Pulastya continued his tale, describing how the Brahmin, upon witnessing the marvelous display before him, was filled with astonishment. In that moment of awe, he recognized the presence of none other than Mahadeva, the bull-bannered Lord Shiva himself. Deep within his heart, the Brahmin knew with certainty: “I have truly recognized you—this realization is firm within me. The power you have just revealed is unique to you alone; no one else possesses such might.” Moved by the Brahmin’s devotion and perception, Shiva spoke with kindness: “Ask for a boon, O fortunate one, for your excellence in dance has pleased me greatly.” The Brahmin, blessed by Shiva’s favor, received a wondrous promise: “By my grace, those who honor you here shall obtain the fruit of the great Rājasūya and Aśvamedha sacrifices. They will reach the highest state, free from the bonds of old age and death.” Shiva then declared the sanctity of the place: “Here, at the celebrated confluence of the Ganga and Sarasvati, those who give gold according to their means to worthy Brahmins will gain immense merit.” Having spoken these words, O King, the god of gods, Maheshvara, vanished from sight. Pulastya now urged the king to listen to another wondrous event from ancient times, explaining that merely seeing Shiva in that sacred place could grant a person supreme accomplishment. In those days, many ascetics and Brahmins, driven by rivalry and playful competition, gathered together in great numbers. But it was decreed that any Brahmin who arrived after the others would be transformed into a dog. Heedless of this, they all journeyed to Mount Arbuda, each eager to outdo the rest. These ascetics were peaceful souls, accomplished in the Vedas and learned in sacred knowledge. At that very moment, the compassionate and supremely devoted Lord Shiva appeared before them. All the ascetics and sages beheld Maheshvara together, and, overwhelmed with devotion, they praised him with Vedic hymns. Shiva, pleased with their faith, spoke: “O sages, your supreme devotion pleases me. May the highest fruit arise from this simultaneous vision of the Lord. All who behold me here shall gain the merit of bathing at all holy tirthas.” Then, at Shiva’s command, a single liṅga—equal to a crore liṅgas—was established. Shiva declared, “By seeing this liṅga, people shall obtain the merit of seeing a crore liṅgas.” Suddenly, the liṅga burst forth from the great mountain, and at that instant, a celestial voice proclaimed: “Whoever worships this liṅga on the fourteenth day of the dark fortnight of Māgha will have all his merit multiplied a crore times, equal to the merit of offering śrāddha at Gayā.” Hearing this, the sages offered perfumes, incense, and ointments, and worshipped the liṅga with supreme faith. That sacred liṅga, O King, has the power to remove all sins and bestow beauty of form upon those who honor it. In ancient times, there was a famed celestial nymph named Vapu. Once, an Ābhīrī woman, deformed and misshapen, wandered on Mount Arbuda gathering fruit. By the grace of that holy place, she was suddenly transformed—adorned with divine garlands and garments, her limbs became celestial and beautiful. She was utterly changed by the power of the sacred mountain. One day, as she wandered for sport on the highest peak, a certain observer saw her and was captivated by her radiant gaze. He wondered in amazement: “Is she a goddess, a nāga maiden, a siddhā, or a vidyādhari?” Enchanted by her beauty, he confessed, “O lovely-browed, lotus-eyed one, my mind has been stolen by you.