O King, all that you have asked has now been recounted to you just as you desired. Know this as well: whoever recites these sacred events with devotion, or praises their glory, is truly blessed. Long ago, among a group of royal servants, a remarkable event became renowned. In those days, there lived a washerman named Śamilākṣa. One day, he became deeply troubled and fearful after realizing a disgrace had occurred concerning the clothes entrusted to his care. His daughter, a gentle and auspicious young woman, was a close friend to the servant-girls. Seeing her father’s distress, he confided in her about the fear that had arisen from the matter of the soiled clothes. The servant-girl, sharing in her friend’s sorrow, was also grieved. Yet she comforted Śamilākṣa’s daughter, assuring her, “By this very act, both you and your father will be freed from fear. O beautiful one with lovely brows, there is a pure waterfall in Arbuda. Whatever is cast into those waters is purified. If you immerse all the servants’ garments there, they will quickly become clean and dazzlingly white. Do not be afraid—go and reassure your father.” Hearing this, the daughter promptly relayed the message to her father, who was greatly relieved. Rising early the next morning, Śamilākṣa hurried to the waterfall at Arbuda. There, as he washed the garments in the sacred water, he saw them transformed—they became brilliantly white, more than ever before. Amazed and filled with joy, he gathered them up. News of this wonder reached the king himself, who came to the waterfall to witness the miracle. He, too, saw how all the garments became pure and resplendent there. So moved was the king that he renounced his kingdom and began to perform austerities at that very spot. O King, know that whoever performs a śrāddha there on the eleventh day, and bathes in those waters, is instantly freed from all sin. Thus is revealed the glory of Śuklatīrtha, the sacred white ford, in the Arbuda region, as told in the great Skanda Purāṇa. Now, listen to the divine deeds that took place at Arbuda. There resides the goddess Kātyāyanī, the destroyer of the demon Śumbha. Once, on earth, there was a great demon named Śumbha, who, by the boon of Lord Śaṃkara, became lord over gods, demons, and rākṣasas alike. Overpowered and desperate, all the hosts of gods journeyed to Mount Arbuda and worshipped the manifest goddess, queen of the gods. Pleased with their devotion, the goddess appeared before them. The gods implored her, “O Auspicious One, destroy this Śumbha—he is fated to be slain by another in battle. Remember, O Goddess, how you protected us before when Bāṣkala overpowered us.” When the goddess challenged Śumbha to battle, he, seeing her as a woman, arrogantly commanded, “This wicked one, with harsh voice, should be seized alive!” At his order, the demons rushed upon her. But by her mere glance, she reduced them all to ashes. Śumbha, enraged, cried out, “Stop! Stop!” and raised his terrible sword against her. Instantly, he too was reduced to ashes, like a moth perishing in fire. The terrified remnants of his army fled down to Pātāla, the underworld. The gods, overjoyed, praised the queen of the gods for her victory. The goddess declared, “Here itself, on Mount Arbuda, I shall remain, O best of gods.” The gods lamented that without sacrifices and gifts, even heaven had become defiled. They prayed, “We shall always see you here, O pure one, especially on the eighth day of the bright fortnight.” Thus, the goddess took up her abode on Mount Arbuda, sanctifying it forevermore.