In the land of Mahārāṣṭra, there lived a well-known brāhmaṇa named Dhanasaṃcaka. He was also called Brahmadatta, but unlike the ideal brāhmaṇa, he was known for criticizing the Vedas and his fellow brāhmaṇas. Brahmadatta did not believe in the gods or the sanctity of sacred fords, and he made a habit of stealing the wealth of others. Because of these actions, his lifespan gradually diminished, and he fell into destitution. Eventually, Brahmadatta abandoned his life of theft and began to associate with travelers. However, his past deeds caught up with him, and the servants of Yama, the lord of justice, took him to the abode of restraint. There, Dharmaraja—devoted to his master—saw the brāhmaṇa and addressed his attendants, instructing them to listen attentively. He declared, “This sinner died on the bank of the Godāvarī. For us, there is no cause there.” He explained that, even when the Sun is in Leo or Jupiter is in Br̥haspati, people come to the bank of the Gautamī. Because of the great power of merit associated with that place, the servants of Yama have no claim over those who die there. Freed by the attendants of Yama, Brahmadatta was released and once again set upon the path toward Brahman. He began to ponder deeply: “What is true penance? What is charity? What is the observance of sacred places and vows? By what power of merit does one avoid the breaking of vows?” He reflected on the place where Rudra’s sacred lake had been revealed by the seer who perceives the truth. In that region, O best of twice-born, there exist countless holy places—crores upon crores. To the north of this sacred area lies Sutīrtha, famed as the fulfiller of all desires. Simply by beholding it, one attains the fruit of all sacrifices. Hearing these words, Brahmadatta journeyed to the river Kumudvatī. There, immediately, the best of brāhmaṇas attained the worlds of the virtuous. Thus concludes the sixty-eighth chapter, called “The Description of the Greatness of Akhaṇḍeśvara,” from the section on the glory of the Avanti region in the fifth book of the vast Skanda Mahāpurāṇa. Long ago, Brahmā himself narrated this story in response to a question from Mārkaṇḍeya. Listen, dear child: upon the earth flows the river Śiprā, the most divine of rivers. Simply beholding her brings about the destruction of even the greatest sins. At her banks, the radiant sun—supreme among those who move southward—has arrived. There, even yogis who have died continue onward upon their journey, scorcher of foes, but for them, there is not a good destination—this is the truth. To ensure their deliverance, this sacred place was established. In this holy site, the entire universe, both moving and unmoving, is encompassed, O Lord of the world. During the four sacred months when Hari sleeps, the practice of dharma is especially prescribed. Merely hearing about this in the land of Bhārata makes liberation not difficult to attain. For it is this Lord who grants liberation and enables beings to cross over worldly existence. Know that human birth is rare in this world, and even rarer is birth in a noble lineage. Where there is no association with the virtuous, no devotion to Viṣṇu, and no observance of vows, one’s merit is rendered fruitless, especially for those who neglect vows during the four months. But those who rely upon Viṣṇu remain steadfast when the four months arrive. With a well-nourished body, their lives become auspicious, their purposes fulfilled, and the gods grant them boons for as long as they live. It is said that hundreds of sins residing in their bodies are surely destroyed. Especially in these four months, when god Janārdana sleeps, if a person bathes—O best of the twice-born—on the day of Karkarā, purifies his body, and at the outset follows the path to liberation, he sets himself firmly on the way to freedom from worldly bondage.