, I see you holding conch, discus, and mace, possessing a thousand feet, heads, eyes, and hands, O Lord. Today I behold you as the sole abode of all beings, of Vedic form, pervading the universe; you have no previous body. Therefore, I implore you, O Brahmin, be my refuge; grant me knowledge, O great-minded one, and tell me the sacred means for removing sin. The sight of the great, O Brahmin, is never fruitless; whether by hatred, ignorance, association, or carelessness, it brings results. Contact with iron, through touch, leads to its becoming gold.” Hearing these words spoken by the Rakshasa, Shakalya, moved by compassion, spoke; Sarasvati, the bestower of boons, also spoke. “Soon, O lord of the Daityas, praise Janardana; for the fulfillment of your desire, there is no other way than praise of Narayana. Listen, O Rakshasa, there is some cause in this world; that goddess is pleased with you, and by my words, it shall come to pass.” Saying “so be it,” Parashu bathed in the Ganges, purifier of the three worlds; purified and focused, he stood facing the sacred river. There he saw Sarasvati, of divine form, adorned with celestial fragrance, the sustainer of the world, present as spoken by Shakalya. He saw her as the remover of the world’s dullness, the mother of all, the ruler of the earth. Parashu, with a humble heart and freed from sin, addressed her. Shakalya, the teacher, instructed, “Praise the creator without delay; by your favor, may that power come to me—do so accordingly.” Sarasvati replied, “So be it.” By the grace of Sarasvati, Parashu praised Janardana. He praised Hari with various words; then Hari became pleased and, as the ocean of compassion, granted a boon to the Rakshasa: “Whatever is in your mind, O Rakshasa, all that shall come to pass.” By the grace of Shakalya, Gautami, Sarasvati, and Narasimha, all blessings were bestowed. Though wicked, the Rakshasa Parashu ascended to heaven, by the grace of the lotus feet of all sacred places and of the wielder of the Sharnga bow. From that time onward, that sacred place became known as Sarasvata; by bathing and giving gifts there, one is honored in the world of Vishnu. Many holy sites arose there on Mount Shveta, originating from Vaga, Vaishnava, Shakala, and Parashu. It is called the holy place of Chiccika, destroyer of all diseases, remover of all anxieties, and bringer of complete peace to people. Its true nature is thus: on that pure and excellent mountain, on the northern bank of the Ganga, where the god Gadadhara resides, there dwells Chiccika, the king of birds, known as Bherunda, a flesh-eater, always residing on Mount Shveta. The area is adorned with various flowers and fruits, served by trees blossoming in all seasons, attended by foremost Brahmins, and beautified by the Gautami river. It is crowded with Siddhas, Charanas, Gandharvas, Kinnaras, and Apsaras; nearby stands a mountain, a refuge for both two-footed and four-footed beings. On that mountain endowed with such qualities, surrounded by various groups of sages, there is no place for disease, suffering, hunger, thirst, anxiety, or death. Thus, the sacred site stands, a haven for all, blessed by the grace of the gods and revered by those who seek peace and liberation.