By the upholding of this supreme greatness, those devoted to it find their sins washed away. They are graced by the compassion of Sadāśiva himself and are granted the blessed vision of the crimson mountain, Aruṇācala. Through the command of Śiva, the goddess herself descended from the lofty summit of Kailāsa to this sacred place. Though there are many holy abodes of the Lord scattered across the earth, here, in Aruṇācala, Sadāśiva is present in his own true form. This radiant liṅga, revered by all the gods, shines forth at Aruṇācala, and by the brilliance of its Lord, every impurity is cleansed. By performing circumambulations, offering salutations, undertaking austerities, and observing sacred vows at this place, devotees earn blessings far surpassing those gained by other acts of penance, yoga, or gifts elsewhere. Indeed, Śaṃkara is most pleased not by great austerities or offerings, but by sincere acts of devotion at Aruṇācala. The eternal Vedas and the ancient Itihāsas themselves remain established in the heavens, yet the full glory of Aruṇācala is not known even to me, nor to the mighty wielder of the Śārṅga bow. Even the gods, with Hari at their head, and the wish-fulfilling trees from the beginning of time, cannot fathom its entirety. For the devotee of Aruṇācala, there is no taint of the Kali age, nor any outbreak of afflictions or disease. Thus, all this has been revealed, which is the very refuge at the feet of Śambhu. The sage Sanaka himself attained this supreme state, drinking the delightful fruit of austerities from the twin cups of the Vedas. Now, as the narration of the greatness of Aruṇācala continues, the sages who were residing in the sacred forest of Naimiṣāraṇya gathered and addressed Sūta: “O Sūta, tell us, among all the holy places of Śiva, which is the foremost?” Sūta replied, “Listen, O sages, to what I once heard from the lips of Nandīśvara. O Nandīśvara, you have already spoken of the greatness of Mādhyeśvara. Yet, O Lord of gods, ocean of compassion, please tell us again, for nothing in these three worlds is hidden from you. Among the blessings of heaven and liberation, it is the earth that is truly most precious for people. You have described for us the threefold fruits attainable by mortals, and when merit is exhausted, the first two—heaven and prosperity—diminish. But that highest attainment, as you have said, is accessible only through pure knowledge. In what place does such knowledge arise, without the need for study or scripture? For embodied beings, the rest depend on the practices of knowledge, yoga, and action. Yet, by the greatness of a certain place, even with little effort, embodied beings can attain liberation—by wearing the sacred ash and rudrākṣa beads, or by remembering the Lord even once. Even those who reside there unintentionally, those born in mixed castes, or even in animal wombs, are blessed.” Having thus spoken, the son of Mṛkaṇḍu, along with other great sages, listened as Nandikeśvara replied: “O sage, you have inquired about the place that is foremost among the devotees of Maheśvara. Truly, it was established by the Lord according to the nature of each deed. You have served the seekers well, for their great benefit. With even a few actions, or through knowledge, the fruits of this place are attained again and again. How, indeed, can one who is detached from the world avoid rebirth? The regions sanctified by Śiva were described earlier by me, as the occasion arose. Some are on the banks of the Gaṅgā, some on the shores of the Sarasvatī; others are on the banks of the Narmadā, or by the Godāvarī. Some are beside the mighty ocean, others on distant islands, and still others near the Sarasvatī.” Thus, the sages listened, their hearts filled with reverence for the supreme greatness of Aruṇācala, the crimson mountain, the very embodiment of Sadāśiva on earth.