Having established a long and noble lineage of sons and grandsons, upholding dharma, and enjoying his prosperous domains, that mighty king—unmatched in valor—eventually departed for the supreme abode of Mahendra. Now, listen to the wondrous and supreme power of the Goddess, and how the illustrious Manu, son of Aṅga, attained the highest kingdom. Aṅga’s son became the renowned Manu named Cākṣuṣa, the sixth Manu, who earnestly sought refuge with the sage Supulaha. Approaching the sage, Cākṣuṣa bowed and said, “O Brahmarṣi, I come to you for refuge, you who remove the distress of the devoted. Please instruct me, Master, as your servant, so that I may attain prosperity. Grant me undivided sovereignty over the earth, unimpeded strength of arms, skill in weapons and missiles, and the capacity to rule. May my noble lineage endure unbroken for a long time, and in the end, may I attain liberation. Please instruct me accordingly.” Hearing these sincere words, the illustrious sage responded, revealing the supreme worship of the Goddess. “O King, listen well to my words, which are greatly pleasing to the ear: worship Śivā today. By her grace, all that you seek shall be accomplished.” Cākṣuṣa bowed again and asked, “What is that supreme and purifying worship of the Goddess? By what means should it be performed? Out of compassion, please explain.” The sage replied, “O King, listen closely to the supreme and inexhaustible worship of the Goddess. Ceaselessly recite the unmanifest Vāgbhava seed-mantra. By reciting it three times daily, a mortal attains both enjoyment and liberation. There is no seed-mantra superior to Vāgbhava, O delight of the royal line. Its recitation bestows success and greatly increases strength and power; by reciting this, even Padma (Brahmā) became the mighty creator. By reciting it, Viṣṇu is renowned as the protector of creation; by reciting it, Maheśvara became the destroyer, O King. Likewise, the guardians of the worlds and others became powerful, heroic, and proud by relying on it. In the same way, O King, by worshipping the great Goddess, Mother of the universe, you will soon obtain great prosperity.” Thus instructed by the eminent sage Pulaha, the son of Aṅga went to the river Virajā to undertake intense austerities. He devoted himself to the recitation of the Vāgbhava seed-mantra, subsisting only on fallen leaves. In the first year, he ate only buds; in the second year, he lived on water; and in the third year, he subsisted on air alone, standing unmoving like a pillar. In this way, for twelve years, the king abandoned all food and ceaselessly recited the Vāgbhava mantra, his mind filled with auspiciousness. As he recited the supreme mantra of the Goddess in solitude, the Mother of the universe, Śrī Parameśvarī herself, appeared before him. Radiant and unassailable, the sovereign of all the gods spoke graciously in gentle words to the son of Aṅga: “O protector of the earth, whatever supreme boon you have in mind, speak it. Pleased by your austerity, I shall grant it.” Cākṣuṣa replied, “O Goddess, Lord of the gods, you know whatever is desired in the mind and sought for; you, worshipped by the gods, know all this as the indwelling controller. Yet, by my good fortune, your vision has appeared to me. Therefore, O Goddess, I speak—grant me the kingdom for the duration of a manvantara.” The Goddess smiled and said, “The kingdom of this manvantara is granted to you, O best of kings. Your sons will be mighty and endowed with great virtues. Your kingdom will be free from obstacles, and liberation at the end is certain.” Having granted this supreme boon to Manu, the Goddess at once became invisible, praised with devotion. Thus, the sixth Manu, by her grace and refuge, became honored as Manu, surrounded by all the enjoyments of a universal monarch. His sons were powerful, ready for action, and capable of bearing responsibilities. They were devoted to the Goddess, heroic, and possessed of great strength and valor; elsewhere, they were respected and brought happiness to the great kingdom. In this way, Cākṣuṣa Manu, through worship of the Goddess, became a distinguished Manu; and at the end of his reign, he attained the auspicious state of liberation. Now, hear of the next Manu. The seventh Manu is known as Vaivasvata Manu, also called Śrāddhadeva, a lord who enjoys supreme bliss and is honored among kings. This Vaivasvata Manu, too, by the grace of the Supreme Goddess and through his own austerity, became the ruler of the manvantara. The eighth Manu is called Sāvarṇi, renowned on earth. In a previous birth, he worshipped the Goddess and obtained her boon. He was born as the lord of the manvantara, honored by all kings, of great valor and courage, and devoted to the worship of the Goddess. At this, Nārada asked, “How did he, in a previous birth, worship the Goddess for the sake of becoming Manu? Please tell me this, O you who are worthy to relate it.” Śrī Nārāyaṇa replied, “In the lineage of Caitra during the Svārociṣa manvantara, there was a king named Suratha, famed for his great strength and valor. He was appreciative of virtues, an expert archer, honored, the best among poets, accomplished, a gatherer of wealth, and a generous giver. He was a crusher of enemies, proud and skilled in all weapons, and strong. Yet, once, there arose against him kings who destroyed his clan. His enemies, together with their armies, surrounded him with force and besieged the city of that king, proud of his honor and wealth. Then King Suratha, surrounded by his army, went out from his own city, determined to destroy all his enemies.” Thus, through the grace and worship of the Supreme Goddess, the line of Manus was established, each attaining greatness and liberation according to their devotion and merit.