Hear, then, this sacred tale as it was spoken. Among all things, just as gold is foremost among metals, so too should this be regarded as supreme. For one who studies what benefits all beings attains immortality, O King. Having thus imparted the very essence of all dharma to Śunaḥśakha, the sages, along with him, settled themselves on the bank of a tranquil lake. The lake was vast, its surface adorned with blooming lotuses and water-lilies. Drawn by its beauty, they descended to its edge and began gathering lotus stalks, binding them together in bundles. Once they had collected the stalks, they placed the bundles on the shore and performed auspicious water-rites, sanctifying themselves. Emerging from the water, they assembled together. But when they looked, they found that the lotus roots were missing. Troubled, they spoke among themselves: “By whom, among us—tormented by hunger and burdened with sinful deeds—have the lotus roots been taken away so cruelly, driven by the desire for food?” Suspicion crept among the best of the twice-born, and they questioned one another. To resolve their doubts, all of them agreed to take a solemn oath. Kaśyapa spoke first: “May whoever has stolen the lotus roots lose everything everywhere and commit the grave offense of violating a trust. Let him become a false witness, act piously with hypocrisy, and serve kings. Let him eat honey and meat, always speak falsehood, and indulge in sensual pleasures. Let him give his daughter in marriage for a price.” Vasiṣṭha added: “Let him engage in unlawful unions and be lost in idle daydreams. Let him take food as a guest from another. Let a Brahmin, lord of a low-caste woman, dwell alone in a village with a single well. Let the thief attain the same world as such a one.” Bharadvāja declared: “Let him be cruel to all and arrogant in prosperity. Let him be envious and slanderous, insulted when he insults, struck when he strikes another. Let him be one who sells juices.” Gautama said: “Let him, upon receiving a guest, serve food of inferior quality. Let him always eat food prepared by a Śūdra, boast after giving gifts, and take pleasure in other men’s wives. Let him eat his favorite food alone.” Viśvāmitra spoke: “Let him always be devoted to desire and engage in sexual acts during the day. Let him always be a sinner, speak ill of others, and consort with other men’s wives. Let him be devoted to slander, disrespect his mother and father, regard his mother as another’s, always eat food prepared by others, and consort with other men’s wives. Let him be one who sells the Vedas.” Jamadagni pronounced: “Let him become the servant of another, birth after birth. Let him be devoid of all righteous acts.” At last, Śunaḥsakha said: “Let him study the Vedas lawfully, be a householder who welcomes guests with affection, always speak the truth, offer oblations to fire according to rule, and perform sacrifices continually. Whoever commits the theft of lotus stalks should go to the abode of Brahma.” The sages agreed: “This oath taken by the twice-born is indeed proper.” Then, turning to Śunaḥsakha, they said, “You have committed the theft of the lotus stalks, O friend of Śunah, for all of us.” Śunaḥsakha replied, “Indeed, I concealed these lotus stalks for your sake, O twice-born ones. Know me also as Vāsava, desiring to hear about dharma. O best of sages, by your non-greed and imperishable vision, you have conquered the worlds.” He continued, “Ascend the celestial vehicle; let us go to the abode of the gods.” Realizing the truth, the great sages approached Purandara (Indra). They spoke to Purandara, skilled in speech: “Whoever comes here and enters the middle Puṣkara as a man—having fasted for three nights—attains the desired result. Among the dwellers of the forest, the twelve-year vow is remembered. Here, he attains the complete fruit of that vow, without doubt. He does not fall into misfortune; instead, he rejoices with his companions. Having reached the place of Virinci, he remains there for a day of Brahma.” Pulastya continued the tale: “Then, together with Indra, they joyfully ascended to heaven. Though tempted by many kinds of greed, they did not succumb and thus attained heaven. Whoever hears this auspicious account of the sages daily is freed from all sins and is honored in the world of heaven.” At this point, Bhīṣma, filled with wonder, said, “This story is wondrous and delightful, a destroyer of sin. Tell it to me in detail, as it truly is, since I ask. The greatness of the middle region has been praised by the sages. The fruit of food has been spoken of, as well as the greatness of restraint. And where Viṣṇu placed his foot, O great sage, and the origin of the youngest—tell me as it truly happened.” Pulastya replied: “In the ancient Rathaṃtara cycle, there was a king named Puṣpavāhana, renowned in all the worlds, radiant like the sun. By his austerity, he pleased the four-faced one, Brahma, and received a golden lotus, able to travel wherever he wished. He always wandered as he pleased through the seven islands and the world. At the beginning of the cycle, the island was shared with the inhabitants of Puṣkara. Because it was honored by the people, it is called Puṣkara Island. That vehicle, a lotus, was given to him by Brahma. Therefore, the gods and demons called him Puṣpavāhana. There is no equal in the three worlds to the king who dwells on Brahma’s lotus.” Thus is the story, radiant and auspicious, as it was truly spoken.