Let me share with you the sacred account of the sugar mountain, whose offering brings immense joy to the divine. When one donates this mountain, Vishnu, Arka, and Rudra are ever pleased, their blessings assured. The mountain of sugar is constructed with care: eight loads make it supreme, four loads render it middling, and two loads mark it as inferior. For those of limited means, even a half or quarter load suffices, and it is recommended to craft mountains with at least a fourth portion. Everything, as with the grain mountain, should be prepared together with nectar, and atop the mountain, three golden trees must be placed—these are Mandara, Parijata, and the wish-fulfilling tree. These celestial trees crown every mountain’s summit. On each mountain, especially the sugar mountain, two sandalwood trees should be placed—one on the east, one on the west. Special deities are positioned as follows: the deity of desire faces west on Mandara; the god of wealth faces north atop Gandhamadana; the form of the Veda, the swan, faces east on the great mountain; and Surabhi, the divine cow, faces south on the golden side. As with the grain mountain, all rites of invocation are performed, after which the middle mountain is gifted to the teacher and four mountains to the priests, with mantras recited. The sugar mountain is the very essence of the nectar of fortune; thus, O lord of mountains, you are always the bringer of joy. The droplets that fell to earth as the gods drank nectar gave rise to the sugar mountain, which now protects us. Sugar itself arose from the middle of the bow of the god of love, and so this great mountain, made of sugar, shields us from the ocean of worldly existence. Whoever offers the sugar mountain in this prescribed manner is freed from all sins and attains the supreme state. He ascends a radiant vehicle, shining like the moon, stars, and sun, and, together with his dependents, is led onward by Vishnu. After a hundred aeons, he becomes lord of the seven continents, blessed with long life and health for three thousand births. On all mountains, one should provide food according to ability, without envy. Salt and alkaline substances may be eaten with permission, and all offerings should go to the abode of Brahmins. Once, in a great age, there lived a king who embodied righteousness and was a friend of Indra. By his might, thousands of demons were slain; his radiance outshone the moon and sun, and he subdued hundreds of unconquered enemies. Even as a human, he could take any form at will and remained undefeated. His wife, Bhānumatī, was the most beautiful in the three worlds—her divine form surpassed even the celestial maidens, shining among ten thousand women like Śrī herself. Surrounded by a hundred thousand kings, he was never separated from Bhānumatī. One day, seated in court and filled with wonder, he questioned the eminent sage Vasiṣṭha: “O revered one, by what righteousness have I attained this unsurpassed fortune, and why does this supreme radiance always reside in my body?” Vasiṣṭha replied with a tale: Once, there was a courtesan named Līlāvatī, devoted to Śiva, who, on the fourteenth day, gave her teacher the salt mountain, along with golden trees and other items, performing all rites as prescribed. At that time, a Śūdra goldsmith named Śauṇḍa, a servant in Līlāvatī’s house, crafted those items from gold. The king himself assembled the trees and celestial forms with great devotion and extraordinary beauty, refusing any payment, knowing it was a righteous act. His wife illuminated those golden divine trees, while Līlāvatī served at the side of the mountain. Līlāvatī performed her duties to the teacher and others with great dedication, without deceit, even during her life as a courtesan. When her time came, freed from all sins by the power of her deeds, she went to the temple of Śiva. The goldsmith, though poor, was virtuous and never accepted payment from the courtesan; now, he has become you, O king. He became lord of the seven continents, shining like ten thousand suns. His wife, Bhānumatī, illuminated the golden trees made by the goldsmith, and from that illumination, her radiant form arose, granting them rulership of the world. All this was because the ritual for the salt mountain was performed at night by the two, without pride. Thus, in this world, unconquered status, health, and fortune are attained. So you too, following the prescribed rites, should offer grain mountains and other offerings tenfold. Honoring Vasiṣṭha’s words, the righteous king gave hundreds of grain mountains and other offerings, and went to Murāri’s world, worshipped by the celestials. Even a poor man, if he sees, touches, or hears of these offerings with great devotion, and gives with a pure mind, he too attains heaven. Evil dreams are pacified by recitations performed with the great mountains, dispelling the fear of worldly existence. What more, then, should a sage of tranquil mind do here, who offers all the lordly mountains? Now, let us turn to the rites for peace and prosperity. Once, for the fulfillment of all desires, Śaunaka asked how these rites should be performed daily. One who desires wealth or peace should begin a planetary sacrifice; likewise, those seeking increase, long life, strength, or wishing to counteract evil may do so. Listen as I declare the procedure. Having reviewed all scriptures and summarized their teachings, I now explain the pacification of the planets, as enjoined by the Purāṇas and Vedas. On an auspicious day, as prescribed by the Brāhmaṇas, one recites the sacred texts, installs the planets and their presiding deities, and begins the fire offering. The planetary sacrifice is threefold: the first is an offering of ten thousand oblations, the next is one hundred thousand, and so on, as taught by those learned in the Purāṇas and Vedas. Thus, the sacred traditions of offerings and planetary rites bring blessings, peace, and prosperity to all who perform them with devotion and purity.