At the close of the sacred seven-day recitation, the soul who had once wandered as a departed spirit immediately bowed before his noble brother, Gokarṇa. With deep gratitude, he spoke: “By your compassion, I am freed from bondage and the impurity that haunted me as a wandering soul.” He went on to praise the glory of the Bhagavata discourse, exclaiming, “Blessed indeed is this narration, for it destroys the sufferings of the departed. Blessed, too, is the seven-day recitation, which grants the supreme fruit—the attainment of Krishna’s own realm. All sins tremble in the face of such hearing; this narration alone brings our immediate deliverance. No matter if a sin is great or small, committed by word, thought, or deed—hearing burns it away, 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 is the use of protecting a body, however strong or well-nourished, if one does not hear 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 our actions, it is a house of disease and suffering—hard to fill, hard to bear, corrupted, flawed, and perishable in an instant. In the end, it becomes worms, filth, and ashes; how can actions performed with such a body ever accomplish anything lasting? “Even the food we prepare in the morning perishes by evening; in a body nourished by such fleeting sustenance, what permanence can there be? But by hearing for seven days, Hari is attained in this very world. Therefore, to remove all faults, this alone is the means. Those who lack the hearing of this narration are like bubbles in water, like insects among creatures—born only to die. “It is wondrous when the knot of a dry bamboo is split, but how much more wondrous is the splitting of the knot in the heart by hearing this holy narration! The knot of the heart is broken, all doubts are cut, and the burden of karma is exhausted when the seven-day hearing is performed. When the mind is established at the sacred ford of this narration, which alone can wash away the filth of worldly mire, then liberation is declared by the wise.” As he spoke thus, a celestial chariot suddenly arrived, surrounded by the radiant residents of Vaikuṇṭha. All those assembled watched in awe as the son of Dhundhulī, now freed, ascended the divine chariot. Seeing the Vaiṣṇavas within, Gokarṇa raised a question: “Here are many pure listeners of mine—why have celestial chariots not come for all of them at the same time? All have listened equally; why then has there arisen a difference in result? Let the devotees of Hari explain.” The servants of Hari replied: “The difference in result arises from the difference in hearing. Though all have heard, not all have reflected as deeply. Even in worship, the outcome varies by the sincerity of one’s effort. The departed soul performed the hearing while fasting for seven nights, engaging 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; 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 are accomplished, then indeed the fruit of hearing is attained. At the end of the narration, residence in Vaikuṇṭha is certain for all. “O Gokarṇa, Govinda himself will grant you Goloka.” Having spoken thus, the devotees of Hari departed to Vaikuṇṭha. In the following month, Gokarṇa again recited the sacred narration, and once more, the gathering performed the seven-day hearing. O Nārada, listen now to what transpired at the conclusion of that recitation. Hari himself appeared there, surrounded by his devotees and celestial chariots. The air resounded with cries of victory and salutations. Out of joy, Hari sounded the Pāñcajanya conch and, embracing Gokarṇa, made him like himself. Instantly, Hari transformed the other listeners, making them dark-hued like rain clouds, clothed in yellow silk, crowned and adorned with earrings. Even the villagers—those born among horse-keepers and outcastes—were placed in celestial chariots by the grace of Gokarṇa. Those who were sent to the realm of Hari, where yogis aspire to go, that cowherd and Gokarṇa together reached Goloka, the beloved abode of the cowherds. Pleased by the hearing of his stories, the Lord who cherishes his devotees departed. Just as the residents of Ayodhya were once united with Rama, so too were these devotees led by Krishna to Goloka, a realm even the yogis find hard to attain. To that world—where neither sun nor moon nor perfected beings ever reach—they went, by hearing the glorious Bhagavata. We declare: what radiant fruit is gathered by seven-day sacrifices in stories! For those who have drunk the syllables of Gokarṇa’s tale with their ears, even those in the womb are not born again. By consuming only wind, water, and leaves, by austerities that dry the body, by fierce penances accumulated over long ages, and by yogic practices, one does not attain the state reached by hearing the seven-day narration. Even the sage Shandilya, lord among sages, residing in Citrakuta, recites this sacred history, immersed in the bliss of Brahman. This narration is supremely pure; hearing it even once destroys the mass of sins. When used in a śrāddha, it brings satisfaction to the ancestors; by daily recitation, one attains liberation and does not return. Thus concludes this glorious episode. And now, the Kumāras spoke: “O listeners, we shall explain the procedure for the seven-day hearing of the Śrīmad Bhāgavata. It is remembered that this rite is generally accomplished with companions and with the means one possesses.