On the fifth day of the bright fortnight of Ashadha, beneath the constellation sacred to the ancestors, the blessed ones are taken to a sacred place and kept there for seven days. Within a splendid pavilion, they are seated among beautiful courtesans, surrounded by every kind of amusement—enchanting dances and melodious songs filling the air. Attendants fan them gently with fly-whisks whose handles are fashioned from gold, and with fans adorned with precious jewels, while auspicious women serve them with devotion. All around, celibates, ascetics, learned twice-borns, forest-dwellers, householders, perfected beings, and other Brahmins are present, lending their sacred presence to the gathering. The atmosphere is vibrant with hymns of various meters and words, and the sounds of the Rig, Yajur, and Sama Vedas rise in harmonious praise of Rama and Keshava. After offering their praises, beholding the divine, and bowing with heartfelt devotion, a man is blessed to dwell in the resplendent city of Hari for ten thousand divine years. There, honored by celestial nymphs and accompanied by the songs of the Gandharvas, he enjoys the company of Hari himself, playing joyfully alongside Keshava. He rides in a celestial chariot that shines like the sun, adorned with garlands of jewels, abiding in the highest world and partaking of all pleasures and enjoyments. When the merit that sustained him in that realm is exhausted and he returns to the mortal world, he is born as a Brahmin, becoming a lord of immense wealth, prosperous and wise, and a knower of the four Vedas. Having granted such a boon and made this sacred agreement, Hari, together with Vishvakarma, withdrew from sight, leaving the Brahmins in awe. The king, overwhelmed with delight and his hair standing on end, felt his life’s purpose fulfilled simply by beholding Hari. Thereafter, Krishna, Rama, and Subhadrā—the bestowers of boons—were brought forth on chariots that resembled the celestial vehicles, dazzling with jewels and gold. The wise king, accompanied by his ministers and priests, received them with great reverence and auspicious sounds. To the accompaniment of various musical instruments and the chanting of Vedic hymns, the king established the deities in a pure and most delightful place. At a time deemed most auspicious, under a favorable constellation, he performed the installation ceremony with the Brahmins, following every prescribed rite and action as instructed by his teacher. Upon completion, the king presented the teacher with the proper gift and, in accordance with tradition, bestowed wealth upon the officiating priests and others. Having thus completed the installation in the excellent palace, the king established the deities as prescribed, worshipping them with fragrant flowers, gold, jewels, pearls, and many beautiful garments. He honored them with various divine gems, seats, villages, towns, and even ancient cities. Having given such gifts, ruled the kingdom righteously, performed many sacrifices, and distributed abundant charity, the king, his purpose fulfilled, renounced all possessions and journeyed to the supreme abode—the highest realm of Vishnu. Thus, the sage concluded, the story of the noble king and the greatness of the sacred field was told. The Brahmins, marveling at the words of Brahma, the one of unmanifest birth, joyfully inquired further, eager to know more. They asked, “O Lord, at what time should one go to Puruṣottama, and by what rite should the Pañcatīrtha be performed? Tell us, one by one, the fruits of bathing and giving at each tīrtha, and also the merits of beholding the deities.” Brahma replied: “He who, fasting, performs austerity at Kurukshetra, standing on one foot with senses and anger subdued for seven thousand years, gains great merit. Yet, one who always beholds Puruṣottama on the twelfth day of the bright fortnight of Jyeshtha, observing a fast, attains an even greater result. Therefore, O best of sages, Brahmins and others desiring the heavenly world should strive with discipline to see the supreme person in the month of Jyeshtha. Having performed the rite of the five sacred waters as prescribed, the best of men should behold the supreme person on the twelfth day of the bright fortnight. Those who see the imperishable deity on that day attain the world of Vishnu and never fall from it. Thus, O best of the twice-born, one should make every effort in Jyeshtha to perform the five sacred waters and behold the supreme person. Even those who are far away, but praise the supreme person with pure devotion day after day, will also reach the city of Vishnu. Whoever undertakes a pilgrimage to Krishna with faith and concentration, freed from all sins, will reach the world of Vishnu. Even seeing the discus of Hari from afar, atop the temple, and bowing to it with devotion, instantly frees one from sins. Now, O best of sages, hear of the time when the great destruction began in the cycle. The sun and moon were lost, the wind ceased, and all that was stationary and moving was destroyed. The fierce dissolution sun rose, thunderclouds roared, and trees and mountains were shattered by masses of lightning. The whole world was absorbed; all things were removed by great meteors, and all waters in lakes and rivers dried up. Then, O Brahmins, the fire of dissolution, together with the wind, entered the entire world, illuminated by the suns. Afterwards, breaking through the earth and entering the underworld, it caused great fear among gods, demons, and yakshas alike.