Upon hearing about the sacred observance, you immediately rose, recognizing that it was a night of vigil. In that place, a courtesan named Nāgavatī was devotedly observing the holy night dedicated to Śiva. O King, as you watched, you questioned the maidservant who stood by Nāgavatī’s side. She explained to you: “On this night of Śivarātri, this beautiful courtesan is engaged in worship. Whoever, with faith and devotion, keeps vigil throughout this night, and having fasted, worships Tryambaka with lotuses, will attain all their desires—even those most difficult for the gods themselves to obtain. So, having received their due, perform the act that sustains life.” As the gold was being taken, your wife addressed you. Both of you were compelled to fast, for there was no food to be found. She said, “Today, let this gold be given up by her. With faith, let us together keep vigil before Lord Śiva.” Thus, you and your wife remained awake, listening to the Purāṇa, O best of kings. With deep devotion, you kept vigil through the night before Kedāra as well. In time, the law of fate came to pass, and you met your end. After that, O great king, you were reborn as the daughter of the lord of Daśārṇa. On earth, you became known as Ajapāla. Because of these deeds, this wife—so dear to you as life itself—was born. By the greatness of that god, Kedāra, O king, you obtained, by Kedāra’s grace, great blessings. The king then resolved to journey to Kedāra. He traveled to the beautiful mountain and, having worshipped the Lord there, installed his son upon the throne and proceeded to Arbuda. O King, all this concerning Kedāra has now been told to you. Between the months of Māgha and Phālguna, on the fourteenth day of the dark fortnight, one should most certainly perform the royal procession for Lord Kedāra. Whoever keeps vigil there on this fourteenth night, after bathing at the confluence of Gaṅgā and Sarasvatī—which grants all desires—and drinks the pure water from the pool called Kedāra, and whoever listens to this sacred account daily with supreme devotion, O King, will be blessed. From there, the sacred Gaṅgā emerged and flowed into the eastern ocean. Likewise, the goddess Sarasvatī came forth from a mango tree. But how did Kedāra come to be here? This indeed is a matter of wonder. Listen attentively to how it happened, as it has been heard. All the holy places, beginning with Gaṅgā, and the celestial sites, beginning with Kedāra, along with the great sages, went to Brahmā, O king of kings. In the divine assembly, all the sacred places gathered. Then, amidst their conversation, Indra addressed the four-faced Brahmā. Indra said, “O Lord, I wish to hear now about the merit and greatness of these holy places. It is said that the Kṛta Yuga consists of twenty-eight thousand years. The Tretā Yuga is declared to be one million two hundred thousand years.