In that sacred place, Lord Hara, who finds joy in devotion, spent his days immersed in worship. He bowed reverently and offered his adorations to the trident-bearing deity, Rudra. With unwavering focus, Hara recited the Rudra hymn both day and night, his mind fixed upon the divine. As time passed, the inevitable force of Time—terrible, fierce, and blazing—arrived to claim the king from his dwelling. Yet even as Time approached, the king bowed his head to Rudra and continued to recite the Śatarudriya hymn. Death, standing before him with a semblance of a smile, beckoned, “Come, come.” But Death was instructed to abandon another and strike down the one engaged in worship of the One Lord. Death declared, “Whoever is devoted to worshipping Rudra, or any other, does not remain under my control.” Even while bound in fetters, the king continued his recitation of the Śatarudriya hymn. He saw the form of Death standing before him and thought, “Now, indeed, it is coming toward us.” The royal sage approached, intent on taking the king away. He addressed Time, saying, “Give him to me, he is mine.” Angered, Time rushed swiftly toward Rudra and struck him, all while Śveta watched. But the Lord of the gods, Rudra, bearer of the Pināka bow, shone gloriously alongside Umā. The king, foremost among rulers, bowed to the imperishable Sambhu and offered salutations: “Salutations to Śiva, the wise; salutations to the giver of liberation. Salutations to you, O ruler of men, whose form is indivisible. To the eternal and imperishable one, bearer of the boar’s tusk, I bow. Salutations to you, great dancer; salutations to you, bearer of the bull-banner.” Rudra, pleased, granted the king eternal lordship over the Gaṇas and sameness of form. Honored by sages and perfected beings, Rudra became invisible in a moment. The king then asked Rudra for a boon: “Let this one be alive.” Rudra replied that the king had been appointed to this task by the Lord of Death himself. The soul of the universe, Rudra, said, “So be it,” and the king was restored. Having worshipped Mahādeva, the king attained lordship of the Gaṇas. It is heard that this place is the great abode of the great god. Upon the stone surface, a footprint is set as a sign for the doubters. Those devoted to Vedic study worship the great god here. After bowing with their heads, devotees attain nearness to Rudra. This site is renowned as Kedara, the auspicious abode of perfected beings. By drinking the pure water found there, one attains the state of Ganesha. The best among the twice-born and yogis striving diligently frequent this sacred place. Here, by worshipping Srinivasa, one is honored in the world of Vishnu. Those who come here, the best of twice-born, attain imperishable heaven. It was at this very place that the god Rudra destroyed the sacrifice of Daksha. All sins are washed away here, and upon death, one attains the world of Brahma. By worshipping Hrishikesha at this site, one goes to the luminous realm of Svetadvipa. Thus, the story unfolds at Kedara, the sacred abode where devotion, worship, and the presence of the divine transform the fate of all who come.