In the sacred Avanti region, the rituals begin with simple acts: first, lentils are measured and ground with care, marking the start of devotion. Those who lovingly behold Śītalā, the compassionate goddess who relieves suffering, find themselves free from the fear of disease and the troublesome influence of planets. Thus concludes the twelfth chapter, ‘The Description of the Glory of Śītalā,’ affirming the sanctity of Avanti within the vast Skanda Mahāpurāṇa. Continuing, one is urged to perform the śrāddha ceremony right there, with heartfelt devotion, honoring the ancestors. O Vyāsa, it is said that such a person uplifts not only his forebears but himself as well. In the eastern direction, before Bhairava, stands the gracious goddess Ambikā. On the auspicious Navamī day, whoever offers a vessel to the goddess with devotion attains all accomplishments. After bathing, the devotee worships Maheśvara with sincerity. Thus ends the thirteenth chapter, ‘The Description of the Glory of the Gate to Heaven,’ again within the Avanti section of the Skanda Mahāpurāṇa. The narrative unfolds further: merely by seeing him, a man becomes blessed with sons. There are four great oceans—saline, milky, curd, and sweet—each established by Sudyumna, as recounted to the sage Vyāsa. Jambudvīpa, beautiful and vast, stretches a hundred thousand yojanas; on Śākadvīpa, the milk ocean lies at two hundred thousand; and on Śālmalī, the sugarcane ocean spans eight hundred thousand. These four oceans are described as gracing the earth’s sphere. Sudyumna’s wife, Sudarśanā, famed for her beauty, approaches the sage Dālbhya with a yearning for a son. She asks how she might obtain a child endowed with all noble qualities. The self-born god Brahmā, creator of worlds, decrees that when the kings have bathed in these oceans, her son will be born. Guided by Dālbhya’s words and wondrous tale, Sudyumna seeks to please Śaṃkara in Gandhamādana. Śaṃkara instructs him: “Go to Avanti, O king; there you will gain a splendid son. On land like Meru, near Śaṃkara, those whom you request will remain there skillfully.” With these words, the great god departs from sight. Sudyumna arrives at Kuśasthalī and beholds the oceans. He deeply desires a son bearing all auspicious marks and must remain near the royal grounds for that time. It is assured: his son will possess all favorable signs. On this blessed land, the king and his companions will remain together with skill. The fruits of pilgrimage among these holy places are meritorious. One devoted to his ancestors should offer food, followed by giving Maṇḍaka cakes to a Brahmin versed in the Vedas. Gold, too, should be gifted to learned Brahmins, and with proper gifts and fruits, arghya should be offered with care. Milk, poured into a copper vessel, is given as well. At Ikṣvabdhau, fine jaggery is presented to a Brahmin. Such acts bring auspicious fortune and delightful sons; upon death, the devotee attains heaven for a span as long as fourteen Indras reign. At the heart of all this, the supreme tīrtha—the holy place—was fashioned by the playful god himself, marking the divine presence and blessings that flow through Avanti and its sacred rites.