In that sacred place, it is prescribed that a man who has fasted for a full day and night should perform his ritual bathing. Upon completing his prescribed acts, he relinquishes his breath, fulfilling his spiritual duty. Now, listen as I describe the circle of this holy field. There, upon the summit of the Vindhya mountain, I stand, O beautiful-hipped one. To my right is established the mighty discus, and to my left, the formidable mace. The plough and the pestle are also present, with the conch standing before me. Yet, some remain unaware of these truths, for they are deluded by my divine power of illusion. Thus concludes the chapter describing the greatness of Mandara, as recounted in the blessed Varaha Purana. Having heard of Mandara’s glory, the earth herself, longing for righteousness, spoke of the greatness of the fields beginning with the Someśvara and other liṅgas, as well as the confluence of three rivers. The Earth addressed Viṣṇu, asking him to reveal a place surpassing Mandara in holiness. Śrī Varāha responded, “I shall tell you my secret, known as Śālagrāma. O Earth, in the Dvāpara age, among the noble lineage of the Yadus, there was a son most fortunate and devoted to all duties. His wife, O Vasudhā, was beautiful in every limb. In her womb, O blessed one, I shall be born—of this there is no doubt. After his departure, this foremost of the Yadava lineage wandered in all ten directions to worship me. Then, O Vasundharā, she came to Piṇḍāraka, my sacred field. In earlier times, together with Īśvara, the Lord of all yogis, I was established there. In that sacred place, Lord Hara abides, united with me in the form of a fish. There, I myself remain eternally in the form of a mountain. These forms must be worshipped with great care, especially those marked with the discus. There are stones resembling Shiva’s navel, and others resembling the navel of the discus. In this place, Soma established the supreme liṅga bearing his own name. Freed from his curse and radiant once more, the boon-giving Triambaka manifested from Someśvara. Soma then bowed in reverence, saying: ‘I bow to the five-faced, blue-throated, three-eyed One; to the divine Lord adorned with the crescent moon, worshipped by all the gods; to the trident-bearer, whose shining hand holds the ḍamaru and who has the bull as his banner; to the destroyer of the three cities, the great Time, the slayer of Andhaka and others; to the Lord adorned with a serpent as sacred thread and a garland of Rudras; whose eyes are fire, moon, and sun, beyond the reach of mind and speech; to Śambhu dwelling on Kailāsa, who made the Himālayan peaks his hermitage. O auspicious one, please grant me a boon, whatever abides in my mind.’ Soma requested, ‘Grant the cherished wish of the devotees of this liṅga.’ The Lord of gods replied, ‘Especially in this place of yours, from today onward, O protector of cows, another supreme form of mine, O Moon, will certainly reside here—of this there is no doubt. I shall grant you boons, auspicious one, that are difficult even for the gods to obtain. Together with Viṣṇu, I have deliberated, O treasure of arts, and we have resolved.’ Thus, the greatness of these sacred fields, their divine presences, and the blessings bestowed upon the devotees are revealed, as spoken by the blessed Lord in the holy Varaha Purana.