In the celestial realms, there exists the wondrous city of Bhogavatī, the splendid and divine abode of Varuṇa, lord of the waters. Not far from there lies the illustrious city of Saṃyamanī, ruled with justice by Dharmarāja himself. Among these, there is also the radiant city of the gods, protected by mighty Vāsava, the king of the heavens. Indeed, countless such magnificent cities are found, even surpassing those already named. Within these realms, the gates of some cities are fashioned in the likeness of plantain trees, and auspicious jars brimming with sprouting barley are set out, signifying prosperity and good fortune. In other places, young twice-born boys are seen deeply engaged in Vedic study, their voices ringing with sacred recitation. Some people, having completed their sacrifices, purify themselves with ritual baths, while others are joyfully engaged in giving gifts. Elsewhere, groups are busy planting groves or constructing noble works, and some are preparing themselves for holy pilgrimages. In certain quarters, eloquent speakers praise the themes of sacred stories and engage in profound discussions. In other areas, wrestlers test their strength in spirited contests, while actors immerse themselves in dramatic performances. Among these vibrant scenes, there are lively and playful young girls, dark-complexioned and in the full bloom of their sixteenth year, adding to the charm and vitality of the city. O Vyāsa, know that this delightful city was brought into being by the wondrous power of Yoga-māyā. It is vast and greatly expansive, holy, and serves as a refuge for the virtuous. This beautiful and eternal city bears the name Viśālā. One who constantly utters the name ‘Viśālā’ is honored in the realm of Śiva. Viśālā, along with another city like her, bestows both enjoyment and liberation upon those who seek them. The merit gained from these sacred places is inexhaustible, and this truth is celebrated in the rites performed for the ancestors. Wherever such a devotee may go, upon leaving this world, they attain the abode of Śiva. The fruits of actions performed in Viśālā are eternal; the blessings found there are beyond description, and even the gravest sins born of evil are washed away without doubt. Thus, O Vyāsa, the cities of Viśālā and Kuśasthalī were established, radiant and sacred. So concludes the forty-seventh chapter, named ‘The Account of Viśālā,’ in the section extolling the greatness of the Avanti region, within the fifth Avanti Khaṇḍa of the eighty-one-thousand-verse Śrī Skanda Mahāpurāṇa. Now, I have received this auspicious tale directly from the lips of Vyāsa, a tale concerning the cycles of creation. It is the most secret of secrets, the best of all, and should not be imparted to just anyone. This is Vyāsa’s most meritorious narration, supreme and a powerful remover of sin. Its authority endures as long as the cycles of Brahmā, the supreme lord, continue. Listen, O noble one, to the enumeration of time as it has been declared. The wise say that there are thirty kalās in one muhūrta. By the sun’s particular movement, he always enters the twilight. The two fortnights, months, seasons, and solstices are all established and declared. The number and span of each has been revealed. Two fortnights make a month, and two months constitute a season. The southern and northern courses of the sun are described by those adept in the science of time. Those who know the measures of time declare that, for the ancestors, day and night are reckoned differently. During the dark fortnight, the śrāddha rites for the ancestors are performed, O twice-born one. For the gods, their day and night correspond to the human day and the sun’s northern course. A divine year is a hundred times greater, and a thousand divine years multiply yet further. For humans, a day and night multiplied by ten forms a fortnight. A season for humans is defined by the wise who understand the true nature of time. And the Kṛta Yuga, the first and purest of the ages, consists precisely of four thousand years. Thus has the tale been told, flowing from the sacred lips of Vyāsa, revealing the grandeur of Viśālā and the mysteries of time’s eternal cycles.