This Khand covers the pages 610-1001 (390 pages) of the book. Importance of Badaree Naath; Gangaa; Tulasee, Shaaligraam, Prayaag Teerth, various kinds of Daan (charities); about Shani Dev; various Vrat; Ekaadashee of all months; worship of Yam Raaj and Dwaadashee Vrat; Vishnu Sahastranaam; story of devotee Pundareek; importance of Vishnu and various flowers to use in His worship; Shankhaasur, Kaartik and Maagh Snaan and Vrat; Narasinh Chaturdashee; Geetaa; Bhaagvat Kathaa; Avataar stories - Matsya, Koorm, Narasinh, Vaaman, Parashuraam, Raam, and Krishn.

Mrikandu Muni

Vashishth Jee said - "Hey Raajan, Thus living with his four wives Mrigshring Muni had passed many years. Suvritaa gave birth to a son. Mrigshring Muni knew about three Times, so he named him Mrikandu. Deer used to rub their bodies to his body fearlessly, that is why he named him Mrikandu. He was very learned and disciplined. After he finished his education, he entered Grihasth Aashram. He married Marudwatee, the daughter of Mudgal Rishi. After this Mrigshring Muni's other wife Kamalaa also gave birth to a son. He was very qualitative and learned that is why he was named Uttam. After his education he got married with Kushaa, the daughter of Kanv Muni. Vimalaa also gave birth to a son named Sumati. He also studied Ved etc and married to Satyaa. Surasaa gave birth to a son named Suvrat. He also studied Ved and married to Prithu's daughter Priyamvadaa. All sons did several Yagya with lots of Dakshinaa.

All were living happily. Mrigshring had several grandsons also. Whenever Maagh Maas came he always took bath along with all of his family members. Doing Snaan, Daan, worship of Shiv, Vrat and discipline in every Maagh Maas are the good things for a Grihasth. Then one day, he went to Tapo Van handing over the responsibility of his wives on his children. He behaved their like deer. He lived like that for long time then he attained Brahm Lok. There Brahmaa Jee welcomed him. At one time, after the Pralaya (the Great Deluge) he was born as Brahmaa Jee's son and his name was Ribhu and he discoursed Nidaagh. (Read their dialogs in Vishnu Puraan, 2/8,  Naarad Puraan, 1/22)

Mrigshring's wives lived with their sons with discipline for some time. Then they became old. Mrikandu didn't have any child from Marudwatee. He considered his mothers' condition and thought, "I will go to Shankar Jee's capital [Kaashee] along with my mothers and wife where he preached Taarak Mantra in the ears of learned people. On the way he told them the glory of Kaashee. He said - "Who are abandoned by their parents and friends, or they don't have any place anywhere in the world, Kaashe is the best for them. Who are old, sick, or face troubles at every step, sinners, Kaashee is the best place for them. Who live in Kaashee, by the grace of Shiv, they live happily there. Living in Kaashee is Yog, Tap, Daan, worship of Shiv, Yagya, Karm, Swarg, and pleasure. Whoever live here, Kaam, anger, greed, fear, Kaal, A-Gyaan, pride, old age, nothing can harm them."

They all came to Kaashee and first they took bath on Manikarnikaa Ghaat (place on the bank of a river where people can take bath), did Tarpan of Pitar, worshipped Devtaa, worshipped and donated many things to poor and orphans. They then worshipped Ganesh Jee and entered their dwelling place. They kept fast that day and did Jaagaran that night for Shiv Jee. Next Mrikandu established a Shiv Ling in his own name, his all mothers also established Shiv Ling in their own names - Mrikanweeshwar, Suvratteshwar, Kamaleshwar, Vimaleshwar, Suraseshwar, Marudwateeshwar. After this they stayed in Kaashee for one year. One day in the afternoon, Mrikandu's mothers were circumambulating Shiv temple after taking bath at Manikarnikaa Ghaat, that they all fell down and died. At the same time Shiv Jee came there immediately, and told Pranav Mantra in their ears holding their heads together."

Birth of Maarkandeya and Mrityunjaya Stotra

Vashishth Jee said - "Mrikandu did their last rites and stayed there for long time. By the grace of Shankar Jee a great son was born to Marudwatee. He was known as Maarkandeya. He got immortality and saw Pralaya scene by doing Tapasyaa of Shiv Jee." Dileep asked - "You told that there was no child to Mrikandu, then how he got this child and how he attained immortality from Shiv Jee, I wish to listen to it." Vashishth Jee said - "When Mrikandu had no child for some time, he and his wife pleased Shankar Jee with their Tap. Shankar Jee asked him to ask for any Var. Muni asked for a son. Shiv Jee said - "Muni, Do you want a long-lived son who has no qualities or do you want a son who will live for 16 years and will be very qualitative?" Mrikandu said - "Jagadeeshwar, I do not want a son without qualities, his life may be short, but he must be qualitative." Shankar Jee said - "You will get a son who will live up to the age of 16 and will be very qualitative, religious, learned." and he disappeared.

After long time his wife Marudwatee got pregnant. He performed all Sanskaar of the child methodically. When the time came Marudwatee gave birth to a son, shining like Soorya. Devtaa played instruments. Ved Vyaas also came to Mrikandu's Aashram to bless the child and he did his Jaatkarm Sanskaar. On the 11th day he performed his Naamkarn Sanskaar. All people who saw him admired him for his glory. In the 4th month he took him out of the house, and in the 6th month he did his Annpraashan. When he was 2 and 1/2 years old, his Choodaakarm was performed, and in Shravan Nakshatra the Karnbhedan Sanskaar. In his 5th year Mrikandu gave him Yagyopaveet. After doing Upaakarm, he started teaching him Ved. The child was very brilliant, his Guru was only for namesake. When his 16th year started, Mrikandu's heart started sinking. He started weeping. Maarkandeya asked him - "Father Why are you weeping?" Then Mrikandu told him the reason of his sorrow.

Mrikandu said - "Son, Shiv Jee hs given you only 16 years of life, that is coming to an end, that is why I am getting sad." Maarkandeya said - "Father, Do not worry at all for me. I will make such efforts that I should be immortal. Mahaadev give everybody his desired Var. He is the winner over Death, giver of everything, Mahaakaal of Kaal, and drinker of poison. I will attain immortality by worshipping him." Hearing his son the father got very happy. He said - "You have proposed this way of worshipping Shiv, so you go to him only. There is no greater well-wisher than him. What we cannot think of, he can fulfill that. Haven't you heard about Shwetketu that how Mahaadev protected him bound with Kaalpaash. Only he drank Halaahal Vish which came out from Saagar Manthan. He killed Jalandhar who had won Tri-Lok, with the Chakra appeared from his big toe's line. He is the same who burnt Tri-Pur with one arrow made from Vishnu. Andhakaasur was blind with the pride after getting Tri-Lok, he dried him under the Sun's rays for 10,000 years. He burnt Kaam Dev just by casting a look and gave him the status of Anang. So you go to him only."

Maarkandeya Jee went on the shore of southern sea, there he established a Shiv Ling in his own name. He used to take bath three times a day, worship Shiv three times a day and read Stotra and dance in the end of the worship. Shankar got pleased with his worship in one day only. The day his life was to end, he worshipped Shiv and as he got ready to read the Stotra, Kaal came to take him with Mrityu. He put his noose in Maarkandeya's neck. Maarkandeya said - Wait till I finish my Mrityunjaya named Stotra of Shiv. I cannot go anywhere without reading that Stotra. I don't even take food or sleep without saying it, this is my vow. I love this Stotra more than any other thing of the world. If I have not told any lie, then let Shankar be pleased with me."

Kaal said - "It seems that you have not heard this age old saying of learned people that who doesn't do Dharm in his early times of life he repents. Because Kaal does not wait for anything. Whose Kaal has not come, he does not die in spite of being pierced by hundreds of arrows, and whose Kaal has come he does not live even if touched by Kush's front part." Maarkandeya said - "Who create obstacles for the people involved in Shiv's worship, they get destroyed soon. Have you not heard this that who are Shiv's devotee no harm can be done to them. Even Brahmaa do not power to kill him." Hearing this Kaal got very angry, he said - "O foolish Braahman, I have killed innumerable Brahmaa. See my strength, if your Mahaadev can protect you, let him do it now."

So Kaal started eating Maarkandeya that suddenly Shiv appeared from the Ling and kicked on Mrityu's chest. Seeing this, Maarkandeya again started reading the Stotra (the Maarkandeya Stotra is given here in text on p 915-916)."

Vashishth Jee said - "Whoever will read this Maarkandeya Stotra near Shankar, he will not fear the Death. Then Shiv bestowed him very long life - for many Kalp. That is why he aw many scenes of Pralaya. He came back to his parents. His parents got very happy to see him back. Yam Raaj also went back after praying Shiv Jee. Because Mrigshring Muni used to do Maagh Snaan regularly, that is why his child became so fortunate."