In that sacred region, divine maidens gathered—women of the Siddhas and Yakṣas—each attaining a wondrous form, just as one among them had once done. To the east of this place lay a beautiful cave, a secret haven where the maidens of Pātāla would come to bathe. After their ablutions, they would carry water from the spot and enter the cool, shadowed depths of the cave. It was said that anyone anointed with that water became truly accomplished—no power in heaven or on earth could overcome such a person. The flowers and fruits that grew there fulfilled all desires and enabled the accomplishment of every task. The stones within the cave gleamed, each shaped like a conch-shell, adding to the sanctity of the place. A barren woman who drank that water, especially when marked with sesame seeds, would be blessed with fertility. Even mortals afflicted by disease, if they bathed there, found their ailments vanish, and the torments of spirits, ghosts, and fiends were dispelled in an instant. Not only humans, but even insects, moths, supernatural beings, birds, and beasts—all were touched by the cave’s grace. Such marvels were unique to Rūpa-tīrtha; never before had such things been seen, nor would they be again. What, then, made this place so supremely sacred? The answer was profound: when Indra lost his kingdom and Bali became lord of the three worlds, the great Viṣṇu was born as the son of Aditi, destined to destroy the Asuras. As soon as Hari was born, Aditi placed him at that very waterfall. This, O King, was the true reason for the site’s glory—there was no other. At that place, the tilaka tree, foremost among all trees, was cherished as dearly as a son. Thus, the supreme glory of this sacred site was revealed, a place that fulfills all desires for those living in this world and the next. To the northeast of this region lies the sin-destroying site of King Ambarisha. It was here that Hrishikesha—Lord Viṣṇu himself—manifested during the Kali age. In ancient times, during the Krita age, Ambarisha ruled the earth. At this very tirtha, the noble king, restraining his senses and subsisting on little, made his abode. For two thousand years, Ambarisha lived eating only leaves, and for another three thousand years, he sustained himself on air alone. At the end of ten thousand years, O best of kings, he assumed the form of the lord of the gods and mounted the great elephant Airavata. Moved by devotion, a divine being appeared before Ambarisha, saying, “Seeing you, filled with such faith, I have come without doubt.” Yet Ambarisha replied, “O slayer of Vritra, you cannot grant liberation. Welcome, O lord of gods, but I desire no boon from you. Nevertheless, the four-armed one, pleased, will surely grant me a boon.” The divine being declared, “O foremost of kings, I am the lord of Brahma, Viṣṇu, and the three-eyed one. I am also the sovereign of the other gods and of the three worlds. When I am pleased, all the gods are pleased as well. O slayer of Vṛtra, I am the king of the earth with its seven continents. Know me, dear one, to be a true devotee of Hṛṣīkeśa; this is certain.” With unwavering resolve, the being threatened, “I will hurl the thunderbolt at you for your destruction.” So saying, the thousand-eyed one licked his lips, and as he whirled about in anger, great omens appeared. The sky grew dark with clouds that shook the very earth itself.