There was once a wondrous gold mine, renowned for swiftly granting the desires cherished in one’s heart. This place was blessed to be a supreme holy site, eternally capable of removing all sins from those who visited it. Each year, a festival was joyously observed on the twelfth day of the bright half of the month of Vaiśākha, drawing pilgrims and devotees to celebrate its sanctity. Driven by his own purpose, a seeker set out for the hermitage of his teacher, intent on fulfilling his quest. The king, having completed his task, gathered the remaining wealth, and thus the greatness of the gold mine was revealed by the eminent sage. At this time, Viśvāmitra, the illustrious sage, became angry and addressed his disciple Kautsa, who was in a troubled state. Kautsa had repeatedly requested a reward that was difficult to obtain. Viśvāmitra, endowed with divine knowledge and steadfast in his own hermitage, undertook severe austerities. One day, a Brāhmaṇa arrived, afflicted by hunger, and cried out loudly, “Give quickly pure and hot rice-milk to one tormented by hunger, O Brāhmaṇa!” Hearing these words, Viśvāmitra promptly and carefully prepared the offering. As he rose to serve, Durvāsas, who had brought the food, gazed at him and said, “O best of Brāhmaṇas, endure for a moment until I return after bathing.” Having said this, Durvāsas departed for his own hermitage. Viśvāmitra, unwavering in his austerities, was like a mountain, steadfast and immovable. Kautsa, devoted to his vows, was intent on serving the sage. When Durvāsas returned, purified from his bath, the sequence of events unfolded: after Durvāsas departed, Viśvāmitra, the treasure of austerity, addressed his disciple, saying, “Let the honorarium be requested. Your service is your honorarium; return home, O observer of vows.” Yet Kautsa, earnest and persistent, continued to request a reward. Viśvāmitra finally instructed him, “Gather fourteen measures of gold.” Thus directed, Kautsa considered his next steps and approached his teacher once more, responding, “As you have spoken, O best of sages, I shall do as you have asked.” Viśvāmitra then revealed to him, “In the southern direction, there is a junction frequented by the accomplished. There, O illustrious one, after bathing, people become free from impurity; the righteous person attains this, having bathed there with discipline. Whoever gives gold and similar gifts to a Brahmin learned in the Vedas, at the renowned confluence of the Tilodaki and Sarasvati rivers, and whoever, having fasted, satisfies the Brahmins, or remains with one meal a day for a month, observing discipline there, gains great merit. On the dark new moon of the month of Nabhasya, the pilgrimage is annual. For the drinking of water by the horses born in Sindhu, Tilodaki is renowned, always a sacred river of pure waters. One who bathes there is freed from sins, even those accumulated over seven births. Therefore, O sage, bathing in Tilodaki removes all sins; bathing, giving, discipline, and sacrifice—all become imperishable. Thus, by various prescribed methods, the pilgrimage to these holy places, with the expansion of virtues, bestows lasting merit.” Further, the pool of Sita was famed as a place that grants all desired fruits. Here, O Brahmin, bathing frees one from all sins, and by Rama’s granting of boons, it has become a repository of great rewards. “O fortunate one,” the sage said, “I narrate to you the story of this pool for your pleasure. Here, bathing, giving, recitation, oblation, or austerity—all are especially meritorious. On the fourteenth day of the dark fortnight, bathing here is particularly auspicious.” Thus, the greatness of these sacred places, the rituals performed, and the rewards earned were revealed, weaving together the sanctity of gold mines, holy rivers, and divine pools, all bestowing blessings and liberation upon those who approached with devotion and discipline.