Vyāsa, know this: whoever worships at that sacred place is spared from the torments of Bhairavī. There, during the bright half of the month of Jyeṣṭha, on the tenth day when Wednesday coincides with the Hasta constellation, the pure and supreme birth of Gaṅgā is celebrated. On this auspicious day, one who bathes at that holy site gains the merit of all sacred fords combined. Even by merely hearing of this, one’s vows are not broken. Consider a devotee, steadfast in many vows, self-controlled, and learned in the Vedas and their branches. Yet, due to some small fault, he was unable to complete his vow. At that time, a great ascetic—Nārada himself—arrived at his home as a guest. The householder received and honored Nārada as prescribed by the scriptures. O venerable one, you perceive all through the eye of knowledge. Tell me, by what association with sin did this breaking of the vow occur? In Mahārāṣṭra, there lived a brāhmaṇa named Dhanasaṃcaka, known also as Brahmadatta. He was a critic of the Vedas and brāhmaṇas, an atheist regarding gods and sacred fords, and a thief of others’ wealth. Because of these acts, his lifespan diminished and he became destitute. Abandoning theft, he began to travel with other wanderers. Eventually, the servants of Yama took him to the abode of restraint. There, Dharmaraja saw him and spoke to his attendants: "Listen with focused minds. This sinner died on the bank of the Godā; for us, there is no cause to act there. Even when the Sun is in Leo or Jupiter is in Br̥haspati, people come to the bank of the Gautamī. Because of the power of that merit, there is never any cause for us to punish." Thus released by Yama’s servants, the brāhmaṇa again attained the path of Brahman. What, then, is penance? What is charity? What is the observance of sacred places and vows? By what power of merit does the breaking of a vow not occur? In that land where Rudra’s lake was revealed by the seer who perceives the truth, there exist crores upon crores of holy places. To the north of this holy site lies Sutīrtha, the fulfiller of all desires. Merely seeing it bestows the fruit of all sacrifices. Hearing these words, the brāhmaṇa journeyed to the Kumudvatī. Immediately, he attained the worlds of the virtuous. Thus concludes the sixty-eighth chapter, named "The Description of the Greatness of Akhaṇḍeśvara," in the section on the glory of the Avanti region, in the fifth book of the Skanda Mahāpurāṇa. Long ago, this account was narrated by Brahmā in answer to Mārkaṇḍeya’s question. Listen, dear child, upon the earth flows the river Śiprā, most divine among rivers. By merely beholding her, the destruction of even great sins occurs. At her site, the radiant sun, supreme among those who travel southward, has arrived. There, even yogis who have died continue onward, O scorcher of foes. For them, there is not a good destination—I speak the truth to you. For their deliverance, this sacred place has been established. Here, the entire universe, both moving and unmoving, O Lord of the world, is encompassed. During the four months when Hari sleeps, the practice of dharma is especially prescribed at this holy site.