O best of kings, consider the many paths people follow in pursuit of spiritual merit. One person, having heard the teachings of Brahman, speaks with wisdom and eloquence about that supreme knowledge. Another, with devotion, performs the ancestral rites at Gaya during the sacred fortnight dedicated to the ancestors. Yet another, with unwavering concentration, undertakes a thousand Cāndrāyaṇa vows, subjecting himself to rigorous discipline. There are those who perfectly observe vows and austerities for a thousand years, and Brahmins who thoroughly recite all four Vedas. But why speak at length about these various practices? Hear this in brief, O king: above all, one should strive with every effort to remain in the presence of Hari. On one side stands Hṛṣīkeśa, and on the other, Karṇikeśvara. Even those burdened by great sin find refuge in the presence of Hari. Whoever offers even a single flower to Hṛṣīkeśa, O king, whoever anoints Him with devotion, or sweeps the ground before Him with a focused mind—such a one rejoices in the world of Viṣṇu; of this there is no doubt. In particular, during the bright fortnight of Kārtika, on the eleventh day, if one reveals the sins accumulated over many births and performs worship of Hṛṣīkeśa with the five nectars, all those faults are dispelled. Therefore, with all effort, one should worship Hṛṣīkeśa, and especially, this worship should be performed always. Long ago, a sacred place was established by the accomplished; it perfectly grants success to living beings. There, a Siddha named Viśvāvasu performed intense austerities. Having conquered anger, pride, and the temptations of the senses, Viśvāvasu pleased the king of gods, who appeared before him and spoke: "I am the giver of boons, O king. I am pleased with you and will grant you a boon, even if it is difficult to obtain." Viśvāvasu replied, "O best of gods, by meditating with determination upon this liṅga—" For by approaching Siddheśvara, one attains success thousands of times. The power of that liṅga bestows both desired and undesired results. In that place, no one performed sacrifices or gave gifts. When such sacred acts were interrupted, O king, Indra, aware of this obstruction, acted to prevent it. Yet, even in the presence of Siddheśvara, O foremost of kings, whoever worships on the fourteenth day of Māgha, especially on a Monday, still attains success to this very day. This is the truth as I have spoken. Behold the greatness of that place and deity: upon seeing whom, a man is instantly freed from all sins. Once, the gods themselves, after beholding Him, overcame the Daityas in battle. But how did the Daityas, having once conquered the gods, attain great fame? Seeking to understand, one among them resolved to journey to Mount Arbuda. There, he established a Śiva-liṅga and worshipped it with incense, fragrant substances, and ointments. After a thousand years of such worship, the blessed Shiva was satisfied and appeared before him. "Choose a boon, auspicious one," Shiva said, "even if it seems impossible to obtain." The Daitya asked for a boon by which those beings who received it would live on, even when death itself threatened them. Shiva granted this wish and, turning to Shukra, said again, "Choose another boon from me." Thus, O king, the power of devotion, worship, and the presence of the divine surpasses all other practices and brings about the highest success for all beings.