In the ancient tale, it is said that the enticing words of lustful women are sweet as nectar, heightening pleasure, but their hearts are sharp as razors—no man is truly dear to them. This truth became evident in the life of Dhundhukari. After these women, who had many husbands, seized his wealth, they abandoned him. Left alone and ruined by his own misdeeds, Dhundhukari transformed into a great ghost, tormented by the consequences of his actions. As a restless spirit, Dhundhukari took the form of a whirlwind, ceaselessly rushing in all ten directions, suffering from cold and heat, hunger and thirst, unable to find any food or relief. He wandered without shelter, repeatedly lamenting his fate, crying out, “Alas, fate!” Eventually, news of his death reached his brother, Gokarna, through the people of the world. Recognizing Dhundhukari’s helplessness, Gokarna performed the sacred funeral rites at Gaya for his departed brother. Wherever Gokarna traveled to holy places, he continued to offer these rites, hoping to grant Dhundhukari peace. After much wandering, Gokarna returned to his own city. One night, he lay down to sleep in the courtyard of his house, unnoticed by others. There, in the stillness of the night, Dhundhukari’s spirit perceived Gokarna sleeping and revealed himself, appearing in a terrifying form. Before Gokarna’s eyes, the ghost transformed again and again—becoming a sheep, an elephant, a buffalo, Indra, Agni, and finally a man—each form only once. Witnessing these strange transformations, Gokarna, calm and resolute, realized that this was a soul in great misery and addressed him. Gokarna asked, “Who are you, so fierce at night? From where have you come to this condition? Are you a ghost, a goblin, or a demon? Tell us.” Unable to speak, the spirit cried out loudly, making only gestures of consciousness. Gokarna then took water in his hands and raised the spirit up. Through this compassionate act, Dhundhukari was freed enough to speak. The ghost revealed, “I am your brother, Dhundhukari. Through my own fault, I have destroyed my human birth. My deeds are countless, born of great ignorance. I harmed the worlds and was killed by women through suffering. Now, I have become a ghost, bearing this wretched state, living only on air and receiving the results of my actions as fate allows. O friend, ocean of compassion, brother, quickly release me!” Hearing these words, Gokarna replied, “For your sake, I have duly offered the ancestral oblation at Gaya. How is it that you have not been liberated? This astonishes me. If liberation does not come even from the Gaya rites, there is no other means here. What should I do for you, O departed one? Tell me the truth in detail.” Dhundhukari answered, “Even with a hundred Gaya rites, I will not attain liberation. Consider now some other means for my release.” Gokarna was amazed, realizing that if liberation could not be gained even by a hundred rites, Dhundhukari’s release was truly difficult. He comforted his brother, “Now, remain in your own place, O departed one, without fear. I will consider and perform some act that will bring about your liberation.” Thus instructed, Dhundhukari returned to his place as a spirit. Gokarna spent the night in deep thought, unable to sleep. In the morning, as Gokarna arrived, the people gathered joyfully, and he told them everything that had happened during the night. The learned, the steadfast in yoga, the wise, and the speakers of Brahman—all examined the scriptures, yet found no means for Dhundhukari’s liberation. Then, the words of the Sun were accepted as supreme regarding his release. At that time, Gokarna restrained the speed of the Sun and prayed, “To you, O witness of the world, I offer my respects. Tell me the cause of liberation.” Hearing this from afar, the Sun spoke clearly, “Recite the Śrīmad Bhāgavatam for seven days—this brings liberation.” All recognized this as the true form of dharma. Everyone agreed, “This must be done with effort, for it is indeed easy.” Gokarna resolved to begin the recitation. People from villages and regions gathered to hear—the lame, the blind, the old, and the slow—all came for the destruction of their sins. A great assembly formed, so wondrous that even the gods marveled, as Gokarna took his seat and began narrating the story. At that time, Dhundhukari also arrived, searching for a place. He saw a bamboo with seven knots standing upright and entered a hole at its base to listen, unable to remain in the form of wind, so he entered the bamboo. Gokarna, considering the chief Vaiṣṇava brāhmaṇa as the foremost listener, began the clear narration from the first book. At the end of the day, when the verse was recited, a wondrous event occurred: the knot in the bamboo split with a sound, witnessed by the virtuous. On the second day, in the evening, the second knot broke; on the third day, likewise, the third knot broke. In this way, over seven days, all seven knots were broken. Having listened to the twelve cantos, Dhundhukari abandoned the state of a departed soul. He assumed a divine form, adorned with a garland of tulasi, clad in yellow garments, dark as a rain cloud, crowned and wearing earrings. He immediately bowed to his brother Gokarna and said, “By your compassion, I have been freed from bondage and the impurity of being a departed soul. Blessed is the discourse of the Bhagavata, which destroys the suffering of departed souls; blessed too is the seven-day recitation, which grants the fruit of attaining Krishna’s realm. All sins tremble when the seven-day hearing is undertaken; this narration will bring about our immediate deliverance.” Thus, the power of the Bhagavata and the compassion of Gokarna brought liberation to Dhundhukari, showing all the supreme path to freedom and grace.