Once, on the slopes of the sacred Kumuda Mountain, the great sage Pramucha took a young maiden into his care, raising her in his hermitage with the love and devotion of a father. As the years passed, the girl blossomed with beauty and virtue, and Pramucha began to consider who might be a worthy husband for her. Despite searching in many ways, he could not find a suitable match. Troubled, the sage entered his fire-sanctuary and offered heartfelt praises to Agni, the fire-god, seeking his guidance. Pleased with the sage’s devotion, Agni appeared and granted a boon to the maiden: her husband would be righteous, strong, heroic, eloquent, and undefeated in speech. “He will be Durdama, a king, difficult to subdue,” declared Agni. Pramucha was filled with joy at this divine assurance. By the will of destiny, at that very moment, King Durdama, son of Vikramashila and Kalindi, descended from the noble line of Priyavrata, arrived at the hermitage while out hunting. Wise and valorous, the king entered the hermitage and, finding the sage absent, greeted the maiden Revati with gentle affection. “O beloved,” Durdama asked, “the venerable sage is not here. I wish to see him and pay my respects. Tell me, auspicious one, where has he gone?” Revati replied, “O great king, the sage has gone to the fire-sanctuary.” Hearing this, Durdama quickly left in search of the sage. Standing at the fire-sanctuary’s threshold, the king humbly bowed before Pramucha, who, seeing him adorned with royal marks, turned to his disciple Gautama and said, “Bring the arghya, for this king is worthy of a proper welcome. He has come after a long time, and perhaps as a prospective son-in-law.” The king accepted the arghya thoughtfully, and the sage honored him with blessings, inquiring kindly about the well-being of his kingdom, army, treasury, friends, ministers, city, country, and himself. “Your wife is well, for she is here,” Pramucha added with a smile. “Tell me of the welfare of your other wives.” Durdama, surprised, replied, “O venerable one, by your grace, all is well with me everywhere. But I am curious—who is this wife of mine who is here?” Pramucha said, “Your wife named Revati, unmatched in beauty, is here. O King, how is it that you do not know your own wife?” Durdama answered, “O lord, I know all my wives, such as Subhadra and the others, who are in my household, but I do not know Revati.” The sage gently chided him, “O wise king, the one whom you just called ‘dear’ has been forgotten by you in a moment, though she was your most cherished beloved.” The king replied earnestly, “What you say is true. I addressed her just as you did. My mind is not wicked, O sage; you should not be angry.” Pramucha reassured him, “O King, your heart is pure. By the prompting of Agni, such words came from your lips without your knowing. Today I asked Agni, ‘Who will be her husband?’ And he replied, ‘King Durdama will certainly be her husband.’ Therefore, O King, accept this maiden whom I now give to you. Do not hesitate.” Hearing these words, Durdama fell silent, reflecting deeply. Pramucha began preparations for the marriage ceremony. As the arrangements were being made, Revati approached her foster-father and said, “Father, you should perform my marriage under the Revati constellation.” Pramucha replied, “Child, there are many auspicious constellations for marriage, but how can your wedding be performed under the Revati constellation, which is not present in the sky?” Revati insisted, “Without the Revati constellation, the time is not proper for my marriage. I request you to perform the wedding under the Puṣya constellation.” The sage explained, “Once, the Revati constellation was cast down from the sky by sage Ṛtavāk. If you are not pleased with another, how can your marriage take place?” Revati asked, “Did Ṛtavāk perform austerities, or was it only his words? Have you not performed such austerities with speech, body, and mind?” She continued, “I know your power of austerity, for you are able to create the universe. Place the Revati constellation in the sky and perform my marriage, father.” Pramucha smiled and said, “So be it, good fortune to you. For your sake, I will today place the Puṣya constellation on the lunar path.” Thus, by the power of his austerities, Pramucha restored the Puṣya constellation to its proper place in the heavens. Under the auspicious Revati constellation, the sage gave Revati in marriage to King Durdama, performing all the sacred rites. After the ceremony, Pramucha turned to the king and said, “O hero, tell me what you desire; I will grant it.” Durdama replied, “O sage, I am born in the lineage of Svāyambhuva Manu. By your grace, I desire a son who will become the lord of a Manvantara.” Pramucha said, “If this is your wish, then worship the Goddess. You will surely have a son—a Manu, lord of a Manvantara. If you hear the fifth Purāṇa, called the Devī Bhāgavata, five times, you will obtain the son you desire. Revata’s daughter Revati will bear a son named Raivata, the fifth Manu, learned in the Vedas and scriptures, knower of truth, righteous, and unconquered.” Thereafter, King Durdama ruled the kingdom inherited from his forefathers with wisdom and righteousness, protecting his subjects as a father cares for his sons. One day, the great sage Lomaśa arrived at his court. The king welcomed him with reverence, worshipped him, and with folded hands said, “O venerable one, by your grace, I wish to hear the Purāṇa called Devī Bhāgavata, for I desire a son.