The king arrived at the ocean, a place of astonishing wonder. Before him stretched the salt ocean, its waters sparkling with countless gems and teeming with myriad creatures. Waves and billows surged endlessly, revealing marvels at every turn. This mighty expanse, the king of all sacred fords, echoed with a thunderous roar. Boundless and awe-inspiring, it resembled a vast mass of clouds, unfathomable and fearsome, serving as the home of makaras. Within its depths swam fish, turtles, conches, oysters, crocodiles, porpoises, crabs, and even great venomous serpents. The ocean was not only the resting place of Hari, the lord of rivers, but also the destroyer of all sins, holy and capable of granting every desire. Whirlpools spun endlessly, making it the refuge of the Dānavas and the divine churning rod for nectar—the very source of the gods and lord of all waters. Among all beings, the ocean stood out: sustaining life, supremely pure, and auspicious. It was the foremost of sacred fords, imperishable, lord of aquatic creatures, its measure fixed like the waxing and waning of the moon. Impenetrable to all, it was the abode of immortality for the gods, the eternal cause of creation, preservation, and destruction. Beholding this lord of rivers and streams, the source of merit for all, the king was filled with profound wonder. He chose to dwell there, settling upon the ocean shore in a land holy and delightful, graced with all the virtues of the earth. The place was a paradise, adorned with groves of shāla and kadamba trees, puṃnāga, sarala pines, jackfruit, coconut palms, bakula, and nāgakesara. There were palmyra, pipal, date palms, oranges, bījapūra citrons, amrātaka, lodhra, bakula, and many vāraka trees. Kapittha, karṇikāra, pāṭala, ashoka, campaka, pomegranate, tamāla, pārijāta, and arjuna trees flourished. Prācīna amalaka, bilva, priyangu, vaṭa, khadira, iṅgudī, saptaparṇa, aśvattha, agastya, and jambuka trees stood tall. Madhuka, karṇikāra, vāraka, tinduka, palāśa, badara, nīpa, siddha-nimba, and auspicious añjana trees grew abundantly. Vāraka, kovidāra, bhallāta, amalaka, hintāla, aṅkola, karañja, and vibhītaka trees added to the richness. Sasarja, madhuka, āśmarī, shālmalī, devadāru, shākhoṭaka, nimba, vaṭa, kumbhī, kauṣṭha, and harītaka trees completed the forests. The air was fragrant with guggulu, sandalwood, aguru, pāṭala, jambīra, karuṇa, tintiḍī, and red sandalwood. Wish-fulfilling trees bore fruit at all times, and masses of flowers blossomed in every season. Divine birds abounded: intoxicated cuckoos sang, splendid peacocks strutted, flocks of parrots and mynas filled the trees. Hāritas, bhṛṅgarājas, cātakas, bahuputras, jīvaṃjīvas, kākolas, kalaviṅkas, and doves delighted the ear with their sweet songs, perched beautifully on blossoming branches. Ketakī groves bore white blossoms, and mallikā, kundakusuma, yūthikā, and tagara flowers flourished. Kuṭaja and bāṇapuṣpa, atimukta and kubjaka, mālatī and karavīra, and golden banana plants added color and fragrance. Forests, gardens, and groves overflowed with flowers of every hue and scent. The land was alive with hosts of vidyādharas, attended by siddhas and cāraṇas, gandharvas, serpents, rākṣasas, spirits, apsarases, and kinnaras. Sages and yakṣas gathered, and the area was frequented by deer, tree-dwelling animals, lions, boars, buffaloes, black antelopes, tigers, radiant elephants, and other forest-dwelling beasts. Gardens rivaled Nandana itself, with bowers of vines and shrubs and many reservoirs of water. Flocks of swans and kāraṇḍava ducks graced lotus ponds, alongside kadamba birds, diving birds, and cakravāka ducks. Lotuses, hundred-petaled lotuses, blue lotuses, water lilies, and aquatic birds filled the waters, while flowers born from the water bloomed. Mountains with blazing peaks rose nearby, adorned with beautiful caves, crowded with trees and minerals. Their summits were wondrous, auspicious abodes for all beings, endowed with every medicinal herb and broad, variegated slopes. Surrounded by these delightful and splendid features, the king beheld a place revered by the three worlds. It spanned ten yojanas in breadth and five yojanas in length—a field endowed with countless marvels, supremely difficult to attain. In that excellent, sacred, Vaiṣṇava, and supreme field, a question arose: why had no Vaiṣṇava image been established there before? Why did the king, arriving with his army and vehicles, establish the images of Kṛṣṇa, Rāma, and the auspicious Bhadrā? This great doubt and wonder stirred the hearts of those present. Eager to understand, they asked the Lord of the world to explain everything, to tell the reason for these events. The Lord replied: "Hear now the ancient tale that destroys sin. I shall recount it briefly, as once told by Hari when questioned by Śrī. On the golden peak of Mount Sumeru, filled with every marvel, adorned by siddhas, vidyādharas, yakṣas, and kinnaras...