The king’s gaze lingered only upon his chief queen, for she shone with extraordinary beauty and radiance. Her co-wives, awed by her splendor, sought to win favor by performing good deeds for her, but the king’s attention remained fixed on her joyful face alone. It was then that the sage Agastya, beholding the queen’s surpassing beauty, felt great delight. He exclaimed to the king, “Excellent, excellent, O Lord of the Universe!” The next day, when Agastya again saw the queen, radiant as before, he repeated in wonder, “Ah, a handful, ah, a handful—this entire world, moving and unmoving, is just this!” Thus, he marveled at her presence. On the third day, Agastya saw her yet again and declared, “Ah, the ignorant do not know Govinda, the Supreme Lord, who, being pleased, gave this fruit to the queen in a single day.” When the fourth day came, Agastya, raising his hands in jubilation, praised all: “Excellent, excellent, Lord of the Universe! Women, Shudras—excellent, excellent! Twice-born, kings—excellent, excellent again and again! Vaishyas—excellent!” He continued, “Excellent, Bhadrashva, excellent are you! O Agastya, excellent, excellent are you! Excellent, Prahlada, excellent! Dhruva, great vow-holder, excellent!” So filled with joy, Agastya began to dance loudly before the king. Amazed at the sage’s exuberance, the king and his queen approached him and asked, “O Brahmin, what is the cause of your joy, by which you dance in this way?” Agastya replied, “Ah, you are a foolish king! Ah, these followers of yours are fools! Ah, the priests are fools who do not know my thought!” The king, humbly joining his palms, said, “O Brahmin, we do not understand the question you have raised. Please reveal it to us, if you wish to show us your favor, O greatly fortunate one.” Agastya then revealed the deeper truth: “This queen of yours was once a maidservant of a Vaishya in the city of Vaidisha. You were her husband, and that Shudra, devoted to service, was the worker of that Vaishya. In the month of Ashvayuja, on the twelfth day, the Vaishya observed discipline and went to Vishnu’s temple, worshipping Hari with flowers, incense, and other offerings. After worship, he returned home, while you two, his guards, remained there, lighting two lamps for illumination. When the Vaishya had left, you and your wife stayed, tending the lamps, remaining until the night had passed. In time, both you and your wife died, and by the merit of that night’s service, you were born in the house of Priyavrata. This wife of yours was formerly the maidservant of the Vaishya, and even the lamp belonging to another, which was lit in Hari’s house, bore great merit. Whoever, with their own wealth, lights a lamp before Vishnu—the merit of that act cannot be measured. Therefore, O noble one, ‘Excellent, O Hari, excellent!’—this was my praise. In the Krita age, one who worships Hari with devotion for a year attains the same result in the Treta age in half a year—of this there is no doubt. In the Dvapara age, three months’ worship with devotion brings the fruit; and in Kali, simply by saying ‘Salutations to Narayana,’ one attains the result. Thus, I said that the whole world is a mere handful for Vishnu, attained by devotion alone. Because of the greatness of even lighting another’s lamp before Hari, such a result is obtained before the gods. The fruit you have attained, O king, is this very fruit I have described. Ah, the ignorant do not know the result of offering a lamp to Hari. Thus, those twice-born and those kings who worship with devotion by various sacrifices—they are remembered as virtuous. I see no one else on earth except him; therefore, O noble one, I praised Agastya as myself, O king, with great joy and excitement. That woman is blessed, and likewise that Shudra is even more blessed, who serves her husband with devotion, thinking of Hari even when he is not present. That woman is blessed, and likewise that Shudra who delights in serving the twice-born; by their permission, devotion to Hari is praiseworthy in a woman or a Shudra. Prahlada, though born with asuric tendencies, recognized no one but the Supreme Person; thus, he is called a saint. Dhruva, born in the lineage of the progenitors, went to the forest as a child, worshipped Vishnu, and attained the highest place; therefore, O best of kings, I called him a saint.” Hearing these profound words, the king, though little instructed, questioned the great sage further. But Agastya, intent on his journey, departed for the sacred place of Pushkara in the month of Karttika, leaving for the abode of Bhadrashva. Later, when the king asked about that very Dvadashi, the revered Durvasa replied, “This alone I have told you, O possessor of austerities.” Agastya, before departing, assured the king, “I am going to Pushkara; I will return to your house.” With that, the sage quickly departed and became invisible. The king, following the sage’s instruction, observed the Dvadashi of Padmanabha and attained his highest desires in this very life. Together with his queen, the excellent king observed the Dvadashi fast and was blessed with sons and grandsons during his lifetime. In time, Durvasa said: After going to the sacred place Pushkara, the eminent sage Agastya, in the month of Karttika, soon returned to the house of Bhadrashva. When the sage arrived, the supremely righteous king joyfully welcomed him with offerings of water and a seat, and then addressed him with respect. “O venerable one,” said the king, “you previously described the observance of Dvadashi in the month of Ashvayuja, which I have performed; now, please tell me what merit may be gained in the month of Karttika.” Agastya replied, “Hear, O mighty-armed king, about the Dvadashi in the month of Karttika—how it is to be observed, and what fruit is obtained thereby. With the same resolve as before, one should bathe and worship the sinless Lord Narayana as the all-pervading God. Bow to the thousand-headed Lord and worship his head; to the Purusha, his arms; to the all-formed One, his neck; to the wielder of the weapon of knowledge, his weapons; and to Srivatsa, his chest. To the devourer of the universe, worship his belly; to the divine form, the waist; to the thousand-footed God, worship his feet. Having worshipped the Lord of the gods in proper order, the wise one should then, saying ‘Obeisance to Damodara,’ worship Hari’s entire body. Having thus worshipped according to the rite, he should place before Him four pots, filled with gems and anointed with white sandalwood.” Thus did Agastya instruct the king in the glorious observance of Karttika Dvadashi, and the king, blessed by the sage’s wisdom, continued to prosper in devotion and righteousness.