Hear now the sacred tale, O best of sages. There is One who stands beyond all nature, transcending even Purusha itself. Because He surpasses both Prakriti and Purusha, the Veda, the Purana, and the wise in this world honor Him with the name Purushottama—the Supreme Person. This Supreme Self, spoken of in Purana and Vedanta as the highest reality, abides for the welfare of the universe; thus is He called Purushottama. It is said that wherever a person, whether willingly or unwillingly, gives up the body—in a sacred path, a cremation ground, a house, or at a crossroads—there, liberation is attained. Therefore, O best of the twice-born, those who truly seek liberation should strive with all their effort to abandon the body in that most holy field. The greatness of the place called Purusha has never been equaled in the past, nor will it ever be surpassed in the future. One who gives up the body there attains the rarest liberation. I have described only a small portion of the virtues of this sacred field; who could possibly recount all its qualities, even if given a hundred years? If you, O noble sage, desire eternal liberation, then dwell with devotion in that holy and excellent field. Hearing the words of Brahma, the self-born, those wise ones remained in that field and, through their steadfastness, attained the supreme state. Therefore, O best of the twice-born, if you seek liberation, reside with all your effort in the most excellent field called Purusha. In that field, O sage, which brings happiness to all beings, Purushottama Himself bestows the fruits of righteousness, wealth, desire, and liberation. Among those who dwelt there was a sage named Kaṇḍu, radiant in his austerity, supremely righteous, always truthful, pure, self-controlled, and devoted to the welfare of all beings. Having mastered his senses and anger, and accomplished in the Vedas and their branches, Kaṇḍu attained the highest perfection by worshipping the Supreme Person. There were also other accomplished sages there, firm in their vows, devoted to the good of all, self-restrained, conquerors of anger, and free from envy. Curious, the sages asked, "Who is this Kaṇḍu, and how did he attain the supreme state here? We wish to hear his story—please tell us, O noble one." Listen, then, to the delightful story of the sage Kaṇḍu. On the pure and charming bank of the river Gomati, in a secluded and beautiful place, abundant with roots, fruits, and flowers, supplied with sacred sticks and kusa grass, there stood a hermitage. It was adorned with various trees and vines, resplendent with many kinds of flowers, delightful with the calls of many birds, and inhabited by numerous groups of animals. Within this lovely hermitage, rich with fruits and flowers in every season and decorated with clusters of banana trees, the sage Kaṇḍu performed wondrous austerities. He observed strict vows, fasted, bathed, practiced silence, and maintained rigorous self-control. In summer, he practiced the fivefold fire austerity; in the rainy season, he lay upon the bare ground; in winter, he wore wet garments as he performed intense penance. Seeing the power of his austerity, the gods, Gandharvas, Siddhas, and Vidyādharas were all greatly astonished. By the force of his penance, Kaṇḍu caused the earth, the sky, and even heaven to become heated, affecting all three worlds. Beholding his steadfastness, the gods exclaimed, "Ah! What supreme endurance! Ah! What supreme austerity!" But the gods, together with Indra, grew anxious and fearful of his growing power. They deliberated, wishing to obstruct his penance. Understanding their intention, Indra, lord of the three worlds, summoned Pramlocā, whose beauty and youth were unsurpassed. She was slender-waisted, graceful of limb, with full hips and breasts, and adorned with all auspicious marks. Indra, the destroyer of obstacles, spoke to her: "Pramlocā, go quickly while the sage is engaged in his austerities. For the sake of disturbing his penance, O radiant one, agitate him." Pramlocā replied, "O best of gods, I shall always do your bidding, Lord. Yet I have some fear, and even doubt for my very life. I fear that sage, steadfast in his vow of celibacy, fierce and blazing with austerity, radiant like fire and the sun. If he knows I have come to hinder him out of anger, he may utter a curse unbearable to me." She continued, "Urvaśī, Menakā, Rambhā, Ghṛtācī, Puñjikasthalā, Viśvācī, Sahajanyā, Pūrvacitti, and Tilottamā—along with Alambuṣā, Miśrakeśī, Śaśilekhā, Vāmanā, and other Apsarases, all proud of their beauty and youth—are also present. Slender-waisted, lovely-faced, with full and prominent breasts, skilled in the arts of desire—assign them there." But Indra replied, "Let the others remain, O auspicious one, for you alone are most skilled in this task. For your assistance, I grant you Kāma, Vasanta, and Vāyu. Go with them, O fair-hipped one, to where that great sage dwells." Hearing Śakra's words, Pramlocā, she of beautiful eyes, set out by the path of the sky, accompanied by those divine forces, to the sage's hermitage. Arriving there, she beheld a splendid and excellent forest, and the sage, blazing with austerity, dwelling in his pure hermitage, free from all impurity. With her companions, she gazed upon that delightful forest, resembling Nandana itself, filled with flowers of every season and crowded with groups of branch-dwelling deer. The forest was sacred, endowed with lotus ponds, great leaves and shoots, and filled with sweet, pleasing sounds made by birds. She saw trees laden with fruit in every season, shining with flowers at all times, resounding with the songs of birds. Thus did Pramlocā arrive, and the tale of Kaṇḍu's encounter with destiny began to unfold.