In the sacred narrative, it is proclaimed that whoever, being human, bathes at the holy site with fasting and self-control, and properly honors the gods, seers, humans, and ancestors in turn, fulfills their duties to all these beings. After worshipping the deities there and remaining for three nights, such a person receives, separately, the fruits gained at each of these holy places, O twice-born ones. Indeed, one who undertakes these acts attains the reward of a horse sacrifice—there can be no doubt. Moreover, whoever daily hears, recites, or causes others to hear this supreme glory of the holy places is freed from all sins. The sages, eager for wisdom, then spoke: “On earth, please tell us of the most excellent land, which bestows virtue, desire, wealth, and liberation. O best of speakers, declare to us the supreme holy place among holy places.” In response, the narrator explained, “Long ago, the sages posed this very question to my teacher. I will now reveal to you, O best of the twice-born, what you seek.” In a hermitage supremely holy, adorned with many flowers, filled with various trees and creepers, and inhabited by many kinds of animals—puṃnāga, karṇikāra, sarala, devadāru, śāla, tāla, tamāla, panas, dhava, khādira, pāṭala, aśoka, bakula, karavīra, campaka, and many other trees blossoming with flowers—sat Vyāsa, the foremost of the wise, composer of the Mahābhārata, expert in all the scriptures. Firm in spiritual discipline, all-knowing, devoted to the welfare of all beings, speaker of the Purāṇas and Āgamas, master of the Vedas and their branches, Vyāsa, the tranquil son of Parāśara, with eyes wide as lotus petals, was approached with joy by sages of firm vows. Among them were Kaśyapa, Jamadagni, Bharadvāja, Gautama, Vasiṣṭha, Jaimini, Dhaumya, Mārkaṇḍeya, Vālmīki, Viśvāmitra, Śatānanda, Vātsya, Gārgya, Āsuri, Sumantu named Bhārgava, Kaṇva, Medhātithi, Māṇḍavya, Cyavana, Dhūmra, Asita, Devala, Maudgalya, Tṛṇayajña, Pippalāda, Akṛtavraṇa, Saṃvarta, Kauśika, Raibhya, Maitreya, Harita, Śāṇḍilya, Vibhāṇḍa, Durvāsā, Lomaśa, Nārada, Parvata, Vaiśaṃpāyana, Gālava, Bhāskari, Pūraṇa, Sūta, Pulastya, Kapila, Ulūka, Pulaha, Vāyu, Devasthāna, Caturbhuja, Sanatkumāra, Paila, Kṛṣṇa, and Kṛṣṇānubhautika. Surrounded by these and other eminent sages, the illustrious son of Satyavatī shone like the moon among stars. Vyāsa, the knower of the Vedas, honored all those sages who had arrived; and they, in turn, respectfully honored him, engaging in conversation with one another. At the end of their discussion, the foremost sages of the hermitage questioned Kṛṣṇa, the son of Satyavatī, about a doubt. They addressed him: “O sage, you know the Vedas, the scriptures, the Purāṇas, the Āgamas, the Mahābhārata, and all speech—past, present, and future. In this difficult, sorrowful, and empty ocean of existence, filled with the fierce crocodiles of attachment and flooded by the waters of sense objects, in the whirlpool of the senses, crowded with waves of perception, muddied by the mire of delusion, in the dangerous, deep, and hard-to-cross abyss of greed, seeing the world sinking, unsupported and unconscious, we ask you, O greatly fortunate one—tell us, O best of sages. “What is the highest good in this terrifying, hair-raising cycle of existence? Please instruct the people to uplift them. Speak to us of the rare, supreme field that grants liberation, and of the earth as the realm of action—we wish to hear. A person who performs actions properly on the field of earth, as prescribed, attains supreme accomplishment; but by wrong actions, hell. Likewise, in the field of liberation, a wise person attains liberation. Therefore, O great sage, tell us what you have been asked, O best of the twice-born.” Hearing the words of those purified sages, Vyāsa, the blessed knower of past, present, and future, spoke: “Listen, all you sages—I will speak, since you ask, of the dialogue that once took place between the sages and Brahmā. “On the broad summit of Meru, adorned with various jewels, covered with many trees and vines, beautified by diverse flowers, delightful with the calls of many birds, crowded with blossoming plants, filled with many creatures and wonders, adorned with many-colored stones, embellished with various metals, thronged by sages of many kinds, and endowed with diverse hermitages, there sat the Lord of the universe—the source of all creation, four-faced, master of the world, revered by all, foundation of existence, the Supreme Lord. “He was surrounded by gods, demons, gandharvas, yakshas, vidyadharas, serpents, sages, siddhas, apsarases, and others who dwell in the heavens. Some praised that god, some sang before him, some played musical instruments, and others danced. At that joyful time, when all beings had gathered, the southern breeze carried the scents of many flowers. “Then Bhrigu and the other great sages, bowing to that god, the grandsire, respectfully asked him, their father, this question: ‘O Lord, we wish to hear about the land of action on earth; you are worthy to speak, O Lord of the gods, also of the rare field of liberation.’ “Hearing their words, Brahma, the lord of the gods, replied; the best of sages had asked everything just as it should be.