All beings who have circumambulated this sacred place or offered their salutations there are freed from their sins and attain the abode of Keśava. Just north of the great banyan tree, and to its south, stands the temple of Keśava—a place overflowing with righteousness. In that holy precinct, those who behold the image fashioned by the god himself easily reach my world from there. Once, as people were departing from this sanctified spot, the king of righteousness himself approached me. With deep reverence, he bowed his head and spoke words of praise: “Salutations to you, O blessed Lord, god and master of all worlds, ruler of the universe! You who dwell in the milk ocean, resting upon the serpent Śeṣa, bestower of boons, most excellent, giver of blessings, creator yet uncreated, Lord of all, unborn Viṣṇu, all-knowing and unconquered. Dark as a blue lotus petal, with eyes like lotuses, you are all-knowing, without qualities, ever-peaceful, the sustainer of the world, imperishable. Creator and giver of happiness to all worlds, the ancient person to be known, manifest and unmanifest, eternal. I bow to the creator of all, both high and low, the lord of the worlds, teacher of the universe, adorned with the Śrīvatsa mark upon your chest and garlanded with forest flowers. Clad in yellow garments, with four arms, holding the conch, discus, and mace, adorned with necklaces, armlets, crown, and bracelets. You are perfect in all auspicious marks, beyond the senses, unchanging, subtle, of the form of light, and eternal. Free from existence and non-existence, all-pervading, beyond nature—I bow to you, the supreme ruler, the giver of happiness, lord of the universe.” Thus, long ago, King Dharma, in the presence of the banyan tree, offered many hymns of praise and then bowed in deep obeisance. Witnessing this exalted one bowing with joined palms, I, Antaka, asked him the reason for his devotion: “O Vaivasvata, mighty-armed, supreme among gods, for what purpose have you praised me? Tell me this briefly.” He replied, “In this sacred and renowned abode of the Supreme Person, there is an excellent image of sapphire, fulfilling all desires. Seeing that image with single-minded devotion and faith, those who are free from desire attain the white-named abode. Therefore, O slayer of enemies, I am unable to perform my duties. Be gracious, O great lord, withdraw the image, O master.” Hearing these words, Yama said, “I will conceal it all around with sand.” Then, O goddess, I covered that image with creepers, so that men desiring heaven would not see it there. Enveloping it with creepers and golden ornaments, Yama sent him back to his own city in the southern direction. When the sapphire image was hidden in that sacred and renowned field of the Supreme Person, whatever transpired there, the god of gods, Janārdana, had long ago narrated in detail to her. He recounted the departure of Indradyumna, his viewing of the holy field, the description of that field, and the construction of the temple. He spoke of the horse sacrifice performed, the vision in a dream, and the sighting of the divine wood on the shore of the salt ocean; the vision of Vāsudeva and the king of sculptors, and the making of the image, all described in detail. He told of the installation of all the deities in the most excellent temple and the recitation of the Kalpa at the time of pilgrimage; the story of Markandeya, the installation of Shankara, the glory of the five sacred fords, and the vision of the wielder of the trident. He described the vision of the banyan tree and its merits, especially the sight of Baladeva and Krishna, and the full glory of Subhadra, the vision of Narasimha, and the recitation of the merit of the dawn. The vision of Anantavasudeva, the praise of his qualities, the glory of Shvetamadhava, and the sight of Svargadvāra; the sight of the ocean, bathing and offering libations, the greatness of bathing in the sea, and the story of Indradyumna. He spoke of the fruits of the five sacred fords, the great Jyeshtha, the place of Krishna with the plough, and the rewards of the festival pilgrimage. The repeated description of Vishnu’s world and the holy field—all this the Supreme Person had previously revealed. Then, the sages said, “We wish to hear, O god, the remainder of the story of the king; having come to that excellent field, what did the lord of men do?” The answer came: “Listen, O best of sages, I will briefly recount the viewing of the field and the deeds of that king. Upon his arrival in that field, renowned throughout the three worlds, the king beheld many beautiful places and rivers. There is a river there, of great merit, emerging from the foot of the Vindhya, known as Svittropala, auspicious and a remover of all sins. Equal to the Ganga, with a mighty current flowing to the southern ocean, that best of rivers is called Mahānadi, its waters holy. Adorned with beautiful eddies, it enters the womb of the southern ocean, and on both its banks are seen villages and cities, thriving in that sacred land.