All the assembled sages and seekers recognized the words of the Sun as supreme, acknowledging his declaration as the ultimate authority on liberation. At that auspicious moment, Gokarṇa, by his spiritual power, restrained the swift passage of the Sun, holding time itself in check. With deep reverence, Gokarṇa addressed the radiant Sun, the ever-present witness of the world, offering his respects and beseeching him: "O witness of all, please reveal to me the true cause of liberation." Hearing this earnest plea from afar, the Sun responded in a clear, resounding voice. The Sun declared, "Recite the Śrīmad Bhāgavatam for seven days—this alone brings liberation." Upon hearing this, everyone present accepted these words as the very essence of dharma. All agreed: "This must be undertaken with effort, for although profound, it is indeed accessible." Thus resolved, Gokarṇa began the sacred recitation. News of this momentous event spread far and wide. People came from villages and distant lands—the lame, the blind, the elderly, and the slow—all gathered, seeking the destruction of their accumulated sins. A great and wondrous assembly formed, so magnificent that even the gods were astonished. Gokarṇa, having taken his seat, commenced the narration of the divine story. At that time, the soul of the departed son of Dhundhulī also arrived, searching for a place to listen. There, he noticed a bamboo stalk with seven knots, standing upright. Desiring to hear the narration, he entered a hole at the base of the bamboo, for he could no longer remain merely as a wandering wind; he entered and stayed within the bamboo. Regarded as the foremost listener by all, especially the chief Vaiṣṇava brāhmaṇa, Gokarṇa, the son of Dhenu, began the clear and faithful narration of the Bhāgavatam, starting from the very first book. At the end of the first day, after the recitation of a particular verse, a marvelous event occurred: the first knot of the bamboo split open with a resounding crack, witnessed by the virtuous assembly. On the second day, as evening approached, the second knot burst open; on the third day, likewise, the third knot split. In this way, over the course of seven days, each of the seven knots broke open—one for each day—until, having listened to the entire twelve cantos of the Bhāgavatam, the departed soul was freed from his state of bondage. He emerged in a radiant divine form, adorned with a garland of tulasi leaves, clad in yellow garments, his complexion dark as a rain-laden cloud, crowned and wearing beautiful earrings. He immediately bowed to his brother Gokarṇa and, with gratitude, spoke: "By your compassion, I have been freed from bondage and the impurity of being a departed soul." "Blessed is the discourse of the Bhāgavatam, which destroys the suffering of the departed; blessed, too, is the seven-day recitation, which grants the supreme fruit of attaining Krishna’s realm." All present declared: "All sins tremble before the seven-day hearing; this narration will bring about our immediate deliverance." "Whatever the nature of our actions—whether moist or dry, light or heavy, performed by speech, mind, or body—hearing the Bhāgavatam burns away sin, just as fire consumes fuel." "In this sacred land of Bharata, among the wise and even in the assembly of the gods, the birth of those who do not hear this narration is declared fruitless." "What use is there in protecting a well-nourished and strong body, which is unstable and perishable, without having heard the teachings of Shuka?" "For this body is but a pillar of bones, bound by sinews, smeared with flesh and blood, covered by skin, foul-smelling, and a vessel for urine and excrement. Afflicted by old age, sorrow, and the consequences of actions, it is a house of disease and suffering, hard to fill and hard to bear, corrupt, flawed, and perishable in a moment." "The body ends in worms, filth, and ashes; how can unstable actions performed with such a body ever accomplish anything lasting?" "Even the food prepared in the morning perishes by evening; in a body nourished by such impermanent food, what lasting value can there be?" "But by hearing the Bhāgavatam for seven days, Hari is attained in this very world; therefore, for the removal of all faults, this alone is the means." "Like bubbles in water, like insects among creatures, those who do not hear this narration are born only to die." "To see the knot of a dry bamboo split is wondrous, but far more wondrous is the splitting of the knot within the heart by hearing this sacred narration." "When the knot of the heart is broken, all doubts are cut, and one’s actions are exhausted—this is the fruit of the seven-day hearing." "When the mind is bathed at the sacred ford of this narration, which alone can wash away the filth of worldly mire, then, say the wise, liberation is surely attained." As these words were spoken, a celestial chariot suddenly appeared, radiant and surrounded by the shining residents of Vaikuṇṭha. All present watched as the son of Dhundhulī ascended the chariot. Seeing the Vaiṣṇavas within, Gokarṇa spoke with gentle concern: "Here 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, is there a difference in the result? Let the devotees of Hari explain." The servants of Hari replied, "O respectful one, the difference in result is due to the difference in hearing. Though all have heard, not all have reflected deeply. Therefore, even in worship, the result varies according to the depth of engagement." "The departed soul performed the hearing while fasting for seven nights, with deep reflection and a concentrated mind." "Knowledge that is not firm is lost, 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." "But faith in the words of the guru, humility within oneself, conquering the faults of the mind, and unwavering attention in the narration—" "If these and similar qualities are present, then indeed the fruit of hearing is attained; and at the end of the narration, residence in Vaikuṇṭha is certain for all." "O Gokarṇa, Govinda himself will grant you Goloka." Having spoken thus, all the devotees of Hari departed to Vaikuṇṭha. In the following month, Gokarṇa again recited the sacred narration, and once more, the assembled devotees undertook the seven-day hearing with devotion.