Though surrounded by many temptations and opportunities for gain, the couple did not fall prey to greed. Because of their steadfastness, they attained heaven. Whoever hears this auspicious tale of these sages each day, too, becomes freed from all sins and is honored in the heavenly realms. Bhīṣma, deeply moved, spoke: “This story is wondrous and delightful—a destroyer of sin. Please, tell it to me in detail, exactly as it happened. The sages have praised the greatness of the middle region, the merit of offering food, and the virtue of restraint. Tell me also, O great sage, where Viṣṇu placed his foot and the origin of the youngest—relate these as they truly occurred.” Pulastya replied: “In the ancient Rathaṃtara cycle, there lived a king named Puṣpavāhana, famed throughout the worlds and radiant like the sun. By his austerities, he pleased the four-faced Brahmā and received a wondrous gift: a golden lotus that could travel wherever he wished. The king roamed the seven islands and the world at will, and in the beginning of the cycle, he shared an island with the inhabitants of Puṣkara. Because the people honored it, it became known as Puṣkara Island. This remarkable lotus, his vehicle, was given by Brahmā himself. Thus, the gods and demons called him Puṣpavāhana—he who moves with flowers. Among all in the three worlds, there was no equal to this king who dwelt upon Brahmā’s lotus. By the power of his penance, his queen Lāvaṇyavatī was born—a woman honored by thousands, as cherished by Bhava as Pārvatī herself. Puṣpavāhana had ten thousand sons, all righteous and foremost among archers. The king, seeing his sons again and again, was filled with wonder. Curious about his extraordinary fortune, Puṣpavāhana approached the revered sage Pracetas, who had arrived and was worthy of worship. The king asked, ‘Why has such unshakable prosperity come to me, honored by gods and mortals alike? How did I gain a queen equal to Kamalajā? Through modest austerities I pleased my wife, and the creator gave me this lotus-house. Even if a hundred million kings with ministers, elephants, chariots, and crowds entered, its location could not be discerned—not even by those who travel the skies, nor by the stars or the moon, whose rays do not reach it. So, what has been accomplished by birth from another womb, by dharma and other deeds, that surpasses all others?’ ‘O Pracetas, tell me all of this—whether achieved by me, my sons, or my virtuous wife.’ Seeing the king’s change of fortune, Pracetas replied, ‘O king, listen to this wondrous cause and story. Once, you were born into a hunter’s family, fierce and committing sinful acts day after day. Your body was that of a man, with a foul-smelling nature, rough nails, and crude ornaments. You had no friends, sons, relatives, sisters, or mother—all were cursed. Yet, this earth, beautiful among hundreds of women, became highly esteemed and most desired, turning toward you. A terrible drought struck, and in time, you and your wife, afflicted by hunger, found no wild fruits or edible things. Then, you discovered a great lotus-filled lake, though it was obstructed by mud. Gathering many lotuses from there, you journeyed to the city of Vaidiśa, hoping to sell them. You wandered throughout the city, but found no buyer. Exhausted and greatly afflicted by hunger, you were left with nothing. You and your wife sat in the courtyard of a house. That night, you heard auspicious sounds. Drawn by curiosity, you both went to the place from which the sounds came. There, in the center of a circle, you saw the image of Viṣṇu. A courtesan named Aṃgavatī was observing the vow of the twelfth day, and on the twelfth day of the month of Māgha, she went to Lavaṇācala. She offered her teacher a bed adorned with furnishings and decorated Hṛṣīkeśa with gold, performing the ritual with great reverence. You both saw her, and thought, ‘What use are these lotuses? It is better that Viṣṇu be adorned with them.’ Thus, devotion arose in your hearts, and you worshipped Keśava at Lavaṇācala. The bed was worshipped everywhere with heaps of flowers. Pleased with your devotion, Aṃgavatī gave you three hundred measures of grain. She also ordered that three vessels of well-cleaned metal be given to you, but you did not accept them, relying instead on the virtue of non-greed. Again, Aṃgavatī brought you four kinds of food and invited you to eat, but you refused, saying, ‘We shall eat tomorrow, O beautiful one. Let us fast today in your auspicious company.’ You added, ‘From birth, O goddess, we two are most sinful, though firm in our vows. By your association, let not even a trace of unrighteousness remain in your house.’ Thus, with her, you kept vigil that night. At dawn, she gave you a bed with salt and a mountain of food. A village was given to the teacher with devotion, and twelve villages to the Brahmins, along with cows adorned with gold, garments, and ornaments. Food was shared with friends, companions, the poor, the blind, and the destitute. After honoring you, the humble couple, you were dismissed. Because of your worship of Keśava with heaps of lotuses, that hunter and his wife were reborn as you, O king of men. All your sins were destroyed by the worship at the temple of Puṣkara—by the power of truth and the austerity of non-greed. The Lord of the worlds, the four-faced Brahmā, was pleased and granted you a vehicle that goes wherever you desire. Therefore, O king, take refuge in Puṣkara. Having attained steadfastness for a kalpa and observing the vow of Dvadashi with prosperity, you will surely attain liberation.’ Having said this, the sage disappeared on the spot. The king, following the sage’s instructions, again performed the worship as Puṣpavāhana, honoring the divine as before.