Once, Maṃki, having become detached from worldly life, left his village behind and journeyed into the forest. There, he devoted himself to spiritual practice, bathing three times each day and reciting the revered Gāyatrī mantra. At that very time, the great Śaṃkara happened to pass along the same path. He was suddenly seen by Piṃḍāra, a noble soul, who approached him with reverence and said, “Let my seeing you not be in vain; grant me a boon, O brāhmaṇa. Do as I ask, O Lord; nothing else remains in my heart.” Piṃḍāra’s wish was that the place where he met Śaṃkara be renowned as a sacred ford bearing his name. Śaṃkara granted this boon, declaring, “This place shall become a holy site called Piṇḍāraka. O wise one, on the great eighth day, I shall reside here; those who come shall attain the supreme abode where I eternally dwell.” Maṃki, now known as Piṇḍāraka, performed austerities day and night at this sacred site. After a long time, having completed his earthly journey, he left his body and ascended to heaven. Because of this, it is taught that one should bathe at Piṇḍāraka with full effort and recite mantras. Especially on the eighth day, the gift of a cow should be made, for this brings great merit. Thus concludes the chapter called ‘The Greatness of Piṇḍāraka Tīrtha’ in the Skanda Purāṇa. Next, there is a mountain called Kanakhala, known to destroy sins. Listen, O king, to the wondrous event that happened there. During a solar eclipse, a king went to the sacred ford at Kanakhala. By accident, a great amount of gold slipped from his hands and fell into the water. After bathing, he returned home, filled with regret for his lost treasure. When another eclipse occurred, he returned to bathe again at the same place, hoping to recover his gold. Yet, the gold could not be found. But it was revealed to him, O king of kings, that there is no loss at Kanakhala, neither in this world nor the next. In fact, the ancient gold that falls here multiplies a crore-fold. Therefore, people should perform śrāddha ceremonies, especially with gold, and give to Brāhmaṇas without limit. Hearing this, the goddess of speech appeared in the sky. The king, satisfied and filled with compassion, offered a pure and great gift dedicated to his ancestors and the gods. By the power of that gift, he was blessed. Whoever performs a śrāddha here during the sun’s transit, O king, brings satisfaction to sages, gods, and great serpents by bathing. Therefore, with every effort, one should bathe at Kanakhala. Thus concludes the chapter called ‘The Greatness of Kanakhala Tīrtha.’ There is also a place where, in ancient times, mighty Viṣṇu released his discus. Having slain the Dānavas in battle, he bathed in the pure stream there. Whoever performs a śrāddha at this site during the sleeping or awakening of Hari attains great merit. Thus ends the chapter called ‘The Greatness of Cakra Tīrtha.’ At these sacred sites, wherever a man bathes properly, he is always born as a human. Even if he has committed many sins, he does not fall into animal birth. Once, a herd of deer, surrounded on all sides by hunters, bathed at such a holy place and at once attained human birth, also remembering their former lives. Such is the greatness of these tīrthas, as revealed in the revered Skanda Purāṇa.