At that sacred place, whatever was cast into the pure waters was wondrously transformed. When the garments of all the servants were immersed in that water, they were swiftly cleansed and became dazzlingly white. There was no cause for fear in that holy spot; thus, one was encouraged to go and restrain his father from unnecessary worry. The devoted daughter quickly relayed these events to her father, which brought him great satisfaction. Rising early the next morning, he hastened to the waterfall. There, after contact with the water, many garments attained a radiant whiteness. Amazed by this miracle, he gathered them up with wonder. The king himself, filled with astonishment, came to witness the waterfall. All the garments washed there became pure and excellent. Deeply moved by this divine sign, the king abandoned his kingdom and remained at that very place, performing intense austerities. O King, it is said that whoever performs a śrāddha at this sacred site on the eleventh day, or even bathes there, is instantly freed from all sin. Thus concludes the twenty-third chapter, “The Glory of Śuklatīrtha,” in the third section of the Arbuda portion, of the seventh Prabhāsa section, of the great Śrī Skanda Mahāpurāṇa. At this very place resides the goddess Kātyāyanī, the destroyer of the demon Śumbha. Once, upon the earth, there was a mighty demon named Śumbha. By the boon of Śaṃkara, he had become the lord of the gods, demons, and rākṣasas. Distressed, all the hosts of gods gathered at Mount Arbuda and worshipped the manifest goddess, the queen among the gods. Pleased by their devotion, the goddess appeared before them. The gods implored her: “O Auspicious One, destroy him! This demon is destined to be slain by another in battle. O Goddess, you once protected us when Bāṣkala overpowered us.” When Kātyāyanī challenged Śumbha to battle, he, knowing her to be a woman, sneered and commanded, “This wicked one, with her harsh voice, should be seized alive!” At his order, the demons rushed toward her, but by her mere glance, they were reduced to ashes. Śumbha cried out, “Stop! Stop!” and raised his terrible sword, but he too was instantly consumed by fire, reduced to ashes like a moth. The terrified demons fled, piercing the earth and escaping to Pātāla, the netherworld. Then, all the hosts of gods praised the queen of the gods for her victory. The goddess declared, “Here itself, on Mount Arbuda, I shall remain, O best of gods.” She noted that, without sacrifices and gifts, even heaven had become defiled. The gods replied, “We shall always see you here, O pure one, on the eighth day of the bright fortnight.” Thus, the goddess Kātyāyanī went to the mountain called Arbuda. Reaching the heart of a cave, she remained there, ever acting for the welfare of the world. O king of kings, whoever beholds her with concentrated devotion on the eighth day of the bright fortnight is especially blessed. Thus ends the twenty-fourth chapter, “The Description of the Greatness of Kātyāyanī,” in the third Arbuda section of the seventh Prabhāsa section, of the Śrī Skanda Mahāpurāṇa. There, too, is the place where Maṃki and a brāhmaṇa once practiced austerity. Long ago, Maṃki was a brāhmaṇa in name only, O king. He dwelt upon a beautiful mountain, and, after some time, he acquired wealth there. He subdued a pair of oxen and seized a tied camel, forcefully binding it at the neck. Indeed, O king, with the pair of oxen hanging from the neck— Thus, the stories of Śuklatīrtha, the greatness of Kātyāyanī, and the tale of Maṃki unfold at the sacred Arbuda, as recounted in the venerable Śrī Skanda Mahāpurāṇa.