Hari addressed the gods, revealing, “She is generally an apsaras. By the name Urvashi, she will become renowned in the world.” In time, Mitra desired Urvashi and summoned her, saying, “Delight me.” Urvashi replied, “So be it.” As she journeyed through the sky, her blue-lotus eyes shining, Varuna seized her from behind, but Urvashi did not welcome him. She declared, “I was previously chosen by Mitra; today I am not your wife, O lord.” Varuna responded, “Set your mind on me and go.” When Urvashi departed, Mitra, saying “So be it,” cursed her: “Go to the world of men and unite with the son of Soma. Since you have acted according to the way of courtesans, unite with him.” Mitra and Varuna then deposited their seed in a water jar, and from this union, two eminent sages were born. Once, King Nimi was playing dice with women when Vasistha, born of Brahma, arrived. Because the king failed to honor him, Vasistha cursed Nimi, saying, “Become without a body.” Nimi, in turn, cursed Vasistha similarly. Due to these mutual curses, their consciousnesses seemed to depart, and both went to Brahma, the lord of the world, seeking release. Brahma commanded that Nimi’s consciousness enter the eyes, and thus the blinking of all beings became their rest. Vasistha, meanwhile, remained as before—within the water jar. There, the tranquil and illustrious sage Agastya was born: white, four-armed, bearing an eye, a thread, and a water pot. In a region of the Malaya mountains, Agastya, accompanied by his wife and surrounded by brahmins, performed very difficult austerities according to the Vaikhanasa rule. After a long time, seeing the world greatly afflicted by the demon Taraka, Agastya, in anger, drank up the ocean—the abode of Varuna. All the bestowers of boons, beginning with Shankara, were pleased with Agastya. Brahma and the blessed Vishnu came to grant him a boon, saying, “Choose a boon, O sage, whatever you desire.” Agastya requested, “For twenty-five crores of Brahma’s thousand-year cycles, I shall dwell in a celestial vehicle on the southern path. Whoever performs worship for me at the rising of my celestial vehicle shall, in turn, become the lord of the seven worlds.” The gods agreed and departed as they had come. Therefore, the wise should always offer arghya to Agastya. Narada then asked, “But how should the offering of arghya be made to him, O Lord? Tell me the proper procedure for the worship of Agastya.” The reply was: At dawn, the learned should bathe at sunrise or at night, wearing white garments and garlands, and holding white sesame seeds. He should place a flawless pot adorned with garlands, cloth, and ornaments, filled with five kinds of gems, a vessel of ghee, various foods and fruits, and a copper vessel. At the mouth of the pot, a golden figure of a man the size of a thumb, with long arms, four faces, and seven kinds of grains wrapped in cloth, should be placed. Using a bronze vessel, unbroken rice, and a conch shell, he should, with mantra, give it to a foremost Brahmin, lifting it up with undistracted mind, facing the south, to one with a large belly and long arms. If able, he should also give a white cow with a calf, adorned with silver hooves and a golden face, full of milk, with a calf-bell, bowing to a Brahmin. All this should be given for seven days, or ten, or more, as some say, until the seventh sunrise. The devotee should recite: “Resembling the flower of the Kash plant, born of fire and wind, son of Mitra and Varuna, O pot-born one, I bow to you. O lord of gods, beloved of jewels, who causes the growth and decay of the Vindhya, remover of clouds, water, and poison, resident of Lanka, I bow to you. To him who consumed Vātāpi, who once dried up the ocean, the glorious lord of Lopamudra—again and again I bow to him. O princess, greatly fortunate, wife of the sage, beautiful-faced Lopamudra, I bow to you; accept my arghya.” Performing this every year, one does not fall, and the rite bears fruit. After performing the homa, one should refrain from eating the fruit. Whoever offers arghya according to this rule attains this world, endowed with beauty and health; with the second, the world of Bhuvar; and then, the highest heaven. He who offers seven arghyas attains the seven worlds; and whoever performs this throughout his life attains the supreme Brahman. Whoever reads or hears this account of the offering to the sage born of the twin seers, or even contemplates it, is worshipped by hosts of immortals in Vishnu’s abode. Narada then asked, “O Janardana, tell me of that which grants prosperity and health, brings inexhaustible merit in the next world, and bestows both enjoyment and liberation.” Hari replied, “O Deva, long ago, when the goddess asked, the destroyer of cities, seated atop Mount Kailāsa, spoke about the illusion of the world. Now I shall tell you that story, which is both righteous and delightful, and which grants the fruits of enjoyment and liberation. Listen attentively, O Devi, to the supreme worship for men and women alike, which yields endless merit.” “In the months of Nabhasya or Vaiśākha, or at the head of the auspicious path, on the third day of the bright fortnight, one should bathe well, using yellow mustard seeds. One should apply to the forehead a tilaka made from cow’s gall, mixed with cow urine, warm cow dung, curd, and sandalwood—this always bestows prosperity and health and is dear to Lalitā. On the third day of each fortnight, a man should wear clean garments, and a woman, if self-restrained, should wear red clothes. A widow should wear garments dyed with red ochre, a maiden should wear white clothes. Then, the goddess should be bathed with pañcagavya, then only with milk, then with honey, and likewise with water scented with flowers.” Thus, the sacred instructions regarding the worship of Agastya and the goddess were revealed, promising prosperity, health, merit, enjoyment, and liberation to those who follow them with devotion.