Having approached Arbuda, the great serpent, the sage spoke gently, “May you prosper here today, friend, blessed with humility. I shall remain here with you, without doubt.” Then, out of affection, he addressed Arbuda as a brother, saying, “Let fame come by my name; I desire nothing else.” With reverence, he bowed to his parents and set forth together with the sage. They journeyed through a land abundant with divine, auspicious trees, rivers, and cascading waterfalls. At the sage’s command, Arbuda released him from the chasm, freeing him with his great-souled nature. Once liberated, the sage turned to Arbuda and said, “Choose a boon, O steadfast one.” Arbuda replied, “If you must indeed grant something, listen, best of the twice-born. This pure stream of water flows on this very peak—here I shall reside always, O sage, out of friendship and affection. Even a barren woman who bathes here shall obtain a son endowed with all auspicious marks. On the bright fifth day of the lunar fortnight, if one performs worship here with fruits, those who bathe here at this holy place with devotion, and those who perform śrāddha here on the fifth day with concentration, all will be blessed.” Then, approaching Nandivardhana, the sage spoke, “Choose a boon, child; I am pleased with you, O sinless one.” Nandivardhana replied, “May your presence here always remain, without fail. Just as I am known as Arbuda, so may I attain fame on earth.” At the sage’s command, Nandivardhana established his own hermitage, surrounded by jackfruit, campaka, mango, priyangu, bilva, and pomegranate trees. In that sacred grove stood the best of sages, together with Arundhati. Bathing in those waters, even men who had committed great sins could ascend to heaven. Those who bathe there would attain the highest state. Whoever gives sesame here, especially in the month of Māgha, would be blessed. What need is there to say much? One should simply perform the bath here. Upon seeing the face of Vasiṣṭha, there would be no further rebirth. Sūta then said: Having established his hermitage there, the venerable sage Vasiṣṭha lived wholly devoted, sustained by fruits. For five hundred years, he subsisted on water alone. He practiced the five-fire austerity in summer and dwelled in water during winter. At last, Mahādeva was pleased with the great-souled sage. Seeing the Lord, Vasiṣṭha, filled with wonder, began a hymn: “Salutations to Śiva, the pure one, the all-pervading, the immortal. Salutations to the gross and the subtle, the all-pervading, the great soul. Salutations to the bearer of the crescent moon; salutations to the one clothed in directions. Salutations to you, whose form is knowledge, who is attainable through knowledge. O Lord of Kāśī, salutations to you; repeated salutations to the Lord of the Mountain. O beloved of Gaurī, salutations to you; salutations to you, whose nature is auspiciousness.