Listen, O noble one, to the wondrous story of the sacred Rūpa-tīrtha and the glory of King Ambarīṣa, as revealed in the ancient scriptures. At Rūpa-tīrtha, a place of profound sanctity, the affliction caused by spirits, ghosts, and fiends is instantly dispelled. Even the smallest creatures—moths, insects, birds, beasts, and fiends—find peace here, for such disturbances have never occurred at this holy site, nor will they ever arise. The Brāhmaṇas wondered at its superiority, seeking the cause for its exalted status. The answer lies in a tale from the celestial past. When Indra lost his kingdom and Bali became the ruler of the three worlds, it was at this time that the great Viṣṇu, son of Aditi and destroyer of the Asuras, was born. As soon as Hari, the divine child, was born, Aditi placed him at the waterfall of Rūpa-tīrtha. This act alone is the reason for its unmatched sanctity; nothing else is needed to explain its greatness. The tilaka tree, foremost among all trees, was cherished here as a son, and all these details reveal the supreme glory of this sacred site—a place that fulfills every desire in this world and the next. In the northeast lies another sin-destroying place, sanctified by King Ambarīṣa. Here, Hṛṣīkeśa himself appeared during the Kali era. In ancient times, Ambarīṣa ruled the earth in the Krita age, and at this sacred site, he lived, controlling his senses and eating little. For two thousand years, he subsisted only on leaves; for three thousand years more, he lived on air alone. After ten thousand years of such austere penance, Ambarīṣa assumed the form of the lord of the gods and mounted the mighty elephant Airāvata. When Indra saw Ambarīṣa, whose heart was filled with devotion, he approached without hesitation. Ambarīṣa spoke humbly, "O slayer of Vṛtra, you are unable to grant liberation. Welcome, lord of gods, but I do not desire any boon." Yet Ambarīṣa was confident that the four-armed one, pleased with his devotion, would surely grant him a boon. Indra proclaimed, "O foremost of kings, I am the lord of Brahmā, Viṣṇu, and the three-eyed Śiva. I am the sovereign of the other gods and of the three worlds. When I am pleased, all the gods are pleased. 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 firm resolve, Indra threatened to hurl his thunderbolt at Ambarīṣa for his destruction, licking his lips in anticipation. As Indra whirled about, great omens appeared: the sky was covered with clouds, shaking the earth. At that very moment, Ambarīṣa, beloved of Hari, stood steadfast. Then, the Lord of the universe, Hṛṣīkeśa, appeared before him, his voice deep as the clouds. "Choose a boon, good fortune to you, even if it is extremely difficult to obtain," said the Lord. Ambarīṣa replied, "If you are pleased, Lord, and wish to grant me a boon, then bestow upon me the vast knowledge of yoga—the means for the destruction of worldly existence. By this, when attained, a man is immediately freed from saṃsāra. O God, this is difficult for people to know, especially in the Kali age. And if you are truly pleased, teach me the yoga of action." Then Keśava, the Lord, spoke to the best of kings, explaining the profound teachings as appropriate to his devotion and quest. Thus, the supreme glory of the sacred sites and the blessedness of true devotion were revealed, shining forth for all seekers of the Sanātana Dharma.