All the sinners who had fallen before, every last one of them, found themselves gathered in the realm of Yama, the lord of death. Yet, from that time onward, something astonishing occurred: all the dreadful pits of hell, once filled with wailing and torment, fell silent. In the abode of Yama, no cries of suffering could be heard at all. Amidst this profound quiet, it was observed that only one had come into the world who did not submit to the authority of Yama, the lord of death. When the Lord of Dharma—Dharmarāja—heard the messengers speak these extraordinary words, he was filled with wonder and curiosity. He asked, “By what merit, by what mysterious power, has this most sinful soul attained such blessedness?” The messengers explained: “On earth, in the most sacred place, within the auspicious great forest of Mahākāla, there lies a powerful secret. O messengers, all those who touch the waters of the holy river Śiprā on earth—though they may have committed sins by mind, by body, and by speech—find those sins washed away. Whoever, in any place, utters the name ‘Śiprā, Śiprā,’ whether man or otherwise, receives her grace. Even the insects, moths, and all creatures dwelling in Śiprā’s waters are sanctified by her touch.” They continued, “Those who, having committed great sins elsewhere, come at the end of their lives to take refuge on the banks of the Śiprā, are freed from their burdens. When the month of Mādhava arrives, the most virtuous immerse themselves in her waters, and even the flesh carried away by the wind from a king who committed wrong is purified if it comes into contact with Śiprā. Ponds, wells, or lakes grant auspicious fruits, but the Tāpī river is ten times more meritorious, the Godā even more so. Yet Śiprā is ten times greater than these—pure, and a destroyer of sin.” They spoke of Damana, whose flesh, having touched the Śiprā, was sanctified. Such a beautiful and holy river exists on the earth in Avanti. Hearing Dharmarāja’s words, the hosts of Yama were struck with wonder at the supreme greatness of Śiprā, which is sung in the Purāṇas, and at the liberation of Damana through her grace. Thus ends the fiftieth chapter, “The Greatness of Śiprā,” in the section on Avanti in the Skanda Purāṇa. The narrative then moves to another sacred tale. Just as Amṛtabhavā is renowned in the netherworld of Pātāla and esteemed by the serpents, once, Lord Rudra himself, desiring alms, wandered hungry in the realm of the serpents. He went from house to house, uttering the pitiable words, “Give alms,” but none came to his aid. With eyes reddened by anger and holding his trident, Rudra was tormented by hunger. In that land, there were twenty-one vessels filled with nectar. Arriving there, revered Shambhu, the origin of all souls, emptied all the vessels of their nectar and then departed from that place. The serpents were bewildered. “Whose deed is this? What has happened that all the nectar has vanished?” they wondered. Previously, doubts had arisen among them about a great transgression. “Who, angered against us, has taken away our excellent nectar?” they asked one another. All the serpents, together with their wives and children, gathered in distress. Then, out of compassion, a bodiless voice spoke aloud: “Shambhu came seeking alms, hungry, from house to house. Yet, in the great city of Bhogavati, no one gave alms to Pinaki, the trident-bearer. Therefore, all the nectar was lost from the vessels, O best of serpents.” The voice continued, “But there is a foremost river, renowned as Shipra. By merely seeing her, all sins are destroyed. Go, worship the Lord of gods there, and then perform your ritual.” Thus, the stories reveal the supreme greatness of the river Śiprā, the sanctifying power of her waters, and the wondrous ways the divine interacts with the world, granting liberation and washing away even the gravest of sins.