Because of a fault in a previous life, when Shravan died, he was reborn as a black snake. That very snake, named Kundā, was once Shravan’s wife; together, they shared the same fault. Thus, Kundā too was reborn—attaining a state of immobility and a dual nature. O King, this is the account of their earlier birth. Now, let me tell you of the merit they earned, by which all three—Shravan, Kundā, and another—were able to reach the delightful city of Kāśī, the sacred city of Viśveśvarī. Once, as they were returning from another village to their home, they came upon a cow that had fallen into a well. This cow, belonging to a traveler, was still giving milk. Moved by compassion and prompted by no one, they rescued the cow. Kundā, hearing the words of her companions, approved of their good deed. It was by this act of merit that the three of them attained a rare and blessed death, and ascended to Vaikuṇṭha in Kāśī, on the bank of Indraprastha. O King, this Kāśī is the city of Maheśa—yet even so, anyone who dies here finds happiness in Vaikuṇṭha, the abode of Hari. Thus, O King, I have told you the supreme glory of Kāśī. If there is anything else you wish to hear, please tell me. King Śibiru then spoke: “Sage, you have described to me three sacred fields of Maheśa: Kāśī, Śivakāñcī, and Gokarṇa. You have spoken of the greatness of Kāśī; now, please tell me about Gokarṇa and Śivakāñcī, if there is anything more.” Nārada replied: “Gokarṇa is a field sacred solely to Śiva, supremely pure. If a person dies there, O King, he attains unity with Śiva—there is no doubt. Whether on land, in water, or in the sky, if any creature dies there, Śiva, the Lord of Kailāsa’s peak, himself appears and rejoices. At this holy place of Gokarṇa, there is no rebirth for one who dies; together with Śiva, O King, that soul will ultimately attain liberation. Now, let me describe to you the greatness of Gokarṇa as I once heard it from Brahmā himself. Near Prayāga, within the length of a cow, beside the great holy place, there is a boundary mountain, auspicious to behold. There lived a Bhilla named Karkaṭa, a very cruel man. His wife, Jarā, had killed five husbands. Then, that old woman, having mixed poison, prepared a sixth sweetmeat with the intent to kill, as her sister had advised. O King, the great-souled Bhilla, accompanied by his wife, set out to kill a certain girl—the crab was exceedingly fierce. When the Bhilla, sword in hand, came to kill her, the girl realized his murderous intent and quickly fled. Frightened and desperate to save her life, she ran into the forest, with the crab pursuing her. At the holy place of Gokarṇa, the sword-wielding man caught her, cut off her head, and cast her body into the water. He then returned to his own place at Gokarṇa. Thus, that sinful old woman met her end at Gokarṇa. O King, on the peak of Kailāsa, I became a companion of Pārvatī. Thus, I have told you the glory of Gokarṇa. Now, let me describe to you the sacred greatness of Śivakāñcī, which stands on the bank at Indraprastha. That supreme state for men at Gokarṇa, which I have described—here, the glorious Mahādeva worshipped Viṣṇu, Lord of all the gods. Having worshipped him, he attained the kingship of devotees and true knowledge. Therefore, O sons of Brahmā, we all worship that great Lord. Here, we always worship him, seeking true devotion and knowledge. O King, it was here that Bāṇa, the demon, worshipped the great Lord. Fasting for a hundred years, desiring the privilege of being his attendant, the blessed Lord was pleased and granted Bāṇa his wish to become his own attendant. And always, I myself became the guardian of this city. O King, this city was once the abode of the great-souled Viṣṇu. Pleased by Śiva’s austerity, Viṣṇu gave the city to him. In this city, a great and wondrous event once occurred. There was a righteous Brahmin named Heramba, devoted to Śiva in body, mind, and speech. That blessed one traveled to the holy places of Śiva, and eventually came to Śivakāñcī. Wise as he was, he did not leave this enchanting place. Later, there, he gave up his life in the water, and the hosts of the glorious great Lord received that foremost Brahmin. At Heramba’s command, they brought the mountain Kailāsa, and in the midst of this, the hosts from Hari’s Vaikuṇṭha arrived. Intent on seizing that foremost of the twice-born by force, there arose a great battle between the hosts of Hari and those of Śarva. In that battle, neither side achieved victory or defeat. Then Viṣṇu himself came from Vaikuṇṭha, seated upon Garuḍa, and from Kailāsa, Maheśa—the upholder of the three worlds—arrived, mounted on his bull. Seeing each other’s faces, the two Lords of the universe smiled. As they watched the great battle waged in the sky by their hosts, Viṣṇu restrained both his own and the Śaiva hosts from further fighting in heaven. He placed the twice-born Heramba upon Garuḍa and, having ended the battle, went to Śiva’s abode. Śiva, along with his hosts, and Mādhava with his own, accompanied him, united in harmony.