When one worships Narasimha, the mighty Narakesari, with heartfelt devotion and contemplates one’s desires, the Lord is easily pleased. All wishes, whatever they may be, are fulfilled for the devotee—there is no doubt in this. Having beheld this lord of gods, worshipped with reverence and bowed to, the devotee receives blessings that far surpass ordinary merit: the fruit is tenfold that of performing ten horse sacrifices, and all sins are washed away, leaving one adorned with every virtue. Such a soul, fulfilled in every desire, becomes exempt from old age and death, journeying in a golden chariot adorned with tinkling bells. Endowed with all fulfilled wishes, radiant by his own will, his complexion shines like the young sun, and he is adorned with a garland of pearls. Surrounded by hundreds of celestial women and Gandharvas, having uplifted his entire lineage, he rejoices in the divine forest, praised by Apsaras. The devotee then attains Vishnu’s realm, enjoying excellent pleasures in Vishnu’s world. Joined by Gandharvas and Apsaras, and having assumed a four-armed form, he delights in happiness until the dissolution of creation. When his accumulated merit is exhausted, he returns to earth, born in the best family of yogis. He becomes a Brahmin, well-versed in the four Vedas and their branches, adopting Vaishnava yoga, and thereafter attains liberation. Similarly, when one beholds Ananta, called Vasudeva, with devotion and bows, he is freed from all sins and attains the supreme state. I myself have worshipped him, as have Indra, Vibhishana, and Rama—who would not worship such a Lord? Whoever bathes in the White Ganga and beholds the White Madhava, known as Matsya Madhava, surely attains the White Island. You have asked to hear in detail the greatness of the White Madhava, and the image of Hari, O Lord of the Universe. In that renowned and holy field upon the earth, who, in ancient times, established the deity called White Madhava? In the Krita age, there lived a powerful king named Shveta, intelligent, versed in dharma, heroic, true to his word, and firm in his vows. In his kingdom, for ten thousand years, people enjoyed long lives, and not a single child suffered. During his reign, after some time had passed, there was a sage named Kapalagautama, supremely righteous. The sage’s son, born without teeth, died by the force of time. The wise sage took the lifeless child and brought him to King Shveta. Seeing the boy lying unconscious, the king made a solemn vow before the Brahmins for the sake of the child’s life: “If I do not bring back this boy, who has gone to Yama’s abode, within seven nights, I shall ascend the blazing funeral pyre.” Having spoken thus, the king worshipped Mahadeva with hundreds and thousands of white lotuses, reciting the mantra again and again. Deep devotion arose in his heart, and the Lord of the Universe, pleased, appeared in person and spoke with Uma. Upon hearing these words and suddenly beholding Hara—smeared with ashes, with misshapen eyes, shining like autumn jasmine and the moon, clad in a tiger skin, hair adorned with the crescent moon—the king fell to the earth, bowed, and spoke: “If, seeing my compassion, you are pleased, O Lord, and if the Brahmin boy has fallen under the power of Time, let this boy live again—such is my vow. O Lord, though the boy died suddenly, by your own power, grant him life as ordained, and make him safe, O Maheshvara.” Hearing these words of Shveta, Hara was pleased and commanded Kala, the terror of all beings. Restraining Kala, who is difficult to withstand and obeys Yama’s command, Hara revived the boy, who had entered the jaws of death. Having secured the welfare of the entire world, the god, together with the goddess and his own energy, vanished before the sage’s son. Thus, the best of kings revived the sage’s son. O Lord of gods, Master of the universe, origin and imperishable one of the three worlds, tell us now the supreme truth about Śveta. Hear, O tigers among sages, you who are sinless and seek the good of all beings; I shall speak to you truly, just as you have asked me. The greatness of Mādhava destroys all sins; hearing it, a person surely attains all desired wishes. O twice-born, I have heard from the sages of old the divine story of Mādhava; listen to that tale, which destroys fear, sorrow, and distress. King Śveta ruled his kingdom with single-mindedness for thousands of years, upholding both worldly and Vedic duties, as well as proper observances. Firmly resolved in his vow to worship Keśava, he journeyed to the supreme sacred place, the southern shore of the ocean. There, on that beautiful and auspicious shore, near Kṛṣṇa, Śveta had a splendid palace constructed. To the south of the Lord of gods, Śveta built a hall of a hundred columns, made of white stone. That blessed Śveta established Mādhava, shining like the moon, in accordance with the prescribed rites, just as he had been instructed. Having given gifts to Brahmins, to the poor, the helpless, and ascetics, the king then, in the presence of Mādhava, fulfilled his noble duties and worshipped the Lord with devotion.