With her face downcast, the goddess addressed Mahādeva, saying, “O Lord, I cannot remain here; please take me to your own abode.” Hearing her plea, Mahādeva surveyed all the worlds for a suitable dwelling and ultimately chose the illustrious city of Vārāṇasī on earth, the sacred field renowned among mortals and gods. Knowing that King Divodāsa resided in Vārāṇasī, Bhava summoned Gaṇeśa, who stood faithfully by his side, and spoke to him, “O Lord of the Gaṇas, go to that city and make it empty, but use gentle means, for the king is exceedingly powerful.” Responding to this command, Nikumbha went to Vārāṇasī and appeared in a dream to a barber named Maṅkana. Nikumbha said to Maṅkana, “I will grant you prosperity; choose a place for me, O sinless one. Make an image in my likeness and install it in the city.” Maṅkana, following the vision he had received in his dream, carried out everything as instructed, obtaining the king’s permission according to proper rules. A great worship began there, performed constantly with perfumes, incense, garlands, and other beautiful offerings. The offerings of food made the place exceedingly wondrous, and thus the Lord of Hosts was worshipped there always. Gaṇeśa granted thousands of boons to the city—sons, gold, longevity, and all desired things. The king’s chief queen, renowned as Suyaśā, came repeatedly to worship for the sake of a son, prompted by the king. She performed great worship and requested sons, returning many times with the same prayer. Yet Nikumbha withheld the boon of sons for a reason. If the king grew angry over this, something would happen. After a long time, anger indeed entered the king. Nikumbha then granted a being at the great gate of the city, and out of affection, gave boons by the hundreds, but nothing else occurred. He was worshipped always by the people in the city, and the queen worshipped him many times for the same reason, but he did not grant the king a son. Frustrated, the king declared, “He does not deserve worship from me in any way; thus, I will destroy the place of that wicked one.” Resolving firmly, the king, sinful in mind, destroyed the abode of Gaṇapati with evil intent. Seeing the temple broken, the Lord approached the king and said, “Except for an offense against me, you have destroyed the place without cause. Suddenly, your city will become empty, O ruler of men.” By that curse, Vārāṇasī indeed became empty. Nikumbha, having cursed the city, led it to Mahādeva, and Mahādeva, the Supreme Self, made the city empty. Equal in divine splendor to the great-souled goddess, the goddess delighted there, as did Maheśvara when she delighted. Yet, the goddess did not find pleasure there, due to the marvels of the house. For the sake of the goddess’s play, the Lord spoke, “I will not leave the house, for Avimukta is my home.” Smiling, he said to her, “Avimukta is indeed my home. I will not go, O goddess; you may go, I will remain here and delight.” Therefore, that place was called Avimukta, as declared by the Lord himself. Thus, Vārāṇasī was cursed, and Avimukta was proclaimed—the dwelling of the god, honored by all gods, where righteous Maheśvara resides with the goddess throughout the three ages. In the Kali age, that city of the great-souled one becomes invisible; when it disappears, it again dwells elsewhere. After the curse, Vārāṇasī returned to its settlement. A hundred excellent archers, the sons of Bhadrasrenya, came there. King Divodāsa slew them and established his settlement, seizing the kingdom of Bhadrasrenya by force. Bhadrasrenya’s son, named Durdama, was spared by Divodāsa out of compassion, as he was still a child. From Divodāsa and Rishadvati was born a heroic son, Pratardana. While still a boy, Pratardana attacked the kingdom again. At that time, the great king brought an end to the enmity. Pratardana had two famous sons, Vatsa and Garga. Vatsa’s son was Alarka, and Sannati was his own son. Regarding Alarka, the royal sage composed two ancient verses: For sixty thousand and sixty hundred years, Alarka, the best of the Kashi, remained youthful in appearance. By the grace of Lopamudra, he attained the highest span of life. At the end of the curse, the mighty-armed king, having slain the demon Kṣemakara, made the delightful city of Vārāṇasī his abode. Sannati also had an heir named Sunitha, who was righteous; Sunitha’s heir was Suketu, also righteous. Suketu’s son was known as Dharmaketu; Dharmaketu’s heir was Satyaketu, a mighty charioteer. Satyaketu’s son was Vibhu, lord of the people; Suvibhu was Vibhu’s son, and from him came Sukumara. Sukumara’s son was Dhṛṣṭaketu, who was righteous; Dhṛṣṭaketu’s heir was Veṇuhotra, lord of the people. Thus, the sacred lineage and the story of Vārāṇasī, its curse, restoration, and the noble kings who ruled, unfolds in reverence to the divine will.