Upon the slopes and in the valleys of the sacred mountain, the king himself took up his abode. The rocks there were wondrous, exuding divine milk—sweet as nectar and untouched by thorns. In this enchanting place, buffaloes and goats roamed freely, their presence everywhere. Some rocks overflowed with milk, while in other places, curds could be found, even outside the mountain’s heart. Witnessing such marvels, the lord of the earth was filled with supreme delight. He beheld divine lakes and rivers, their waters pure and clear. Channels ran through the land—some warm, some cool—each offering its own comfort, and the mountain’s caves beckoned with delight at every turn. Remarkably, within five yojanas around, there was no snowfall; the beautiful slopes of the mountain peak remained free from snow. Yet, O King, there was a white peak belonging to the lord of mountains, where clouds gathered and brought snowfall together. On another summit, rain-clouds always poured down, showering the excellent peak with stones. Amidst these wonders was a hermitage, enchanting and blessed, where streams flowed that fulfilled every wish. The trees there bore fruit constantly, their bounty fit for the foremost gods. The hermitage was ever attended by bees and divine women, its praises sung without cease. It was a place that destroyed all sins, striking awe like the mountain itself. Monkeys played from place to place, and heaps of snow shone brightly, like the disc of the moon. The hermitage was surrounded on all sides by snow-filled caves and mountain enclosures, always inaccessible to ordinary men. Into this sacred realm came the great king Pururavas, whose devotion had long been established. By the grace of the god of gods, he reached the hermitage. There, his fatigue was soothed and his heart enchanted. The hermitage was adorned with hundreds of delightful flowers, beautifully arranged by Atri himself. It radiated auspiciousness and brought good fortune, appearing before the king of Madra in all its glory. Within this region, two great peaks rose, vast in color and covered in snow, and between them a third peak soared exceedingly high. This third peak was formed from eternally heated stone and was always free from clouds. Beneath it, among the trees in the western direction, the king beheld a beautiful cave surrounded by jasmine creepers. Filled with curiosity, he entered. The cave was dense with darkness, narrow as a nalva. Passing beyond its length, the king found it shining with the brilliance of its own ornaments. The place was exceedingly lofty, deep, and winding—a realm where neither sun nor moon could shine. Yet, it always appeared as day, illuminated both day and night. It measured more than a krosha and was splendid with a lake. All around the lake were platforms attached to the mountain, adorned with golden, silver, and coral trees. Jeweled flowers sparkled, and in the lake bloomed lotuses with petals of padmaraga gems, their filaments diamond-bright and fragrant, their leaves of emerald and sapphire. The centers of the lotuses were gold, and the lake’s floor was covered not with diamonds, but with a variety of gems. This was the abode of aquatic creatures—cowries, oysters, and conches—as well as crocodiles, fish, and fierce turtles. Among them lay pieces of emerald and thousands of diamonds: padmaraga, indranila, great sapphires, spinel gems, and karkoṭaka stones. There were pieces of copper, portions of shesha, and the chief rājāvarta, along with beautiful-eyed gems, sun and moon gems, and those with the deepest blue hue. Portions of the radiant syamantaka gem were present, alongside gems of the gods and serpents, crystal, garnet, yellow sapphire, and emerald dust. Sapphires, sugandhika, royal gems, the chief diamond, and the brahma gem all gleamed. Pearls adorned those who bore the form of stars. The water of the lake was pleasantly warm, dispelling the chill of bathing, and the lake itself—set within the stone of vaidurya—was beautiful. Its measure was two hundred bows in length, square in shape, delightful, and created by the austerities of the three. On a charming island within the lake, there was a region like the entrance to a cave, entirely golden. Nearby, a lovely lotus-pond rested upon a stone terrace, its pure, cool drinking water adorned with aquatic flowers. The pond was like the sky—square and enchanting—with water that was sweet, light, cool, and fragrant. It neither parched the throat nor filled the belly, yet brought supreme satisfaction and great comfort to the body. In the midst of this pond stood a palace, built by the austerities of the three. At its entrance was a golden bridge, splendid and adorned with every jewel. The palace shone like the rays of the moon, made of silver, with delightful stairs of vaidurya and pure coral railings. Its great pillars were sapphire, its platforms set with emeralds, and it sparkled with a network of diamond rays, beautiful and pleasing to behold.