After many years, King Durjaya was blessed with two sons: Suprabha, born of Sukeśī, and Sudarśana, born of Miśrakeśī. Having obtained these excellent children, Durjaya, the illustrious monarch, later ventured to the edge of the forest. There, he confronted and slew the fierce wild animals that threatened the land. Amidst the tranquil woods, Durjaya came upon a sinless sage dwelling there. He beheld the revered ascetic Gauramukha, renowned as a protector of the seers and a savior to the sinful. The hermitage of Gauramukha was a place of purity and peace: gentle breezes wafted over pure waters, fragrant trees flourished, and the abode shone like a celestial palace descended to earth, reminiscent of a cloud gracing the sky. The atmosphere glowed with the sacred fire of sacrifice, the dwellings were spotless, and the air resounded with the melodious chanting of Sāman hymns by disciples. The hermitage was filled with beautiful women and daughters of seers, and every tree was adorned with blossoms. Seeing the delightful hermitage of Gauramukha, King Durjaya reflected on its beauty and resolved, “I shall enter here and see these supremely righteous sages.” Entering the hermitage, Durjaya was warmly received by Gauramukha, who was filled with joy at the king’s arrival. After offering words of welcome and exchanging pleasantries, the sage said, “O best of kings, I shall provide food for you and your retinue to the best of my ability.” He invited Durjaya to unyoke his horses and, observing his vow, fell silent. Durjaya, accompanied by his attendants and five divisions of his army, stood with devotion, wondering how the ascetic would provide food for so many. Gauramukha, intent in mind, pondered the same—what food could he offer the king and his retinue? As Gauramukha reflected, Lord Hari Nārāyaṇa, the master of gods, entered his heart. Remembering Nārāyaṇa, Gauramukha went to the sacred Gaṅgā to propitiate him. The Earth herself, eager to know, asked the mountain how Gauramukha pleased Viṣṇu, expressing her desire to hear the details. Gauramukha began his praises: “Salutations always to Viṣṇu; salutations to you who wear yellow garments, who have the primordial form, and who take the form of water. Salutations to you, who abide in all things and recline upon the waters; to you who take the form of earth and whose essence is fire. Salutations to you as air and as space. You are the Lord of all beings, the master, and the desire within the heart. You are the syllable Oṃ, the vaṣaṭ call, present everywhere, the origin of all gods, with no origin yourself. You are Bhū, Bhuvaḥ, Jana, and Mahaḥ. You are tapas and truth, and in you abides all that moves and does not move. From you, the world arises; from you, the Vedas and scriptures are born; from you, sacrifices are established. Trees, herbs, all plants, cattle, birds, and serpents—all arise from you, O Janārdana. “O Lord of gods, a king named Durjaya has come as my guest, and I am eager to offer him hospitality. Today, O Lord, I am poor and bowed in devotion; please grant me a supply of food. Whatever I touch with my hand, whatever I see with my eyes—tree, grass, or root—may all become the four kinds of food. And whatever else I contemplate in my mind, let all that be accomplished for me. Salutations to you, Supreme Lord.” Thus praised, the Lord of gods, Keśava, was satisfied and revealed his divine form to Gauramukha. With a mind filled with grace, he spoke, “Speak, O brāhmaṇa, choose the highest boon.” Gauramukha slowly opened his eyes and beheld Janārdana, holding conch and mace, clad in yellow garments, radiant, seated upon Garuḍa, shining with the brilliance of twelve suns. The sage saw, as if in a single place, the entire universe divided in many ways, and his eyes widened in wonder. He bowed his head, palms joined, and spoke: “If the Lord grants me a boon, O Keśava, let it be for your devotee. May this king, with his army and vehicles, having been fed in my hermitage, return to his own home tomorrow.” Thus addressed, the Lord granted the sage mastery of the mind and bestowed upon him a jewel of great brilliance. After giving this boon, the god vanished, and Gauramukha returned to his sacred hermitage, attended by many seers. There, the sage contemplated a house shaped like the peak of the Himalayas, towering like a great cloud, shining like moonbeams, and possessing a hundred stories. Having received Viṣṇu’s boon, Gauramukha created thousands and hundreds of millions of such houses in every way. Around them, he made walls and gardens, filled with the calls of cuckoos and noble birds, and planted with campaka, ashoka, punnaga, naga, and kesara trees. In all those house-gardens were trees of many kinds, and there were stables for elephants and stalls for horses as well. Thus, through devotion and the grace of the Lord, Gauramukha transformed his hermitage into a place of abundance and beauty, able to fulfill the needs of King Durjaya and his vast retinue.