His accomplishment, O Vyasa, will surely be in his own hands—of this, there can be no doubt. At the time of the new moon, one should faithfully perform the great ancestral rite, offering śrāddha for the departed forefathers. Even those ancestors born within the same lineage, who now dwell in the realms of suffering, are remembered and honored in this way. Having bathed, the devotee offers a simple handful of sesame, wholly intent upon the ancestors, their hearts filled with reverence. After performing the śrāddha with milk-rice, it is proper to feed seven Brahmins, thus completing the sacred duty. But listen, Vyasa, for I will tell you of another holy place, even more meritorious than this, which removes all sins, bestows virtue, and grants every boon one could desire. In this sacred place, all milk is regarded as a life-giving offering, sustaining all beings. After bathing in the pond there, drinking milk, and giving away a milch cow in charity, one is blessed to be born in auspicious circumstances in every lifetime. And, upon death, such a soul attains the city of heaven. With a mind purified of all sin, one who performs these acts receives the fruit of Puṣkara itself. Thus concludes the fifty-fourth chapter, named ‘Description of the Greatness of Nilaganga,’ found within the eighty-one-thousand-verse Skanda Mahapurana, in the fifth Avantya section, celebrating the sanctity of the Avanti region. Now, as the tale continues, Vyasa inquires: “In the delightful forest of Mahakala, by whom and for what reason was he formerly sent?” At that time, the venerable sage Agastya, together with all the gods, worshipped the illustrious one for the protection of the earth. With unwavering mind, Agastya offered his devotion to Bhavani, the goddess who dwells upon the Vindhya mountains. This is she who causes the flight of Kamsa, who brings destruction to the demons, who was born from the womb of Yashoda, and who crushed the might of Chanura. She is the mother of Devasena, the sovereign of the speech of poets, the thousand-eyed one for Indra, and for the sage, the supreme Arundhati. Among all mothers, she is Aditi; among all women, Parvati. She is the best, wandering in Vrindavana during the autumn, Lakshmi beloved of the fortunate, the Yakshini honored by Kubera. She is the altar of sacrificial halls, the auspicious fire of oblation, the gift for all initiations, and the bestower of all desired fruits. Thus praised, the goddess, dwelling upon Vindhya, appeared directly before them. She spoke: “O best of twice-born, ask from me whatever you desire.” It was revealed that the river Reva had grown powerful in the world, bringing fear to all beings. Flooding the universe, she threatened to overwhelm all. The goddess instructed: “Take hold of her.” Then, O Vyasa, that virtuous lady came to the auspicious Mahakala forest. She declared, “I will swiftly restrain the supreme goddess who is swelling, O sage.” She continued, “As long as you remain at the gate of Trikūṭa, O best of sages, know that Kuśasthalī—supremely holy, pure, and destroyer of sin—is where I dwell for a long time with the Mothers. There you shall always obtain lordship over the field of Siddhas. Where the abode of the virtuous is, goddesses reside by the millions, and they worship me with devotion using incense, lamps, and fire offerings. For them, nothing is difficult to obtain in the three worlds. They attain various enjoyments, even those rare for the gods. Never shall harm come to them from weapons, fire, or floods. With all sins cleansed from the soul, one who dies there goes to the city of Shiva.” Thus, Vyasa, having reached the delightful and auspicious city of Ujjayinī, know that the goddess Vindhyavāsinī is always sought there, her presence a source of blessing for all.