Then, filled with shame, the Moon humbly replied to Daksha. Yet, after Daksha departed, the Moon once again devoted himself to Rohini, his favored wife. Seeing this, all the other daughters of Daksha, overcome with distress and sorrow, approached their father and spoke in anguish, “Afflicted by misfortune and sorrow, we will surely die—there is no doubt.” Daksha, witnessing their suffering, addressed the Moon sternly, “Because you did not heed my words, O Moon, you have committed a grave wrong. Therefore, you shall waste away from consumption; there is no doubt.” Thus, stricken by this curse, the Moon began to diminish, his radiance fading day by day. In despair at the dreadful curse that had befallen him, the Moon wondered what he could possibly do. Resolving to seek a remedy, he journeyed to Mount Arbud. There, for ten thousand years, he performed severe austerities. At last, Mahadeva, the great Lord Shiva, was pleased by the Moon’s devotion and appeared before him, saying, “O Moon, I will grant you a boon, even though it may be very difficult to obtain.” The Moon pleaded, “O Lord of the world, my body has been afflicted by consumption.” But Shiva replied, “The curse of that great soul, Daksha, cannot be undone by anyone. However, you must treat all of Daksha’s daughters equally, as he commanded. And, O Moon, when the dark fortnight, Krishna Paksha, wanes, you will diminish; when the bright fortnight, Shukla Paksha, waxes, you will grow.” Shiva then blessed the place where the Moon’s radiance had been restored, declaring, “Whoever bathes here with devotion will surely attain the highest state. By offering piṇḍa here, O Lord of the gods, one’s ancestors will ascend to heaven. Because your brilliance was regained at this pure-watered tirtha, it shall be known as the renowned Prabhāsa Tirtha. Those who bathe here will attain the supreme state, and the merit gained will be equal to performing ancestral rites at Gaya.” Thus, the Moon, restored and radiant, enjoyed the company of all the wives born from Daksha. In that same sacred region, there was a tirtha where the twice-born performed austerities and offered piṇḍa and water for the ancestors. Long ago, O wise one, there lived a Brahmin named Piṇḍodaka. He was unable to study the Vedas due to dullness of mind, and, troubled by his limitations, he came to that very place. At that time, Sarasvati herself, the goddess of knowledge, appeared before him. Seeing the Brahmin, weary and filled with dispassion, Sarasvati asked, “Why are you not joyful at heart? Why have you come here?” Piṇḍodaka replied, “Deprived of knowledge, O blessed one, I now desire death. The goddess Sarasvati does not move on the tip of my tongue; for me, death is better than life in this mute condition.” Compassionately, Sarasvati said, “On the pleasant night of the thirteenth day, O twice-born, I will dwell here. Let this tirtha, O pure-smiled one, become renowned by my name.” She continued, “Thus, this sacred place will become renowned by your name as well. Whoever bathes here at the junction of night on the thirteenth day will be blessed. Here, O best of twice-born, my presence will always remain.” Having spoken thus, the goddess vanished right there, astonishing all the people with the sanctity of that holy site. Thus ends the twenty-first chapter, named ‘The Greatness of the Piṇḍodaka Tīrtha,’ in the third section called Arbudakhaṇḍa, within the seventh Prabhāsa Book of the Skanda Mahāpurāṇa. The goddess Sarasvati, ever compassionate, grants all desires to people, both in this world and the next. She is the all-pervading power by whom this entire universe is filled.