O King, hear now of the wondrous boons and events that unfolded by the grace of the great Goddess. The divine sage approached the Goddess with humility, acknowledging that all beings are born from her portion and empowered by her energy. Yet, he requested a boon: “O auspicious one, if you are pleased to grant me something, let all obstacles in my work of creation be destroyed. And for those devoted to the Vagbhava mantra, may success in their endeavors come swiftly. Let those who recite or listen to this sacred dialogue, O Goddess, attain both enjoyment and liberation with ease. May they have remembrance of past births, eloquence, and excellence. May they attain knowledge, success in action, and abundance in progeny—sons and grandsons. Let all these blessings come to pass as I have spoken.” Thus begins the account of Vindhya. The Blessed Goddess replied with compassion, “O mighty-armed king, ruler of the earth, all you have asked shall indeed be fulfilled. I grant these boons, O destroyer of demons, for your power is unwavering, and your devotion—manifested through the recitation of the Vagbhava mantra and your austerities—has pleased me. May your kingdom be free from obstacles, may your lineage continue through your sons, and with steadfast devotion to me, at the end of your life you will attain the highest state.” Having bestowed these blessings upon the great-souled one, the Goddess, as Manu looked on, departed for Mount Vindhya. Now, Mount Vindhya at that time had begun to rise, seeking to touch the sky and block the path of the sun, though once he had been restrained by the sage born from the water-pot. The boon-bestowing Goddess, sister of Vishnu, took her abode there in Vindhya, becoming worthy of worship by all the worlds. The assembled sages, eager for knowledge, asked Sūta, “Who is this Vindhya mountain? Why did he seek to rise and block the sun’s path? And how did the son of Mitra and Varuṇa cause that lofty mountain to remain in its place? O noble one, tell us everything in detail, for the nectar of the Goddess’s stories only increases our thirst to hear more.” Sūta then began his narration: “There was a mountain named Vindhya, honored among all the mountains that support the earth, resplendent with great forests and mighty trees. Its slopes were adorned with flowering creepers and bushes, and it teemed with deer, wild boar, buffalo, tigers, and leopards. Joyful monkeys, hares, bears, and jackals roamed everywhere, well-nourished and full of energy. Rivers and streams flowed abundantly, and the mountain was frequented by gods, gandharvas, kinnaras, apsaras, kimpurushas, and trees that grant every desire. Once, as he wandered the earth, the divine sage, delighted, came willingly to this splendid Vindhya mountain. Seeing the sage, Vindhya hastened to rise and, with reverence, offered water for washing the feet, an arghya, and a splendid seat. When the sage was comfortably seated and pleased, Vindhya spoke: ‘O divine sage, tell me from where you have come and for what excellent purpose. By your arrival, my abode is blessed, and surely your crossing is for the sake of the gods’ safety from the sun. O Nārada, tell me about this unprecedented state of mind.’ Nārada replied, ‘My coming, O enemy of Indra, took place then on Mount Meru. There I saw the worlds of Indra, Agni, Yama, and Varuṇa—the dwellings of all the guardians of the worlds. I saw the Vindhya mountains, which grant various enjoyments.’ Having said this, the son of Brahmā fell into deep thought. Seeing the sage sigh, the lord of mountains asked, ‘O divine sage, what is the cause of your sigh?’ Nārada, radiant and gentle, replied, ‘Listen, child, to the reason for my sigh. Himavat, the preceptor of Gaurī, is the father-in-law of Śiva; because of his relation to the Lord of Beings, he is honored among the mountains. Likewise, Kailāsa, the abode of Śiva, is revered among the mountains of the earth and destroys heaps of sin. Niṣadha, Nīla, and Gandhamādana are also honored in their own places. This golden mountain, which the Sun, soul of the universe, encircles with the planets and stars, considers itself the best and foremost among mountains, thinking, “Among all, I alone am supreme; none in the worlds is equal to me.” Remembering this pride and arrogance, I sighed. But for those strong in austerity, such things are of little concern. I have told you this incidentally; now I shall go to my own abode.’ Thus, the supreme sage departed for the world of Brahmā. When he had gone, Vindhya was seized by unceasing anxiety; he found no peace and was ever sorrowful within. He thought, ‘What should I do here? How shall I surpass Meru? I find no peace, nor does my mind attain calmness. Fie upon my enthusiasm and pride, fie upon my fame and lineage, fie upon my strength and manliness, fie upon what the great ones of old have said.’ Such clear thoughts arose in the mind of Vindhya. A resolve then appeared in his mind, intent on action but leading to fault: ‘The Sun always circles Meru, accompanied by the planets and stars, and Meru exults in this. I will block his path with my own might. Then, if the Sun is obstructed, how will he go around the mountain? If I block the path of the Sun and the day, what will happen?’ Thus began the episode of Vindhya’s ambition, and the greatness of the Goddess was soon to be revealed in this unfolding tale.