Pulastya continued his sacred narration, describing the wondrous power of holy places and the blessings bestowed upon the faithful. He spoke first of a woman whose unwavering fidelity to her husband and steadfast truthfulness so pleased the divine that a great liṅga was established, bearing the name of the goddess herself. This was the sole desire of the deity; no other purpose was sought. Thus, the sacred site known as Maṇikarṇikā arose, immortalized by her name. Within Maṇikarṇikā, the Vālakhilyas—ascetics renowned for their austerity—were especially established. When a solar eclipse occurs at this holy place, devotees perform sacred rites such as bathing and giving, knowing that whoever bathes there with a heart filled with any desire will have that wish fulfilled. Pulastya urged, "Therefore, one should strive with all effort to bathe there." He then recounted the story of another sacred spot, where austerity had once been practiced by a lame man and a brāhmaṇa. This brāhmaṇa, named Paṃgu and descended from Cyavana, lived there in ancient times, engaged in household duties with his relatives. Eventually, abandoned by them, Paṃgu journeyed to Mount Arbuda. There, he established a liṅga and worshipped Lord Śiva, becoming so devoted that he sustained himself solely on air. Śiva, pleased by Paṃgu's devotion, appeared before him and offered to grant any boon, even those difficult to obtain. Paṃgu humbly requested, "Let my lameness depart here by your grace, O Śaṃkara. May your constant presence be here, together with your wife." Śiva agreed, declaring that through the power of Paṃgu's austerity, the sacred place would attain great fame. He promised that on the fourteenth day of the bright half of the month of Caitra, his presence would be especially manifest there. Pulastya explained that merely by bathing at this tīrtha, Paṃgu attained a divine form. He advised, "On that day, O best of kings, one should perform bathing there." Thus concluded the seventeenth chapter, extolling the greatness of Paṅgu Tīrtha in the Arbuda Khaṇḍa of the Skanda Purāṇa. Pulastya then directed the king to the unsurpassed Yama Tīrtha. In ages past, a king named Citrāṅgada, driven by greed, cruelty, and wickedness, tormented both gods and brāhmaṇas. He was devoid of truth and purity, consumed by deceit and jealousy. After wandering, Citrāṅgada became exhausted, overcome by hunger and thirst. He found a reservoir teeming with lotuses, crocodiles, alligators, and fish. Tormented by thirst, he entered its waters. For Citrāṅgada's sins, terrible hells were created by Yama. Yet, by his touch, all those dwelling in hell suddenly attained happiness, and the inhabitants marveled at this unexpected joy. Vaivasvata (Yama) then proclaimed, "On earth, there is Arbuda mountain." It was there that Citrāṅgada met his death—seized by a crocodile, the wicked king perished. Yama decreed, "Let him be released at once, and let not others be brought here." By Yama's command, Citrāṅgada was freed by the attendants. Pulastya concluded, "But whoever, endowed with devotion, performs bathing there—therefore, with all effort, one should perform bathing there. At this tīrtha, one should properly perform the rite of śrāddha." Thus ended the eighteenth chapter, celebrating the greatness of Yama Tīrtha, in the Arbuda section of the Skanda Purāṇa.