Pulastya, the revered sage, spoke to Indra, the king of the gods: “O Indra, let your excellent liṅga be covered with the thunderbolt.” This act, he said, would be for the increase of all righteousness. Indra, following Pulastya’s guidance, covered the liṅga with his thunderbolt. Even to this day, Pulastya explained, the touch of the thunderbolt bestows its presence upon those who approach it. The greatness of this liṅga was proclaimed by Śaṅkara himself, and from that moment, the worship of the liṅga spread among mortals. This remarkable event took place long ago upon the great mountain Arbuda. Pulastya described that, on the fourteenth day at the end of the month of Phalguna, offerings should be made with freshly prepared barley meal. Whoever, with devotion, feeds Brahmins there with new barley meal on that auspicious day earns the praise of eminent sages. They declared that the giving of barley meal at Arbuda surpasses all other gifts and elaborate sacrifices. On this sacred fourteenth day, in the presence of the great Lord Shiva, Pulastya invited the king to listen to a wondrous event that had happened there before. Once, a man seeking alms arrived at Arbuda, accompanied by others. Afflicted by disease, he could not eat the food he had prepared; instead, he fashioned barley meal into a cushion and, as night fell, lay down to sleep. While he slept, a dog carried away the barley meal. Amazed and disturbed by this loss, the man approached death. He was Bhima, the father of Damayanti. Year after year, Bhima returned to Arbuda on the fourteenth day at the end of Phalguna. In the presence of Lord Achaleshvara, he offered much barley meal. The sages, led by Galava, questioned him: “Why do you give only barley meal and not other gifts?” Bhima replied that the greatness of giving barley meal is well known among sages of purified minds. He recalled how, in the past, when he lacked devotion, a dog had taken away his offering. Now, he said, he did not know the exact result for those who give with devotion, but in this sacred place, with heartfelt devotion, he felt he attained his true self through truth. Pulastya recounted that the sages, delighted by Bhima’s words, exclaimed, “Excellent! Excellent!” He affirmed to the royal sage that this is the power of offering parched grain, as described. Furthermore, whoever listens to this story, narrated by a devoted twice-born, gains merit. Pulastya then continued: Upon seeing the liṅga, a mortal becomes handsome and radiant. The journey led to the hermitage of the Vālakhilyas, where the liṅga had fallen. Pulastya expressed curiosity about how Śambhu was worshipped there. The devotee, showing his own arrow, stood behind Śambhu. Then, out of fear, the destroyer of Tripura—Shiva—departed for Vārāṇasī. From there, he traveled to Prayāga, then to Kedāra, and onward to Gokarṇa, Prabhāsa, and the holy Kṛmijāṅgala. Pulastya remarked that there was no need to recount all the holy places and shrines in detail, for wherever the great god went out of fear, the significance followed. After some time, Shiva returned to Arbuda, standing with one foot drawn up and his gaze steady. The blessed one remained silent, filled with both joy and sorrow for his beloved. Overcome by anger, from his third eye, a wondrous event unfolded.