The gathered assembly spoke with one voice: “This must be done with effort, for it is indeed easy.” Thus resolved, Gokarṇa began the sacred recitation. Drawn by the promise of hearing the divine narration, people flocked from villages and distant regions. The lame, the blind, the elderly, and the slow—all came, seeking the destruction of their sins. The assembly grew so vast and wondrous that even the gods marveled at its sight. Gokarṇa, having taken his seat, commenced the narration of the holy story. At that moment, the departed soul also arrived, searching for a place to listen. His gaze fell upon a bamboo, upright, with seven knots. Entering a hole at its base, he stood there, unable to remain in his form as wind, and so entered the bamboo itself. Recognizing the chief Vaiṣṇava brāhmaṇa as the foremost listener, Gokarṇa, the son of Dhenu, began his clear narration from the first book. As each day ended and a verse was recited, a miraculous event occurred: one knot of the bamboo split open with a resounding sound, witnessed by the virtuous. On the second evening, the second knot broke; on the third, the third knot, and so on. Over seven days, all seven knots were broken as the departed soul listened to the twelve cantos. With the completion of the narration, he abandoned 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. He immediately bowed to his brother Gokarṇa, saying, “By your compassion, I have been freed from bondage and the impurity of being a departed soul.” He continued, “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 brings 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 spoke further: “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? This 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 the consequences of actions, it is 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? 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. The splitting of a dry bamboo’s knot 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 he spoke, a celestial chariot arrived, surrounded by the radiant residents of Vaikuṇṭha. While all watched, the son of Dhundhulī ascended the chariot. Seeing the Vaiṣṇavas within, Gokarṇa asked, “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; 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. Thus, even in worship, the difference arises. 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. 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 the like are accomplished, then the fruit of hearing is attained; and at the end of the narration, residence in Vaikuṇṭha is certain for all.” They concluded, “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 narration; once more, for seven nights, hearing was performed by the assembly. O Nārada, listen now to what happened at the conclusion of this narration. Hari himself appeared there with the devotees and celestial chariots; at that time, cries of victory and salutations filled the air. Out of joy, Hari sounded the Pāñcajanya conch, and embracing Gokarṇa, made him like himself.