Having reached the sacred heights of Mount Govardhana, the king devoted himself to rigorous austerity, mastering his senses with unwavering discipline. In response to his devotion, the divine Dāmodara himself appeared before the king and spoke a single word. After imparting this brief message, Hṛṣīkeśa returned to his own divine nature. The king then ruled his kingdom with justice, O Madhusūdana, and three sons were born to him: Khikhaṇḍana, Havirdhāna, and Antardhāna. These sons were righteous, endowed with beauty, and accomplished in the Vedas and their branches. By the force of fortune, the king, who was a knower of dharma, resolved to renounce worldly life. At some time, he journeyed to the slopes of the Himalayas, a region frequented by perfected beings. There, he beheld the attainable and unattainable abodes of yogins, places inaccessible to those hostile to Brahman. The mountains were adorned with hermitages of siddhas and filled with groves of lotuses and water-lilies. In this sacred land, he discovered a most auspicious and delightful hermitage, filled with joy. He worshipped Mahadeva with flowers such as lotuses and water-lilies, and, gazing upon the radiant Lord, he praised the Supreme Lord with various hymns to Shambhu that originated from the Vedas. During his journey, he encountered the illustrious Śvetāśvatara, the foremost among the great Pāśupatas. Śvetāśvatara, his self subdued by austerity, wore a white sacred thread. The king bowed at his feet with joined palms and spoke, “Today I have seen the Lord of Yogis, the best among knowers of yoga. What shall I do? I am your disciple. Protect me, O sinless one.” Śvetāśvatara accepted him as a disciple, seeing that his faults had been worn away by austerity. The sage then imparted divine knowledge and the observances prescribed in his own branch, known as the final stage of life, practiced by Brahma and others. Brahmins, Kshatriyas, and Vaishyas devoted to celibacy meditate upon the great god Mahadeva, contemplating the formless Shiva. The blessed Lord, out of compassion for his devotees, abides there. Desiring the welfare of the worlds, the king worshipped the great Lord, and through this worship, both gods and demons attained great accomplishments. Witnessing their ascetic power, they obtained knowledge valid for all times. Śvetāśvatara instructed the king, “Remain always with me; then you will attain perfection.” He then properly taught the great mantra for the attainment of the disciple’s purpose. The sacred rites beginning with Agni were instituted by the sages. The king became a direct devotee of Paśupati and engaged in Vedic study. Peaceful, self-controlled, with anger subdued, he adopted the discipline of renunciation. He, known as Prācīnabarhis, mastered the science of archery. He begot ten sons on the daughter of the ocean. These sons studied their own Veda and were devoted to Nārāyaṇa. Among them was Dakṣa, greatly fortunate, who had formerly been the son of Brahmā. Having quarreled with Rudra, Dakṣa was cursed and became a son of the Pracetas. Observing proper worship, the king himself offered it to Dakṣa. However, desiring unmerited worship, Dakṣa went home in anger.