As the gods once drank the nectar of immortality, droplets fell to earth, and from those sacred drops arose you, O sugar mountain, our gentle protector. It is told that sugar itself emerged from the very center of the bow of Kāma, the god of love; thus, you, great mountain, are composed of that sweetness. Shield us, we pray, from the vast ocean of worldly existence. Whoever offers the sugar mountain in the proper manner is freed from all sin and attains the highest state. Such a person, together with his family, ascends a celestial vehicle radiant like the moon, stars, and sun, carried onward by the will of Vishnu. After a hundred aeons, he is reborn as the lord of the seven continents, blessed with long life and health for three thousand births. It is right to offer food as one is able, free from envy, on all mountains. Everywhere, salt and alkaline substances may be consumed with permission, and all mountain offerings should be given to the Brahmins’ abode. Long ago, in a great age, there was a king who embodied righteousness, a friend to Indra, who slew thousands of demons. His radiance was so great that even the moon and sun seemed dim beside him; unconquered by any foe, he could take any form at will, and even as a human, remained undefeated. His queen, Bhānumatī, was the most beautiful woman in all the three worlds, her divine form surpassing even the celestial maidens, shining with the splendor of Lakṣmī herself. She was his chief queen, more precious to him than life, standing out among ten thousand women like Śrī herself. Surrounded by a hundred thousand kings, he was never parted from her. Once, seated in his court and filled with wonder, the king turned to the sage Vasiṣṭha and asked, “O revered one, by what righteousness have I attained this unsurpassed fortune? Why does this supreme radiance always dwell within me?” Vasiṣṭha replied, “Once, there was a courtesan named Līlāvatī, devoted to Śiva. On the fourteenth day, she gave to her teacher a salt mountain, adorned with golden trees and other offerings, all in accordance with the prescribed rites. At that time, there lived a Śūdra goldsmith named Śauṇḍa, a servant in Līlāvatī’s house. He crafted those golden items with great devotion and extraordinary skill, without accepting any payment, knowing it to be a righteous deed. The golden divine trees he made were illuminated by his wife, while Līlāvatī served devotedly at the side of the mountain. She performed her duties to her teacher and others without deceit, serving with great dedication even in her life as a courtesan. When her time came, freed from all sin by the power of her deeds, she ascended to the temple of Śiva. That goldsmith, though poor, was of great virtue; he never took payment from the courtesan. Now, O king, that goldsmith has become you. You have become the lord of the seven continents, shining like ten thousand suns. Your wife, Bhānumatī, is the same who once illuminated those golden trees. From that illumination, her radiant form arose, and together you attained rulership of the world—all because you both performed the salt mountain ritual at night, without pride. Therefore, in this world, unconquered status, health, and fortune are attained by such acts. You too should offer grain mountains and similar gifts, tenfold, according to the prescribed rites. Thus, honoring Vasiṣṭha’s words, the righteous king gave hundreds of grain mountains and other offerings, and in time, went to the world of Murāri, worshipped by the celestials. Even a poor man, if he sees, touches, or merely hears of these offerings with great devotion and gives them with a pure mind, will also ascend to heaven. Recitations performed with the great mountains dispel evil dreams and the fear of worldly existence. What more, then, should a sage of tranquil mind do, who offers all the lordly mountains? Now, Vaiśampāyana continues: Once, seeking the fulfillment of all desires, the sage Śaunaka asked how the daily rites for peace and prosperity should be performed. “One who desires wealth or peace,” he was told, “should begin a planetary sacrifice. Likewise, those seeking increase, long life, strength, or wishing to counteract evil—listen, and I will declare the proper procedure. “Having reviewed all the scriptures and summarized their vast teachings, I shall explain the pacification of the planets, as taught in the Purāṇas and Vedas. On an auspicious day, as prescribed by the Brāhmaṇas, after reciting the sacred texts and installing the planets and their presiding deities, one should begin the fire offering. “The planetary sacrifice is threefold: the first is the offering of ten thousand oblations, the next is one hundred thousand, and the third, ten million, which grants all desired results. The sacrifice to the nine planets requires ten thousand offerings. “Here is the procedure: To the northeast of the sacrificial pit, prepare a platform two spans wide. Establish a square altar facing north, surrounded by two embankments and equal in height and width, for the installation of the deities. Having kindled the fire, invoke the gods there; then install twenty deities, plus twelve, for the rites. “The Sun, Moon, Mars, Mercury, Jupiter, Venus, Saturn, Rāhu, and Ketu—these are the planets, the benefactors of the world. In the center, place the Sun; to the south, Mars; north, Jupiter; northeast, Mercury; east, Venus; southeast, the Moon; west, Saturn; southwest, Rāhu; and northwest, Ketu, using white rice grains. “Know Śiva as the lord of the Sun, Umā as that of the Moon, Skanda for Mars, and Hari for Mercury. Brahmā presides over Jupiter, Indra over Venus, Yama over Saturn, and Time over Rāhu. For Ketu, Citragupta is the presiding deity. For all, the overlord deities are Agni, Waters, Earth, Viṣṇu, Indra, and the goddess Aindrī.” Thus, by performing these rites with devotion and according to the prescribed procedures, peace, prosperity, and all desired blessings are attained.