The gathered assembly, filled with reverence, declared, “We shall not seek another holy place—this lake before us is the greatest of all, known to the twice-born as the ‘Great Puṣkara.’” As they approached, their eyes fell upon many hunchbacks gathered near the sacred waters, and all present were astonished by the sight. With hearts full of devotion, they offered various gifts and goods to the Brahmins, the twice-born, who then spoke of the eastern Sarasvatī. Eager to bathe in her sanctifying waters, the Brahmins set out and arrived at her banks. There, the foremost holy places along the Sarasvatī were alive with groups of Brahmins, and the land was adorned with splendid trees—jujube, inguda, kashmarya, plaksha, asvattha, and vibhitaka. The groves flourished with pauloma, palasha, karira, pilu, and syandana, mingling with the forests sacred to Sarasvatī herself. Further still, the scenery blossomed with kapittha, karavira, bilva, amlataka, atimukta, kanda, and parijata trees. Kadamba groves abounded, delightful to all beings, their fruits, leaves, and flowers swaying gently in the breeze and touched by the waters. Even dantolukhalika trees found their place among the abundance. The sacred sites were frequented by the foremost sages, especially those who pounded with stones, their voices resounding with the chants of self-study. Hundreds of herds of deer wandered freely, and the places were graced by those devoted to non-violence and supreme righteousness. The region shone with radiance and was known as Kanchana, the eastern Nanda, and Vishalaka. At Puṣkara, the Sarasvatī flowed in five streams, and upon the earth, the great assembly of Brahmā was taking place. When the sacrificial enclosure was prepared and the Brahmins and others had arrived, the auspicious day was proclaimed, and the divine rules were observed. As the gods engaged in the sacred rite and Brahmā himself was initiated, all his desires were fulfilled—whatever he contemplated in his mind, skilled as he was in righteousness and wealth, indeed came to be. The twice-born attended Brahmā everywhere, the gods and Gandharvas sang melodiously, and the Apsaras danced in joy. Divine instruments played splendidly, and even the gods were satisfied by the success of the sacrifice. All were filled with the utmost wonder—what then of human beings! The sacrifice at Puṣkara, with Brahmā present, was an event of supreme marvel. Then, O Bhīṣma, the sages, pleased by what they beheld, addressed Sarasvatī as Suprabhā and also as Sarasvatī. As she flowed swiftly and radiantly by Brahmā’s sacrifice, all the sages regarded her as exceedingly great. Thus, at Puṣkara, this best of rivers, Sarasvatī, arose for the sake of Brahmā and the satisfaction of the wise. Flowing in five streams, she made the holy even holier and became known as Suprabhā as well as Sarasvatī. In that sacred place, peaceful sages gathered, each expounding different teachings, and together they remembered Sarasvatī. Invoked by these great sacrificial seers, the blessed river Sarasvatī, filled with devotion and love, appeared in the eastern direction. Honored by the sages, she became known as the Eastern-flowing One. Now, O King, listen to another wondrous tale that unfolded on earth. It is said that a brāhmaṇa named Maṅkaṇaka was once wounded by a blade of kuśa grass, and from the wound on his hand, astonishingly, sugarcane juice began to flow. Overwhelmed with joy at this miracle, he began to dance. As he danced, all that was movable and immovable—the entire world—danced with him, bewildered by his radiance. The gods led by Indra and the ascetic sages were astonished by this spectacle. News of this reached Brahmā, who was told, “He should not dance in this way.” At Brahmā’s command, Rudra was sent for the sake of the sage. Rudra was instructed, “He must not dance so fiercely; you should tell him this.” Rudra approached and, seeing the sage overwhelmed with joy, asked, “O best of brāhmaṇas, for what reason are you dancing? As you dance, the whole world dances with you.” Even after being restrained, the excellent sage continued to dance and replied, “Do you not see, O god, that sugarcane juice flows from my hand?” Filled with great joy at this wonder, he continued his dance, and the god, smiling, spoke to the sage, who was deluded by passion. “O brāhmaṇa, I am not amazed by this; look at me here,” said Mahādeva. The sage, curious and meditative, wondered, “Who is this who has stopped me?” Then, to demonstrate, he struck his own thumb with his fingertip. From the wound emerged ash—white as snow. Seeing this, the sage felt ashamed and, falling at Rudra’s feet, declared, “I consider no one greater than you, O god; you, O wielder of the trident, are the refuge of the moving and unmoving universe. The wise declare that all this was created by you; at the end of the age, everything again enters into you. Even the gods cannot fully comprehend you—how could I? In you are seen all the gods, even Brahmā and the others. You alone are the creator and cause of all the gods; by your grace, all the gods here become fearless.” Having thus praised the great god, the sage, bowing low, added, “O Lord, by your grace, my austerity is not diminished here.” Pleased in mind, the god spoke again to the sage: “May your austerity increase a thousandfold, O Brahmin, by my grace.” Thus, the sacred events unfolded at Puṣkara, sanctified by the presence of gods, sages, and the blessed river Sarasvatī, whose glory and compassion continue to bless the wise and the devoted.