Once, there was a great king, ever surrounded by a hundred thousand rulers, who was never parted from his devoted queen. One day, seated in his splendid court and filled with awe at his own good fortune, the king turned to the illustrious sage Vasiṣṭha and asked, “O revered one, by what righteousness have I attained such unsurpassed prosperity? Why does this supreme radiance always dwell within my body?” In gentle tones, Vasiṣṭha replied, “Long ago, there lived a courtesan named Līlāvatī, deeply devoted to Lord Śiva. On the sacred fourteenth day, she made an offering to her teacher: a salt mountain, golden trees, and other gifts, all presented with proper rites and reverence. At that time, in her household served a Śūdra goldsmith named Śauṇḍa. With great care and artistry, he fashioned these golden trees and celestial forms, knowing it was a righteous act. He accepted no payment, for his heart was set only on virtue. The golden divine trees he crafted were illuminated by his wife’s touch, while Līlāvatī herself served at the side of the salt mountain. Throughout her life, Līlāvatī performed her duties to her teacher and others with unwavering dedication and sincerity, even as she continued in her profession. When her time on earth ended, by the power of her good deeds, she was freed from all sin and ascended, O Nārada, to the temple of Lord Śiva. As for the goldsmith, though he had been poor, he was virtuous and never took reward for his service. Now, O king, he has become you. It is by his past actions that you are the lord of the seven continents, shining with the brilliance of ten thousand suns. Your wife, Bhānumatī, is the same soul who once illuminated those golden trees. From her radiance, your own glory arose, and you attained sovereignty over the world. All this is the fruit of the ritual for the salt mountain, performed at night by both of you, without pride or expectation of reward. Therefore, in this world, those who act thus attain unconquered status, health, and fortune. You too, following the prescribed rites, should offer grain mountains and other gifts tenfold.” Hearing these words of Vasiṣṭha, the righteous king honored the sage’s instruction. He gave hundreds of grain mountains and other offerings, and, worshipped by the celestials, attained the world of Murāri. Even a poor man, if he sees, touches, or hears of these offerings with devotion and gives them with a pure heart, will also ascend to heaven. Recitations performed with these great offerings pacify evil dreams and dispel the fears of worldly existence. If even the troubled find peace by such acts, what then of a sage with tranquil mind who offers all the lordly mountains? Now, once, for the fulfillment of all desires, Śaunaka, seated in contemplation, asked how the rites for peace and prosperity could be performed daily. “How should one who seeks wealth, peace, increase, long life, or strength—or who wishes to counteract evil—undertake the planetary sacrifice? O Brahman, declare to me the procedure.” The sage replied, “Having studied all the scriptures and distilled their essence, I shall explain the pacification of the planets as prescribed by the Purāṇas and Vedas. On an auspicious day, as directed by the Brāhmaṇas, recite the sacred texts, install the planetary deities, and begin the fire offering. The planetary sacrifice is threefold, as taught by those learned in the Purāṇas and Vedas: the first involves ten thousand oblations, the second one hundred thousand, and the third, ten million, which grants all desired results. The sacrifice to the nine planets specifically requires ten thousand offerings. Let me describe the procedure: To the northeast of the fire pit, prepare a platform two spans wide. Erect a square altar facing north, surrounded by two embankments and equal in height and width, for the installation of the deities. Kindle the sacred fire and invoke the gods. Install twenty deities, plus twelve more, for the rites. The planets to be worshipped are the Sun, Moon, Mars, Mercury, Jupiter, Venus, Saturn, Rāhu, and Ketu—bringers of welfare to the world. In the center, place the Sun; to the south, Mars; to the north, Jupiter; to the northeast, Mercury; to the east, Venus; to the southeast, the Moon; to the west, Saturn; to the southwest, Rāhu; and to the northwest, Ketu, using white rice grains. Know that Śiva is the overlord of the Sun, Umā of the Moon, Skanda of Mars, Hari of Mercury, Brahmā of Jupiter, Indra of Venus, Yama of Saturn, and Time of Rāhu. For Ketu, the presiding deity is Citragupta. Over all these are Agni, the Waters, Earth, Viṣṇu, Indra, and the goddess Aindrī. Prajāpati and the serpents, Brahmā as secondary deities, and Vināyaka, Durgā, Vāyu, Ākāśa, as well as the Aśvinī Kumāras, are also to be invoked with the sacred vyāhṛtis. Meditate on the Sun and Mars as red, the Moon and Venus as white, Mercury and Jupiter as tawny, Saturn and Rāhu as black, and Ketu and his group as smoky in hue. Offer colored powders, garments, and flowers; fragrant incense should be placed above, and a beautiful canopy adorned with fruits and flowers should be set up. To each planet, offer their favored foods: sweet rice to the Sun, clarified butter rice pudding to Soma, wheat cakes to Mars, milk rice to Mercury, curd rice to Jupiter, clarified butter rice to Indra, rice with pulses to Saturn, goat meat to Rāhu, and colored rice to the comets—each worshipped with various foods. To the northeast of the altar, place a flawless pot adorned with curd, unbroken grains, mango leaves, fruits, and pairs of garments. Fill it with five gems and five metals, and install Varuṇa therein. Invoke all rivers beginning with the Ganges, the oceans, lakes, and sacred confluences—elephants, horses, roads, anthills, ponds, and cow pastures. Bring earth mixed with all medicinal waters and place it there for the ritual bath of the sacrificer. May all oceans, rivers, lakes, and streams come to the sacrificer, bringing the destruction of all sin.” Thus, the sages taught the king and seekers the path of offerings and planetary rites, leading to peace, prosperity, and the highest good.