In the sacred text, it is told how the vastness of dharma centers upon the Gāyatrī, and the greatness of Gāyatrī is recounted as being truly Bhāgavata. This is so because the Gāyatrī belongs to the supreme Goddess herself, who is worshipped by Brahmā, Viṣṇu, and Śiva. Thus, the tradition is known as Bhāgavata, honoring the Goddess above all. Among the sages, there was one of great renown and wisdom named Ṛtavāk. In due course, at the close of the month of Pauṣṇa, a son was born to him. Ṛtavāk performed all the prescribed birth rites for his son, as well as the ceremonies of tonsure and initiation, fulfilling every duty as tradition required. Yet, from the very moment the boy was born, misfortune seemed to shadow the sage. Ṛtavāk became afflicted by grief and illness, and both his mind and his wife’s became troubled by anger and greed. The mother, overwhelmed by attachments, was constantly distressed and sorrowful. As his son grew, Ṛtavāk’s anxiety deepened. “Why has my son become so utterly wicked?” he wondered. The boy, heedless of all guidance, committed grave wrongs—he forcibly abducted the wife of another sage’s son and ignored the teachings of both his father and mother, his mind clouded by delusion. Tormented by sorrow, Ṛtavāk lamented, “It is better for a man to have no son at all than to have a wicked one. An evil son brings his ancestors down from heaven into hell, and as long as he lives, he brings only suffering to his parents. The birth of a sinful son brings misery to his family; he benefits neither friends nor harms enemies. Fortunate indeed are those in whose home a virtuous son dwells, devoted to helping others and bringing happiness to his parents. By a wicked son, the family is destroyed, reputation is ruined, and both in this world and the next, suffering and torment are endured. A wicked son ends the lineage; a bad wife wastes one’s birth; bad food ruins the day; and with a false friend, happiness is impossible.” Day and night, the sage was tormented by his son’s evil conduct. At last, seeking answers, Ṛtavāk approached the sage Garga and asked, “O venerable one, please tell me—according to the science of astrology, what is the cause of my son’s wickedness? I have served my teacher, studied the Vedas, observed celibacy, and performed my marriage and household duties by all the prescribed rites. I have performed the five daily sacrifices, and, out of fear of hell rather than desire, I performed the rite of conception to obtain a son. Yet, whether by my fault or his mother’s, this son has brought only sorrow and grief to our family.” Hearing Ṛtavāk’s words, the sage Garga reflected carefully and replied, “O sage, neither you nor your wife nor your family is at fault. The cause of your son’s wickedness lies in the unfavorable period of Revati. Because he was born at an inauspicious time, you now suffer; there is no other reason. To end this suffering, worship with devotion the auspicious Mother of the worlds, Durgā, the destroyer of misfortune.” Upon hearing Garga’s counsel, Ṛtavāk, overcome with anger, pronounced a curse upon Revatī: “Let Revatī fall from the sky!” When he uttered this curse, the star of Pūṣā also fell from the heavens, shining upon Mount Kumuda before the eyes of all the worlds. Thus, Raivataka became renowned, and from his fall, Kumuda Mountain arose, becoming exceedingly beautiful from that time onward. Having pronounced his curse, Ṛtavāk followed Garga’s instructions, worshipped the Goddess Ambika, and thereby attained happiness and good fortune. Skanda narrates that from the radiance of Revata’s constellation, a maiden was born—unparalleled in beauty throughout the world, appearing as if she were a second goddess of fortune. The sage, beholding this radiant maiden, joyfully named her Revati. Thereafter, the great sage Pramucha raised her with righteousness in his hermitage on the beautiful Kumuda Mountain, caring for her as if she were his own daughter. As Revati matured and her beauty blossomed, the sage began to ponder who might be a worthy husband for her. Despite searching in many ways, he could find no suitable match. So, entering the fire-sanctuary, the sage praised Agni, the fire-god. Pleased by his devotion, Agni granted a boon: Revati’s husband would be righteous, strong, heroic, eloquent, and unconquered in speech. He would be Durdama, a king difficult to subdue. By divine arrangement, at that very moment, a king named Durdama—wise and intelligent—arrived at the sage’s hermitage under the pretense of hunting. He was the son of Vikramashila, powerful and valorous, born of Kalindi, and descended from the noble lineage of Priyavrata. Entering the hermitage and not seeing the sage, the king greeted Revati and asked her affectionately, “O beloved, the venerable sage has left the hermitage; I wish to see his feet. Tell me truly, O auspicious one, where has he gone?” The maiden replied, “O great king, the sage has gone to the fire-sanctuary.” Hearing her words, the king quickly departed from the hermitage in search of the sage.