As he pondered deeply over the matter at hand, Lakṣmaṇa stood quietly at the door, awaiting his turn. Seeing him there, the one inside quickly approached and, with warmth and affection, spoke to Lakṣmaṇa, who was clearly weakened by hunger. He reminded Lakṣmaṇa that, in striving to fulfill a purpose, one must not act contrary to the instructions given. Then, Lakṣmaṇa informed the sage that someone was waiting before Rāma, earnestly seeking an audience. After considering the proper time, Rāma sent Lakṣmaṇa forth and himself went outside. With due respect, he escorted the eminent sage Durvāsas, sending him forth with honor. Lakṣmaṇa, ever obedient and heroic, carried out Rāma’s command without deviation. He then withdrew, bathed, and quickly settled into deep meditation. In that moment, a wondrous vision appeared: Indra, the lord of the gods, adorned with a thousand hoods, arrived from the celestial realms, surrounded by the immortals. At that sacred instant, Lakṣmaṇa, steadfast in truth, attained his true form as Śeṣa, the divine serpent. Indra spoke, “Lakṣmaṇa, rise quickly and ascend to your own abode. Attain the supreme, eternal Vaiṣṇava realm.” Then, with his thousand-jewelled hoods, Śeṣa pierced the earth in a thousand places, scorching it with his radiant coils. Because of this, the place became renowned as Sahasradhāra—the ‘Thousand Streams’—and this name would endure without doubt. The sacred site thus formed covers a space measured as twenty-five bows. Whoever bathes here, purified from all sins, attains the world of Viṣṇu. Here, the wise who bathe and worship the imperishable Śeṣa according to the prescribed rites are especially blessed. With faith, one should offer gold, food, and garments at this holy place. Sahasradhāra is a great tīrtha, a sacred ford, bestowing the fruits of all desires. In the month of Śrāvaṇa, on the fifth day of the bright fortnight, the virtuous celebrate a grand festival, beginning with the worship of Śeṣa. The twice-born are satisfied with devotion, and the Nāga is worshipped first. Those who, with focused minds, bathe here in the month of Vaiśākha also receive great merit. During Mādhava, men should diligently perform the prescribed rites, for bathing here grants the fulfillment of all desires. Whoever, with devotion, gives a well-adorned milch cow dedicated to Viṣṇu at this tīrtha will gain eternal residence in the everlasting world of Viṣṇu. Here, the faithful should especially worship for the pleasure of Lakṣmī-Nārāyaṇa and for the attainment of Lakṣmī herself. All the sacred places gather together here, and the great merit of bathing in all tīrthas is surely obtained at Sahasradhāra. When Śeṣa was established at this tīrtha, capable of removing the burden of the earth, the place attained supreme fame. From that time onward, especially on the bright fifth day in the month of Śrāvaṇa, bathing at Sahasradhāra tīrtha grants one heaven. O best of men, whoever bathes and gives charity here, with reverence and according to the prescribed method, gains the highest merit. At this point, the sage Kṛṣṇadvaipāyana spoke sweet words, saying, “Hearing your narration, my mind has been filled with supreme joy. Please, as I listen, tell me truthfully of another excellent tīrtha.” Agastya replied, “Hear, O brāhmaṇa, I shall tell you of another unsurpassed tīrtha. Only the Lord can fully describe the greatness of the gateway to heaven. Beginning from the thousand streams in the waters of the eastern Sarayu, the expanse of the gateway to heaven has been described by those learned in ancient lore.