O beautiful one, listen as I recount the sacred events and glories described in the ancient verses. For those who come to me, I bring relief from disease, though it may take time; I have spoken of the eighty-four types of disease that afflict beings. Yet, know this: such ailments are destroyed simply by my sight. In that holy place, my liṅga does not exist, O daughter of the mountain. There, only the act of bathing is required for my worship—there is no doubt about this. Once, in those ancient days upon the earth, there lived a powerful king of the solar dynasty, Brahmadatta. O queen of the gods, this noble king practiced austerities for a long time. He undertook the five-fire ritual and observed many other rigorous practices, such as monthly fasts, again and again. For many years, the king performed these great austerities with steadfast resolve, until at last I appeared before him in person, desiring to grant him a boon for his devotion. I spoke to him: “Brahmadatta, hear this great truth. Whatever you desire, I shall grant you without doubt.” The king replied, “O Lord of the gods, if my wish is to be fulfilled, let there always be one boon: let the Lord be born on earth by your name.” Pleased by his devotion and request, I granted this boon. Thereafter, I dwelled with him, O Queen of the gods. Whoever remains there and worships me with devotion, fasting in every way, I grant all their desires—even those as lofty as the wishes of the fourteen Indras. Furthermore, the brahmins who come and perform Rudra-japa and other rites with special care—listen well—I grant them happiness in their family life, joy in their children, and an increase of prosperity. Now, hear also the glory of sacred tīrthas. At Kambutīrtha, a man should bathe and offer libations to his ancestors, then worship Nārāyaṇa, the flawless Lord of lords. By giving proper gifts to the brahmins according to the rules, the power of this tīrtha ensures that he attains the world of Viṣṇu. In this very place, the royal sage Viśvāmitra, wise and longing for offspring, performed intense austerities. Sustained only by air, he fasted and was ever devoted to the worship and meditation of Viṣṇu. Through his penance, he obtained the children he desired. Thus, any man who goes to Kambutīrtha seeking offspring will surely be blessed with children—this is the truth. Such is the glory of Kambutīrtha. Thereafter, one should proceed to the tīrtha named Kapīśvara, foremost among the gods, near Raktasiṃha, a place that destroys even the gravest sins. In ancient times, when the bridge was being built during the battle between Rāma and Rāvaṇa, the best of mountains was specially brought there by the monkeys. At that place, called Kapīśvarāditya, an excellent tīrtha was established. Whoever bathes there and offers libations to the ancestors, upon beholding Kapīśvarāditya, is freed from the sin of killing a brāhmaṇa. Bathing there is especially meritorious on the eighth day of the month of Caitra. There, Hanumat and the other monkeys bathed for three days. Such is the might of Kapitīrtha. Whoever bathes and worships Kapīśvara at this tīrtha becomes handsome and enjoys many pleasures—there can be no doubt. Whether one desires strength, righteousness, or a son, all these wishes are fulfilled by the power of Kapitīrtha. Thus ends the account of the glory of Kapitīrtha, as told in the auspicious Padma Mahāpurāṇa, in the Uttarakhaṇḍa, during the sacred dialogue between Umā and Maheśvara. Now, O Queen of the gods, let me tell you of another great pilgrimage: Brahmavalli. Listen well to the nature of this holy place. Where the waters of Brahmavati join those of Brahmavalli, that is Brahmatirtha, esteemed as equal to Prayaga. There, by offering pindas, satisfaction is granted to one's ancestors for twelve years, as declared by Brahma himself. Especially at Brahmavalli, the merit gained is equal to performing the rites at Gaya; when these are performed with knowledge, the ancestors are truly satisfied. The giving of cows, land, and food at Brahmavalli yields immense merit. Here, Sanaka and other sages, after bathing according to the prescribed rites and meditating on the supreme Brahman, attained the realm of Viṣṇu. Whatever fruit is obtained by visiting sacred places such as Pushkara, the Ganga, or Amarakaṇṭaka, that fruit is also attained at Brahmavalli. Those who give gifts during lunar or solar eclipses at Brahmavalli receive equal merit, and they take on divine forms, bearing the conch, discus, and mace. After bathing, wearing a garland of tulasi, and remembering Nārāyaṇa, they ascend to the divine, blissful, and eternal abode of Vaikuntha. Such is the greatness of Brahmavalli. Next, one should go to Vrishatirtha, renowned at Khandatirtha. There, after bathing, the cows who once dwelled in Goloka attained heaven. By the virtue of Khandatirtha, those cows—the mothers of the world—who had fallen from their heavenly realm due to a curse, were restored; hence the place is called Khandatirtha. Parvati then asked: “Whose curse befell the world-mothers, the cows, in ancient times? How did they fall, and how were they restored by righteousness?” Mahadeva replied: “Once, while the cows were playing in Goloka with their mothers, a bull released dung and urine, which accidentally fell upon the head of Hara.” Thus, O beloved, are the sacred stories and glories of these holy places, where the devoted find relief, merit, and the fulfillment of their deepest desires.