Vasiṣṭha, having come to know the plight of Sudyumna, resolved to seek divine help. With a heart full of compassion and purpose, he journeyed to the sacred heights of Mount Kailāsa. There, in the presence of the mighty Shambhu, Lord Śiva, Vasiṣṭha offered his worship, pouring forth his devotion in earnest praise. He bowed deeply and exclaimed, “Salutations, salutations to Śiva, to Śaṅkara, the matted-haired one! I bow to him whose form is half-united with Girijā, to the moon-crested Lord.” Vasiṣṭha continued his adoration: “Salutations to you, bestower of happiness, gracious dweller of Kailāsa, blue-throated Lord who grants both enjoyment and liberation to your devotees. Salutations to Śiva, of auspicious form, who removes fear from those who seek refuge, who rides the bull, shelter of all, supreme self. Salutations to you who take the forms of Brahmā, Viṣṇu, and Īśa in creation, preservation, and dissolution; to the god of gods, the giver of boons, the enemy of Tripura. Again and again I bow to you, the very form of sacrifice, the giver of fruits to those who worship, the bearer of Gaṅgā, you whose hair, sun, moon, and fire are your eyes.” Thus praised with such devotion, the blessed Lord, master of the universe, appeared before Vasiṣṭha, mounted on his bull and accompanied by radiant Ambikā. Their brilliance outshone millions of suns. Śiva appeared like a mountain of silver, three-eyed and adorned with the crescent moon. His heart was full of contentment as he addressed the foremost sage, who had bowed before him. The Lord spoke, “O best of sages, choose a boon—whatever is in your mind.” Vasiṣṭha bowed and humbly requested the restoration of Sudyumna’s manhood. The gracious Lord replied, “For one month he will be a man, and for one month a woman.” Having received this boon from Śambhu, Vasiṣṭha then turned his devotion to Jagadambikā, the goddess Maheśvarī, who stood ready to grant blessings. He worshipped her, radiant as millions of moonbeams, smiling with divine beauty, and praised her with unwavering devotion, seeking her grace for Sudyumna’s manhood. He proclaimed, “Victory to you, O goddess, great goddess, bestower of grace to your devotees! Victory to you, worshipped by all the gods, abode of endless virtues! Salutations again and again to you, queen of the gods, who is affectionate to those who seek your refuge. Victory to you, Durgā, remover of suffering, destroyer of wicked demons! Accessible through devotion, great Māyā, salutations to you, O mother of the universe, whose lotus feet are the boat that carries beings across the ocean of worldly existence. Even Brahmā and the other gods, by serving your lotus feet, attain lordship over creation, preservation, and dissolution. Be gracious, O queen of the gods, giver of the four aims of life. Who can truly praise you, O goddess? I am but one who bows before you.” Pleased by Vasiṣṭha’s devotion, the supreme goddess Durgā Nārāyaṇī was immediately moved. With compassion, she spoke to the sage, “Go to the house of Sudyumna and worship me with devotion. Recite to Sudyumna, with affection, the Purāṇa dear to me, called the Devī Bhāgavata, over nine days, O best of twice-born. Simply by hearing, he will regain manhood always—so have Śiva and Pārvatī spoken.” With these words, the divine couple vanished from sight. Vasiṣṭha, bowing in reverence, returned to his hermitage. He summoned Sudyumna and instructed him to worship the Goddess. In the bright fortnight of Āśvina, Sudyumna worshipped the Mother of the Universe with the sacred rite of Navarātra, listening with devotion as the king heard the divine Bhāgavata. Immersed in the nectar of the Bhāgavata, Sudyumna bowed and worshipped his guru, and his manhood was restored without interruption. Consecrated on the royal throne by the great sage Vasiṣṭha, Sudyumna ruled the earth righteously, bringing joy to his subjects. He performed many sacrifices, gave abundant gifts, entrusted the kingdom to his sons, and in due time attained the same exalted world as the Goddess herself. Thus, O brāhmaṇas, whoever reads or hears this entire story with devotion attains all desires here by the grace of the Goddess, and at the end reaches her world and the supreme nectar. Sūta continued: Having heard this wondrous and divine tale, Kumbhasaṃbhava, eager to hear more, humbly addressed Viśākha again. Agastya then said, “O commander of the gods, I have heard this marvelous story; now tell me further about the greatness of the Bhāgavata.” Skanda replied, “O sage, listen to this story, born from Mitra and Varuṇa, in which a portion of the glory of the Bhāgavata is revealed. Here is described the expanse of dharma, centering on the Gāyatrī; the greatness of Gāyatrī is recounted, and that is considered Bhāgavata. Because this belongs to the Goddess, it is called Bhāgavata; for she, the supreme Goddess, is worshipped by Brahmā, Viṣṇu, and Śiva.” In this context, there lived a sage of great wisdom named Ṛtavāk, who became renowned. In due time, at the end of the month of Pauṣṇa, he was blessed with a son. Ṛtavāk performed all the prescribed birth rites and ceremonies for his son, including tonsure and initiation. Yet, from the time his son was born, the sage became afflicted with grief and illness. His mind, and likewise the mother’s, became overwhelmed by anger and greed. She, filled with many attachments, was constantly distressed and deeply sorrowful. Troubled and anxious, Ṛtavāk wondered, “Why has my son become so utterly wicked?” The boy, ignoring both his father’s and mother’s teachings, abducted by force the wife of another sage’s son, his mind deluded and unrestrained. With a heart full of sorrow, Ṛtavāk lamented, “For men, it is better to have no son at all than to have a wicked son. An evil son causes his ancestors to fall from heaven into hell; as long as he lives, he brings only suffering to his parents.