After the rites at Gayā had been performed, the departed soul spoke to Gokarṇa: “Even with a hundred Gayā śrāddhas, I will not attain liberation. Consider now some other means for my release.” Gokarṇa was astonished at these words. “If liberation is not gained even by a hundred śrāddhas,” he thought, “then your release is indeed difficult.” He reassured the departed soul: “Remain in your own place without fear. I will contemplate and undertake some act that will bring about your liberation.” Thus instructed, Dhundhukārī returned to his own place, while Gokarṇa spent the night in deep thought, unable to sleep. When morning came, the people gathered joyfully to see him, and Gokarṇa told them everything that had happened during the night. The wise, the steadfast in yoga, the learned, and the speakers of Brahman all examined the collections of scriptures, searching for a means of liberation. Yet none could find a solution. Then, all recalled the words of the Sun as supreme regarding liberation. At that moment, Gokarṇa restrained the speed of the Sun and prayed: “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.” The assembly recognized this as the true form of dharma. Everyone agreed: “This must be done with effort, for it is indeed easy.” With firm resolve, Gokarṇa began the recitation. People came from villages and regions—the lame, the blind, the old, and the slow—all seeking the destruction of their sins. A great assembly formed, causing wonder even among the gods, as Gokarṇa took his seat and began to narrate the story. At that time, the departed soul also arrived, searching for a place to listen. He found a bamboo with seven knots standing upright. He entered a hole at its base to listen, unable to remain in the form of wind, and so entered the bamboo. Gokarṇa, 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 was broken; on the third day, likewise in the evening, the third knot was broken. In this way, over seven days, the seven knots were broken. Having listened to the twelve cantos, the departed soul abandoned his state as 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 Gokarṇa and said, “By your compassion, I have been freed from bondage and the impurity of being a departed soul.” He praised the Bhagavata: “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. Whether moist or dry, light or heavy, done by speech, mind, or action, hearing burns away sin, just as fire consumes fuel.” He continued: “In this land of Bharata, among the wise and in the assembly of gods, the birth of those who do not hear the narration is declared fruitless. What is the use of protecting a well-nourished, strong body, which is unstable, without hearing the teachings of Shuka? A pillar of bones, bound by sinews, smeared with flesh and blood, covered by skin, foul-smelling, a vessel for urine and excrement. Afflicted by old age, sorrow, and the consequences of actions, a house of disease, suffering, hard to fill, hard to bear, corrupted, flawed, and perishable in a moment. The body is described as ending in worms, filth, and ashes; how can unstable actions performed with such a body ever accomplish anything lasting? The food prepared in the morning perishes by evening; in a body nourished by such food, what permanence can there be?” He declared: “By hearing for seven days, Hari is attained in this world; therefore, for the removal of faults, this alone is the means. Like bubbles in water, like insects among creatures, those who lack the hearing of the narration are born only to die. Where the knot of a dry bamboo is split, that is wondrous; but how much more wondrous is the splitting of the knot in the heart by hearing the narration. The knot of the heart is broken, all doubts are cut, and actions are exhausted when the seven-day hearing is performed. When the mind is established at the sacred ford of narration, which is most capable of washing away the filth of worldly mire, then liberation alone is declared by the wise.” As he spoke, a celestial chariot arrived, surrounded by residents of Vaikuṇṭha, radiating a brilliant aura. While all watched, Dhundhukārī ascended the chariot. Seeing the Vaiṣṇavas in the chariot, Gokarṇa spoke: “Here, indeed, are many pure listeners of mine; why have celestial chariots not come for all of them at the same time? Hearing was equally performed by all here; why then has there arisen a difference in result? Let the devotees of Hari explain.” The servants of Hari replied: “The difference in result here is due to the difference in hearing; though all have heard, not all have reflected as much. Therefore, the difference in result arises even from worship, O respectful one. The departed soul performed hearing while fasting for seven nights, and he also engaged in deep reflection and concentration of mind.” Thus, the power of seven-day hearing of the Bhagavata was revealed, and the path to liberation made clear for all.