Gokarṇa, filled with compassion, gently instructed the departed soul, Dhundhukārī, saying, “Remain in your own place without fear. I will contemplate and carry out an act that will bring about your liberation.” Hearing these words, Dhundhukārī withdrew to his own place, while Gokarṇa spent the entire night sleepless, deep in thought, pondering how to free his brother from bondage. When morning arrived, the villagers gathered joyfully to see Gokarṇa. He recounted in detail all that had transpired during the night. The learned scholars, steadfast yogis, wise men, and eloquent speakers of Brahman—each examined the scriptures, searching for a means to liberate Dhundhukārī, but none could find a way. Then, all agreed that the words of the Sun held supreme authority regarding liberation. At that moment, Gokarṇa restrained the Sun’s swift course and, offering his respects, implored, “O witness of the world, tell me the cause of liberation.” From afar, the Sun answered clearly: “Recite the Śrīmad Bhāgavatam for seven days; this brings liberation.” All recognized this as the true path of dharma. Everyone exclaimed, “This must be done with effort, for it is indeed easy!” Resolute, Gokarṇa began the recitation. People from villages and distant regions gathered to hear—the lame, the blind, the old, the slow—all came seeking release from their sins. A great assembly formed, so wondrous that even the gods marveled, as Gokarṇa took his seat and began narrating the sacred story. At that time, Dhundhukārī, the departed soul, arrived, searching for a place. He found a bamboo with seven knots standing upright. Entering a hole at its base, he stood within, unable to remain in the form of wind, and took shelter inside the bamboo. Gokarṇa, considering the chief Vaiṣṇava brāhmaṇa as the foremost listener, began his clear narration from the first book. At the end of the first day, as the verse was recited, a wondrous event occurred: the first knot in the bamboo split with a resounding crack, witnessed by the virtuous assembly. On the second evening, the second knot broke; on the third evening, the third knot split, and so it continued. Over seven days, all seven knots were broken. Having listened to all twelve cantos, Dhundhukārī shed his state as a departed soul. He then assumed a divine form: adorned with a garland of tulasi, clad in yellow garments, dark as a rain cloud, crowned and wearing earrings. Immediately, he bowed to his brother Gokarṇa and spoke with gratitude, “By your compassion, I have been freed from bondage and the impurity of being a departed soul.” He praised the Bhagavata discourse, saying, “Blessed is the narration 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? The body is but 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 karma, a house of disease and suffering, hard to fill, hard to bear, corrupted, flawed, and perishable in a moment. The body ends in worms, filth, and ashes; how can actions performed with such a body ever accomplish anything lasting? 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 washes away the filth of worldly mire, then liberation alone is declared by the wise.” As Dhundhukārī spoke, a celestial chariot arrived, surrounded by the radiant residents of Vaikuṇṭha. Before the amazed assembly, Dhundhukārī ascended the chariot. Seeing the Vaiṣṇavas in the chariot, Gokarṇa asked, “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 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. Knowledge that is not firm is destroyed, hearing is ruined by negligence, a mantra is lost if doubted, and recitation is spoiled by a distracted mind. A place not devoted to Viṣṇu is ruined, a śrāddha performed for the unworthy is ruined, charity given to one unlearned in scripture is ruined, and a family is ruined by misconduct.” Thus, the assembly witnessed the wondrous liberation of Dhundhukārī, and the power of the seven-day hearing of the Śrīmad Bhāgavatam was revealed for all to see.