O Nārada, listen as I recount this sacred tale. By the consequence of his own disrespect, as was foretold, a certain person met the result of his actions. In this land of Śiva—renowned everywhere and stretching two yojanas in all directions—many wondrous events have taken place. Long ago, the Seven Sages, famed upon earth, fell under the weight of a powerful curse. Yet, the illustrious one, out of compassion, granted release from that curse to these great-souled sages. Near the mountain called Śoṇācala, there is a holy and auspicious place. There, one carrying a cherished object, concealed within a wooden vessel, journeyed onward. Being thirsty, he placed this hidden object in the sacred wooden vessel at a ford. Having arrived at Śoṇācala, this individual with the wooden vessel found his footing and, suddenly, was able to return to his own abode. Taking up the vessel himself and beholding what was within, he bowed with reverence to Mount Aruṇa. The great devotees of Śiva, with eyes wide in wonder, witnessed these events. Among them was Vālī, the illustrious son of Indra, who stood upon the peak of the rising mountain. From there, he beheld Mount Aruṇa, shining in the midst, worshipped by the gods themselves. Urged by his father Indra, Vālī approached Mount Śoṇa. Nala, having first performed worship, cherished the women he himself had created, who were dear to men. Ila, too, entered suddenly and remained steadfast, unbroken like the sacred forest of Gauri. Instructed by Vasiṣṭha, Ila worshipped the Śoṇa mountain in due form. Then, guided by Soma and filled with devotion, he remembered Mount Aruṇa and, through this remembrance, attained the highest state—a state even the immortals cannot reach. Yet, in another birth among deer, he did not obtain liberation through yoga. Again, following the instruction of Bhṛgu, he worshipped the Śoṇa mountain. Here, Sarasvatī, Sāvitrī, Śrī, Bhūmi, and the sacred rivers are present. Bhāskara, the Sun, dwells in the east, and Viśvāmitra in the south. The boundaries of this holy region are set upon the mountains, two yojanas apart, and at their ends resides the lord of Śoṇa mountain. On the northern peak, a great banyan tree is seen, its vast shadow always perfectly circular. Around this tree stand eight liṅgas, venerated by the guardians of the eight directions. Kings devoted to Śambhu, who follow the commands of Śaṅkara, are also present there. Nearby stands the great bakula tree, which ever grants the fruits of all desires. In ancient times, Agastya and Vasiṣṭha, after worshipping, approached Mount Aruṇa. The sacred river Śoṇa, once the son of Hiraṇyagarbha, flows here with pure, holy waters. In the northwestern direction, the holy place of Vāyu shines brightly. To the north of this mountain lies a sacred spot, radiant with golden lotuses. In the northeast, the Kubera Tīrtha is found, an excellent and auspicious place. On the western side, Lord Viṣṇu, the lotus-eyed, is present. Long ago, the nine planets bathed in these waters and thereby attained their proper stations in the heavens. Here also are Durga, Vinayaka, Skanda, Kṣetrapāla, and Sarasvatī, as well as the sacred rivers—Gaṅgā, Yamunā, Godāvarī, and Sarasvatī—gracing this holy land with their presence.