At brāhma-muhūrta (before sunrise), Śaṅkhacūḍa got up from his flower-strewn bed. He discarded his night clothes, bathed in pure water, put on freshly washed clothing, and smeared his body and forehead with bright tilaka markings. He performed the necessary rites and worshiped his personal Deity. He then saw such auspicious things as curd, ghee, honey, parched rice, etc., and, as…