When the Lord of gods had finished washing the skull, the consecrated water was poured out, sanctifying the earth. On the auspicious eighth lunar day, beneath the bright gaze of the Sun, a man—having bathed reverently in all directions and their interstices—should, O Vyasa, offer food fit for sacred rites, in nine generous handfuls. Such an offering bestows all virtues upon both this world and the next. Those who faithfully recite the glorious account of this event, intent in their devotion, are blessed. In that sacred moment, the devotee praised the god of gods, the radiant Sun. Pleased by the worship, the lord of the day himself appeared, satisfied, and addressed Shankara with kindness: “Choose a boon, O Lord of beings. I am the giver of boons—name your wish, and it shall be granted.” Shankara replied, “May a portion of you remain here, O Sun, for the welfare of all embodied beings.” In response, from the splendor of Shankara, the god of gods, arose a divine form known as Shankara-Aditya—the bestower of grace upon all worlds. Blessed indeed is that place where the destroyer of Tripura resides in this form. All the excellent gods, beginning with Brahma, were delighted by this wondrous event. They took on visible, splendid forms and descended to that holy site. For those who come here, no sorrow arises from old age, death, or grief. Moreover, the very sight of Shankara-Aditya dispels all suffering. Here, neither disease nor affliction, nor poverty ever occur. There is no illness, no poverty, and no separation from loved ones. Thus it was proclaimed in ancient times by the Lord of gods, the wielder of the trident. O best of sages, a supreme sacred ford was established at this place, bearing the Lord’s own name. Once, at a certain time, Vyasa himself came to this holy spot to wash his skull-bowl. As he washed it and set it down upon the ground, it was instantly filled with the blood of Brahma—a miraculous sign of the site’s sanctity. Those who perform śrāddha and offer libations here find that the merit gained is inexhaustible. The foremost sages, like tigers among men, gather here, reflecting upon their own lineages, and offer barley-cakes, milk-rice, or black millet with pulse. For twelve years, the parents of one who performs such rites are surely satisfied, and the ancestors are gratified, their heavenly rewards never exhausted. This inexhaustibility was declared by Brahma, the self-born, himself. Even in Varanasi or Gaya, such satisfaction for the ancestors cannot be attained. Whoever, with a pure heart, performs śrāddha here—whether for another or for their own kin—on the ninth, eighth, new moon, or full moon; whether for Brahma, Indra, Rudra, the gods, the Sun, Fire, the divine ancestors, reptiles, groups of ancestors, or any being that dwells on earth; and especially on the fifteenth day of the dark fortnight of any month, O best of the twice-born—at such a śrāddha, the ancestors receive the full measure of satisfaction earned by their descendants. Śrāddha must always be performed with devotion, for by this the fathers are truly gratified. Those who offer the sacred oblation balls and perform the rites with sincerity—having come to this holy place and bathed properly in the sacred waters—attain all that they desire. Their minds and wealth are purified, and the time and procedure of the rites are always auspicious. Indeed, O best of men, one who performs such sacred acts here attains the merit of ten Aśvamedha sacrifices.