Desiring to undertake a vow of fasting, he spoke his intention to her, causing her great distress. In that very place, the god Maheshvara himself abides, ever intent on liberating the world. It is said that upon beholding the Lord of the Universe in the form of a linga, one is freed from all sins. Indeed, after seeing Hara in the sacred city of Varanasi, he was released from his transgressions. Moved by compassion, Kanva was requested to officiate the sacrifice for him. As soon as the king was born, he was attended by them, and all the maidens, beloved by the Gandharvas and the twice-born, took him in their care. Now, listen as I recount the lineage of Kroṣṭu, whose very story is said to remove the sins of men. Kroṣṭu’s son was the great Svāti, from whom Uśadgu was born. In the world, Caitrarathi became renowned as Śaśabindu. Śaśabindu’s son was Pṛthukarmā, and from him was born Pṛthujaya. Pṛthuśravās, the best among the Pṛthus, was his son—he who possessed a golden armor, though he was turned away by the noble ones. From Pṛthuśravās was born Vidarbha, and from Vidarbha came Kratha and Kaishika. Dhriti became Kaishika’s son, and Samsta was the son of Dhriti. Samsta’s wise son was Sumantu, and Sumantu’s son was Anala. Among them, Jyotishman was the foremost, and his son was Vapushman. Vapushman’s son was Vitaratha, a mighty devotee of Rudra. From Vrishni was born Nivritti, and from him came Dasharha. Jaimuti became a heroic man, and Vikriti was a destroyer of enemy heroes. Ever devoted to charity and righteousness, he was steadfast in his virtuous conduct. At one time, eminent sages fled in great haste, overcome by fear. Duryodhana, blazing like fire and wielding a mighty spear, beheld the supreme place, well concealed by the goddess Sarasvati. Upon seeing the goddess herself, he bowed his head in reverence, and falling prostrate upon the ground, he declared, “I have come to you for refuge.” He thus sought the protection of the goddess of speech—she who is without beginning or end, the sovereign, the celibate, the consort of Hiranyagarbha, three-eyed and adorned with the moon. “Protect me, O supreme lady, for I am frightened and seek your shelter,” he implored. He had come to slay his foe at the very place where the goddess Sarasvati dwelled. That sacred abode of the Mother of the three worlds shone with the radiance of the sun and the moon. There, he struck his enemy in the chest with his spear, casting him down to the ground. With the demon thus slain at that holy site, Duryodhana became fearless and swift. He journeyed to a city, O best of Brahmins, a city resplendent like that of Purandara himself. There, he worshipped the goddess Sarasvati with various sacrifices and offerings of gold. His son, Shakuni, was devoted to the goddess and possessed great brilliance. Shakuni’s son, Devakshatra, performed the great Ashvamedha sacrifice. Devakshatra had two sons: Sutrama and Anura. Sutrama was a great soul, devoted to charity and foremost among those skilled in the science of archery. He established the teaching, as he had heard it from Kundagola and others, thus continuing the noble lineage and its sacred traditions.