When the mighty battle had ended, a few of the surviving Dānavas—the foremost among the sons of Kālaya—fled in terror. In their desperation, they tore open the very body of the earth goddess and sought refuge in the hidden realms beneath her surface. Witnessing the defeat and destruction of the Dānavas, the gods were filled with relief and gratitude. They gathered around the foremost of sages, offering him words of praise and thanks. "By your grace, O highly fortunate one," they said, "the worlds have found great happiness. By your power, the mighty and terrifying Kālīyas have been destroyed." "O great sage, replenisher of the worlds," the gods pleaded, "restore the ocean to its fullness. Release again into it the water that you drank." The venerable sage, revered among all sages, replied calmly, "That water has already been digested by me. Another means must be considered for replenishing the ocean." He advised, "Let all of you make an effort to fill the ocean anew." Hearing the sage’s steadfast words, the gods were astonished and somewhat disheartened. After taking leave of the eminent sage with deep bows, all the people and the brahmins departed as they had come. The gods, along with Viṣṇu, followed Brahmā, the Grandfather of the worlds. Intent on restoring the ocean, they deliberated among themselves, joining their palms and discussing how the sea might be replenished. At last, Brahmā addressed the assembled gods: "Go as you wish, all of you. In due time, the ocean will return to its natural state. King Bhagiratha, moved by the cause of his ancestors, will bring down the stream of the Ganges, and with her waters, the ocean will be filled again." Accepting Brahmā’s command, the gods and the best of sages departed. Then, pleased with Agastya, the eminent sage, Brahmā spoke: "By you, the gods’ task—the destruction of the Dānavas—has been accomplished. Because you have delivered the gods, O sage, I am well pleased. Ask for whatever boon you desire, and I shall grant it." Agastya, with deep reverence, replied, "O Lord, residing here, I have accomplished this task for the gods. May my hermitage become the foremost of all hermitages. As you have declared, so shall it be—of this there is no doubt." Brahmā proclaimed, "Those men who, after making pilgrimage to Puṣkara, come here, who bathe in these pools and offer libations to the ancestors and gods, and who perform worship here—all these acts yield inexhaustible merit. Those who offer arghya, whether great or small, and cakes of rice and barley to the foremost brahmins, their dwelling will be in heaven. By their śrāddha, the ancestors will be satisfied until the cosmic dissolution. Whoever, even with roots, fruits, or tubers, satisfies a sage here, will reach the abode of the Seven Sages and rejoice for countless ages. "Having ascended the mountain of sacrifice and witnessed the emergence of the Ganges, the divine river will flow northward, departing towards Puṣkara. Whoever bathes here with devotion to ancestors and gods attains the fruit of an ashvamedha sacrifice without doubt. To feed a single Brahmin here is as if feeding a crore, and the food and drink given here become inexhaustible. Whatever desire a person wishes for, all will be fulfilled; and one who bathes here on earth does not enter a lower womb. "Among places, this is the highest; among sacred sites, the foremost. I have granted it, O best of sages, and so it shall be. From birth, whatever sin belongs to a woman or man is destroyed here immediately upon bathing." Having spoken thus, the blessed Brahmā, grandfather of the worlds, took his leave of Agastya and departed. Agastya remained in his own hermitage, which thus became renowned as the origin of Agastya’s hermitage. Now, O descendant of the Kurus, listen to the account of the hermitages of the seven sages: Atri, Vasiṣṭha, Pulastya, Pulaha, Kratu, Angiras, Gautama, Sumati, Sumukha, Viśvāmitra, Sthūlaśira, Saṃvarta, Pratardana, Raibhya, Bṛhaspati, Cyavana, Kaśyapa, Bhṛgu, Durvāsas, Jamadagni, Mārkaṇḍeya, Gālava, Uśanas, Bharadvāja, Yavakṛta, Sthūlakṣa, Sakalākṣa, Kāṇva, Medhātithi, Kṛta, Nārada, Parvata, Svagandhi, Cyavana the twice-born, Trinambu, Śabala, Dhaumya, Śatānanda, Kṛtavṛṇa, Jamadagni, Rāma, Aṣṭaka and others, and Kṛṣṇa Dvaipāyana along with his sons and disciples. All these sages, upon reaching Puṣkara, established the hermitage of the seven sages, surrounding it with sacred observances, compassion, and austerity. Among them were established compassion, victory, courage, austerity, truth, patience, simplicity, kindness, charity, and recitation. Whatever action is performed here yields fruit in the world beyond, and knowing this, the sages remain devoted to the highest truth. Here, atheists do not come, nor thieves, nor those lacking self-control, nor the cruel, nor slanderers, nor the ungrateful, nor the arrogant. Only the truthful, radiant, courageous, compassionate, foremost in forgiveness, devoted to sacrifice, free from desire, and harmless—those without possessiveness or pride—come to Puṣkara. For such great souls, there is no disease, no old age, and no death.