The noble king, overwhelmed with joy and awe, felt his heart’s purpose fulfilled as he beheld Hari, the Supreme Lord, his hair standing on end with delight. In this moment of grace, Kṛṣṇa, Rāma, and Subhadrā—the bestowers of boons—were brought forth on chariots that shone like celestial vehicles, adorned with dazzling jewels and gold. The wise king, accompanied by his ministers and priests, received them with utmost reverence, ushering them in amid auspicious sounds. The air resounded with the music of many instruments and the sacred chanting of Vedic hymns, as the king established the deities in a pure and joyous place. On an auspicious day and hour, under a favorable constellation, the king, together with the brahmins, performed the installation ceremony at the most propitious moment. Every rite and action was carried out precisely as prescribed, under the guidance and approval of the teacher. When all was completed, the king honored the teacher with the proper gift, and according to custom, bestowed wealth upon the officiating priests and others. Having completed the installation in the splendid palace, the king established Kṛṣṇa, Rāma, and Subhadrā according to sacred tradition. He worshipped them with fragrant flowers, gold, jewels, pearls, and beautiful garments, offering his devotion as the rites demanded. He gifted divine gems, seats, villages, towns, and even ancient cities, bestowing many kinds of gifts. Having ruled his kingdom wisely, performed sacrifices, and given generously in charity, the king, feeling his purpose fulfilled, renounced all possessions and journeyed to the supreme abode—the highest realm of Viṣṇu. Thus, O best of sages, the story of the noble king and the greatness of the sacred field has been told. What else would you wish to hear? Hearing these words from Brahmā, who is born from the unmanifest, the assembled brahmins marvelled at the tale and joyfully asked further: “O lord, at what time should one go to Puruṣottama, O best of gods, 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 of beholding the deities, all separately.” Brahmā replied: “He who, fasting, performs austerity at Kurukṣetra, standing on one foot, with senses and anger subdued, for seven thousand years, attains great merit. Yet, one who always beholds Puruṣottama on the twelfth day of the bright fortnight of Jyeṣṭha, observing a fast, gains an even greater result. Therefore, O best of sages, the Supreme Person should be seen with effort and discipline by brahmins and others desiring heaven, in the month of Jyeṣṭha. By performing the rite of the five sacred waters according to rule in Jyeṣṭha, the best of men should behold the Supreme Person on the twelfth day of the bright fortnight. Those who see the imperishable deity, the Supreme Person, on this day, attain the world of Viṣṇu and never fall from it. Therefore, O best of twice-born, one should go with effort in Jyeṣṭha, perform the five sacred waters, and see the Supreme Person. Even those far away who praise the Supreme Person daily with a pure mind shall also reach the city of Viṣṇu. Whoever undertakes a pilgrimage to Kṛṣṇa with faith and concentration, freed from all sins, will reach the world of Viṣṇu. Even seeing the discus of Hari from afar, atop the temple, and bowing to it with devotion, instantly frees one from sins. O best of sages, when the great destruction began in the cosmic cycle, the sun and moon vanished, 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 lightning. The world was absorbed, all things swept away by meteors, and the waters dried up in lakes and rivers. Then, O Brahmins, the fire of dissolution, together with the wind, entered the entire world, blazing with the radiance of many suns. It broke through the earth and entered the underworld, causing great fear among gods, demons, and yakshas. It burned up the realm of serpents and everything on earth below, destroying all in an instant. The swift wind and the fire of dissolution scorched hundreds of thousands of yojanas. That blazing lord consumed everything—the world with gods, demons, gandharvas, yakshas, serpents, and rākṣasas. This terribly fierce fire, known as the dissolution fire, shone with great brilliance and roared mightily. It blazed like ten million suns, swiftly burning the three worlds, with gods, demons, and humans. In this dreadful, all-consuming dissolution, a sage of supreme righteousness became absorbed in meditation and yoga. Alone stood the renowned Markandeya, bound by the snares of delusion, his senses disturbed by hunger and thirst. Seeing the great fire, his throat, lips, and palate parched, tormented by thirst, the Brahmin stumbled, overcome with fear. He wandered across the earth, disoriented and aimless, unable to find a savior, his mind restless and searching. He found no comfort, nor a resting place for Brahmins, and cried out, “What shall I do? I do not know to whom I should turn for refuge.