Once, there was a king, protector of his people, who, with the guidance of his ministers, established order in his land. Yet, owing to the weight of sins carried over from previous births, this king’s reign was shadowed by inauspicious signs. One day, while wandering through the forest on a hunt, the king found himself overcome by thirst. His body weakened, he searched for relief until he glimpsed a lake shimmering ahead. Approaching with reverence, he performed the proper purification rites and bathed in its cool waters. There, sages told him of the lake’s sanctity, and, filled with devotion, the king composed and offered a beloved hymn to the Sun. With folded hands, he prayed: “O Lord, God of gods, I bow to you, the consciousness-self. Salutations to you, O god whose abode is light, who has become the three Vedas. To the supreme, the highest Lord, the remover of darkness in the three worlds, always salutations. Salutations to the one who loves yoga, who is yoga, who knows yoga. Salutations to the sacrifice, the sacrificer, the oblation, the priest. Salutations to the exceedingly gentle, exceedingly fierce, the lord of the gods. Always to the illuminator, the benefactor of the worlds.” Moved by such devotion, the Sun himself appeared before the king, radiant and resplendent, desiring to please his devotee. The Sun spoke: “O king, I am pleased. Choose a boon; I stand before you.” The king replied, “Let the image made in your name remain here always, O mighty one.” The Sun granted this wish, saying, “Those who recite this hymn you have offered to me, I will grant all their desires. Whoever bathes in this lake shall attain all they wish for. Whatever desire is cherished here, that very desire shall be fulfilled.” With these words, the radiant Sun, shining with a thousand rays, vanished from sight. From this divine encounter, the king received an unsurpassed form of the Sun, born from the body of Bhāskara. The lake became renowned as Ghoṣārka-kuṇḍa. The king, with utmost devotion and reverence, arranged for beautiful worship of the Sun’s form there. This sacred place is also known as Ratikuṇḍa, famed as the remover of all sins. By bathing and giving gifts there, one attains supreme brilliance. This kuṇḍa, unrivaled and renowned, fulfills all desires and aims—such is its power, when approached with proper observance. In Ratikuṇḍa, O brāhmaṇa, and likewise in Kusumāyudha-kuṇḍa, if a couple bathes together, those who seek righteousness should do so following the prescribed rites. Certainly, Rati and Manmatha—the divine couple—will be pleased. After bathing first in Ratikuṇḍa, then in Kaṃdarppa-kuṇḍa, one should especially worship Rati and Kaṃdarppa. All desires are granted here, without doubt. Offerings of sandalwood, aguru, camphor, musk, saffron, and the like should be made. When this is done, Rati and Kaṃdarppa are surely satisfied. From Kusumāyudha-kuṇḍa, situated toward the west, after bathing and beholding the Lord of Mantras, the Supreme, one finds further blessings. In ancient times, Rāma himself, having accomplished the task of the gods, performed a flawless rite at this sacred spot. With his senses mastered, after bathing there, he prepared to depart for heaven. Thus, these sacred kuṇḍas, blessed by divine presence and ancient rites, remain places where the devout may fulfill all their desires and attain supreme merit.