From the very moment of conception, the daughter of Death, endowed with keen discernment, draws near to every living being. It was at such a time that Mālavatī, overcome with grief, spoke out in anguish: “How can you take my beloved from me while I am still alive, O compassionate one?” The daughter of Death replied with gentle firmness: “It is not possible to abandon him, Mālavatī, even if you were to perform the greatest austerities. Among all virtuous women, there exists one who shines with exceptional radiance. O beautiful one, when such a woman is present, all calamities are pacified in her home. Yet, driven by the power of Time, I, my sons, and diseases all act according to our nature. If you seek deeper understanding, ask Time himself—the great soul and knower of dharma—in the assembly of righteousness.” With a heart full of devotion, Mālavatī turned to Time: “O Lord, portion of Nārāyaṇa, I bow to you and to the Supreme. How do you take my beloved from me while I am still alive, O master?” The Personification of Time answered with gravity: “We wander ceaselessly, upholding the commands of the Lord. From Him are created Nature, Brahmā, Viṣṇu, Śiva, and all others. The wise yogis meditate upon the lotus feet of that One. Out of fear of Him, the wind blows; out of fear of Him, the sun shines. Śaṅkara, the destroyer of all worlds, acts only by His command. By His will, all the planets revolve in their orbits; by His will, trees bear flowers and fruits; by His will, streams flow and the earth, the support of all beings, exists. Suddenly, by the constant power of His māyā, the world is deluded. Even the Vedas do not know His end, nor those who truly understand the nature of things. His name is served by Brahmā and Viṣṇu, the greatest and the vastest. He is the Lord of all, the time of time, death of death, the supreme beyond the supreme. He is the treasury of compassion, who grants the desired lord of all wishes.” Having spoken thus, the Personification of Time fell silent, O Shaunaka. Then, a Brahmin addressed Mālavatī: “What doubt remains in your heart, O auspicious maiden? Ask freely.” Hearing the Brahmin’s kind words, Mālavatī, ever virtuous, felt her heart lighten with delight. She said, “All the various causes of suffering are explained in the Vedas. From which disease, difficult to restrain and bringing misfortune, does not arise? Whatever is asked or inquired, whether known or unknown, all is there.” Hearing Mālavatī’s words, Janārdana, in the form of a Brahmin, replied, “The seed of the Veda and its limbs is the Lord Himself, Śrī Krishna. He, the Lord, created the four Vedas, the abode of all auspiciousness. Prajāpati, beholding the Vedas named Ṛg, Yajur, Sāma, and Atharva, then created the fifth Veda, which the Lord gave to Bhāskara, the Sun. Bhāskara in turn gave to his own disciples the Ayurveda, his own compilation of healing wisdom. The names of those learned ones and the treatises they composed are well known: Dhanvantari, servant of heaven; the King of Kāśi; and the sons of Ashvini. There are also Jabāla, Jājali, Paila, Karatha, and the sage Agastya. The treatise called ‘The True Science of Therapy’ is delightful. Divodāsa composed the treatise called ‘The Mirror of Therapy.’ The Ashvini twins compiled ‘The Essence of Therapy,’ which removes all fatigue.” Thus, the sacred knowledge of healing and the origin of all causes was revealed, shining forth in the assembly like the dawn dispelling the night.