Agastya began his account: In ancient times, Brahma, the great creator of the worlds, recognized the supreme presence of Hari, the infallible Lord. Moved by this realization, Brahma journeyed to a sacred place, where he undertook a pilgrimage in the manner prescribed by tradition. There, the grandsire of all beings performed the holy rites with devotion. The site itself was wondrous—adorned with vast, pure waters whose waves seemed to wash away all impurity. Its beauty was enhanced by flocks of hamsa and sarasa birds, and it was known as Cakra, a place delightful to behold. In this serene pond, all the gods gathered and bathed, each emerging imbued with purity. Suddenly, a marvel unfolded before their eyes. The gods beheld the entire pond, freshly excavated, shining with a pure, radiant brilliance. Amazed, they realized that by bathing there, all their impurities had vanished. Addressing Brahma, they said, “O best of gods, by your grace, tell us more about the greatness of this pond, which bestows such varied blessings.” Brahma spoke of its extraordinary power: “By bathing here in the proper way, even the most sinful creatures find a place in my world until the very dissolution of creation. Through giving and offering oblations as one is able, a person becomes prosperous by bathing in this sacred lake. It is equal to all sacrifices and destroys even the gravest sins. My presence will always remain in this pond, and each year, I shall visit it on pilgrimage. Here, gold and various garments should always be given in charity.” After witnessing these divine events, the sacred place, along with the assembled gods, vanished from sight. From that moment on, the pond became renowned across the earth as the supreme holy site. Sūta continued the tale: After narrating these events, Agastya, the sage famed for his austerities and miraculous birth from a pot, traveled to a place called Ṛṇamocana, which lies on the banks of the Sarayū river. There, the Brahma-pond had been created, its expanse measured by seven hundred bows. In earlier times, the eminent sage Lomaśa resided there. Through his devotion, he became free from all debts and his sins were washed away. Such are the virtues of this foremost of sacred places—by bathing here, beings are released from the suffering of debts, both worldly and spiritual. The threefold debt of men is removed, making this the best of all tīrthas, inspiring instant faith. Therefore, one should bathe here and give gifts according to one’s ability, as prescribed—gold, garments, and other offerings. Agastya concluded that after describing the greatness of this place, sage Lomaśa himself became free from all debts. Thus, the tīrtha called Ṛṇamocana, situated eastward in the waters of the Sarayū, is to be revered. Nearby is another sacred spot called Pāpamocana, created with two hundred bows. Its sanctity manifests instantly, leaving no room for doubt. Agastya recounted witnessing its supreme greatness himself. There lived a brāhmaṇa named Narahari, born in the land of the Pāñcālas. He had committed many sins, including the gravest of all—killing a brāhmaṇa. Yet, through the company of the virtuous, he developed a desire to undertake a pilgrimage. Guided by good people, he bathed at this sin-cleansing holy place. As he emerged from the waters, a shower of flowers descended from the sky, falling upon his head—a sign of divine grace. Witnessing this great wonder, Agastya himself was filled with awe, and thus the story of these sacred places and their boundless virtues was revealed.